"What exactly is the plan?" Alex asked Tyrian as they walked downstairs to where Miranda waited with the others. "We can break through the light barrier, but are we taking units for a full battle, or are you planning something else?"
"Matthias' plan has several 'if/thens' as he calls them. If something happens, then we do something else. It's mostly contingent on how General Cutter reacts to our arrival. We're going as a party, but there are units on standby. Just follow my lead."
"That's simple enough," the general murmured. "You're as natural a leader as your father is."
"Thank you." When they had joined the others, he told Miranda, "Use Alex as the one to get the signature from. We need to land outside the city, not in. I'm asking for some very precision transport power from you, but I know you can do it."
"Leave it to me!" She focused on Alex. "Here we go!"
Moments later, they stood in the sandy desert outside the city of Betane. It was only a few hundred yards away and clearly distinct in the afternoon light. Equally distinct were the eight units sitting outside the city limits. It was impossible to see their expressions at that distance, but a low murmur of surprise moved in the air.
Di, riding at the front of the main ranged unit, recognized Alex across the distance of the field. Truthfully, she would recognize him anywhere at any distance. A part of her wanted to go running to him and jump in his arms. The sane part told her that doing so would be stupid. The man was a predator. If she showed weakness, he would move in. It wouldn't be the first time, frankly. Instead, she settled back on her horse and prepared to see just what Tyrian had up his sleeve. This was certainly bound to be interesting.
There was no sign of any sort of barrier around the area, but that was the entire point of it. Tyrian pulled out the Echo Mirror and held it like a shield as he walked forward. Beams of light suddenly shot through the air and lit the area brilliantly. The others had covered their eyes in preparation so were not blinded. Tyrian didn't have to protect himself. The beams struck the mirror and bounced back the way they had come. Distant explosions inside the city seemed to indicate that the relics themselves had been broken.
He put the mirror away and then touched the Voice Relic he wore. "Greetings, General Cutter."
"Quite an entrance, Tyrian," she countered. "I see you found the Echo Mirror. I can't say as I'm surprised, though. But I must ask just what you're doing out here without an army. You're just a bit outnumbered."
"I thought perhaps you might want to solve this whole issue with a duel. General Renduex tells me you're brilliant with a bow and sword equally. He speaks very highly of you, General Cutter."
"I imagine so," Di's second lieutenant murmured dryly.
"Shut up," she muttered. She tried to ignore the reflexive flutter of her heart at the idea that Alex would be singing her praises. This was one large farce, certainly, but the knowledge still warmed her. Thirty years. Was she never going to get past him? "I suppose a duel would be a nice, civilized way to end this." She dismounted her horse and handed off her bow. She carried a sword in her pack and removed it as she began to cross the field. "Laws of engagement have been claimed," she told her soldiers. "A duel is commencing."
Tyrian lightly nudged Alex and he realized Tyrian's game. He calmly drew his sword and crossed the field to stand even with the woman he loved. Judging by the way her eyes widened, she also realized quickly the plan. "I have been asked to stand as a surrogate combatant," he told her. "Lord Tyrian knows that we're more evenly matched."
It was an unfortunate turn of events for Di. She was left with the options of raising a sword against the man she loved, or surrendering without a fight. There was no one she could call in as a surrogate. Not a single soldier in her units would have any chance of defeating Alex.
"Clever," she muttered as she realized the situation they had created. On one hand, she wouldn't have minded kicking Alex's ass for forcing her to make a scene; on the other, this was not the time or place for rebelling. There was a very viable way to surrender without bloodshed, and because they were all on the same side anyway, that was the route to take. She took a deep breath. "Tyrian, I ask that you fight me yourself or choose another surrogate. I can't fight Alex."
"Fight or surrender, General." Tyrian's voice was cool and calm, the voice of a man who had led more than his fair share of combat and would give no quarter to an enemy. "You accepted the duel. Laws of engagement stand."
She slowly lifted her sword and then threw it on the ground. "Yield," she said softly. "I can't raise a weapon against this man." She turned toward her soldiers. "Choose," she ordered. "I stay to fight on the side of the Rebellion to bring back peace to our land and freedom for our people."
Every single soldier either removed their jacket or removed the emblem from their jacket. From within the city came a cheer of joy as the citizens realized what had just occurred outside the border.
A unit from the Liberation Army appeared on the field and moved forward to meet up with Di's units. Riding at the forefront of the unit were Laia, Samantha, and Kyle. Seeing them told Di that her suspicions had been correct and that Tyrian had never really been alone on the field. "Your strategist is quite clever," she told Tyrian as he approached. "If I hadn't yielded and had kicked this smug bastard's ass, what would you have done?"
"Well, if you had decided to fight him, I would have told Alex to use dirty tactics."
"Dirty tactics? This guy? Like what?" She got her answer as Alex caught her by the back of the neck and dragged her close for a kiss that melted every muscle in her body. She thought she heard whooping and catcalling from the soldiers, but her hearing had gone away with her ability to think clearly.
"Dirty tactics," Marian said gravely, trying not to giggle. "Of the type most effective between couples. Is that why you don't train with Tyrian?" she asked Cassie. "You don't trust him?"
"I trust him about as far as I can throw Aon Castle," the monk retorted dryly. "He plays to win. Which, of course, is one of the reasons I love him."
"All's fair," he reminded her. He cleared his throat politely. "Alex? You may let her go now."
With obvious reluctance, Alex released Di. Life was hell with her, but it wasn't worth living without her. "Missed you," he said against her lips. "And whether you admit it or not, I know you missed me. Damn it, Di. Put us out of our misery."
She dropped her head against his shoulder. She just didn't feel like fighting with him right now. Not when her heart and body ached equally for him. "Damn you," she said against his shoulder. She looked around his arm at Tyrian and scowled. "And damn you for bringing him to me!"
"He was miserable," Liang noted dryly.
Lane just snorted softly. They wouldn't see him acting like that much of an idiot over any woman. Eternity thing notwithstanding, he had yet to meet any woman that he felt was worth becoming an idiot over. Any woman who was available, he amended in all fairness. The good ones were always taken, as they said.
"I want to head into the city," Tyrian announced as Laia, Samantha, and Kyle approached. "I'm trying not to be some nameless, faceless figure. I want to talk to the people and get a feel for the situation. I'm sure it's no different from Alphin, but I want to see it. I also can't be sure there aren't any Destined Stars here."
"Did you sense anyone you felt a kinship to?" Samantha asked Di.
"Not that I noticed."
"It's still worth looking," Laia said. "You've got the mirror, so we—" She broke off and lifted her head sharply as her purple eyes darkened to nearly black. A chill visibly raced over her body and all three of her relics flickered.
"Laia!" Kyle and Tyrian both moved to grab her and keep her on her feet when she staggered. "Maybe you're not fully recovered after all," Kyle said with a frown. "We need to get you to Doctor Kelan. With how strong you are, there's no knowing the permanent effects of the Soul Fog."
"No." She shook her head. "It's not that."
She was still shivering even in her plate armor, and Alex removed his jacket to put it around her shoulders and block where a draft could enter. Marian lightly touched Laia's Music Relic and instantly realized what had happened. "How odd. Another power deliberately touched her. It threw off her equilibrium."
"Something evil comes." A shimmer of power, stronger than usual, flickered through Laia's voice.
Bright flashes of light announced the arrival of more troops. This time, they were Imperial troops. Riding at the forefront was a handsome man with golden hair that, for some reason, seemed very distasteful to all three Pure Relic users who were present. Laia, when she saw him, felt a low pulse of power in her blood that seemed to be urging her to battle. She hated him, and she couldn't even say why.
"General Reyu," Di said in a low voice. Without even thinking about it, she moved when the others did to keep Tyrian safely protected behind them. "No one has any idea where he's from. He just showed up one day and started taking General Southerwind's duties after Lady Annareal was murdered."
There were nine units on the field behind Reyu. There were a total of nine on the Liberation Army side. Reyu made a slight gesture and all of his soldiers began to rush toward the Liberation Army. Realizing he wasn't going to play by the rules—and thereby forfeited any right to them—Tyrian turned toward his soldiers. "Don't give any mercy! Hold them off!"
The bloody battle began and was little more than a free-for-all. It was disgusting for those who abided by the rules. This very chaos was the entire reason the laws of engagement stood. No one would really win today.
"We have to end this fast," Samantha said to Tyrian. "More reinforcements?"
"Let me take out Reyu."
Tyrian looked at Laia in surprise. "Are you sure?"
She looked at him, and her eyes still looked dark. Never before had the power inside her been more visible. Somehow, it was a strangely familiar power to those present. "I demand right as a Destined Star. This is not your fight."
"I'll leave it to you," he said quietly.
Reyu was enjoying the fight immensely when he felt a chill race down his back. He turned sharply to discover that Laia stood less than twenty feet away, a sword in one hand and her other propped on her hip. His lips curled into a smile that was more of a sneer. "So there you are, little girl."
"I hate to tell you," she retorted coolly, "but only two men have ever had the right to call me little. Put up or shut up, little boy. You called me for a challenge, and we both know it."
She wore the mantle of her ancestors well, he noticed, even though her body only housed a fraction of her ancestors' blood. Of course, it was powerful blood, so it would never fully dilute from her bloodline. The crystal clarity of her purple eyes was a welcome sign to him. As was the way of the species, the purity of her heart was there in her eyes. The perfect subject.
He drew his sword and moved forward to match her, but she suddenly shot forward and attacked before he could blink. To his surprise, he was forced to block and dodge, never able to get in an attack of his own as she kept him on a constant retreat. One of her strikes bit through his armor and into the flesh beyond. The pain was a shocking reminder to him that he was not invulnerable.
Showing the classic predatory nature of her ancestry, she didn't loosen on her assault even though he was wounded. The next attack cut through his armguard, but missed the flesh beneath. Following blows stopped just shy of actually wounding him. Mercilessly, she closed in on the kill.
He was outmatched, and he knew it. He instead gathered his power and blasted her in the chest. The blow sent her tumbling across the field but she let her body go with the force and rolled right back up into a crouched position. Her armor was damaged, seared off in places, and she had distinctly been wounded for dark blood slid down her sword arm. As he took a gliding step forward, she switched her sword to her other hand and straightened to her full height.
He stopped on a vile curse. There would be no taking her through battle. Not unless it was the end of a much longer battle against many more enemies. She was simply too skilled and too powerful. "We're done for the day," he told her stiffly.
She laughed, and the musical sound grated on his ears. "Why? Is the 'little girl' too much for you?"
His teeth clicked together. "I'll see you in Trinan!" he snarled. He made a sharp gesture and both he and his troops disappeared from the field entirely.
The instant it was clear, the others ran over to Laia. Tyrian caught her when her legs buckled, and he gently lowered her to the ground where Marian could examine her. "That was one hell of a bluff," he said softly. He lightly brushed a kiss over her forehead.
Her lips curved. "Who said it was a bluff? I'm ambidextrous." She opened her eyes and looked at him seriously. "Do not face him in battle, Tyrian. For all your power as a Kaiten, you would not beat him. You're stronger than I, but the power is different. Do you understand?"
"I sure don't," Kyle muttered.
Lane shook his head. "There are different aspects to power. Like positive and negative charges. That's one aspect. Elements are considered another aspect. Tyrian has a Dark element. Cassie has a Light element. I'm a Wind element . . . etcetera. I was watching the fight. Reyu has a full-elemental spectrum. Might be the Pure Eight-Fold Relic he wears; there's no knowing. But that means he can defend himself against anything Tyrian throws at him. Laia is also full spectrum. It takes a serious versatility to have that sort of thing. I'm shocked that we've now to see two, and one doesn't have a Pure Relic."
"So I may be stronger than Laia, but I lack the same defenses she possesses." Tyrian nodded. "I understand. I don't have any intention of facing Reyu alone." He frowned. "Why did he come directly after Laia? Was it because of that elemental spectrum?"
"The Golden Scourge," Laia murmured. Her eyes closed. "The Bloody Scourge is more likely."
Tyrian felt his heart skip a beat as he remembered his mysterious meeting with the man called Agrime. He was looking for the 'Golden Scourge.' That meant he was looking for Reyu. He didn't doubt Laia's sixth sense any more than he doubted Ninehvi's ability to see fortunes in her teacup. "Agrime," he said quietly. "I need to go back for Agrime. I think I know who he hunts."
There were other things to be done first, however. Once Laia regained her feet, she joined Kyle and Samantha in assessing the losses to the units on the Liberation Army. They were mercifully few considering the mania of the prior battle. Laia's quick action in confronting Reyu had limited the casualties. Di and Alex assessed the other units and found few losses there as well.
"I wonder if he came here looking for you or for Laia," Cassie said softly as she stood beside Tyrian and watched the wounded be tended. "She said he deliberately challenged her, and you can be sure she was definitely called out directly. He didn't even seem to take note of you, really."
"I also didn't like his parting shot at her." He crossed his arms. "'I'll see you in Trinan.' That seems to mean he will wait for the final battle to come after her again. I just wish we knew why he wanted her. Perhaps Agrime will have that answer. It's got something to do with her power, of that we can be sure."
She glanced at his face and saw the dark circles under his eyes. This latest development was just another burden on his shoulders. It was, perhaps, a heavier burden because he loved his Stars very deeply. Though the Destined Stars lived to love, support, and protect him, it was a two-way street because he wanted to do the same to them. This situation was made even worse because Laia was one of his most beloved Stars.
She stayed close by his side as he made his way through the troops and met the new soldiers. She was there when he briefly spoke with his older soldiers, and she was there when he began to make his way into the city. Liang and Marian went with them while the others returned with the units back to Aon Castle.
Betane was a flurry of activity. People were starting to take back their lives, and the militia of the city was already switching to Tyrian's colors. They, like in Alphin, would remain to hold the city.
It was a staggering thought anew to think that there were two checkpoints under his control, Tyrian realized. The Empire was now entirely cut off from trade unless someone came in through the Y Border, which, given the current state of affairs, was probably not necessarily safe either.
By the time they had gone through most of the city, he was sure there were no more Destined Stars to be found there. That didn't mean there might not be one later, but there weren't any right now. It was just as well. The sun was setting and it was getting late. If he wanted to fetch Agrime, he needed to do it now.
After talking briefly with the mayor of Betane, and assuring him that he was back in charge of the day-to-day business, Tyrian took out the Echo Mirror so he and his bodyguards could return to the castle.
The first thing they heard when they landed in the courtyard was the sound of Di shouting at, presumably, Alex. Tyrian lifted a brow at Miranda and she giggled. "So, like, General Renduex told the guards that General Cutter would share his room which she completely didn't like but, you know, I think she's mad because she wants to but doesn't want to say so, so anyway she's now yelling at him about being arrogant, heavy-handed, and presumptuous."
The yelling stopped rather abruptly, and it was followed by the sound of cheering from the castle staff. "Dirty tactics?" Cassie asked Tyrian dryly.
He had to smile. "It works, doesn't it?" He kissed her lightly and then tugged her close. He had no doubts as to Alex winning the fight eventually. Di's only real problem was the certainty that they would fight for the rest of their lives. What was so wrong with that? It would keep things interesting. He liked fighting with Cassie because it meant they were equals. They never said anything that would hurt each other, and every fight inevitably ended with laughter.
"I need dinner," Marian decided. She pointed at Tyrian. "Don't be out late! Get Agrime and come right back for dinner." She turned on her heel and walked off toward the restaurant, her hair swinging around her shoulders. She obviously expected to be obeyed.
"I'll go with you two," Liang said.
Tyrian didn't bother to argue. "Miranda, please send us to Caschin."
They landed outside the city, but it was close enough that they didn't quibble the details. Tyrian headed directly into the city and toward the alley where he remembered meeting Agrime before. A part of him didn't expect to find him still there, but more of him was sure that Agrime wouldn't make things difficult for him.
He sensed the other man's power long before he was close. He stepped into the entrance to the alley and spotted the familiar figure in plate armor leaning against the wall. It was as if he had never moved in all the time since, as if he had simply remained there waiting for Tyrian's return. "Agrime," Tyrian said quietly, "I have need of your strength."
"So he shows his face." Agrime straightened. "The Golden Scourge. It is a pity that a face so beautiful should mask a heart so evil. He kills without remorse, Tyrian. There is no mercy inside him. He doesn't break the rules: rules don't even exist inside his world. His is a false existence. All those vile desires inside have only been amplified by the Eight-Fold Relic he wears."
"He came directly after my paladin. Laiaeariel Mitakel."
"That is to be expected. In his possession is a very powerful artifact of the Summarian race. The most powerful, perhaps. It is . . . finicky. The people who could use it are few indeed. Only two currently live that I am aware of. Laia is one of them. The other lives in the City-States."
"What is Laia?"
Agrime's smile entered in his voice. "Complicated. And that is all that can be said at this time." He drew his sword and held it before his face in a knight's gesture of fealty. "Please accept my dedication as a Destined Star. When the battle is taken to Trinan, it will be I who confronts Reyu. His false life will end by my blade."
"Laia has a grudge," Cassie warned.
"She will let me fight in her place. She will know who I am just as I know who she is."
"Glad someone knows what's going on around here," Liang said under his breath. Things just seemed to keep getting more and more complicated. It was beginning to feel a lot like the future peace of the entire world hung on the outcome of this battle. How many more burdens would be put onto Tyrian's shoulders?
They returned back to Aon Castle via the Echo Mirror, and Agrime went to find Laia. Liang went to get dinner, and Tyrian found himself dragged by his lover through the courtyard toward the tower. Since he had long before learned that she outclassed him in raw strength let alone skill, he let her tow him along. "I can walk," he said mildly.
"And would likely go wandering off to check on everyone. You're going to eat some dinner and rest, Tyrian." Her tone booked no argument as they got on the elevator. "Tomorrow will arrive soon enough. These last few days have taken a harder drain on you, particularly coming on top of the Soul Fog."
He thought about arguing, but he knew his Kentei was just as stubborn as he was, and he didn't feel like trying to out-stubborn her. It felt too good to let her take over. With a sigh, he sank down onto the floor in front of the fireplace. It was already burning cheerfully. "I just want this to be over, Cas," he said softly. "I don't want anyone else to be afraid. I'm so damn frightened of what Blaine might do next. You can be sure Reyu is dangling that artifact in front of her like a lure. And what if he did find someone to use it? The most powerful relic of the most powerful race in history." He shook his head. "We'd be doomed."
She knelt beside him. "It won't happen." She caught his face in her hands and forced him to look at her. "We can only fight the battles that are here before us right now. If another battle comes, then we will lend our strength and our experience to whoever is in charge. Agrime will handle Reyu. So long as we save the people of the Empire, that is what is important right now. Saving the world will fall on someone else's shoulders."
His eyes closed and he leaned his head against her shoulder. "Thank you," he said softly. "Sometimes it all gets jumbled in my head. I find myself thinking of the future a lot now. Maybe it is because our future will be very long." He tugged her down onto his lap and buried his face in her hair. "So many questions still to be answered," he said softly.
"The answers will come." She rested her relic hand lightly over his heart and closed her eyes as his relic hand covered hers. "Don't always think about the bad things in the future. Think of the good." Her lips curved. "Like trying to raise a Faerie who wants to use a battleaxe, has the brain of a strategist, and natural gunner talent."
As far as futures went, that was a pretty nice one, though equally terrifying in its own way. He sighed and let himself stop thinking about things he couldn't change. If answers were to be found, then Merlot and Zinfandel would find them. They were closing in on the origins of the legend of the Kaiten Star, and perhaps that would bring the last of the answers.
He had a feeling the story was only just beginning with him.
©Stacy J. Garrett. Do not reprint or redistribute without permission.
Chapter 35->
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