Ynyr (Tornians Book 3) (35 page)

“Yes. I have come to believe that the time she spent with the Earth females has had a bad influence on her.”

“You mean the time she spent with the
Empress
and the
Queen
of Luda?” Ynyr’s eyes bored into Ull’s his tone full of distain.

“And with your female.” Ull continued.

“Abby is my
Lady
, Ull. If you cannot respect that then you need to leave right now because if I had to choose between you and Abby… Abby would win. Every. Time.”

“Of course, she must until she gives you offspring, then things will return to the way they were.”

“No Ull…” Ynyr rose slowly, his hands resting on his desk as he leaned over it, making sure Ull understood him. “
Abby
will
always
come first. Before
you
. Before
me
. Before this
House
.
She
is the only thing that matters.”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Brice had led Abby through the passageway, stopping every so often to show her were to look to see if the room was empty, where to push to open the wall. She found it amazing, but what amazed her more were the items she found stored in the passage, or was it hidden away, for some of them had years’ worth of dust on them. It quickly became obvious to Abby that these passages were built when the original House had been and that they were why Torino had them. The Emperor then had known about them. Risa, having known about the ones in Torino must have searched here until she found them.

She paused when she heard voices… looking through the spot Brice indicated she saw they were at Ynyr’s command room and that Ynyr wasn’t alone. Who was with him?

Ull…

Pausing she stopped and couldn’t believe what she was seeing and hearing.

“No Ull…”
Ynyr rose slowly, his hands resting on his desk as he leaned over it, making sure Ull understood him.
“Abby will always come first. Before you. Before me. Before this House. She is the only thing that matters.”

Abby slowly lowered back down from the toes she had been on to see through the wall. Could Ynyr really mean that? That she mattered that much to him? Could she believe it?

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“There is something else you should know Ull.” Ynyr told him slowly sitting back down. “Brice Guttuso is here and here is where he will remain.”

“What! What do you mean? What could you possibly be thinking having that spawn of Daco in your House?!! Why are you letting him live!” Ull demanded. “He is unfit and from a tainted blood line! It must be ended!”

Ynyr sat back in his chair looking at his brother a male he had, until lately, always respected. Ull had just said the same words Ynyr himself had spoken about Brice… and he had thought he right when he said them… but hearing Ull utter them… Ynyr had never been more ashamed in his life. No wonder his Abby had turned her back on him.

“You are my blood brother Ull and the future Lord of House Rigel of Betelgeuse, but if you ever… ever… utter those words again in my presence… I will send you to the Goddess! Do you understand me?” Ynyr rose and moved around his desk truly challenging his brother for the first time in his life.

“Brother or not.”

“Lord or not.”

“It makes no difference. It is males that think like you, who believe they are better than other males, all because of a chance of presentation, that have brought our Empire to where it is today! It was what Bertos believed! It was what Risa believed! It was what Emperor Berto believed when he abused his females. It is what those that assisted him in hiding those crimes believed! Those are the males that must be ended! Not innocent three year olds! You are going to have to decide which male you are.”

Ull found himself taking a step back at the rage his brother was expressing. Never in his entire lie had Ull seen Ynyr like this. Had Ynyr always been an exceptional warrior? Yes. Had Ynyr trained with the Emperor’s Special Guard? Yes. But still, Ull had always bested him. Ynyr had always conceded their fights. Never once had Ull witnessed this… power his brother was displaying… he had heard others whisper about it, but it had never been directed at
him
. Ull had always assumed it was because he was the better Warrior. Now he realized it was because Ynyr had
let
him win, out of respect for him being first male. Because of his ‘chance’ of presentation, as Ynyr called it.

Was he truly like Bertos?

Goddess he prayed not.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Brice looked up at Abby as he led her to the unused Wing. It was one of his favorite places because no one ever went there. She had been quiet since they had left the two males arguing. It seemed to bother her. It didn’t him. He was used to hearing angry voices, used to hearing fights.

Brice liked this ‘Lady’, she had told him to call her Abby. She was so much nicer than the other one. They said that one was his mother but he didn’t know what that meant. Abby looked at him, she smiled at him and she took care of him. The other one didn’t. The only time that one had ever touched him was when she discovered him in her rooms, touching
her
things. She hadn’t liked that, hadn’t liked that he had discovered the passage behind the wall. She had struck him then had Wasaki come take him away.

The ‘Lord’… well he didn’t know what to think about him. He had been secretly watching him as he moved through the House. He was very different than the one everyone called Lord Bertos. This one didn’t shout or yell all the time. He didn’t strike or kill when angered. This ‘Lord’ would smile and laugh, at least when he was with Abby and she would laugh and smile back at him. He liked being in that Wing since they had arrived. It was a nice place to be.

Until they had found him. He should never have taken that food. But he had been so hungry. Wasaki had been gone for days and after the last time the cook had caught him in the kitchen Brice hadn’t dared sneak back in. Now Abby and the Lord didn’t laugh or smile at each other.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Abby couldn’t contain her gasp when the Brice opened the passage and they were in the unused Wing.

“What in the world? How?” Abby couldn’t believe it. They were on the opposite side of the House. Looking around the room she realized they were in one of the corners closest to the entrance doors, the opposite corner from were Brice had hidden the week before. No wonder he hadn’t been able to escape. Ynyr had been between him and the passage.

“You like this room don’t you?” Abby asked looking down at Brice and he nodded. “What do you think this room would say if it could talk?” She asked used to his silence. “I bet it would have some great stories. Don’t you think?” She walked further into the room. “What secrets do you think it keeps?” When Brice began to frantically pull on her hand she looked down at him. “Brice?”

“Oh, I know of one it will keep.”

Abby spun around as a dark shadow moved away from the wall and became a male she recognized. “Oh Warrior Oscosh,” she said breathlessly. “You startled me.”

“Did I?” He asked with a cold smirk.

Abby didn’t like that smirk, it scared her, but she wasn’t going to let him know that. “Just for a moment. Is there something you needed?”

“Oh yes, there’s much I need, starting with you.” As he took a step forward Abby side stepped him and another shadow detached itself from the wall, becoming a male Abby didn’t know and blocking her path.

“Wasaki…” Brice whispered.

“What do you mean ‘with me’?” She asked trying not to let him see her tremble.

“You are going to become one of the secrets this room keeps. You were speaking of secrets, weren’t you?

“Yes.” Abby admitted.

“Should I tell you one?” Oscosh asked.

“If you want.”

“I used to be from this House.” Oscosh whispered, still smirking at her. “My manno served Bertos’ manno and then Bertos until he met the Goddess.”

“You must have been very young.” Abby gripped Brice’s shoulder and pushed him behind her, back towards the secret passage.

“I was ten but I had already begun training to be one of Bertos’ Warriors. I watched my manno train, watched the trainees and then I would practice. I was going to be one of the greatest warriors the empire had ever seen.”

“You are a great Warrior. You serve the Emperor.”

“Not anymore and that is because of you!” Oscosh spit out at her.

“Me?”

“Yes!
Lord Ynyr
felt it would be a good use of my skills to
guard
a Wing, your Wing. Me! A Warrior with specialized training! A warrior that survived Gehenna!”

“You were sent to Gehenna?”

“Oh yes, that’s part of the secret. You see, after my manno’s death, Bertos sent me to Gehenna, even though I was the male of one of his warriors. Even though my manno had already paid him for my training. But I bested him. I survived!”

“Yes, I can see that.”

“I fought my way out of Gehenna. I obtained the funds needed to have a Lord train me and then I fought my way into the Emperor’s Special Guard. When the Emperor sent us here I knew the Goddess was smiling on me. Captain Dai would become the Lord of this House and finally,
finally
I would be back where I belonged. In the place I belong and I would be the Captain of his Guard!”

“I can speak to Ynyr if you wish. I’m sure he would consider your request.”

“Consider my request?!! That
third
male had me removed from his House, had
me
returned to Torino in disgrace, all because
you
needed a new mattress!”

“Mattress?” Abby didn’t have a clue what he was talking about, but as long as he was talking, she had a chance because once he stopped she knew she was in trouble.

“Yes! Those fracken first years couldn’t carry it by themselves and that idiot Cairbre helped them. How was I supposed to know he wasn’t a trainee? Was I actually supposed to search them? They were first years! What harm could they do? And when they left… was I really supposed to
count
how many left?”

Abby was starting to get an idea of what happened. She remembers seeing the shocked looks on Navon and Morio’s faces when they had seen Cairbre but she had forgotten about it. Apparently someone had told Ynyr and he had judged Oscosh as unfit to serve in his House. Abby wondered what else had occurred to make Ynyr pass such a harsh judgment because she knew something had to have.

“As I said, I will speak with him. I’m sure we can get this all cleared up.” Abby told him.

“Oh, we are going to clear this up.” Wasaki said. “Why if it isn’t little Brice Guttuso! You little caca! I’d heard rumors that you were still here, but I couldn’t believe it. Now I know
Lord
Ynyr is unfit! Any male is that would let you exist in their House!”

“He is a child!” Abby couldn’t stop herself from speaking. She wasn’t going to let this male terrorize Brice.

“He is nothing! He is the reason I was not at my Lord’s side in Torino. Had I been at his side, the Empire would now be ruled by its true leader! And that little caca is the reason for it! He ends now!”

When Wasaki moved towards Brice, Abby stepped into his path. “Run Brice! Hide!” She ordered.

“Cease Wasaki!” Oscosh ordered his eyes never leaving Abby. “He is of no importance.”

“No importance! I want him ended!”

“Yes well, maybe later. Right now we have a Lady to deal with.”

“What do you want Oscosh? I’ve already told you I would speak to Ynyr.”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” Oscosh to her. “But you are going to be delivering a message for me.”

“I am?” Abby asked not liking the sound of that.

“Oh yes, a message that will let the entire Empire know just how unfit Ynyr is… you see… Ynyr can’t even protect his Lady in his own House.” Oscosh lunged for her.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Brice’s breath was coming hard and fast as he ran through the secret passage. Abby had told him to run and hide but if he hid then Wasaki would hurt Abby the way he had hurt him and he couldn’t let him do that. Abby was the only one that had ever cared about him. Brice didn’t want him to hurt Abby, but he was too little to stop him. Who could stop him? Knowing the answer Brice headed for Ynyr’s command room.

“This male was insane.” Ull muttered as he looked over the reports Ynyr had given him. There was still tension in the room, but slowly the brothers had begun to work. “No, Lord wastes his time on ordering food supplies. It’s the duty of the Master Cook. No Lord wastes his time scheduling who is on the walls and when, that is the duty for one of his Captains.”

“Bertos trusted no one.” Ynyr informed him.

“I can see that. You are going to need to.”

“I know, that is why I called you until I can find those I can. I have already offered positions to several males from Betelgeuse that I trust to guard Abby.”

“You are taking my warriors?!!” Ull raised irritated eyes to him.

“It was made clear to me, and to them, that I could offer a position to any warrior I wished, including the Emperor’s. They are free to either accept or reject the offer. So far they have all accepted.”

“Who?” Ull demanded.

“Navon and Morio. Sunil and Saar.”

“All fit and worthy males.” Ull grudgingly admitted.

“Yes and I am considering several from the Emperor, but have decided to wait before offering the positions. I had two of Dai’s warriors returned to Tornio. I need to see if that is going to have any ramifications.”

“You returned two of the Emperor’s Special Guards!” Ull looked at him stunned. “Are you insane?!! You trained with these males! They are the elite! They aren’t going to just
accept
this.”

“They felt guarding a female beneath them. Especially the female of a
third male
!”

Ull frowned at his brother’s words. He couldn’t believe it. Two of the Emperor’s Guard?!! Refusing to guard a female? Unheard of… but there seemed to be much in his life lately that Ull hadn’t heard of… like the slurs his manno told him his brothers had endured.

“Ynyr…” Ull set down the reports he had been reading and truly looked at his brother with clear eyes for maybe the first time. Ynyr was sitting behind the Lord’s desk and he looked right there. “Manno said something… back in Torino… about how you and Zev were treated by some of the males in our House.”

“It does not matter.” Ynyr waved a dismissive hand.

“It does. I want you to know I never knew. If I had…”

“I know this Ull, for if you had you would have confronted them and that would have only made it worse.” Ynyr leaned back in his chair. “You are a fit and worthy male Ull. One I have always looked up to but you are sometimes quick to judge and once you have reached a decision you rarely change it, even if you are wrong.”

“A Lord must stand by his decisions…” Ull began.

“Even if they are the wrong decisions Ull? If they do more harm than good? Things change Ull, people change too. Our lives don’t have to be dictated by what has happened in the past. The blood in our veins doesn’t have to dictate who we must be…
We
decide how we live of lives and
we
must live with those decisions.”

Ull was about to answer when part of the wall behind Ynyr suddenly opened. He was immediately up, gripping his sword, ready to defend his brother. When a yellow skinned child crawled out, he froze.

Ynyr spun around in his chair, unable to believe what he was seeing.

“Wasaki!” Brice gasped out, looking at Ynyr.

“Who is this?” Ull asked.

“Quiet Ull!” Ynyr ordered as he knelt down. “Brice, Wasaki is gone, he can’t hurt you anymore.” Frowning Ynyr looked behind Brice at the passage. Brice was supposed to be with Abby. Grabbing his comm he contacted Navon.

“Where is Abby?!!” He demanded.

“She is in the Wing with Brice my Lord.” Navon immediate reply. “Sunil and Saar are inside. Ja and myself are at the entrance. No one has entered or left.”

“Then how is
Brice
in my Command Room?!!” Ynyr demanded.

“What!” Ynyr could hear Navon shoving open the doors and running through the Wing hollering for Saar and Sunil.”

“Wasaki!” Brice said impatiently, tugging on Ynyr’s hand.

“She is not here my Lord! We can’t find her!” Navon informed her.

“Brice where is Abby.” Ynyr asking, looking to the child.

“Wasaki!” Brice told him for a third time, pulling him towards the passage. “Oscosh! Hurt Abby!”

“Go!” Ynyr ordered Brice pointing to the passage and grabbing his sword crawled in after him.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“Don’t touch me!” Abby commanded, side stepping Oscosh only to bump into Quant, who had suddenly appeared behind her.

“Oh, you are
soft
.” Quant said as his finger dug deep into her arms. “I like soft things.”

“Let me go!” Abby demanded again.

“Oh no, we are going to have some fun with you.” Quant spun her around and jerked her off her feet so she was facing Oscosh.

“Yes, we are.” Oscosh said running a rough finger down her cheek. “The entire Empire will turn on Ynyr when your dead and abused body is found.”

“Ynyr is going to
kill
you!” Abby spat at him still struggling in Quant’s hands.

“No, Lady Abby!
I
am going to kill
you
!” With that Oscosh gripped the top of her gown and ripped it open. “But not before we have some fun first.”

Abby screamed. She was not going to let this happen. Throwing her head back, she felt it connect with Quant’s nose and heard the crunch of breaking bone. Quant cried out and immediately dropped her. Abby rolled as she hit the floor, grabbing for the dagger she had started to carry under her sleeve since Brice’s arrival.

“Oh, I don’t think so…” Wasaki jerked her up by her hair and Abby blindly struck with the dagger.

Abby watched Wasaki’s mouth dropped open, his eyes widening as they both looked at the dagger lodged in his chest.

What… How… How had this little female ended him? Wasaki thought as he felt his life drain away. He didn’t notice Abby slipping from his now weak hand, he was dead before he hit the floor

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Ynyr followed Brice down the secret passage he hadn’t known existed and right now, didn’t care, as long as it was taking him to Abby.

“What is all this?” Ull demanded, trying to look around the passage. “And where are we going!”

Ynyr ignored him.

“Here!” Brice said, pushing a spot and as the wall swung out Ynyr heard his Abby scream. Drawing his sword Ynyr went to her aid.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Oscosh was stunned as Wasaki dropped the female and he saw the blade embedded in his chest, right over his heart. The female had ended him. How in the name of the Goddess was that possible? Growling, he took a step towards her only to spin around when suddenly Ynyr came running out at him from the shadows, his sword drawn.

Oscosh immediately lunged for Abby, meaning to use her as a shield, but she was too small and quick for him, having already scampered out of his reach. Turning, he drew his sword and faced Ynyr.

“
Lord
Ynyr,” Oscosh sneered. “Well, this is truly going to be a glorious day for the Empire. Not only am I going to get to enjoy your female, but I am also going to get to end you.”

“You can try Oscosh,” Ynyr’s eyes were cold and deadly as they looked at Oscosh. He had seen the condition of his Abby’s coverings, had seen the fear in her eyes. Oscosh would pay for both. “But we both know who the victor is going to be this day.”

Oscosh barely had time to block Ynyr’s first strike as it sent him stumbling back. He had sparred with Ynyr before and his blows had always been difficult to block, but this… this was something he had never experienced before. This was more than strength… it was more than rage… this was a skill that could not be taught. It was a skill only a warrior blessed by the Goddess could have. If Oscosh hadn’t been on the receiving end of it, he would have been awed.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Ull moved to put himself between Abby and any possible harm. When Quant began inching towards the door, he pointed his sword at him and ordered, “Do not move!” Even as his eyes remained on his brother.

Never in his life had Ull seen such a deadly display of skill. He had heard tales of Oscosh, tales that said he was a skilled warrior with great strength, but Ynyr was making him look like an untrained first year. Never again would Ull doubt that his brother had allowed him to win their matches because Ull knew he stood no chance against the male he was watching. Ynyr was a true Tornian Warrior.

Ynyr showed Oscosh no mercy as he continued to drive him across the room. Blow after blow struck true while Oscosh’s blocks were becoming slower and less effective.

This male had touched his Lady. This male had caused her to fear. This male had dishonored every Tornian male that had come before him. Ynyr would send him to Daco!

Oscosh continued to stumble back under Ynyr’s attack. He was no match for this male. It was as if he had the strength of a God. As Oscosh’s arms began to tremble and the fingers gripping his sword went numb, he realized that this was the day his life would be ended. Too slow to block the next blow, his head separated from his body and Oscosh’s last thought was that he had never seen a sword blaze before.

Abby watched Ynyr battle Oscosh. She never doubted for a moment who the victor in this battle was going to be. Ynyr was in his element, he was defending his empire against evil, he was defending his House and he was defending her, even though he knew what ran through her veins, he still defended. Ynyr was hers… her male… her Lord… and her love. Yes, they still had a lot to work out, but they would, never again would she doubt him.

As she watched Oscosh’s head bounce across the chamber she could have sworn for the briefest of moments that Ynyr’s sword blazed.

Ynyr’s chest was heaving as he watched Oscosh’s headless body fall to the floor. He felt no remorse for ending the male, Oscosh had deserved that and so much more for harming his Abby. Turning away from the still twitching body, he saw his Abby rise and sway for a moment before she was running to him. Dropping his bloody sword he opened his arms and she dove into them.

“Are you harmed?” Ynyr demanded, carefully wrapping his arms around her.

“No, I’m fine,” she promised, her arms wrapping around his neck. “You got here in time.”

“Thank the Goddess…” Ynyr said, closing his eyes, then realized he owed someone else too. “And Brice.”

“Brice?” Abby pushed back from him slightly, her eyes widened. “Oh Goddess! Brice! Where is he?”

“He is there.” Ull said, pointing and they both turned to see Brice is standing in the shadowy corner.

“Oh Brice,” Abby wiggled in Ynyr’s arms and he reluctantly set her down, but refused to release her. He needed to touch her, needed to feel her touch, he needed to know she was safe. So he led her to Brice and when she dropped to her knees and opened her arms to him, Ynyr knelt beside her and wrapped his arms around them both.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Korin and Dai burst into the wing, answering Ynyr’s command over the comm. They hadn’t known what to expect, but it wasn’t this. Warrior Ull had his sword pointing at a bloody Quant who was lying on the floor. Wasaki was a few feet away, dead from the dagger sticking out of his chest, there was a body by the windows that no longer lad its head. Their Lord was helping their Lady up from the floor and she was trying to hold together her torn covering. What in the name of the Goddess had happened here?

“Captain Dai, get some males in here and have them remove Wasaki and Oscosh’s bodies.” Ynyr ordered, keeping Abby close so she couldn’t see the bloody mess.

“Yes, Lord…” Dai immediately began to answer, then his eyes flew back to the headless body. “Oscosh?” He asked.

“Yes.” Ynyr’s eyes were hard when the Captain’s met his and seeing the other male’s shock, knew the Captain had no part of this.

With a grim face Dai answered, “It will be done Lord Ynyr.” Lifting his comm he called for the males he wanted.

“Korin.”

“Yes, my Lord?” Korin moved to his side, his eyes taking in his Lady’s torn coverings and bruises.

“I want you to question Quant. I want to know how they got into this House. I want to know who helped them. I don’t care what you do to get that information. Is that understood?”

“With pleasure, my Lord.” Korin told him before turning hard eyes to the bloody Quant. This male had terrorized and beaten his brother. For once Korin was glad for the brutal way Bertos had trained him for he was going to use everything he had learned to get all the answers his Lord demanded.

The sound of running feet had all of them turning to the entrance ready to defend when Safi and Tocho came charging in followed closely by Paganus. Relaxing slightly Ynyr turned back to Abby.