Ynyr (Tornians Book 3) (15 page)

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 a
fter
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.”

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 said, 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.

“It was. The Berto bloodline was once an honorable and respected one. Warriors from this very House were the first to respond to the Goddess’ plea for assistance when the Lower God Daco stole her from her mate. Daco wanted to force her to Join with him and thus change his position among the Gods.”

“Like the way a Tornian male’s position will change when his female presents him with a female.” Abby said quietly. The sharp look she received from Ynyr told her he had never made that connection before.

“I… yes. For their assistance the Goddess promised that for each warrior born, she would provide him with a female created specifically for him, a mate. That she would Join with him and only him, completing the warrior as he completed her.” He felt Abby’s hand squeeze his arm. Looking down, he saw understanding in her eyes and he continued. “It was many centuries later, after we could travel to other worlds and the Tornian Empire encompassed more than just Tornian that Emperor Torin Berto decided the ‘Empire’ needed a House. So he had Torino built and moved House Berto there, renaming it House Torino. He then named his blood brother, King of House Berto and placed him in charge of ruling the Etruria Region.”

“Really?” Abby looked up fascinated with what Ynyr was telling her. She had always loved history. “So how did it become House Guttuso?”

“While the Berto bloodline was forever stripped of its power to rule the Empire, the new Emperor, Emperor Wyck Vasteri of House Vasteri of Luda decided that the Emperor’s brother had no part in the evil acts his brother had committed. He felt the stigma his family now carried was enough punishment. King Radek had always run the Etruria Region well and the Emperor believed him to be an honorable male so he allowed his family to remain ruling the region but changed his title to Lord. Lord Radek then changed the family name to Guttuso, the name of his Lady’s bloodline to distance himself from his brother.”

“He used his Lady’s name?”

“Yes. Emperor Wyck then proclaimed his blood brother King of Luda until his own male came of age.”

“Which is why Grim is now the King of Luda.”

“Yes.”

 As they approached the end of the corridor Abby saw two males standing before a set of massive doors with a large ornate ‘G’ carved into them, half on each door. At their approach the males stiffened as their eyes nervously traveled over the group moving towards them and their hands moved to their swords.

“Felim. Darton. Stand down!” Korin ordered, stepping out from behind Ynyr. “This is your new Lord. Lord Ynyr.”

Both males immediately removed their hands from the hilt of their swords and bowed their heads.

“Open the doors.” Ynyr ordered impatiently. He wanted to get his Abby settled.

“I… we…” Darton raised panicked eyes to Ynyr as he spoke. “My Lord, we cannot.”

“What do you mean you cannot?!!” Ynyr demanded, his displeasure easily heard in his low growl.

“My Lord,” Korin spoke so the petrified Darton didn’t have too. “While guards are always assigned to these doors, Bertos would still make sure his Wing was locked when he was not present. He carried the only key with him. When he traveled he would lock and seal the door.” Korin gestured to the silver seal that Felim had stepped aside for, so Ynyr could see that the seal was still intact.

“He would lock his Wing even when he was in residence?” Ynyr questioned sure that he had misunderstood Korin. “When his Lady was inside?”

“Yes, my Lord.” Korin told him.

“So if he locked and sealed the doors, why would he assign guards?” Ynyr demanded.

“To ensure no one tried to enter his chambers, my Lord.” Felim stated as if it were obvious.

Ynyr just looked from one male to another. It was one thing to lock and seal a chamber in a Lord’s absence. Many did this, not his manno but Ynyr had heard of it, but to do so when he was
in
residence? It showed the total lack of trust Bertos had in his warriors, especially when he locked his female inside.

“Find something to break it down.” Ynyr ordered.

“That won’t be necessary my Lord, I have the key.” Korin spoke, reaching inside his jacket to pull out the key to show Ynyr.

“Where did you get that?” Ynyr demanded harshly. He still didn’t fully trust Korin.

“I retrieved it from Bertos’ body, my Lord. I knew that
whoever would be named Lord would need it.”

After a moment Ynyr nodded. “Open the doors Korin.”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

From listening to Korin’s words Abby wasn’t surprised by the stale, ‘closed up’ smell that struck her as the large doors of the Lord’s Wing were pushed open. What
did
surprise her as she walked in was the wall of floor to ceiling windows that ran along one side of the room. They let in the light of the morning sun and seemed to bring the golden warmth out of the walls and floors instead of the coolness of the silver.

Walking over to them, she discovered that several of them were actually doors that led out into a garden. Twisting the handles on one set she found they wouldn’t open.
‘Of course they wouldn’t be unlocked.
’ Abby thought to herself. Bertos had locked and sealed the doors to the Wing before he had left for Torino. He would not have left the garden doors unlocked.

“The latch is here Abby.” Ynyr’s body pressed against her back as he reached high above her to release the hidden latch and he felt her lean back into him with a quiet sigh. “Try again,” he said, letting his hands come to rest on her shoulders. This time when she twisted the handles, they gave way.

Pushing the doors open Abby felt fresh air rushing passed her face dislodging several strands of her hair. It forced the old stale air out and replaced it with the sweet perfume of flowers.

“That is so much better.” Abby whispered, then stepped out onto the terrace and raised her face to the sun’s warmth. When she felt a light brush against her cheek, she assumed it was Ynyr. Instead, when she opened her eyes, she found a beautiful butterfly fluttering next to her and couldn’t help but smile.

Abby hadn’t realized that her whispered statement or the beauty of her upturned face had drawn the gaze of every male in the room but Ynyr had and he did not like it. Abby was his and his alone. He did not like other males looking at her. If he could, he would hide her away so she could never be harmed and then
he
would be the only male allowed to enjoy her beauty and her smiles.

Even as he thought it, Ynyr realized that if he did that it would destroy his Abby. He suddenly realized his Abby was like the colorful bolboreta that had lightly kissed her cheek. Both were tiny… yet colorful… and amazing to watch. Yet they were both fragile and, if not handled with care easily crushed. Yet that’s where their likeness ended for where the bolboreta traveled with the breeze, allowing it to choose its path, his Abby forced her own and would remain strong in the face of adversity.It was one of the first things he had learned about his Abby. While she had confessed her fear to him through that hedge she had not let it break her as a Tornian female would have. She had told him a great many things about what had happened to her in her life, but she had never told him about what happened when she had been taken from Earth. About what Luuken had tried to do to her.

What else had she not told him?