Daryun was feeling his age. He was quite glad to finally be resting in his rooms for the evening. It was now about fifteen years since Merkan had come to the palace to be trained. Daryun was very glad he had. He was standing strong in his place.

Arslan wasn't letting Daryun have vacations from the council chamber, but he was spared the requirement of being the guard. That was enough. He quite trusted Merkan's arm and his wisdom. It was good that Merkan had Emin to lean on like Daryun had leaned on Jaswant.

Arslan was properly married to a Queen now, as well, who'd become pregnant with an heir for Pars almost immediately. Arslan had recovered sufficiently from his grief to be able to carry the kingdom again, but had still been sorrowful enough to be spending more time in gardens than in the court. The daughter of a noble had been visiting her father at the court and Arslan had chanced upon her in one of those garden walks. They'd struck up a conversation, she'd been sympathetic, and things had fallen from there.

Daryun still smiled when he remembered Merkan's sigh and roll of the eyes when he'd heard that story. "That's how the Goddess works through the King," he'd said, almost morosely. "Congratulate him, be glad the kingdom will finally have an heir for all he's already more than ten years too late, and move on."

Daryun enjoyed having his son living in his apartments now, to be a friend and companion. Almost more he enjoyed watching Merkan blush at the young ladies who were trying to woo him now that the King wasn't eligible. He thought there was one who might just be able to do it in another half-year or so, if she stayed persistent through Merkan's busy-ness.

There was a sudden feeling to the air in the room that made Daryun spin around. The priestess always liked to show up behind him for some reason. It made his back itch, expecting the knife blow. His slight scowl disappeared into some level of shock. He blinked at the priestess. "Ah, She's ready to replace you, then?" Neylan had aged, a thing the priestesses didn't do, and she hadn't any of the times until this one.

Of course this was the very first time she'd come since he'd tried to tempt her into his arms just before Merkan had come. She'd been formal and cold to him at the bringing of the boy. He'd assumed he'd not see her ever again, being punished by the Goddess for his hubris.

Daryun frowned. "But, you never did come again for the daughter?

Neylan sighed. "She took me back and scolded me fiercely, then refused, saying you wouldn't let me go for sure if I did. Honestly, She couldn't be rid of me fast enough. She was firm that She'd be training my daughter up the way She wanted her to be raised, so I didn't taint her with my strong will."

"Still," he continued to frown at her. "It's been long enough for you to look almost my age now. I'd been hoping to prevent some of that, too."

Neylan rolled her eyes at Daryun. "And you'd like me to bring my sister's curse with me, then?"

Daryun's eyes went wide. "Ah, I didn't say that, no." He hastily rethought that one. For Neylan to come when she actually looked mature enough to be nearly his age, perhaps he wouldn't die for someone else coveting her beauty.

"I could go back?" Neylan pointed over her shoulder, turning enough to look like she might actually leave.

Daryun had her in his arms quickly. "No, I think not. Not if She's giving you up finally, and letting me have my desired blessing." His lips were pressing to hers before he was quite ready himself, but he'd kind of learned to move fast before she could disappear again.

"Honestly," he scolded them both, holding her close and putting his forehead on hers to look at her closely, "I'm still not sure why I want it. You're the most difficult woman I know, save Étoile who was more man than woman." Neylan moved under his hands, her hip shifting to brush near his. Daryun swallowed. That would be one reason, sure, he thought, but didn't say it.

"I'm not sure why I should stay," she answered back similarly. "You're more beast than man, and I've not seen any examples of men who are worth staying with in all my years of watching them."

"Then why do you keep coming back?" he asked her, running his hand over the side of her face and over her ear and hair.

She moved to the touch, letting her head tip and he was gripping her head, trying to remember to be gentle as his lips sought her lips, then her jaw and neck. "Because I wanted to," she answered finally, a hand running up his belly to his chest, then around his shoulder, making the pathway tingle.

"I thought She made you go to whomever She wanted," Daryun murmured, running a finger under the back of the neck of her dress, making her shudder.

That was too much for him. "Come, warm my bed with me and stay this time," he requested, already pulling her as he walked backwards towards it. He paused just as they reached it and pulled back to glare in her eyes. "But, no - more - children!"

Neylan laughed at him. "Four was enough, and more than enough to be those four. If I'm to finally have you, I'll keep you to myself, I think." Her lips came for his this time. He let her light push take them onto the bed.

The question did come up in Daryun's mind just before he lost himself, Would Arslan be okay with this? He'd already gotten the permission from the other two sons. He'd forgotten to ask that one. It made the part of him that had any reason left wince, but he'd worry about it later. He'd been waiting for a very long time for this moment.