Unraveling Stories - Chapter 43

<-Chapter 42

 

"The weaving that makes the fabric of destiny."

 

People took celebrating so seriously that not only were Evelyn and Terrence kept busy in the kitchen, but R.K. and C.J. also found themselves chipping in. Or rather, C.J. chipped in. She made R.K. wait tables so he wouldn't burn his hands on the stove again. All of Aon Castle and the city around it filled with music and lively laughter. It was almost as if the war was already over, just as Tyrian had wanted.

Matthias and Cherry had dinner together at the inn since the restaurant was packed to overflowing. Persephone brought over a large milkshake and put it in front of Cherry with a wink. "In three years, I'll serve you something more grownup."

Cherry grinned up at her. "I'd still prefer your milkshakes." She happily sipped her drink and watched the room around her. It was a whirl of voices and light.

In a murmur, Matthias said, "I wish I'd be here to see you be an adult."

She immediately looked at him with a frown. "I wish it too," she said frankly, "but I've come to accept the things I can't change. I've watched Destiny for almost a year now. I understand that we all have a place to be." She let out a little breath. "Laia said my star is fixed. I'll still be fighting on your behalf." Sadly, she added, "I wish Seymour was still here. He'd have learned from all this."

"That can't be certain, Cherry." He sighed and covered her hand with his. She was too young and too smart for these worries. "It will take something far bigger than even this war to make him find his heart. I'm not sure he'd even understand what being a Destined Star is. But I believe that someday he will find himself. And when he does, he will be the greatest strategist ever known. Even more than me."

"I hope so," she said softly. Though she had never said out loud that she cared for Seymour as much as she did, she knew Matthias understood. It was going to be very lonely without him around. She was not quite fourteen yet, and not in possession of enough skills to be on her own; she would have to be given to another legal guardian. "Where will I go?" she wondered.

"Well," he said softly, "I was talking with Kris and Klint. If you like, they will be your guardians. They've also expressed a desire to retire from military life and travel, which I know you'd like to do."

She brightened. She loved Kris and Klint. They had become an instant big sister and big brother to her from the moment they had met. "I'd like that."

"Good." He got to his feet with a sigh. Even a cane couldn't take the weight off his bad leg. His other leg had begun to go as well. His time wouldn't last much longer than the war, but he would make the end. That was enough for him. "Don't be up too late."

When he got outside, he found himself bumping into Kyle as he entered. "Sorry, Matt," Kyle said. He paused for a moment. "Mind walking with me?"

"Not at all as long as you don't mind my leaning on you."

"Anytime." Kyle offered his arm to give him added support. They walked slowly through the city, working their way through the crowds of people moving in all directions. "When everything is done," Kyle said slowly, "Ewan and I are talking about a journey through the City-States. We love the Empire, but there are too many painful memories here right now."

"Should I be mad at you? Kyle, if you were perfectly fine with everything, then you would not have truly loved Ophelia. And you and Ewan have struggled almost as hard as Lady Cassie to help keep Lord Tyrian steady." Softer, he added, "I once wanted to travel. Knowing my little brother travels in my place will be enough for me. Live the life I and Ophelia were not allowed, Kyle. Love again someday. You have so much to give."

Kyle let out a long breath. It somehow made things easier to know Matthias believed in him. "Thanks, Matt."

 

On the other side of the castle grounds, Di was perched in one of the towers watching the stars when she sensed Alex approaching. "Go away," she said without turning.

"Di, that hasn't worked for three decades. What makes you think it will work now?" He leaned on the window ledge beside her. She wasn't looking at him, but he didn't mind. Her profile was as beautiful as the rest of her. "Do you really want to turn into Grace and Kell?" he asked her after a moment. "Because I'm damned well prepared to wait another fifty years if that's what it takes. Of course, we'll have grandkids by then, wondering why their grandparents aren't married, but that's fine with me."

The absurd image made her laugh. She dropped her head onto her arms as the laugh became a groan. "Damn it, Alexander. I'm going to make your life hell. You know that and yet you persist."

He tangled his fingers in her hair and drew her closer. "Because life is worse without you," he said softly. He ran the fingers of his other hand over her lips. "Di, we might as well be married. You boss me around, yell at me for being late, and refuse to listen to me when I think you're wrong. You might as well get a new name out of the deal."

He was really too incorrigible for words. "Maybe I like having an illicit affair with you. It's exciting."

"Oh, I'm sure I can keep you entertained even if our affair isn't illicit." His hands curled around her waist to tug her closer. "Say it, Di."

She could only sigh. "Fine. I'll marry you. But you have to stop being such a jerk." She stifled a yelp as she found herself suddenly hoisted and thrown over his shoulder. "Alexander!" She beat her hands on his back, mortified as she was carried out of the tower past many soldiers, most of whom were in her units. All were grinning. "I'm going to kill you!"

"You wanted excitement," her fiancé murmured without guilt. "I'm obliging you." He saw Marcus coming down the hall and said as he passed, "Di's going to marry me."

Marcus didn't bat a lash. "I always knew you were perfect for each other."

"You're next!" Di snapped at him. "I'm telling Marian all your weaknesses!"

"She already knows them." Marcus grinned and waved as his friends disappeared into Alex's room. As soon as the door was shut, his smile faded. His other hand, hidden behind his back, clutched a bouquet of flowers he had begged Tavi and Raven to pick for him. He didn't know if Marian even liked flowers, but it never hurt to be bearing them when you were about to put your honor and heart on the line.

He knocked on the door and it was opened as if she had been waiting for him. He stopped breathing as he stared at her. It always happened that way. If he hadn't seen her for at least a few hours, when he did, it was like being reminded all over again how beautiful she was inside and out.

"Marcus." She had been hoping so hard that he would come to her. She had been all but sitting by the door in the hopes that she would hear his knock. She always knew who was at her door. She would know this man anywhere. "Do you want to get dinner?" she asked hopefully. If they could, they had been eating most meals together.

"No, I . . ." He cleared his throat and held out the flowers while he desperately searched for the words to say. "Here."

"Oh." Her eyes softened. He had picked rubentia and arconile, her two favorite flowers. The second was also a Healer's flower, able to mend some of the most persistent burns. The scent was as soothing as its balm. "Thank you."

Feeling a bit silly standing in the doorway, he rubbed the back of his neck. "Can I come in?"

"Of course." She stepped back so he could enter and then shut the door behind him. She put the flowers in the vase on her dresser, well aware that he was trying to figure out how to say something important. Nerves began fluttering inside her stomach. Was he going to say that he had changed his mind and no longer wanted to court her? How would she handle that? She loved him terribly.

Determination firmed her heart. If he had changed his mind, she would take a page from Grace's book and sit on him until he realized they were perfect for each other. When the silence finally got to be too much, she asked hesitantly, "Are you . . . upset with me?"

"No!" He grabbed her hands and held onto them tightly. "Never that, Marian. I just . . . damn it!" He scowled. "Why can't I find the right words for you? The one person it means the most with, I can't find the words for!"

"You always say the right thing to me, Marcus," she countered softly. "Maybe because you do speak from your heart when you can find the words. Now, let's see if I can help. What would be the general subject you're trying to broach?"

He found himself smiling. "Marriage."

Her fingers quivered inside his as her hopes lifted. "Would this be in general or specific?"

"Specific. Very specific." He released one of her hands so he could reach into his pocket. The ring he pulled out was a simple thing with a small but fiery orange gem in the center. "We've braved hell together, Marian," he said softly. "We've seen the best and worst in each other in such a short time. I need you in my life. I love you, and I want you to marry me." When her lips trembled, he frowned. "I didn't ask right. I didn't actually ask, did I?"

"No!" She gave a hiccupping laugh and freed her hand so she could throw her arms around his neck. "Don't you dare take it back!" She kissed him wildly, beyond happy, feeling as if her entire world might finally be aligning itself. After watching her beloved cousin, her little brother, suffer so terribly, she had thought she would never be happy until he was freed from his horrible burden. But here . . . she had never been happier.

He held her fiercely and then slowly let her go. He slid the ring over her finger and smiled as it sparkled. "It reminded me of you."

"Small and sassy?" she asked.

"Beautiful to the core," he countered softly. "Forged in adversity, but still incredibly beautiful." He kissed her again tenderly and slowly released her. "Now we can get dinner," he said huskily. "I didn't want to walk in there unless we had settled this."

As he turned, she smiled. "Marcus?" When he turned around again, she slid her arms around his waist and pressed close. "I don't want to go out." She eased up to teasingly nip at his chin. "We can get dinner later."

It would take a stronger man than Marcus Quint to turn down the woman he loved when she offered herself freely. He lifted her into his arms and moved toward the bed with purpose. "I'm sure Eve or Terrance would be happy to deliver to your room. They might laugh at us, but even that doesn't seem to be enough to make me turn you away."

"That's because you know they'd only be laughing because they were happy for us." She kissed him tenderly. "I'm going to make your life interesting, General Quint. You need to be kept on your toes. You'd be bored otherwise."

He smiled. "And you would get away with murder if you didn't have me."

"Bossiness runs in the family."

 

The littlest of the children, Destined Star or not, had a lot of trouble settling down as the night grew longer. By tacit agreement, adults let the kids run wild until they fell asleep on their feet. Some took longer than others, but a wave of sleepiness ran through everyone ten and under by eleven. Taurus and Aries took charge of Yumi, and more than one person smiled to see them walking out with Yumi asleep in Aries' arms with her head on his shoulder; most already knew the musical couple would be adopting the little scientist. Kami and Mikey lasted not much longer, and Grace and Kell ushered them along home. The patient old woman had won her battle: Kell had proposed in the middle of the dining room and promised to go through with it this time. No one, least of all Grace, doubted him.

Raven eventually fell asleep as well, and Samantha took charge of getting her to her room since her parents were in high demand. Tavi held out the longest but literally fell asleep in the middle of running across the restaurant to see what Lupe was playing with Amos. She toppled over and landed safely in Liang's arms. He had been watching her closely, fairly sure she would give out soon. As he lifted her, she snuggled in contentedly. "Daddy." It was little more than a drowsy mumble, her eyes not opening. Simply a subconscious recognition of who she thought carried her.

It fiercely grabbed his heart. He made his way through the crowd to where Serentia was collecting her cloak. "I'll walk you to your rooms," he told her. "I don't think Tavi will let go just yet."

Serentia smiled as she saw the grip her daughter had on his shirt. "I think you're right." She fell into step beside him as they left the restaurant and took a deep breath as the quiet of the halls sank in. "It was a bit riotous in there. Were Rourke and Ewan trying to out-drink each other?"

"They were."

"Who won?"

"Laia."

She laughed. "That doesn't surprise me." She fell silent for a few moments and then said softly, "Tavi loves you a great deal, Liang. When she realized that the end of the war meant you'd leave, she was inconsolable. She wants us to move to Trinan so we can be near you. That is where you said you were going."

"Mm. Tyrian won't be mine to guard for much longer," he admitted. "I've decided I want to take a chance at that restaurant Marian and Tyrian say I need. Evelyn and Terrence are sure I can do it, and they're the pros. They even asked I not work in their city else I take away business."

"I think it would be perfect for you." Casually, she said, "I suppose it wouldn't hurt Tavi and me to move to Trinan. After all, a gardener can find work anywhere. And you said you like working with the things I grow."

The idea of having her close at hand but not being able to keep her for his own was a painful one for him. He had no idea how Grace had been patient for fifty years. He wasn't even sure how Tyrian had been patient for a few weeks. Being patient for as long as he had was getting harder and harder for Liang. "I do indeed. And you know I wouldn't mind spending time with you and Tavi."

"Indeed." She leaned in the doorway to Tavi's room and watched with a smile as he tucked Tavi into her nightclothes and then into her bed. He seemed to have no idea just how perfectly he had become a part of their lives. No one would ever think Tavi wasn't his by blood; their bond was simply that strong and deep. "Would you like to join me for a drink before bed?" she asked as they stepped into the hall again.

His hands tightened at his sides. "I shouldn't."

"Why not?" She glanced up at him from under her lashes.

He let out a ragged breath. "Serentia . . . I'm beginning to get the feeling you're flirting with me."

"I might be." Absolutely, she was. "I haven't tried to flirt for a while, so I'm a bit rusty." She moved closer, let her body brush against his. That wonderful powerful body that made her feel feminine and safe. She had become used to the way she felt hot and breathless if he was near. She was beginning to thrill to it. She hoped to feel the thrill for at least a few more decades. "Flirting is first, isn't it?"

"First before what?" He was losing the train of the conversation. She was soft and shapely and beautiful, haunting him with things he wanted more than air. Physically and emotionally alike, he wanted her until there was no room to want anything else. His knuckles turned white as he struggled not to grab her.

"Courting, of course." She let her hands rest lightly on his chest where her fingers kneaded at his muscles. The man was built like a god. To be wanted by such a man was a heady feeling. "I've decided I'm going to court you."

His hands shot up and grabbed her wrists. "Serentia," he warned softly, "you're teasing a very frustrated man. You've been nearly kissed senseless more times than I can count, and the tally is rising as we speak."

"Well, we could skip the courting then." She eased up to lightly brush his lips with hers. "You could just marry me. I have your ring in my pocket." His grip tightened and she wanted to laugh. "Liang, I'm in love with you. How can you not know that? Everyone knows it! I want to have a lover again. To have someone to hold onto at night, to have someone there by my side. Until I met you, I didn't miss it. Be my husband. Let me share my daughter with you, and have more children with you. Unless you don't love me as well."

His response to that was a kiss that walked the edge of self-combustion. If he hadn't been holding her wrists, she would have melted into a puddle on the floor. It had been a long time since she had been kissed like that. In fact, she wasn't sure she had ever been kissed like that.

"I warned you," he said roughly as he lifted his head enough to speak. He released her wrists to grip her hips and pull her close against his aching body.

"I'm not quite senseless yet. You need to try again."

He let his forehead rest against hers as he began to smile. "I didn't stand a chance, Serentia. From the day I saw you, I was lost. You and that little terror of yours had me wrapped around your fingers from the beginning. Only you didn't seem to know I was in love with you. Do you have any idea how hard it was to be patient?"

She framed his face with her hands and kissed him softly. "I have some idea. Stay with me tonight, Liang. Tomorrow I will watch you go into battle. And when you come home, you'll come home to me." She pulled the stone ring with its embedded green gem out of her pocket and slid it over his finger. As Jeo had promised, it fit perfectly, and would not impede Liang's fighting. "We'll raise vegetables and kids and puppies and enjoy having a granddaughter at our ages. You'll own a restaurant and feed hungry people, and I'll muck around my gardens and come home filthy so that we just have to bathe together." She smiled as he cupped her cheek with his ringed hand and the gem sparkled. "How does that sound?"

To him, it sounded like heaven. "Deal."

 

Cassie had been near to Tyrian's side for most of the evening, but when she turned from a conversation with Kotan, she was surprised to discover that her lover had disappeared. It both fascinated and alarmed her equally that he could be quiet enough that even she didn't hear him coming and going. The longer she wore her relic, the sharper her hearing became. Laia was helping her learn to control it, but it was something that would take years to master. "Did you see Tyrian leave?"

"Mmm." Her father smiled. "A while ago, in fact. He looked tired. He may have gone to the tower to escape the crowd. I would think even he needs some peace. Perhaps him more than any other." He lightly patted her shoulder. "Go to him, daughter. I'm going to turn in soon myself. I think we're all winding down."

Indeed people were beginning to file out to go home. Cassie saw couples walking holding hands, and she was especially happy to see Janus and Juniper finally being open in their relationship. But then, she fully understood the couple for what they had done. She would have done the same if it had been the only way to stay by Tyrian's side.

She made her way to the courtyard and then to the tower. The guards saluted as she went past and she smiled wryly to herself. The one thing she hadn't gotten used to was the guilt by association aspect that had everyone treating her like nobility.

When she walked into the tower room, she found Tyrian crouched in front of the fire and staring into it as if it had the secrets of the universe. He was half-undressed and the firelight rippled over his beautiful body. She walked over to him and leaned down to lightly rub his shoulders. "You abandoned me," she said. "It always worries me when you run off without me. I imagine all sorts of trouble you could get into."

He smiled and got to his feet. He turned and tugged her into his arms just so he could savor how she felt against him. "I've only once gotten into trouble when I've lost you."

She snorted. "And promptly gave Draco gray hair with that stunt! I nearly had a heart attack." She sighed and rested her head on his chest to hear the steady sound of his heart. It seemed impossible that a heart so giving could even be contained within one man. "But I suppose I can forgive you this time." Her arms tightened around his waist. "Tomorrow, then."

"I'm not afraid." He threaded his hands into her hair. "In a way, I'm glad. Tomorrow is the end of this nightmare. Our people will be free and so will we. Well . . . to some extent. We won't be able to escape immediately."

"Oh and why's that?"

"I think there would be mass mutiny if we got married where no one could attend. And on that note . . ." He slowly released her and reached into his pocket. "I ran off so I could find Jeo. I did the asking in our courtship, so I had to get the ring." He brought her left hand to his lips and then slid the aforementioned ring over her finger. "How's this suit you?"

Startled, she turned her hand so she could see what she wore. It was made of a lightweight black stone that she barely noticed wearing, but the stone had the familiar veins running through it that meant it would be impossible to break. It was more flat than rounded though there were no sharp edges, and the small blue gemstone in the center was actually imbedded into the band itself.

Tears began to shimmer in her eyes. The ring would in no way hamper her monk training, and Tyrian's acceptance and acknowledgement of her skill had always been something she cherished. "It's perfect," she said softly. She slid her hands slowly up his chest and felt a little thrill as she watched the ring sparkle. "Are there matching wedding rings?"

"He's working on them." He cupped her cheek tenderly. "There's no knowing what tomorrow will bring," he said softly. "But I'm not afraid. As long as you're there, I can do anything."

"I'm not going anywhere. Not tonight, not tomorrow." She caught her breath as he lifted her into his arms and carried her to their bed. "You never seem to remember that I have feet. I'm more than happy to walk here under my own power."

He smiled as he let her slowly slide down his body. "But then I'd have to let you go. And I don't have the willpower for that, Cassie. I can handle anything except losing you."

There was something almost reverent in the way he touched her. Words suddenly seemed to be unimportant. The heat that burned between them started as soft flames that leapt without warning into an inferno. Clothes were thrown aside without care for where they landed and he fiercely tumbled her down onto the bed.

With a husky laugh, she twisted and rolled until he was pinned and she was on top. She couldn't get enough of his taste and feel, couldn't seem to imprint him deep enough inside her soul. Her hands traced every beloved line of his body, her lips following in their wake until he trembled as hard as she did.

When he couldn't take it anymore, he caught her close and rolled again so that he could savor how it felt to feel her body against his. There was no inch of her body that he didn't know, no secret he had not found. He sought all of them, fueled the fire in them both. And when he finally slipped inside her welcoming heat, his world was perfect.

They slept curled together with their relic hands linked together over his heart. What had started as a burden had become a gift. Destiny never asked more than could be given, and she always gave as much as she asked. No matter what happened on the morrow, the day would end with the start of eternity.

Neither Tyrian nor Cassie could have asked for more.

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

Chapter 44->

Unraveling Stories - Chapter 42

<-Chapter 41

 

"A secret, down in the deep."

 

Covering the land by air was not only quick, but it felt even faster. The ground was little more than a blur below them, and animals and monsters seemed like little dots. They weren't very high in the air, only a few hundred feet, but it was an awe-inspiring sight to those not used to it.

They stopped only for a break around noon so that they could eat. Squint was very hungry because she wasn't used to being in her natural shape and burned much more energy in it. Quite used to traveling with a Dragon, Ryu had brought plenty of food.

Once refueled, they got on their way again. Celestial kept to Squint's left so that she didn't worry about something approaching from that direction. There was no concern for monsters or enemy attacks, but something as innocuous as a bird might startle her and throw her off balance.

Evening had begun to fall as they flew over the top of the trees that encircled the lake. They found a safe place to land, and the riders slid down to ground level. Tamari, grinning, had to hold Dylan up since his legs were shaky. "Amateur," she teased. "That's why Ryu and I were always shifting our weight. Keeps from cutting off the blood to our legs."

"Now she tells me," the taller male groused. Not that he complained about getting to lean on her though, and if the flirty way she kept looking up at him was any clue, she was not complaining either. He would definitely have to ask her to date him—if she didn't ask him first.

Tyrian and Cassie were only slightly unbalanced since both had seen what Ryu and Tamari did and had guessed why. Celestial changed into her Human shape, and Squint cautiously reached for her magic to do the same. It took two tries, but she did manage to go back into Human form. Unfortunately, her legs gave out and she sat down hard on the ground. "I'm dizzy."

"You're exhausted." Dylan knelt beside her. "I'll carry you, okay?" She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and he stood with her perched on his back. It fascinated him that someone who could be such a large creature would feel that small in this form. He almost couldn't believe she was a Dragon at all.

Cassie was the best tracker of the lot, and she began to scout out the area for anything unusual. She wanted to find signs of civilized life since it was not an area normally frequented by people. She finally found it in the shape of a bed of leaves and moss. It had been too precisely placed to have been made by nature, and as she pushed it aside, she realized why. It was a carefully constructed cover that went over the top of a set of stairs leading down into the land. "Here we go. This looks promising."

She went first, followed by Tamari. The others went down after them with Ryu bringing up the rear after putting the covering back in place. The tunnel was obviously well used since it was lit nicely with a series of Light Relics imbedded in the walls. At the end of the tunnel was what looked like a larger light leading into what might have been a hidden city.

A guard stood at the end of the tunnel and she straightened as she saw the group approaching. Her eyes went directly to Tyrian and she brightened visibly. "You're Lord Tyrian!" She turned and hurried into the city beyond. "Lord Tyrian is here!" she called happily. "Everyone, come out!"

All manner of people began to emerge from the catacomb-like rooms as Tyrian and the others walked into the area. It was a very tiny village and boasted a population of less than fifty. The entire 'city' could have fit into the courtyard of Aon Castle. Every manner of age and race was represented, as well as a blend of civilian and combatant alike. To Tyrian's utter shock, he found himself looking at more than one face that struck that familiar chord inside. Though Draco had not formally joined, he counted as found, so there had been only six Destined Stars left.

All six stood before him.

One was a female Grimalkin who was more feline than Human in appearance, and she clapped her hands together happily. Though she had distinct fingers, they were short enough that they almost looked like paws. Her hair, tail, and soft fur were orange with white tabby stripes. At her feet sat two tame Dire Wolves, evidence that she was a Beastmaster. "You made it!" she said happily. "I'm Solei!" She scampered forward and clasped Tyrian's hand. "Shadi said if we waited, you'd find us when you needed us! You can count on me and Van to tame any monsters we meet!"

Tyrian found himself smiling at her. He glanced over her head to where a male Human stood with a winged monster perched on his shoulder. Both Beastmasters wore similar sturdy traveling clothes and leather bracers around their arms for taloned creatures to land without harm. "Since I lack any methods of dealing with monsters other than killing them, I'm grateful for you both."

Van grinned. "Solei can be a bit of a handful, but I'm fairly good at taming her too."

She stuck her tongue out at him and made everyone laugh. An Elf with golden hair stepped forward with a smile. She wore lightweight chain armor with casual elegance. On each hip was a scimitar. "I'm Honey," she said. "I'm normally at home on the seas, so if you need me to do any sea battles, just let me know."

"So far we haven't needed any, but that might as yet change," Tyrian told her. The river ran close enough past Trinan that it would certainly allow for an unexpected angle to attack from. He and Matthias had discussed it more than once.

"Well," another Human girl said, "I'm not a fighter, but I make some darned pretty stained glass. My name is Sierra!" She looked barely older than Yumi, and her green eyes were just as lively. Her hands showed the soot stains and abrasions from her art. "I don't know if you need any stained glass windows, but that's my specialty."

Tyrian thought of the dull and boring windows that Amos kept clean and decided, "Considering the lack of color around the castle, you are certainly needed! In fact, if you want to go after my balcony doors first and foremost, I'd be grateful. I leave the art in your hands. I have no taste."

"Liar," Tamari said with a snort.

Sierra grinned. She knew he was lying too, but she appreciated that he did it to make her know that he trusted her completely. She actually had several pieces in mind that she really wanted to give him. She had seen him in her dreams for a long time, and she had been making things with him in mind for months.

A Human woman in her mid-thirties stepped forward and said, "Alright, everyone, start the packing process again. Let me talk to Lord Tyrian." She smiled as most everyone scampered off. "My name is Shadi. I'm a Healer by choice and a doctor by trade."

Ryu caught his breath. "Wait, can you cure curses?" When she nodded, he began to breathe again. "We need you," he said urgently. "The Dragonists have been cursed and our Dragons are dying!"

"Please," Tyrian said. "I know you're the only one who can do this."

She smiled at the others in bemusement. "Is it always like that?"

As one, the others said, "Yes."

She shook her head. "Well, obviously I'm not about to say no. When I was gathering survivors, I was deliberately looking for those who shared the same destiny as me. We settled here knowing that when you needed us, you would find us. We come from nearly all the cities in the Empire. Ceredine is a survivor of T'que."

Tyrian's head swung to where the slender redheaded Mongra stood nearby; unusually for her race, the fur of her ears and tail was an orange color different to her red hair. She wore no armor or relic, and her flowing clothing marked her as a dancer or bard of some type. The dance shoes on her feet showed long use. In age, she was probably only slightly older than he was, and her eyes had been haunted by a familiar look. "I'm glad," he told her softly. "You'll have to teach me how to dance so I don't embarrass my fiancée at our wedding."

Ceredine's black eyes brightened. "I would be honored," she said. "And I will be glad to dance at the celebration party as well, to renew the strength and spirit of our soldiers. Do you have any bards?" At the nod, she smiled. "I used to be one, so I'll be able to dance with them properly. Leave it to us to keep morale high."

Myr and Café Latte had already been doing a spectacular job of that very thing, and he knew Ceredine would be the perfect addition. Such a simple thing as providing music and dance shouldn't have been able to soothe soldiers who had seen too much trauma, but it really did help lift spirits. Tyrian always felt better when he could simply sit and watch them perform. For just a while, the world could be normal.

After a bit of thought, he gave Dylan the Echo Mirror to take everyone to Aon Castle. It initially didn't want to be used by him, but after a stern scolding from Tyrian, the mirror began to glow. Once Dylan had taken everyone there, he could have Miranda send him and the mirror back to the stronghold to pick the others up.

Squint found herself back on her own feet again, but she was much more alert than she had been. She felt even better when Solei gave her cup of amber colored liquid to drink. "Syrup!" She drank the whole thing in a single gulp.

Solei grinned. "Dragons and their sweet teeth. I've never known such bottomless pits."

"This from the cat who chews on sugar cubes," her partner countered politely.

With Squint happily refueled, Shadi grabbed the things she would need and joined the party to head up to ground level where the Dragons could transform and they could all be on their way. There was no time to wait and rest, not when that many lives hung in the balance. They could get back to the stronghold by dawn if they hurried, and that might just make the difference for at least a few people.

Dawn was indeed creeping over the horizon as they climbed the mountains at last, but it brought with it more than just a stunning sunrise. It brought the sight of smoke and the smell of fire. It also brought to Cassie's sensitive ears the sound of vicious fighting. "Hurry!" she shouted. "The stronghold is under attack!"

The closer they got, the more visible the fighting became. Mounted Dragonists struggled to drive back aerial beasts and monsters, while others still fought on the ground against the Imperial soldiers swarming the area. There was no rhyme or reason to the battle, no sense that there were even any laws to engagements at all. It was a bloody horror show.

Celestial flew down close to the ground and Tamari and Shadi jumped down. The white Dragon promptly turned and flew into the air with Ryu as he drew his lance. Their communication was seamless and absolute to the point that Ryu only had to use his hands for battle. Celestial focused on magic as well as keeping him secure on her back.

Squint landed to let Tyrian and Cassie down, and they promptly went rushing into battle. For the first time, Tyrian actually used his relic in combat, unhesitatingly unleashing Hell on the enemies foolish enough to get too close. When you broke the laws, you were not protected by them any longer, and there was no guilt in his heart. He wasn't passing judgment. He was simply sending the offenders on to a higher power who would.

Tamari stayed close by Squint, and her axe cut through monsters and soldiers alike. A brassy taste of fear lingered in her mouth. She had never been in large-scale combat, but she knew that this was worse than a real battlefield. Squint blew fire and used her tail like a whip before realizing how silly she was being. She focused as hard as she could, dropped back into Human form, and slammed her fist into a soldier's jaw hard enough that he went flying. "That's more like it!" she decided.

Tyrian had a very specific destination in mind. He was looking for the person controlling the monsters. When he spotted the vile Beastmaster at the top of the living area, he immediately changed course and began fighting his way through. He lost Cassie in the crush but didn't pay it any mind. He not only trusted her to defend herself, he also trusted that she would find him if he needed her.

When he reached the rooftop where the Beastmaster stood, he spun his staff one handed and aimed the end at the other male. He recognized him from his life in Trinan and knew that he was one of the better Beastmasters that the Imperial Army had. It saddened him to realize the corruption had spread this far. "This is your last chance to end this," he said icily. "Unless you wish to visit Purgatory sooner rather than later." The Devourer glowed briefly even as he spoke.

The Beastmaster threw his arms wide on a maniacal laugh. "Go ahead! Kill me in cold blood, Southerwind!" The color abruptly left his face as the mark of the Devourer appeared in the air and flames began to whip around Tyrian's body. "You would do it."

Tyrian's green eyes were as hard as stone and glittered as fiercely as the stars only then sinking from sight in the skies. "What is coldblooded about removing someone who fights only for devastation? You deliberately attacked a cursed people just to make them suffer more. I have no reason to show you mercy."

With no options for escape that would not end in death anyway, the Beastmaster's hand filled with fire magic. "Let's see the Liberation Army survive without its precious Kaiten Star!" he snarled. He hurled the magic into the middle of the rooftop and it exploded with such force that it not only killed the Beastmaster instantly, it also sent Tyrian flying backwards off the top of the roof.

A collective shout lifted as everyone realized what had happened, and Cassie felt her heart stop. A blue streak shot through the air overhead and underneath Tyrian when he was only feet from hitting the ground. The landing knocked the breath out of him, and as his sight cleared, he realized he had landed on the back of a Dragon.

"Nice of you to drop in," Draco muttered. "Damn it, Tyrian, you scared the shit out of all of us with that stunt. You're damned lucky that Peyn's so fast!"

The Dragon muttered equally, "I'm too old for this." He flew down to ground level and landed gracefully beside other Dragons that were coming in. He angled his wing to help Tyrian down and then offered a claw to Draco. With the Beastmaster gone, the monsters had instantly retreated, and the soldiers, then outnumbered, had done so as well.

"You idiot!" Cassie shouted at Tyrian as she seemed to appear from out of nowhere.

He somehow dodged the punch she aimed for his face but stumbled a step as she threw herself into his arms. Her entire body trembled violently and he held her fiercely close. He couldn't apologize for what he had done. Even if he had known the Beastmaster would attempt a suicide bomb, he would have still gone up there to take him out. Every minute counted when lives were on the line. He looked over her head to where Tamari and Squint stood. Both looked slightly ragged, though otherwise fit. "Are you okay?" he asked gently.

"Dragon monks are scarier than Dragonists," Tamari said. Her legs felt shaky, but she kept that a secret. "Squint was actually knocking those guys back twenty feet! It's horrible of me, but I found it very funny and very satisfying."

"That's not horrible," Cassie assured her. "I've seen her do it too, and I also find it very funny. Especially because she's very small in this shape." She ran her hand down Squint's hair gently. "Well done. I'm very proud of you."

Draco stepped closer and said, "Did you return just to help us, or did you find the doctor you were seeking?"

"I'm right here," Shadi said as she came back down to the ground from the second level. "I was trying to get out of the way when C.J. and Tyler grabbed me and made me hide with them and the kids. Take me to one of the cursed Dragons. I need to see exactly what I'm dealing with."

The others dispersed to tend to wounds, and Draco led the way toward the hospital. Tyrian, Cassie, and Shadi went with him while the others helped with the beginning of the cleanup. Dylan had arrived just as the fight was ending, and he was very glad to see everyone intact. He joined Ryu in transporting the wounded to a more sheltered location.

There were no unoccupied beds in the hospital, and Shadi went immediately to where the first person rested. The young woman seemed unconscious but stirred while Shadi examined the lesions along her arms. Her lashes lifted and she said in a slurred voice, "They appear last."

"She's correct." Draco's arms were tightly crossed, his knuckles white with his effort to control himself. He hated seeing his people in this condition. "It begins with a regular fatigue but swiftly drains all lifeforce from the ill. The last stage before death is the appearance of those red marks."

Tyrian's lashes flinched slightly yet his voice remained neutral. "Is it possible that Blaine is collecting the lifeforce as it is drained?"

"It's no doubt a certainty." Shadi straightened and said in satisfaction, "But she obviously didn't put too much effort into this curse. I can actually read the spell in the lesions. The trick to curses is to learn the spell and then cast it backwards."

The Medicine Relic on her right hand began to glow as did the Resurrection Relic on her left. Slowly, carefully, she began to recite the spell backwards. It sounded like utter gobbledygook to everyone present but the effects were apparent. The lesions instantly disappeared from the woman's skin and she took a sudden deep breath. "I can breathe!" she said. Strength poured back in rapidly, evidenced as she sat up cautiously. "It's like the last few days didn't happen."

"Give it another one or two and you'll be just as good as new." Shadi looked at Draco. "I need every Healer you have. In fact, even mages with Medicine or Resurrection Relics will do. I'll teach them the reversal and we'll get everyone before the hour is done. No one dies on my watch!"

True to her word, in less than an hour, every person who had been cursed was no longer in that condition. Those in the earliest stages were as good as new almost instantly, but those who had been suffering longer wouldn't be better without at least a day or two of rest. It seemed to lift the cloud that had hovered over the stronghold. People began to smile again, and the doors opened once more.

Draco stood with Tyrian inside the inn and looked out at the city as it began to bustle with activity. "Thank you," he said quietly. "I know you'll say Shadi did the work, but you're the one who took a leap of faith to find her. We would never have found her on our own."

"You couldn't expect me to walk away," Tyrian noted. "It's just not in me. How do you think I got caught up in all this anyway? I joined the Rebellion before I knew anything about being the Kaiten Star. Even before Ophelia died. As soon as I understood what was happening, I couldn't stand by."

"I suppose that's one of the reasons all of us love you." Draco turned from the window, and his silvery eyes burned intently. "Tyrian, please accept my dedication as a Destined Star. I and Peyn will join you in battle, and so will every able-bodied Dragonist. We fight for those who are being oppressed. My alliance is yours until the day I die. Perhaps beyond. I am honored to share the skies with you."

Tyrian let out a long breath as he felt the sudden wellspring of magic inside. He had done it. He had finally done it. He had gathered all one hundred and eight of his companions. The one hundred and nine Destined Stars were joined at last.

Cassie wrapped her arms around his waist and held on tightly. "You did it," she said softly.

Draco lightly squeezed Tyrian's shoulder. "I'm sure others feel the same, but I am sorry I couldn't be there for longer."

"It's what I told Ryu." Tyrian took a deep breath. "Being here now is what matters. Everyone has something to give, and I fully believe I found my Stars at the moment when I needed them. Some came to me, knowing I needed them. As long as we can share the land as we share the skies, then everything is okay."

They went to help the others with whatever packing and gathering they had left to do, and then Tyrian used the mirror to take them all back to the castle. While he and Draco had been talking, a unit from the Liberation Army had arrived to help the Dragonists regroup, and they returned to the castle not long after Tyrian did. The half unit of Dragonists would blend into a half unit of Special Forces with Divan and Draco in charge.

Matthias waited for Tyrian in the hall of the second floor. "We begin our assault on Trinan tomorrow," he said. "The strongest of the Dragons are preparing the spell that they can use to bring the barrier down. While they are doing that, we will launch our attack via the river and land from two directions while our Dragonist unit comes in from the skies."

Tyrian nodded and followed him down the hall, toward the balcony at the end that had once been used by a monarch for royal speeches. He had never been out on it since he had never felt a need to give a speech. "What about evacuations of the people?" he asked.

"Yhalenia and Master Kotan are preparing to take one of our monk units into the city under stealth and get everyone out. Grace got one last message into the city before it was locked down, and the people will know to be ready to escape. We can't waste any more time, Lord Tyrian. Tomorrow is the final battle." He opened the balcony doors. "I asked for everyone to gather so you can speak to them."

Tyrian glanced over his shoulder but somehow wasn't surprised to realize that Cassie had disappeared. He had sensed the instant she was no longer in the vicinity. She couldn't hide from him in any fashion anymore. They had relic bonded, made love with their magic, and fragments existed inside each of them of the other's power. With a breath, he stepped onto the balcony and looked out at the field that had once been used as the barracks.

It was a sea of faces. Every soldier and every citizen had gathered. He saw all one hundred and eight of his Destined Stars, and the smaller ones sat on the shoulders of the taller. Dragons hovered in the air with as many people as they could carry on their backs. Several people held the flag of the Liberation Army and waved it happily when they saw Tyrian. It was a dizzying sight for Tyrian. He could never have imagined such a sight even among all the other amazing things he had seen so far.

"Tomorrow," he said clearly, "we fight against evil. When the barrier is brought down by our Dragon allies, we will attack from the land, water, and sky. The people will be evacuated. All of you will have your orders; all of you will have something important to do. Even those who are civilian, who are not going to be there on the field, will be fighting as well. You give us someone to fight for, someone to come home to. Too many lives have been lost for the freedom we all crave. What started as a struggle for rights against tyranny has become something bigger than we imagined. We've come too far to stop now. We will win tomorrow."

The cheer that filled the air was deafening. It rang off the rooftops and bounced off the beautiful stained glass that had begun to be installed in windows. Tyrian sensed her power before she appeared and turned as the lavender colored light swirled into appearance and brought Tanelia. "What say you, Great Sage?"

She smiled as pride shined in her eyes. "I am very proud of you, Tyrian. You have fulfilled your destiny. The one hundred and nine Destined Stars are together at last. Inside you, the final spell of your relic has unlocked. It possesses a power the likes of which no other has ever controlled. It will serve its place in the battle tomorrow and will bring you victory."

Tyrian felt the stirring of power inside and firmly grabbed control in the way only a fully powered Kaiten Star could. His iron will, that great thing that had saved his sanity and kept him from being devoured by his relic, was a palpable force around him, intense and forceful. The Devourer sensed it and turned docile. No longer would it seek to claim its owner. To claim so great a lifeforce would be instant destruction for even a Pure Relic that powerful.

"Celebrate," Tyrian told the gathered people. "Tonight, celebrate. Cherish your lives and your loved ones. Tomorrow night, we will celebrate again. But tomorrow, we will be celebrating victory!" The cheers lifted once more and he closed his eyes. "Thank you," he said softly to Tanelia.

"No," she countered just as soft. "Thank you, Tyrian." With a swirl of light and spark of lightning, she disappeared from the balcony.

He looked out over the crowd and then walked off the balcony. He had some important things to do that night as well. He would not enter the battle with regrets or loose threads. One loose thread could ruin the entire tapestry. He had spent too damn long unraveling them to begin with!

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

Chapter 43->