Ynyr (Tornians Book 3) (28 page)

“It would be my honor to serve you my Lady.” Cairbre gave her a deep bow even though his joints popped and protested.

“No the honor is mine Cairbre, to have you as my
Master
Woodworker... it is a gift from the Goddess herself.”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Abby stood at the far end of the Lord’s level and wanted to break out into her happy dance. No longer were those repulsive doors, created by Mare with the glaring ‘B’ on them the first thing you now saw from the other end of the room. Now there were solid doors made from the same gallchnó dubh as the bed frame, greeting you. They were unobtrusive, almost blending in with the mianraí dubh and Abby realized that had been their original intent all along. You can’t attack the Lord if you can’t find him. How stupid Bertos had been to have them replaced. She wondered if the entrance doors would be the same way. She would bet everything that was on the third level that they did.

Goddess she wished she could have seen both sets come down, but Navon and Morio refused to allow her to be on the second level with so many males that Ynyr had not cleared. At first they were not going to allow the males to enter at all, but after some fast talking on her part, they finally agreed as long as she stayed with them on the first level.

Now with them guarding the entrance as those doors were replaced Abby had been banished to the second level. Not that it was a hardship. It gave her time to study the room more.

While she and Lisa had talked generally about what to do with Risa’s things, Abby had forgotten to ask any direct questions on decorating such a space. She guessed she would just have to wing it, but she would start with their resting chamber. There were rugs and pillows and things up there that she could use, oh and she would need to have the bolts of material she’d caught glimpses of brought down.

Moving forward, she ran her hands over the silky feel of the doors and smiled. Oh yes, these belonged here. Pushing them open she entered the resting chamber and even though it was nearly empty, it felt welcoming. Smiling, she walked to the pile of sheets Paganus had brought and began to make her and Ynyr’s bed.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“My Lady! What are you doing?!!” Paganus’ shout had Abby nearly falling off the bed.

“Paganus! You startled me!”

“Pardons my Lady but what do you think you are doing?”

“Um… Making the bed?”

“That is not a task you should be doing! It is mine!” Paganus immediately went to the other side of the bed, pulling on the sheet she had been struggling with.

“Show off.” Abby muttered, getting off the bed. “Just because you are bigger than me.”

“A great deal my Lady.”

“Yeah. Yeah. But that doesn’t mean I’m an invalid.”

“In…val…id...” He gave her a questioning look.

“It doesn’t mean I am helpless. I can make a bed.”

“Again, that is not one of your assigned tasks. It is mine.”

“So what are my ‘assigned’ tasks?” Abby asked, using air quotes.

“Um…” Paganus paused as he thought about it. Tornian females only had one task that was ever required of them… that of producing offspring, but he didn’t think his Lady would appreciate him telling her that.

“You are thinking offspring aren’t you Paganus?” And the darkening of his skin told her she was right. “I don’t consider that a ‘task’ Paganus, but a pleasure, especially with Ynyr…” her voice trailed off as she thought about just how much pleasure Ynyr always gave her. Paganus’ sudden coughing fit had her thumping him on the back. “Are you okay?”

“I… yes… I just never…” He trailed off.

“Talked about sex with a female?”

“NO! Of course not!”

“I see…” Abby tilted her head to the side. “Don’t you ever want to Join with one?”

“Of course I do! But there is very little chance of that.”

“Why?”

“Why? Because I am not a warrior and I am damaged!”

“You mean your arm?”

“Yes!”

“I don’t see what that has to do with anything. You are not a bad looking male,” Abby allowed her eyes to travel over him and realized he really wasn’t. He wasn’t for her, Ynyr was the only male she wanted, but that didn’t stop her from appreciating a good looking male. “You are also now the Master of the Lord’s Wing. Females will be swarming all over you.”

“I am nothing but a servant, as Master Mare said.”

“Bullshit!”

“I… what?”

“Crap? Dung? What do you call an animal’s waste product?”

“Animal’s… you mean caca?”

“Works for me. So I say it’s caca that you are just a servant.”

“My Lady…”

“Did
you
bring all Bertos and Risa’s meals?”

“Well no there were others.”

“Did you clean all three levels?”

“No there were other males who…”

“Then you weren’t a ‘servant’ and you most definitely aren’t one now. Once things settle down and the furnishings start to arrive from Master Cairbre, there is going to be a lot to do around here and
you
will be the one overseeing those that are doing it. You are now
Master
Paganus who is a fit and worthy male that any female would be honored to Join with.”

“I…” Paganus ducked his head, “thank you, my Lady,” he murmured quietly.

“I’m just telling you a simple truth Paganus.” Abby gently squeezed his arm before moving around the bed. “Okay, let’s get this sucker made and then you can help me on the third level.”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Abby couldn’t believe how hungry she had been. She and Paganus had gotten a lot done. They had both been astonished at the number of bolts of material they had found. Abby felt like she could have opened up a fabric store. What she could have done with just one bolt back on Earth would have paid for her tuition. So they had hauled them down and stored them in one of the bedrooms until Abby could decide what she wanted made from them.

They had also moved down rugs to cover the floors that no longer seemed so cold. At one point Abby had gone to take a bite of her midday meal only to find it already eaten. When had she done that? Shrugging it off, she returned to the third level.

When Paganus had informed her Ynyr would not be returning to eat with her, she had dug into the meal he brought without a moment’s hesitation. It didn’t matter to her that she only knew what half of it was. It was food and she was hungry.

Now she leaned back and rubbed her stomach happily. It was the first meal she had truly enjoyed since before she had been taken from Earth. The only thing that could have made it better was if Ynyr had been eating it with her.

It had grown late and the sun already set before Abby roused herself enough to move. Just as she rose the Tornian moon rose, its light crossing the room to illuminate the newly replaced doors.

Slowly, Abby walked over to them and couldn’t believe what she was seeing. There for all to see was the blazing sword of Varick, crossing the entrance protecting those within.

“Why would anyone remove these?” Abby asked quietly carefully reaching up to touch the sword. Beneath her fingers was mianraí dubh, embedded deep into the wood just like it had been on the cameo. The moon moved on and the sword disappeared, but the feeling of safety and protection it left behind did not.

Walking over to the bed she picked up the kril she had placed on it earlier then looked towards the doors again. Yes, someone was definitely trying to tell them, something she just wasn’t sure what.

Ynyr looked out the windows of his command center and couldn’t believe it. He had let time get away from him… again. After supervising the first training session that afternoon he now had a better understanding of the task that lay ahead of him and it was enormous.

The Goddess had smiled on him. The majority of first year trainees had only arrived just weeks before the Joining ceremony, which hopefully had prevented Bertos’ brand of ‘honor’ from infecting them. The rest though… they got worse the further along in their training they were. The warriors being the worst of them. Their blade and hand to hand skills relied more on brute strength than technique. Survival of the strongest was what they had been taught and the ones that had once been deemed Warriors were the worse. They consistently used moves meant to maim, pulling no blade. They might have lost a few males had it not been for the quick reaction of the Warriors supervising.

Surprisingly, only a few had chosen to leave, Wasaki being one of them. It seemed those males that remained truly did want to be considered fit and worthy, they just didn’t know how to go about it. Ynyr would show them.

But first he needed to see to his Abby. Slamming the ledger in front of him closed, he rose. Goddess! He had left her alone for another full day! What must she think of him? Especially after he had promised they would talk. He had only meant to spend a moment reading over the daily ledgers, but there was so much he was unfamiliar with that it had taken him longer than he had thought.

His training had never included dealing with ledgers and supplies. His manno trained him as a Warrior, what he needed was provided, he never asked or worried about how.

Exiting his office, he moved down the quiet corridor to his Lady. Guarding the entrance were Navon and Morio.

“You were to take a day.”

“Yes, my Lord, but when we heard of the training we knew we needed to arrive early.”

“I… thank you. Two of Dai’s males will be relieving you?”

This time there was a pause before Navon answered. “No my Lord.”

“What do you mean ‘no’?” Ynyr demanded.

“My Lord, several Warriors from your manno’s House asked what task we had been assigned as we were not on the wall with them. When we informed them, we guarded your Wing and were now Guards for your Lady, several expressed an interest in the possibility of becoming the same.” Navon looked to Morio who nodded. “We chose two to relieve us tonight, Sunil and Saar.” He informed him quickly. “We knew you were familiar with them and with you inside the Wing with your Lady, believed it would be a good test for them.”

“Sunil and Saar?” Ynyr questioned. Navon was right, he did know these two males.

“Yes, my Lord. If that is not to your liking we can remain.”

“No, they will be fine, but make sure they understand it does not mean they are now members of my Lady’s Guard.”

“Of course not, my Lord only you can choose those.”

Nodding, Ynyr began to walk through the doors they opened for him, then he spun around. “The doors have been changed.”

“Yes, my Lord. Your Lady ordered them changed when she discovered they were not the original. Master Woodworker Cairbre knew the location of these and had them reinstalled along with the ones to your resting chamber.”

“My Lady…”

“Was protected the entire time, my Lord. As the doors were very heavy it took many males to carry them, she remained with us while the second level doors were changed, supervised by Master Paganus and then remained on that level when these were.”

Ynyr grunted at them. He didn’t like that he had just found out about it, but could find no fault in how it was handled.

“Very well. Have a good evening.” Ynyr told them, then proceeded inside.

“You also my Lord.” Their voices followed him.

Ynyr moved quickly across the second level, his steps echoing in the empty room. He was grateful to whoever left the energy crystals glowing dimly for him for it allowed him to see his way. His eyes were focused on the set of doors on the far end… or tried to for they blended in so well with the mianraí dubh that they were nearly invisible.

“Amazing.” Ynyr stopped in front of them, realizing they had been designed to do just that, to disappear. You couldn’t attack the King in his chamber if you couldn’t find it. “King Varick was a genius.”

The doors opened silently, admitting the new Lord to his resting chamber. It too had changed since he had rushed out earlier that morning, there were now rugs on the floors, the couches had been rearranged and the bed now had a mattress and sheets. All this Ynyr took in, thanks to the light of the fire along with the fact that his Abby was curled up asleep at the end of one of the couches instead of in the bed.

Quietly he moved across the room, crouching down to gaze at her. Goddess she was beautiful… she was sleeping so peacefully, her hunaja colored curls flowing over the arm of the couch, her long eyelashes forming golden crescents under her closed eyes.

Lying next to her on the couch was the kril. Reaching out he picked it up. It was just a simple piece of golden material, but how was he going to explain his wearing it to her? He knew he had upset her that morning by not answering her question, but how did one tell someone that they had spoken to a God and Goddess and not have them believe you were crazy? Maybe just as important was why had Raiden let him keep it?

Oh, he understood Raiden wanting him to wear it in front of the Goddess. Ynyr wouldn’t want another male naked in front of
his
own Goddess either. But to have him still be wearing it when he woke. There had to be a reason… but what?

Abby silently watched Ynyr stare at the kril. She knew he didn’t realize she was awake and it gave her the chance to watch him unobserved. She was still hurt by his actions that morning. By not answering her question he had ripped away her security… her belief that he would always tell her the truth, that he would tell her everything… that she could tell him anything and together they would work it out. Now…

Ynyr looked to Abby and found her watching him, her eyes filled with hurt and confusion, both put there by him, by his actions. It was not acceptable. Kneeling before her, he dropped the kril and framed her face with his hands.

“I am sorry Abby. I never meant to hurt you.”

“You lied to me Ynyr… not with words, but without them… I…” tears filled her eyes. “You vowed you would answer my questions, but you didn’t. How am I supposed to trust what you tell me now?”

Ynyr dropped his forehead to hers as he realized the full extent of the harm his actions had caused. He had broken a vow… one he made to his Abby… now he had lost her love and trust. Because of his pride. Goddess what was he going to do?

‘Tell her truth Lord Ynyr.’
Raiden’s voice suddenly filled his mind.
‘Believe in her even when you doubt yourself. Letting her see them will make you stronger, not weaker.’

Lifting his head, he looked deep into his Lady’s eyes and spoke truth. “While we slept, I was taken to the heavens.” He spoke in a voice so low she had to strain to hear it.

“What?” While her eyes widened Abby didn’t pull away.

“While we rested the Goddess’ mate, Raiden, took me to the heavens… it seems your words… intrigued him.”

“My words? What could I have possibly said that would intrigue a God?” Abby searched her mind trying to remember what she had said.

“It was your comment about me… about my body.” Ynyr felt his skin begin to darken.

“You mean that only the Goddess could have created something as magnificent as yours?”

“Yes and you wondered who her inspiration was.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“Did you find out who was her inspiration?”

“Uh, yes. Her mate…”

Abby’s eyes widened and she pushed herself up, a huge smile breaking out across her face. “A God! She fashioned you after a
God
!”

Ynyr nodded, blushing further.

“And this?” Her smile faded as she reached down and picked up the kril.

“I was naked when Raiden… took me and he didn’t want his Goddess to view me that way.”

“Well, I can agree with that!” Abby snapped. “Goddess or not, no one sees what is mine.”

Ynyr’s mouth opened and closed several times before he could finally speak. “Abby…”

“You thought I wouldn’t believe you. If it hadn’t been for this,” she shook the kril slightly. “You never would have told me?”

“Yes and no I would not have.” he answered and watch the hurt flash through her eyes before she handed him the kril and rose from the couch.

“I guess that says it all doesn’t it.” She walked over to a window looking unseeing out over the dark landscape. “The bed has new sheets on it. You should rest. You’ve had a long day.”

“Abby.” Slowly Ynyr rose and followed her. He couldn’t stand the distance that was suddenly between them and he didn’t mean the room. He had hurt her. His truth had hurt her, but so had his silence. What was he going to do? How could he fix this? “I am sorry Abby.” Carefully, he put his hands on her shoulders, pulling her back against his chest and while she stiffened she didn’t pull away. “I should have told you everything this morning but…” He searched for the words. “I have never had anyone believe in me the way you do. Not even my manno. You chose
me
when you could have had any male in the Empire. You talk to me. Listen to me. Rest with me. You see me as more than I am and it makes me want to be more… but… I am still just Ynyr, a third male… and if I ever fail you…”

“You would still be the male I love.” Slowly Abby turned in his arms, looking up at him. “I don’t expect you to be perfect Ynyr. I’m not. There are going to be times when I disappoint you too. What are you going to do when that happens? Will you send me away?”

“Never!” Ynyr pulled her tight against him as if to prevent her disappearance. “You are mine and only mine nothing will ever change how I feel about you. You are my life! My love!”

“You love me?” Abby felt her eyes fill, he had never said those words to her before.

“Of course I do!” His voice softened when he saw her tears. “You know this Abby.”

“You’ve never said it before.” She burrowed into his chest, wrapping her arms around him.

Ynyr frowned down at her as he searched his mind and suddenly realized she was right. “I am sorry my Abby. I have said it so many times in my head that I thought I had.”

“I… I thought you did, but to hear it… words have power Ynyr. They can harm or they can heal.”

Ynyr thought back to the painful words that had been said to him over his life. Words that had caused him to think less of himself, of his family. His Abby was right. “That is truth, Abby.”

“That’s why it hurt so badly this morning when you refused to tell me the truth about the kril.” Abby lifted her head from his chest. “I want you to be able to tell me everything Ynyr and know that I will not think less of you even if you don’t have all the answers. There are going to be times when you need help and I want to be there to help you like you have been there to help me, even if it is only by listening.

“You wish to listen when I am struggling? When I am not sure how to solve a problem?”

“You do when I am.” She reminded him.

“Yes, but that is different.”

Abby rolled her eyes apparently this is something that was universal. Males thinking things should be handled differently because it involved them.

“It’s not Ynyr. It lets me be involved in your life, even when I’m not with you.” Looking up at him she saw his struggle and realized there was something troubling him, more than the kril. “What’s bothering you Ynyr. Why were you so late tonight?”

“I will tell you my Abby.” Ynyr told her, knowing he must. “After I cleanse. I am covered in dirt and grime from the afternoon training session.” Easing out of her arms, he turned towards the cleansing room. “I won’t be long.”

Abby paused just inside the door of the cleansing chamber appreciating the amazing view she was being given. The cleansing unit was basically one big walk in shower, its clear walls allowed her to see Ynyr who was facing her, his head tipped back under the spray, in all his naked splendor. Damn the male was built!

“I can see why the God was jealous.”

Ynyr whipped his head out from under the cleansing spray. “What?”

“I said, I can see why the God Raiden might be concerned with the Goddess seeing you.” A rumble of thunder was suddenly heard in the distance. “You are beautiful to look at Ynyr.” Abby loved how Ynyr flushed at her words.

“Raiden does not like to be called a God.” Ynyr told her shoving his head back under the spray hoping it would cool his skin as his hands ran over his body to remove the day.

“Why?” Abby asked, her eyes following Ynyr’s hands traveling over his body wishing they were hers, then she realized they could be and with a little smile she started to remove her gown.

“Because he wasn’t born a God.” Ynyr tipped his head back to finish cleansing his hair not realizing what she was doing. “He was mortal once, an Emperor. The Goddess made him immortal, so they would always be together.” Ynyr jolted when he felt Abby’s small hands on his chest. “Abby!” Opening his eyes, he found her naked in front of him. What was she doing in the unit with him? Males and females could not cleanse together… could they… but Goddess her hands felt wonderful.