Starlight Gleaming Ch. 19

"Cholan!" Layeena exclaimed.

"You can't talk to me that way," Manello snarled.

"By the gods, yes, I can!" she shouted back. "You've made clear I'm not your daughter. I am a sergeant in the Imperial Air Service, Master Yakalme. That makes me Warrior Caste, and you are legally bound to what I tell you to do. I'm warning you now. You put my niece through the same cruel hell that you put me through, and I will make sure both of you have to get dentures. Am I clear?"

Layeena was shocked while Manello looked defiant.

Cholan pounded her fist onto the table. "Silence is not an option! The correct answer is 'Yes, Sergeant, I will love my granddaughter and I will treat her with kindness and affection,' or 'No, Sergeant, I want to continue acting like a shit-excuse for a human being.' Lord Kandikan has been teaching me how to punch and kick like a warrior, so don't push me. So if you challenge me on this, be prepared to get your ass handed to you, and I am so pissed off I am prepared to start right now. Now answer, Master Yacalme. Am. I. Clear?"

Both her parents looked at me and I gave them my sternest look. "Yes, Sergeant," they replied, Menallo grudgingly.

"Fan-fucking-tastic. Breena, tell me now. Do you intend to make your daughter's life miserable because she's not your husband's child?"

"How could I? She's my baby girl," Breena protested.

"You did it to me, bitch!" Cholan snapped back. "I'm warning you, too. If I find you are making her life miserable, I'll haul you down to the public square and tell everyone what a shitty mother you are before I work you over from one side of the plaza to the other. By the time I'm done with you, you will have so many orifices, you won't know which one to shit out of."

Tanti snorted.

I remembered when I told that to Zinja because she'd been shot and was bleeding, but refused to leave because she wanted to keep looking for Sisi. Apparently Janetta's Crew Chief not only remembered the phrase like she promised, she'd shared it. It was a struggle to keep a straight face, and I was more than a little proud of her.

Breena looked in surprise at her half-sister. "Why do you care about my child so much?"

"Because they're babies, Breena, and they're defenseless. Your husband hits you and he's leaving bruises on your sons. Sweet Jade Goddess, you're their mother, damn it! You are supposed to protect them from harm, even from their father if need be, and so far, you're doing a piss-poor job of it."

"You told us little Aarpo fell!" Layeena exclaimed, alarmed.

"Cholan?" Tanti said.

"What!"

The middle sister looked at the younger one. "I want to apologize for how I treated you when you were growing up. You didn't deserve any of it, and... I'm sorry for what I did."

Cholan was flustered a moment. "Really? I... maybe... we can talk later, Tanti. Thank you." Another long exhale, her voice calmer. "All right, Breena, you need to make some choices here, and right now, not next week and not tomorrow. Once news of those Ground Service men being in the stockade reaches your husband, your situation is over. You may not have realized it, but it's plain as day to me. Your loving husband already has his new wife. Your safety is now measured in hours. He will accuse you of adultery and demand a DNA test be done on your daughter."

"Adultery is pretty serious," I added. "Do you even know what his legal options are here?"

"Repudiate me and take my children," Breena answered, tearing up again.

I frowned. "That's all? That's pretty restrained. If getting your tubes tied requires a husband's written permission, and with all the other bad decisions you've made thus far, I'm wondering just how realistic you're really being."

Pulling out out my phone, I started dialing. Bilan used to live in the area. If he didn't know the answers, he'd be able to find out quickly.

"Who are you calling?" Menallo asked sharply.

"I don't want this bandied about in public," Layeena protested. "The scandal would take years to go away. It could affect Tanti's chances of finding a suitable husband!"

"Quiet, both of you!" I snapped. "Bilan? This is Ranji. Do you have a moment?"

"I do. To what do I owe the pleasure, my brother?"

"I need some information. I'm in Copán, and I've run into a woman who is likely facing a charge of adultery. She admits it, but she says her husband ordered her to service other men to advance his career, and that he beat her until she did as he demanded. There's a child, and it is not the husband's."

Bilan sighed. "That's bad, Ranji. It depends on the husband--"

"Wait! Let me put you on speaker. The woman is here with her family, and they need to hear what you have to say." I pushed the speaker button on the phone. "Okay, this is Captain Monaycote, my brother. You were talking about the punishment for adultery."

He cleared his voice, then continued. "As I was saying, the severity of the punishment for the woman depends on the husband. At a minimum, he gets full custody of the children, and the wife loses all visitation rights and all of her dowry. If he chooses, he can make it public, in which case the situation for the woman becomes pretty grim. Up to fifty lashes in a public market. If she survives and the judge granting the divorce is so inclined and the husband asks for it, she can then be branded as a prostitute -- and the location of the brand can be anywhere, even the face. As I recall, that's where it usually ends up, as a visible warning to other women."

Breena paled. Bilan continued speaking.

"This sort of thing happens more than it should. The wife objects to a second wife or the husband just tires of her. In this case, with proven infidelity, she could also end up in the public stocks for a full twenty days. She would be fair game for any man who wants to mount her. If she's pretty, the women will throw refuse or even stones at her.

"Unless someone in her family provides food and water, she'll die after a few days. Many do die because family members might be ridiculed or harassed while providing care and sustenance. As for the child, that one's fate is also up to the husband as the aggrieved party. In Chohinze, all children are the sole legal property of their father until age sixteen. He can simply kill the child with no repercussions."

Breena looked horrified.

"The child is less than a year old," I explained. "And it's a girl."

"I see. He might donate the child to one of the temples for a tax deduction. Sometimes the temple will raise the girl until she's reaches puberty when she becomes a virgin blood sacrifice. Or, they might kill the baby outright. The blood of an infant is considered by some of the darker gods to be powerful magic. There are so many abandoned girl babies, there's little chance she'd be adopted or sold to a brothel. If the wife is publicly disgraced, any sons might be in danger as well."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"Daughters are often seen as a long-term expense. They cost money to raise and the father has to pay a dowry when they marry. Some simply sell the girl when she's older. Sons fare better. They can be sold as slave labor to work in the fields. Depends again on the man's choice. When he disowns the wife, he can choose to disown any sons by her as tainted, denying them any inheritance.

"Much of the fate of the children depends on the maternal family. How much wealth and power they have, as well as how much effort the grandparents are willing to put out to save the children -- including buying them outright. If the grandparents do gain custody, the boys take on their maternal House name. That custom happens outside of divorce, too. If a man has several sons and the wife's family few or none, he might give or sell a son to them in order to carry the wife's House name. Anyway, the husband has a final option. It's rare, but he can even kill his own sons if he's inclined. Either murder them himself, or again, make an arrangement with one of the temples. All to often, the priests are focused feeding the gods blood and they will take nearly anyone."

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Resume point

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Breena and her parents were ashen-faced.

"I see."

"Ranji, Chohinze State is very conservative, and the blood temples are really strong there. This woman's best bet is to run now. I received your email about the kidnap victims you rescued last night. You have been very busy, my brother. I thought this was supposed to be a quick visit. From what I'm told, many of those you rescued have no families or homes to return to. We both know who operates like that.

"However, I do have some good news. I've talked with your parents. Your mother assures me there is room for these citizens to start new lives. Two Tortoises and escorts are on their way to Copán War Base right now." He paused a moment, then added, "My men can take a new head count after we arrive. In all the fuss, initial numbers are rarely correct."

"Thanks, Bilan." He was letting me know that if Breena and her children were added, they could safely disappear amongst the people we'd rescued.

"How are Sowitwee and his father doing?" he asked.

"There have been some additional developments. I'll send you an email with the details. I think you'll find it... interesting."

"All right. I'll look for it. I hope this newest situation works out to your satisfaction. My best to everyone at High Guard. I'd caution you to try and stay out of trouble, but it sounds like it's already a lost cause. Will you at least be careful?"

"I'll do my best. Thank you. Hug Rana and your boys for me. Goodbye." Bilan really was a good brother. I put the phone away. "Cholan is right, Breena. Your life is about to be flushed away."

"Maybe if I plead with my husband?" she cried miserably, looking at her parents.

"By all the gods, Breena," Cholan said, exasperated. "You can't be serious! You have me thinking you really are brain damaged."

Tanti spoke up. "Lord Kandikan, you're a nobleman. Why don't you just take her from her husband? Aren't the men she's been servicing at Arvine's behest the same ones you arrested this morning? Can't you challenge Arvine to a duel or something? If Arvine's dead, problem solved. If you force him to sell her to you? Problem solved."

"Well, let's deal with those assumptions, shall we?" I said. "First, unless he's a nobleman, I can't duel him. I can kill him, but then I have to deal with the authorities, and aside from the Imperial government, which has jurisdiction, I also have to respond to the nobleman her husband owes fealty to. He could say nothing, but he could demand a fine or worse. And right now, I don't have the time to mess around. Besides, I don't think that's the best option anyway. Now if I bought Breena from her husband -- paid him good Imperial credits to put aside his wife -- what would be the expectation be?"

Tanti turned to her older sister.

Breena looked at me. "I guess I'd become your woman."

Cholan looked ready to explode, so I took her hand into my own, which calmed her. "Yeah, that's what I thought. First off, if I spend any money to buy someone, it's to free them. Second, any woman that wants in my bed first needs to get permission from the women already sharing it. I get you're in a bad situation, but you aren't trading up with me. Instead of being a bitch to your sister, you should have come clean. I don't like manipulation games, Breena, and they seem to come too easily for you."

"You noblemen are all alike," Menallo muttered angrily. "You think you are the mighty lords of creation. Is this the best you can do?"

I glared back at him. "You watch your mouth. Don't you dare try to put this on me. This is all on your son-in-law. Breena didn't help matters by acting so stupidly. Tell me, Master Yakalme, what do you intend to do to help your daughter and grandchildren? If your son-in-law offers to sell his grandchildren, would you buy them -- and thus save them?"

He glared back, sullen.

"I see," I replied with as much derision as I could muster. "You will limit yourself to comforting words to your daughter to protect yourself from actually risking anything. Now that you know how he has abused her, will you offer her refuge here? Will you keep your grandchildren here so he stops hurting them? Or will you send them all back so that he can murder them?"

"You don't know anything about me or what I have to live with!" he roared out.

"It was a simple question, Master Yakalme. This is the life of your daughter and your grandchildren we're talking about. You are the man, the head of your House. What will you do to protect them?"

"He can't do anything," Breena cried. "If he interferes, my husband will see my father is sacked. But... you can save us, Lord Kandikan. I know you don't want to fight and I'm not asking you to." Getting up, she came around the table. Passing the corner, she started unbuttoning her dress.

Cholan reached out and grabbed her wrist, her voice low and dangerous. "What the fuck do you think you are doing?"

"Not what you think. Please, I'm begging you. Don't interfere."

"As long as you understand he belongs to me," Cholan growled.

"I understand," Breena assured her. Lifting off her dress, wearing only a nursing bra, she prostrated herself at my feet. "Please, Lord Kandikan, I'm begging you to Intercede for us. We seek sanctuary under your protection."

Seven hells, I thought. All three hot, all three cold, and the one in between.

Breena latched on and trapped my leg against the chair, crying out. "By all that's good and holy, I beseech you. My lord, please have mercy on me and my children."

A long time ago, when abasing yourself to nobility, the commoner did so nude, showing they had nothing without the nobleman's protection. Some Houses were traditionalists.

I sighed. I think Cholan and I both noticed the scars on her back at the same time. Her sister had been whipped until she'd bled, and more than once. Some of the wounds were freshly scabbed over.

"Come on, Breena. Stand up," Cholan bent down, pulling her up to her feet. "I don't like you very much, and I haven't for a long time. But seeing how he's treated you? I want to beat that bastard to a bloody pulp. You're a real shitty sister, Breena, but you are my shitty sister." Then she turned to me. "Will you help her, Commander?"

"Yes, I will Intercede for them."

Breena began to sob, ready to drop and throw herself at my feet again, but Cholan grabbed her and shook her. "You need to get a hold of yourself, Breena. For your kids! Put your dress back on. We need to take care of this."

Nodding, Breena slipped the dress back on and did her best to straighten herself up.

I rubbed my eyes before focusing on the parents. "The only thing left is the question of the money. What was the reason you needed nearly all of Cholan's money?"

Both looked surprised.

"They spent most of it," Tanti offered. "They did a lot of landscaping. New furniture. A down payment on a rental property. Mother and father also went on holiday to a resort for three weeks. The rest of it has been set aside as dowry for me -- which I never wanted. Mother and Father, the money you set aside for my dowry should be returned to Cholan."

"That was the urgent need?" Cholan asked, real hurt in her voice.

"There should be seventy-five hundred credits--" Tanti began, but her father muttered. "What?"

"I said there's only five thousand," Menallo muttered.

Tanti blinked. "Oh. I guess I'm not worth as much as I was told."

Cholan stared at her parents, not saying anything.

Menallo tried bluster. "It's the duty of children to take care of their parents--"

I jumped up, the chair clattering onto the floor behind me. "That's enough from the both of you! I've never met a more self-centered pair than you two. You are well-matched and you truly deserve each other. Cholan? What do you want to do?"

She looked at her parents. "Since my only value to you is the money I have, you can keep what I gave to you. But I swear by the Jade Goddess, you will not get a single credit more. For twenty-three thousand credits, I believe I have earned the right to keep my House name. From this day forward, I am dead to you and you are dead to me. Tanti? What about you?"

The middle sister raised her eyebrows. "What about me?"

"Do you consider me your sister?" Cholan asked.

"Yes, I... Yes, I do. Like Breena, I've been a shitty sister. But I'd like to ask your forgiveness and beg for a chance to change that. I don't know how to be a good sister, but I'd like to learn."

Turning to me, she asked, "Can she come along?"

I shrugged. "Might as well."

"Get your things together, Tanti."

"You mean leave right now?"

"Why not?" Cholan asked. "You want to find yourself. You're educated. They do have civilian jobs at High Guard. Maybe you could work and figure out what you want to do with your life."

Their mother looked shocked, then incredulous. "Tanti! You can't seriously be considering it!"

She looked at her mother, then standing, nodded to Cholan. "It's a new chance, isn't it. All right. I'll go get packed." Scooting by Breena and Cholan, she strode out.

Layeena turned to her husband. "Menallo! Stop her!"

He started to rise, but I held out my hand. "Stay put! How old is Tanti?"

Menallo sat back down, glaring.

"Twenty-eight," Breena answered. "And she's a widow. That means while she's under his roof, she has to do what he says. However, Father can't legally stop her from leaving."

"Breena," her mother exclaimed. "Your encouraging her to leave us? Why?"

"Maybe she feels as trapped as I've been. I guess this is goodbye." Breena moved around the table. "Will you at least hug me before we go?"

"But... but what about finishing our meal together?" asked a distraught Layeena.

Breena leaned over and gave her mother a quick hug, then moved over to her father.

"Will you at least let us know where you are?" he asked as they briefly embraced.

"Once we're settled. I'm scared, Papa, but you heard the same things I did. Lord Kandikan is my only hope to save my babies, and if I can, I'd like to stay alive, too. Maybe I can learn to be a better mother while I'm at it." Moving quickly, she headed out the same archway as Tanti. "Kids? Get your things together so we can say goodbye to your gram and pawpaw."

Since we were waiting for Cholan's sisters and the children, I sat down and finished my meal.

Cholan, who'd looked on the edge, suddenly grinned at me. "Stuffing your face?"

"The pork is tender, and the salsa is good. Hadwin did go to all that trouble. Seems a shame to waste it."

My lover, who'd appeared on edge, suddenly giggled at me. "Men and their food."

I winked at Cholan and continued eating.

Layeena tried to follow my example, but after a few minutes, she suddenly teared up and dashed out. Menallo rose and followed quietly after her.

"Thank you," Cholan told me.

"I love you, Cholan. You support and stand by those you love. You going to finish that?" I'd finished my portion and looked at her half-eaten lunch.

She pushed the plate over, laughing at me.

I picked up the pork and wrapped the panbread around it, pouring on some salsa before munching away. I was hungry and it made a decent sandwich.

* * * * *

Part 25 -- More Shopping and a Call From Home

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When I was done, we wandered back to the living room where Breena and the children waited with the nanny. A short time later, Tanti came out with two large carry bags, a huge purse, a portable valise with wheels, and a suitcase. Cholan and I helped carry Tanti's luggage out to the vehicles. As expected, Breena and her children had little more than what they wore or carried with them.