The Rules of Blood

Volume Two ; Chapter 102 (318) - Velakia, The Burden of Silence

After managing to grab all the supplies they’ve needed for the rest of the road and a defensive artifact for Sera, they’ve allowed themselves to enjoy some of the sights in the city and a light dinner at a local tavern.

But one thing was clear after they had passed the fifth statue of the High Monarch randomly scattered throughout the city.

Not one of them was empty of at least one person praying nearby.

To these people, the dead ruler was more than a man; he was a deity.

The only God left alive.

And perhaps for them, he really was one.

Blanc had once mentioned in passing that the Domain of Blood Xeladar was full of Imperial fanatics, but she had never imagined it would be so open, so visible, so... wrong.

Regardless of her feelings, it was pointless to dwell on it. With night drawing near, they hurried to find a decent inn where they could rest, but not before Blanc and Sera found a Merchant Company that could send letters.

So after writing for half an hour, the combined total of six letters, and with the sun already set over the horizon, they managed to find an inn that fitted their needs.

And the first thing Velakia planned to do once they finished getting comfortable was to take a bath.

She found out quickly that Sera and Tahreni shared her sentiment, so they went in together, leaving Blanc and Lendros alone in their own rooms.

The moment they entered the bathroom, Velakia, already past her limit, rushed to the first bucket she found in a corner of the room and let go of all the sickness that she had held inside her for an entire day.

Lucky for her that the two women knew about her condition, so they patiently made sure she was okay first.

“Pfaa,” Velakia gasped for air, a sense of euphoria washing over her now that the suppressed sickness was all in the bucket.

“Are you fine, Velakia?” Sera muttered, holding her straight, brown hair from getting in the way.

“I am now,” Velakia nodded, “Although the dinner we just ate is all but gone.”

“Forget it,” Sera smiled reassuringly, “It wasn’t that much food to begin with, so it isn’t that much of a loss.”

Velakia slowly got up to her feet, helped by Tahreni and Sera.

“Sirme,” she said to Tahreni before turning to Sera, “Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” Sera smiled, “Now come, let’s enjoy the water.”

With a nod, the three of them began removing all their clothes as the water artifact filled the pool built on the stone floor.

And by the time they were naked, so was the artifact done doing its job, steam slowly rising toward the ceiling.

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Once they sat down in the water and relaxed in silence for a few minutes, Sera finally broke the silence that built like steam around them.

“So, Velakia, do you think you can hide the pregnancy from my little brother much longer?” she asked curiously.

“I wish I could,” Velakia smiled, pouring water over her shoulder, “It will make things easier.”

“For him,” Sera pointed out.

“For one of us,” Velakia corrected, “I can care for myself, but he will feel obligated to somehow help me, and he won’t be able to, unless I stay.”

“And you won’t stay just for that,” Sera guessed.

Velakia plunged her head beneath the water, and when she surfaced, her once-straight hair clung and curled, lifting at her shoulders in loose waves.

“Correct,” Velakia replied.

“Velakia,” Tahreni spoke.

“Cunda se o,” Velakia replied, before turning towards Sera, “Forgive me for a minute or two, will you?”

“Speak freely, do not mind me,” Sera smiled.

With a nod, Velakia turned to her old friend.

[Translated from Iskahese.]

“What’s wrong?” Velakia asked, curious.

“You were talking about telling Blanc?” Tahreni replied with a question of her own.

Velakia’s eyes went wide. “It’s surprising that you understood, but yes.”

“I think you ought to tell him before we leave,” Tahreni muttered, “You will regret it.”

“What makes you say that?” Velakia frowned.

“The way you look at him, Velakia, you will definitely regret it,” Tahreni replied, “Tell him, or I will do it.”

“You would dare?” Velakia narrowed her eyes.

“For you? Yes,” Tahreni nodded confidently, “I saw you at your worst, and I do not want to see you there again.”

“What do you know?” Velakia stood up inside the pool, “I will decide if he knows or not, not you, friend.”

“Take it as you will,” Tahreni shrugged, turning her back to her.

Which made Velakia even angrier as she got up from the pool, grabbed her clothes, and, naked, without saying another word to either Sera or Tahreni, stormed out of the bathroom straight into Blanc and her room.

“What’s wrong?” Blanc went wide-eyed when she saw Velakia entering the room naked.

“Nothing,” Velakia sighed, throwing the clothes on the floor and moving straight towards the bed.

Blanc got up from the chair, placed the sword he was polishing back on its sheath, and went to join her.

Velakia lay on her back, looking at the ceiling as the bed squeaked next to her.

“Are you sure?” Blanc asked, placing his chin on her thigh, “You look mad.”

“I am not mad,” Velakia clenched her jaw.

“Definitely mad,” Blanc sighed, “Did Sera say something? If so, I apologize for her.”

“She did not,” Velakia replied instantly, still looking at the ceiling.

“I see, I see,” Blanc muttered, pressing his chin harder on her thigh, “But you see, I do not like seeing you moody, so how about I be the one to help you this time?”

“How can you help me with my anger?” Velakia frowned, turning her eyes towards him.

“So you were angry,” Blanc chuckled, getting to his feet.

She clicked her tongue loudly, displeased with falling into Blanc’s trap.

“You don’t have to say it if you do not want to,” Blanc explained as he removed his clothes, moving to the other end of the bed, and grabbing the cover, “But at least let me help you forget about it.”

He got under the covers between her legs and slowly started kissing her feet.

“What are you doing?” Velakia laughed, surprised, “It tickles.”

“It works already,” Blanc chuckled before going higher, kissing her thighs, and higher, and higher, until… Velakia forgot about most of anything.

By the next morning, no sickness nor anger was left in her soul as they left Levir Pasa.