One hundred and five: It's a bet

MATURE CONTENT WARNING: CONTAINS ADULT THEMES AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.

Alfie raised his glass toward me with a grin and downed everything in it.

His neighbour looked at me expectantly.

"Office worker with the five o'clock shadow and eyebrow tic," I announced and the man shook his head. "I first saw you at Heartly Train Station on the day of the Invasion and you used the same disguise later when you were trying to track and kill me months later in the city. You were nice enough to tell your team not to kill Mr Raring later when you kidnapped us. For that, I am grateful. Matthias O'Reilly, grandson of the great woodsman Hannesey O'Reilly who coined the O'Reilly phrase: 'never say 'Oh really' to an O'Reilly'. You belong to the Sunbear Tribe, but for some reason picked up one of my origami dogs as your talisman."

The man pulled out an old, tattering origami dog from his breast pocket and held it up for all to see, draining his glass.

Around the table, I continued, dredging the depths of my memory. I had to stall for a bit more time every now and then, with which Kiran helped me, feeding me bites in between statements or pausing me to have a sip of juice. But I managed to recall all of them.

My head throbbed when I was done and Kiran pulled me toward him into a loose hug, letting me lean against him for a moment while I recollected myself from the dusty halls of my memory banks.

"And that, gentlemen," he raised his glass toward them and they all raised their glasses in salute, "is my dignity regained and reputation restored. Fork up, please. My woman just had a shopping spree and I need to regain my losses."

The other officers grumbled a bit, but pulled the bank notes out of their pockets. It looked like they had come prepared. Some of them were still shaking their heads at me. The entree dishes were removed at the same time.

"It's a good thing that you didn't spend as much as you threatened you might have," Kiran told me, gathering his money with a smile that encircled his face. "Iain tells me you didn't buy quite as much as you could have and perhaps, should have, seeing as you have nothing of your own at the moment. You stopped Eleanor from convincing you to buy more, and so my lady, all this money, is yours. You earned it. You may spend it as you see fit."

That left me momentarily speechless, giving Kiran the opportunity to steal another deep kiss from me.

"You'll have to keep it for me for now," I pushed Kiran's hand holding the notes back toward him. "I've nowhere to put it all."

"I could think of a few places," Kiran hinted and I hid my face behind the serviette again, while the table laughed.

"To Lady Jean and our Lord Kiran," stood Matt, raising his glass to Kiran and myself. Everyone scrambled to stand and raise their glasses. I was amongst the last to rise. "May they have long life, good health and a houseful of children."

The officers echoed the toast and sipped from their glasses. I sipped at mine too, but at Kiran's nudge, followed his lead to drink it dry.

We resumed our seats amidst chatter and laughter. The main course meal arrived and I inhaled the smells of good food. Kiran smiled and whispered in my ear.

"Remember, fifty chews per mouthful. I'm watching you."

I did as I was told.

~~~

The meal finished two hours later with multiple toasts. First to the chieftains of Boskyland. Second to those who had fallen in the war. Third to their ancestors and their sacrifices. Fourth to the future of Boskyland. And lastly, multiple toasts to one another, until Kiran announced that he had to take me back to bed, which was met with raucous laughter.

I don't think any of the men left the dinner sober. I helped Kiran out the door and Roberts took over in supporting Kiran and helping him back up into the apartment. Kiran seemed giddy with happiness and kept smothering me with kisses. Roberts saw himself out the door and once he was gone, Kiran pushed me down onto the bed and sighed when he found my undergarments.

"No, Kiran," I protested, trying to push him off, but he undressed me, kissing me repeatedly until I had no breath left to protest. He pushed me down. "No, I'm not ready."

"But I am," he said in between kisses, sitting on me and undressing himself at the same time. "I've waited years for you. Years," he slurred. "Today you declared that you belong to me. Do you know how happy that makes me? Your life is mine. Finally, finally I have you where I've wanted you all along and you have agreed to let me have you in anyway I want."

"That wasn't - I didn't - oh-"

I couldn't speak anymore after that. Nor for a long time later.

In the morning, I woke to find Kiran watching me with a gloriously happy smile. I closed my eyes again, trying to convince myself that this had been coming. I had known it would happen sooner or later, even if I still didn't feel ready for it. I still hadn't actually said 'yes' to him. He just took my agreement a given. What was I to him? A slave? Or did I just not know Boskyland culture well enough and that this was just how they treated all their women?

"You don't look as happy as you should be," Kiran kissed me on the nose. "I'm going to have to change that."

"No, Kiran, I -"