Ynyr (Tornians Book 3) (25 page)

“It does, Ynyr agreed, “and it will be my honor to share it with you… once it has a proper mattress.”

It was sometime later that Abby stood on the third level, unable to believe what she was seeing. She and Ynyr had sat down to eat first meal together both knowing there were things they needed to discuss when Ynyr’s comm had gone off. There had been a major fight amongst the remaining Warriors and Dai needed to know how Ynyr wanted it handled. Ynyr had immediately left, giving Abby a quick kiss goodbye and promising they would talk later.

Now she stood on the third level looking around in shock. She thought that she had seen in Risa’s area on the Ascension had prepared her for this level. She was wrong. She wasn’t prepared at all.

“What is all this?” Abby questioned, turning to look at Paganus in horror.

“This is all that Risa acquired from giving her gift to the males she Joined with.” He told her.

“Seriously?” Abby walked further into the room at the top of the hidden staircase Paganus had shown her.

“I am always serious my Lady.” Paganus said, frowning at her. He didn’t understand why she would think he wasn’t.

“It’s an Earth expression Paganus.” Abby told him, seeing him frown. “It means different things to different people, but for me it means ‘I can’t believe it’.”

“What is there not to believe?” Paganus asked, looking around the room, finding nothing ‘unbelievable’.

“That any one female could possibly demand so much… receive so much... just to ‘Join’ with a male.” Abby’s eyes traveled over the filled room, to her this boarded on prostitution, or desperation. To take so much… what was left when she decided to leave.

“A female always takes everything a male gives her for her gift. Bertos was Risa’s fifth male.”

“Really? She didn’t seem old enough for that.”

“I believe she was 33 years at her death.”

“I…” Abby didn’t know how to respond to that. “Will you tell me a truth Paganus? Just the truth, whether I like it or not?”

“Of course, my Lady.”

“No Paganus, I need you to really stop and think about this before you answer me. You may not like my questions.”

“My Lady I am here to serve you. If you need truth, I will tell it to you.”

“Even if I do not like it?”

“Will you end my life if you do not?

“No! Never!”

“Then I will tell you truth.”

Abby nodded, understanding what he was saying. “So tell me Paganus, if a female takes everything with her when she leaves what is left behind?”

‘There was never very much, my Lady.” Paganus told her. “But for a male it is enough that his bloodline continues.”

“And this area?” Abby gestured to the room they were in with many chairs, couches placed around the room covered in rich materials and lush pillows. The tables filled with a variety of items, large and small, most of which Abby had no clue what they were.

“This was Risa’s waiting room my Lady. It was where she would remain whenever someone else was on this level.”

“I thought no one else was ever allowed on the female’s level. Only her male.”

“That is true. Bertos was the only male allowed to enter whenever he wished and be alone with her in any room. When a servant would arrive bringing her meals she would wait in here as he arranged the meal in the room where she liked to eat.” Paganus gestured to a door across the room. “She would also remain in here when servants attended to her rooms.”

“Attended to her rooms?” Abby frowned at him.

“Yes, when they cleaned them, made the bed, changed the sheets. She would also use this room when the clothier would come for the fitting of her gowns.”

“I see.” Abby moved across the room, sure she was now ready for whatever was behind the next door…. She wasn’t. “OH… MY… GOD…” she gasped at what was revealed.

While the ‘waiting’ room had been decent sized, this room was as long and wide as the entire second level… including the bedrooms… and it was
filled
! If Abby wasn’t mistaken to the ceiling in some places.

“Your things my Lady.” Paganus told her quietly.

“I… she…” Abby staggered at what she was seeing… It was like Fort Knox and Louvre combined. Dear God in heaven. What was she supposed to do with all this? She hadn’t realized she had spoken out loud.

“It is for you to enjoy my Lady.”

“Enjoy?!!” Abby all but shrieked. “Enjoy? Paganus I’m a small town girl… never in my life have I… I never even realized…. I…” Abby spun out of the room. “I have to call Lisa!”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Ynyr couldn’t believe how stupid and undisciplined these males were! Couldn’t believe their lack of control. Fighting… because another brushed against you… He now had five warriors needing the repair unit and a destroyed room.

“Captain Dai!”

“Lord Ynyr.” The Captain immediately responded.

“I want you to gather
every
Warrior, every Trainee that served under Bertos and have them on the training fields in five minutes! I also want all of our warriors there!”

“Even the ones guarding the walls?”

“Leave a minimal number, everyone else! Is that understood?”

“Yes, Lord Ynyr.”

Korin stood at his Lord’s side as the males of House Bertos began to file into the training fields. Many were stumbling and bleary eyed, their uniforms barely on, testifying to them being roused from sleep. They weren’t even forming lines, just standing around.

Entering after them were the Warriors from every Tornian House, striding tall and proud, their eyes alert and every uniform perfect, even those Korin knew had just gotten off duty. They formed perfect lines on either side of the field, corralling the other males.

The glaring discrepancy shamed Korin. What could he have possibly been thinking to bring Mabon into this House? Looking to his left he saw his Lord standing tall and proud as he watched them enter.

Ynyr’s eyes traveled over the group before him. In it he saw the wide fearful looks of the first years beside the arrogant looks from those who had been Bertos warriors. None stood at attention. None stood according to their rank or position. So be it.

“I am Lord Ynyr,” While Ynyr didn’t shout his words were easily heard. “And this House is mine! Look at the males that surround you. LOOK!!” Ynyr roared when his order wasn’t immediately followed.

“Those males are Warriors! Fit and worthy Warriors from every House in the Empire! Look at them! Do you see how they stand? How they act? How they present themselves? Each one of them knows he represents his Lord and would never shame him by presenting himself the way you have! They have trained hard. Worked hard. To gain the position they now hold and they would never shame themselves by being presented as you are! They work together to achieve their goals, for each one knows that the male beside him may one day save his life. They are brothers-in-arms!” Ynyr paused, his eyes moving to the males involved in the fight. “They do not fight amongst themselves over petty things.”

“The Emperor has charged me with turning this House into an example every other one will look to. Warriors from this House will be in great demand for everyone will know they have more than earned that title and are truly fit and worthy. None of you that now stand before me are worthy of that.” Ynyr heard the shocked and angry rumble that traveled through Bertos males.

“As of this moment the only Warriors in this House are the ones that stand before and around you.” Ynyr gestured to the males from the other Houses. “Everyone else, every one of you, are now trainees.”

A roar of protest went up from Bertos’ remaining warriors. “We’ve earned our position! You cannot just take away what another Lord has given!” The male called Wasaki shouted at Ynyr. He was the one that started the fight earlier.

“That is correct Wasaki.” Korin watched as Wasaki crossed his arms over his chest, smiling arrogantly as he thought he had just bested the new Lord. “Bertos gave you that honor, I cannot remove it. Any of you that wish to retain the title of ‘Warrior’ that
he
gave you, there is the gate!” Ynyr drew his sword and pointed to the rising gate. “Go now and offer your services as a Warrior of Bertos’, a male deemed unfit and unworthy by the entire Empire and see just who will take you!” Wasaki’s smile disappeared.

“I will give you until mid-day meal to decide!” Ynyr’s eyes traveled over the males. “All those that stay will be deemed a trainee in my House! The warriors you see around you will evaluate your skills and divide you into proper training groups. NO ONE! Past Warrior or first year trainee is guaranteed a place in my House. You will have one week to prove that you have the potential to be here, that what you have learned under Bertos has not destroyed your honor or your fitness to serve
me
. Any trainee who is not selected to advance will be returned to his manno along with the fee he paid to Bertos. After that… the real work will begin. You will be taught
proper
strategy and skills. You will learn to
honor
and
respect
your brother trainees. You will work harder than you ever have in your life and if…
if
after all that,
I
deem you worthy of the title Warrior, then the entire Empire will know it is truth!”

Turning Ynyr left the training field.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“My Lord, may I have a moment.” Korin asked following Ynyr off the field.

Ynyr slowed at Korin’s question. “Walk with me.” He told him. “What did you need Captain?”

“I would like to thank you for allowing me to check on Mabon yesterday. I know my duty was to be at your side.”

“You were Captain, after you performed your duty to your brother.” Ynyr said entering his command center. “Shut the door.” He ordered as he moved to stand behind his desk. The two males just stared at each other for a moment and Ynyr realized he owed this male his truth.

“I am still not sure I want you as my second Korin. I’m not sure I can trust you. You have spent your entire life in the service to Bertos, that does not inspire confidence.”

“I understand my Lord, but not my entire life was spent here. My first year of training was spent in House Luanda.”

“Excuse me?”

“I had just completed my first year training when King Grim was injured. My manno then sent me here.”

“That is why King Grim wished you for Luda.”

“That I do not know. He never spoke of it to me.”

Ynyr looked over Korin’s shoulder for a moment gathering his thoughts. Because of Abby he now knew this male had sacrificed his future to give his brother a home. He had then sacrificed his honor to keep him safe. Ynyr could respect that and wondered if he would have been willing to do the same. He turned his eyes back to Korin.

“As I said, your service to Bertos doesn’t inspire confidence but your actions in protecting Queen Lisa and in your being willing to admit to your actions before the Assembly, do. You have also been forth coming with your evaluations of the males remaining in this House. I only wish you had been as forth coming with why you remained in the first place.”

“My Lord?” Korin gave him a confused look.”

“Part of that is my fault. I never asked the simply question. The question of why you remained. Abby did.”

“She is an extraordinary female.” Korin told him and quickly continued seeing Ynyr frown. “She has already shown more kindness and caring to the males of this House, in the short time she has been among us, than we have received from any other female in our lives. She is all the first years can talk about.”

“She is all that and it is because of her that I now understand what drove you to remain part of Bertos’ House. You have honor Korin. You protect the innocent. It is what a fit and worthy Warrior does, even if it costs him his own life.

Korin couldn’t believe what Ynyr was saying to him. He hadn’t expected it. He had only come here to reassure Ynyr that Mabon would not interfere with Korin performance of his duties.

“Because of that, I find that I am more inclined to believe the Emperor may have be correct in demanding you be my second.”

“I… pardons my Lord?”

“I believe you are going to be an asset to my House Korin and want you to work with Captain Dani so you can begin to take over some of his duties.”

“I…” Korin couldn’t believe it. He knew he and Dai were going to butt heads but if he could survive Bertos he could handle Dai. “I can do that my Lord.” He told him standing straight and tall.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“Abby!” Lisa’s excited voice had Abby’s voice clogging with tears. While she hadn’t known Lisa long, their friendship had been instantaneous and hearing her voice…

“Abby what’s wrong? Let me get Grim.”

“No… no don’t bother Grim… I’m fine… I… it’s just… hearing your voice… I didn’t get to say goodbye or to thank you for remembering my trunk…”

“Turn on your video Abby.”

“What? Video? What do you mean?”