Ynyr (Tornians Book 3) (34 page)

Ynyr’s steps faltered at her words and he saw the others stiffen in confusion. When Abby reached their Wing the guards opened the doors.

“Keep in contact with me Dai, Korin. I will be in my Wing for the remainder of the day.” With that Ynyr followed Abby.

“Yes, my Lord.” Korin said.

“Yes, Lord Ynyr.” Dai responded.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Ynyr silently watched from the doorway as Abby made sure Brice was properly bathed. She first put him in the stall, clothes and all, and let the water flow over him. Ynyr couldn’t believe how dark the water was when it ran off him. How could one so small have so much dirt on him? When the water ran nearly clear she had filled the tub and ordered him in.

Ynyr could remember how strenuously he used to protest bathing when he had been that age, but Brice didn’t say a word. Why was that? Was it because he was afraid to? Ynyr found that hard to believe. Brice wasn’t afraid of Abby. He had willingly revealed himself to her. Then why?

Abby began to hum as she filled her hand with cleansing gel and began to work it into the mess that was Brice’s hair. It was then that Ynyr realized why Brice wasn’t protesting. Abby was giving him her attention, her care. For the first time in his life Brice had someone who
cared
for him. Ynyr felt his eyes fill. He knew what that felt like. To have Abby’s attention centered on you. To have her fight for you, protect you, care for you… It was the most amazing thing in the universe and he had somehow lost it.

He would get it back.

Abby ran her fingers through Brice’s long, silky clean hair. She couldn’t believe how thick it was or how dirty it had been. For a while she had thought the only way to get the snarls out would be to cut them, as Ronnie had to do with her but finally after some time and patience they had given way.

Where Paganus had ever found him clean clothes that fit Abby would never know. She would have to thank him. She hadn’t missed the strange looks he was giving her. She needed to remember it wasn’t Paganus’ fault for the way things had turned out. He had been at her side since they had arrived, always helping, always doing everything she had asked. Yes, she needed to thank him before they left.

When last meal had arrived and Abby couldn’t believe how much Brice ate. It was like he hadn’t just finished a Warrior sized sandwich just a few hours earlier. He still wasn’t speaking but that didn’t concern Abby, she hadn’t at first either, although Brice’s was probably due to Ynyr being there. Ynyr had even insisted on eating the meal with them. It was the first time she and Ynyr had ever eaten last meal together and Abby would have laughed at that fact if it didn’t make her heart hurt so much.

Now she stood watching Brice sleep in a clean, comfortable bed and guessed it was the first time, if his reaction to it was any indication.

“He is asleep Abby. Come to bed. You need to rest.” Ynyr stood in the doorway watching her. He could see the fatigue around her eyes. He wanted her to rest. He wanted her to rest in their bed. He wanted her in his arms.

“I’ll rest here.” She told him gesturing to the large space beside Brice. “He is going to wake up and be scared. He will need to see me and know he is safe.”

“Because that is how it was for you?” He asking moving to stand beside her.

“Yes.”

“I am sorry for what I said Abby.”

“I’m sure you are… sorry that you s
aid
it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not what you feel and believe.” While Abby spoke quietly, her pain was easily heard, at least by Ynyr.

“I… I will not give you an untruth Abby… that is something I will never do for you mean too much to me…” He ignored her disbelieving snort. “He and you are not the same to me.”

“No, because even though
I
have tainted blood I can still give you offspring. Just like Risa did for so many.”

“No!” Ynyr grabbed her arm, turning her so she faced him. “Never! Never! Compare yourself to
her
! You are nothing like Risa! Risa was cold and conniving. She selfishly used every male she came in contact with. She plotted and murdered. You! Goddess Abby, you are so warm and caring. You worry more about others than you do yourself. You…”

“Don’t you touch her!” Brice suddenly exploded from the bed, his thin arms wrapping around Ynyr’s neck as he tried to pull him away from Abby.

Shock and not the strength of the child, had Ynyr stumbling back. He had to admire Brice’s daring in attacking a full grown male, but that admiration quickly disappeared when the little caca bit him.

Growling, Ynyr grabbed Brice by the scruff of his neck and pulled him off, giving Brice a little shake. “Never do that again!”

“Ynyr! Don’t!” Abby was instantly there grabbing Brice from him. “Don’t hurt him!”

“Don’t
hurt
him! Don’t hurt
him
? What about
me
? He
bit
me!” Ynyr demanded.

“Oh get over it!” She told him dismissively, tucking Brice’s head under her chin. “You are a full grown Tornian male! He’s
three
! What was he supposed to do?”

“Do? He wasn’t supposed to
do
anything! He was supposed to be resting!”

“You were hurting her!” While the voice was small and weak, Brice’s eyes were blazing.

“I would
never
hurt her! She is my Lady!” Ynyr couldn’t believe he was defending himself to a
child
! And not just any child, but Risa and Bertos’ child!

“Leave Ynyr.” Abby’s quiet words had his eyes flying back to hers. “I will never get him to rest again if you don’t.”

“I will only leave if you vow to rest in our chamber.”

Brice’s whimper had Ynyr glaring at him.

“No Ynyr. I am staying here.”

With a frustrated growl Ynyr spun on his heel and left the room.

Abby refused to admit it, even to herself that she was disappointed Ynyr gave up so easily, even though it’s what she had expected. Everyone always left her.

“Come on squirt,” Abby said turning away from the door. “Time for you to rest.”

“But what if he comes back?” Brice whispered, his eyes remaining on the open door, even as he yawned. “I need to protect you.”

“I don’t need protecting from Ynyr, Brice.” Laying him down she pulled the covers up to his chin, making sure they were tucked snugly around him. “Ynyr would never hurt me Brice. He is a fit and worthy male.”

“But…”

“No buts. I know he has not treated you kindly, but he has his reasons, none of which you are responsible for. Now it’s time for you to rest.”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Ynyr sat back in the chair he had dragged into the chamber that was now Brice’s. It had taken him a few minutes to calm down after Abby’s refusal to rest in their chamber. He had started to storm back into the chamber and demand she rest with him when he had heard her quiet words to Brice.

She still believed him to be a fit and worthy male. She still believed he would never intentionally harm her. Ynyr straightened the shoulders that had started to sag at the thought of losing his Abby and the pain in his heart eased slightly. He had not lost her. If she could still believe that about him, then he still had a chance to win her back. Sending up a prayer of thanks to the Goddess he grabbed a chair. If she wouldn’t rest with him, he would rest with her.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Life changed in the House over the next week and few were happy about it.

Paganus still came every day but Abby no longer felt the need to clean out the third level. It wasn’t hers any longer. It would belong to the next female Ynyr chose and she would have to decide what to do with it.

When Cairbre contacted her so they could continue to tour the House via video, she told him it was no longer necessary and that he should just concentrate on the pieces already chosen. That too was a decision for Ynyr’s new Lady.

When Lisa had contacted her, letting her know when the Raptor would arrive Abby had told her she wouldn’t need it. She hadn’t lied to Lisa when she told her that she and Ynyr were going to work it out, that it would just take some time. They would. It would just involve her and Brice leaving, instead of staying, as Lisa assumed.

Brice still wasn’t telling how he was able to get in and out of the Wing, much to Ynyr’s frustration. Especially when Abby wouldn’t let him try to intimidate him. In response, Ynyr had placed two guards on the second level and demanded that all doors remained open.

Right now, it was Sunil and Saar, one on each end of the second level, their eyes taking in everything. Navon and Ja were at the entrance, in a few hours they would switch. Only when Ynyr was here did the guards leave and that was worse for Abby.

When Ynyr was there the pain of everything she was losing was right there in front of her. A living, breathing thing. Every night he would say it was time for them to go rest in their chamber and every night she would refuse. He would frown at her then take his rest in that chair in Brice’s room.

When she tried to move her things into Brice’s room, Ynyr had growled at her and moved them all back, grumbling the entire way. It was all driving Abby crazy!

“Goddess I wish we could get out of here!” Abby muttered under her breath, making sure Sunil and Saar couldn’t hear her. Brice looked at her with his big dark eyes for a moment then sliding off the chair he had been sitting on as they ate their midday meal, he walked around the table to silently take her hand.

Abby frowned but stood, letting him lead her into Ynyr’s resting chamber.

“My Lady?” Sunil asked as they walked by.

“We’re fine Sunil.” Abby told him impatiently. She wasn’t going to tell the male that she had no clue what Brice was up to. She followed Brice up to the third level then deeper into Risa’s old wing then she had ever been. “Brice, where are you taking me?”

Dropping her hand Brice stepped up a wall and reaching up pushed on a solid patch of silver. To Abby’s shock the wall began to open and a dimly lit passage appeared behind it.

“What in the world???” Abby whispered taking a hesitant step forward. “Brice?” She looked down at him.

“Out.” Brice said pointing then walked into the passage.

Abby looked behind her, thinking she should go back and get Sunil, Ynyr was going to be upset… Wait. Why should she care? She was leaving wasn’t she? Eventually she was going to have to deal with things on her own, might as well start now. Taking a deep breath she stepped into the passage. “Wait for me Brice.” She called out, the wall closed behind her.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

It had been a long week and Ynyr didn’t know how much longer he could continue resting in that chair in Brice’s room, but he refused to rest in their bed without his Abby. Every night he asked her to rest with him. Every night she chose to rest with Brice. It made his heart ache. He wanted to hold her in his arms, wanted to touch her, wanted to kiss her. It wasn’t about Joining with her, although he wanted to do that too. It was about being with her. Goddess he missed just
being
her.

The trainee selection had been completed and there were many that were not happy with the outcome. He had allowed none of the previous Warriors to be returned to Warrior status and most trainees were returned to first year status. He had given several no choice but to leave and the remaining had to recommit to him or also leave. Do this meant he would have to continue to rely on the Warriors from other Houses until males that were up to his standards completed his training program. Goddess he wished he could have talked to Abby about it for it affected her as much as him but she no longer wished to hear about such things.

Paganus and Korin along with Navon, Morio and Cairbre had all come to him over the last week expressing their concern about the sudden change in their Lady’s behavior. They wanted to know what was wrong and if there was anything they could do to make her smile again. It had surprised Ynyr at first, then it had angered him, then he had realized that Abby’s gentle touch and caring ways had affected more than just him.

He discovered Korin was right about the first years infatuation with Abby when he’d overheard several of them talking about how they hoped they would be chosen next time to move furniture, just so they could see their beautiful Lady. When they had seen him they had paled and scattered. Ynyr had laughed… but that had been before… before his words and actions had taken away her smile and laugh. How was he going to get those back?

“Enter!” Ynyr ordered, the knock on his command room door, pulling him from his dark thoughts. When the door opened and Ull strode in and Ynyr couldn’t have been more shocked. “Ull!” Quickly Ynyr rose and went to hug his brother. It was a hug Ull coolly returned.

“Lord Ynyr.” Ull said bowing slightly.

“Lord?” Taking a step back Ynyr ran a critical eye over his brother and realized Ull was still very upset at what had happened during the Joining Ceremony. Goddess that seemed like a lifetime ago to Ynyr. Moving back around his desk Ynyr sat down. “Why are you here Warrior Ull?” He asked coolly. “I was not informed to expect you.”

Ull’s eyebrow rose slightly at the tone Ynyr was using. When had the little caca learned to sound so much a like powerful Lord? When had he learned to imitate their manno so perfectly? Looking at Ynyr sitting there behind the Lord’s desk it suddenly hit Ull. Ynyr wasn’t ‘imitating’ their manno at all. He w
as
a powerful Lord.

“You requested my assistance.” Ull finally spoke. “I am here.”

“I assumed, since I did not hear from you, that you had ‘considered’ not to
be
of assistance.”

“Yes, well, it was pointed out to me that as the future Lord of Betelgeuse, that not coming to the aid of another Lord was not worthy of me. It was also pointed out that should the Warriors of House Rigel discover that after all the loyalty and support my blood brother had given
me
, I could not give the same to
him,
that they might begin to question my loyalty to
them
.”

“Manno said that?” Ynyr couldn’t hide his shock.

“No.” Ull admitted, feeling his skin darken.

“Then who? Who besides manno himself would dare say something like that to you? You are a first male!”

“Yes, well, apparently that has no bearing with the one that presented you.”

“What? Mother? Mother said that to you?”