Unraveling Stories - Chapter 13

<-Chapter 12

 

"It's one step, one small step, in one small world of us."

From a distance, Lupine looked very much like Teasarn indeed. It was of similar size and scope, and it had buildings of much the same layout and design. The biggest difference lay in that Teasarn had embraced its desert land, and Lupine had cultivated theirs to be covered in lush grass and trees.

Tyrian couldn't miss the rundown state of the buildings and streets even from outside the city. Soldiers stood on every corner. It made him sick to his stomach to see it. How could anyone live like this? The Emperor had been corrupted by Blaine, but that did not absolve him of guilt. Only a heart that was on the edge of corruption could be taken over.

Hopes suddenly raised inside the city as the approaching unit was recognized. There was no mistaking the green and black colors worn by the soldiers, and the young man riding at the front wore the distinctive mark of a Pure Relic.

The Army gathered swiftly to form into a unit and left the city edges to engage the rebellion. The lieutenant riding at the front touched the Voice Relic on his earring and said curtly, "Tyrian Southerwind, surrender and there will be no bloodshed."

The cool voice that responded said only, "The only blood spilled will be yours. Do you serve an empire that will starve its people and choke its life? The Liberation Army stands ready to breathe air back into this land."

A little chill ran down the lieutenant's back. The rumors of a legendary hero chosen by the stars, the mythical Kaiten Star, had reached even his ears. He had dismissed it out of hand as foolish hope-mongering by civilians. He could no longer dismiss it. It was there in Tyrian's voice, the will to save those who could not save themselves.

With a curt gesture, he beckoned for his unit to move forward. Soldiers rushed across the land on foot and on horse, ready to engage the enemy. The Liberation Army, all mounted, rushed forward as well. The lieutenant kept his eyes sharp on the field as he looked for the green scarf that marked Tyrian. When he spotted it, he drew his sword and rushed forward to engage him.

"Incoming!" Ewan said. He knocked an enemy soldier off his horse, and when the man held up his hands in surrender, stayed his sword from striking him down. "Tyrian, the leader is approaching you quickly!"

"So I see." The battle raged around them, the land a sea of shouts and clashes of weapons. It seemed a familiar location for Tyrian though it was his first real experience in actual war skirmishes. He felt very much at home on the battlefield. He had been born for it. "Cassie will cover my back."

With his Kentei following closely, he turned his horse and rode forward quickly to meet the lieutenant directly. He was more than proficient as a horseman and did not need to hold the reins to direct his mount. That left his hands free to use his staff, and as they drew even, he struck sharply. The blow glanced off the lieutenant's shoulder and knocked him off balance though it did not knock him down.

The lieutenant, needing one hand to steer, only had one hand with which to wield a sword. At a disadvantage, he dismounted. "A duel, Lord Tyrian! Meet me on even ground!"

Since some wars were ended by duels between opposing leaders, Tyrian had no hesitation in dismounting as well. The less blood spilled, the better. He moved forward quickly to be on even ground and into his Voice Relic said, "Cease fire! Both sides, cease fire! A duel is commencing!"

All soldiers lowered weapons and backed down. A handful of soldiers had been lost on the Imperial Army's side. Only injuries dotted the Liberation Army. Nearly two hundred Imperial soldiers had already surrendered and switched sides.

The lieutenant lunged for Tyrian on a shout with his sword raised over his head. Tyrian held his ground until the last minute. He ducked under his enemy's attack and came up swinging his staff backward. The wooden pole cracked into the back of the lieutenant's head. As the soldier staggered, Tyrian turned sharply and went on the attack.

The staff was little more than a blur as he whirled it over his head to gain momentum. The lieutenant managed to duck the first blow, but discovered too late that it had been feinted. Tyrian ducked back around, swinging as he went, and the staff slammed into the lieutenant's back and sent him tumbling across the field.

A murmur began to move through the soldiers on both sides of awe and respect. Tyrian's mastery of his weapon was very obvious. Other staff users on the field couldn't do half the things he did, and many were older than his eighteen years.

As the lieutenant continued to lie on the field, Tyrian spun his staff one handed and then sheathed it on his back once more. He walked closer to the fallen enemy leader with the intent of calling victory when the lieutenant suddenly lunged to his feet. He leapt forward with a dagger in his hand, and Tyrian's body tensed as he prepared to dodge.

He didn't have to. Three distinct projectiles struck the lieutenant in three different places, each with the intent to kill. His forward momentum threw him into the dirt where he did not move again. Blood pooled under his body.

Tyrian recognized the throwing star in his neck as coming from Cassie. The two arrows protruding from his back and his head were not familiar. He looked swiftly to the side toward the city and saw two figures crouched on rooftops. Both wore the familiar clothing of archers; snug leggings and tunics to cut down wind resistance and vests to provide support for the quivers they wore. The one who had a pink ribbon in her hair saluted with her bow.

He turned to look at the field. Evenly, he said, "The Liberation Army is the victor by rules of the battlefield. Those who wish to surrender and join us may do so. Those who do not are given the option to flee back to the capitol. If you persist in resistance, by laws of engagement, your lives are forfeit."

Several hundred soldiers put down arms and surrendered. The rest fled the scene as fast as was possible, and in such a hurry that they left their dead behind. It sickened Tyrian. When Ewan rode close, he said, "Have the bodies identified so families may be notified. The bodies can be buried on the field where they fell and retrieved later if so needed."

"Yes, sir. What about the new soldiers?"

"Our soldiers can keep them in line until we take them back to base. Cassie and I will go into the city itself and find the mayor." He glanced at the rooftops where the two archers now stood together. "I suspect we may shortly have more experts in setting up a ranged unit for us."

Cassie rode up leading Tyrian's horse and then dismounted as well. She would never regret any action she took to protect his life. The lieutenant had broken the laws of engagement by using subterfuge in a fair duel. "Sanity among the insanity of war," she said to Tyrian.

"I want a world where we don't need it. Is that naïve of me?"

She gently cupped his cheek. "No. It'll happen someday. And just think, you'll be here to see it." She eased up to lightly touch his lips with hers and then straightened his scarf for him. "Let's go meet our new allies. They're quite good with those bows."

The archers were waiting for them at the edge of town. One was male, the other female. They looked as identical as male and female could be, with similar lively faces and brown eyes. The female had her brown hair tied on top of her head with a pink ribbon. The male kept his hair hanging loose to his waist. Tyrian estimated them in their mid to late-twenties, and the recognition inside his soul and relic was not unexpected. "Thank you," he said. "I'm in your debt."

"Not at all!" the woman protested. "We're in your debt, Lord Tyrian!" She bowed gracefully. "My name is Emma. This is my brother, Olan. We would be honored if you would let us join you in your fight."

Olan nodded swiftly in agreement. "You can't beat having a ranged unit in battle, and we're two of the best. Please, let us join you."

"Gladly." Tyrian held out his hands and smiled when they each took one. His relic glowed softly and echoing stars glowed from their left shoulders. "There's a young bard at the base. Her name is Myrroria. She is a dagger user. The three of you can work together to give me the ranged unit I need."

"You can count on us!" Emma saluted swiftly. "We'll gather our things and head for the castle! Oh, and if you want to talk to the mayor, you need to talk to Winifred."

"Winifred," Tyrian repeated.

"Right. She's the keeper of the storehouse in town, you know, where the supplies and valuables are kept."

Tyrian began to smile. "I assume that the mayor is among the valuables she has been keeping lately?"

"He wasn't happy," Olan conceded.

As they hurried off, Cassie frowned thoughtfully. "Lupine . . . let's see. The mayor is a man named Leonard. He has a son named Sean. He should be . . . thirteen about now. Leonard has been mayor since just after Sean was born; his wife was killed by bandits during a time when there was no one in charge. I believe it was General D'terio's army who came in to assist."

Tyrian smiled at her. "You're going to give Kell a run for his money."

She smiled back. "Where do you think I get my information?"

The soldiers from Lupine were coming out of the woodworks. None wore uniforms but were clearly soldiers all the same. They moved swiftly to set up borders and secure their city. Others as yet raided the Imperial Army's leftover barracks for anything the villagers could use.

It wasn't hard to find the storehouse. It was the place where the shouting came from. Tyrian closed one eye in a wince as he approached the sound of arguing. Sitting outside the doors was a young teenage boy with bright golden hair and a handsome face. The boy spotted Tyrian and sighed. "Hi."

"Hi." Tyrian knelt down to his height. "I'm Tyrian Southerwind. Are you Sean?"

"Yeah." Sean eyed him owlishly. There was something about Tyrian that tugged at him. He wanted to make sure he was always happy and smiling. It was a weird feeling. "You here to see my old man?" He winced as glass shattered. "Oopf. Aunt Winny isn't happy."

"Aunt?"

"Eh, sort of. She was my mother's cousin." He got to his feet and brushed off his slacks. A sheath with a sword hung around his hips and he moved with the cocky arrogance of a boy trying too hard to act like a grown-up. "Follow me." He pushed the door open and then ducked hastily as another vase went whizzing by. "Hey! Pop! Aunt Winny!"

The man in the room was obviously Sean's father since they shared matching golden hair and blue eyes. He, too, wore a sword, and his son's name showed as visibly engraved near the hilt. The woman facing him down was short and scrappy, and her kerchief kept her black hair out of her face. She promptly scowled at Sean. "How many times have I told you not to call me Winny? I'm going to tan your hide!"

Sean jerked a thumb toward Tyrian. "Nice first impression, Aunt Winifred. Meet Tyrian Southerwind. Tyrian, meet Winifred and Leonard."

Leonard rapped his son in the back of the head. "Lord Tyrian. Try not to act like the hooligan you are." He sighed and smiled wryly at Tyrian. "Lord Tyrian, I apologize for the display. Win and I are friends, I assure you."

"If you can't yell at friends and family," Tyrian said reasonably, "then who can you yell at?"

Leonard grinned. "I'm going to like you a great deal." He bowed gracefully. "Well met, Lord Tyrian. I am Leonard. The once and again mayor, so it would seem. Thank you for freeing my people. When the Emperor removed me from my post, I feared for the worst."

Winifred grabbed a broom and began to sweep up the debris. "He was always mayor since we always answered to him first. The Emperor knew it, but let it slide until the rebellion formed. He knew Leo would join you in a heartbeat, and we knew that meant he was in danger. So we made him hide."

"Threw me into the storehouse!" he muttered.

Sean grinned. "And literally! He bounced on his ass," he told Tyrian with a touch of glee.

His father sighed and caught him in a headlock. "Ignore him. Every attempt to install manners has failed utterly. He's a smart kid, and already gifted with a sword, but he never knows when to shut up."

"Takes after his father," Winifred said under her breath. Leonard glared at her, and she shot a sunny smile to Tyrian. "Nice to meet you, Lord Tyrian. Tell me, do you have a Storekeeper at your castle?"

Tyrian and Cassie shared a smile. "Not yet," Tyrian said.

"You do now." She nodded decisively. "You can count on me to keep the supplies safe and organized. I'll get myself packed up here and head out for the castle."

"Thank you," Tyrian said softly. He lightly touched her shoulder and the star briefly appeared in acknowledgement. "I know I can count on you."

She found herself smiling. Tyrian Southerwind was a very powerful young man for reasons that had nothing to do with the relic he wore. When he said he believed in you, you couldn't help but believe in yourself. If keeping a storehouse for his castle would keep him smiling, then that's what she would damned well do.

Leonard studied the star on Winifred's arm and then looked at Tyrian. He studied the relic he wore before murmuring, "I don't suppose we could sit down for a few minutes, Lord Tyrian."

"Naturally." Tyrian fell into step beside him as they left the storehouse with Cassie and Sean following closely. The boy was brimming with questions for a monk, but Cassie was an expert at deflecting questions about her clan without offending anyone. Tyrian hid a smile as Sean clearly tried to figure out how the conversation kept detouring to the weather.

When they reached the city hall, Leonard held the door for everyone and then led the way to the meeting room. "Lord Tyrian," he said as he sat on the edge of the table, "is it true that Ophelia Goldwind is dead?"

Tyrian's eyes darkened. "Yes." As Leonard closed his eyes in pain, Tyrian studied him closely. It wasn't the first time that he had felt an understanding of his Destined Stars that should have come from years of friendship rather than mere minutes. And he knew that Leonard and Sean were, indeed, his as well. "You knew Ophelia. You're already a member of the Rebellion."

"I see," Cassie said softly. "That's why the Emperor perceived you as a threat. He knew you knew Lady Ophelia."

Leonard buried his face in his hands, looking older than he had only moments before. Grief aged his eyes and face alike. "Ophelia was one of my dearest friends. Ewan and I have been friends for ages. I'm about fourteen years older than he is, but we stopped counting when he was a teenager."

"You met Ophelia when she came to the village and met Kyle?" Tyrian asked.

"Mm, after. When she started the Rebellion, they naturally asked Ewan to join. I was home visiting at the time." He sighed. "Ewan and I protested very loudly and very vehemently against it. She was too young. She was too weak. She didn't know anything about war."

Tyrian winced. "Uh-oh."

"She kicked our asses, made Kyle tend to our bruises, and then demanded we put our hot heads to better use." He slowly straightened. "I have never respected anyone more than I respected her until today when I met you. Lord Tyrian, I wish to fight at your side as well. I am a proficient unit leader, and I have some talent as a strategist."

"For Ophelia?" Tyrian asked softly.

"For her. And for you." He blew out a breath. "If the way I felt when I saw you was any clue, I suspect I am tangled within your destiny."

Tyrian held up his relic and Devourer glowed softly. Answering stars glowed from both Leonard and Sean's shoulders. "You're both mine," he said simply. "Destined Stars who share the skies with me. If you will fight with me, not for me, then I can be strong enough to help our land."

Leonard smiled at Cassie who smiled back. Despite Tyrian's insistence to the contrary, every Destined Star fought for him as much as they did with him. Even those who did not actually fight, like Winifred, were fighting for him. "I never imagined I would have a destiny to fulfill," Leonard said musingly. "It's a curious one, particularly when I have this feeling that I knew inside I'd meet you someday, or that I already had. Or met someone like you, perhaps."

"There's a lot of that going around," Tyrian admitted. "For all of us. It's a learning curve for all involved." He started to say more when his entire head went light. The weakness was swift and powerful and took all strength from his body.

He staggered and Cassie leapt forward to catch him. She had enough strength to gently lower him to the floor, though she couldn't carry him. "You pushed yourself too hard," she said softly as she smoothed his hair from his face. "You've only just unlocked your relic's first level, Tyrian. A week is not enough for your body to recover from so much power and trauma."

Leonard knelt beside them. It tore at his heart to see Tyrian so weak and tired. "He needs to go home and rest. I'm not sure I have the strength to move him, though. I'm only a little taller than he is."

"Ewan can move him. He was with the unit." She looked at Sean. "Fetch Ewan. Quickly, Sean."

He nodded, his blue eyes wide with worry. "Okay!" He turned and rushed out of the city hall and the door banged shut behind him. Tyrian had to be okay. It was too scary to think of anything else.

Tyrian was barely cognizant of the goings-on. His mind had completely scattered from exhaustion. It almost felt as if he was being devoured. He dimly noted when Ewan arrived to help move him, and he was aware of being put into a wagon for the trip. As soon as blankets tucked around him, he slipped into the waiting darkness of sleep.

When he woke much later, he found himself in his room at the castle. He had been tucked securely into bed and the sun was either setting or rising. It was hard to tell which at the immediate moment. Cassie was nowhere in sight, but he could feel her presence inside and that meant she had to be near.

"Hey."

He looked toward the entry at the sound of her voice and saw her leaning against the edge of the wall. She wore casual clothes, and a slim black choker covered her scar. She looked soft and welcoming, like a respite from the world. "Hey," he said. He held out a hand, and when she crossed to take it, he tugged her down onto the bed with him. "How'd they get me up here?"

"Ewan. He's stronger than even he realized." She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. "We're now looking into finding the inventor known as Tedium. He invented those newfangled lifter things."

"An elevator?"

"That's the one. We're going to sacrifice the stairs to put it in. Theory being that you and I don't need stairs to keep in shape, and as you have three more relic levels to go through, we're going to need to make it as easy as possible to get you up here." She rubbed her cheek over his shoulder softly. "How do you feel?"

"Still a little tired, but otherwise I feel better. What time is it?"

"Early morning the day after we liberated Lupine. The army unit of Lupine is officially wearing your colors and calling themselves a part of the Liberation Army. We're working on designing a flag. Luckily, Myr has some aesthetics. She and Mouse are trying to brainstorm." She sat up and smoothed his hair out of his face. "Hungry?"

His stomach rumbled loudly and he smiled sheepishly as she grinned at him. "I think that's a yes," he said. He watched curiously as she got to her feet and disappeared, then his eyes widened as she quickly returned with a tray heaped with breakfast. "You're going to spoil me rotten at this pace."

"Good. Someone has to." She sat down beside him and picked up a piece of toast. "We've got Hawke out on reconnaissance with Laia to investigate the next few towns that are closest to us. We're also trying to find a Magician who has the ability to transport troops into battle. It would save us so much more time if we can have that."

Transporting mages were well versed in sending entire units to precise locations based on their knowledge of maps and the way magic moved in the land. When battle was done, the troops could be transported back the same way. It made life much simpler when trying to battle a far distant enemy. It had been long before learned that thirty thousand troops marching somewhere did more harm than good.

"What about Matthias Goldwind?" he asked.

"That's the only really good news we've got. Leonard knows where he is. There's a really, really tiny village of less than a hundred people living in the mountains. That's where Matthias has gone to with his last student. He says we should be able to get there in about two weeks via horseback."

Daunting, but necessary. "What about Rubentia?"

She grimaced. "We need Professor Matthias if we want to take it on. It's being guarded by three units worth of soldiers, and they have a lot of magic users in one of them. That's going to take a level of strategy well above any of our skill. But if we can take it, then we'll increase our own army by another two units thanks to Rubentia's personal army."

"So we're looking at Rubentia as being the first real test of the Liberation Army." He pushed the tray to the side. Strength was pouring back in rapidly thanks to the rest and the good food. "I think we need to get started toward Matthias as soon as we can. No later than today."

"Full party?"

"For a two week journey? Absolutely. It'll be you, I, Liang, Marian, Kyle, and Emma. Kyle and I both have relics with attacking magic, and Marian is a Healer. Emma can handle ranged combat, and most of the rest of us can get in close."

"I'll gather everyone if you'll pack what we need." She moved the tray to the table beside the bed and started to stand. His hand curled around her wrist to keep her where she was, and she looked at him in surprise. "What?"

In answer, his other hand slid into her hair and drew her close for a tender kiss. She melted against him with a little purr of delight that went to his head better than any rush of power ever could. "Too long without your taste," he murmured against her lips.

"Less than twenty-four hours," she whispered back, her fingers tracing his features.

He slowly smiled. "Too long." He tugged her up higher so that he could taste the fragrant skin of her breasts bared by the opening in her tunic. "In fact, I don't think we need to leave until this evening. Maybe tomorrow morning."

With a sigh of surrender, she curled her arms around him happily. He was definitely feeling better.

 

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

Chapter 14->

Unraveling Stories - Chapter 12

<-Chapter 11

"It's painful to love someone this much, I know."

 

Tyrian's reference to a fishbowl was very correct, Cassie discovered as she made her way back from the inn with dinner. People either knew or at least suspected what would be the outcome by morning. If anything, everyone assuredly knew she was now sharing Tyrian's room. Much to her relief, people seemed to be quite glad for it. Kell had done his job well. Everyone was talking of the Kaiten Star and his Kentei protector.

As she crossed the courtyard toward the tower, she looked up at the balcony. Her heart clenched in her chest with a swell of emotion. Tyrian was leaning on the rail as he looked out over his city. He looked unbearably alone in that moment. So much was being asked of him!

The guards at the base of the tower opened the doors for her since her hands were full, and they were either good actors or just too tactful to grin openly. She certainly could tell they looked a bit on the gleeful side.

When she got to the room at the top, she nudged the door open with her foot. As she walked inside, she said, "I've never seen so many sly winks and giggles in my life." She put the tray down on the table. "Even the kids were doing it."

Tyrian had to smile as he straightened from the railing. She always seemed to know just what to say to him. He walked into the room and went to get the fire stoked. It was still cool enough at night that the room got chilly without it. The sun had set and the moon was rising. He lit a few lamps for light and then sat down at the table gratefully. "Liang was cooking."

"R.K. made him. Said he liked us too much to risk poisoning us on a night like this." She sat down across from him and then stood again as she realized she still wore her monk wear. "I really should change."

He caught her hand. "Don't. I've wanted to peel that gear off you from that first day when you saved my life and I realized there was no one who I was safer with."

Her eyes softened. "Well, how can I turn that down? Forgive me if I laugh at you as you attempt to decipher how it goes together."

He saluted her with his glass of brandy. "I'm a quick learner. Besides, the longer it takes, the more we'll enjoy it."

She just shook her head. "You are a rake and a terror, and I can't imagine why the girls in Trinan weren't mobbing your door."

"They were." He grinned when she lifted her brows. "Right on my birthday, there was a crowd outside the door. Marian scared them off. She said that no one could have me unless they could out-heal her or beat Liang at arm wrestling."

Well, that explained that. She thoughtfully stirred her porridge. "I'm not much of a Healer, but I think I could beat Liang. I'm smaller than he is, but I'm stronger. And sneakier. So does that qualify me as eligible? Can I cut to the front of the line?"

"There's no line." He covered her hand and waited until her eyes lifted. "I've been waiting for you," he told her softly. "There were no others I wanted until you. If there's one thing I don't regret about anything that has happened, it's you. You brought me to life."

She curled her fingers into his. "You're immortal now," she said softly. She took a deep breath and let it out again. "There might be a way for us, Tyrian. I'll have to go through my own hell to do it. But I will. I'll do anything to be with you. I can't stand even the idea of you being alone through eternity, and I don't think the stars would give us a destiny that would be so short. There is a way, and I just have to find the courage to do it."

"I'll wait." He slowly smiled. "I'm very patient."

Her eyes lit with sudden humor. "You are the very paragon of patience. And my sanity thanks you for it. I needed to be here on my own. I needed to be able to say that this was a choice as much as it was destiny."

"You choose me?"

She drew his hand to her cheek. "I love you." Her eyes widened as his hands suddenly curled around her wrists and then she laughed breathlessly as he dragged her out of her chair and onto his lap. He was much faster than she had imagined, almost as fast as she was. It was a thrilling realization. "You had to know."

He framed her face and held her eyes intensely, his gaze dark with rioting emotions. "I love you," he whispered. When her entire body trembled, he brushed his lips tenderly across hers. "You had to know."

Knowing and hearing, she realized then, were entirely different things. She curled her arms around his neck and smiled as he stood with her in his arms. She had never been carried before. It was rather enjoyable. "I won't run." She feathered her lips over his throat and savored the taste of his pulse. It beat as hard as hers did, but his hands remained gentle. "Promise."

He went around the wall separating their bedroom from their sitting room and slowly let go of her legs so that she could stand. As her body slid along his, her eyes darkened to a stormy color with the blue overtaking the black. For a moment, she simply held onto him. His arms tightened around her, and their bodies seemed to be perfectly made to fit together.

He slowly released her and set her back a step to study the clothing she wore. It covered her from neck to toes, tied in some places, buckled in others, and wrapped or folded in the rest. There wasn't a lace or button anywhere in sight. "Hmm."

As his hands slowly shaped her body, hot through even her clothes, she stopped breathing. Her eyes closed helplessly in delight as ripples of pleasure followed in the wake of his touch. The heat of his relic hand, that wonderful sting of magic, lingered even when his touch slowly, maddeningly, moved on.

He bent his head and took her mouth unhurriedly. The sigh she gave was sweet. Hunger rode hard, but he ruthlessly held onto his control. He needed to know everything about her. Every secret. Memorize every perfect curve. Map the marks of her life, banish the memories. Need. He had never truly understood what it meant to need anything until he had met his Kentei.

When he lifted his head slightly, she realized that the first layer of her gear had been removed. The overlaying garment was knotted and wrapped around her upper body to diminish her curves. Somehow he had gotten it loose without her knowledge. "It took me years to learn to wrap that," she said huskily, "and you undid it in minutes."

He smiled and tossed the material aside. "I have more incentive." He studied the next layer, which was some sort of sleeveless, snug, tunic tucked into the bottom half of her clothes. "Like opening a birthday present," he said softly. "While tearing off the wrappings to get to the prize appeals, there's something to be said for enjoying the scenery."

She eyed his tunic with some frustration. That she was slowly losing her clothes, and he wasn't, seemed entirely unfair. "I'm going to skip to the tearing part if you don't get rid of that top." When he laughed, her heart clenched wildly. He almost never laughed. That very seriousness that was so much a part of him seemed to reject laughter. His laugh sounded beautiful. Young and carefree. She would do anything to hear it again.

He stripped off his tunic and tossed it aside, leaving him gloriously bare on top. She slowly spread her hands across his chest. "I've wanted this from that first night," she confessed. "You're beautiful, Tyrian." She trailed her fingers across a small scar and then traced the line of a powerful muscle. "Tanned. When did you run around without a shirt?"

"I don't like clothes," he confessed. "Especially if it's hot. Half the time during summer, when I'm alone in my room, I don't wear anything."

"I'm going to become very fond of summer." As he laughed again, she rose up to kiss him fiercely, wanting to taste that beautiful sound. She caught his hands and lowered them to where the buckles on her outer legwear hid.

It only took two tries to figure out the trick to them. The heavy material dropped to the floor and revealed snug black leggings that molded faithfully to her long legs. The snug tunic went over the top to her hips. She looked like some sort of graceful and powerful sleek black cat. "How much more is there?" he managed to ask.

Her lips curved. "Not much." She lifted her arms helpfully as he stripped the tunic up over her head with a swift gesture. She could sense let alone see that his control slowly corroded with every passing minute.

He knelt to strip away the leggings as well and then straightened. His breath lodged in his lungs and remained there. Every muscle in his body seemed to tighten at once as he stared at her. The scraps of black silk that tried to act as underwear and bra clung to a body more perfect than he remembered.

But only in proportion was she truly perfect. Bare to his eyes, he could see the tiny flecks of white that dotted her skin. The biggest and most obvious was the one across her neck. Other much smaller ones scattered across her pale skin. Where the arrows had struck were the most recent; the scars looked a pale pink as they finished healing. He lightly touched where the one had hit her arm and then bent his head to press his lips there.

Her legs went weak with delight as he began to find and caress every scar with his lips. As he pressed a hot kiss to one on her stomach, she grabbed his shoulders for balance. "Tyrian." It was all she could say.

He stood and lifted her into his arms. Rather than tumbling her onto the bed as she expected, he put her down slowly, almost reverently, his dark eyes glowing in the lamplight. "Mine," he breathed. "Finally, mine."

His relic hand curled around her waist, and she took a sharp breath as the whiplash of pleasure streaked through every nerve before coiling deep in her body. Skin to skin, there was nothing to muffle the power in his blood. He slowly glided his hand down her leg, leaving a wave of tingling delight, and her entire body quivered. "Cheater!"

"I may grow to like this relic." He buried his lips between the curves of her breasts. Her skin was slightly damp with sweat and tasted salty and sweet all at once. Her hands buried in his hair to drag him up again but he resisted the effort. "I'm not done yet," he said roughly as he stripped her bra away. "Let me know you."

A moan was all she could manage as his mouth closed over one tight nipple. His relic hand cupped her other breast and she arched against him wildly. The laziness had been melted in fire. The gentleness in him was burning away. She was burning too, her entire body aching with need.

He trailed his fingers down her body slowly, somehow finding nerves she had never known she had. The magic in his skin acted like a beacon. She opened her mouth to beg him to stop tormenting her when his hand slid between her legs. The words became a soft cry as the throbbing increased rather than lessened.

He softly caressed her, teased hidden nerves, his mouth seeking other points until she quivered almost violently in his arms. With a sudden surge of strength and a lithe twist of her body, she tumbled him over and reversed their position. She pinned his hands beside his head. "My turn," she warned huskily.

She looked rumpled and flushed with her hair tumbling around her face and shoulders. The blue chips in her eyes had melted into a sapphire pool. His aching arousal hardened to the point of pain as he stared at her hungrily. She was wild, untamed, and beyond control. There was nothing sexier than his beautiful monk out of control.

She returned every kiss, every embrace. Her lips and fingers memorized his body, sought each little scar and erased it with a kiss. She nimbly unfastened his pants and tugged them down his body. As she did, he managed to tease, "You seem to know what you're doing with other combatant styles of clothing."

"I've worn them." She nipped at his flat stomach and savored the way his muscles bunched and rippled under his skin. "I have a lot of stories to tell you. Want to hear them?"

Her fingers trailed lightly over his erection and he groaned. "Later. Damn it, Cassie!" Her fingers curled around him, learned him, and he shuddered. "Stop." Her body slid against his temptingly as she nipped at his chin, and he grabbed her fiercely. "Stop!"

He twisted and rolled her under him, and she wanted to laugh. It seemed impossible to be so happy when her body was so frustrated and needy. But she was happy. To be free to love, to be loved . . . She wrapped her arms around his neck fiercely. "I won't let you go!"

He couldn't answer with words. He simply moved between her legs, caught her close, and slowly began to press inside her beckoning heat. He struggled to be slow, to give her time if she needed it, but she was hot and wet and perfectly formed for him. Her legs tightened around his hips and he surged forward completely. Her breath hitched and he froze. "Cassie?"

She couldn't find the words for how she felt. Elation, euphoria. Wonder. Joy. Too many words, too many emotions. There was no way to tell him how right she felt. It was as if her world had been set right for the first time. All she could do was catch his face in her hands and pour herself into kissing him, needing him to know.

He did. He caught her closer and pulled her arms around him again, needing her to hold him. He took her again and again, the hunger rapidly going out of control. He couldn't have stopped. Her soft cries muffled against his shoulder, but imprinted themselves inside his soul. Her entire body tensed and her nails bit into his shoulders with sudden alarm. "Let go." He breathed the words against her lips. "I'll catch you."

The cataclysm started deep and spread outward without warning. The sudden ecstasy was shocking only for an instant. She trusted him. She tightened her grip on him with arms and legs and let it take her in wild waves of pleasure. And when it took him as well, it was she who caught him as he took the final leap.

He had enough presence of mind to catch his weight on his arms, but that was the best he could manage. "Legs," he managed to say.

She belatedly realized her legs were wrapped around his waist and slowly let them slide down his hips. As she did, he let his weight rest more fully against her as he relaxed entirely. He made a wonderful blanket. Who knew a sweaty male body could smell and feel so delicious? She buried her fingers in his hair on a contented sigh. "I'm flexible."

"I'm grateful." It was muttered against her breast, his voice drowsy and amused all at the same time. "Mind if I stay here a few minutes?"

"Take your time." She closed her eyes to savor the way her body felt. There were a few aches making their presence known, but she had to assume it was like any new muscles being used. Practice would make them get used to it. At least practicing with these muscles was bound to be a great deal of fun.

He lifted his head, a bemused smile on his face. "Did you just giggle?"

She had. "Maybe I'm happy." She framed his face and searched his eyes. There was a peace inside him that she hadn't seen before. He looked relaxed and young and unburdened by life. "What about you?"

He kissed her softly and tenderly. "Very happy," he said against her lips. Reluctantly, he disentangled their bodies and rolled to the side onto his back. She promptly curled up against him with her head in its place on his shoulder, and one of her arms wrapped around his chest. He felt himself relax entirely on a contented sigh. "Wonder who won."

She smiled up at him. "I think we did. Is it midnight?"

"Possibly. I can't see the clock from here."

"I'll check." She kissed his chin and slipped from the bed. She hesitated only briefly as she stood and then walked with her usual grace around the wall. When she returned, she carried their forgotten dessert and his brandy. "It is officially after midnight. Whoever had money on what is now today is the winner."

"All's fair." He piled the pillows so that they could both sit up in bed. "Dessert in bed, hmm? Now that's my idea of service."

She just smiled as she got back into bed. "Well, I was hungry. I assumed you might be as well." She laughed and batted at his right hand as it skimmed over her arm. "Don't you dare, you fiend!"

When dessert had been finished and the plates put aside, they snuggled together under the covers. She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder and he gently covered her hand on his chest. "Kyle will be alright," he admitted softly. "Ophelia told me . . . she told me she knew she would die when she met me." He closed his eyes. "But she said that something wonderful would happen someday if she did. And she said that Kyle wasn't her soul mate. She didn't have one yet."

"Will you tell Kyle?"

"When he can say her name without a haunted look in his eyes, yes." He turned and braced himself over her, and his free hand slowly smoothed down her body. Her breath caught as he lightly touched her lips with his. "Just how flexible are you?"

Her lips curved. "I'm sure we'll find out."

They were awakened the next morning to the sound of knocking on the door. Cassie drowsily lifted her head from Tyrian's shoulder. He made a grumpy noise and she tightened her arms around him. "Someone's at the door," she said softly. He muttered something under his breath, and she found herself smiling. "I hadn't realized you're not a morning person."

The door opened and a maid called, "It's just Merilyne, Lord Tyrian. I've brought breakfast for you and Lady Cassie, and I'm taking your clothes to be washed." There was a pause, then, with a giggle in her voice, she added, "And mended."

Cassie pinched Tyrian lightly as she sat up. "You owe me a bra," she whispered. "And underwear." Louder, she called, "Thank you, Merilyne. And for those who are sure to ask you, yes, it was after midnight."

Giggling the entire way, the maid hurried from the room, and the door shut with a thunk behind her. Tyrian opened his eyes to see Cassie smiling at him, and his world aligned properly. He had slept, truly slept, for the first time in a long time. He couldn't break apart so long as she held him. "Sleep well?" he asked her. He brushed her tangled hair out of her eyes.

She lowered her forehead to his with a smile. "When someone let me sleep."

"I've got a fondness for flexible monks with really sexy smiles. You can't blame me if I can't keep my hands off you. Your stamina is better than mine though." He tugged her in for a kiss. "But I'm trainable."

There was a playful streak in her lover hidden under his normal intense seriousness. She looked forward to teasing it out more. "Practice makes perfect, as they say." With much reluctance, she released him and got out of bed.

He got out of bed as well and watched as she pulled on her normal gear. Even knowing how to take it off her again, it was fascinating to watch her put it on. He understood the practicality, but he liked her body too much to want it covered.

He smiled as she stepped closer to tie his green scarf around his neck for him. "Thank you." She then used the scarf to tug him down for a kiss, and he was happy to oblige. "Thank you for that too." He curled a lock of her hair around his finger and then slowly released her. "We'd better eat before I give in to the urge to practice getting that stuff off you again."

She slowly stepped back. The idea sounded very tempting to her as well. If this was what an eternity with him would be like, it would be a very, very enjoyable eternity. But eternity was not hers to be had yet. She knew what she would have to do to claim it, and the idea still terrified her.

His fingers skimmed down her cheek. When she looked at him, he kissed her warmly. "Don't think about it," he said softly. "There's time. And that's not just the newly made immortal talking. Five years, ten years, twenty years. However long it takes you, Cassie. I'll be waiting."

After they finished breakfast, they headed down to the meeting room. Kyle and Kell had beaten them there, and they were talking together over coffee. The two males looked up, studied Tyrian and Cassie, and then looked down with grins.

"Is it that obvious?" Cassie asked dryly.

Tyrian curled his arm around her waist. "I've been told it is very obvious to a knowing eye. We'll be able to spot it from now on too." He nuzzled her hair. "I think it will be a real test of my control if I ever see Marian looking like we do. She has a soft spot for villains, and I'm terrified her Healer's heart will get broken."

"And you'll break heads if that happens?" Kyle asked dryly.

"Very likely. For now, my sanity is maintained since she has yet to find someone to court or date." He sat down at the table and then glanced at the door with a smile as Liang and Ewan walked in. "Good morning."

Ewan walked over to Kyle and handed him a bag that made a thump when it hit the table. "It was after midnight. You win the pool." He grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down with a contented sigh. "Morning, Tyrian. You looked nicely rested for once. Cassie, well done."

She felt her cheeks warm slightly but just shook her head. He was incorrigible. "Thanks. So what's on the agenda for today? Are we going to go to Lupine?"

"We might as well make our way there." Tyrian drummed his right hand on the table. "I, Ewan, and you will lead our unit into the battle. If we're lucky, we'll have many more Army members come to join our side. A couple hundred more and we'll have two units worth, even if we leave some behind to hold the town."

"Lupine has its own militia unit," Kell spoke up. "Word reached me last night from one of my contacts. Rarely do the smaller cities have them, but Lupine does. They were retired when Albanion sent in the Imperial Army, but they stand ready to join the Rebellion if we can route the Army."

"Then they could hold the town themselves and we'd still have two units for battle." Tyrian raked a hand through his hair. "We're going to need a high class Weaponsmith and Armorer soon. We'll need our soldiers to be as upgraded as possible."

A guard knocked lightly on the door and then opened it. Tyrian turned around curiously only to get to his feet as a newcomer walked in. She was unassuming in appearance, a bit on the plain side, and though quite slender she also seemed quite strong. She couldn't have been much older than he was. "Hello," she said softly. "Are you Lord Tyrian Southerwind?"

"I am." He smiled as he felt the familiar tug inside. It seemed much simpler to find his companions than he had thought it would be. He didn't doubt it would slowly get harder, but the task was beginning to feel less daunting. "What can I do for you?"

She suddenly smiled at him. "It's what I can do for you. My name is Mouse, Lord Tyrian. I am a Weaponsmith."

Ewan looked at the ceiling. "Okay, next we want the Army to surrender."

"It only works when Lord Tyrian does it," Kell told him dryly.

"If you'd like to see some of my work, I can show you some examples," Mouse offered to Tyrian. "Oh." She frowned thoughtfully. "Wait, is Laia here?" At the nod, she smiled again. "Then you have seen my work. I created her claymore."

Tyrian thought of the brilliant and masterly made weapon that Laia wielded. Oddly, he wasn't surprised that it was one of Mouse's creations. "Done," he said instantly. "Do you work solely in metal, or do you work with wooden weapons as well?"

"I can make anything you ask of me," she said simply.

Tyrian offered his relic hand, and as she clasped it, his relic glowed and the answering star appeared on her shoulder. "Thank you," he said simply. "We have several empty shops both on ground level and in the Belowgrounds. Whatever suits you best, please choose. Any help you need to get supplies or to get set up, just let someone know."

She squeezed his hand tightly for a moment. "You can count on me, Lord Tyrian. As soon as I am set up, I will start upgrading weapons for those who need it."

While she hurried out to find a place to set up, Tyrian turned to look at the others present. In particular, he looked at Ewan and Cassie. "Would either of you like to bet that Laia knew precisely who she was referring to when she was telling us about the stars?"

"No," they both said promptly.

With Kyle to hold down the base, Tyrian, Cassie, and Ewan headed to the barracks to pull together their unit. Tyrian did his best to balance out the capabilities of his soldiers, but he knew that eventually they would need more mages and more healers. If he could get even one unit each of magic, combat, ranged, and healing, then the Rebellion would be far more ready to take on the Imperial Army.

They had barely ridden out of the gates when he spotted a figure running across the field toward them. He couldn't quite make her out clearly, but he suspected it was a female if only because of the clothes she wore. She was also being chased by a swarm of monsters. "Ewan! Grab her, and we'll grab the beasts!"

Ewan kicked his horse and shot across the ground toward the girl. "This way!" he shouted. She diverted and ran toward him, and he leaned over the side of his horse to scoop her up under an arm as he went past.

The monsters couldn't change direction in time and ran directly into the middle of the unit. It took only a few moments for all of the beasts to be destroyed. As Tyrian reequipped his staff on his back, he turned his horse toward where Ewan approached. The girl on the horse in front of him was in her early teens, and very lovely. If her vibrantly colored clothing and wildly curly hair were any clue, she was a bard of some kind. "Are you okay?" he asked gently.

Ewan lifted her down onto the ground, and she brushed out her skirts with shaky hands. "I am now!" she managed to say with a laugh as shaky as her hands. "Where am I?"

Tyrian opened his mouth and then closed it. In consternation, he looked at Cassie and said, "I need to name this place, don't I?" He frowned thoughtfully. He had never liked the name 'Rebellion Army' because it didn't fully encompass the entire situation. Rebellions could occur even when they weren't warranted. "The home base of the Liberation Army," he finally said.

Ewan gave him a thumbs-up and the soldiers began to murmur excitedly. The bard smiled with relief. "Then I think I'm in the right place. My name is Myrroria, but everyone calls me Myr. I'm a bard from Rubentia. I am here to seek your aid, Lord Tyrian. Rubentia is being strangled to death. You have to help us! Our fields are dying and our people are starving. The Army won't do anything to help!"

"That's a long way to come from," Cassie said softly. "How old are you, Myr?"

"Fifteen. But I'm strong." She lifted her chin. "I know my appearance doesn't seem to prove it, or my entrance, but I'm strong. I can fight. I can fight in small range or large combat. My daggers are always accurate." She reached up to take Tyrian's hands. All she knew for sure was that he needed her as much as her city needed him. "If you need me to fight, I will. If you need me to dance or sing for the troops for morale, I can do that too. Let me join the Liberation Army. I want to help you help our country!"

Though her long golden sleeves covered her shoulder, the glow underneath was as obvious as the flicker of Tyrian's relic. "I'm glad to have you on board, Myr," he said softly. "When I form a ranged unit, you can be sure I will turn to you for advice. You're the first battlefield ranged combatant that I have found. Until then, your songs and dance will keep everyone's spirits up. Including mine."

She brightened. "Thank you, Lord Tyrian! You won't regret it!" She peeked at the moat warily. Though the water was a lovely blue, she could see monsters swimming under the surface. "Uhm."

Ewan grinned. "They're tame. They won't be looking for musical snacks." He whistled loudly, and when someone peered over the top of the gate, he called, "Open the gate for Myr! She's one of us!"

The guard saluted and promptly had the gate lowered. Myr wasted no time in hurrying into the castle. She had a lot to do to get herself settled in. She needed to come up with new songs and stories for the soldiers!

"One wonders what we'll find next," Cassie murmured.

"It takes all kinds," Tyrian said with a smile. "No two stars in the sky are alike, so no two people, even if they share a star, will be alike. I wouldn't want it any way else, truly. If someone is my Destined Star, then it must be because I need them."

Uncaring that the soldiers were watching, she leaned across their horses and softly kissed him. She was sure it wasn't just her that felt proud to be chosen to share his sky. And as the soldiers cheered, she found herself laughing. "Fishbowl."

His green eyes sparkled. "At least no one is bored."

  

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

Chapter 13->