“What do you mean?” Ull questioned.
“Your mother was the one that first noticed that you tended to leave your left side unprotected when angered,” Oryon told his oldest. “She insisted it be corrected before others saw it too. She knew there could be no weakness seen in the future Lord.”
Oryon’s gaze turned to Vali, “She saw how quickly you adapted to the sword, but struggled with the dagger, it is why your training schedule was changed when you were nine.”
“Zev, you always wonder how I know about the tricks you play?”
“Mother witnesses them?” Zev asked in an awed whisper.
“Yes and she draws great enjoyment from them.” Oryon frowned as his youngest grinned. “I do not! If you have that much time for pranks then you are not training hard enough, that will change.”
Zev lost his smile.
“As for you Ynyr, she was the one that insisted I send you to the Emperor for specialized training. She somehow knew that your place would never be on Betelgeuse, that you were destined for greater things.” Oryon looked at his third male and struggled with the fact that this tall, strong male standing before him was the same male that had followed Oryon around House Rigel so earnestly, trying to learn everything he could. Where had the time gone? “I have not yet voiced this so I will now. I have never been prouder than I was when the Emperor announced your name Ynyr. I… I cannot explain the feeling that overcame me as he spoke of you or how you responded. He was correct in everything he said about you. You are the right male for Etruria for you have a better understanding than I of what these warriors are feeling. You can understand what they have suffered at the hands of Bertos and what they must overcome to rise above it, because you have experienced much of it yourself. You and Zev.”
Oryon looked to his youngest then his other males and saw he had shocked them all.
“You thought I did not know of the taunts and rebuffs you both suffered because of my selfishness. The extra hits you received and the slurs whispered for only you to hear. I knew you would experience this if I allowed Isis to present me with more males, yet I allowed her to present you anyway. I could not deny her the joy she experienced every time she conceived.”
Ynyr looked to Zev, Neither of them had ever thought their manno had known.
“It is a testament to the both of you that neither of you ever brought it to my attention nor asked for my assistance.”
“There would have been nothing you could have done.” Ynyr told him.
“Oh, there were things I could have done, but it would only have made it worse for you.” Oryon looked to his two oldest and saw they were shocked.
“It was never done in either of your presences,” Oryon told them. “You are my first male Ull, my heir and you would have confronted any male that insulted one of your brothers. It is what will make you a good Lord, when your time comes. Your strength of conviction and loyalty are renowned but in this, you would have been wrong. Ynyr and Zev would never have gained the respect of other males if you had protected them.”
“So it was just allowed?” Ull couldn’t hide his anger.
“You have so much of your mother in you,” Oryon said, shocking everyone present. “She too wanted to confront the males she felt were disrespecting her offspring. If I had not been returning to our wing, she would have been on the training field. I calmed her and explained that I would handle it.”
“How did you handle it?” Ull demanded.
“I slowly and carefully had the worst of them removed from my House, making sure none would believe it was because of their treatment of my offspring,” Oryon told him.
“Sensible and right.” Vali said.
“Yes and that is why you will be the perfect second for your brother, Vali. Where he is hot blooded you are calm and can make him see the long term ramifications of his actions when he does not.”
“Thank you manno.” Vali bowed his head to him.
“There is no need for thanks. All of you fill me with a pride you will never understand until you have offspring of your own. Now,” Oryon turned and looked at Korin, who had remained silent during the whole exchange. “It is time for us to discuss with your second exactly what you can expect in Etruria and who needs to be removed.”
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Isis moved to sit next to Abby, her gaze taking in her swollen lips and flushed cheeks. Obviously her arrival had interrupted something.
“Are you well?” Isis asked.
“I am fine.” Abby said and an uncomfortable silence fell between the two females as Abby looked to the windows.
Isis knew it was her fault. For Abby had spoken the truth earlier about how Isis should have spoken up for the Earth females to Risa.
“I am sorry Abby.”
“No, I am.” Abby looked back to her. “I never should have said that to you. You had no reason….”
“I had every reason,” Isis argued. “My first male was involved in that Joining Ceremony. I should have spoken up if only for that reason.”
“Isis…”
“The least I should have done was tell Oryon. He would have spoken to Bertos. I chose not to, I didn’t want to bring any attention to myself. I have always been weak that way.”
“I understand your position Isis,” Abby told her. “I saw how the Tornian females treated you, looked at you. It wasn’t much better than how they treated us.”
“My own doing.”
“Because you followed your heart? Stayed true to your beliefs even when others looked down on you for it? Those are not the actions of a ‘weak’ person Isis.”
“All I have ever wanted was to spend my life with a male I could respect,” Isis whispered. “One I could give offspring to and watch them grow with.”
“Is that all you feel for Oryon? Respect?”
“Oh no,” Isis whispered. “I have loved Oryon from the first moment I saw him compete at the Festival of the Goddess. He was…” Abby watched Isis’ eyes take on a faraway look for a moment before she gave an embarrassed laughed and focused back on Abby. “My manno wasn’t as impressed. He wanted me to choose another.”
“He did?” Abby turned on the couch to face her.
“Yes, Oryon was not yet a Lord when I chose him and it was believed his manno would be Lord for many more years.”
“Who did he want you to choose?” Abby asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
“King Rask had but one male at the time of my first Joining. My manno wanted me to Join with him securing both our lines.”
“Yet you chose Oryon.”
“Yes. King Rask was…”
“Not for you.” Abby finished for her.
“No, even though he was a fit and worthy male.”
“Ull is fit and worthy too,” Abby told her. “He just isn’t for me.”
“I know this and in time, so will he.”
“Will he hold it against Ynyr?” Abby asked, finally voicing her concern. She didn’t want to cause conflict between the brothers, but she refused to allow it to change her decision.
“He will not. I might only be a female, but I know my males, Ull’s honor will allow him to do no less.”
“Good.” Abby lets Isis see her relief.
“So you and Ynyr… talked?” Isis questioned.
Abby blushed slightly thinking about just what she and Ynyr had done. “Yes. We talked and got some things sorted out.”
“That is good.” Isis said, giving her a tentative smile. “I would also like to talk to you if you don’t mind.”
“About what?”
“Your arrival has changed so many things.”
“My arrival has?”
“You Earth females, you have brought so many new thoughts and ideas.”
“New to you.” Abby countered.
“Yes,” Isis agreed. “I have found them very… satisfying.” She told Abby with a slight smile. “I’m not sure which I enjoy more, resting with Oryon or kissing him.”
&n
bsp; “You really never rested with Oryon until now?” Abby couldn’t believe it.
“No. It is something I never would have considered doing. I have my rooms and Oryon has his. We usually Join in his resting chamber and I always leave shortly after. Since it has become known that not only do the King and Queen rest together, but also the Emperor and Empress, we have rested together every night. Waking up in my Oryon’s arms is….”
“I hear it’s wonderful.”
“It is, to feel his touch…” Isis gave Abby a startled look. “You have never rested with a male?”
“No.” Abby told her and felt herself start to blush again.
“I thought all Earth females rested with their male.”
“You have to have a male to rest with one and since I’m here I obviously don’t.” Abby bit out.
Isis looked at Abby unable to believe she had said such a tactless thing. Of course Abby did not have a male, it was the one thing the Emperor had refused to compromise on when he sent the Searcher to Earth. He had ordered that no female that carried the Joining scent of a male could be taken. It had confused Isis then, now she understood. It was because he did not want to separate a couple that had feelings for one another, feelings like he had for his Empress.
“I am sorry Abby, I was not thinking. It is just that everything I have learned has been so… enjoyable that I was hoping you could tell me more.”
Abby forced her hurt feelings aside. Isis hadn’t meant to remind her that there was no one on Earth who cared if she lived or died. No one who loved her. Even her landlord wouldn’t miss her since she had paid her first six months of rent in advance. If she was figuring it right, she still had another month before he would come looking for his money.
“Please Abby forgive me.” Isis pleaded. “I am unaccustomed in speaking with other females and my desire to know more has made me insensitive to what you have endured.”
“It’s alright Isis,” she told her reaching out to grip her arm. “I know you didn’t mean it the way it sounded. We are all still adjusting. Misunderstandings are going to happen. I won’t hold it against you if you don’t hold it against me.” Abby gave her a tentative smile.
“I can do that.” Isis gave her a relieved smile in return. “I would very much like to be your…” Isis searched for the word, “friend, I have never had one before.”
“Seriously? You’ve never had a friend?” Abby couldn’t imagine it, even with her history, she had at least a few people she called friends.
“No. Tornian females are not ‘friendly’ with one another.”
“What about the females that were always around Risa.”
“That was about power, not friendship.”
“That was why you stayed away from them.”
“Yes, I have no power. I don’t want any. I only want to be with my family.”
“But you are a powerful female.” Abby said, frowning at her. “Your male rules Betelgeuse, an important planet in the Empire. You have given him four fit and worthy males, one who has just been named Lord by the Emperor himself. You have shown them all, male and female alike, that you had it right all along. All your females are now going to try to imitate you and all the males are going to want one just like you.”
“I…” Isis found herself blushing. “Thank you Abby.”
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
“You truly believe that?” Ull couldn’t hide his disbelief as he questioned Korin.
“Yes, especially with the trainees. They are young and green, a strong hand will be needed to correct what they have been taught so far but they are not lost.”
“And their brothers?” Oryon questioned quietly.
“They will be more challenging. They will want to see their brothers succeed and will try to do it as Bertos taught them.”
“Succeeding no matter how you do it.” Oryon said.
“Yes.” Korin nodded in agreement.
“You should release all of them Ynyr.” Ull told his brother. “Take no chances and begin again.”
“No.” Ynyr denied.
“The worst of them were here with Bertos.” Korin informed them. “His Captains and most ‘favored’ warriors. He wanted them to witness the fall of Grim and his being named King of Luda, solidifying his power over them.”
“That means there are no true leaders left in Etruria and those left are fighting amongst themselves.” Oryon stated, leaning back in his chair.
“Yes.” Korin agreed again.
“It will take you some time to sort it all out and secure your House.” Ull said, looking at Ynyr.
“Yes.” Ynyr agreed, wondering why his brother was stating what they all knew.
“It will not be safe for your female to accompany you there.”
Ynyr stiffened at Ull’s words. Was Ull trying to challenge him for Abby? Was he hoping he could convince Abby that Ynyr could not protect her so she would turn to him? Ynyr growled threateningly at his brother and took a step towards him.
Oryon quickly stepped between his males. “Ull is not challenging you Ynyr. Are you, Ull!” Oryon turned hard eyes on his heir. “Tell Lord Ynyr that you did not just state you believe him unfit to protect his Lady.”
“His House needs to be secure before he can even contemplate taking her there.” Ull ground out, his eyes never leaving Ynyr.
Oryon sighed heavily and slapped a hand against Ynyr’s chest, stopping him from stepping closer to his brother. “Silence Ull.” No one doubted that it was Ull’s Lord speaking to him now. Oryon looked back to Ynyr. “As much as it pains me to say this I have to agree with Ull.”
“What!” Ynyr stumbled back, disbelieving, as he looked at his manno. “You believe me to be unfit?!!”
“NO!” Oryon instantly denied. “I know you will protect Lady Abby, but unless you plan on keeping her at your side every minute of every day you cannot guarantee her safety. Not right now. Not until you have cleaned out the unfit males Bertos has left behind. You can’t even secure her in her chambers because you don’t know if they are secure. Risa knew of secret passages here in Torino there might be ones in House Guttuso too.
“My House!” Ynyr spit out. “And I have considered that.”
“I would like to suggest you think about sending your Lady to House Rigel until your House is secured.” Oryon told Ynyr. “I will personally guarantee her safety. She will stay in your mother’s chambers and I will double the guard. Triple them if that is what you wish, with only my most trusted guards.”
“You want me to abandon her?” Ynyr couldn’t hide his shock.
“No Ynyr for that is something you would never do. She is yours. We all know that.” Oryon gave Ull a hard look. “Because of that, it is your responsibility to do what is best for her. If you were taking over a secure House we would not be having this conversation, but your House is anything but secure and you cannot risk her.”
“Would you have left mother if you had accepted the Emperor.” Ynyr challenged and saw the answer in his manno’s eyes.
“I have an entire guard that I know and trust that would have accompanied us. You do not. Those that you have and can trust you are going to need at your side not at your Lady’s.”
“Ynyr.” Vali spoke, his calm voice cutting through the thick tension. “You know our manno speaks truth. If it were any other than your own Lady you too would have doubt.”
“But she is mine Vali.”
“And she still will be once your House is secured.” Vali reassured him.
Ynyr turned his back to them all and walked away. Gripping the edge of the window his knuckles turned white as he stared out unseeing over the grounds of Torino. All his life he had worked hard to be a fit and worthy male his manno could be proud of. He had always known he would never be a Lord. He had also always known that he would never attract a female. Instead, he had committed himself to becoming a skilled warrior, so he could serve his Lord and become a male his brother’s offspring could be proud to claim. It was all he has ever
thought he could have.
Then Abby had come along and she had changed his universe. She had listened to him and talked to him, really talked to him, telling him about her dreams and her fears, and he had told her about his. He had begun to see himself differently, to see his world differently, all because of a female, a female he knew he could never have.
But now he did have her. She was his. His Abby. Lady Abby Rigel of Etruria because she had overcome her misgivings and fears, not him. She’d had faith in him, not because he was a Lord, but in spite of it. Could he repay that faith by putting her in harm’s way?
The Emperor had immediately sent warriors to Etruria securing House Guttuso after the attacks. Warriors Ynyr had previously trained with here in Torino, ones he knew who even now waited for his arrival, but even though he knew them it did not mean he could trust them, not with Abby.
The thought of Abby suffering as Queen Lisa had at the hands of Luuken made him physically sick or for her to be abused as the Empress had been by the Ganglians… he could not take that chance. Abby was too precious to him.
Reaching his decision he turned, “Abby will go to Betelgeuse with you and mother so I can secure Etruria without distraction.”
“What?” The heart-wrenching whisper had every head turning to find Abby and Isis standing in the doorway.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Abby and Isis had been quietly talking as they moved towards Isis’ rooms. After their rough start, they finally started to talk, really talk and Abby confessed to Isis her concern about actually Joining with Ynyr. She had told Isis how she had only ever been with one male several years ago and she didn’t know what to expect with Ynyr.
Isis was surprised to find herself in the position of a teacher instead of the pupil, but she quickly adapted and explained to Abby the Tornian way.
“After the Joining Ceremony has been completed the female will retreat to the rooms her male has prepared for her. Once there she prepares herself for the actual Joining by adorning herself in a special covering that allows the male to see her bare form, indicating her willingness to Join with him. Mine was made from a fine sheer material that would part and glide against my skin as I entered Oryon’s resting chamber.”