“I’m sorry, I let my mind wander.” Tipping her head into his hand, Isis gave him a small smile.
“About your manno.”
“Yes, you know me well.”
“I do my Isis.” He let his fingers caress her cheek.
The sound of a bell ringing had both of them remembering where they were.
“If you agree, I’ll have Jael and the three that helped him with the ladders come to our Wing after midday meal and carry furniture.”
Oryon looked at Jael as the other three stepped next to him. He knew these trainees and they were satisfactory. “They will be fine. I’ll have Lajos send up a meal for you and Vali.”
“What about you?” Isis asked. “You need to eat too.”
“I will, after I deal with Kaspar.”
“Alright.” Isis nodded. “I will see you later.” Turning she nodded to Vali and they left the hall.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Oryon waited until Isis was out of earshot before speaking. His eyes traveling over each male assessing him, his stare keeping them in place “I want you to speak now if you have any knowledge about what occurred here today. If I find out later that you do and did not speak you will be dealt with harshly, by me.”
Absolute silence greeted Oryon’s statement. Every male knew what his Lord was saying. He would force the offending male or males out of his House in disgrace if he discovered they were lying to him.
“Jael.” Oryon turned hard eyes on the young male when no one spoke and saw the slight tremor that ran through him.”
“Y…Yes my Lord.”
“Do you have any knowledge?”
“You, Fajr, Abir, and Eben will eat first then immediately proceed to my Lady’s chambers where you will do as she commands. Is that understood?”
“Yes my Lord,” they said as one.
“Then what are you doing standing here!” Oryon roared. “Go! Eat! All of you!” At his words, they stampeded out as one.
Chapter Five
Vali’s eyes widened in shock at what he was seeing. He had heard tales of what a female’s chamber would look like, that they would hold a rich lushness beyond his wildest dreams, that they would be filled with all the treasures of the known universes. It was why males worked so hard, so they could amass the items they would need to fill such rooms, but this, this was something he could never have imagined.
“You seem surprised Vali,” Isis said quietly.
“I… well… yes.”
“Why?” Isis asked looking around her rooms.
“Because it is not how I always imagined it would be.”
“It isn’t? How did you imagine it?’
“I don’t know. Fuller… Lusher… Overflowing.” His eyes continued to travel around the room. Yes, the room contained rich fabrics that a male’s rooms would never have but they weren’t in the abundance he’d been led to expect. Yes, there was furniture but it wasn’t the dainty pieces he’d been told female’s preferred, but sturdy pieces that would comfortably hold a Tornian warrior. His eyes zeroed in on a specific piece, sitting next to a window.
Isis walked over to the chair her offspring’s eyes seemed focused on, “Do you like it?” she asked, running her hand lovingly along the smooth wood of its high back.
“It is an extraordinary piece,” Vali said, knowing he had never seen anything like it. The chair was an unusual size, not quite large enough to fit the form of a Tornian male the size of his manno, but not the size of his mother either. Its material wasn’t the rich ‘female’ fabric either. Instead, it was covered in well-worn liedr, the skin of one of their most feared animals. It was something he never expected to find in her room. Why was it here?
“Come. Sit.” Isis encouraged him.
“No! I couldn’t,” he told her.
“Why not?” Isis asked seeing the desire in his eyes. “This was my manno’s favorite chair. He designed it specifically for his height and build. Please?” she asked softly. “I would very much like to see you in it.”
Walking over Vali slowly lowered himself into the chair then leaned back to find it fit him perfectly. Running his hands along the arms, he found the liedr soft and supple, telling him it was well cared for and often used. Next to the chair was a table that could only have been made specifically for this chair as it was the perfect height. On the table, a book lay open face down. Looking out the window the chair faced, he discovered he had the perfect view of the practice fields below. His manno had been right about her watching them. Lifting his eyes, he found his mother watching him with the strangest look in her eye.
“You look so like my manno sitting there?” she said quietly. “I never realized that before because you are also so like your manno.”
“Your manno truly made this?” he asked his eyes returning to the chair.
“Yes. It and the table were the only pieces he ever made specifically for himself. He would sit in that chair and design his next piece or he would hold me when I had a nightmare and tell me he loved me.” Tears filled Isis’ eyes as she spoke.
“I wish I could have known him.” Vali told her.
“So do I.”
Before Vali could speak again, his comm rang. “Yes?” he asked.
“Warrior Vali there are four males here saying they are to report to you,” One of the guards at the Wings doors informed him.
“Yes, send them up.” Vali rose from the chair. “Are you sure you want to move these pieces to the Entrance Hall?” Vali let his eyes travel around the room again, this time easily picking out the pieces his mother’s manno had made.
“Yes, our males need places to sit after a long hard day. My manno’s pieces were designed specifically for that.”
“But the fabric…”
“Is more durable than you think and if it is damaged, it can easily be recovered. Don’t worry so Vali.”
“But if we take these pieces the majority of this room will be empty.”
“Which is fine since I’m no longer staying in these rooms.”
“You’re not?!!” Vali’s eyes went wide.
“No. I am now staying in the Lord’s Chambers.” Isis told him with great satisfaction. “It’s where I should have been all along.”
“I…” Before Vali could say more, the sound of hesitant footsteps on the stairs stopped him. Moving to place himself between the stairs and his mother, he put his hand on the hilt of his sword, removing it only after he verified that it was only the four males his manno had sent.
“Hello Jael,” Isis smiled as she moved around Vali. “And who have you brought with you?” she asked.
“This is Abir, Fajr, and Eben, my Lady.” Each male bowed to her as Jael introduced them.
“You are all in your second year of training?” Isis asked.
“Yes my Lady,” they told her.
“Then soon it will be you that will be resting on this furniture before your Lord’s entrance fire.”
Vali had to hide his smile as the chests of all four males puffed up at his mother’s words. They knew only those in their final years of warrior training were allowed to sit in the entrance hall. For their Lady to say such a thing meant she believed in them.
“Now,” Isis continued, “I want everything in this room, with the exception of the chair and table by the window and the things I place on the mantle, taken to the entrance hall. Starting with this couch.” She touched the piece she was referring too. “It will take all four of you to carry it, for it solid dair and very heavy. Take your time with it and if you find you need extra help make sure you get it. I don’t want you hurt, you matter more than any piece of furniture.” Picking up several items, she turned and went to put them on the mantle.
Isis didn’t see the shocked looks on the trainees’ faces, but Vali did. He knew that with those simple words of caring, his mother had secured the loyalty of these four and she hadn’t even meant too.
“Yes my Lady,” they quickly said and immediately did her bidding.
&n
bsp; ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Oryon took his time studying the order slips before him. They were hand written out by Master Kaspar, stating in exacting detail what was to be made for House Rigel, maybe too exacting. There were two signatures on each invoice. Master Kaspar’s and Master Bard’s, along with what Master Bard was compensated.
“As you can see my Lord it is as I have said. Solid dair furniture was ordered.”
“Yet that’s not what was received,” Oryon stated leaning back in his chair.
“If that is truth, I was unaware of it until today.”
“If?” Oryon growled at Kaspar.
“My Lord, while I understand you supporting your Lady before the trainees it is not necessary to do so before me.”
“You believe I would speak an untruth… before my males… because my Lady was present?” Oryon’s voice grew with each word.
“Only to not upset your female, I know she believes she is correct.”
“Did you not listen to my words about who my Lady’s manno was?” Oryon stressed Isis’ title.
“Of course my Lord but it’s not as if Master Geb would have actually taught her anything.” Kaspar’s tone indicated that the very thought was ridiculous to him.
“So you doubt my words.” Oryon’s tone became lethal.
Kaspar’s eyes flew over his Lord’s face finally realizing that his Lord had not just been humoring his female. He actually believed her about the furniture. Her, a female, before him, a trusted high-ranking male in his House.
“I… my Lord… I would never…”
“Yet you just did Master Kaspar! I say that the furniture is inferior and not solid dair as these invoices say! Why!”
“I… my Lord… I do not know!”
“I want all the invoices for this House brought to me! Every. Single. One. Do you understand Kaspar?”
“I… yes my Lord it will take me a little time to gather them.”
“You have three hours Master Kaspar and then I want you back here.”
“Yes my Lord.”
“While you are doing that I will get to the bottom of the furniture with Master Bard.”
Kaspar paled at his Lord’s words. “I… yes my Lord… three hours.” Spinning on his heel Kaspar quickly left the room, his mind racing. If Oryon talked to Bard, he would discover Kaspar’s deception. What was he going to do? As he rushed around the corner, he plowed into Jago.
“Hey!” Jago grunted, shoving Kaspar away. “Watch where you’re going!” Jago had never liked Kaspar, even before he had become Master of House Rigel. Although they were the same age, Kaspar had been several years ahead of Jago in his training due to Jago’s problems on Luda and Kaspar had never let him forget it. Not that Kaspar had known the reason, no one had except Lord Oryon and he had kept that to himself. It was something Jago had been grateful for, but now, because of what happened on Tornian, everyone knew, and he was being treated differently. It was why he was on his way to speak to his Lord.
“You watch were you’re going! You drunkard!” Kaspar spat at him, telling Jago word had spread throughout Betelgeuse of his shameful past. Shoving Jago aside, Kaspar continued on his way.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Oryon was gathering the invoices Kaspar had left and was rising to leave when there was a knock on his door.
“Enter!” he commanded and was surprised to find Jago entering.
“My Lord.” Jago’s arm crossed his chest as he bowed to the male that had given him back his honor.
“Jago, what can I do for you?” Oryon asked leaning back in his chair.
“My Lord, before you stands a male that only exists because of you. You allowed me to recover my honor and rise above my past. I repaid that by bringing shame onto your House.”
“Jago…” Oryon was shocked by the young male’s statement and was about to tell him so, but Jago continued.
“I need to request that you release me from my vow to you.”
“Why?” Oryon demanded.
“Because I don’t want to bring more dishonor to your House.”
“Where would you go?”
“I… I don’t know yet but…”
“No.” Oryon denied. “Sit!” Oryon ordered when Jago opened his mouth to argue.
Slowly Jago did as his Lord ordered.
“Now tell exactly what’s going on.”
“My Lord, I told you.”
“This is because of what was made known on Tornian.”
“Yes my Lord,” Jago told him quietly. “I can no longer serve…”
“Why?” Oryon demanded. “What has changed?”
“My Lord?” Jago gave him a stunned look.
“What has changed Jago? Except the fact that everyone now knows what you have had to overcome to become the fit and honorable male you now are.”
“My Lord?” Jago whispered unable to believe what his Lord was saying.
“It took a male of great honor and courage to do what you did in front of the Assembly, Jago. In front of the Emperor. You stood and told truth, even though it reflected badly on the male you had been. You showed that a male, a Tornian male can change, that who we can be is not dictated by who we were. I am proud that you are a member of my House.”
“But others…”
“That’s what this is about? What others are thinking and saying? Jago, you can’t let that control you. If I had, I would not have four males that I am extremely proud of. I wouldn’t have my Lady who I would give my life for and not because of the offspring she has given me but because she completes me in a way I can never truly explain. Without her, you may as well end me.”
Jago sat back in his chair shocked by his Lord’s words. Not that the words themselves surprised him for he has always known how Oryon felt about his Lady. No, it was because he said them to him. “Your Lady is an extremely special female my Lord.”
“She is and right now she is in her old chambers selecting furniture for the entrance hall. This conversation is done. You will stay as you vowed, you are an asset to my House Warrior Jago, not a liability, and I mean to keep you.”
“Thank you, my Lord.” Starting to rise Jago paused. “My Lord?”
“Yes?” Oryon stood gathering the invoices.
“Why is Lady Isis selecting furniture for the entrance hall?”
“Because it seems Master Bard has been passing off inferior furniture as solid dair.”
“Impossible!” Jago immediately denied the possibility.
“Excuse me?” Oryon asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Master Bard would never do such a thing my Lord. He is a fit and honorable male that takes great pride in his work.”
“Yet I have invoices in my hand,” Oryon lifted them. “Signed by him that state he made solid dair furniture for my hall when what was found is peine covered with dair.”
“All I know is that if that is what you have, then that is what Master Bard was requested to build.”
“You have that much faith in the male?”
“Yes my Lord.” Jago simply said.
“Then you will accompany me while I confront him with this and we’ll see if your faith is well placed.”
“Gladly, my Lord.”
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Master Bard’s shop was several maili from House Rigel in a small valley surrounded by a heavily forested area. Bard would sometimes work late into the night and the landscape kept the noise from traveling, as it was doing now.
Oryon knew Bard was well liked by his people, not only because he was an outgoing male but also because he was very talented. His furniture was highly sought after, it was why Oryon had made him his Master Cabinetmaker securing that House Rigel would always have the best. Or so he had thought, now he wondered if he had been made a fool of.
“Master Bard!” Oryon roared over the noise of the saw, as he entered Bard’s workshop. After several moments, the saw Bard was using shut off, and he spun around.
“Who in the name of the Goddess w
ould dare roar at a male when he is using the saw!” Bard spun around, little pieces of adhmad clinging to his gray hair, revealing his advanced age, seeing who it was, didn’t faze him. “Did you want me to cut off an arm! My Lord.” He tacked on at the end.
Oryon held back a smirk that the older male’s barely remembered show of respect. It was something he had always liked about the male. He saw Oryon as just another young male, one that he had something to teach. The thought that he had fooled him for all these years had Oryon frowning.
“I am here to speak you about the furnishing in the entrance hall of House Rigel.”
“What about them?” Bard snorted turning back to inspect the piece of adhmad he’d been working on before he’d been interrupted. “Still can’t believe you ordered it. If having a Lady has put that much of a strain on your Household then you need to get rid of her. House Rigel’s entrance hall, hell the whole House should only have the best Betelgeuse has to offer, not pieces that only look it.”
“What?” Oryon asked in a deadly quiet voice.
“Have you gone deaf my Lord? Or is it that you just don’t like to hear truth anymore?” Bard was years past caring if his Lord ended him. He was a proud male and to be ordered to make that furniture insulted him!
“I am not deaf and I will always listen to truth old male and you better start giving me some. I want to know why the furniture in my hall is not what was ordered!”
“It was exactly what was ordered although it pained me to make it!”
“I have the invoices right here!” Oryon shouted pulling them out of his inner pocket. “Furnishing made of solid dair was ordered!”