Harvest of Ancient Sorrows
Preview Chapters 10-12
**By reading these chapters you are legally bound to provide constructive criticism of the first 12 chapters of Harvest of Ancient Sorrows. Just kidding, please enjoy these chapters which are provided sans professional editing. But really, if you see something going off the rails plot wise, say something.
Chapter 10
Outside Kerma City, Zoru, An 5660, Day 70
Masako stopped drawing, her undivided attention going to where Emperor Octavius met with the visitor at the center of the tent. A man with a top knot, wearing a gray silk kimono, bowed to the emperor. On her knees, she inched toward the men, stopping when her minder raised an eyebrow. She settled back and tilted her head, trying to hear better. Thankfully, Benu, the emperor’s wind singer, did not hide the conversation from her.
His voice scratchy, the Yuhi Ambassador to Kerma said, “Your Majesty. I’m sorry for the delay, but it took time to locate the only shinobi clan working on the continent of Kemet.”
“That’s odd. Why would such a valuable resource not work directly for the Shogun?”
The ambassador shrugged. “The shinobi are a world unto themselves. Often, the clans war with one another. A long time ago, one of them, facing destruction, fled to Kemet.” He held his arms wide, palms out. “As you know, the Shogun has never interfered in Kemet’s politics. But.” He stopped and let the word hang.
The emperor narrowed his eyes. “Are you saying that has changed?”
“I am still waiting for the Shogun’s response to the fact that you are holding his granddaughter hostage.” The ambassador gave a slight bow of his head. “I implore you to release her to me immediately. This misunderstanding can still be rectified.”
The emperor leaned forward and waved toward Masako. “The princess is free to leave once you deliver what I want.”
The ambassador’s head turned toward her with a grim smile. She mouthed, ‘Pin?’ in Nipponese. The older man blinked his acknowledgment before turning back to the emperor.
Please, be true, she thought, hoping that Miss Louisa had received her message.
“And what do you want?”
A condescending smile flashed over Emperor Octavius’s face. “Soon, the Earthlings will deliver the weapons needed to defeat the reapers. When that happens, I want your assassins to sneak into the Earthling’s manufacturing facility.” His smile disappeared. “They are to steal the secret to making these things called bullets. In addition, they should bring me anyone involved in the production process.”
The ambassador sighed. “Is that all?”
The emperor turned a fiery gaze on Masako. “Kill the rest of the Earthlings.”
Death shot from Masako’s stare, and Emperor Octavius sneered in response.
“You are asking for the impossible.”
Sneer still in place, the emperor’s eyes flicked back to the ambassador. “You must not value the princess as much as I thought.” He shrugged. “I wonder how the Shogun will take your indifference.”
The ambassador’s jaws clenched. “I will do as you wish. Send word when the weapons are delivered. I will take my leave now.”
With a less deep bow, the ambassador spun and stomped out of the tent.
Masako picked up her charcoal stick when a babiakhom stepped before the emperor. She picked up her clipboard and piece of parchment.
“Hail Octavius.” The babiakhom bowed his head for a second. “You requested me.”
The emperor stepped off his temporary high stool throne and stretched his arms wide. “Djoser, you will go with General Kinya’s expedition. The Earthling’s leader, Dr. McGehee, will lead the Kerman contingent. Learn the man’s habits. Be ready to kidnap or kill him on my word.”
Masako clenched her fists. How much more of this man’s evil would she be forced to witness? Once again, she reached out to the unseen force she doubted existed. Still, if, by chance, there really existed an eternal, righteous being who sat in judgment of everyone, then it would not hurt to pray for the emperor’s death once more.
Djoser asked, “And when this mission is complete? Will my contract be fulfilled? I did not sign up to fight reapers.”
The emperor chuckled. “You were hired, along with Iskur, to bring me an Earthling or to deal with them permanently.” He spread his arms and looked around the tent. “Where is my Earthling?” He thrust his finger at the babiakhom. “You’ll hold up your end of the bargain or pray you die trying.”
The babiakhom stepped backward, his large lips pulling into his mouth and coming out glistening. “Understood. I will do as you command.”
The emperor brushed him away. After Djoser left, the emperor began walking her way. Masako scrambled to grab her sketch, attempting to flip it over.
“Hold,” the emperor commanded.
Masako froze. Her eyes darted to her drawing of the emperor. At eight, she wasn’t a good artist but wasn’t bad either. The portrait showed a disfigured man with three horns sitting on a stool. The demon-like-man’s forked tongue flicked from his mouth. She was most proud of that tongue.
Emperor Octavius’s gaze lit upon her sketch, and he clucked his tongue. He ensured that Masako’s eyes were on him, and then he slapped her minder across the face.
The middle-aged woman fell to her side. With her nose bleeding, she began to cry while groveling at the emperor’s feet. “Forgive me, Your Majesty.” Sobbing, she tried to bury her face further in the carpet. “I deserve to die. Allow me to be an instrument of your light.”
“Princess, this woman’s life is now in your hands. Mock me again, and you will watch Shemush make her beg for release.”
Masako shuddered. Memories of the pain inflicted on her by the giant wolf-man caused a whimper to escape her lips. Masako had no love for this woman, but no one deserved to feel that kind of pain. No one except for the Emperor of Remus.
Her eyes drifted to the ground, and she nodded. “I’ll be good.”
Chapter 11
Kerma City, Zoru, An 5660, Day 71
Louisa grabbed Khepri’s thick wrist and tugged at her. The massive wolfwoman didn’t budge. “Let’s go Khepri. I need to work out some frustration.”
Khepri’s heavy hand patted Louisa on the head. “Calm down. We’ll get there with plenty of time. I just need to check if Hemmetrre needs anything.”
It wasn’t a coincidence. At first, Louisa thought it happenstance that Khepri sometimes treated her the way a human might treat his pet dog. Now positive her big friend did it to amuse herself, Louisa knocked the black-padded hand off her head and frowned at the hysakas.
Khepri chuckled and gave her one of those unnerving canine winks. Then she turned and yelled in Greek down the hall, “Pack sister, is there anything you need me to pick up while I’m out?”
Hemmetrre’s brown-furred head, with her black mask and unique eyes, one blue and one brown, poked around a corner. She said in Greek, “I’ve got anotherr one of thosse crravingss.” She lifted her foxlike snout and sniffed three times. “Missss Louissa, you need to mmate that mman of yourrss. Even I can smmell the frrusstrration.”
Khepri growled. “Leave her alone Hemm, and stop being so crude. Now, what craving are you having this time? I’m not sure I can find any pickled azorric fish.” Khepri leaned down and whispered to Louisa, her lips curling in disgust. “Stinks like fresh bata dung.”
“But it tasstess like sspiccy peachess, Big Siss.” The handless stirithy waved her stump in a shooing motion. “Don’t forget like lasst timme.”
Khepri shook her head. “She never lets me forget.” Then to Hemmetrre she said, “I won’t. Be back in a few hours.”
Louisa huffed and led the way outside. “We’re going to be late.”
Her giant friend’s feet slapped the cobblestones, and in seconds, she caught up with Louisa, who began to jog to keep up with the hysakas’s long strides.
Moving her arms faster, Louisa picked up the pace. She needed to warm up anyway, and a good run would help. She wasn’t sure she could calm herself enough to do the yoga forms. That blasted man. No man made her wait.
In ten minutes, they’d crossed the former college campus and entered the area set aside for Kalari training. Even with all that had been going on, Louisa insisted on reinstating her martial education a few days after the battle. With Ben and Lance Duffadar Ram soon to leave, the Kalari master assured her that one of the other lancers would continue to lead her lessons.
The Guru Ram motioned her to one of the six sparring circles where he stood. Others were already grappling or trading blows. Esther and Umrao were going at it hard while Abu walked through some moves with the young welven girl Ningal. And next to the guru stood the source of her agitation. The Good Doctor, Louisa spat the thought.
Ben hadn’t been to one of the practices for several weeks. Khepri moved to the side of those sparring and folded her arms. She never participated and only came to help heal any injuries.
Ben waved as she jogged into the ring, and he said, “Good morning.”
Louisa narrowed her eyes at him and said, “Is it? I hope you’re ready.”
“I won’t ask you to take it easy on me.” Chuckling, Ben stepped over the sandbags that marked the circle.
Lance Duffadar Ram said, “I’ll leave you to it.” He started shouting instructions toward one of the other pairs of pupils.
Louisa thought, He won’t be able to ignore me today, as she went into her fighting stance, placing her left foot a little in front of her right. “I’ve been waiting for this,” she hissed.
“Waiting for what?” Ben jumped back as she launched her first series of strikes.
Louisa’s foot came back from just missing his midsection. Always shorter than all her opponents except Esther, she knew she needed to get in close and rushed toward him. She led with a front kick, which he blocked. Stepping forward, she bent low and aimed a right hook at his hip. Ben brought his elbow down just in time to thwart that strike.
He countered with a half-hearted left jab, and Louisa bounced back, bobbing her head under the second weak jab. He is playing with me, she seethed inside.
She darted in like before, but instead of carrying out her blows, she swept his leg with hers, sending him stumbling. Rolling over her shoulder, she came up next to his supporting leg, which she grabbed. With a yank, he sprawled in the dirt. As he struggled to rise, she hit his scar with a right cross, and a jolt of satisfaction flowed through her at the contact.
Ben’s head recoiled from the blow, and he grunted, his eyes glazing.
Still on her knees, she tried to wrap her legs around Ben’s arm. With his eyes narrowing, he twisted faster than she could follow and bounced back to his feet. He shook his head, and those blue eyes that had been making her beyond mad sparked back to life.
Louisa hopped to her feet and sneered at him. Did that hurt? Not enough.
With a rush, she closed the distance again. An angry snarl rose in her throat as she slung the toe of her booted foot toward his thigh. Ben stepped forward, but instead of wrapping his arm around her leg from the top, he came under her knee and lifted her leg up, pulling it to his side.
About to be dumped on her head, Louisa grabbed his shirt and jumped up and forward, wrapping her other leg around his waist. The surprise in his eyes urged her anger forward. Intent on ending the fight, she bobbed her head back and let it spring forward, aiming for his nose.
An intense pain jerked her head back. She tried again, but Ben’s fingers, embedded deep in her hair, held her in place. A cocky crooked grin spread across his face. She slapped that grin away.
His cheek burning red, he unlocked her leg and, with his now free hand, grabbed her wrist, twisting it to a stop. She pulled back to hit him as hard as she could with her unencumbered fist.
Ben fell forward, his whole-body slamming Louisa onto the sand. The breath whooshed out of her. Eyes bulging, she tried to breathe, tried to move as he unlocked her hair. While she lay stunned under his weight, he wrapped up her other wrist in his hand.
Sweet air entered her lungs, and she sucked in a huge breath. She headbutted Ben’s chin, and his grip on her wrists loosened. Like a snake flowing through rocks, she squirmed from under him, freeing one of her arms. She scrambled to get away, but he pulled her down, jerking her arm behind her back. With both on their knees, she replied using a three-finger jab straight to his ribs. Ben grunted and pulled her jab arm around his waist, then clamped it tight under his armpit.
Louisa bobbed her head back to headbutt him again, but with his hand now free, he snagged her hair with his fingers. “Argh,” she yelped.
She thrashed back and forth, trying to weaken his hold. All the while, she tried to knee his manhood, but Ben didn’t seem to notice.
That a man restrained her like this made her feel helpless and brought back one of her worst memories. He grinned, but his eyes were still an angry blue.
This will not stand, she thought as she pinched his back and side hard. Ben grimaced, and she said, “Ready to give up?”
Grin returning, he yanked on her hair, holding her head all the way back. That horrible moment from long ago crashed into her. The memories of the pain and terror that crazy bastard had caused her a decade before sent her into a rage.
Ben leaned in, and his breath brushed her ear. “Surrender.”
No! Louisa twisted her head, accepting the pain of her hair being pulled from its roots. She bit his lip. Hard. Her rage relented, and her teeth unlatched only when she’d elicited a painful moan from Ben. She blinked, staring into blue eyes full of hurt, not the sadistic brown of her long-ago tormentor.
His head pulled back, lips bloody. The sight of the injury washed away all of Louisa’s fight. What have I done?
As his watering stare solidified to ice, the corner of his bleeding mouth turned up on one side while the other stayed flat.
“On your feet,” Ram shouted. “Enough.”
The angry blue in Ben’s stare softened to something else. Something that she desired to emote from him even if she didn’t understand what it meant.
Superfast, Ben let go and jumped. He left her on her knees as he backed away, two fingers going to his mouth. He inspected the blood for a second, then peered down at her, searching her eyes. Louisa rubbed her wrists, then the back of her head. Ben didn’t fight fair, but neither did she. Where has this passion been?
“I think that’s enough for today. I have work to do.” He held his hand out, helping her to her feet, then went to Khepri.
After the life singer mended his lip and other unseen bruises, Ben headed toward his office in the main academic building. She stepped beside Khepri, watching him go, and thought, What must I do to keep your attention?
A big hand-paw went to Louisa’s shoulder. Khepri’s warm healing magic flowed to every ache and pain, wiping them away.
“I hope the two of you mate soon. That was frightening to watch.” Khepri, her mouth jaws opening and closing with each syllable, chuckled deep in her throat.
Louisa narrowed her eyes as Ben disappeared. “Mate? I’d be happy with a kiss. At this point, I’d settle for holding hands.”
Khepri’s snout swung back and forth. “Men.”
Chapter 12
Kerma City, Zoru, An 5660, Day 71
Ssherrss grumbled, “We will have five rrollss of wirre rready to go with you.”
Ben pointed at Jeevan’s notepad, “Please ensure the Kermans give us enough wagons to carry all the supplies. We need two teams of horses for each one.”
The duffadar’s head bobbed up and down. “Will do.” He finished scribbling and looked up. “Anything else?”
At the far end of the table, Abu stared at a wall, his gaze empty as he licked his lips. Disinterested? Distracted? Ben couldn’t tell and chided himself for not checking on his son enough.
Before he could feel too inadequate as a parent, lemon, and lavender tickled his nose. Since the morning’s sparring match had devolved into a real fight, Ben tried to understand what had happened. He stole a look at Louisa. Sitting as close as their chairs allowed, she pursed her lips and glanced away.
Like a bolt of lightning turning sand to glass, his understanding of the problem crystallized. She had been trying to get his attention. Her sharp tongue and near-constant anger towards him these past days mimed the little boy who pulled the ponytail of a girl he liked.
Bad analogy, Ben thought. I was the one pulling hair this morning.
The truth of this realization spurred his heart to race. He had to find the proper way to respond to her frustration. If only he knew what to say. He’d have to hit this problem head-on and hope the words came when needed.
Ben blew out a nervous breath and forced himself back to reality. “Progress on our special project?” Ben asked, looking at Lance Duffadar Ram.
The skinny man grinned. “We had our first successful stress test yesterday. The training crews had a few suggestions to better stabilize the gun’s carriage. We should be able to go into full production in five days.”
Ben’s mind raced with the implications. This one advancement might be the difference between victory and defeat. Slow down, cowboy. Ben drummed his fingers on the table, continuing to think. There are hundreds of variables that might determine the outcome, and these new guns won’t matter if we don’t have enough of them.
“Ssherrss, how many can your teams build? Ram, how many crews can be trained in the timeframe we have?”
From across the table, the stirithy yawned, showing his sharp foxlike teeth. “Ssorrrry, not ssleeping mmuch. Ass ssoon ass the otherrss arrrrive from Grrommerrk, I will expand the teamm.” Two of his thumbs scratched behind a pointy, brownish-red ear tipped by black whiskers. “Fifty.”
Jeevan scribbled on his pad as Louisa put her elbow on the table, touching Ben’s arm in the process.
Lance Duffadar Ram said, “I’ll be hard-pressed to field fifty crews. It’s not just the men. It’s horses, too.” Ram rubbed the thin triangular tuft of beard on the bottom of his chin. “If I put Umrao in charge, we can do it.”
Louisa raised an eyebrow. “He’s your youngest. Why him?”
A sly grin formed on Ram’s face. “Dimaerites Esther has had an incredible effect on Sowar Singh. He is my most focused and driven soldier now.”
Louisa chuckled. “Men and their egos.”
It was Ben’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
She shook her head and patted his forearm, her voice patronizing. “Men can’t stand coming in second to women. Especially their woman.”
Ben harumphed and whispered under his breath. “Says the biggest ego in the room.”
Louisa’s head twisted a smidge, and she eyeballed him from the corner of her eye. “Did you say something?”
Ben painted virtue on his face and laced his reply with innocence, “Nope.” He smiled his best, crooked grin as he stared into those gorgeous brown eyes so full of ferocity.
Pursing her lips again, she narrowed her eyes at him for a beat before her tight mouth eased into an amused smile.
God, I love that smile. With great effort, Ben pried his gaze from her to address the table, “Can Chib do as good of a job as Umrao? Umrao has been training the dragoons and should come with Lance Duffadar Ram and I.”
Ram frowned and said, “Yes. Chib can have the crews ready.”
Ben nodded. “Good, let’s move on. Bullet production is going well. Compartmentalization is working, and we should double the amount of primary chemicals needed by the end of the week.”
“How much will you make?” Louisa asked.
“We’ll only keep enough inventory to make a million bullets after this initial run. We’ll keep making bullets, but just enough to replace what is being used. If the facility is seized and they know the final recipe, they’d have an advantage, but it wouldn’t be unstoppable.” Ben lowered his voice. “We’ve also taken measures which would destroy the processing facilities and storage tanks in that scenario.”
Ssherrss pushed back from the table and hopped off his too-tall-for-him chair. “It’ss late. I musst check on the fammily and get a few hourrss of ssleep.”
Looking spryer than he should, Jeevan smiled and stood. “I have a few items to take care of myself.”
Ben’s brow furrowed. “Make sure you get some shut-eye. Understand.”
Jeevan snapped a salute. “Yes, sir, Captain Ben. I’ll be in bed shortly.” He winked at Ben before following Ssherrss and Lance Duffadar Ram out of the meeting room.
Ben blew out a long, frustrated breath. Jeevan’s carousing brought out a false bravado and cockiness in the duffadar that Ben needed for the fight to come. As much as he didn’t like it, he preferred this to the heartbroken, hungover version of the man,
Louisa’s fingers tapped louder, and Abu woke from his daydream, a faint smile still lingering.
A thought occurred to Ben, and he wrote some new to-do items in the small notebook he kept in his pocket. His almost unreadable scratched handwriting made him wish he’d worked harder on his penmanship during elementary school. When he wrote in Greek, he had to write every letter with slow, deliberate strokes to make it legible.
The tempo of Louisa’s tapping picked up.
“I need to go back to the library,” said Abu as he stood.
“Alright, don’t be too late. Miss Rabia wasn’t happy last night because we didn’t eat while the food was hot.” Louisa waved.
“See you soon.” Ben smiled and bent back to his to-do list.
Within seconds of Abu walking out of the room, Louisa put her hand on his wrist to stop his note-taking. “That can wait.”
Mid-word, Ben stopped his pencil. His gaze still locked on the notebook, he breathed in her scent. I agree, he thought. There is something I need to address.
He placed the pencil on the table above the small book and covered her hand with his as he met her fierce brown eyes. Olive cheeks reddening, Louisa’s face grew stern, and her grip on his wrist tightened.
Ben reached for her chin with his finger and thumb. She jerked her head away.
When she glanced back, her eyes smoldered, a glow that did not match the anguish in her voice. “Why have you been ignoring me?”
“Sometimes, I’m an idiot.”
“Sometimes? Are you blind as well? I’m not sure I could be more obvious.” She blushed and looked away.
Ben again took hold of her chin, lifting it until her eyes locked onto his. With all the conviction he held in his heart, he said, “Louisa Sophia. I love you.” Her eyes sparkled at his words, and her lips parted as he said, “May I kiss you?”
Her lips quirked at the corners, and she touched his scarred cheek. “Benjamin Moore McGehee. Don’t you ever make me wait this long again.”
Ben leaned in without caring if she meant the words, the kiss, or both. His hand moved to her face, palm covering her cheek and ear, his fingers burying themselves into her midnight hair. Louisa’s mouth rushed to meet his, their lips coming together in an inebriating swirl of love, tasting of dates and honey. Her arms wrapped around him, pulling him close.
Frustrated that the chairs kept them apart, he stood, stooping to keep his lips on hers. His free hand went to the small of her back, helping her to stand. He twisted his head to the other side, her tongue seeking out his as he crushed her against his body.
__________________________
Abu shook his head. He’d been so lost in his excitement–– or was it nervousness ––to see Ningal that he’d forgotten one of his books on the table. After learning about Abu’s lamentations research, Thoresten gave him a copy of another Aaruan treatise on the subject. The need for translation help was the excuse he needed to see her. It would be too obvious if he showed up without it.
Turning around, Abu headed back to the meeting room. All the while, his thoughts churned at taking that next step with the gorgeous welf. As soon as he started feeling confident in his decision, doubts or thoughts of Zanna reared their ugly and beautiful heads.
He cracked open the door and stopped, rooted to the floor, his eyes bulged. Dr. Ben held Miss Louisa in a passionate embrace. They were kissing. Not just kissing. They were full-on necking. Abu darted behind the door jamb, putting his back to the wall. Embarrassed, his face flushed warm, but his heart soared.
Miss Louisa and Dr. Ben deserved to be happy. His book would need to wait. At least he now had an excuse to tell Ningal. And it would make her smile. Her smile made his stomach flutter. The sooner he left, the sooner he could see that smile.
Abu started to leave but spared another glance through the opening and paused again. Still in each other’s arms, the couple had broken apart. Abu could see Miss Louisa’s face tilted up, and he heard her breathy words.
“You’ve made me wait long enough. I wasn’t sure before. Scared maybe. But now I am.” She swallowed. “I want you to be my first.”
Dr. Ben began to reply but went speechless.
Miss Louisa rushed forward at his awkwardness. “I can’t get pregnant. Khepri’s magic paused my cycle.”
Dr. Ben and Abu’s heads bounced backward in unison. Abu felt double the heat rise to his cheeks. He’d never thought he would hear such intimate things discussed by the two most important adults in his life. He needed to give them their privacy and turned away when he heard Dr. Ben’s reply, and Abu froze.
“You deserve more.”
Abu couldn’t help himself and spun around.
They’d stepped farther apart. Dr. Ben held both of Miss Louisa’s hands in his. “Let’s wait.”
Miss Louisa’s back stiffened, the pain of rejection on her face. She broke free from his hands and pointed toward the door. “Go.” Her voice rose. “Get out. You have more important things to do.” She turned her back on him.
Abu held his breath.
Dr. Ben reached for her shoulder, and she spun around, tears on her cheeks.
In a low whisper, she said, “Go.”
Dr. Ben stepped forward and grabbed her hands again. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Her face and shoulders slumped, but he continued, his voice soft and firm. “Look at me. Please.”
Sad eyes looked at Dr. Ben as he said, “I want more.”
Miss Louisa’s brow furrowed. “I’m not enough?”
“You are more than I deserve. My love for you. My desire.” Dr. Ben grinned. “Right now, I feel like I’m going to combust. That’s what you do to me.”
She whispered, “Then.”
Dr. Ben shook his head, stopping her words. “My dream is to be more than your first. I want to be your only, and I want you to be my last.”
A soft gasp escaped from Miss Louisa as Dr. Ben continued. “You are too important to me to give you anything less.” He leaned down, brushed his lips to hers, and pulled back. “When we’re safe, I want to make your dreams and mine come true.”
“But what if?” Miss Louisa’s voice cracked.
With a rueful smile, Dr. Ben said, “Then, it wasn’t meant to be, and that honor should go to the man God deems worthy of your love.” He flashed a cockeyed grin. “Enough of that.”
He kissed her again and paused, staring into her eyes.
Nodding, Miss Louisa, her voice husky, said, “And until the war is over?”
Dr. Ben’s answer was a kiss as he pulled her closer.
Head reeling, Abu eased the door closed and rushed outside.
What did he want? Dying a virgin seemed so unimportant right now. It hadn’t occurred to him until he heard Dr. Ben's words. If he took that next step with Ningal, she would become his first. Would he be her first? He thought so. If there could only be one first, was she the one he wanted to hold that place of honor for the rest of his life?
No, Abu thought, his heart belonged to someone else. Zanna.
I want to be her first and for her to be mine.
Abu shook his head. But I can never be her only.
Loving an immortal had a real drawback in that way. It didn’t make sense for her to be Abu’s only or his last. Besides, he’d probably never see Zanna again. He turned onto the path to the library, his emotions still in turmoil, unsure how he would deal with Ningal.
Regardless of all his uncertainty, he stood firm on this one decision; until he loved another girl as much or more than Zanna, Abu reserved that corner of his heart for her.