Shadowed(96)
“I thought maybe you could name him your heir—you know, so you wouldn’t have to become OverChief after all.”
“The lineage wouldn’t be strong enough,” Reddix said gently, stroking her fingers with his thumb. “I know you mean well, little sister, but the clans won’t accept a ruler with such weak ties to the blood.”
“I suppose you’re right. Which is exactly the reason our mother and father didn’t want me to marry Sterx in the first place.” She sighed. “That’s why they’re not here now, you know. Sterx wanted to call them, but I wouldn’t let him. They barely speak to me anymore, and I didn’t…didn’t want them here after what happened. I didn’t want anyone but you, Reddix.”
He smiled. “I’m here, aren’t I? Forget about our parents and have the life you want. Someone in this family should, after all.”
“Poor Reddix.” Minda squeezed his hand sympathetically. “You really are dreading stepping up to become the OverChief, aren’t you?”
“He won’t have to step up after all. I’m back.” Saber stepped in the doorway. “Is it all right to come in?”
Minda smiled at him wanly. “Saber—of course you can come in. It was good of you to bring back my brother when I called for him.”
“Of course. And you know I think of you as a little sister, too.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Speaking of little sisters, is Lissa here?”
“I am.” Lissa came into the room too, which was beginning to seem a bit crowded. “Saber and I are together now, Minda. I hope you understand.”
Minda nodded. “I do, but I’m afraid most people won’t. I’m glad for your happiness, but the situation is very hard on Reddix. He has no wish to rule, even if he didn’t have RTS. And I don’t see how the people will accept a male as OverChief who is married to his own sister.”
“Um, what?” Nina asked before she thought. Up until now she’d been trying to blend into the background and just be unobtrusive, but this was too weird to be ignored.
Lissa shot Reddix a look. “She doesn’t know?”
“It didn’t exactly come up,” he growled. “We talked more about our pasts—I didn’t want to think about the future.”
“What future?” Nina asked. “What do you mean? I’m sorry, but I’m completely lost here.”
“The future where I have to agree to become the ruling OverChief of all the Touch Kindred clans because the rightful ruler, Saber, has decided to marry his own sister,” Reddix said.
“In our defense, there isn’t any real blood tie between Saber and myself,” Lissa said quickly. “We just come from the same clan. Here on Tarsia that’s considered, um, incest.”
“Incest?” Nina was still shocked.
“I’m afraid so,” Minda said weakly. “The thought of Lissa and Saber getting joined is as repulsive to our people as if Reddix and I had decided to become mates.”
Reddix made a face. “Ugh. I love you, little sister but…”
“Right.” She gave him a ghost of a smile. “The feeling’s mutual.”
“The laws here on Tarsia concerning who one is allowed to join with are very strict,” Lissa said quietly. “And strictly enforced. They even inject infants with a kinship compound at birth to make members of the same clan repugnant to each other.”
“Wow, that’s…harsh.” Nina shook her head and looked at Reddix. “So after Saber, you’re next in line for the throne? You never said you were royalty.”
“I’m not,” he growled. “I mean, it’s not like that. I just have the right blood to rule. And if the line of succession is broken this whole damn planet will erupt into civil war.”
“There’s not going to be any war,” Saber said firmly. “I’ve already spoken to my father. He’s convening a public meeting of the clan leaders tomorrow evening. Lissa and I will announce our relationship to them and any of the clansmen and women who care to come. At that time, I will tell everyone that I fully intend to take my father’s place when he steps down.”
“You’d better have an exit strategy planned then,” Reddix said grimly. “And a ship waiting to take you far, far away.”
“We’ll be fine,” Lissa said, but Nina noticed that her voice quivered. “Everything will be all right—you’ll see.”
“I hope you’re right.” Reddix sighed doubtfully. “I hope to the Goddess you’re right.”