Page 126 of The Chaosweaver's Daughter
Theirweddingdaydawnedbright, and Nes’s mama arrived as she and Ehmet rounded the front of Stormhill. Hevva and Kas had taken the twins to the creek. As much as she loved swimming, Nesrina refused to join them on the day of her handfasting. She was freshly bathed, smelling of flowers and citrus, and had no interest in wrecking her hair that Kas had so expertly dried.
Ehmet asked her to walk instead, so they did, looping the manor until they spotted a carriage crawling up the long drive.
“You’re certain it’s fine if I tell her?” Nes double-checked.
“Yes. I’d like to give her Hothan’s pension and feel odd doing that if she doesn’t know why. If you don’t tell Tamla, I will.”
“No. I don’t want you to.”
He boomed with laughter, and she grinned, shocked that she’d been contrary to the king. But he was her brother, and when it came down to it, aristocrats and commoners truly were a mixed bag.
Outgrowing her homegrown distaste for nobles and going on tobecomeone would’ve shocked Papa. But Nes was confident he’d have come around; in fact, seeing as he’d fathered the king, maybe he wouldn’t have minded at all.
Mama hadn’t even questioned her engagement; she’d been thrilled Neswas marrying for love. And Nes herself had no regrets, but also no illusions that the road ahead would be smooth. Still, she’d made headway in shifting her mindset, just like Kas made strides with his. Taryan and Thanin would figure out how to work together and potentially critique the hereditary structure of inheritance in Selwas at some point in the near future. All would be well.
“Oh, my goodness!” Mama shrieked when she opened her carriage door and came face to face with the king.
“Mrs. Kiappa,” he rumbled, extending a massive hand to help her down.
“Your Highness.” As she dipped her chin at him, her tower of gray curls bobbled, and they swayed precariously when she swung her head toward her daughter. “Nesrina!”
“Mama, it’s so great to see you.” Nes rushed forward, and the two of them met in a warm embrace as Ehmet closed up the carriage and pointed the coachman around back.
“Where is he? Where’s your handsome duke?”
Face heating as Ehmet laughed, Nes explained he was out at the creek with his sister and the twins.
“I guess that will have to come next. I can’t wait to meet him. Your papa always spoke so highly of him.‘That young Kahoth boy, he’s sharp, but our Nesrina’d give him a run for his money.’”
Nes blinked. “You’re teasing me.”
“I’m not,” Mama swore earnestly. “He wrote to your duke for years. You didn’t know?”
With a huff, Nesrina tossed her hands in the air. “No, I didn’t know. Not until recently and obviously not all of it!”
“Ah, that’s a conversation for later, when I meet your Lord Kahoth.” She turned her attention to Ehmet, pointing at him. “You, come here.” With a crooked finger, she beckoned him over. Then she gestured between him and Nes.
Nesrina squinted at her mother.No. There’s no way...
“No,” Ehmet murmured, disbelief evident in his voice.
Mama’s round, freckled cheeks grew rosy as her smile spread. “Ah,good. You already know then.”
“Assuming we’re speaking of—”
“Hothan and your mother, yes.” Untroubled, she cut Ehmet off. “I’ve beendyingto speak to you both about it for years now, but my dear departed husband swore me to secrecy, said I had to take it to the grave.” She rolled her eyes. “I figured it had come out after your fuss over the Crown. In hindsight, it was quite obvious why your brother came by asking questions.”
“Oh!” Nes had missed that clue.
“I thought it was odd, especially when he didn’t visit the Rashoolis. I sorted it out eventually.”
Nes laughed, pulling her mama against her side as they stood in the shade offered by Ehmet. She couldn’t believe she didn’t have to explain the difficult details. She couldn’t believe how much Mamahadn’tshared. That rankled, but Nes understood; life got in the way, and Mama had good reasons to keep things to herself. Kas had the same issue. She tried not to take it personally, from either of them. There wasn’t a quick fix with her mother, but with Kas, they’d started having nightly chats to make sure secrets didn’t take root.
“You look so much like him,” her mama gushed, lifting her hand up to Ehmet’s cheek.
“I do?”
“Oh, yes. Those eyes, like Nes’s, too. When your mama told Hothan, he was furious that he’d wasted all those years not knowing. He wanted to speak with you about it. He loved you, but she swore him to secrecy, said if he ever breathed a word, she’d have him killed. I know she only said it to protect the kingdom, because you’re a good leader, Ehmet. But if she hadn’t passed before him, I’d be blaming her for that mugging that took him from us.”
