Tyrian awoke to find he was alone in bed. He lifted his head to look around, but he already knew Cassie wasn't there anymore. He couldn't sense her presence. With a sigh, he dropped his head back onto the pillow. He had slept the entire night through without moving or dreaming. He felt more rested than he had in his life.
Blackmail or bribery, whatever it took, she would share his room and his bed from then on, even if it took them a year to become true lovers. If his sleep had been so restful, he knew hers had to have been as well. The universe just worked like that.
Only a little annoyed to be alone, he got out of bed and went to the pitcher to splash some water on his face. His shirt had been tossed over the end of the bed and he pulled it on. A smile instantly curved his lips. The material had absorbed the scent of Cassie's skin and it deeply soothed him. She would have to borrow more shirts when he had his own.
Finding himself actually hungry for breakfast, he headed down the hall toward the galley. He glanced inside and saw Cassie sitting at a table with two very haggard looking combatants and one who looked as if he had a cast iron stomach. He just smiled. He had figured Ewan wouldn't let himself get drunk if his friends did.
Liang and Marian were with R.K. and concocting what looked like one of Marian's disgusting but effective hangover cures. Kell was nowhere in sight. Liang spotted Tyrian first. "Good morning, Lord Tyrian," he called, careful to keep his voice from being too loud.
Despite it, Kyle and Dylan both put their heads on the table with groans. Tyrian's lips twitched. "Good morning," he said as he walked into the room. He gave Cassie, who was looking at her coffee and not at him, a severe look. "It's rather rude to leave the man you slept with so that he wakes up alone."
She went bright pink. Ewan burst into laughter. Kyle did too and then grabbed his head again. "Owwwww." He punched Ewan in the arm. "Shut up. My head is ringing."
Dylan lifted a hand for a thumbs-up without lifting his head. "Nice job, Cassie."
"Sleep," she stressed. "We just slept. I was worried he wouldn't get any sleep."
Gravely, Ewan said, "He looks quite rested so you did your job well." He winced as she punched his arm instead. "Ouch. You hit harder than Kyle does."
"One would hope so," the swordsman muttered as he put his head back down on the table.
Tyrian got two cold cloths and walked over to put them across the back of Kyle and Dylan's necks. His eyes danced merrily as he looked at Cassie even though his face remained calm. "Now we're even," he told her.
Cassie fiercely ignored that as she sipped her coffee. She refused to admit that it had taken all her strength to force herself to leave his side. When she had woken up in his arms . . . there were no words for it. She had never rested better. She had never been happier. "Get some coffee."
"Yes'm." He walked over to R.K. and accepted the cup being held out. He carefully eyed the pitcher that Marian still worked on. "Green or blue?"
"I opted for green. No need to make sure they never do this again. I get the feeling it isn't the first time."
"Green or blue?" Dylan asked warily, turning his head enough to eye Marian.
"Good instincts," Kyle groused. He kicked Ewan under the table. "And don't look so god awful chipper or I'll throw you out a window."
"There aren't any windows down here," Tyrian noted as he walked over with Liang and Marian following.
"I'll make one." Kyle sat up and stared at the glass of very ugly green liquid that now sat in front of him. He carefully sniffed at it but there was no immediately discernible smell. He eyed Tyrian as the other man moved to stand right behind him. "What did she put in this?"
"Don't ask."
Dylan eyed Liang, who also stood behind him, then looked at Kyle. His friend shrugged. Fatalistically, both picked up their glasses and took a large swallow. And if it hadn't been for Tyrian and Liang grabbing their shoulders, both would have promptly shot out of their chairs. They started hacking and coughing. "That is disgusting!" Dylan managed to say.
Marian put two cups of coffee down in front of them and smiled as they drank them as fast as possible. "Your headaches are gone, aren't they?"
"I almost miss it!" Kyle downed his coffee in nearly a single swoop, and the horrid taste faded from his mouth. It was a miracle he hadn't lost any and all appetite when he'd had the 'cure,' but, to his everlasting shock, the headache was gone and he felt as good as new. He even felt hungry for breakfast. "Okay," he admitted reluctantly, "that's effective."
"Disgusting, but effective." She sat down with a smile. "There are medicines in this world that work miraculous things . . . they just have the worst side effects ever."
R.K. came over carrying plates of food. "We need a cook," he said woefully. "I'm not a jack of all trades."
No one said a word even though the toast was burnt. They liked him too much to hurt his feelings.
Everyone had finished eating by the time Kell showed up. The old informant grabbed a seat beside Liang and announced, "The villagers are already preparing for their move. By the time the castle has been claimed, we'll be ready to go."
"Good." Tyrian leaned back in his chair. "Then we should get going soon. Cassie, Kyle, Liang, and Marian can come with me. Ewan and Dylan, I'm counting on you to organize the soldiers just in case the Army decides they want to make another strike."
"Do you think they will?" Ewan asked.
He shook his head. "No. Not yet at least. My father doesn't believe in spilling innocent blood, and if they attacked the town, that's what will happen. However, as soon as we are settled in our new base, you can be sure we'll come under siege."
"Well," Cassie spoke up, "I've sent a letter to the Clans. Hopefully they'll send us some soldiers as well. Every bit of help can be used."
Thoughtfully, Dylan said, "I wonder where the Gunners' Guild stands on this."
"Gunners' Guild?" Tyrian quirked a brow.
"Another faction," he offered. "A very elite, very secretive one—almost a cult, really. They have bases out of all countries. Their primary headquarters is located in Melodina's mountains, I believe. They specialize in technologically advanced weaponry."
"Techno . . ."
Very softly, Cassie said, "Guns."
A chill went down Tyrian's back. Guns were considered to be the ultimate destructive weapon. Unlike most other weapons, even bows and arrows, a gun could kill someone before they ever knew they were hunted. Most cities had standing laws barring the usage of guns without special permission. "So we have an elitist cult of gun users running around Oriku. That's just great. Do we want to attempt to contact them?"
"Lord Tyrian?"
He looked at the doorway to see a soldier standing there. "Yes?"
The soldier saluted crisply. "There is a stranger in Teasarn. He is asking for you. He does not seem to be a threat, but the people are watching very closely."
"Because he is asking for me?"
Softly, the soldier said, "Because he is wearing a gun."
"Well," Tyrian said. "That answers that question." He got to his feet. "I'll go up to talk to him. When you're ready to leave," he added to Kyle and Marian, "come find me." When Cassie promptly stood, he added without a hitch, "Find us, that is."
"Good boy." She crossed her arms as she followed him out of the room. She had realized it was a losing battle to fight her desire to protect him, and so hadn't even bothered to try. It was not unlike her battle to stay out of his bed, but far less frightening for some reason. Strange how that worked.
When the soldier left Tyrian and Cassie, they stood on the corner of the market street. People who had been hostile just the day before were once more accepting and open to Tyrian. Seeing it made him remember all over again how badly the Empire choked its people. Anger churned in his stomach. Why wasn't his father doing anything? Didn't he care?
Cassie slipped her hand into his without a word and he took a deep breath as he drew on her unquestioning support. It was becoming more and more critical to him.
"Oy, y'all wouldn't be that Rebellion, would ya?"
Tyrian lifted a brow at the highly accented voice and turned around. He found a young man not much older than himself, dressed in sturdy brown slacks and a black tunic. A brown vest with fringe covered the top, and scarred and well-used boots covered his feet. A wide-rimmed hat pulled low over his green eyes. Around his hips sat a holster. In the holster on each side was a well-crafted lump of metal and stone that Tyrian knew instantly had to be a set of guns. "I might be," he finally offered. "Why?"
The young man shoved his hat back on his head and two locks of dusty brown hair fell in his face. "Well, I might be from Gunner's Guild, friend." The words, clear as they were, continued to carry the drawling rhythms of his native Melodina mountains. "If y'all don't want ta trust me, then it ain't my issue."
Cassie started to bristle but Tyrian held a hand in front of her quietly. His eyes met and bored into the gunner's. It was there again, that inner recognition of a kindred spirit. A friend. Someone he needed to be near and to have near. "I'm Tyrian Southerwind," he said softly. "Leader of the Rebellion." He held out his hand.
The gunner looked at him warily for a few moments and wondered what it was about the other male that seemed to pull so sharply. After a moment, he took Tyrian's hand. "Shots," he offered. "It's the only name I have, let alone answer to."
"Seems to suit you." Tyrian cocked his head. "So what can I do for you? Are you here on Guild orders or on your own?"
"Hmm." Shots considered his words carefully. "I am here under orders to assess the situation and apply my own judgment."
"Ah." Cassie arched a brow. "I see. That way if things go right, the Guild can claim credit, and if they go wrong, they can be absolved."
"Succinctly put, my lady monk." He tipped his hat slightly. "And quite accurate as well. You are . . .?"
"Cassie. I am representative of the Monk Clans for the Rebellion."
His gaze lowered to where she still held Tyrian's hand, the gesture so automatic that neither had noticed at all. His lips quirked. "Always good to stay close to the leader of the Rebellion. And that's what I'm here for. I'm supposed to stay close." He flashed his teeth in a smile. "So y'all will have to get used to my face as it'll be hanging around for quite a while."
"Fair enough," Tyrian said easily. "Can you fight, cook, or clean?"
He blinked. "All of the above."
"Good. You can help us in battle and you can help R.K. He burns toast." That said, Tyrian turned on his heel and walked away.
Bemused, Shots scratched the side of his head. Tyrian clearly expected his orders to be followed, and the damnedest thing was that Shots wanted to follow his orders. "What have I gotten into?" he muttered as he followed Tyrian and Cassie.
They found Kyle, Liang, and Marian waiting for them just down the street with several horses. Kyle eyed Shots intently and almost automatically shifted so that he stood more in front of Marian. "Well met," he said carefully.
Shots held his hands up. "Easy, friend Soldier. I'm on your side. The Guild decided that it's better to be friends of your enemy's enemy than not."
Tyrian's eyes sharpened. "The Guild considers the Empire an enemy?"
Shots shut his mouth. Quickly. Kyle studied him for a few moments and then shrugged. "Fair enough. I'll trust you since Tyrian does." He swung up onto the back of his horse easily yet without any of his normal grace.
The gunslinger missed nothing with his sharp eyes. Very quietly, he asked, "Grief?"
"Yes." Tyrian's eyes darkened. "For all of us, but Kyle more." He also got onto his horse. He rode ahead quickly to catch up with Kyle, and though Shots couldn't hear what was said, Kyle's shoulders lost their tension and he lightly clapped Tyrian on the shoulder.
In moments, all were mounted and riding down the dusty road out of town. It was a three-day ride to the abandoned castle, and in those three days, it became apparent that Shots didn't talk much about himself. Subtle attempts by Kyle, and not so subtle attempts by Marian, only resulted in him changing the subject.
However, in those three days, Shots became aware that he had gotten himself in over his head. He liked Tyrian. Hell, he even liked the odd collection of friends the young lord had. He was still wondering what he had gotten himself into when, on the evening of the third day, they came to the end of the road where it dropped off into a thick and disturbingly murky moat.
"That is unpleasant," Liang decided.
"The moat, the castle, or the yellow eyes staring at me?" Marian stepped behind Shots. "Shoot it."
"If it comes out of the water, gladly, little lady."
Tyrian tilted his head back to look at the castle. It was a thick and immense structure of stone and brick that loomed ominously over the muddy gray water. Thorny vines climbed the outer walls and nearly obscured large holes from view. Towers rose in the four corners of the castle walls to give a long distance view in all directions. Another tower rose directly from the center, at the top of which were several large windows with broken stained glass.
"If I remember correctly," Liang said, "these walls house a small city and the castle itself. It's about half the size of Trinan aboveground, and half the size belowground."
"Belowground." Kyle lifted a blond brow. "As in it's a two-story city?"
"Precisely. The catacombs were turned into bustling city roads and domains as well. So the city got twice the size of the land it sat on." He smiled at Tyrian. "What do you think of your kingdom, Lord Tyrian?"
"I think R.K. will need a bigger mop." Tyrian dismounted and walked toward the edge of the moat. "So how do we get over there? The drawbridge is raised and that moat is full of some distinctly unhappy monsters."
"I could shoot the chains," Shots offered. "Drop that bridge right quick, Lord Tyrian."
"We'll call that a last resort." Tyrian walked along the edge of the moat and tapped the ground lightly with his staff. Eyes surfaced in the water and watched him intently as he walked. As he moved away, the eyes moved through the water and followed. Slowly, one after another, the monsters surfaced to follow him.
"Are you sure he doesn't have a relic?" Kyle asked softly.
Marian shook her head. "Positive." But she was frowning as she said it.
"Pardon?" Shots asked.
"Oh, sorry. Forgot you don't use relics." Marian rubbed a hand over her relic mark. "What Tyrian is doing is called 'monster singing.' It's a technique a relic user can use to lure monsters into docility. The theory is that monsters are born because of the sin of mankind, and relics come from the shattered mirror. So you're reminding the monsters of whence they came. The stronger the magic, the longer the monster can be docile."
"And he doesn't have a relic." Shots filed that away mentally. "He's got some strong magic capacity though."
"Yes. He does."
Tyrian started to disappear around the side of the castle, and Cassie moved forward quickly. In a blur of black, she suddenly appeared at his side. "Do you know what you're doing?" she asked him softly.
"Yes." Eyes darker than usual, he added, "I just don't know how I can do it."
By the time they circled the castle and returned to the others, every monster in the moat was following the sound of his staff. When he stopped walking, they stopped moving. After a few moments, many of the eyes sank back under water. Slowly, one by one, the rest of the monsters went under water as well.
"Don't tell me he permanently made them docile." Shots swallowed hard. "Seriously, t'ain't possible, is it?"
"One way to find out." Tyrian knelt beside the water but was pulled back to his feet by Liang.
Instead, Liang knelt and put his hand in the water. A tense couple of seconds went by, and nothing happened. He let out the breath he had taken and pulled his hand out. "Nothing even tried to attack me." He narrowed his eyes on Tyrian. "Never put yourself at risk again."
Since it was better to be silent than make a promise he would never keep, Tyrian said nothing. Cassie's elbow, however, landed sharply in his side. "Ow." He shot her a dirty look. "Fine. I'll try not to put myself in danger."
"Thank you." She looked at Shots. "Shoot the drawbridge down, please."
"Yes'm." Shots drew his guns and took aim. The loud crack of the bullets firing made several of the monsters blow bubbles in annoyance, but nothing surfaced.
The chains holding up the bridge snapped and the immense stone and wood slab began to lower quickly with a screech of metal on metal. It landed on the bank hard enough to make the land shake and send billows of dirt in the air. When silence descended again, the passage was clear into the castle grounds.
With Tyrian in the lead, the team slowly made their way across the bridge with the horses following obediently. The bridge was strong and sturdy despite disuse and held firm without a shake or shudder.
The city lay in disarray inside the castle walls. Buildings that were made of stone still stood mostly solid. Buildings of wood had broken and crumbled under the elements. Every pathway was overgrown with weeds and vines. A broken fountain in the center of town still ran with water, but it sprayed into the air rather than flow down the sides.
The castle itself sat situated in the very center of the town. On most street corners stood broken hatches leading to the Belowgrounds. Tyrian frowned thoughtfully. "Let's split up. Shots, you, Kyle, and Marian check out the Belowgrounds. Liang and Cassie will come with me to check the castle itself."
"You're the boss, boss."
Tyrian led his two guardians toward the broken double doors leading into the castle. His shoulders braced for what he would see inside, but it was, somehow miraculously, in nearly perfect shape. Only a little rubble stood in places, and other than a severe need for a washing, it seemed ready to be moved into.
A total of four stories made up the castle. The first floor housed a throne room and a kitchen among many other small rooms that could be used for just about anything. The second floor had even more small rooms as well as a meeting room, grand ballroom, and formal dining room that was as big as the throne room. The third and fourth floors held more bedrooms.
"No royal chambers?" Liang asked dryly.
"Hmm." Tyrian looked at the tower. It sat right in the middle of the courtyard with the only entry accessed from the first floor. It went up two stories over the top of the main castle. "Let's check that out."
At the bottom of the tower was the start of a long circular staircase that had severely broken down. The stairs led all the way to the very top where, finally, a room could be found.
When Tyrian opened the door and walked inside, he instantly felt at home. The large circular room was five times the size of his room back home, and it had a smaller bathing room off to one side. The broken stained glass windows let in floods of light, and on the opposite side sat a set of doors opening onto a balcony.
"A little paint, a new floor," Cassie murmured. "Some new furniture, and it'll be perfect for you, Tyrian."
For us, he thought, but the words didn't pass his lips. "Mmm." He walked over to the balcony doors and opened them. He stepped outside and realized the balcony went all the way around the tower. He could see anywhere in the castle walls that he wanted. He could see the people he fought to protect.
He hadn't even realized his hands had tensed on the rail until Cassie's hand covered his softly. He tugged her into his arms without a word and buried his face in her hair. She paused for only a moment before wrapping her arms around him to comfort him in the only way she could.
Observing them, Liang's gaze was drawn up to the sky where the stars had begun to emerge. Two seemed to be shining brighter than usual. One of the stars shined especially bright as it fell on Tyrian's shoulders. The other shined on Cassie. Where the stars were located in the sky, it almost seemed as if the star shining on Cassie also strove to shine on Tyrian's star to shelter and protect.
It was a curious, and yet somehow familiar, omen.
©Stacy J. Garrett. Do not reprint or redistribute without permission.
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