Unraveling Stories - Chapter 36

<-Chapter 35

 

"The baited breath, lured by the promise of an end, held inside my heart."

 

Halfway toward the inn, two men hurried down the street and caught up with everyone. Marcus smiled as he saw them. "Di, you no doubt remember my lieutenants. Tyrian, Marian, please meet Dorian and Caleb. They're two of my best. Dorian, Caleb, please meet Lord Tyrian Southerwind and his cousin, Lady Marian."

Tyrian smiled. The phrase 'coming out of the woodwork' was beginning to come to mind as time passed. Here were two more Destined Stars. Better still, Dorian was a Magician with Lightning and Wind relics, thus adding more force to the magic side. Caleb carried a staff on his back in a way not dissimilar from Tyrian. "Greetings," Tyrian said. "Are you choosing to stay and fight for freedom?"

Caleb grinned. "Better than fighting for that evil broad in the castle."

"Shush!" his brother scolded. He sighed. "I apologize for my elder brother, Lord Tyrian. He has no manners."

"Why do you think General Quint appreciates me?" Caleb retorted. "I say it like it is, thank you." He eyed Marian with interest. "And we share similar hobbies."

"Hands off," Marcus told him dryly. He shook his head. "Tyrian, you can kick them out. These heathens are almost more trouble than they're worth." It was said affectionately; he considered his lieutenants to be equals and friends alike.

Dorian said, "But we earn our keep, right?"

"Most of the time."

The elder of the two brothers just smiled, his green eyes warming. "Well, I don't think Lord Tyrian can quite get rid of us, Marc. Dorian and I share the same star in the sky, and it is a star that follows the Kaiten's path."

"And you didn't mention this?" Marcus complained.

"You didn't ask."

"How did you know?" Tyrian asked curiously. "I'm finding that more and more people are beginning to know what they are even before I say something. And I don't think this is something you've only just figured out. The longer time goes on, the more it seems as if the Kaiten Star legend wasn't such a secret as we thought."

They had walked into the inn by that point, and Marian hurried off to change clothes. She had been carrying her regular stuff in her backpack so she could go back to normal quickly. She had full sympathy for Samantha and the bard incident, that was for sure.

The others sat down at a table in the dining room, and Caleb said slowly, "It's not something that's common knowledge, exactly. At least, it wasn't. It's getting that way now. We figured it out a few years ago when we were with Marcus in Firmeza. A traveling storyteller knew the legend and told us about it."

"Does it bother you that we know before you do?" Marcus asked.

"It doesn't bother me that you know more than I do. It bothers me that I don't know anything about my own destiny. I feel a little like I'm stumbling around in the dark."

Marian returned at that point and sat down between Marcus and Tyrian. "What's the next course of events?" she asked.

"I want to take a quick tour of the city and talk to the mayor about the city militia holding the town for us," Tyrian said, "and then we need to return to Aon Castle. We will want to meet with Matthias and Cherry to discuss how to approach Deltine." He let out a long breath. "The last checkpoint."

Following which, there were only two cities to be claimed before the movement toward Trinan. It was a staggering realization. More staggering was the thought that at any given moment, he could be forced to face his father in combat. It wasn't any surety, but his gut told him that Blaine had done something to Donald. There was no reason for him to be shut away as he was. He was not an idiot, and as much a servant of the people as the Lower Generals. More, perhaps. He would have come to the Liberation Army half a dozen times by now if something wasn't stopping him.

Cassie saw his fingers drumming on the table and softly covered his hand with hers in support. "One day at a time," she reminded him. "Stop thinking so far ahead, Tyrian. It's only going to make things harder. We need to focus on what we can change now, not what might never happen."

He let out a long breath. "Thank you," he said softly. He turned his hand over so that their fingers laced together. "With your units," he told Marcus, "the Liberation Army stands at an immediate fifty-six. We also have more than thirty additional units to call upon from their stations at the checkpoints and other cities. Do you believe that this will be enough to engage the Special Forces at Larksville and Pardue?"

"Absolutely," Marcus said. "Once we have added Vincent's units to our army, we Lower Generals can start training everyone in the specialized combat that SF soldiers get." He hesitated and then admitted, "It will also prepare them for battle with General Southerwind's troops if needed. They are entirely made of SF soldiers."

"It's not something we can pretend won't happen," Tyrian said calmly. Despite the tone, his fingers tightened with Cassie's. "And I will deal with it if and when it happens."

There was nothing anyone else at the table could say. Marian wanted to cry at the very idea of her beloved uncle and cousin having to cross weapons under any circumstance. She hadn't even liked watching them train together! Marcus, Caleb, and Dorian could do nothing except willingly shoulder the pain they felt from their Kaiten. All they could do was support him through it all.

A unit from the Liberation Army had arrived by that point, and the city was in changeover mode. The three newest Stars and Di opted to transport back with the units, so Tyrian, Cassie, and Marian were the only ones to make a tour of the city. They stopped to talk to the mayor—who promised her city militia would hold the checkpoint and be ready anytime Tyrian needed—and made the time to speak with shop owners and civilians to make sure that they would be able to recover. Many were already expressing a desire to move to Aon Castle, if only to help maintain it until the end of the war. It was the least they could do.

Tyrian returned to the castle by afternoon. With his two-woman bodyguard set, he headed immediately for the meeting room. When he walked inside, he said, "That was slightly easier than expected. Marian did her job very well." He smiled at his cousin. "And got herself a beau at the same time."

"Ha!" Alex grinned. "Good for you, Lady Marian! And good for Marcus."

Under his breath, Liang groused, "Took him damn long enough."

Marcus suddenly stepped into the doorway and lightly rested a hand on Marian's waist. "You are not wrong," he told Liang. "I suppose I just happen to be slow on the uptake." He grinned at Alex. "Though not as slow as some."

Alex saluted lightly. "She'll marry me by the end of the war."

Tyrian was no longer nonplussed by all the romances going on while a rebellion was in full swing against an evil tyrant. When he had lamented on it to Laia and how it didn't make sense, she had told him that in the midst of hate, love was the only sure weapon. That the Destined Stars would be, however unconsciously, wielding such a weapon was not a surprise. It would be more surprising if it didn't happen.

She had said something else, too. Something that still tickled his mind. "The bonds of the Destined Stars will save the world," he murmured.

"Pardon?" Matthias asked.

"Something Laia said to me. She was being mystical and all-knowing, as is her way." He sat down at the table and smiled when Marcus promptly sat down between Marian and Liang. Marcus didn't lack for nerve, which was why he was so good at his job. "On our way in," he said, "I stopped to talk to Zinfandel. She's still searching the archives for the full legend. It might hold some more answers for me. And because it won't be a secret for long, I'll say it out loud: there will be more Kaiten Stars."

"Huh." Ewan sat back in his chair. "Well, there are other countries, all with their own issues. Couple hundred years and there could be more outbreaks of war. If it happens, it happens. Other Kaitens mean other Destined Stars and other Kentei Stars. They'll be just fine."

"Was that reason from Ewan?" Kyle asked Leonard.

Leonard snorted. "A sure sign the world is ending."

Matthias hid a smile. "Welcome to the Liberation Army, General Quint. I would apologize for the underhanded tactics, but I don't see that you're overly upset to have your weakness exploited."

Marcus smiled. Under the table, he skimmed his fingers over Marian's hand. "I find myself both gratified and amused. I have no shame for liking women. They're beautiful works of art." It wasn't said as a line. He truly believed it. Because it was no different from someone who admired paintings, Marian couldn't be jealous. "I can't say I was expecting anything specific to happen, though I had a hunch the back road would be involved. Just how did you get in?" he asked Tyrian.

"Boat made of stone. While Marian was making a scene, we just sailed right up to the 'beach.' You were so busy focusing on her that you didn't even notice two Pure Relic users slipping into the city. Which was the intent, of course." Tyrian hooked an arm over the back of his chair. "All's well that ends well. Three down, one to go. There are many metaphors to be used. But they all point to the same destination."

"Deltine." Marcus nodded. "Vincent Martine is the last of the Lower Generals, and he's currently stationed there. The city is located near the Y Border, at the place where the forest collides with the mountains. The proximity of the two landscapes has created a particularly potent area of magic."

"Ah," said Night. "You refer to the Living Wood. I was wondering if it was still around."

"Living Wood?" Matthias repeated.

"The magic in the area has caused the trees of the Living Wood surrounding Deltine to become sentient. They cling to peace, and they reject any who enter with hostile intentions. All of the checkpoints, at some time, have been claimed by an enemy except for Deltine. Hell, bandits can't even get in," Marcus said. "And from what Vincent said in his last message to me, the trees have responded rather harshly to the climate of the country. They won't let anyone at all in."

"Where's the backdoor?" Matthias asked. "There is always a backdoor."

"By skipping through the Y Border, you can circle around to behind the city. The woods back there aren't alive, but they're a nasty maze. There's a branch of the Commune of Soldiers just on the outside of the maze. Supposedly, they know the way through."

Kyle nodded. "I know the branch you speak of. I am sure they would be willing to help us. I've been there, and so has Ewan, so Miranda can easily send us there. But once we get through the woods, what are we supposed to do about the city itself? I doubt just getting there will be impressive enough to get us in."

"Vincent is unpredictable," Alex said slowly. "There's really no knowing what direction he'll go. This may be one of those situations where Lord Tyrian will need to think on his feet. All I can say with certainty is that Vincent abhors bloodshed. His troops are brilliant and so is he, make no mistake, but he prefers to end things without battle. That's why he was best suited for Deltine."

"So even if he throws a wrench in the plan, as Tedium might say, it won't involve the risk of someone's life." Tyrian nodded slightly. "I think that will make things easier. Matthias, if you're willing to trust me, I would like to see if I can't handle this on my own. I would normally ask you to go along, but I don't want you to put undue stress on your leg." His eyes met Matthias'. "Doctor Kelan has kept me updated on your condition."

"What exactly is wrong with your leg?" Kyle asked bluntly. "You're beginning to alarm me, Matt."

Matthias took a long breath, and Cherry looked away. "It's a condition I've had since birth," he admitted. "For lack of any other way to describe it, there is a leak in my lifeforce."

A sudden slicing pain cut into Kyle's heart. He didn't even realize he wasn't breathing until Ewan slapped him on the back and forced him to take in a breath. "You're dying," he said flatly. "Why didn't you tell anyone?!"

"It can't be stopped," Matthias said gently. "I have long learned to live with it. It can be prolonged, but it cannot be stopped. And, frankly, the older I get, the less it can be prolonged. My leg is already dead. It's slowly making its way through the rest of me. I will see the end of the war, but I will not live much beyond it." He looked at Tyrian. "I would like to be buried near Ophelia."

Tyrian nodded. There was pain inside his heart as well, but he had suspected from the day he had met Matthias just what was wrong and what was happening. He had accepted it. "I will see to it myself," he promised. "And I will always be grateful for everything you've done, Matt. Your life would have been longer had you not been here with me."

The strategist smiled. "But my life would not have been nearly as fulfilling. I am honored that this is my last task to accomplish."

Kyle said nothing. It was like salt in a wound that had not yet healed. Matthias had been like his brother as well. From the day Ophelia had accepted Kyle's suit, Matthias had opened his heart to the younger man and become family. To lose not just Ophelia but also Matthias was excruciatingly painful, particularly close together.

Cassie had been suspicious for a long while; there were no secrets between her and Tyrian. To hear it said plainly was still daunting. She curled her hand around Tyrian's under the table. It was little comfort to think that Matthias would have died anyway, even if he hadn't been part of the Destined Stars.

Tyrian brought the subject back around with a visible exertion of his iron will. "I will take Cassie, Ewan, Kyle, and Marian with me to the Commune of Soldiers. The sixth place will be reserved for whomever our escort turns out to be. Once we're through the woods, I'll play it by ear."

"We will have General Quint and a few others standing by," Matthias said, "just in case we need Miranda to transport in reinforcements."

"Good." Tyrian got to his feet. "In that case, I say we get moving now. Depending on what information we get from the Commune, we might be best going through the woods at night, anyway."

Those going with him also got to their feet. Marian briefly kissed Marcus and then grinned when Liang muttered under his breath. "Don't grouse," she scolded. "He can beat you at arm-wrestling, and you know it." With a flounce of rusty hair, she followed her cousin out of the meeting room. The doors shut behind her, and her smile faded as she hugged Kyle. "I'm sorry," she said softly.

He let out a long breath. "I can handle this. It's settling in a little easier than it did when he first said it. Maybe because somehow I always knew. It was just this feeling inside." He hugged her back and then gratefully gripped Tyrian's hand when it settled on his shoulder. "Thank you," he said quietly. "I'm sorry I can't be a better support for you, Tyrian."

"You're here," Tyrian said simply. "And you and Ewan are two of my best friends now. I think it's fair to say we have a give-and-take relationship. We're even."

It was more of a comfort than Kyle had expected. Even with so many tragic things happening, there were still bright moments. A part of him couldn't help but wonder if their appreciation for the brighter moments was because of the tragic ones.

Miranda was more than happy to transport them to the Commune of Soldiers. There was only one tiny problem, though. When she swung her wand around, she smacked a passing guard and completely lost her concentration. The party found themselves landing inside the city alright, but they landed in the trees. Dangling upside down by his knees, Tyrian just sighed. "Cassie, let it be known this is the only time I've ever wanted you to be wrong."

His lover also sighed from where she was caught between two branches. "So noted."

"Nice of you to drop in," a female voice said dryly. "Most use the gates, you know."

Tyrian turned his head and found himself nose-to-nose with a slender young woman possessing a mane of curly, tawny colored hair. She wore the familiar short bodice and split skirt of a dagger user, and she had two of the blades equipped. One on her hip, and the other in a sheath around her upper leg. "Our transporter seems to have a problem with her aim," he told her. "We were aiming for the gates."

"I'd hate to see what would have happened if you'd aimed for the trees!" She grinned. She knew full well who the green-eyed male in the tree was, and she liked him a lot more than she had expected. He was such a fascination! He seemed really serious and mature, but there was a really strong intensity inside him that commanded attention. "I'm Tandy," she said. "You're Tyrian."

"Correct. Hang on." He pulled himself up onto the branch properly and then swung his legs around and dropped to the ground. The others were slowly disentangling themselves as well, and Cassie was luckily close enough to help Ewan. Men of his size did not belong in trees. "Greetings, Tandy," Tyrian said. "It's nice to meet you."

"Well met, indeed!" She propped her hands on her hips as she studied him. "You're my age. I wasn't expecting that. And you're really attractive, so I guess some rumors were doing you justice."

He didn't bat a lash. "Thank you."

She laughed. "Wow, nothing fazes you. That's really awesome." She linked her hands behind her back as she leaned forward to peer up into his face. There was a strong tug inside her heart that told her this was someone in serious need of a laugh or two. He needed her levity to help him get through things. "I'm one of your Stars, aren't I?"

He held out a hand and smiled when she took it firmly. There was nothing shy about Tandy, and he couldn't help but adore her for it. His relic glowed softly and the answering star glowed from her shoulder. "Seems so. I need your strength, Tandy. Help me win this fight."

"Done," she said instantly. "It's so boring here anyway!"

"Tandy!" a young man scolded as he approached. "Now what trouble are you getting into?"

She sniffed and turned up her nose. "You have no say in my life, Hiro. You won't even court me because you can't name your sword! You have forfeited all right to tell me what to do."

The young man shot her a look of combined frustration and exasperation. He made a striking contrast to Tandy in all ways. Where she didn't hold still and moved with vibrant energy, he was very quiet and serene. Even in coloring, they were perfect opposites. He stood roughly the same height as Tyrian, but he held a slimmer physique.

He was also a Destined Star. Tyrian smiled at him. "I'm Tyrian Southerwind."

"Well met." The young man caught a handful of Tandy's skirt before she flounced off. Even when she glared at him, he kept hold and kept her tethered. "I'm Hiro." He spotted Ewan and Kyle finally getting out of the trees, and his eyes widened as he recognized them. "You're Kyle Raitels and Ewan Grizmar!"

"The same," Ewan said with a salute.

"Hiro!" Tandy said in annoyance. "Let go of my skirt! I have no compunctions about ripping it to get away, and if you want to strip me, you'd better be courting me first!" Her skirt was promptly let go and she walked off in a huff.

Hiro sighed. "My apologies, Lord Tyrian. Tandy is . . . temperamental."

"That would be why I liked her," Ewan noted with a grin. "So am I."

"More's to the pity of Tyrian's sanity," Cassie said dryly as she helped Marian out of the tree as well. "Thankfully there aren't too many of you."

Temperamental types were known for being unpredictable and liable to lose their temper on a moment's notice. There was nothing wrong with such a thing, but they certainly kept their friends and families on their toes! It was another reason that many looked at Ewan with anticipation: seeing him end up with a temperamental daughter would be icing on the cake, and suitable revenge.

Tyrian just shook his head. "Don't worry, Hiro. I think she's a very lively and lovely young woman. But you can't court her yet because of naming your sword?"

"Yes and no," Kyle offered. "Technically, Hiro has every right to court her as long as both are eighteen. But he won't be able to actually marry her until he's an adult in the eyes of the Commune. A lot of swordsmen and women will refrain from courting anyone until they're adults because they don't want their loved one to wait indefinitely."

Hiro nodded. "Exactly so. I just turned eighteen, so I am the right age to court someone. But I have yet to prove my worth. And, well." He sighed. "It would be my unfortunate luck that Tandy is the daughter of the Commune leader and his wife."

Ewan winced. "Yikes. That would add a new level of stress. Who is your instructor?" At Hiro's helpless look, Ewan whistled softly. "Damn, kid. You really got yourself into a pickle. So the Commune leader is your instructor and a parent of the girl you want. Nice."

Tyrian lifted his brows at Kyle who obligingly explained, "Every new swordsman or woman is taken under the wing of an experienced adult. Only that instructor can determine when the new Soldier is ready to be an adult. Normally, the instructor is in agreement with the Commune leader, but there have been disagreements in the past. The instructor typically wins."

"But since Hiro's instructor is the Commune leader," Tyrian surmised, "he was already having to prove himself twice without adding Tandy to the mix." He smiled wryly. "Ewan's right. That's some pickle to be in." He cocked his head as a new thought occurred to him. "How is it that only those who use swords are required to go through such a rigorous testing? Is Tandy more of an adult or less of one because she uses daggers?"

Kyle shook his head. "The easiest way to say it is to say that Tandy is a regular soldier, and those who name their swords are special forces. Anyone who comes out of a Commune is damned good, but the Commune was originally founded on just swords users. So if you use a sword, you've got a much higher standard to live up to. You have to prove you're worthy of carrying on the Commune name."

"That makes sense," Tyrian decided. "And thank you for the explanation. I've been wondering for a while how it all worked." He looked at Hiro. "Will you be allowed to join my fight even if you haven't named your sword? You're one of mine as well, Hiro." It was said simply and was all the more powerful for the simplicity.

"Likely so," Hiro said. "Perhaps it will be what earns me the right to be an adult." He frowned. "Were you here looking solely for Tandy and I?"

"That was the welcome side benefit. We need to get through the woods to the back of Deltine. Supposedly people here know the way."

"I know it," Hiro offered. "So does Tandy. Either of us can show you the way." He suddenly went very still, his head turning sharply. "Tandy. She's in trouble." He took off like a shot through the Commune and ducked around people and buildings as he headed for the entrance to the woods. "Did anyone see Tandy?" he asked urgently, but no one had noticed her going past. That alone was odd; Tandy was always noticeable.

By the time Tyrian and the others caught up, Hiro had gotten partway into the woods. He was standing next to a tree and staring at a note pinned to it. Tyrian gently put a hand on his shoulder in support and Marian yanked the note free. "'I have the girl,'" she read. "'Come and get her before it's too late.' It's signed by General Martine." She frowned. "Wait. That's odd."

"Let me see." Cassie took the note and briefly studied it. "This is his handwriting, I am sure of it. Huh. Interesting. Marcus and Alex swore that Vincent would never hurt someone, and Tandy is innocent of anything except having a temper."

"The back door," Tyrian said softly. "I see. He's giving us an excuse to come into Deltine. If we can make it to the city, we have a legitimate excuse to go inside to negotiate."

"You're sure he won't hurt Tandy?" Hiro asked.

"Positive," Tyrian said instantly. "But that doesn't mean we can take our time. She's not going to be happy, and I'd like to find Vincent whole and healthy so that he can join us as well. Temperamental types tend to act before thinking."

Night snorted. "Ewan's picture is next to the word in the dictionary."

"And you're one to talk," his wielder muttered.

"I'm going with you." Hiro's hands curled into fists at his side. "I have to go along to get her back. I can't claim her as my own yet, but I love her more than anything. And she'll have my ass if I don't rescue her," he added on a wince.

As they said, Tyrian thought, sharing a smile with Cassie, opposites attracted.

 

©Stacy J. Garrett. Do not reprint or redistribute without permission.

Chapter 37->

Unraveling Stories - Chapter 35

<-Chapter 34

 

"When me and you become we; that is when it all begins."

 

Word arrived the following morning while Tyrian and Cassie were having breakfast with Raven in the restaurant. Squint came bursting into the room and blurted, "The Emperor is dead!"

Everything came to a screeching halt. The Lower Generals, sitting a few tables over, looked up sharply and then shared a long look between them. As voices began to rise, Tyrian held up a hand for silence. "What is being said caused it?" he asked Squint.

"The message that Tad got said that Albanion's heart gave out and he just toppled over. Lady Blaine is so grief-stricken that she has allowed no one but General Reyu to tend to her."

"Grief-stricken, my ass!" Ewan muttered distinctly. "She's probably the one who killed the old bastard."

"Have all of our informants confirmed the information?" Matthias asked as he gingerly limped up. His leg had steadily been paining him more lately, a surer barometer of the coming end of the war than anything else. "All three gossips as well as Grace and Kell?"

"They've checked and double-checked. Word is spreading rapidly through the remaining cities under lockdown. The soldiers are talking about it. The Emperor is definitely dead." Squint sat down on a bench under the nearest window, and her one eye blazed with temper. "He didn't even have the decency to live to see the end of the war he caused!" As her breath puffed out, a ring of smoke came with it, proof positive of her ire. Any Dragon that got angry enough tended to breathe out their element—a hazardous thing when the Dragon happened to be a temperamental Fire type!

Alex drummed his fingers on the table. "Blaine," he said curtly.

"To be sure," Matthias agreed. "But we can't really see this as changing anything. We have known all along that Lady Blaine was the driving force behind events. That the status quo changed with her arrival is no coincidence. We must simply carry on as before. Perhaps, if anything, this is more impetus to continue. Should we fall, there is no knowing what Lady Blaine will do to the people."

"Well, this bites!" Squint muttered under her breath.

Evelyn shoved a pastry into her mouth. "You're breathing fire. Calm down, Squint." She held her tray against her chest as she looked at Tyrian. "We stand beside you, Lord Tyrian. Whatever you need of us, you have only to ask. We believe in you."

"On that token, Eve, will you please bring a pot of coffee up to the meeting room?" Matthias turned toward the Generals as Evelyn hurried into her kitchen. "General Cutter, General Renduex, I ask that you join this meeting. Ewan, Kyle, your presence is required as well."

"How'd we get dragged into this?" Kyle groused as he got to his feet.

"You've been here the longest," Tyrian reminded him. "You're senior soldiers in the Liberation Army."

"I don't like the sound of that," Ewan complained. "I'm only three years older than you are." He grabbed another pastry from the buffet as he went past and scooped up Raven when she grabbed his leg. "Come on, kiddo. You've proven to be pretty useful. That and you keep us from swearing too much."

"You mean you swear too much," she told him primly, and made the entire room start snickering.

Together as a group, they headed for the elevator. Once the doors shut, Tyrian asked Di softly, "Whose room were you in last night?"

"Mine," she muttered.

Based on the slightly smug smile on Alex's face, she hadn't been alone in her room. Tyrian just smiled. Alex had his full sympathy and support, and everyone knew it. "Just don't turn into Grace and Kell," Tyrian murmured. "No one wants to wait that long to collect on the bet."

The best Di could say to that was, "Shut up, Tyrian."

Cherry waited for them at the meeting room and hopped to her feet to help Matthias into his chair. "I've been doing some research," she said as everyone sat down. "Our next stop is Gammine, which we know is in the forests that mark the border to Foresalia. To be precise, the city is built on top of a lake. The only way you can access it is via a sole road in. That road is currently entirely defended by Marcus Quint's units."

"To make matters worse," Di picked up, "the lake itself is impassible for boats. The water contains a property that completely eats through wood within a matter of moments. Our only hope of storming the city is to attack via the road, but there's no way we could muscle through."

"The complication," Matthias said, "is that while we are sure that General Quint, and General Martine, are both Destined Stars as well, as of this moment, they are still our enemies. We want to avoid bloodshed if at all possible, but we cannot expect them to simply hand over the keys to the checkpoint."

"Why not?" Kyle asked. "We're all after the same thing."

"It's a test." Alex settled back in his chair. "I believe I speak for all the Lower Generals when I say that we want to see Lord Tyrian test his mettle against us. If he can't get past the meager defenses we offer, then there's no way he can take on Trinan. It is also a test of you, Professor Matthias, as you are the strategist. If you two cannot work to take a checkpoint, the Rebellion stands no chance."

"I had begun to suspect that was so," Matthias said. "And you are correct. I may formulate the plan, but it is Lord Tyrian who must execute it. And should something go wrong, he must think on his feet. But I trust him to do so. He almost doesn't need me."

Tyrian smiled at him. "Sure I do. Knowing you're taking care of this part means I can focus on all the rest. My place is on the battlefield, not in the war room. I'm just the weapon to be wielded. And I am perfectly fine with that. I was born to be a warrior. I would never have lasted long if I had become a Lower General. I am sure of that now."

No one could argue with him. They had all watched him bloom on the battlefield like the rarest of flowers. Quite literally, he had been born for this very moment. But Matthias also knew that while Tyrian needed him, his presence was not what would ensure victory. There was no Rebellion without Tyrian. He represented the hopes of every person who lived in the Empire.

"What do we want to do?" Ewan asked Matthias. "I doubt we can sneak someone inside like we've done before. Quint is probably on to that tactic by now. None of us would be able to get past the gate."

Matthias lightly drummed his fingers on the table as he thought quickly over the possible recourses. "I believe the simplest thing to do is to tackle the lake. We'll sail up to the back door."

"What part of 'the water eats wood' did you miss?" Kyle asked.

"The part where she said the water eats stone."

"Oh!" Raven brightened. "Ships of stone!"

"Correct!" Matthias couldn't help but wistfully wish for a future where she could have been his student as well. There was much he would have loved to teach her. He would have to be content with Cherry carrying on his tutelage, perhaps with Raven, perhaps not. "I propose we make some boats out of stone and sail across the waters. We can breach the city from behind quite easily."

"But you still have to deal with Marcus," Alex reminded him. "Getting in is only half the battle."

"I think we're going to make a little switch in the décor. Wouldn't our flag look lovely flying from the highest tower?"

"Ah, I get it." Tyrian smiled. "We fly our flag even before we've got General Quint on our side. The entire city is going to think we've already won. He won't have any choice but to surrender."

"You'll have to be fast." Di shook her head. "Marcus has a strong sixth sense for magical power. He'd feel you or Cassie the instant you were inside the city."

"Then maybe we need to distract him," he said. "We send in someone to find and distract him, and when they have him occupied, then we'll take care of the flag. What sorts of things distract General Quint?"

In one voice, Alex and Di said, "Women."

Ewan grinned. "I'm going to like him."

Tyrian began to mentally run through the women in the Destined Stars who were of the right age frame and personality to successfully distract a battle-hardened general. A smile touched his lips. "I do believe this might be the perfect task for my cousin."

Kyle's brows lifted. "True, she did a damned good job of flirting us into quite a store of scrolls that first battle. She's beautiful, and she's personable. She gets my vote."

"She's also a Healer," Matthias noted, "which means that she automatically gets overlooked by others as being no threat. Never mind that she swings that mace pretty hard and her aim with her Resurrection Relic's lightning rivals Kane's." He nodded. "I agree. Lady Marian is a good choice for this task. Do you think she'll be a good choice?" he asked the two Lower Generals.

Di grinned. "You couldn't have picked better, I assure you. Let's just say that if it hadn't been for the rules about military members being distracted by significant others, Marcus might very well have come knocking on her door the instant she was eighteen."

Curiously, Tyrian found that unsurprising. He hadn't seen anything expressly obvious over the years after Marian had turned eighteen, but there had just been something in the way General Quint acted when she was around. Perhaps that had subconsciously fueled his decision. "Then Marian is indeed the proper choice."

"Well, that takes care of that issue," Alex said, "but what do we do about the boats? Can Theo build a boat of stone? And how do we sail up to the back of the city without being noticed, anyway?"

The meeting room doors opened at that point and Theo walked in. At his side was a woman of roughly the same age who had short red hair and lovely features, and the telltale pattern of scales over her skin to imply she had Merfolk blood; she also possessed fins for ears. She wore the familiar rugged clothes of someone used to working hard for her living. "I brought a present," Theo said gravely. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Not at all." Tyrian got to his feet with a smile. It was there again, that little tug inside. "I'm Tyrian," he told the woman. "Welcome to Aon Castle. Did Theo drag you here?"

"He's cute, so it's not a hardship." She waved a hand in the air and then propped her hands on her hips. "My name is Paola, Lord Tyrian. I'm a ship builder. Theo said that since you have the two port cities, you might be needing my services."

Ewan looked at Kyle. "I'm not so unnerved by that happening anymore."

Kyle shook his head. "We'll stay sane longer if we don't ask."

"You couldn't have come at a better time," Tyrian said honestly. "We have need of your immediate services, Paola." He looked at Theo. "Can you see to finding her a room? She'll be staying with us a while."

"Ha, knew it." He grinned at Paola. "You don't want to share my room?"

She sniffed. "I don't sleep with ship rats."

With a whistle, clearly un-offended, he left the meeting room. Tyrian hid a smile as he gestured for Paola to take one of the empty seats. There was obviously nothing romantic between the two. He could only liken it to the way Marian and R.K. flirted just for the fun of it. It was just as well. There were too many betting pools already anyway.

"Welcome to the Liberation Army, Paola," Matthias said. "All those present are also Destined Stars, even young Raven. You are welcome at any time to join us in any meeting if you feel you are needed. We have all learned that we know when Lord Tyrian needs us, just as he knows when we need him."

"That works just fine for me." She pulled a pad of paper out of a pocket and retrieved the pencil stuck over her left fin. "So what are we talking?" The explanation was brief, and she could only whistle lightly when they finished. "You're right, you do need me. Let's see . . . a ship made of stone. It's not as hard as you think. It just needs to be scaled properly to whatever it's sailing in. There's also the option of not making it solid stone. A stone cover over wood might work as well."

"We're also concerned about visibility," Alex said. "We don't expect them to start shooting at us, but we're trying to be covert. Sailing up to the back door is enough of a problem to begin with."

"Not that much so," she disagreed. "There's actually another bridge back there that can be lowered. The higher nobility never use the main road because it's so dirty. I've known some narcissists who would pitch a fit if they so much as looked at dirt."

"Narcissist?" Raven asked Tyrian. "That's a weird word."

"For some weird people," he conceded. "A narcissist is a person of higher nobility who is so full of him or herself that they think only they are important. They tend to be very vain, very snobby, and very condescending to lesser beings." His brows suddenly lifted and he looked at Matthias.

The strategist was already thinking of the same thing. "You know," he said musingly, "wouldn't it be perfectly normal for a high class lady to be traveling to Gammine to escape the dirty reconstruction in other cities? And wouldn't it be perfectly normal for her to demand they let her in the back so she doesn't have to deal with those messy soldiers?"

"And while she's making this huge scene, wouldn't it be too bad if a small boat just happened to slip under radar and get into the checkpoint?" Tyrian murmured.

"How many people in the boat?" Paola asked.

"Three. Lord Tyrian, Lady Cassie, and General Cutter," Matthias said.

"Then it can be pretty small . . . I think a stone cover on the wood would be fine." She sketched across her paper swiftly and accurately, mapping out the dimensions as well as the supplies she would need. "If I blackmail Theo and Mayo and grab those two builders as well, we can have it ready by the morning. It won't be pretty, but it doesn't have to be."

"I'll leave it to you," Tyrian told her. "I know you'll get it done." He looked at Matthias. "Tomorrow would be ideal anyway. I still need to get Marian up to speed on the plan, and we need to transform her into a narcissist." He frowned thoughtfully. "Where are we going to get her the proper clothes? We don't have a tailor yet."

"Myr?" Cherry asked. "She has quite the collection of clothing since she's a bard. She might have something that Serentia can alter for Lady Marian."

"Then that's the plan," Matthias said. "Lord Tyrian, if you will speak with Myr, Serentia, and Lady Marian, we will help Paola get everything she needs to have our stone boat ready by morning."

"Done." Tyrian got to his feet and smiled as Raven climbed onto his back. "If anything, this will be amusing," he said to Cassie as they headed out of the meeting room to go find Marian. This time of day, she would no doubt be with Kelan. She and Halkern worked with the doctor to help tend to everything from broken bones to runny noses.

"You know," Cassie said wryly, "in a way, I'm glad one of us ended up with a Pure Relic before we, uhm, cemented our relationship." The tact was only for the presence of their daughter's tiny ears, though both parents were fairly sure she already knew the basics. She was turning into quite the Scholar with the way she read books. "I'm fairly hard to embarrass, but asking your cousin for herbs to prevent pregnancy might have been more than I could take in stride."

"She would have giggled," he conceded, "but she wouldn't have made it difficult for you."

"Yes, but she's your cousin, and is nearly a sister. Can you imagine if I had a sister and you had to ask her for birth control?"

"Depends on how much like you she was." He grinned. "If she was exactly like you, then I wouldn't need to ask. She'd just give them to me and tell me to behave myself."

She found herself laughing. She really couldn't find fault with that argument.

Marian was indeed in the doctor's office, and she was organizing the herbs when Tyrian and Cassie walked in without their daughter. Raven had abandoned them when she heard Savon just had her new puppies. "Good morning," Marian said as she finished stacking a few boxes. She dusted off her hands and walked over to hug Tyrian. "Word has spread," she said. "But I know you'll be okay. You have us."

"I know." He hugged her back and then caught her hands. "I need to ask you to do something."

"Name it," she said simply.

"Walk with us to find Myr, and we'll explain."

By the time they got to Myr's room, Marian was both impressed by the plan and humbled to be trusted with something so important. She was also slightly flustered, but she kept that well hidden. They wanted her to distract Marcus Quint? The accepted playboy of the Imperial Army? She had never seen him with the same woman twice! Not, of course, that she had been watching or anything.

When Tyrian knocked on Myr's door, she opened it immediately. She brightened when she saw who stood outside. "Lord Tyrian! Hi, come in!" She stepped back to let all three enter. "What's going on?"

One explanation later and she leapt to her feet to go over to her closet. "Oh, I have the perfect thing! When we went to Rubentia, I picked up a whole lot of my stuff, and I know there's a dress in here that'll look amazing on you, Lady Marian! It was a gift from a fan of my caravan, and he's a great tailor, so it should be high enough quality."

The dress she emerged with certainly spoke of high fashion. The skirt was excessively voluminous, the material was silk, and the top would perfectly frame and flatter the wearer's curves. There was also quite a bit of lace and ruffle, enough to make anyone think the owner had a high opinion of herself.

While on one hand, Marian was slightly nonplussed by the decadence, she was also taken with the pale pink material. She normally couldn't wear pink because of her rusty hair color, which was more orange than red. This pink had a bit more yellow than normal, and it would be flattering.

"Let's see if it fits!" Myr said. She grinned at Tyrian. "Turn around so we can surprise you. If you can be impressed, then we know the general will!"

He obligingly turned around. "If it doesn't fit, we can ask Serentia to adjust it," he reminded them after a few moments.

"It laces, so it fits." Myr sighed happily. "You look so pretty, Lady Marian!"

Tyrian turned around and began smiling. The dress was indeed beautiful, and it did indeed flatter Marian's figure and coloring, but in some strange way, it just didn't seem to suit her. She was a Healer of high caliber, and her regular leggings and jackets suited her much better. "You look like a real lady," he told her. "But not quite like my cousin."

"I'd rather be your cousin," she admitted with a smile. "But there's a tiny part of me that's enjoying itself entirely."

"Well, good. There are no rules about taking your enjoyments where you find them." He contemplated her hair and its thick braid. "What about her hair, Myr? Isn't it in style for the high class to wear their hair down?"

"Down with ribbons," she agreed. She grabbed a brush and handful of pink ribbons. "You're going to knock General Quint on his butt! He'll be so distracted that Lord Tyrian could probably sneak everyone out of the city!"

Thirty minutes later, Marian was able to escape back into her own clothes for the rest of the day. The dress had been handed off to Persephone for a good washing and ironing so that it looked absolutely pristine by morning. Several people from the higher class in the city got into things, and matching shoes, gloves, and a very excessively frilly parasol were also borrowed and set aside.

Peter and Jacqueline worked around the clock with Paola, Theo, and Mayo, and come the morning, they had completed the small boat. It had been designed to be as small as it could while still holding three people. With the thin veneer of stone over the wood, not only would it resist the properties of the lake water, but it would also blend in much better.

Tyrian and Cassie left their tower right after dawn to meet up with Di and Marian. Raven was sleeping in their bed, having snuck in the night before. The guards were aware of her presence, and they knew to have Serentia or Liang fetch her if she wasn't up by breakfast. Both felt impressed with their Kaiten and Kentei; parenting was hard enough without doing it in the middle of a war.

A very sleepy eyed Miranda waited for the party in the courtyard, and she had a cup of coffee. "Eve is up," she said. She held out a plate with pastries. "She said to eat something before you go."

Marian, looking every inch the narcissist, shook her head. "My stomach is full of nerves. I couldn't eat anything right now." She did, however, accept a sip of Miranda's coffee just so she actually had something in her stomach. "I can do this," she said firmly. "I know I can. I don't look stupid, do I?" she asked her cousin.

He shook his head. "You look beautiful, Marian. Stop worrying." He looked at Di. "You've been to Gammine." At the nod, he turned to Miranda. "Focus on Di, and use her to get us to the city. We need to land behind it, and inside the woods enough to not be seen. I know you can do it."

That belief made Miranda surer in herself, and she lifted her wand with more confidence. "Here we go!"

A few moments later, the party landed safely inside the woods behind the city and out of sight. "Of course," Cassie noted dryly, "that means that the next time she ports us, we're going to land in the trees."

"Naturally," Tyrian said. He glanced out of the trees and saw that the boat was exactly where it was supposed to be. It had been transported there in the middle of the night under the cover of darkness. If he hadn't been looking for it, he would have never seen it. "Are you ready?" he asked Marian.

She opened her parasol and took a quick breath. "I'm ready."

 

General Marcus Quint was the youngest of the Lower Generals, but he was by far one of the more skilled. Even Samantha looked on his skill with a sword with respect, something he took as a high compliment. He was also highly sensitive to the fluctuations of magic in the air to the point that he always knew what relics were worn by what people in his immediate vicinity. The stronger the user, the further away he could sense them.

So, truthfully, he felt the commotion at the back road long before he heard it. In the middle of writing down more notes on buildings in need of immediate repair, he looked up with surprise as he sensed a strong healing type magic not far away. Curiously, it was a familiar magic.

A few moments later, he heard a woman's voice say, "Just lower the bridge before any more dirt gets on my dress!"

He sighed. It wasn't the first narcissist to enter the city in such a fashion. "Lower the bloody bridge," he muttered to the soldiers as he joined them. "Just get it done with before she makes a bigger scene. I'll escort her to the inn and smooth her feathers."

Marcus had a way with women of all ages; playboy notwithstanding, he was also a true gentleman. He just always knew exactly how to handle any given female at any given time. His soldiers, including his female soldiers, were both impressed and amused by it—and had often begged him to act as a wingman on their behalf.

The bridge lowered and a young woman in a lovely pink gown hurried across it with her parasol held to shade her face from the sun and prying eyes alike. The closer she got, the more Marcus' eyes narrowed. Suspicions churned as he walked forward. The very fact that he couldn't find the right thing to say was as much proof of who he looked on as the sight of beautiful rusty colored hair.

He offered a hand, and when she lightly placed hers on it, he drew her fingers to his lips with a bow. "Welcome to Gammine," he said. In a very soft voice, he added, "Lady Marian."

Her heart began to beat harder. For a moment, she was terrified that she had messed the entire plan up, but he simply tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and began to escort her into the city. He acted as if everything was normal, yet she had a frightening image of being thrown in jail. Not that she thought he would, but there was no knowing what he thought!

"Don't be afraid," he said quietly. "I am the last person you should be afraid of, Marian. Are you here to infiltrate the defenses and find a weakness?" He suddenly smiled wryly. "Or was this Alex and Di's not so subtle way of exploiting my weakness?" He fully admitted that he had a fondness for women. Since he didn't use, abuse, or hurt them in any fashion, he didn't see it as such a bad fondness to have.

"Yes," she admitted softly.

"Then you have to come with me on a tour of town and see what you can pry out of me." He brought her fingers to his lips again and smiled. It was pure gut instinct when it came to Marian. He could only guess if he was making the right move or saying the right thing. He felt certain he was making a fool of himself half the time, but she never noticed. "Will you bat your lashes and flirt?"

She found herself smiling at him. He always made her smile. "That was the plan." She fluttered her lashes playfully. "Should I hang on your arm, or would that be overkill? I wouldn't want to make anyone jealous. I'm sure you've been breaking hearts all over town."

"I have never broken a heart," he told her. "Perhaps dented a few, but never broken." He took a breath and grabbed for courage. This slim Healer always seemed to take it all away. "Marian," he said quietly, seriously, "is there anyone in your life?"

Her heart started pounding again. "If you mean whether or not I am courting or have been courted, the answer is no. I've been continuously single for five years." A sad smile touched her lips. "I've never met an eligible man I wanted to court, and certainly none have come by my door."

"Would you allow me to be the first?"

She stopped dead in her tracks and looked at him in shock. "What?"

"Would you let me court you?" he asked. He brushed her hair out of her face softly. As beautiful as she looked, he missed the way she looked in her Healer's clothing. It suited her much better. "I'd have asked five years ago, but," he shrugged lightly, "I did not want you to be miserable by having a beau, possibly a husband, who you could almost never see."

"Why are you telling me now?"

"Because things are changing. And because it finally occurred to me that the reason I never quite know what to say to you has to be because you're the one who really counts. This isn't a line, Marian. The man before you is the real one. It always has been."

She took a deep breath. "Something for which I'm grateful. I've always liked the real General Marcus Quint. I'd watch you with girlfriend after girlfriend and always be so . . . so . . . so jealous." She found a smile though her lips trembled. "I would be very happy if you courted me, Marcus."

He bent his head to lightly brush her lips with his and lingered long enough that she softly sighed into his lips. It was the sweetest sound he had ever heard. He kissed her again, a little deeper, and heard a very distinct cheer in the background. "Is that at us?" he asked huskily.

Her body aching for his touch and her lips tingling, she still found she could be amused by the whole situation. Her lips curved. "No, that's at the flag."

"The flag?" He lifted his head quickly and looked to the tower. There, distinctly, flew the flag of the Liberation Army. He couldn't help it. He started laughing. "Checkmate, Marian. That was a very adept distraction!"

She grinned teasingly. "I was just supposed to flirt. You're the one who got so serious." She went up on her toes and kissed him quickly. He was quite a bit taller because she was short, but she had always liked that about him. A Healer should always have a good warrior to protect them.

Tyrian had to smile as he watched the scene from the tower. "I think they were both distracted," he said to Di and Cassie.

Di grinned. "Couldn't have happened to a better man."

Tyrian led the way down out of the tower, and by the time they got to the bottom, Marcus and Marian waited for them. "Greetings, General Quint," Tyrian said. "I believe that the entire city now thinks that I'm in charge instead of you. What say you to that?"

"I say you're one sneaky bastard, and you're very much like your father. And I say that with a great deal of respect." Marcus bowed gracefully. "Consider this a formal surrender, Tyrian. I will inform my troops that they are free to make their decision as to stay or return. I know my soldiers though; you can count on adding my eight units to your total count. They serve the people. The people want change."

"At this point," Tyrian said quietly, "we can say they need change. It's become so much more than a rebellion, Marcus. Blaine is evil. Left to her own devices, there is no one who will be safe. She's murdered indiscriminately, and she will do it again. All she wants is a Pure Relic. The Empire is nothing more than a tool. If we don't free the people from her grasp, then there won't be anything left. I need you to help me do this. Lend your strength to mine."

"It's yours," he said simply as he took Tyrian's hand. "Please accept my dedication as a Destined Star." He didn't need to see the star on his shoulder to know what he was. It was that feeling inside him that told him. The feeling that had always been there all along. He would always be grateful for the gift he had been given. "Let's go to the inn to talk, and we can get Marian out of that dress." He blinked and then sighed. "That came out wrong."

Marian giggled, and Tyrian just smiled. "Lead the way."

 

©Stacy J. Garrett. Do not reprint or redistribute without permission.

Chapter 36->