The Ilia's lovers - Chapter Six

Please be aware, this is a first draft of The Ilia's Lovers. That means this hasn't been edited. There will be multiple errors and even consistency errors. Feel free to share comments highlighting them, but you don't need to contact me personally, unless you see a major consistency error. Please also remember, this book has been written in three parts across three different years due to the health concerns I've had since 2023. Thanks for understanding.

‘Minister Sinarti, Minister Zar’Halas. It’s good to see you both. Adiyan, Amarie.’

Corthan Sinarti and Cavan Zar’Halas both bowed, followed by Adiyan and Amarie.

Corthan Sinarti was a hereditary peer of Corus, and the representative for the region. He wore his family history and nobility like a smug shroud around him, acting like he was better than every other person he met.

Dahnus loathed him.

Dahnus hated Adiyan because of the way he’d hurt Hadith when their relationship ended, cowing to his father’s demands for a better class of lover for his heir.

Both Corthan’s adalan and caya partner died when his caya wife gave birth to their adalan son Demenzin nineteen years previously. It was common knowledge that Corthan loathed his common wife, Ilali, and untitled adalan lover He hated them almost as much as he loved inheriting Dezien and Ilali’s wealth. Rumour had it that Corthan made his wife and adalan’s lives hell for the entirety of their marriage. When Ilali died, Dezian didn’t want to continue on alone with Corthan and killed himself, leaving their children in the hands of their father.

‘Any idea how you’re voting today?’ Dahnus asked.

‘I haven’t decided,’ Cavan said. ‘I’m here to listen to arguments and make up my mind.’

‘My love, surely, you’ll vote no. This bill is a joke,’ Amarie said with a mocking tilt to her voice.

‘It’s not a joke to the adalan we brought back from the Myardahl homeworld,’ Aran said. ‘Or to those of us who’ve been abused because of Adalmis’s. A place we should have been safe.’

Corthan’s face tensed, even as he forced a smile on his face.

‘You’ll have your say on the floor, Minister Thalos.’

‘Minister Darl Thalos,’ Aran corrected.

‘I’m surprised you bear your alleged abuser’s name, Minister Darl Thalos,’ Amarie Zar’Halas said, placing the emphasis on Thalos.

‘I don’t bear my abuser’s name. I bear my husband's name. I bear his family name, an old and honourable family. One abomination doesn’t undo a family’s entire legacy.’

Dahnus didn’t stop himself from chuckling and smiling. He stepped closer to Aran, in a show of support, tugging Hadith with him.

Amarie’s smile became brittle, enmity entering her gaze, along with distaste.

‘Amarie.’

It was simply her name. Yet Amarie Zar’Halas turned to her husband, her face changing from hostility to chagrin.

‘My apologies, Minister Darl Thalos. I promise you; you have my ear. I will listen to the arguments and judge their merit for myself.’

Aran nodded his thanks.

Zar’Halas was one of the few members of the First Chamber Dahnus trusted to make a fair decision, though there were times he definitely leaned into his own agendas. Marrying Amarie Zar’Halas for example. Dahnus knew he chose the Sinati family to ally to because they were ancient, rich and shared many beliefs. He knew he also chose the Sinarti family because unlike most Amarans, Zar’Halas loathed the idea of sharing his female even with an adalan. He chose an adala so he could have her all to himself.

Sometimes, however, Dahnus got the impression he regretted his choice of female.

Several bells rang out across the chamber.

‘Excuse me, my Ilan. We must go to the floor for the debate and vote.’ Aran bowed, then left, followed by Corthan and Cavan.

Adiyan and Amarie excused themselves, leaving Dahnus and Hadith alone.

They stood and watched the chamber assemble.

It took a few minutes for everyone to find their place, sit and quiet, before the speaker of the First Chamber stood and called the Chamber to order.

‘By the grace of the Ilan, Dahnus Idalan Kaith Qualtus Vardi Ascendi the Fourteenth, I call the house to order. Our Ilan is in attendance,’ the speaker, Istam Arshi, said, turning to Dahnus and bowing deeply.

‘Oh, how the First Chamber love their trappings and tradition,’ Dahnus murmured.

The whole house turned and bowed to Dahnus for the second time, who nodded back, giving them permission to continue with their business.

‘Speaker, before we move to the business of the day, I have disturbing news.’

‘Vatari,’ Hadith growled.

‘He knows,’ Dahnus said, his eyes meeting Vatari’s and seeing the smug grin barely hidden by performative outrage.

Dahnus signalled Elithan who came over.

‘Call Marstam, tell him to get the documents for mental health capacity ready for the human.’

Elithan nodded and disappeared, his comm wrist rising to his mouth as he moved.

The speaker gave Quennen Vatari permission to speak.

Vatari walked over to the podium which sat beneath the speaker’s throne and turned towards the First Chamber.

‘I have been informed that the Ilan has a member of the human terrorist’s ship hidden in the palace. One of the engineers, no less. A female who must have known the human plan to blow up the IGC. In case anyone has forgotten, tens of thousands of lives were lost in that explosion. I call on the Ilan to justify his actions and turn the human over to the IGC so that she can be charged for her crimes.’

The face of the human jumped into Dahnus’s mind. Small, delicate, beautiful. She cried because Dahnus showed her kindness and mercy. He would be damned if he betrayed her now to these baying olwons.

Shocked gasps filled the chamber. There were thoughtful looks as well, people watching him, assessing him.

Dahnus turned to the speaker who, now Vatari was ceding his position at the podium, was standing.

‘My Ilan. Would you like to make a statement?’

Dahnus nodded silently. Turning, he moved his thumb to Hadith’s chin and lifted it, kissing his full lips and feeling the sizzle of desire that was eternal when he touched, looked upon or made love to his adalan.

With that, two of Hadith’s private guards took his place, flanking his heart.

Dahnus moved along the balcony and descended the golden carved steps down to the lower level. He walked through the archway and descended through the seats into the oval of the First Chamber and walked over to the podium.

 ‘By taking this action, you tell the IGC we stand with their enemies,’ Vatari said before Dahnus could open his mouth.

Dahnus turned to look at Vatari.

He really had lost weight. His normally tailored clothes hung loose upon his form. His cheeks were sunken, his eyes shadowed. He looked hungry, for blood as well as for food.

‘No.’ Dahnus said, staring into Vatari’s eyes. ‘This action tells the IGC we have empathy for those abused and traumatised. Ensign Elaine Franklin was bought by a Devori scientist who experimented on her. When his experiments failed on her, he tortured her for his own deviant pleasures.’ Dahnus looked around the chamber, into the eyes of his allies and his enemies. ‘I will not hand over a survivor of such trauma for any reason.’

‘The IGC believes they have ample evidence to convict the humans. What evidence do you have that they are not the ones responsible for this reprehensible crime?’ Cavan Zar’Halas asked.

‘I do not have evidence,’ Dahnus said truthfully. All of the evidence was with Thanesh. ‘I do not know who committed that act. Until the IGC has an investigation we have only rumours and hearsay. That is beside the point. Ensign Franklin has sanctuary until such time as she chooses to leave.’

‘You know that the IGC will start proceedings to extradite her,’ Cavan said.

‘They may do whatever they wish. Under Amaran law, a person has the right to meet their accusers in perfect health. That includes mental health. Ensign Franklin is deeply traumatised. Therefore, under our law, we do not have to hand her over to anyone, for any reason.’

Murmurs sounded through the chamber.

Dahnus let out an audible sigh. It was enough to quiet the Chamber.

‘Ministers of the First Chamber. I understand we are all overwrought since the events of the IGC. I know there are many who want to call an end to our alliance with the Tessans for their support of the humans. I know that there are those who wish to leave the IGC to stand with the Tessans and humans. We are not going to answer these things tonight. We can, however, listen to Minister Aran Darl Thalos’s motion. I suggest we get back on topic and wait for the IGC to make their application for extradition.

Vatari stood to talk and was immediately told to sit by the speaker.

‘I agree with the Ilan. We will not get anything about this done tonight. There is no point talking about it. Let’s get back to the reason we’re all here.’

Dahnus turned and nodded to the speaker, thanking him. The speaker bowed and, because he did, Dahnus had to turn and endure another round of bows from the First Chamber and the people in the gallery above.

With that nonsense out of the way, Dahnus returned to Hadith’s side, pulling him close.

‘Minister Aran Darl Thalos to the podium please,’ the speaker said.

Dahnus and Hadith moved closer to the balustrade and watched Aran take his place.