There remained the married lovebirds in the open kitchen.
Neva was stirring the mixed vegetable chicken curry, cooking, simmering in the pot over the flaming stove.
And adhered to her frame behind was Rhett, his chin on her shoulder, and strong arms around her waist.
It was warm within, and warm in the air with the slightly sweet, savory and spiced smell of steaming food.
"I'm sorry about Rhean." Rhett said. "He isn't usually this barbaric."
Neva chuckled lightly. "Barbaric?"
She shook the wooden ladle to rid off the dripping gravy, then she put it aside on the spoon rest.
Rhett hummed in return.
Neva covered the pot with it's transparent lid. She then placed her hands over his, and tilted her head to glance at him.
He had a sour look on his face, and Neva frowned.
"He was just troubled.
It was me who should have been more careful. And don't apologise as if he isn't my own." She brushed the tip of their noses.
Rhett scrunched his nose and smiled.
He kissed her lips.
"I'm sorry about Isaiah too." She sighed.
"They're both barbaric." He confirmed and made her chuckle.
It was two hours after the incident. The doctor arrived and checked Inaya, as well as the two boys.
Fortunately, Inaya's injuries were minor.
The bruised ribs would heal in lesser than six weeks. The bluish bump in her forehead would normally take two weeks.
Isaiah and Rhean hadn't caused much damage to each other, besides some shallow scratches on their arms—with jaws and lips bruised.
"How am I to explain them about us Rhett? About their father? And what if they could never accept each other?"
"Shh... You worry too much."
He whispered: "It'll all work out."
Neva sighed and leaned in to him, her tautened muscles loosening. Purposelessly she kept staring at the wall opposite.
"I don't want to burden you with another bad news, but I should probably warn you." Rhett said, their body slowly swaying. Neva craned her neck to meet his eyes.
"What?" Her voice faltered.
"Raka escaped."
Neva's heart sinked down her stomach.
Rhett's concerned gaze lingered on her paled face.
"H–how?" Neva looked away. Her breathing becoming heavier.
Rhett kissed her neck, then he gingerly drifted up to kiss her jaw.
"Got lucky? Elk and his incompetent agents, always." A muscle in his jaw ticked.
Four out of twelve soldiers suffered lethal injuries. Most of Raka's men were either killed or captured. The rest escaped. Knight could never, never do a clean job.
Sensing her body tensing, he tightened his hold. "Don't worry. His freedom is but for a fraction."
Rhett buried his face in the crook of her neck. He deeply breathed her in, and sighed.
Neva checked on the bubbling, low spiced chicken curry, flavoured better with finely chopped tomatoes. It was cooking on a low heat, about twelve to fifteen minutes more.
Inaya had slept after she had fed yogurt with fruits and taken her medicines.
They had enough rice left which May had made with some side dishes. She was only cooking for the remaining four of them.
"Mumma?"
Neva froze.
Neva and Rhett turned to see Isaiah bolting towards them.
She immediately pushed Rhett away from her.
Isaiah's face was red in anger.
"Don't touch my mumma!" He shouted, shoving Rhett further away harshly by his thighs that he could barely reach.
Rhett let him.
Isaiah then clutched onto Neva's legs, he glared at Rhett.
His cheeks were round and puffed up.
Neva bit her lips and trailed her eyes and saw a calm Rhett.
"Isaiah, he isn't a bad man." Neva softly uttered, cupping his face and making him look at her.
The boy shook his head roughly. "Papa said he's bad. He kidnapped you."
Isaiah glared at him again. "Papa will find us and kill you!"
"Isaiah!"
"Who taught you such bad words?"
Isaiah's chin trembled. Watery eyes piercing at Rhett.
Neva sighed in frustration. What a mess!
She swooped him up by the under of his arms. He puckered his lips at her. Neva pinched his nose. It broke Isaiah whenever she raised her voice.
"I'll excuse myself." Rhett said. Neva only looked at him sorrowfully. He offered her a half–smile, and walked out the kitchen.
Neva turned to Isaiah. She wiped a single tear that floated down his cheek.
"Silly boy. Papa was mistaken. He won't hurt us."
Isaiah had his head lowered. Tiny fingers pulling at the ribbons on the bodice of her white couquette gown.
"Trust me. Everything is alright.
And you can't use words like that again. Hmm?" Neva searched his eyes.
Isaiah nodded slightly.
Neva sensed someone looking at them.
She turned to find a withdrawn Rhean on the doorway of the living room.
He immediately shifted on his heels to leave.
"Rhean,"
"Wait, come have dinner with us."
He didn't respond, and simply stood there with his back turned on her.
Neva placed Isaiah down and made to approach him.
But Isaiah stood stiff and gripped her dress.
Neva pursed her lips.
She gently freed the fabric from his fingers and instead held his hand. "Trust me, okay?"
She led them towards Rhean.
"Come here baby."
Isaiah's pupils shook at his mother, she had used the name which she only called him and his sister.
Now he detested him even more.
Rhean finally turned.
But he didn't find the courage to meet her eyes.
.
.
.
Neva now had both of them seated on the three seated sofas, while she was knelt before them.
They were beside each other and didn't show any sign of aggression.
"Are you still angry with me Rhean?"
Rhean glanced at her, then shook his head weakly.
"I'm sorry for making you sad."
Then sternly she said: "but what you did to Inaya was wrong. You've caused her pain."
Rhean's eyes flickered with guilt. He looked down at the hands placed on his lap.
He had been rebuked by his father too.
He knew he was at fault. His attitude was imprudent, he had wounded Inaya.
But he didn't mean it.
"I'm sorry." Rhean mumbled.
"Not me, you should apologize to Naya. Will you make it up to your sister?"
"Naya is not his sister!" Isaiah retorted harshly.
"Isaiah." Neva warned.
"I want him gone. I hate him!"
"Quiet!"
Isaiah stared at her begrudgingly.
"Behave."
Neva secured their hands in each of her own. "You're both mine. Inaya and you both are my own children."
"He's not!" Isaiah's lips quivered, tears pricking his eyes again.
"Listen." Neva sighed.
She was tired.
Tired and out of words.
"Isaiah, you know I don't have many memories right?" She began, closely paying attention to his changing expressions.
"You see, I was already married to Rhean's father. I knew about it just three days ago. Rhean he's yours, and Naya's big brother."
"What about papa?" She was married to his father too.
"It's not right to have two husbands."
Neva chuckled at that.
Then she smiled ruefully at him. "I know very well."
She caressed his soft cheek and squished gently.
Neva knew Rhean was staring at them. And she regrettably, read through his emotions of ponders and envy.
"I'm just a little angry at your papa, because he kept Rhean and his father a secret from me. Will you give me time until I'm able to talk to your father?" But Neva had no clue if she'd ever talk to Ishmael again.
She squeezed his hand. "Please?"
Isaiah nodded. "Then you lied to me and Naya."
"Huh?" Neva raised her brows.
"We aren't playing a game." He accused.
"Right." Neva clicked her tongue. Gosh, she didn't like him being too keen.
"Well, it's still a game. An adult game.
And adult games are serious and scary. So you have to stick with mumma and obey no matter what. Understand?"
Isaiah tightened his lips. "Yes."
"Good boy." Neva smiled. Then she trailed her gaze at a meek Rhean.
Then back at Isaiah. They were small; but they were growing so fast.
They were her sons; and she found them heart wrenchingly beautiful.
There was a sudden swift in her mind. She soaked in the revealation; the reality that their features mirrored their own fathers.
Such absurdity was this; this game of life.
"So, now you both know you're brothers."
Their expressions faltered.
Rhean was the first to respond with a nod.
She found Isaiah still reluctant.
He still couldn't forgive him concerning Inaya.
But, her assuring eyes had Isaiah nod too.
"Good. Be kind and gentle to each other. Now, let's have dinner..."
Neva's words withered, her eyes widening in a dramatically slow pace.
At once she rose to her feet and rushed to the kitchen.
"Mumma?" Isaiah called.
But Neva couldn't heed to his worry, for she was panicking at the faintly burned smell of her chicken curry.
How long had it been?!