Ynyr (Tornians Book 3) (20 page)

“What?” Abby looked up at him in shock.

“I am not yet confident that the House is secure. I need you to stay in our Wing until it is. One male is not enough to ensure your safety. Do you understand?”

“Yes Ynyr.”

“You have a Comm. Use it.”

“Alright. I should get back. The rest of the males should be there by now.”

“Rest of the males? What do you mean
‘rest of the males’
? I gave very specific orders…” His eyes shot to Paganus.

“And they are being followed. Only the males you approved are being allowed in our Wing, well, minus Quant. Morio and Navon found him unsuitable.” Abby ignored Paganus’ raised eyebrow. “They are moving the furniture out of the Wing and the other males will carry the pieces to where they are going to be stored.”

Ynyr paused and gave her a considering look. “That is very…”

“Logical?” Abby shook her head at him. “As I told Navon earlier females can be… when we want to be.”

“If you say so my Abby.” Ynyr said neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Stepping back, he held out his hand to help her rise and led her around the desk. As they passed Korin, who was still struggling with his rage, she paused.

“Would it be alright if Korin escorted me back to our Wing along with Paganus?” she asked and at Ynyr’s frown, she hurried on. “You said one male was not enough and Korin is familiar with the House…”

Ynyr looked at her for a moment, then realized what his Abby was doing. She had realized that Korin needed to see for himself. Needed to see that his brother was truly fine before he would calm. Ynyr would have been the same way if it was one of his brothers. But by suggesting it was for her benefit she was saving Korin’s pride. She was amazing.

“Korin, you and Paganus will escort my Lady back to the Lord’s Wing. I expect you to meet up with us in thirty minutes. We will be inspecting the defenses on the exterior walls. Is that understood?”

“Yes, my Lord.” Korin quickly responded.

Abby sighed as she looked out at the dark landscape barely discernable by the sliver of light that the Tornian moon was giving off, God’s toe nail, that’s what her dad always called it. Turning away from the window her gaze traveled over the equally dark room behind her its only light was coming from the fire Paganus had made for her before he left.

She smiled slightly as she thought about how Paganus had protested leaving. Ynyr had yet to return and Paganus was concerned with leaving her alone, especially when he discovered she had no clue how to start or tend a fire. Apparently that was unheard of on Tornian even for a female. So with a detailed demonstration of how to properly stack the logs, ones she knew she would never be able to lift, into the oversized fireplace. Paganus then placed smaller pieces of wood on top of the larger ones and had then taken a box from the mantle above the fireplace. Inside, he showed her what he called ‘lighting stones’. He pulled two out, rubbed them together until they glowed, then dropped them on top of the wood. He had cautioned her that once they started to glow she needed to get them out of her hands or they would burn her. In moments there was a roaring fire in the room.

Paganus had then brought smaller pieces of wood closer to the fire so she could ‘feed’ it during the night.

It was only after the last meal she had ordered had been brought, that Abby was able to convince him that he could leave. She had needed some time alone to process everything that had happened that day and she had needed to cleanse, it had been a long day.

Now that she had done that she moved towards the fire and took in the makeshift bed that had been built in front of it. Paganus had convinced her that not
all
the furnishings needed to go and she was grateful for his practical thoughts that balanced out her knee jerk reaction to everything that had once been Bertos’.

So after they had returned to the Wing, Abby had taken a second look at what she was sending into storage and tried not to blatantly watch the reunion between Korin and Mabon but she couldn’t help herself.

It had started out stiff, the way it sometimes was among males when others are watching and they didn’t want to show their emotions. They just stood before one another, their eyes taking in the other’s condition for several moments. Surprisingly, it was Korin, who broke the stalemate when he reached out and grabbed Mabon behind the neck, pulling him into his arms for a bone crushing hug even lifting the younger male off his feet. Smiling Abby had turned away.

With her second glance Abby had discovered that Paganus was right, especially on the first level. While a great deal of the furnishings were hideous, once the room had been opened up with fresh air and light filling it Bertos’ presence was barely felt. She had decided that several of the couches and chairs that had been deeper in the room could be kept. They had a simpler style and seemed to have some age to them, making Abby think they had come from a much earlier time.

On the second level though, the Lord’s level, she still wanted most of it to go… here it was as if Bertos’ ego had exploded, along with his madness. It dripped off the shiny, highly polished surfaces that were everywhere, he seemed to like seeing his reflection in ‘everything’. Abby found it creepy.

There had also been the multitude of items that filled the tables, covered the walls and overflowed on floors. The walls had surprised her since she thought the mianraí dubh was supposed to be impregnable. Paganus had patiently explained to her that it was but that a small piece of mianraí dubh could be inserted into a larger piece to hold something and the larger piece would seal around it and they basically became one. He had taken down the large painting of Bertos, knowing they all wanted it gone, to show her. He had also shown her that when the smaller piece was removed that the larger one would then ‘heal’.

It was very cool.

Paganus had gone on to explain what items in the room had great value and which ones did not. It had amazed Abby… at the value some of the pieces had that for her were gaudy. Paganus explained that it wasn’t that the ‘item’ was valuable, but that what it was made of was. Some items were solid silver, others solid gold and there were large lumps that she had no idea of what they were.

Trusting Paganus, she had them pack the items and had them placed in one of the empty bedrooms. She would let Ynyr decide what to do with them. It had been that way with most of the things in their resting chamber too. The furnishing were removed, well, except for the bed frame. The absurd amount of portraits of Bertos were taken down and the other ‘things’ that had been laying around were boxed up for Ynyr to look at.

When they had finally gotten to the closet… Bertos closet… to know that he had worn these things, that they had touched his body. Abby had shuddered in revulsion. Paganus had tried to talk her into letting him clean out the large walk in closet, that would have been the envy of any woman on Earth, but she refused. This was something she needed to do, she didn’t know why but she did. It would give her an idea of what a Lord’s wardrobe should be… and shouldn’t be… because she really had no clue.

It had taken some time, but slowly she had gone through each and every jacket, carefully slipping her hands into pockets, shocked when she found diamonds, jewels and gold in nearly every one. Paganus had quickly explained that it was what Tornians used to purchase things and Abby realized that for Bertos this had been ‘pocket change’ and she had placed what she had found in a bowl Paganus had brought her. She then did the same with his hanging pants.

Soon the closet had been cleared and all that remained as an overflowing bowl of ‘pocket change’ and empty hangers. That’s when Paganus dropped his bombshell and asked if she wished to start on the Lady’s level.

“What?” She had asked in shock. She had forgotten that there was one more level… Risa’s level.

“The Lady’s level my Lady. Would you like to see all that is now yours?” It was something any other female would have demanded to see immediately upon their arrival, but Lady Abby appeared to have forgotten about it.

“Mine?”

“Yes. You are now the Lady of the House so what is there is yours.”

“I had forgotten about that...” Abby had whispered, her eyes looking up at the ceiling. Goddess if Bertos’ level was this bad what would be waiting for her up there? “I think I will wait until tomorrow Paganus.” Paganus had just stared at her. “It’s getting late and I think once these clothes are hauled out we should be done for the day.”

“If that is what you wish my Lady.”

“It is.”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

So now she sat before the fire, on the cushions that had been brought up from the couches on the first level, that she had made into an impromptu bed and waited for Ynyr to return.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Ynyr couldn’t believe how late it was or how exhausted he felt. It was a testament to his fatigue that it took him a moment to realize that it was Navon and Morio that opened the doors to his Wing for him.

“Why have you not been relieved?” Ynyr demanded shortly and saw the males look at each other before answering.

“No relief was sent Lord Ynyr.” Navon finally told him.

Ynyr cursed as he reached for his comm. This was one of the many things he should have taken care of that day.

“Dai!” He growled into his comm. He was still angry at the Captain for his treatment of Mabon, but he could find no fault with how he had secured the grounds.

“Yes, Lord Ynyr.” The Captain responded stiffly.

“Send Tocho and Safi to guard my Wing.”

“Two of
my
warriors?” Dai’s shock was evident for all to hear. His males were
warriors
! They didn’t guard
doors
!

“Yes, Captain Dai! Warriors Navon and Morio have been on duty for over twenty hours with no relief! Until I am able to personally choose the Warriors for my Lady’s Guard yours will have to do double duty.”

“Yes, Lord Ynyr, I will send them immediately.”

Ynyr looked at the two Warriors he had known for years. Both had always shown him respect even though he had only been a third male. They had never tried to humiliate him. Had never challenged him just to best a Lord’s male or delivered any unnecessary blows as others had. They were both fit and worthy males. Trusting his instincts, he made his decision.

“You both have the next twenty four hours off once your replacements arrive. Rest, then acquaint yourself with the layout of this House. As of right now you are the first two warriors of my Lady’s Elite Guard. You will report to no one but
me
. Is that understood?”

Both males looked at him, shocked for a moment before replying in unison. “Yes, my Lord!” Their fatigue instantly falling away at Ynyr’s words. They had been sent to Etruria by the order of Lord Oryon. Lord Oryon was a fit and worthy male, despite what many thought. He was a stern taskmaster and had always demanded their best, but he was also a fair and generous Lord. They both had hoped to serve him until they met the Goddess. They had never expected to be offered such an important position within Ynyr’s new House.

The status of
any
warrior that served within Etruria was raised because of its importance to the Empire, but to be named to an Elite Guard… even a female’s… In times past it would not have been such a great honor as females rarely left their rooms. That had changed when all had seen how Queen Lisa had shown her appreciation for her Guard and now there wasn’t a male in the Empire that did not now want to be a member of an Earth female’s guard.

Nodding, Ynyr went in search of his Abby, not noticing the change in how Navon and Morio addressed him. Before they addressed him as
Lord
Ynyr as they would any other Lord, they came into contact with. Now they addressed him as
my Lord
, meaning they were members of
his
House not his manno’s.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Ynyr found Abby asleep in front of a low burning fire in the Lord’s resting chamber... their resting chamber. Why wasn’t she in the bed as she should be? Why was she lying on the stone floor? No, she wasn’t laying directly on the floor, he could see the cushions beneath her that had been wrapped with a white sheet.

But it still didn’t explain what his Lady was doing on the floor!

Heads were going to roll for this.

He must have made a sound because Abby’s eyes slowly fluttered open, at first they were filled with sleepy confusion then they focused and when they saw him the confusion gave way to a warmth that made his heart catch.

“You're finally back…” she whispered, her happiness evident in her voice and on her face as she sat up. The blanket that had been covering her fell away and the glow from the fire revealed her lush form through the sheerness of her gown.

“I’m sorry I was gone for so long.” Ynyr told her dropping to his knees next to the cushions. Without conscious thought, his fingers sunk into her hair as his lips lowered to hers. “I meant to be back hours ago.”

“Shhhh…” she whispered against his lips. “You got back when you could.” She gave him a kiss before pulling away. “Are you hungry?” Turning, she gestured to the low table on the other side of the cushions and frowned. She had asked the kitchen to send up several platters of meats, cheeses and fruits that because of their talks through the hedge, she knew were his favorites. Yet now some of it seemed to be missing.

Ynyr forced his eyes from the beauty of her face to where she had gestured and couldn’t believe what he was seeing…. she had remembered what he liked… from those talks that now seemed so long ago and she had made sure they were waiting for him when he arrived. No one had ever done something like that for him before… no one had cared enough.

“No,” he told her gruffly leaning over to give her another kiss, “but thank you.” That she would do this for him when he had done nothing for her…

“That’s not true.” Abby denied and he realized he had spoken that last part out loud. “You sent Mabon and the others to help me. You listened to me when I stormed into your command center unannounced. You even contacted me several times during the day just to see if I was okay.”

“It was not enough, not after you did all this for me.” He gestured to the food.

“It’s just food Ynyr,” she told him quietly. “It’s not like I actually
made
it or anything. I just contacted someone in the kitchen and they brought it up.”

“But you
thought
of it,” he told her. “Thought of me and
my
needs. You even remembered my favorites.” His voice caught a little at that. “No one has ever done something like that for me before Abby.”

Abby looked at him, shocked… no one had ever remembered what his favorite foods were? Had made sure he had them? Not even on special occasions? Her mom had always made Abby her favorite cake for her birthday… angel food… sliced into layers, then filled with strawberries and fresh whipped cream. Her mouth started to water just thinking about it. It had always made Abby feel so special that her mom would take the time to do that for her. That no one had taken the time to do that for Ynyr angered her. He was too good… too special… she knew he doubted it because he was a third male, but he was hers now and she was going to make sure he knew just how special he was… starting right now.