Ynyr (Tornians Book 3) (16 page)

“Abby.” At Ynyr’s voice Abby turned back to him. “Would you like to see more of our Wing?” Reaching out he tucked the stray hair behind her ear.

“Very much.” She told him softly.

 Ynyr guided her passed the furnishings that filled the room. While there were many couches and chairs along with some tables they all seemed to be haphazardly placed throughout the room with no rhythm or reason. They also weren’t the overwhelming black and silver that had been on the Ascension, here Bertos seemed to be trying to impress those that entered with the quantity of furnishings.

“This is the ‘common’ or ‘meeting’ area of the Wing. The second level is the Lord’s private level and the third is the Lady’s.” Nodding her understanding Abby allowed Ynyr to lead her up the stairs.

Now this was more what Abby had come to expect from Bertos.

It was black.

It was silver.

It was tacky.

She would have to contact Lisa immediately and find out how to deal with it. Lisa had studied interior design back on Earth and would be able to guide Abby on what she needed to do to make her new House the show place Abby had heard Luanda now was.

Ynyr looked at the area he had brought his Abby to and barely contained his cringe. How could he have asked his Abby to stay in such a place? A place where someone as unfit and unworthy as Bertos had once resided?

 
“It will be fine Ynyr,” Abby said, stepping further into the room. “You have more important things to worry about than this.” She gestured to the room.

“You are too understanding Abby.” Reaching out he ran a gentle knuckle along her cheek. “Master Paganus!” Ynyr hollered over his shoulder and down the stairs. It's then that Abby realized none of the males had followed them up the stairs. “No male is allowed on this level or the next without express permission.” Ynyr informed her.

“Yes, my Lord?” Paganus asked, hustling up the steps.

“Go retrieve your weapon and return.”

“Yes, my Lord.” Bowing Paganus quickly left. He ignored the shocked looks he received from Darton and Felim as he passed. They had heard Ynyr’s words stating his new position, it was something even he still had a hard time believing

“Korin!” Ynyr bellowed again.

“My Lord?” Korin was immediately at his side.

“Have a meal sent up for my Lady.”

“Of course, my Lord.” Bowing Korin stepped back and activated his comm.

“I’m fine Ynyr. I can wait until you come back then I’ll eat with you.”

“I do not know when I will be able to return to you Abby.” Ynyr told her regretfully.

Korin lifted his head and waited to hear her response. Females were not known for their tolerance for being disappointed. Risa would also become very upset whenever Bertos disappointed her. He had seen that Lady Abby responded differently to many things but would she to this? To being left along in a strange new place?

“You don’t?” She asked in a slightly wobbly voice.

“No. There is much I need to see too.”

“Of course you do.” Abby firmed her voice, rubbing a reassuring hand on his chest. “There are males you need to meet with, decisions that you need make.”

“There are but not until Paganus has returned and Navon and Morio are stationed at the doors. Until then we can inspect our Wing, together. If that pleases you.”

“It does.” Abby smiled up at him and she slipped an arm around his waist, letting him lead her deeper into the second level.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Felim grabbed Paganus’ arm as he reentered the Lord’s Wing with his sword strapped to his side. “What is going on Paganus?” Felim demanded.

Paganus ripped his arm out of Felim’s grip. Felim had never been a very talented warrior that was why Bertos had him guarding a sealed room. But he
had
completed the Warrior’s program, something Paganus had been unable to do and Felim would never let Paganus forget it.

“It’s
Master
Paganus to you
Warrior
Felim.” Paganus spit out. He now outranked the bully of a warrior and he didn’t have to take his slurs any longer.

“
Master
!” Felim sneered. “Master of
what?!!
”

“Paganus is now Master of the Lord’s Wing and in the service of Lady Abby.” Korin said, walking down the stairs from the second level. “He was named to that position by Lord Ynyr himself and has his complete trust.” Korin walked up to Falim bumping the smaller warrior’s chest with his own. He had never liked Felim. “
I
am Lord Ynyr’s second in command and
you
Warrior Felim are very close to disrespecting both of us.” Korin watched Falim pale, for they both knew what that meant under Bertos’ reign. Korin could not let him think their new Lord was anything like Bertos.

“You are fortunate that Lord Ynyr now rules this House for he is nothing like Bertos and will not end you on only the word of a Captain.”

“Is there a problem here Captain?” Ynyr asked having quietly moved down the stairs. All the males spun around to face him.

“No my Lord.” Korin spoke first. “There is no problem. Warrior Felim was just requesting clarification on the change in Master Paganus’ status.”

“
Warrior
Felim.” Ynyr’s hand fisted the hilt of his sword as he let his eyes travel over the male. The Goddess had blessed Ynyr with a good memory and it did not fail him now. He had read Felim’s file and couldn’t believe Bertos had allowed the male to be named to Warrior status. Felim had
failed
three of his six warrior tests. In House Rigel of Betelgeuse a
low score
on any test would prevent a male from becoming a Warrior. “You feel you have the right to question who
I
name a Master?”

“I... no… of course not… Lord Ynyr.” Felim immediately dropped to his knees, his fingers digging into his thighs as he bowed his head, his entire body quivering as he waited for Ynyr to draw his sword and end his life.

Ynyr stared down at the male in shock. He had only meant to enforce his dominance over the male, establishing his position as Lord and sending the message that he was to be respected. Never had he thought Felim would think he would end his life for such a small thing. Looking to Korin and Paganus he saw that neither of them were surprised. They were both waiting for him to act and that shook Ynyr to his foundation. Yet he let none of it show on in his voice or expression.

“Rise Warrior Felim.” Ynyr ordered.

Slowly, as if he expected this reprieve to be a trick Felim rose and finally his eyes met Ynyr’s.

“While I will always respect a Warrior’s honest question I will not tolerate a Warrior’s abuse of his power. Is that understood Warrior Felim?”

“Yes, my Lord.” Felim quickly replied.

“So what was your question regarding Master Paganus?”

“I…”

“You had one Warrior Felim. So ask it now! Of
me
!”

“Lord Ynyr…. Paganus…”

“
Master
Paganus.” Ynyr interrupted.

“I… yes Lord Ynyr… Master Paganus never reached Warrior status... how can he possibly be made a Master?”

“There is more to actually
being
a fit and worthy male than just being
named
a ‘warrior’ Felim. It has to do with a male’s inner strength and his beliefs, in himself and in his Lord. Master Paganus has shown me by his words and deeds who he is and I believe him to be more than worthy of Master status.” Ynyr looked to Darton. “Every male within this House will have to reveal that to me, as Master Paganus has, if he wishes to remain. No male’s position is guaranteed just because of his history with Bertos. In fact, you must all rise above it if you wish to remain here.”

Ynyr’s statement was met by dead silence.

Abby froze just inside the doors of Bertos’ resting chamber and couldn’t stop the shiver of revulsion that traveled through her body. Ynyr had returned to the first level when he heard raised voices coming up the stairwell and Abby had continued to explore on her own.

The Lord’s level consisted of what seemed to be a long, wide living area that ran approximately two thirds of the room with several doors on either side. Looking into each one she discovered large rooms that were empty except for a bed. These were the rooms Abby assumed were meant for the Lord’s offspring just as her and her brother’s rooms had been down the hall from her parents. Yet she could tell no ‘offspring’ had lived in these rooms in a very long time, maybe centuries.

At the far end of the room were two large double doors that mimicked the pair at the Wing’s entrance, except that these had half of a large ‘B’ carved into them. Pushing them open had brought Abby to this point.

With just one step into the room, Abby could feel the evil that had been Bertos still permeating in the room. It pressed at her, causing her heart to beat faster. The male was dead, yet it seemed as if the
things
he had left behind were waiting for his return.

“My Lady?” Paganus’ question had Abby crying out softly, as she spun around, her hand covering her racing heart. “My pardons my Lady.” Paganus immediately dropped to a knee and bowed his head. “I did not mean to frighten you.”

“Paganus… it’s you.” Abby tried to calm her rapidly beating heart. “Please… stop doing that.”

“Doing what my Lady?”

“Kneeling. There’s no reason for you to kneel to me.”

“Of course there is. You are my Lady.”

Abby shook her head and realized that this was done on Earth too, but she just wasn’t used to it. “Okay, but could you just bow your head and not kneel? Kneeling makes me uncomfortable.”

“If that’s what you wish my Lady.” Slowly Paganus rose.

“It is. Where is Ynyr?” Abby asked, looking behind him.

“Navon and Morio arrived to guard the door my Lady. Lord Ynyr sent me to assist you and asked that I tell you he would return as soon as he could.”

“Oh.” Abby tried to hide her disappointment, but wasn’t very successful.

Paganus didn’t like to see sadness in his Lady’s eyes, it didn’t belong there. “He also wanted me to let you know that he would return immediately if there was a problem. You only need to contact him.” He watched as Abby straightened her shoulders and fight back her sadness to grace him with a smile.

“I will be fine Paganus,” she told him, “I have you here to help me so I am sure there won’t be any problems and we will start in this room.” Spinning around Abby walked into what had once been Bertos’ resting chamber. It was time to vanquish the ghosts and start making this House hers and Ynyr’s.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Lady Abby was wrong. There were problems… lots of them… and they were all because of
her
! Paganus thought angrily. She needed to just stand there and tell him what she wanted done. Instead, she was trying to do it herself. Tornian females never did this. It was why he was so slow to react when his Lady shoved a chair next to a closed window. She stood on it, then stretched up on her toes and reached for the locking mechanism because even on the second story Bertos had them secured. Paganus barely reached her as she shoved the windows out and teetered on the chair. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he swung her to the floor.

“DO NOT EVER DO THAT AGAIN!” Paganus roared, his heart racing as he set her carefully on the floor. Goddess! She could have fallen to her death.

“I was just opening the window Paganus. Relax.” Abby just looked up at him unconcerned apparently unaware of how close she’d come to dying. “Doesn’t that smell better already?”

It was then that Paganus realized that this tiny female truly didn’t see herself as fragile or weak. She didn’t realize how much she needed to be protected, especially in this House. Looking into her eyes, he saw not one ounce of fear just a firm resolve to tackle the task she had assigned herself. She saw herself as a male’s equal and she was not going to just direct a male to do a task that she felt she could do herself.

“The smell is not the point.” Paganus told her through gritted teeth. “Your safety is.”

“I was fine. You need to have more faith Paganus. Now.” Turning to face the room, she took a deep breath. “What are we going to do with all this?”

“Do?”

“Yes… None of this is staying.” Abby walked towards the canopied bed that was draped in black and silver material. Reaching up, she pulled on a piece of the fabric only to have it stay stubbornly fixed. “Paganus? Would you?” She asked, turning beseeching eyes to him.

Paganus reached over her and with one arm jerked the material down.

“Show off,” she muttered before actually looking at what was revealed. She knew it was wood, but what kind? She had no clue and while it was black it had a beautiful patina. Why had it been hidden behind such hideous material?

“It is called gallchnó dubh.” Paganus told her and Abby realized she had spoken aloud. “It was the original material of choice for those that once ruled Etruria.”

“So why is it hidden away like this?”

“It fell out of favor with the Lords of Etruria centuries ago. I was told most of it had been destroyed. I have never seen an original piece from King Varick.”

“King Varick?” Abby gave him a puzzled look.

“He was the ruler of Tornian when the Goddess sent out her plea for assistance.”

“He was the one that saved her?”

“Him and his warriors. It is why House Berto was once a blessed place.”

“And you believe that
this
,” Abby touched the exposed gallchnó dubh. “Was once
his
?” That had to be at least a millennium ago, she thought.

“I… of course not, my Lady. I am sure I am wrong.” Paganus broke eye contact with her.

“Stop that Paganus!” Abby ordered finding herself growing angry.

“Stop what my Lady?” He asked.

“Censuring yourself. You have an opinion. A reason why you believe this piece could be from King Varick. Tell me.”

“My Lady, my bloodline…” he trailed off.

“Yes?” She encouraged.

“We have always served in the Etruria Region.”

“Always?” Abby looked at him in shock. “You are telling me you can trace your bloodline back to the time of King Varick?”

“To before that, my Lady.”

“And this piece?” She asked running her finger along the silky wood.

“Family stories tell that such a bed was once made by one of my ancestors. He and his offspring were once the Master Woodworker’s for the Kings of Tornian.”

Abby raised an eyebrow at the pride she heard in Paganus’ voice. It was the first true unprompted emotion she had ever heard from him. “They didn’t travel with the King when he became Emperor?”

“No. They stayed here. Where we belong.”

“So why are you not a woodworker Paganus?”

“Because no female would be attracted to a woodworker, Master or not, my Lady.” Paganus bowed his head to her embarrassed at what he had revealed.

“It seems your manno must have been able to for you to be here Paganus.”

“My manno was an elite warrior my Lady. He once defended the Emperor’s mother during an attack. Because of those actions, the Emperor ordered a female to Join with him and present me before he would allow her to Join with any other male.”

“The Emperor can do that?” Abby whispered, aghast.

“Emperor Wray never has but his manno…”

“I’m sorry Paganus.” Abby put a sympathetic hand on his arm.

“For what?”

“For not knowing what it is like to be truly loved by a female and I don’t mean as a ‘male’,” she quickly injected, “but as a child. Every child deserves to be loved for who he is. No matter what his beginnings are.”

“That is not that way for Tornian males.”

“It may not have been before, but it is now, especially in this House.” Abby tipped her head slightly to the side. “Do you know the history of this House? All its history?”

“I… what I know is the oral history my Lady, many don’t accept it.”

“By many you mean the Lords that once ruled Etruria.”

“Yes, my Lady.” Paganus acknowledged.

“Oh Paganus, I knew there was a reason I liked you. You are going to help me understand the history of this House. The
real
history so we can make it shine like it once did. But before we can do that you are going to help me get rid of ‘Bertos.’” Grabbing the black comforter from the bed she began stripping it and everything that Bertos had touched.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Seated behind the Lord’s desk in his command center, Ynyr stared at Captain Dai and the three Warriors he had brought with him, unable to believe what he was hearing.

“You want to have
every
male that served under Bertos removed? Including the trainees?”

“Every male here,” Korin stiffened as the Captain’s eyes moved to him, “had a part in the evil Bertos perpetrated. None tried to stop it. The only way to eradicate such evil is to purge all those infected by it.”

“Even if they are innocent?!!” Ynyr couldn’t believe he was hearing this from a male he had once had such great respect for.

“There are no
innocents
in
House Bertos
!” Dai argued back angrily.

“
This
is no longer
House Bertos
!” Ynyr surged to his feet, his chair bouncing off the wall behind him. It caused Dai and his warriors to jump in surprise for this was not the same male they had all helped train, that male had always remained calm and reserved. No matter how hard they had pushed him. No matter what they had said to him or about him. It had led many to believe him to be emotionless. They were obviously wrong. “This is
my House
!
House Rigel
and I will
not
have it founded on the blood of innocents!
That
is what
Bertos
did!”

“It is the task that the Emperor assigned me with when he sent me here!” Dai argued back.

“No
Captain
Dai,” Ynyr rounded his desk to stand toe to toe with the male challenging him. “It is what the Emperor tasked
me
with. He made
me
the Lord of this House. Not
you
!
You
are the Captain of his Guard, tasked by the Emperor to
assist
me and that means doing what
I
say. If that is not something you can do then you need to return to Torino and I will find someone who
can
!”

The Captain’s green face darken to nearly black as his hand clenched the hilt of his sword at Ynyr’s suggestion that he was incapable of completing the task assigned him. Yet he had to admire that the new Lord did not back down from him. He just continued to stare him in the eye and wait for his response.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Korin’s hand went to the hilt of his own sword ready to defend his new Lord, even if it was from the Emperor’s Captain. He knew Ynyr still did not totally trust him, but his words to Dai showed Korin that Ynyr was at least willing to give him a chance, along with the other males from this House and that included his brother, Mabon. Something Dai was not willing to do. Korin needed to speak to other males to see what Dai had truly been doing since their arrival.

All the other males in the room began to move uneasily as Lord Ynyr and their Captain continued to silently stare at each other. What were they supposed to do? Who were they supposed to follow? Dai was their Captain and there was truly no fitter and worthier male. They trusted him with their lives. They had all thought that the Emperor would name
him
Lord of this House when he had so quickly sent him here. Yet the Emperor had declared Ynyr Lord. Going against Ynyr would be going against the Emperor… wouldn’t it?

Finally, Dai stepped back, removing his hand from his sword and giving Ynyr a stiff bow. “Pardons Lord Ynyr, I meant no disrespect. I and my men are more than capable of assisting you in the building of
your
House.”

“Thank you Captain Dai.” Ynyr put a hand on Dai’s shoulder, surprising the older male. “I never doubted for a moment that you and your males would be more than capable. Now let us get to work.”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Abby was surprised by many of the things she discovered in Bertos’ resting chamber… no, not Bertos’… theirs… her and Ynyr’s resting chamber. Nearly everything had to go. The bed frame was the only piece Abby was allowing to remain. It ‘spoke’ to her. This piece had been created a millennium ago for the
King
of Tornian.