Everyone set out for the Liberation Army base in the morning. Many had gone on ahead the night before, but there were still a lot to take back during the day. Tedium rode in a wagon with Yumi and Tavi, and he worked feverishly on his newest plans for an invention. He wanted to invent something that would do the work of a Magician and be able to transport units to battle and then back again. Aware that the soldiers were skeptical, he said, "I'll test it on sheep first, I promise!"
Tyrian mentally envisioned a unit of sheep unceremoniously appearing outside a city and hastily coughed into his scarf to keep from laughing outright. That would certainly lift the troops' morale.
It was yet again evening by the time they were home. More than one soldier was happy with Tedium inventing a machine to transport them. The marching was wearing on everyone. They needed to be strong to keep fighting for Lord Tyrian.
The sudden increase in the size of the army was more than the immediate barracks could handle. Tyrian climbed up to the top of one of the corner towers with Gordon and they looked out over the area around the city limits. There was plenty of room for expansion. "I say," Gordon said, "that we tear this wall down and push it out a half mile in all directions. We can leave the moat as is and just build bridges over it." He peered down into the water. "I wouldn't want to make them unhappy."
Pushing out a half mile in a circle would provide more than enough room for up to fifty thousand units. It was a daunting number, but very plausible to reach. It would also remove the need for the current barracks and the space could be changed into more room for civilians. There were more than Tyrian had expected. He actually had a full-sized city under operation with people arriving daily from other cities. "Let's start building the new wall before the old one comes down," he decided. "We wouldn't want to be caught with our pants down. Or rather, our wall down."
Gordon laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "You had it right the first time, Lord Tyrian." He leaned on the window ledge and looked down at the city. It was bustling even as the sun set. He had almost forgotten what a happy city looked like. "How did we never notice?" he murmured. "The pseudo-fight with Foresalia is no excuse."
"Absolute power corrupts absolutely," Tyrian said. "I'm not saying that a single ruler can't rule well. Albanion was a good emperor before Blaine came along, and my understanding of the history of the Empire indicates that we've had both bad and good. But the bad has, before, never been like this. Inept, not cruelty. It's a sign of a need for change."
Gordon studied him. "What would you make, Lord Tyrian?"
"A republic." Tyrian had been thinking about it a lot. "A republic of the people. Elected leaders who answer to the people in the end. It won't be as hard as you think. We were already on the road, what with mayors of cities taking care of their towns and reporting to the Emperor. This time, however, the leader of the country won't be able to arbitrarily take over. There are a lot of details to be worked out, but that can be decided when the new leader is elected."
"It won't be you?" Gordon asked softly. "You know that that is surely what the people are looking for. You lead so naturally, Lord Tyrian. And you truly serve the people."
"And I have eternity," he said simply. "If I did not wear this relic, perhaps I would be standing here saying I would lead. But I am beginning to feel the effects of the Devourer being Pure. A very long future lies ahead of me, Gordon. Even the idea of being tied down is somehow distasteful."
It did not surprise Gordon. From what he knew of the few Pure Relic users known in the world, none of them could stand to be in one place for very long. They all had secret retreats where they went to be away from normal life. It was a heavy burden to watch time pass around you without being a part of it. And when it was Tyrian, it was a great loss to the Empire. He would have been a leader the likes of which no country would ever know.
They made their way back down to ground level and Gordon went into the castle proper to find his room. Tyrian headed for his tower. He had seen Cassie's silhouette through the curtains and knew she waited for him.
"Lord Tyrian!"
He turned with a lifted brow as a guard approached with two young women following him. One was dressed in the familiar split skirt and bodice of a female dagger user. The other dressed like a civilian, and her clothing had the formal flavor of someone who had been born in a much larger city. The sight of them both tugged at that familiar place inside him. "What can I do for you?" he asked.
The dagger user saluted sassily. "You can let us help you, Lord Tyrian. I'm Cleveland, but everyone calls me Vee for short." Her voice rolled and softly shimmered with the accent of the Melodina valley. "I throw a mean dagger, and I can help you in battle both small and large. As soon as I heard about you, I just knew that I could help. And Eve couldn't get here alone."
The other woman smiled. "Well, I swing a mean frying pan, but it doesn't do much against monsters." Her blue eyes twinkled as she bowed. "My name is Evelyn Winters. I'm a chef."
Tyrian stared at her, certain he was hearing things. "You're a chef. You can cook on a large scale? As in a very large scale?"
"Just give me a very large kitchen!" she said cheerfully. She laughed as the guard escorting them let out a distinct whoop of joy. "I take it we haven't got anyone to cook for the soldiers? Leave it to me! If you give me the space for a big restaurant, then I'll make enough to feed as many people as needed! You can count on me, Lord Tyrian."
He looked between them and realized that they were among the few who already knew of their destiny. They had come looking for him solely because they had known he needed them at that very moment in time. "Where a Kaiten Star is," he murmured, "their Destined Stars will gather."
Evelyn and Vee shared a smile. There wasn't a single Destined Star who regretted being chosen. Destiny picked her emissaries carefully, and it was an honor to be made as one. If you were given a destiny, it was understood that you had been blessed. Hard or painful it may be, in the end, you were the person you had always been meant to become.
Tyrian shook it off and looked at the guard. "Show Eve to the inn. She can use R.K.'s kitchen for now, and have some people prepare to start whipping the castle kitchen into shape. It's ridiculously big. The formal dining room can be turned into a restaurant."
The guard saluted and led Eve away. Vee was content to follow another guard to pick out a room she could use. Tyrian watched them go and then went to his tower. He had to climb the stairs cautiously since Tedium was already working on tearing them out to put in an elevator. As he walked into his room, he complained, "At this rate, we'll be scaling the tower with a rope from the balcony. Couldn't he wait until we were gone for a few days?"
Cassie looked up from where she sat in front of the fire and smiled. "He assured me he was just laying the groundwork. He'll do the one in the castle first, and then when we're gone for a while, he'll tackle ours." She got to her feet and went to go into his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder where it belonged. "I saw you from the balcony," she said softly. "Talking to Gordon."
"Deciding what to do about the soldiers. Talking about the new government we're trying to build." He grimaced. "People want me to lead the new government. Somehow, I can't stomach the idea of it. It's already growing harder and harder to be boxed in, even with this tower. Time has stopped. There's so much for me to see and do."
He buried his face in her hair, and she softly smoothed her hands up and down his back comfortingly. She, too, was aware of the difficulties that Pure Relic bearers wore. "There is time for everything, as Laia might say," she said gently. "When we come through this, there will be an entire world for us to explore."
He let out a long breath and relaxed. His arms slid around her waist as he let her comfort him. She was his sanity in this insane world. If she hadn't been there, he would have broken long before. Without further words, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to their bed. He could lose himself inside her arms, and for that short time, his world could be perfect. Her love was his salvation.
They were awakened the next morning to the sound of a knock. The door opened and Merilyne walked in saying cheerfully, "Good morning! Professor Matthias requests your presence in the meeting room! I've brought coffee from Eve's kitchen. Breakfast will be waiting for you at the meeting room." She scooped up their dirty clothes and headed back out with a whistle.
"They had to give us the most cheerful maid in the city," Tyrian said into the pillow. He didn't bother to move.
Cassie leaned over his shoulder and smiled. "You wouldn't wake up for anyone else. If we had a grouch, you could ignore them." She rested her chin on his shoulder. "I would never have guessed you weren't a morning person."
He opened his eyes and glanced up at her. The morning light coming in over the wall illuminated the blue in her hair and eyes alike. She was soft and welcoming, warm and fragrant. "I'm growing fond of them," he said huskily.
She made a quick dodge and scooted out of bed quickly as he reached for her. "No, you don't!" she said breathlessly, trying not to laugh. "You'll make us late, and we'd never live it down." She grabbed fresh clothes and held them like a shield. "Tyrian Southerwind, you get out of that bed and stop grinning at me."
He rolled out of bed and then darted forward and snatched her up into his arms for a wild kiss. She went limp in his grip, her arms wrapping around his neck as she eagerly responded. She never held anything back, giving herself to him body and soul. "It's a wonder I ever keep my hands off you at all," he said roughly as he lifted her higher and tasted the curve of her breast.
The voice-box by the door beeped and Ewan's voice said dryly, "If you're not downstairs in five minutes, I'm going to come get you. And you'd better have clothes on, or I will drag your naked ass downstairs."
Tyrian sighed and put Cassie down. "Spoilsport."
Since they knew Ewan meant what he said, they quickly got dressed, grabbed their coffee, and hurried downstairs. Breakfast was just arriving when they got to the meeting room. It smelled even better than it looked, and Evelyn handed out plates contentedly. "Just wait until I get that big kitchen I was promised," she said as she gave Kyle his breakfast. "Serentia has already promised to put in an herb plot in her garden for me."
Present in the room were Kyle, Ewan, Matthias, Cherry, Leonard, and Gordon. Much to Tyrian's surprise, Liang wasn't there. "Where's Liang?" he asked curiously as he took his plate and sat down.
"Speaking of Serentia," Kyle noted idly.
Solemnly, Gordon said, "She's trying to remove the rocks in the garden because they're taking up space she needs. They're too heavy for her, so she was looking for help. Liang volunteered himself before I even opened my mouth to offer some soldiers."
Evelyn wheeled her cart out, and Matthias sighed contentedly over his coffee. "I'm very glad Eve found us when she did. We're going to need the fuel."
"What's next, then?" Tyrian poked at the orange bits in his food, realized they were carrots, and pushed them aside hastily. He would have to find a way to ask Evelyn to not include them without making her laugh at him. He knew it was a silly phobia.
"Caschin," Cherry said. She hopped to her feet and pointed at a town on the map. "It's about the same size as Rubentia. We're slowly making our way toward bigger cities. After Caschin, we're looking at Dry Basin. It's twice the size of Rubentia, and it's guarded by ten units. It'll keep getting bigger as we go, because the Empire will pull into itself."
"And we will need to start looking at the checkpoints as well." Matthias leaned back in his chair. "Gordon wants to try to contact his fellow Lower Generals on the side, so we are going to postpone the checkpoints as long as possible. The two biggest cities in the Empire, Pardue and Larksville, will be our very last targets before we face Trinan. At over a hundred thousand people each, they're far beyond our current scope."
"A stone rolling downhill," Leonard offered. "It gains momentum the closer it gets to the bottom."
"So, Caschin." Tyrian studied the map. Caschin was many days away. "Isn't that your hometown, Matthias?"
"It is, indeed. It is to our advantage, as I know the layout intimately, as well as the secrets it hides. It is guarded by three units from the Imperial Army, one made of magic users. Cherry checked earlier this morning, and we have enough soldiers to make one magic unit. We have no specialists to lead the unit other than you, Lord Tyrian. You're the closest thing to a Magician we have, and your relic is attack based. It doesn't cast typical magic spells." Not to mention that Tyrian refused to actually cast his relic's spell. He only used raw power.
"I have to admit, it'd be handy to see Hell unleashed on the enemy, but we want to take as many alive as we can," Ewan said.
"Ah, but we're the only ones who know what Lord Tyrian's relic can do," Matthias noted. "No one knows what it involves. There is only speculation as people whisper the name of the Pure Devourer Relic. Only Relic Masters would have a good shot at knowing what it can do, and I suspect there are none who would be willing to go up to the Imperial Army and tell them."
"Can we put up a 'Help Wanted' sign for mages?" Kyle muttered.
Cassie frowned thoughtfully. "I'm still waiting for word from the Monk Clan. My messages had to have reached them by now. With the rate we're growing, Master Kotan should be convinced to send us at least two units. And . . . with my destiny tied to Tyrian's, he will want to give assistance for that alone."
"He's your adopted father, right?" Ewan asked. When she nodded, he whistled softly. "Yeah, I sure would want to help my daughter out if she was tangled up in a mess like this."
"Ewan with a daughter." Leonard snorted softly. "Scary thought. Let's hope she doesn't have her father's temperament."
Ewan grinned. "I can't be offended by the truth, Leo. But for your sake, I hope she does. Would serve you right, old man." He suddenly scowled. "Why are we talking about my daughter when I don't even have a wife?" When Kyle opened his mouth, Ewan shot him a glare. "Don't even say her name or I'm throwing you in the moat to be a chew toy for the monsters!"
Matthias ignored them as he looked at Tyrian, though he had to agree with Leonard. "I think we can take Caschin with three units, and we'll have you ride at the head of our magic one. Laia and Cassie can ride with you. Cassie does not have magic, but she is your Kentei."
Where the Kaiten went, the Kentei went as well. Tyrian nodded. "Laia is lethal with her Lightning Relic, more than even Kyle, and she says she can use her Music Relic in battle as well. I'm curious to see it, in fact."
"And she also has a Medicine Relic," Cherry added, "so she can serve as a Healer. I've never met anyone with such a versatility!"
"We can make the other two units be our ranged unit and close-combat," Matthias said. "Who would you like as unit leaders, Lord Tyrian? I will ride with the ranged unit since they will be mounted."
"Emma and Vee will work to ride with you. That covers both arrow and dagger expertise. For close combat, we'll take Ewan, Rourke, and Sean." He looked at Leonard. "I know Sean is young, but I believe he will do just fine out there. Ewan can show him the ropes."
Leonard nodded instantly. "He's got a big mouth, but he's not stupid. He'll listen to what Ewan tells him. Thirteen is the minimum age for engaging in field combat, and he's just over that. It's as good a time as any to learn."
"Is he training in the tradition of the Commune?" Ewan asked.
"He is."
"Then I'll definitely keep an eye on him for you."
"What about getting there?" Gordon asked.
The doors flew open and Tedium burst inside. He was covered in soot, and sparks crackled over his hair where it stood on end. Behind his goggles, his eyes had gone bright with excitement. "It works!" he exclaimed gleefully.
Yumi peeked around his arm and said, "We lost a couple sheep, Lord Tyrian. They ran away before we could retrieve them."
Matthias opened his mouth and then closed it, for the first time at a loss for words. Tyrian cleared his throat. "Are we talking about a machine that can transport troops to battle and back again?"
"We are indeed!" Tedium was almost dancing in place. "I rounded up people with relics and had them give me their input. We've equipped the machine with the relics normally used by mages for 'porting, and it works! We sent a herd of sheep to Rubentia and brought it back safely!"
"The mayor said that we need to warn him next time," Yumi added solemnly. "They thought they were under attack."
"From sheep?!" Ewan's head hit the table with a thump.
Tyrian's stomach quivered as he tried desperately to keep a straight face. He really didn't want to laugh in Tedium's face. He had done a great thing. "Is it safe for sentient use?"
"It is now." At the brows that lifted, Tedium said hastily, "They weren't hurt! They just, er, landed without their clothes. Their clothes joined them a few minutes later. When we brought them back, their clothes were inside out. The third test went fine."
"I'd run from a naked army," Leonard said to Ewan who beat his head on the desk again. "Did their weapons make it at least?"
"Curiously, yes. But, as I said, the bugs are out. The last attempt got our soldiers to a city and back without anything more than a bad case of hat hair." Tedium swung around and almost knocked Yumi over. "The Mechanoportal is in the area near the barracks. I'll be there to operate it. I am a genius!" he proclaimed.
Yumi hurried after him and the doors swung shut. Ewan was still beating his head on the table, and Matthias was still at a loss for words. Kyle pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "If he could combine the two issues, then we could send pre-sheered sheep to the cities and make a fortune in the butcher business."
That did it. Everyone started laughing. When Matthias managed to get a grip on himself, he said to Tyrian, "If you're ready to risk the threat of hat hair, then I say we gather the troops and put our lives and personal style into Tedium's hands to get to Caschin. Before we transport, however, I wish to talk to Laia. She will be critical to my plan."
While Kyle held down the fort with Leonard and Gordon, the others made their way out back to where the Mechanoportal sat. Emma, Vee, Sean, Rourke, and Laia had already gotten there, drawn by the knowledge that their Kaiten needed them. They regarded the large device with some caution, and Tyrian didn't blame them. It looked like a mass of gears and wires and metal with steam rolling out the top and relics glowing over the sides.
"Rally your unit," Tyrian told Emma and Vee. "Matthias will be riding with you."
"Yes, sir!" They hurried off quickly.
Ewan, Rourke, and Sean moved to go take command over their unit as well, and Laia quirked a brow at Tyrian. "So I'm being called upon for my magic this time, eh?" It wasn't really a question since she did not wear her plate armor. She wore her claymore, but the plate had been exchanged for something lighter.
"Indeed." Matthias moved to the side and gestured for her to join him. He spoke softly enough that Tyrian didn't hear a word he said, but Laia looked intrigued. When she grinned and nodded, Matthias turned back toward Tyrian. "We are ready when you are, Lord Tyrian." He gladly accepted help from a soldier to get onto the horse Beatrice was holding for him.
"Leave it to me," Laia told Tyrian. "Just follow Professor Matthias' prompts. I'll take care of the rest."
Interested, Tyrian tucked away his curiosity and joined the rest of the mages as they gathered. The Mechanoportal belched out more steam and made a very loud creaking noise as the relics flashed brightly and blinded everyone. When Tyrian's sight cleared, he found himself standing in the dusty landscape outside Caschin . . . and his scarf was on top of his head. He felt lucky to have escaped with just that. Laia had not fared so well; her white hair had suddenly turned into a riot of curls. She looked like a bard herself.
Cassie made it through unscathed, miraculously, and for that she was grateful. She pulled a black bandana out of her pocket and offered it to Laia to tie back her hair. "Here," she said. "I think you could use this."
Laia tied her hair up into a ponytail and then blew a lock of hair out of her eyes. Even with it tied up, it was long enough to reach her waist in the back. Only the bandana kept her hair from getting thoroughly in her way. "Curls!" she said in aggravation. "Why do you think I let my hair get this long?"
That was the bad news. The good news was that all three units had made it safely to the field. The opposing forces of the Imperial Army looked more than a little surprised to see them arrive. They had been so sure that the Liberation Army lacked transport capabilities. The lieutenant in charge touched his Voice Relic and said, "Surrender!"
"Drop off!" came the retort from the white-haired paladin. "You think we came out here just to hand over the keys? Ha!"
Several soldiers on both sides had to muffle laughter. Even Matthias smiled. Laia's distaste for stupidity in military forces was quite known to everyone in the Liberation Army. Matthias calmly touched his Voice Relic and said, "Lady Laiaeariel is correct. We are not here to surrender. Prepare for engagement." To Tyrian only, he said, "You are now calling the shots, Lord Tyrian. You give the commands for attack. When I see the opening I seek, I will speak up. Laia has her orders."
There was already some unease on the Imperial side. Quite a few mages and fighters alike had recognized Laia's name; she had been very well known in Trinan. The Imperial Army had tried to recruit her for years.
Tyrian tucked down his nerves and took a breath. "Close-range, move in. Ranged, start your attack. Fire over the top of close-range to make it difficult for the enemy to move in. Emma, watch the mages. If they move in, switch targets."
The Imperial Army did not have ranged attack if you discounted the mages. They were forced to come in close to attack, and the arrows raining through the air made it risky. It was a risk they had no choice but to take. The magic unit tried to move into position to attack Tyrian, but the Liberation Army's ranged unit promptly started showering them with arrows.
The fight between close-range units was bloody and fierce. Even outnumbered, the Liberation Army was far better trained, thanks to the additions of Gordon's troops. As several soldiers went down anyway, Matthias said calmly, "Healing magic, mark three."
Laia lifted the hand with her Music Relic and then pressed it to the mark of her Medicine Relic. A glowing purple circle of magic opened under her feet, and the combined symbols of Music and Medicine appeared over her head. A soft harmony of music swelled in the air and rippled across the entire field, bringing with it her healing powers. Even those whose wounds could have been mortal were promptly healed.
A ripple of agitation ran through the Imperial Army. The lieutenant's hands went damp with sweaty fear. "Take out the mages!" he ordered one of his close-range units. "Aim for the unit leaders! Take down either Lord Tyrian or Lady Laiaeariel!"
The unit went after the mages, which meant the other close-range unit was immediately overwhelmed by the Liberation Army. The several hundred still standing on the Imperial Side threw down their arms in surrender. "Lord Tyrian," Matthias said so that everyone heard him. "Why don't you show them what a Pure Relic can do? Link to Lady Laiaeariel's Music Relic."
Tyrian studied Laia and then looked at the hand she offered him. It was not her Music Relic. With a little smile, he touched his hand to hers. A combined runic circle that glowed with the purple musical notes of her power and the green and black fog of his opened around them both. The mark of the Devourer appeared in the air large enough to be seen by the enemy. What they did not see was the smaller mark of Lightning underneath it.
As massive bolts of lightning began to roll across the field and threaten to consume everyone out there, the lieutenant said hastily, "Yield! We yield! Throw down your arms!" he ordered his troops sharply. "We cannot stand to a Pure Relic!"
The Liberation Army moved in swiftly to take the enemy units under their control. Matthias joined Tyrian and Cassie to cross the field to where the enemy lieutenant waited. "A Pure Relic," Matthias murmured, "no, not likely. But other than a serious singeing, I do not believe they would have been decimated by a Lightning Relic's Electrical Storm spell, even from a Magician as talented as Laia."
"It just makes a big noise," Cassie agreed. "Very clever, Matthias."
"That's why I am here." He studied the lieutenant as he was escorted closer by Liberation soldiers. He appeared much younger than Matthias had been expecting. "Who stationed you here?" he asked.
The lieutenant sighed. "General Cutter requested I lead my units here. I don't believe she expected you to have a magic unit yet."
Speculatively, Matthias said, "I need to speak with General D'terio about General Cutter." His instincts told him that Diamond Cutter had deliberately chosen a green lieutenant so that the battle ended with the Liberation Army as the winner, and only Gordon could confirm if that was her style.
Tyrian looked at the lieutenant and said calmly, "Laws of engagement, lieutenant. You and your troops are free to retreat to Trinan, or you may join my side. We will not force your decision either way, but you must have noticed what Caschin looks like."
"I am loyal to the Empire!" the lieutenant said hotly. "I am not a traitor!"
"And neither am I." Tyrian sat up a little straighter and the sunlight glimmered across the glitter in his dark eyes. "I am loyal to my country, to my people. I fight for them. I will not serve a ruler who would turn a blind eye to the suffering of his land. Only a coward would take the safe route, take the route that allowed him to pretend everything would be all right if he ignored it. If the Emperor wishes to be a coward, then we will find a leader brave enough to make change when change is needed."
Silence fell for a long time and then, softly, the lieutenant said, "It hurts to see through the eyes of another what we have done. It is easy to say that we thought we were doing good for the people. But it is not easy to see that we were wrong." He lifted his head and said to his troops, "Laws of engagement. Those who want to return may do so. I stay."
Most of the troops chose to return, but more than a unit's worth remained behind. They removed their badges and hats, and they accepted the mantle of the Liberation Army. Tyrian did not begrudge those who chose to continue to believe blindly. Once blinded, finding your sight again was nearly impossible.
Laia grimaced suddenly and held up her Music Relic. "Pray for us," she said. "I'm sending the signal for Tedium to call us back. I'm throwing him out of the tower if I end up bald or something."
A few moments after she sent the signal, the troops began to disappear from the field. It wasn't long before only Tyrian, Cassie, Ewan, and Sean remained. They would be the party that went into Caschin to touch base with the mayor and search for those whose destinies aligned with their own. They wouldn't be able to transport back without the troops, but at least it would only be a one-way trip.
Sean remained remarkably quiet as they walked into the town, and Tyrian lightly clapped his shoulder. "You did a good job," he said softly. "It's scary out there, isn't it?"
Sean nodded. It made him feel more than a little better to know that Tyrian had been worried on the battlefield before. He had never experienced anything like that: people running, and shouting, and trying to kill each other. It was different when it was small combat.
Ewan caught Tyrian's eye and nodded slightly, indicating that Sean had taken out more than one enemy and that also added to his agitation. Even when the other person was trying to kill you, that first victory in battle was always the worst. "You served your Kaiten well," Ewan told Sean. "I'm proud of you, and Leonard will be too."
Sean opened his mouth and then closed it as the sound of a loud argument reached their ears. "Whoa." He peered into the windows of the Item Shop they stood beside and said, "Man, the two owners are going at it! Yikes!" He ducked as something hit the window. "Her aim is worse than Aunt Winifred's."
Ewan carefully opened the door and held his hat inside on the end of his sword. When nothing happened, he looked inside. The fighting was once more verbal, so he moved aside to let Tyrian enter.
The shop was split into two segments, which wasn't uncommon for some bigger shops. The woman stood behind a counter that had the universally recognized sign with a backpack on it that meant she sold traveling supplies. The man stood behind a counter with a sign that had a bottle on it, meaning he sold potions and herbs. Both owners were likely in their later years, but they acted as lively as someone half their age.
The woman spotted Tyrian first. "Oh!" She straightened hastily. "Lord Tyrian! What an honor to have you in our shop! My name is Sharmie. I'm a traveling supplies seller. The idiot across the room is Yagi. He sells potions."
"Ignore her," Yagi retorted. "She's just pissed because her boyfriend dumped her."
Sharmie's cheeks flushed. "I am not!"
Tyrian quickly held up his hands. "Hold it!" he ordered. They both fell silent and looked at him, and he shook his head in bemusement. "Is there any way to keep the peace in here? Why do you share a shop if you're going to fight like this?"
"No other space in town," Yagi grumbled.
Tyrian smiled. He could have asked them to join on the basis of their destiny, but he much preferred to be able to offer them something they needed or wanted. It was becoming a game he played with his Stars where they knew the real reason they joined, but they pretended they didn't. "There's room at the Liberation Army base. Actually, we don't have any Item Sellers at all, and we could assuredly use both of you."
Sharmie and Yagi shared a smile. They both turned to Tyrian and said, "We'd be honored!" Hopefully, Sharmie asked, "Would we get our own shops? No more sharing with each other?"
"To keep peace at the castle? Certainly! I'll have some soldiers come help you pack up and make the move out." He blinked in surprise as Sharmie handed him a wrist bracer. "What's this?"
"Latest style of accessory," she told him. "It has properties to increase your speed and strength. Some Armorers are working on taking it to the next level and actually turning these into armor for those who don't want full gear. I have this one because I was thinking of stocking them, but I'm not sure I want to branch into accessories."
Tyrian fastened the bracer around his left wrist and liked how it felt. He could also feel the tingling sensation that meant it was taking effect. "Maybe now I can outrun Cassie."
His lover just smiled. He hadn't even seen what she could fully do, and she intended on keeping it that way. As long as he stayed out of trouble, he didn't have to know just how strong and fast she really was. She had earned her rank for good reason.
Leaving the owners yet again fighting, the team moved down the street. There were signs to point them toward the mayor's place, so they followed them. The mood in Caschin had lifted dramatically, and people already worked to put their lives back in order. People brightened and called out happily to Tyrian, and some even cheered when they spotted him.
"It's the scarf," Ewan said gravely. "There's nothing else about you that stands out. You look completely normal otherwise."
The tension left Tyrian's shoulders and he smiled. Though he had no true 'favorites' among his Stars, he was closer to Ewan and Kyle than any others beside Cassie; not even Marian and Liang knew him as well. The two swordsmen had become his best friends, and even felt more like his brothers. "Thanks, Ewan." He shook his head. "It's been too easy. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop."
A young man suddenly came out of nowhere. A cap of pale blue hair sat atop his pointed ears. He grabbed Tyrian's hands. "You're Lord Tyrian?" he asked eagerly. At the nod, he let out a quick breath of relief. "Great! Then my sister and the overprotective redhead we call a guitarist are at your castle in your army! My name is Virgo. I'm from Café Latte! I'm joining too, and you can't tell me no!"
He zipped off so fast that he kicked up a dust cloud. Sean and Ewan looked at each other in surprise. Cassie shook her head. Tyrian just smiled. "I think it just depends on your personality. And his doesn't surprise me. Taurus is very upbeat, Aries is very serious, so Virgo would be energetic. Who is the fourth member?"
"Capricorn, I think is his name." Cassie tapped a finger on her chin. "Based on your theory, we can assume he'll be the mature one of the lot. It would be ironic if he wasn't a Destined Star."
"Ironic, certainly, but that wouldn't stop him from joining anyway. We have his friends." Tyrian turned right at the street corner and spotted the mayor's house sitting between two others. It even had a sign outside. It said, 'Yes, I'm still in charge. Shut up and come inside.'
There was an old man sitting on a bench outside the house, and pigeons covered the bench beside him. He was old indeed, with wrinkles inside his wrinkles and time sitting heavily on his shoulders but happily borne. Seeing him made a funny sensation flutter in Tyrian's stomach as he remembered, again, that he would never age. He might mature a little further, but not age. He would forever be young.
Cassie slipped her hand into his and laced their fingers together as she sensed his unease. Sean and Ewan had sensed it as well, and both were pretty sure they knew why. The former said softly, "Y'know, a lot of people would kill for a Pure Relic's eternity, so you have to count yourself lucky, Tyrian."
"Lord Tyrian," Ewan said with a thump of his hand on Sean's head.
"You don't call him that!" the boy complained.
"I'm older."
The old man sitting on the bench looked up and his faded gray-green eyes warmed. "Ha!" he cackled. "So there you are! Took you long enough. I thought I'd be buried before I ever met you." He shooed away several pigeons so that there was a place for Tyrian to sit down. "My name is Tod. If you want rumor and story, caught or spread, I'm your man! My cronies are spread out in other cities, so you'll meet them too." He nodded briskly. "Is that old fart Kell still scuttling around calling himself an informant?"
Tyrian hid a smile. "He certainly is, and he does a fine job at it. You know him."
"Known him for fifty years, I have." Tod thumped his cane on the ground. "Bastard stole my girlfriend when we were kids and then didn't have the decency to marry her. Said he got cold feet." He sighed gustily. "Ah, Grace. I still remember her smile." He eyed Tyrian. "You going to marry that lovely monk over there?"
"Eventually," Tyrian said amiably. "I'm not the one with cold feet."
Cassie felt her cheeks warm and ignored the two swordsmen who elbowed her lightly. She was still fighting for the courage to claim the eternity she could have for her own, let alone contemplating marriage along with it! It was so . . . permanent, and no matter how fiercely she wanted to be by her Kaiten's side, that didn't take away the nerves.
"Well," Tod said briskly, "since you're here, it must be my time. I'll make my way to the base. I'll touch base with old Kell. If you need to get a message anywhere, you can come to me. My pigeons never go off track."
"I'll leave it to you." Tyrian got to his feet and went to rejoin the others. He tucked Cassie under his arm and said into her ear, "One day at a time. One year, if necessary. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a formality. You're stuck with me for eternity, Cassie." He brushed his lips over her cheek. "Our stars will share the sky forever."
Ewan smiled as he watched them. There was something incredibly beautiful about the Kaiten and Kentei. Something in the way they smiled, and talked, and looked at one another. He couldn't imagine anyone looking at them and thinking they didn't belong together.
The door to the mayor's house stood open in the universally accepted gesture to enter, so they walked inside. "Hello?" Tyrian called.
A young woman dressed like a maid hurried forward. "Yes?" She broke off in shock as she spotted Cassie, and the monk stared at her equally. "Cassie?!"
"Yhalenia?!" Cassie grabbed her arm and swung her around. "What the hell are you doing?" she demanded softly. "You're an assassin! What are you doing here in the mayor's house? Don't tell me he's your target!"
"I was after a bandit in town," Yhalenia hastily assured her. "I took care of things the other day. I've been waiting for a chance to quit and make my way back to the Clan." She eyed Tyrian with interest. "However, plans may have changed."
Cassie instantly stepped in front of Tyrian. "Mine," she said softly, her voice so chilling that even Tyrian felt a little ripple of danger. He often forgot her lethality because she acted so gentle with him. "I'll make sure you have to change your methods if you even think of trying your wiles on him."
Yhalenia held up her hands quickly. "Easy, Master Cassie! I get the message!" She smiled. "But I have to be here anyway. That feeling." She touched her heart. "That feeling I felt when I looked at him. It means I'm destined too, doesn't it?"
Tyrian held out his relic hand. "I think we can find use for an assassin who would sooner charm an enemy than attack from the shadows. Subterfuge comes in all types, and we could use more of this one."
Yhalenia took his hand and the star briefly appeared on her shoulder. "Well, keep my cover. Far as Mayor Parkin is concerned, you needed a well-trained maid. Never know when I might have to come back here."
She hurried off, and Sean asked in awe, "She's a monk?"
"An assassin in fact, and a very good one," Cassie assured him. She shook her head. "I should have guessed! Ah, well. It'll be nice to have someone to train with. Just because she chooses to seduce her target rather than fight them doesn't mean she isn't fully trained. I've missed having someone to work out with." She scowled. "And we're going to test Tod's claims. What the hell is wrong with my father?"
Tyrian found himself laughing. She had more facets than a diamond, and he loved all of them. An eternity with her would be sweet indeed.
©Stacy J. Garrett. Do not reprint or redistribute without permission.
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