Unraveling Stories - Chapter 37

<-Chapter 36

 

"Reach out; you can touch the stars."

 

Because they had planned ahead for the sixth spot, it was easy for Hiro to fall into the party. He took the point position as they headed into the woods, and it didn't take very long for the others to realize why it was such a good idea to have a guide. The woods looked identical no matter where they went, and the path twisted in a million directions.

It also didn't take very long for the monsters to find them. Tyrian found himself once more in the position of sorcerer, and it greatly amused him. He didn't mind too terribly the role, but he knew his relic was made more for specialized attacks than actually doing general magical damage. Still, with three swordsmen, it made more sense for him to move back in the lineup, even if he only used raw magic instead of the actual spells.

As they finished one set and continued down the path, Ewan noted to Hiro, "You're good, kid."

Indeed, there was no denying Hiro had many skills with a sword. "Skill isn't everything," he said with a wry smile and a shrug. "I think part of my problem is that I'm not very assertive. I prefer to listen rather than take command."

"There's nothing wrong with that," Marian said staunchly. "Being quiet doesn't mean you're not mature!"

Cassie glanced at Tyrian with a smile. "We are who we are because we are what Tyrian needs to support him. So the fact that you are a quiet type means you balance for those with the biggest voices. And I don't mean just Ewan. We have quite a few, hmm, forceful Stars too."

Tyrian thought about Laia and Liang and a few others as well. "Bossy is another word." He stopped walking suddenly and covered his relic hand as he felt a strong presence.

He wasn't the only one to notice. Cassie made the same gesture, and Kyle and Marian looked around. Night was the one who first realized what they had sensed. "There's a mage in the vicinity. A strong one too. But non-elemental; they must have a non-combat relic or two."

Feeling a light tug inside, Tyrian turned off the path and moved deeper into the woods. The trees were much thicker in this area, and it was hard to see clearly where he went. He didn't worry about getting lost. Hiro would easily get them re-sorted again.

To his immense shock, when he pushed between some trees, he found himself looking at a tiny clearing, and in the middle of it lay a baby griffin. The beast reached no higher than his hip, and it was still covered in the soft down of fledgling years. Its paws were proportionately too big, making it both gangly and adorable.

Kyle went for his sword but Tyrian held up a hand. "Hold," he said.

"You don't have a Listening Relic," Cassie reminded him. "You can't know what it is thinking."

"I don't need one." Tyrian walked without fear over to the griffin and knelt down beside it. "Hi," he said softly. He gently rubbed his fingers over the griffin's beak and was rewarded by a sound that blended both purr and trill. "All types," he said. "It really does take all types."

"A griffin is a Destined Star?" Hiro asked incredulously.

"Remind me to tell you about the Kraken in the river," Ewan said dryly.

"Kraken?!"

The griffin clearly seemed to know where it belonged. It very happily rubbed against Tyrian and made its trilling noise. It hopped to its feet and ran around in loping circles before flying into the air and doing a loop. It landed again and sat happily at Tyrian's side like a large dog might. "You've been claimed," Kyle said warmly. "Griffins are very possessive of their prides and all members within."

"Her name is Xero."

The soft feminine voice surprised all except Tyrian. He had sensed her presence as soon as he had gotten close. "Come out," he said softly. He looked toward the trees and held out a hand. "It's alright," he coaxed. "You know I won't harm you."

A slender figure stepped out of the trees but clung close to their sheltering branches. If she was over thirteen, it wasn't by very much. She was a lovely young girl, and the presence of canine ears and a fluffy tail were distinct traits marking her as at least half-Mongra. The tail, her ears, and her hair had the same cobalt blue color as her doe-shaped eyes. She had a relatively Human-like appearance otherwise, which came as no surprise. Fliers, Mongra, and Grimalkin—the avian, canine, and feline races in the world—could be more or less Human in appearance depending on their personal genetics, even among full-bloods. Hazards of many, many millennia of cross-breeding.

The presence of durable shorts and a sleeveless tunic seemed to indicate she lived in the woods. On her right hand was a Listening Relic. On her left was a Voice Relic. She clung to the trees, and her legs trembled with visible fear. "Are you taking Xero with you?" she whispered.

Tyrian stepped closer slowly as if approaching a wild animal. It broke his heart that she would be afraid of them. It didn't take his insight to guess she had been abused and run away. "You can come with her," he offered gently. "What's your name?"

"Lupe." She looked at his hand with a combination of longing and fear. She could feel that he wouldn't hurt her. He would be there to protect her, and she could protect him. She just somehow knew that he needed her. But it was so scary! "Are . . . are you Imperial soldiers?"

Ewan bit back a particularly violent oath so that he didn't alarm Lupe further. His hands curled into fists at his side, and he was barely aware of both Cassie and Marian grabbing his wrists. If he found out which soldiers had traumatized this puppy, he would bust heads.

"No," Tyrian told Lupe. "We're from the Liberation Army. We're trying to save the Empire." He was close enough to touch her, but all he did was kneel down to be less of an imposing figure. "My name is Tyrian," he told her. "I swear on the relic I wear that you will always be safe at Aon Castle. The monk is Cassie. The Healer is Marian. The blond is Kyle. The slender swordsman is Hiro. And the big guy is Ewan. He's not as scary as he looks. He loves kids. How old are you, Lupe?"

"Fourteen." In a soft rush of breath she said, "Please take me with you! I won't take up a lot of space! I can be in the convoy for now, can't I? Xero and I. We won't get in the way!" She shook her head and her thick hair flew around her face. Her eyes looked wide and distressed. "Just don't sell me!"

"Sell . . ." He choked on the words, horrified at the very idea. Very, very softly, he asked, "Who tried to sell you, Lupe?"

The intensity in him was suddenly palpable, but it didn't frighten her. If anything, it began to reassure her. "I was orphaned in Foresalia," she said softly. "The Imperial Army brought me home as a slave. But I wasn't useful. They were going to sell me back to Foresalia as . . . as some sort of bargaining chip."

Ewan and Kyle both walked away in different directions. They were quiet, but Cassie's hearing had enhanced thanks to her relic and she heard them both quite clearly. She also learned several new ways to use words she had already known. She hardly blamed them. Her hands fisted over her stomach as if to combat the knot of sheer fury inside. Incidents like the one Lupe described were incredibly rare across the world as a whole, but they did happen. If word reached the monks about such a thing, someone would be dispatched to free the one in captivity.

Fiercely, Marian burst out, "You would never be sold, Lupe! Tyrian loves his Destined Stars, and I know you have to be one! You can come to the castle and everyone will love you, too! When the war is over, you'll be able to choose your own destiny!"

Xero trilled fiercely and butted against Tyrian. She then flapped her wings and butted Lupe. The young mage took a quick breath and said, "She says that you have a beautiful heart. That you couldn't hurt anyone at all. And she says . . . says that you need us. So please take us with you."

Tyrian held out his hand and hers cautiously settled onto his palm. She was a foot and a half shorter than he was, and a great deal smaller with it. The back of her hand from her lower knuckles and her lower arms to her elbows were covered in the same soft fur as her tail and ears. He curled his hand around hers gently, and the white star appeared on her shoulder as well as Xero's wing. "There," he said. "Now you know you belong."

She hesitated and then hugged him around the neck tightly. He hugged her back gently and got to his feet. There was something so pure, so beautiful about Lupe's heart that he had no doubt the entire castle would love her instantly. Her ability to communicate with animals and beasts would also be very useful.

Ewan and Kyle had rejoined them, and though both found real smiles for Lupe, it was fairly obvious both were still very pissed off. Tyrian counted himself exceedingly lucky that it was only Ewan who got loud and violent. Kyle got quiet, and then he got revenge.

Lupe clung close to Tyrian's side, staying just behind him so he was free to attack anything that came after them. Xero flew beside Lupe though she occasionally landed and walked as well. Hiro once more took point, and they continued through the woods. The going proved much easier this time; the monsters recognized Lupe and diverted rather than attack.

They didn't bother to stop and camp when night fell. A lantern gave them plenty of light to see by, and none of them felt excessively tired. There were also thoughts of Tandy as well. Not as much her safety as Vincent's, though. Unless the general had been talking fast, there was no doubt that he would be the one worse the wear for snagging the temperamental dagger thrower.

"Temperaments and projectiles." Kyle shook his head wryly. "If that ever gets combined with someone who can also use a sword, I'll be hiding in a bunker."

They reached the edge of the woods just as dawn arrived and they could see the city line. As expected, the soldiers in Vincent's eight units were not actually standing guard anywhere. There was no need for it, frankly: the two parts of the woods provided plenty of protection. But the soldiers were still visible as they wandered around. All of them either helped citizens or oversaw reconstruction.

"Is it just me," Marian whispered, "or did they jump the gun, as Shots would say? This looks like what happens after we've freed a city!"

"For all intents and purposes," Cassie whispered back, "we have. With no worry for the Imperial Army getting in here, General Martine was free to capitalize on the events of other checkpoints. He's had plenty of time to gain the trust of the people and prove he isn't a bad guy."

"I wonder where he's holding Tandy," Hiro said softly.

Rather suddenly, they all heard a familiar voice yell, "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard! Couldn't you have come up with something smarter than this? Why me!? Ooh! I'm going to stab you! My boyfriend's going to kill you!"

Ewan barely muffled a snort of laughter as he clapped a resigned Hiro on the back. "Her confidence in you is heartwarming."

"At least we found her," Cassie said dryly.

"Bloody hell!" a man was heard saying in distinct exasperation as he walked out of a building not far away. Marian, Tyrian, and Cassie recognized him as being the general they sought. His short hair looked slightly frazzled, and the reason why was explained when he raked his hands through it and mussed the locks more. "I just had to grab the fireball," he muttered loudly.

"I heard that!" Tandy yelped from inside the building. "Untie me!"

Vincent Martine eyed the building with rueful and reluctant amusement. He had grabbed her because he had seen her talking to Tyrian. He hadn't quite expected to discover that she had a temperament fierier than a volcano and just about as unpredictable too. He had tried to explain the situation, but she wasn't listening.

When he saw the party approaching him, he was relieved for more than the simple fact of freeing the city. Even with his soldiers working quickly, the people knew that they were still technically under Imperial control, and at any given time, Vincent could be yanked and replaced. Morale was higher than when he had arrived, but not by much. He walked forward a few steps and smiled. "Greetings, Lord Tyrian."

"Greetings, General Martine." Tyrian smiled wryly. "I believe you bit off more than you can chew."

"Tyrian!" Tandy shouted as she recognized his voice. "Get me out of here!"

Vincent winced. "You may be right, Lord Tyrian." He swept his gaze over those present and recognized all except the griffin and the girl. The slim swordsman was familiar from the Commune. "You are Hiro, correct?" he asked. "Your taste is . . . interesting."

Hiro lifted his chin, his courage bolstered by the way Kyle and Ewan moved to stand behind him. He knew they trusted him. "There's a match for everyone. Tandy is mine." He drew his sword and took an offensive stance. "I swore by my sword to defend her. Draw your weapon and fight me!"

Inside the house, Tandy's jaw dropped. Was that her Hiro out there? He was challenging the general on her behalf?!

Vincent studied Hiro for long moments and then drew his sword as a little smile tugged at his lips. He had been friends with Samantha for many years. He knew the intricacies of the Commune of Soldiers as well as a member did. "If I decided to let her go without a fight," he asked mildly, "would you stay your blade?"

"No."

"Don't throw the fight," Kyle warned Vincent. "Don't shame Hiro's duty as Tandy's sworn defender."

Lupe ducked behind Ewan to avoid watching the fight. Cassie and Marian moved back a few steps with Tyrian and Kyle to remove themselves from any flying sparks. Xero sat at Ewan's side, her ears back. If she didn't like the outcome, someone would get bitten!

The duel began, and Vincent realized very swiftly that there was no need to throw the fight. Hiro was damned good. His smaller frame gave him an added agility that made up for his slightly lesser strength. It was only slightly, though; he swung a sword almost as hard as Samantha did.

It took only a handful of minutes before Hiro managed to disarm Vincent, though it was a very tense few minutes. Both men bore the wounds of strikes that had gotten through defenses. Hiro aimed the tip of his sword at the general's neck and said, "Yield or die." His blue eyes sharpened like shards of glass.

"Yield," Vincent said. He held out a key. "Free your lover. She might go for my eyes."

Hiro snatched the key out of his hand and ran into the house quickly. Vincent only then winced and pressed a hand to his ribs where Hiro's foot had landed. "Damn, that kid is good. Why hasn't he named his sword yet?"

Marian hurried forward to heal him, and Tyrian said, "He is not yet an adult in the eyes of the Commune. Hopefully, that will change now." He stepped forward and lifted his chin slightly. His green eyes glittered fiercely and made him look every inch the hero that he was. "We can consider his win as my win, or you can now engage me in a duel, General Martine. You blatantly challenged me to find you. I did. It's your move."

Vincent held up his hands. "Yield, Lord Tyrian," he said softly. "You know I could never raise a weapon against you." He pressed his hand to his heart and bowed gracefully. "Please accept my dedicated service as a Destined Star." He blew out a quick breath. "And thank you for making sense of everything."

"Yay Tyrian!" Tandy had come out of nowhere and jumped and hugged Tyrian happily. "You have all the checkpoints!"

Tyrian actually staggered a step when that sank in. The enormity of what he had done simply boggled his mind. He controlled all four checkpoints. He controlled nearly all cities of the Empire. He could lay claim to an army of nearly one hundred units—one hundred thousand solders. He had eighty-one out of one hundred and nine Destined Stars.

That he would find twenty-eight Stars in the final two cities was an impossibility. A part of him feared he might have missed someone. A bigger part was afraid that this meant the war was not nearly as close to being completed as he thought.

Tandy released him and frowned. "Tyrian?"

Cassie moved to take Tyrian's arm. "He's fine," she said softly. "Go into the city. We'll meet you there." She waited until the footsteps had faded before framing Tyrian's face with her hands. "Tyrian?"

His eyes focused on her. "I just . . . it just hit me. What I've done. What I've yet to do. I can't shake the feeling, Cassie. Something terrible is about to happen. I can't be close to winning when I've got so many other Destined Stars to find. We still don't have the rest of the Kaiten legend, and Kell still can't find anything on Blaine. I just . . . there are too many questions left. I wanted it to be over. But even saying there are only three cities left including Trinan . . . it's not over."

"No it isn't," she agreed readily. "But, Tyrian, stop thinking about how long it has to go. Look at how fast it's gone. It hasn't yet been a year, and we've come so far." She went on her toes and kissed him softly, lingering until the tension fled his body and his hands curled around her waist. "I'm here," she promised. "I won't let you break."

He let out a long breath and rested his forehead against hers. There was nothing in his world that was as important as Cassie and Raven. If they had needed it from him, he would have walked away from this burden without hesitation. But then, perhaps that was the very reason they stood there beside him. "I'll be fine," he said softly. He kissed her tenderly and then teasingly nipped at her lower lip. "Monks are indeed lethal," he added huskily.

Her lips curved. "You better believe it."

By the time they caught up with the others, they had already gotten to the inn. Lupe was very nervous of all the people coming and going, and she stayed hidden behind Ewan. If his posture was any indication, only a real idiot would try to get to the little Mongra. Kyle and Marian sat at a table with Vincent, and Hiro attempted to keep Tandy from arguing with the innkeeper. Xero tried to help too; she had a beak full of Tandy's skirt and kept tugging.

"I've notified my troops," Vincent told Tyrian. "They stand by you as well. The mayor is on his way to speak with you about the city militia holding down the fort, so to speak. And I believe that the Commune leader is on his way as well."

Hiro grimaced. "I'm doomed."

"You are not!" Tandy grabbed onto his arm and scowled at him. "You were amazing, Hiro! And I know that Kyle and Ewan and Tyrian will completely stand by what you did! You didn't even hesitate to take up arms against a guy bigger and older than you!"

"Not sure I like the older part," Vincent grumbled. He glanced at the door as two Magicians hurried in, and he smiled. "You're late."

"Sorry!" The female smiled, and her pale brown eyes sparkled. A cap of auburn hair was cut close around her lively features. On her hip rested a heavy-duty wand with a crystal at the top. One hand bore a Fire Relic. The other bore a Light Relic. The second was known mostly for its ability to give light, but it could also produce powerful attacks. "Klint and I were tangled up with trying to figure out why we can't get that one house back onto its foundation."

Her brother—he had to be related considering they shared matching coloring—sighed. He was dressed in a similar fashion to his sister, and his right hand had a Water Relic while the left had a Dark Relic. Its presence alone indicated he was skilled; few could successfully equip a Dark Relic. "Kris tried everything she could, but it won't budge."

"Hmm. It may need to be rebuilt from scratch." Vincent gestured to Tyrian. "Kris, Klint, meet Tyrian Southerwind. Lord Tyrian, allow me to introduce you to two of my unit leaders. They're the best Magicians I have."

Kris looked at Tyrian curiously, having been wondering all along just what sort of person he was. What she saw looked somehow familiar. She just felt as if she had always intended to meet him. Having heard about all the goings-on, she suspected she knew just what the surprising punch of emotion inside meant. "I think we've met."

"I think you're right," Tyrian agreed. "I would ask that you and Klint lend me your strength not just for Vincent, but for me as well. I can't do this without you two. My magical troops are limited for skilled unit leaders."

"You can count on us!" Klint said fiercely. "We won't let you down, Lord Tyrian!"

A sudden commotion at the door had everyone turning to see a swordsman arguing quite loudly with a soldier. "Where is my daughter?" he demanded in a near roar. "Kidnapped! I'll have the head of whoever did it!"

Very blandly, Kyle said to Hiro, "So it's genetic? You have my future sympathies."

"Daddy!" Tandy said in exasperation. "I'm right here and I'm fine! Hiro saved me! Didn't he, Lord Tyrian?" She looked at Tyrian pleadingly as her father stormed into the inn, hoping he would help Hiro stand up to her father.

To her surprise, however, Hiro took a step forward and said, "I battled Vincent Martine to retrieve Tandy. I swore by my sword to defend her, and I did so. Whether you think I should have or not, I don't particularly care. Nothing will stop me from being by her side."

"You can't marry her," the Commune leader reminded him. "You're not an adult."

"So be it. If she wants me, I am still hers. I'll court her for however long it takes until I can marry her." He looked at Tandy and found himself smiling at the way her mouth hung open. It happened very rarely that she was speechless. "Would you be happy with that, Tandy?" he asked her.

Her response was to jump into his arms and knock him onto his ass. Wildly happy, she kissed him in front of everyone. All she had ever wanted was for the silly man to just let her make the choice. She would wait forever for him. If it was for Hiro, she could learn patience.

"I think that was a yes," Ewan said with a grin.

"So it would seem." A tiny smile tugged at the Commune leader's lips. "Hiro?" When the young man looked up at him, the leader said, "You have shown bravery, skill, and maturity all within the space of a few hours. You prove yourself an adult, not a child, in your words and manner alike, and as is my right as your instructor, I declare you to be a full adult with the right to name your sword and walk the world with the respect you deserve."

Shy Lupe let out a happy cheer and then hastily covered her mouth. Ewan just laughed and ruffled her hair. "I couldn't have said it better myself, pup!"

Calling a Mongra a pup or puppy was no different from calling one a kid. It could be endearment or insult. Lupe knew full well that Ewan meant it as an endearment. He had a very beautiful heart beneath his gruff exterior.

"When are you going to marry me?" Tandy demanded of Hiro.

"Soon enough," he managed to say. Shock was written all over his face. "I . . . I was not expecting that."

"You never are," Kyle said simply. "It's why we have instructors, Hiro. They see much clearer than we do when we hit that invisible point where we are an adult. I've often thought maybe that point happens when we're not looking for it, rather like finding love."

"Yeah. Wow."

"What're you going to name your sword?" Tandy asked eagerly. "We can go get it engraved!" Her heart skipped a beat and her pulse fluttered as he gave her one of those looks that made her feel as if she was the only woman in his world. His eyes were so unfair. "Hiro?" It dawned on her, and her lips trembled. "You wouldn't."

"I've planned for it since we were five," he said simply. "My sword will be named Tandy, just like the woman I love."

Tyrian rested a hand on Kyle's shoulder in silent support. The blond swordsman said nothing, but he did cover Tyrian's hand with his own. He focused only on his happiness for Hiro and Tandy. The pain seemed to lessen a little more every day as he found new reasons to smile and live.

The mayor arrived only moments later and was more than happy to sit down with Vincent and Tyrian. While they conferred, Hiro and Tandy went to find the Weaponsmith in town so that he could get his sword engraved. Kris and Klint went along to show the way. Ewan and Kyle went to meet up with the Liberation Army unit that was transporting in. As soon as Vincent had yielded, Kyle had sent the beacon signal to the castle.

One hour later, Tyrian held up the Echo Mirror. Most everyone was going back with the units, but Lupe, Xero, Cassie, and Marian had stayed with Tyrian. Deltine was officially liberated now, and the flag of the Liberation Army flew high from the tops of the towers and buildings. All militia soldiers now wore Tyrian's colors as well.

When they arrived back at the castle, Tyrian was surprised to find Merlot waiting for him. "Merlot, is something wrong?"

"We don't know, but we found some writings of Lady Tanelia's," Merlot explained. "It might have some information that you can use. We skimmed through it, but we didn't read it, and we're not sure what's in it. We thought you should be the first to look inside."

Tyrian nodded. "I'm on my way. Marian, can you take Lupe to get a room? Xero can go with her; she's not too big to be in the castle." He smiled when Xero chirped. He didn't need a Listening Relic to understand his Stars. "You're welcome."

Lupe was happy to go with Marian, and Cassie followed Tyrian as he pointedly headed for the Belowgrounds where the Library had been placed. Merlot and Zinfandel were working on filling the shelves with their copies of books, but there were still stacks all over the place, and it was even more of a disaster than usual with the recent search.

"Where did you find it?" Tyrian asked as he walked in.

"In the history section, of all places." Zinfandel shook her head as she put the slim twilight colored book down on a table. "It belatedly makes sense. I mean, Lady Tanelia lived through history, so her memoirs could be taken as fact."

Tyrian lightly ran a finger over the embossed lettering on the front of the book. It was truly a beautiful volume. Whoever had bound the writings had done it with a great deal of respect for Lady Tanelia. With a little breath, he sat down and opened the book. He was aware of Cassie's presence as she stood behind him, and he felt grateful for the way her hands rested on his shoulders.

The first few pages detailed the legend of the mirror in the sky. Tanelia had been there to see it happen. Awe filled him as he realized that rumor was right. Tanelia was over one million years old. Her Pure Time Relic was the first Pure Relic to exist. She was the oldest living being . . . and she was alone. It broke his heart.

The next few pages detailed the reactions of her town and family. A little shiver went down his back.

My sister . . . my sister was not happy. She felt that she should have received a gift from the gods too.

The sudden suspicion inside him was horrible to think, and should have been impossible to be true. But . . . it would make sense of everything. He needed to ask Tanelia.

Her prophecy of the Kaiten Stars was written down as well, but he suddenly didn't have any desire to read it. He closed the book. "I'll wait," he said. "Reading this now is just going to agitate me. I know it. I can barely think about my war, let alone future wars for future Kaitens. When this is done . . . then I'll read it. I have to focus on now."

"We'll put the book somewhere safe," Merlot promised. "Did it have anything useful though?"

"It might have," Tyrian said softly. He looked up at Cassie. "We need to find Lane and ask him how to contact Lady Tanelia. I have some questions for her. She might very well know exactly what is going on and who Blaine is."

Cassie shook her head. "It's mid-morning and you haven't slept in nearly twenty-four hours. You're going to eat something and get some rest. We're back into the planning stages. Our next stop is Pardue. Matthias and Cherry can start the process without you."

He stood with a frown. "But . . ."

"But nothing!" She began to haul him along behind her as she headed out of the library. "They can wait until tomorrow morning." She pointedly rubbed her thumb over the mark of his relic and watched his eyes darken with intense hunger that seemed to only get stronger as time passed. It was a blatant seduction, but she had no qualms about using every weapon at her disposal to make her lover take the breaks he needed in order to survive the coming days.

As her fingers lightly skimmed the mark again, he snatched her up into his arms with a speed that made her pulse happily flutter. "You've convinced me," he said, his voice husky as he headed back to ground level and carried her toward the castle and their tower. "You, my lady monk, are a tease. You won't always get your way by seducing me."

Her lips curved. "No, but I will most of the time." She nipped at his jaw. "The rest of the time, you can have your way by seducing me. Fair enough?"

He could find nothing to argue with about that. Who would have thought bargaining with someone as stubborn as he was, and losing, would be so rewarding in the end?

 

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

Chapter 38->

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->