“I… yes, my Lord… Lord… Bertos would only sleep on sheets made of Himroo… black with a special silver thread that ran along its edge. It was difficult to come by and he required them to be changed daily. If he found the slightest flaw in them he had them destroyed.”
“Destroyed!” Ynyr didn’t try to hide his shock.
“Ynyr, I don’t understand.” Abby looked between the males frowning.
“Himroo is a very expensive material Abby. One bolt would cost a Warrior more than a year’s worth of credits to obtain. Females often use it in their coverings, but I have never heard of a male resting on it.”
“Lady Risa also demanded it. It is why Aaric was ended. She used up his supply and when Bertos ordered new sheets there was no material available.”
“Bertos ended him for that?” Ynyr couldn’t believe it.
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Yet you were able to find the material?” Ynyr gave him a suspicious look wondering if Paganus had hidden some so he could move into Aaric’s position, it seemed to be the way of things in Bertos House.
“No my Lord, I did not. The ship that was to resupply Etruria finally arrived. It had developed engine problems… it was a day late.”
The slightest jolt of the Ascension had all three males reaching to steady Abby as she stumbled but Ynyr was there first. “Come, let us sit and finish this discussion.” Ynyr made sure Abby was secure in her seat before turning hard eyes to Paganus. “Continue.”
“My Lord, I’m not sure there is any more to tell.”
“Why would you accept a position where you knew you could be ended for such an insignificant thing?”
“My Lord… there was no ‘accepting’ the position. I had been injured during my warrior training and had been deemed unfit to continue. Bertos told me this was what I must do to repay my debt to him since I could not serve him as a warrior.”
“He told you that you were still expected to fulfill your obligation to him?” Ynyr couldn’t believe it. While a male was required to serve the Lord that trained him for five years after he completed his training and been named a Warrior, a male had to complete the program in order for that to be enforced. At least that was the way it worked in every other House, it was a way to protect the trainees, for if they were harmed the Lord lost his investment in them. Apparently this was something else Bertos had felt he could change at will. Goddess what would the Empire have been like under his control?
“Of course.” Paganus frowned at him. “It is that way everywhere.”
“No Paganus, it is not. If a trainee is unable to complete his training or if the Lord does not declare him of Warrior status then his obligation to that Lord is considered null. It ensures that a Lord will not abuse his power over the trainees in his care.”
“Bertos never ‘cared’ about us my Lord.” Paganus spit out.
“I am beginning to see that.” Ynyr looked to Abby and saw she was quietly watching and listening. “My Lady sees something in you Paganus, something that I am not sure I do. It is her gift, to see inside a male and see that he is more than what he presents. That being said I will review your record and if I find it is favorable then you will be named Master of the Lord’s Wing and will be responsible for assisting my Lady in what she feels needs changed, not only in our Wing but throughout the House.”
“I…” Paganus eyes flew from Ynyr to Abby then back again stunned. “A Master…” It would be a major change in his status, one he had never thought he could achieve, not after he had been injured. It would mean his Lord saw him as a fit and worthy male even though he was not a Warrior.
“Unless I find something in your file that makes me believe you would be unfit to serve in my House.”
“Ynyr…” Abby tried to interrupt but he ignored her, on this he would not be swayed.
“Or if I find you would be unable to protect my Lady if the need arises.”
Both watched as the shoulders that had begun to rise and be thrown back with such pride sagged back down to where they had been.
“Is there something you need to tell me Paganus?” Ynyr demanded in a hard voice.
“My sword arm… it was… injured in a training accident and never properly healed. It is why I was ejected from the Warrior’s program.”
“Why did it not heal?” Ynyr questioned, it made no sense to him. Portable repair units were always on hand during a male’s training. Accidents and injuries were daily occurrences, but they were easily healed.
“I was injured by a blade made of Tornian steel and the Captain in charge of the training was unable to find the portable repair unit. The injury was severe enough that I passed out from blood loss as they rushed me to the healing unit.” Paganus lifted his sleeve to show Ynyr the scar that ran down the length of his right arm.
Ynyr frowned as he looked at the scar. No warrior was taught to swing in such a way. You swung across the body, not down it. And then there was the question of the sword…
“Why was such a blade being used for training?” Ynyr demanded, for he knew they never were, too many males would be permanently injured if they were.
“The trainee I was competing against claimed that it had been a mistake. He had two blades, one for training and one for battle. He said he picked up the wrong one.”
“Where is this trainee now?” Ynyr asked.
“He died on the Assembly floor at Bertos’ side, my Lord.” Paganus told him and for the first time maintained eye contact with Ynyr.
Ynyr was silent for several moments before he nodded slightly. “Go see to the Warriors below Paganus. We still have several hours before we arrive in Etruria and with the time differences it will be a long day. I want them fit and ready. I will give you my decision on your becoming a Master before we land.”
“Yes, my Lord.” Bowing Paganus started to leave, then paused and turned to Abby. “My Lady.” He gave her an even deeper bow then spinning on his heel left to do his Lord’s bidding.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Ynyr frowned as he read Paganus’ file, the male had received high scores from all his training exercises. The only negative comment he found, well negative by Bertos standards was that Paganus refused to attack a male while he was down. While it was something a Warrior couldn’t do in battle it was expected in training, especially for such a young trainee when many still didn’t have the skill and strength needed to stop their swing.
It was stated that this is what caused Paganus’ injury, that Baigh was unable to stop his swing. Ynyr didn’t believe that. He had seen the scar on Paganus’ arm, it was too precise, following the vein down the arm to release the most amount of blood, it was a skill Ynyr himself had only recently mastered. The untrained would have severed Paganus’ arm.
“Get me Baigh’s file!” Ynyr ordered, not looking up from what he was reading.
“Yes, my Lord.” Korin quickly tapped on his own screen finding the information he needed. “I’ve sent it to you my Lord.”
Ynyr just grunted in reply and opened Baigh’s file. His grunt turned into a low growl as he read. The Captain that had been in charge of the training the day of Paganus’ injury was Baigh’s uncle, reading further, he discovered Baigh had always finished behind Paganus in their required drills before the injury. After Baigh was at the top of his class.
“Did you know Baigh’s uncle was in charge of the training the day Paganus was injured?” Ynyr demanded of Korin and saw Abby stiffen at his question.
“Of course, everyone did, including Paganus.”
“And no one questioned how Baigh was able to deliver such a precise strike. Questioned why there was no portable repair unit available?”
“Baigh’s uncle was a Captain. You never questioned a Captain if you wanted to survive.” Korin informed him and had to force himself not to break eye contact with Ynyr.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Paganus slowly ran his finger along the scar that started in the middle of his right bicep, then followed the large
blue vein down the inside of his arm stopping inches from his wrist. How had he been so stupid as to let Baigh get in such a strike? Even if it had been a training blade, it would have done damage. Paganus had let down his guard and lowered his blade when Baigh had fallen to the ground. Baigh had groaned as if he had been injured and Paganus had fallen for it.
Stupid!
His life had changed because he hadn’t followed the base rule of Bertos. Succeed no matter how, just succeed. It was what Baigh had done. It was why he had been declared a Warrior while Paganus was only a servant.
If he could go back and change it. Would he?
Paganus honestly didn’t know.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
“Paganus, Lord Ynyr is ready to give you his decision.” Korin realized he had caught Paganus unaware with his approach and watched as he quickly yanked down his sleeve.
“Of course.” Paganus replied.
Korin felt for the young male, in truth Paganus was younger than their new Lord. For both Korin and Paganus serving Bertos had aged them beyond their years. Both knew there was no way Ynyr would make him a Master. It was an unattainable dream, no Lord would allow an injured male to protect his Lady. It was as cruel as what Bertos had done to make Paganus think he would.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
“Ynyr?” Abby questioned, rising to move to his side once Korin had left the room. She had sat quietly in her seat as Ynyr read his files. She hadn’t wanted to interrupt him and had been unable to read his expression. It made her realize there was still so much she don’t know about him.
Why she felt Paganus needed to be part of the change of House Etruria she did not know. She only knew it felt right and hoped Ynyr would allow it.
“What, my Abby?” Ynyr asked reaching up to pull her into his lap, capturing her lips. He found he missed the feel of her lush body against his, missed her lips parting as he thrust his tongue into her mouth. Memories from the night before flooded his mind and his shaft swelled with desire.
Abby sunk into Ynyr’s arms quickly forgetting her question as desire filled her. She may not know what was going on in Ynyr’s mind but she knew exactly what was going on in his body and she responded.
“Goddess Abby.” Ynyr pulled his mouth from hers, then rested his forehead against hers. “I want you.”
“We could go to the Lady’s Chamber.” Abby looked at him, her chest heaving.
“We are only minutes from Etruria and what I want to do to you will take hours. I want to hear you cry out my name as my mouth drives you to release. Then I want to feel my shaft sink into your softness and feel you welcome me. I want to feel your body tighten around me, your nails digging into my back as your pleasure builds again and when it becomes too much for both of us, I want to release in your body as you scream my name.” Abby’s breath caught at his words. “That I cannot do in just a few minutes.”
“No… you can’t…” Abby whispered back, her eyes glowing with desire as she looked at him.
“Tonight, when we are alone I will do all that to you.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” Abby whispered, kissing him.
“My Lord.” Korin’s voice had Abby breaking off her kiss. Rising Ynyr carefully set her in his seat before turning to face the two males.
“Do you still train Paganus?”
The question was unexpected and had Paganus frowning at Ynyr.
“I am no longer allowed to train…”
“That’s not what I asked.” Ynyr cut him off. “Your arm, while injured, is still strong. That would not be if you weren’t using it regularly.”
“I practice my Lord, in an empty storage room. I am not allowed on the practice fields.”
“You will train at least an hour every day, on the practice fields, to maintain your arm strength and you will see the Healer to see if there is any more that can be done to aid your recovery.”
“I…” Paganus’ flushed with shock as he stuttered. “Yes, my Lord.”
“That of course will be after you are done serving my Lady for the day.”
Silence greeted his statement and Ynyr had to fight his smile.
“Congratulations Paganus you are now Master Paganus of House Rigel in service to Lady Abby.”
Chapter Twelve
Abby raised a hand to shield her eyes from the bright glare of the early morning Tornian sun and got her first look at her new home. Dear God, it was a castle! Why hadn’t she realized it would be? She had spent weeks inside Torino, had known it was a palace, but she had never seen it from the outside. She and the other women had arrived in the middle of the night and had been hustled to their rooms on the second floor of Torino under the strictest of security. Except for the walled garden they had never been allowed outside.
The colors of House Guttuso now made sense to her. The high walls that protected the House and its grounds were made from a thick black stone with something silver shimmering in it. It reminded her of obsidian that was on Earth and it made for an intimidating first impression.
“We call it mianraí dubh,” Ynyr informed her and Abby realized she had spoken out loud as Ynyr gestured to the wall. He had made sure he was close to her side since they had exited the Ascension. “It is the mineral that makes the Etruria Region so important.”
“Then why are the walls made of it?” Abby lowered her hand as she turned towards him.
“Because when it was originally discovered only its extreme hardness was realized. The wall can take a full energy blast and it will barely leave a mark. It was only centuries after this wall and House were built, after Tornian warriors saved the Goddess that we discovered the special properties of the mineral. Even the most minute amount of it will enhance other technology. It is what allows us to travel faster and further than any other species.”
Abby turned her gaze back to the wall and as a cloud passed in front of the sun the silver in the stone dimmed and the slightest golden glint was seen for a moment. It made the wall look warm and inviting, welcoming, like a place you knew you would always be safe instead of an intimidating fortress it had been moments before. It didn’t last long.
“That was truly beautiful.” Abby whispered, sad that the moment of welcome she had felt passed.
“It is an anomaly in the mineral that appears only when the light hits it just right.” Ynyr told her frowning at the wall. There was an ancient myth that when a warrior saw hunaja in mianraí dubh, it was because the Goddess was blessing him and whatever the mianraí dubh protected.
Ynyr closed his eyes and said a silent prayer to the Goddess hoping that the myth was truth for he knew he would need her help to make this House honorable again.
“My Lord.” The harsh voice had Ynyr’s eyes flying open as he drew his sword and stepped between Abby and the perceived threat.
“Dai.” Ynyr lowered his sword, but did not relax his stance as he recognized the Captain of the Emperor’s Special Guard moving towards him. Captain Dai had been the one the Emperor had sent to control Etruria until his arrival.
“Lord Ynyr.” Dai’s arm crossed his chest and he bowed to Ynyr.
“Captain Dai.” Ynyr nodded slightly. He had started to bow to Dai as he always had then remembered he was now a Lord and Lords only ever bowed to the Emperor. “Abby.” Turning Ynyr lifted his arm and when she put her hand on it, he brought her to his side. “Abby, this is Captain Dai of the Emperor’s Special Guard. Captain, this is my Lady, Lady Abby,” he introduced proudly.
“Captain.” Abby nodded to the large green male, giving him a small smile and saw the Captain’s eyes widen slightly before his gaze quickly returned to Ynyr.
“The Emperor informed me of your appointment and that you were enroute. However, he never stated that you would be bringing your Lady with you.”
Ynyr stiffened, hearing the censure in Dai’s tone. He had trained under the Captain for too long to not know his tones.
“Perhaps that is because it should have been understood, Captain.” Ynyr s
aid, stressing the title. “No Lord abandons his Lady.” The hardness of Ynyr’s voice had Abby looking at him questioningly but he continued. “I will meet with you in my command room so you can bring me up to date on what you have been able to accomplish… once Lady Abby is settled in our Wing. Warrior Navon! Warrior Morio!” Ynyr called out the names of two of the warriors his manno had sent with him. They were two warriors Ynyr knew and trusted.
“Lord Ynyr?” Both warriors rushed to his side, bowing.
“Warriors, this is Captain Dai of the Emperor’s Special Guard.” The three nodded to each other. “He is going to show all of you to your quarters. Once that is done, I want both of you to report to the Lord’s Wing. You will be responsible for guarding its entrance and Lady Abby.”
“Yes, Lord Ynyr.” Both males’ crossed their arms over their chest and they bowed. They fully understood the honor they had just been given. Only the most trusted of warriors were allowed to guard a Wing that contained a female.
“My Lord, do you think that's wise?” Dai asked. “Navon and Morio have only just arrived. They are not familiar with the House or its personnel.”
“Which is exactly the point Captain. They are two males that I know and trust. They will have allegiance to only me and therefore they will guard my Lady faithfully. Now see toit!”
“Yes, Lord Ynyr.” Bowing Dai spun on his heel and moved towards the remaining warriors that were just disembarking the Ascension.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Because of what Ynyr had told Abby about the exterior walls she now understood why the interior walls and floors they were walking on were made from the same thick black blocks. It wasn’t because of Bertos’ unhealthy obsession with the color black. It was because of its strength and its availability in the Region, just as castles back on Earth had been made from local stone.
“This was once the home of the original Emperor, right?” Abby asked as her eyes traveled along the corridor searching for any evidence of its original occupant.