The Tigrens' Glory (13 page)

“Nevertheless, we would not have you upset,” Jerri said. 

“I’d prefer not to be upset, too,” Berta said.  “But at the same time, there is a part of me that really wants this to be true.  Darck was such a sweet boy once, before his father took him from me.  After that, he changed so much, but he was never deliberately mean or cruel to me.”

Berta knew that her men wanted to point out that Darck could have freed her from her captivity but instead had chosen to become one of her jailors, but they held their tongues.  She was grateful for that.  This wasn’t going to be much easier for them than it was for her.

“I think it’s time,” Tor said.  “Shall we?”

Berta nodded and the four of them fell into formation with Berta tucked close against Merrick’s side, Tor and Jerri guarding their backs as they headed for the
Eyrie’s
docking hatch.  Admiral Gray Falcoran met them and, after brief greetings, they speed-travelled to the meeting room where Darck awaited them. 

Darck turned from the viewport when he heard the door opening behind him.  He was very nervous about coming face to face with his mother, but he accepted his discomfort as his due for past behavior.  That he had become a different person did not erase his past, or earn him freedom from responsibility of past actions.

He glanced briefly at the Falcorans who escorted Berta into the room, already aware that they were her Rami.  It was their relationship that had prompted the Jasani Fleet Admirals to claim him as brother, so, at the very least, he owed them respect.  But he found it impossible to tear his eyes from his mother.  Seeing her as she’d been in his earliest memories would have brought tears to his eyes if he’d been capable of them.  As it was, a large lump formed in his throat, making it difficult to breathe as he gazed upon the small dark haired woman with the familiar dark blue eyes.

He bowed deeply, holding it for a long moment out of profound respect to his mother, and the men who hovered protectively around her.

“I am honored and deeply grateful that you agreed to meet with me, Mother,” he said when he straightened.  “I know it cannot be easy for you to look upon me, and that I’m responsible for that.”

“You look good, Darck,” Berta said with a hesitant smile. 

“Thank you, Mother,” Darck replied.  “You look good too, just as you did when I was a boy.  I am glad you have another chance at life and happiness.  You deserve it.”

“Darck, these are my Rami,” Berta said.  “Merrick, Torrick, and Jerrick Falcoran.”

“I am honored to meet you,” Darck said, bowing again.  “I was not a good son to my mother, but she was a wonderful mother to me.  I am very happy that she has three strong men to guard and love her now.”

The Falcorans accepted Darck’s words but had little to say in return.  Their senses told them that he was sincere, but they would allow Berta to set the tone of this meeting.

“My reason for asking to see you, Mother, is so that I could apologize to you,” Darck said.  “I know it isn’t much, and in light of all that I’ve done, it is as a drop of water in an ocean of tears.  Even so, I feel that you deserve this from me, little as it is.  I stand ready to accept whatever you may wish to say to me.  I’m sure you hold much anger toward me, all of it deserved.”

Berta studied Darck carefully as she considered his words.  She was surprised, and pleased, that he hadn’t attempted to explain his actions, or excuse them as the attempts of a boy trying to please his father.  He wasn’t even asking for forgiveness.  He was asking only that he be allowed to apologize to her.  He looked less human than he had as a child, but it didn’t matter to her.  She was still his mother, and had no trouble reading him.  He was completely sincere, of that she had no doubt whatsoever.

She stepped away from her Rami, crossed the room to Darck and hugged him.  Darck’s surprise was clear, but he returned the hug immediately, his entire body shaking with emotion.  When they released each other he bowed to her again.

 “I spent sixty years as a prisoner of the Brethren,” Berta said.  “I realize now that, in many ways, you spent all of your life as a prisoner too.  We are free now, and our lives have changed drastically for the better.  I’d like us to leave the past behind us where it belongs, and begin anew.”

“You are far too good to have been burdened with a son such as I was,” he said hoarsely.  “I don’t deserve you, I never deserved you, but I do love you, Mother.  I’ll treasure this moment forever.  Thank you.”

Berta didn’t know what to say, so she just hugged him again, her heart suddenly lighter than it had been since the day the Brethren had kidnapped her so many years earlier.  When she released him and stepped back, she was surprised to see a genuinely happy smile on Darck’s face.

“Would you like to meet my mate, Mother?”

“You have a mate?” Berta asked.

“Yes,” Darck said, his eyes lighting with both pride and love, an expression she’d never thought to see on his face.  “She is everything to me.  I was a good child because of you, Mother.  It is because of Thelba that I have learned to be a good man, and father.”

“You have a child, Darck?” Berta asked in surprise.

“Three, Mother,” Darck said.  “Two sons and a daughter.”

“I’m very happy for you, Son,” Berta said.  “And I would love to meet the mother of my grandchildren.” 

“I shall go and get her,” Darck said excitedly.  “It will take only a moment.”

Berta watched Darck hurry from the room, smiling at the changes in her son.  He was much like he’d been when he was young, and it made her heart glad to see it.  “You are an amazing woman, Berta,” Merrick said as he crossed the room and wrapped her in his arms.  Berta returned the hug, a deep peace settling within her. 

Chapter Eleven

“Should we move her into the bedroom?” Lariah asked worriedly as she gazed down at Glory’s motionless body lying on the living room floor of River House.  “Trey can use Air to float her into bed without disturbing her.”

“No, not just yet,” Jareth replied with a quick shake of his head that caused his blood red feathers to tremble.  “Until I know what’s wrong with her, its best she not be moved.”

“All right,” Lariah agreed, watching the Alverian Empath Healer lower himself to his knees beside Glory.

“Don’t worry, little love,” Trey said softly, his large hands gentle on Lariah’s shoulders.  “Jareth will soon discover what is wrong with her, and he will heal her if necessary.”  Lariah patted one of Trey’s hands in thanks, her eyes on Jareth and Glory. 

Jareth took a few moments to study Glory using his eyes only, checking the position of her body, the beat of the pulse in her neck, the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, the faint gray pallor at her wrists and around her eyes.  Then, speaking very softly, he said, “So far I see nothing out of the ordinary.  I’ll examine her now.”

The moment his hands neared her body, Glory’s eyes popped open, her gaze fixed on Jareth’s strange red eyes.  Then she was gone.  Between one heartbeat and the next she’d leapt from her prone position in the middle of the floor, to a defensive crouch in a far corner of the room, the walls at her back.

Trey’s hands left Lariah’s shoulders as he shifted position, putting his body between the two women.  Lariah shook her head and stepped around him.

“Glory?” she asked, “are you all right?”

Glory shifted her intense gaze from Jareth to Lariah.  With some effort she relaxed her shoulders and stood up straight.  “I apologize, Lariah,” she said.  “I was startled.”

“Of course you were,” Lariah said.  “Under the circumstances anyone would be.”

“What’s going on?” Glory asked, realizing for the first time that they were all standing in the living room of River House.

“One of our housekeepers came to bring your breakfast and tidy up this morning and found you unconscious on the floor,” Lariah said, as she tried to figure out why Glory remained so tense.  “Trey brought me over to check on you and when I couldn’t awaken you, he brought Jareth.”

“I appreciate your concern, and I apologize for all the trouble I’ve caused,” Glory said.  “I don’t need a physician, thank you.”

Lariah’s red gold brows drew down in a frown.  “Are you sure Glory?  You don’t look well at all.  I’m very concerned about you.”

“You’ve been very kind to me, Lariah, and I’ve no wish to be rude,” Glory said in a calm voice, though something in her eyes made Lariah’s heart ache.  “The simple truth is, I cannot allow a physician to examine me.  I would prefer death.”

Lariah did not reveal her surprise by so much as a flicker of an eyelash.  Glory had mentioned an aversion to physicians, but nothing like this.  “Of course we will respect your wishes,” she said.  “However, Jareth isn’t a physician.  He’s an Alverian Empath and Healer.  He can examine you, and heal you if necessary, without touching you.  I am happy to remain at your side.  I offer my word that he will not touch you without your express permission.”

Jareth rose to his feet to stand beside Lariah.  “I, too, offer my word that I shall not touch your person, Princess Gloriani.  Touch isn’t required for what I do.  Further, if at any moment you ask that I stop, I shall do so immediately.”

Glory tried to focus on their words but the truth was, she was exhausted.  Leaping across the room had been pure reflex, revealing another one of her differences that she preferred to hide.  It had also sapped what little energy she had.  Whatever was wrong with her, she had no choice but to let them help her.  Until she found and rescued the Tigren, she couldn’t allow herself to fall ill.  She was suddenly very glad that she trusted Lariah.

“I accept your promises, and would be grateful for your help,” Glory said.  As soon as the words were out of her mouth, her legs gave way.  She knew she was going down, and that she was too weak to get her arms up in time to break her fall.  She fully expected to hit the floor face first, and was surprised when it didn’t happen.  She blinked up at Trey’s concerned face as he carried her to the sofa and laid her down before stepping back. 

Lariah took his place, reaching for one of her hands to pat her lightly.  “Just relax, Glory,” she said.  “I’ll remain at your side, as I promised.  Can you tell us the last thing you remember?”

“I Dream Walked,” Glory said.  “Cade was transparent so I fed him some of my energy.  Maybe too much.”

“When was that?” Jareth asked.

“Early evening, before sunset,” Glory replied, her eyes closing against her will.  “I’m sorry, tired,” she mumbled.

“Don’t fight it,” Lariah said as Glory’s eyes closed and her body began to relax.  “Let yourself relax.  We’ll watch over you and keep you safe.” 

Lariah watched as Jareth held his hands slightly above Glory’s feet, moving up the length of her body slowly.  She knew that Jareth wouldn’t touch his patient.  He never did.  But she’d made Glory a promise to keep an eye on him, and she wouldn’t break her word simply because she trusted Jareth herself.

When Jareth was finished he lowered his hands and raised thoughtful eyes to Lariah.  “Don’t worry, Highness,” he said.  “All she needs is rest. She has drained herself too much, but not critically so.”

“From giving her energy to the Tigren?” Trey asked.

“I’m afraid so,” Jareth replied.

“Honey warned her not to do this,” Trey said, shaking his head.  “They must have been in serious need for her to risk so much to help them.”

“Are you sure that she’ll be all right?” Lariah asked Jareth.

“I believe so, Highness,” Jareth replied.  “If she rests the remainder of this day and night, she should be up and around tomorrow morning.  She may need another day or so after that before she feels fully herself again.”

“You can’t heal her?” Trey asked.

“I’m afraid not,” Jareth said.  “This isn’t an illness or injury.  Her physical reserves are depleted, and she must rebuild those herself.  I will ask Dr. Honey if she can give her a vitamin boost, but that is about all that can be done.” 

“Do you think she’ll mind if we move her to our home?” Trey asked Lariah.  “We can put her in your favorite guestroom.”

“I want to say she won’t mind,” she admitted after a moment.  “But I honestly don’t know if that’s because it’s what I want, or if I really believe it.  I think it’s best that I remain here until she awakens.”

Trey opened his mouth to argue, but held his tongue when one of Glory’s hands reached for Lariah, though her eyes remained closed.  Lariah caught the seeking hand and held it gently between her own.  “Glory?” she asked, leaning over the sofa.

“Don’t give up your last day with your children for me,” Glory whispered.

“Will you agree to come to our home?” Lariah asked.  “Trey will speed-travel you.”

“For you, yes,” Glory said, one corner of her mouth twitching upward.  Then her hand went limp and Lariah lowered it back to Glory’s side.

“What did she say, little love?” Trey whispered.  “I could not hear her even with my dracon hearing.”

“She said yes,” Lariah said.  “If you’ll speed-travel her to the guest room, I’ll gather her things.”

“No,” Trey said, already lifting Glory into his arms.  “I’ll bring Suly back with me to pack Glory’s things, and Val to take you home, Jareth.”

Lariah watched Trey vanish, then turned to the Alverian.  “Thank you, Jareth,” she said.  “I appreciate your efforts on Glory’s behalf.”

“It is mine to heal,” Jareth said, bowing solemnly.  “If I might ask, how much do you know of that young woman?”

“Not very much other than the fact that she’s a Ramourian Princess,” Lariah replied.  “And that she’s very important to the future of Clan Jasani.”

“She has been much damaged in her young life,” Jareth said, his blood red eyes filled with sadness.  “That isn’t, in itself, as unusual as I’d like it to be.  The problem is that, in her case, she seems to be unaware of it.” 

“Unaware?” Lariah asked in surprise.  “How is that possible?”

“I don’t know,” Jareth said.  “Her mind is fragmented in some way I’ve never encountered before.”

“I’m not sure I understand,” Lariah said.  “Do you mean broken?  Or tampered with?”