Unraveling Stories - Chapter 4

<-Chapter 3

 

"If it had only been destiny, I could have struggled."

 

Tyrian didn't sleep that night. He couldn't. With nothing better to do, he stayed in bed and stared at the ceiling while his mind refused to settle or focus. Everything was jumbled up. A part of him wanted to walk away. Another part wanted to stay. The only thing he could be sure of through all of his midnight mental ramblings was that he absolutely couldn't let things continue as status quo.

How the hell had he missed this? Why was his father going along with things? He had to know what was happening. And why was the Emperor suddenly treating his people so cruelly? It seemed out of place. Tyrian had always thought Albanion was a little off in many ways, but he wouldn't have thought he was stupidly and bone deeply bad.

It was dawn before he gave up pretending to sleep. He got dressed in his slacks and borrowed tunic and then left his room. R.K. was at his desk but dead asleep on top of it as if he had simply gone to sleep while working. Tyrian stopped long enough to find a blanket and gently tuck it over his shoulders. The innkeeper clearly needed a keeper.

The entire base remained quiet as he walked down the halls. The base was decent sized, enough so that it even had barracks. A glance inside told him that they had a significant number of soldiers on hand.

A soft voice asked from the shadows, "Looking for an exit?"

He let out the breath he had taken. "Cassie." He rubbed his forehead and kept his voice down as well. "Wear a bell, will you?"

Cassie smiled a little as she stepped out of the shadows. "That would defeat the purpose of my being a monk."

He studied her in bemusement. He had gotten so used to seeing her in black that her loose white tunic and brown leggings seemed completely out of place. He was also impressed; blending in was hard enough without wearing bright colors. "I suppose it would," he concurred. "If I wanted to go outside, how would I do it?"

"I can take you to an exit. You don't want to take Liang and Marian?"

"No. I'm just going to see my mother." He glanced at her. "You can come with me. I'm sure there will be some unease if I'm running around knowing where the base is."

She shook her head. "We trust you, Tyrian. Ophelia trusts you, so we trust you." She hesitated and then went with her heart. "And I trust you," she added softly. "I would trust you even if the others didn't."

He swung around and she walked into his chest. Before she could blink, his arms had gone around her waist. He buried his face in her hair and hugged her tightly. Trembling from the inside out, she slowly lifted her arms to wind them around his neck. He was so strong and solid. Unbreakable and indomitable. But she knew, knew, he needed her to keep him that way. Someone had to protect him.

"Thank you," he said softly. "You're the last person I'd ever want to doubt me." He eased back and skimmed his thumb over her cheek. "And I just want you to know that I trust you with my life." He smiled slowly. "Anytime you want to protect me very closely, feel free."

She cleared her throat. "Tyrian."

He released her, still smiling. "I never promised to make it easy on you." He caught her hand and swung her fingers up to his lips. "Come meet my mother. As far as she has to know, you're just a girl I met. Has anyone in town seen you around?"

"Well, no. But won't she think you're courting me? You're not, are you?" she asked warily.

"Of course not, Cas."

A frown darkened her face. "Well, why not?" He quirked a brow at her and she felt her cheeks heat. "Never mind! You're not allowed to court me, understand?" He was still smiling at her but she didn't push the issue. "We're just friends," she stressed. "Tell your mom we're just friends."

"I'll tell her we're friends, but not just friends. I've never lied to my parents." They had reached a wall, and he studied the nearly invisible ladder. Likewise, the trapdoor in the ceiling could barely be seen as well. "Will anyone see us?"

"I'll check."

He waited patiently while she seemed to disappear into the shadows. When she reappeared, he automatically tucked her hair behind her ear. "Well?"

"It's clear." His fingers were lingering warmly on her cheek. She almost helplessly turned her face into his touch. His hand slid slowly around to the back of her neck and tugged her gently closer. Wanting him, needing him more than air, her lashes lowered as he bent his head and gently brushed her lips with his.

It was the lightest, most tender kiss she could have ever envisioned, and it left some sort of imprint on her soul. She felt it. With that soft little kiss, he had marked her indelibly. She was in love with him. "Oh god," she whispered when his head lifted. "How is this possible?"

"I don't know." He kissed her again just as sweetly. "You don't have to be afraid, Cassie. It's one day at a time. When you're ready, then we'll move forward." He smiled. "Should I refrain from kissing you?"

She shook her head fiercely. "No. Oddly, it seems to help clear my mind. Actually, no it doesn't. It completely turns off my mind. But I think that might be why it helps me. I'm thinking too much and not feeling enough."

"Then in that case, I won't have to test my willpower. I don't think it would have held up to restraint for you." He released her and climbed up the ladder. He carefully pushed the door open and peeked out. It was still clear. He climbed out entirely and then waited for Cassie. As soon as she had joined him and the door was once more hidden, he took her hand and escorted her to the end of the alley.

It was barely dawn, but, being a farm town, people were already up and around. Tyrian's sharp eyes spotted several soldiers, but if they recognized him, they didn't say anything. Reading the tension in his shoulders, Cassie murmured, "You don't look like a nobleman right now. The tunic is too casual, and I look distinctly like a farm girl."

"Then this ought to help." He laced their fingers together. "I think I like blending in," he decided slowly. "There's something to be said for not having people look at you with expectations."

She studied his face to memorize every line and feature. "Are there a lot of expectations of you, Tyrian?"

"Where do you want me to start?" he asked, his voice sadly wry. "Ever since I was born, I was expected to train as a warrior. That wasn't so bad; I love the thrill of battle. I was born for it. But I've been such a natural leader—bossy is another word—that everyone expected me to follow in my father's footsteps. And they keep expecting me to be the best. So I am. Then they expect more."

"To the point where you wonder if people like you because you're you or because you represent something to them." She brought his hand to her cheek. "I expect you to be you. Stubborn, frustrating, giving, protective, loving, and brilliant. That's all."

A note of strain colored his voice as he said, "Keep saying things like that and you'll find yourself kissed senseless. I'll make up your mind for you." His eyes burned as he glanced down at her. "I have enough trouble keeping my hands to myself."

Knowing full well that his willpower was so strong as to keep him from giving in to even debilitating grief and that it couldn't be shaken by even the crumbling of everything he thought he had known, she realized that knowing she could obliterate his willpower simply by being there was very, very heady.

The house where his mother lived looked no different from his memories, even though he hadn't been back in two years. When he knocked and she opened the door, she looked no different either. "Can we come in?" he asked.

Annareal lifted a brow slightly. "You're asking? At your own home, you're asking?" She stepped back regardless to let them inside. "I'm not sure if it is polite or insulting, frankly." She studied Cassie with a mother's immense curiosity. "I don't believe we've met."

"This is Cassie. She's become my best friend in short time, and I thought you'd like to meet her."

Annareal's eyes dropped to where their fingers were still clasped. A little smile played around her lips. "You thought right. It's nice to meet you, Cassie. I'm Annareal Southerwind." She studied Tyrian's eyes and then her own gaze darkened. "So. It's true, about Ben."

Cassie held tighter to Tyrian's hand when his fingers tensed. "Yes," he said quietly. "It is. That's why I came back here. And, coming here . . . I see so many things wrong. What's going on, Mother? Why are the soldiers here like this?"

Annareal sighed and led the way into the parlor. She waited for them to sit down before taking her own seat. "I don't know," she finally said. "I want to say it just happened out of the blue, but it truly was so gradual that no one noticed until it was as bad as it is now. I didn't really notice because I don't pay taxes; your father pays them directly from his pay."

"Why is he letting this happen?" He rubbed his forehead. "It's just not right! How can beggaring cities and hurting people possibly help the Emperor?"

"You can't pretend to understand what goes on in a ruler's mind," she chided gently. "But you must follow your own heart, Tyrian. If you feel what is happening is wrong, then tell someone. You are respected. They would listen."

He took a long breath. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." She smiled at Cassie. "Feel free to come for dinner any time. Tyrian's . . . friend is always welcome in my home."

Cassie cleared her throat. "Thank you, ma'am." Sensing the sun rising swiftly, she squeezed Tyrian's hand. "We should be going, Tyrian."

"Of course." He got to his feet and leaned down to kiss his mother's cheek. "It was nice to see you. I'll come back for another visit soon." Holding tight to Cassie, he led the way out of the house. As soon as they were outside, he smiled. "She didn't believe that you were just my friend."

"Oh hush," the monk groused. She contemplated her words and then said slowly, "She was wrong about something. You, more than anyone, knows what goes on inside a leader's mind. You have the potential to be the greatest leader ever because you care about people, Tyrian. Your compassion is as critical as your intelligence."

"If you keep flattering me, I'm going to get an over-inflated ego." He swung her fingers up to his lips. "That or I might kiss you wherever we happen to be."

"That shouldn't be as tempting as it is," she complained as she led the way toward another alley and another secret passage.

"I warned you." He felt himself relax as soon they entered the catacombs, and he realized something he had not noticed before. Subconsciously, he had been tense the entire time through the village and his meeting with his mother. Here, in the base, he felt comfortable. In that moment, he made his decision.

"Lord Tyrian!" Liang said in exasperation as he came down the hall.

"What's with the 'lord' stuff?" Cassie whispered.

"He likes to pretend he's formal around other people," Tyrian whispered back.

Liang ignored Cassie's muffled snickers as he caught up. Hands on hips, he glared at Tyrian. "You should have woken me. It wasn't safe for you to go wandering around outside."

Before Tyrian could open his mouth, Cassie said with a touch of chill, "Yes, heaven forbid a Tenth Class Monk be capable of protecting him. Why should he even be trusted near her, let alone to be protected by her?"

She disappeared abruptly into the shadows. Liang grimaced. "I didn't mean to offend her."

"I think you unintentionally hit a sore nerve." Tyrian made a mental note to find out what it was. "But she did have a valid point. I'm safer with her than with anyone else. Of that I am absolutely positive." He began to head down the hall with purpose. "If you want to know, we went to visit Mother. I spoke of seeing the village in this state and she told me to follow my heart."

"And?" Liang asked it though he already knew the answer.

Tyrian walked into the meeting room where Ophelia and Kyle stood looking over a huge pile of papers. They glanced up inquiringly and Tyrian said without preamble, "I'm in. I have no reason to believe that anyone at the castle would listen to me. Despite appearances, I'm still just Donald Southerwind's son. But I can't let this go on."

Kyle gave a satisfied smile as Ophelia nodded. "I knew you'd feel that way," she said. "Come join us, Tyrian." When he had stepped up beside her, she gestured to the map. "This is the layout of the Empire. We share a Y shaped border with Melodina and part of Foresalia. But we can't expect help from either. Melodina is having its own internal discord and Foresalia hates us."

"We don't want to be depending on anyone for a rebellion," Tyrian said thoughtfully. "We'll be struggling enough to establish a new leadership without having debts to repay."

"You talk as if we've already won," Liang noted.

"Am I supposed to talk as if we've already lost? If so, then we might as well end here. I'm not going into this thinking I'm going to lose." He picked up one of the papers and discovered a roster. "We have soldiers from assorted places. How well trained?"

"Well enough," Ophelia admitted, "but not nearly on par with the Imperial Army."

"We can train them. I know how the Army operates." He dropped the papers. "I have a tendency to get bossy," he informed her. "Feel free to tell me to shut up if you think I'm getting too bossy."

She smiled at him. "You're a better leader than I. Already you're getting us more organized than we were before."

"Ah, so you joined us." Ewan sauntered into the room with Cassie and Kell following him. All three looked unusually tense and there was something dangerously pissed off in Cassie's eyes. "Glad to know you made the choice before you had none."

Ophelia's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

He tossed a poster onto the table. In bold words across the top was 'WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE.' Tyrian's picture blatantly sat underneath it. A reward of up to ten thousand gold or a lifetime free of taxes had been offered as reward. There was no explanation or any legitimate reason as to why Tyrian suddenly had a bounty on his head.

"What the hell?" Kyle snatched up the poster. "Where'd you get this?"

"They're being plastered all over town," Kell offered. "When I asked a soldier why a nobleman's son was being hunted, he said that the Emperor had determined Tyrian was a threat to the Empire itself. Apparently his new consort said Tyrian was destined to overthrow the Empire."

"Consort." Tyrian frowned. "That would be Lady Blaine. I've never met her before. I know of her, naturally. She made quite the . . . impression on the court when she arrived. She has the Emperor wrapped around her finger." Something flickered in his eyes. "She arrived little over a year ago."

Ewan's brows shot up. "Conveniently around the time the situation began to change."

"Seems so." Tyrian picked up the poster and calmly tore it in half. "It changes nothing. They'd have been after me as soon as I joined the Rebellion anyway. Maybe that was what she saw. If so, then I feel much more confident about our efforts, don't you?"

"He can make the absurd sound reasonable," Liang apologized to the others. "You'll get used to it."

"Where's Marian?" Tyrian asked.

"Flirting with R.K."

He sighed. "Would someone tell her to go turn her wiles on the merchants and get as many magic scrolls and medicines as she thinks she can get away with explaining? She can use my money."

Kell grinned and scuttled off much faster than a man of his age should have been able to.

"How many troops do we have?" Tyrian asked Ophelia.

"One unit's worth—one thousand soldiers."

Tyrian began to drum the fingers of his right hand on his left arm. Several pairs of sharp eyes noted the action. "We need more troops. But we won't get more people to leave the Empire to join us unless we look serious. We can't go anywhere near the Imperial Army as we stand. They have dozens of units. We need to start small and make big waves at the same time."

"So how do we do that?" Ewan propped his feet on the table.

"We take this city." Tyrian turned to Ophelia. "If we make a bigger show of rebelling and actually let everyone know definitively that's what we're doing, the people will believe us more readily. One unit is enough to hold this town. We rout the soldiers currently here and send those who surrender back to the Empire. If any want to defect and join us, all the better."

"You're that sure they would?" asked Kyle curiously.

"You don't have corruption only at the surface. It seeps into every crack. If the people suffer, then the lowest class soldiers will suffer too. Many probably came from towns just like Teasarn."

There was a long silence. Then, slowly, Ewan said, "It's so odd. When you say things like that, I believe you. If you told me I could storm the castle with a stick and a torch, I'd do it. I'd believe you until you were proven wrong."

Cassie leaned on the table. "This would also have another benefit. If there is an active showing of resistance and success from the Rebellion, then I will be justified in going to the Clans and asking for more help. If we can get even one or two units from the Clans, then we will be very well set."

"And other towns will be more inclined to aid," Liang noted. "What about the civilians in this town? The children in particular."

"R.K. and Kell have befriended all the children." Ophelia pulled out another paper. "We know all of them by name and age. For months now, the kids have known that if they see real fighting break out, they're to come to the catacombs for safety. More than any, the children can be trusted."

"Then I, Cassie, and Kyle will take Marian and work from the inside while our unit comes in from the outside. The Army unit will no doubt be arriving anytime." Tyrian sat down with a sigh. "After all, this was my last known location and they want me dead or alive."

Unable to bear the buried note of pain, Cassie stepped forward and put her hands gently on his shoulders. "Maybe your father doesn't even know yet," she said softly.

Kell and Marian came skidding into the room. "An Army unit approaches," Kell said bluntly. "They're carrying a flag bearing the symbol of the High General. The Empire isn't playing games."

"Tyrian," Ophelia said softly in pain.

He said nothing for long moments and then straightened his back. "Fine," he said calmly. "If anything, this is best. I know how the High General works and how he trains his troops." He got to his feet, his face carefully controlled. Only his eyes, and the darkness inside, belied the turmoil inside his heart. "They rely heavily on direct combat. If we attack with subterfuge, we'll have the advantage."

As Kell hurried to the barracks, Marian hissed out a breath. "This isn't right!" she said heatedly. "Why do we have to do this?"

"Because no one else will." Tyrian gave her an even look. "You can leave."

She glared at him for long moments and then walked over and hugged him fiercely. "Not a chance!" she said against her cousin's shoulder. "You're stuck with me. I'm not about to let you get into trouble alone."

A little tension left his shoulders. "Thanks, Marian." He looked at Ophelia. "What about you?"

"I'll stay here with R.K. and Kell and we'll keep the children safe. Ewan, will you and Dylan ride with the unit to command them?"

"Done." Ewan got to his feet and headed out, shouting for Dylan to join him.

Tyrian looked at Liang. "Go find my mother and protect her. If she wants to help us, great. If not, then she can be sent to the castle. If she's really such a potential distraction to my father, then that's all the better for us."

Cassie softly touched his arm. Heaven help the Emperor if Tyrian ever truly let loose of the bitterness he had been saving up for eighteen years. Her eyes lifted to meet Liang's and an unspoken message passed between them. "I'll protect him with my life," she said simply. "I can do no other."

Liang nodded slowly. "I'm beginning to see that. Very well." He turned and left the room.

Ophelia held out a small clear stone to Tyrian. "This is a Voice Relic," she told him. "If you equip it to your earring, you'll be able to use it to talk to us and vice-versa." As he took the relic, her eyes met his. "You call the shots. You know our enemy."

He nodded and removed the small earring he wore to fasten the relic to it. The earring was more than decoration; it was a highly advanced form of magical technology. It could hold small relic fragments—like the Voice Relic—that would allow him access to a multitude of extra amenities. Most, if not all, people wore them.

A soft beep heralded Ewan's voice from the relic as he said, "Enemy in sight. No sign of Donald Southerwind. A lesser lieutenant is riding at the front."

"What's your location?" Tyrian asked.

"Hiding around the edge of town."

"Wait for them to get within range of either arrows or magic, whichever you've got a better shot at landing. After the initial shot, don't wait for them to recover. Go in immediately. Take prisoner those willing to surrender, let those willing to run do so, and remove any who choose to remain and fight."

"I like how you think. Consider it done."

The soft hum faded and Tyrian headed for the nearest exit. "We're going up top to catch anyone who causes trouble inside town. Ophelia, the kids will be sent to you for safety as soon as possible."

"Done." She gave Kyle a soft and tender kiss. "I love you," she told him softly.

Kyle shot her a frustrated look. He had always felt there was something she hadn't told him, and now he was sure. Vowing to pin her down later, physically if necessary, he followed Tyrian and Cassie as they headed up to the streets with Marian close behind.

Pandemonium had broken loose up top. The units clashed outside the city walls with the sound and fury of a full war. The Army was not prepared for the sort of controlled, yet uncontrollable, fury of the Rebellion. For every Imperial soldier that fell, another threw down arms to surrender.

The soldiers in the city were on a rampage. They tried to attack anyone who got in their way, civilian or not. Most of the townspeople were smart enough to run for cover. Children mysteriously vanished from the streets.

Kyle drew his sword. "Which way?"

"Follow me." Tyrian drew his staff and started down the closest street. At the end, he spotted several soldiers trying to break down a door. "Cassie."

He didn't need to say anything else. Throwing stars appeared in her hand and she hurled them with all her might. Her aim was true. Two of the four soldiers dropped instantly. The other two whirled and attacked.

Kyle and Tyrian proved a formidable combination. It was only moments before both soldiers went down. Marian only had to heal a minor cut to Kyle's arm where he had deflected a blow from his head. Now knowing how they worked together, the party made their way through the city, sparing no mercy for those who wanted to fight but willingly taking captive those who surrendered.

They had just cleared the streets when Dylan's voice came over the relic, "We've routed them. The majority are running back for the capitol as fast as possible. We have about one hundred prisoners."

Liang came running down the street and skidded to a stop next to Tyrian. "Lord Tyrian," he said urgently, "I can't find Lady Annareal! I've looked everywhere! She wasn't at home and she hasn't been seen anywhere!"

"Tyrian!"

The panicked and very loud shout through his Voice Relic made Tyrian wince. "R.K.? What's wrong?"

"Hurry! The base has been breached! Hurry!"

Kyle went white. "Ophelia."

The nearest entrance to the base was a block away, and the panel had already been pried up. Heart in his throat, Tyrian dropped down inside and ran down the hall. He discovered R.K. and Kell at the end, wounded and covered in blood where they sat slumped against a wall.

Marian made a panicked sound and rushed to their sides. "Hang on, boys! I'll get you healed!"

"Hurry," R.K. managed to say. "Lady Ophelia is in danger!"

Kyle was already running down another hallway. Tyrian and Cassie followed him swiftly. The sound of children crying grew louder as did the sound of fighting. Swords clashing together and soft feminine cursing. Somehow Tyrian knew what he would see.

They entered the room and came to sharp stops as they saw Ophelia locked in combat with Annareal. The older woman was by no means weak as she skillfully parried and blocked Ophelia's attacks. A dozen children huddled near a wall in terror.

"Stop!" Tyrian ordered sharply. "What are you doing?!" He was already moving forward as he spoke, and his staff appeared in his hand.

"You can't have both of us," Annareal retorted. "Make your decision, Tyrian!"

There was no decision to be made and it reflected in his eyes. His disgust for his mother was plain and clear. In fury, she whirled and went after the children. Kyle and Tyrian both rushed forward and so did Ophelia. The males didn't reach Annareal, but Ophelia did, and she threw herself in front of the children. Annareal's sword went directly into her chest and all the way out through the back. The soft gasping sound she made permanently imprinted itself in the ears of those present. Even as she fell, the others leapt forward.

Annareal found herself grabbed around the neck, slammed into the wall, and held a foot off the floor by Cassie. "Y-you," she managed to gasp. "What are you?"

"I'm from the Monk Clans," Cassie said in an icy tone. Her grip tightened. "Time for a nap." She jerked Annareal down as she shoved up with her knee. The older woman gasped as the breath was driven out of her lungs and dropped unconscious onto the floor. "Tie her up," Cassie ordered Liang as he stepped into the doorway.

"Oh god." Kyle lifted Ophelia into his arms, his face white with pain and terror. Blood. There was blood everywhere. The wound in her chest looked wide and vicious, and it had gone clear through a horrific spot. Every living creature had a place on their body that equated to an instant death sentence if they were even wounded there. In Humans, it sat an inch to the left of the heart. No Healer, no matter how talented, could heal a wound in a critical zone. "Ophelia! Ophelia!"

Her eyes opened halfway. "The kids?"

"Alive," Tyrian said quietly. "Thanks to you." He was completely unaware of the hand Cassie rested on the back of his neck. Pain boiled in his heart, scalded his soul. "We won the battle. The Army retreated. We have prisoners. Your rebellion is just beginning."

She closed her eyes as she smiled. Her breath caught on a painful hitch and then smoothed. "Yours. It's yours, Tyrian. It was always meant to be yours." She carefully lifted a hand and he grasped it tightly but gently. "You have to free everyone. Please."

"You have my vow."

"I'm glad." She drew a ragged breath. The pain was going away. It really didn't hurt anymore. Everything was warm and quiet. It was okay. She had done everything. No . . . not everything. She needed to do something else. "Tyrian? I need you to say something," she whispered.

"What is it?"

"Askandi repulsin Devourer."

He went very still. "Why?"

"Please."

Softly, he said, "Askandi repulsin Devourer." He gave her hand a little shake. "Why? Ben made me say that once too. What does it mean? What's going on, Ophelia? Damn it, you can't die and leave us like this!"

She looked at Cassie who hesitated and then nodded a little. Her gaze then went to Kyle. Her eyes softened. "Kyle." She lifted her free hand to touch his cheek gently. "I never regretted loving you." Before he could say anything, her hand dropped and her entire body went slack. Her eyes slowly closed and her breaths stopped.

Ewan began to curse in a soft and vicious voice from the doorway. He had one arm around R.K.'s waist to keep the other man on his feet. He was healed, but blood loss could only be cured by time. Kell was leaning on Marian whose face looked utterly white with devastation. "No," she whispered.

Tyrian put down Ophelia's hand and got to his feet. "Take Annareal to a holding cell," he ordered, his voice quiet and controlled. "Ensure she carries no weapons and no way to get out. She is to be guarded by any two soldiers who won't be enticed by her pleas. Offer the other Army soldiers the option of joining us or returning to the Empire."

"Who is she?" Dylan asked harshly from behind Ewan with a sharp gesture at Annareal.

A bitter little smile curved Tyrian's lips. "Donald Southerwind's wife." He knelt to help Kyle stand. The swordsman had Ophelia's body clutched in his arms. "I won't let her down, Kyle," Tyrian said quietly. "Or you. You can hate me if you wish."

"I can't feel anything right now." Eyes as heavy as his steps, Kyle slowly walked out of the room.

Tyrian almost envied him. He wished he couldn't feel anything right then too.

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

Chapter 5->

Unraveling Stories - Chapter 3

<-Chapter 2

"I want to regain the innocence of my youth."

 

Kyle returned within a few minutes with a tunic for Tyrian. "Thank you," Tyrian told him sincerely. "I know you don't like me."

The blue-eyed swordsman blew out a hard breath. "See, that's the damnedest part. I do like you, and I don't know why the hell why. I know for a fact that you're dangerous to Ophelia, so I should really be hating you. But I can't seem to do it."

"Okay," came another male voice. "What's this about us being invaded?"

Kyle sighed and moved out of the doorway. "I said no such thing, Ewan."

As the newest arrival stepped into the doorway, Marian's eyes went wide. Liang lifted a brow. Tyrian could only blink, for once startled past his normal serenity. The young man standing behind Kyle was huge. He was six-seven, if he was an inch, and his broad shoulders filled the doorway. His face spoke of rugged lines that, while decidedly attractive, completely ruined any chance he might have had of being truly handsome in the way Kyle was.

He wore the casual clothing of a swordsman with arrogant ease, and a sword rested at his hip. His eyes were a clear shade of yellow-brown that matched his unruly brown hair, and he swept the room with a gaze that felt oddly piercing. "So," he said, and even his voice sounded more rugged than polished, "you're Tyrian Southerwind."

"Wow," Marian breathed. "Grizzly men do exist."

Kyle choked. Hard. Coughing fiercely, he turned away. His friend eyed him intently and then turned to Marian. With a smile that softened his face and a bow that would have done any nobleman proud, he said, "Ewan Grizmar at your service."

"An honor." Tyrian returned the bow. "As you guessed, I'm Tyrian. This is my cousin, Marian, and my mentor, Liang."

Ewan studied Tyrian intently and then smiled half to himself. He could see why Cassie was so taken with Tyrian. Oh, she hadn't said anything, but the way she had bolted out of the base to his defense spoke volumes. "Nice to meet all of you. Or as we say where Kyle and I are from, well met."

"Where are you from?" Liang asked curiously.

Something came and went from Ewan's eyes like a shadow of pain. Kyle touched his arm lightly, and Tyrian very nearly reached out as well. There was something about Ewan, and Kyle, that drew Tyrian to them as strongly as he was drawn to Liang and Marian. "The former Commune of Soldiers," Ewan finally said.

"Ah." Liang saw Marian and Tyrian frowning at him and explained, "The Commune of Soldiers is its own faction in much the way the Monk Clans are. A few years ago, the main village was erased by a rogue Vampire. The others have tried to pull together, but it's been hard."

"Vampire." Tyrian frowned thoughtfully. "I thought they were peaceful."

"Oh, most are," Ewan assured him. "Millennium Vampires, they're called. They have a valley hidden somewhere. They are very peaceful. But when they go rogue, they become evil. They can't go out during the daylight and they can't consume anything except the blood of the living."

"Yick!" Marian rubbed her arms to fight a chill. "I hope I never meet one."

"Yeah," he said softly. "It's not fun." He brushed off Kyle's hand and straightened his back. "Well, let's go find the boss lady. Once we meet with her, you can explore if you like." Blandly he added, "I'm sure Cassie would show you around."

Tyrian kept his eyes steady on Ewan's. "If she would like to."

They continued down the hall, and Ewan murmured to Kyle, "Gives nothing away, that one, but he's not secretive. I get the feeling he wouldn't be able to lie to a friend convincingly. Hell, I'm not sure he could lie to an enemy."

"Yeah," Kyle agreed quietly. "There's just something about him that gets to me. I think I can see, in part, why Cassie went running out to his defense." He added louder in a complaining voice as they walked into the meeting room, "You're not going to bring home every stray you find, right?"

Ophelia gave a ladylike snort as she looked up from the map she was studying with Cassie. "You're a farm boy at heart, Kyle. You wouldn't mind that much."

From the wall to the side, a rumbling male voice asked dryly, "How is it that opposites are so strongly drawn together? A farm boy and a noblewoman. Is it supposed to make sense?"

"Don't help," Kyle muttered as he sat down in a chair at the table. He jerked a thumb toward the speaker. "Tyrian, meet Dylan. Dylan, meet Tyrian Southerwind."

Tyrian studied the tall male sitting near a sewer grate. His eyes were hard emerald color and his hair looked more brown than blond. There was nothing about his appearance that looked overly attractive or trust inspiring, but Tyrian did trust him. Inexplicably, without question, and with the same strength with which he trusted the others. It was . . . curious.

"So," Ophelia said, studying Tyrian, "how old are you? What brought you to Teasarn?"

Something flickered in Tyrian's eyes. "Eighteen as of today. My older brother was murdered in this city. He made it back to the capitol by a miracle and died on the steps of the castle. He had been viciously attacked and drained of lifeforce."

"Shit," Dylan said so softly it was nearly inaudible.

"I don't suppose anyone saw anything unusual," Liang asked the room in general.

Ewan frowned. "I know I saw some of the soldiers acting odd. When did the attack occur, Tyrian?"

"This morning I assume. It's only a one-hour ride from here to Trinan. He left early, right before I met with Cassie. He returned not long after she left."

Cassie's sharp eyes noted the pallor under his skin and the buried grief in his eyes as clearly as if he had spoken about them. Pain stabbed through her heart. Her gaze lowered and she saw his knuckles had gone white from his fingers clenching the back of a chair. She moved forward without conscious thought, only sure that she had to comfort him. "Sit down," she told him, gently grasping his arm. "Before you fall down."

Tyrian sat down, and he was unaware of the lifted brows as he did so. When Cassie would have moved back, he took her hand. "No." Holding tight, he turned back to Ophelia and ignored her speculative look.

Kyle drummed the fingers of his right hand on the table lightly. "He had to have been attacked the instant he entered the city. The meeting wasn't that long, was it?" When Tyrian shook his head, Kyle leaned back in his chair. "Something smells rotten."

"That's why I came here. And . . ." Tyrian looked up at Cassie. "And I wanted to see what Cassie had been talking about." He turned back to Ophelia. "Because I am fairly sure the soldiers of the Empire know something of what happened to Ben, then I have all the more reason to distrust them. Why don't you tell me more about what is going on?"

"You'd help us?" Ewan asked idly.

"If you were in the right, and if the Empire was in the state you claim it to be, yes. I've already seen what has happened here. I lived here for sixteen years. My mother still lives here. I know it was not always like this."

"Kell?" Ophelia called.

An old man stepped forward from the shadows. On first look, he seemed quite fragile. He stood hunched over a cane, and his long white beard and snowy white hair showed starkly against his dark skin. Wrinkles lined his wrinkles and he moved so slowly that it was a wonder he didn't fall over.

"Do you need help?" Marian asked kindly as she moved to his side.

Tyrian smiled. He didn't know how he knew, but he knew it was entirely an act. "Don't bother, Marian. He's not as bad off as he proclaims."

Kell gave a surprisingly youthful laugh and promptly straightened up. His age didn't change, but the deceptive frailty went away with shocking swiftness. He gave a quick and graceful bow. "An honor to meet you, Lord Tyrian. I am Kell. I work for Lady Ophelia as an informant." He grinned cheekily at a flustered Marian. "Don't be embarrassed. I fool everyone on first meeting."

"No kidding," Kyle groused.

"Is he always grumpy?" Tyrian asked Cassie.

A smile lit her eyes. "Ophelia says he is."

Aggravated, Kyle said, "My fiancée has dragged me into the middle of a rebellion and postponed our marriage—twice! I had only just gotten to name my sword when we started this madness, and now I'm defending her life and her virtue at every turn! Of course I'm grumpy!"

"You only had to defend her virtue once," Dylan noted.

"And if you hadn't let her leave her sword behind when she met alone with that snake, it wouldn't have been at all!"

Ophelia sighed and smiled at Tyrian. "Kyle is often grumpy where the safety of his family is concerned, but he's also very outgoing and upbeat. He loves to live." Her eyes warmed when she looked at Kyle. "Perhaps it's one of the reasons I love him."

"Name your sword?" Marian asked.

Kyle nodded. "True swordsmen from the Commune of Soldiers are not considered adults until they are given the right to name their sword. Ewan gained his right five years ago but didn't bother to name his sword. I gained my right a year ago." He drew his sword and held it up so that the engraving in the blade near the hilt was visible. It read as only one name—Ophelia.

"Most people name their swords for someone they love," Ewan offered. "I've yet to meet anyone I loved enough to name my sword after."

"You seemed serious about Lena," Dylan offered.

A slow red color climbed Ewan's cheeks. He coughed. Hard. "So, Tyrian, what can we do to convince you?"

"Lena?" Tyrian asked delicately.

"She'd be Ewan's wife if he wasn't a coward," Kyle murmured with more than a touch of glee in his voice and eyes. "They had a very intense two-week relationship that made him go running for the hills. Last I heard, she's prepared to hit him over the head with a frying pan if he ever goes near her again."

"So," Ewan said again, this time with a touch of desperation, "what can we do to convince you, Tyrian?"

Kell offered a small spherical shaped glass globe to Tyrian. "This is a Seeing Relic," he said calmly. "I have been using it in various cities to record any events that might be of . . . value to us. You can trust what you see. I am a skilled informant. Hell, I've been a skilled informant since before your father was born."

"Are you wearing a relic?" Ophelia asked.

"No."

Startled looks instantly went to Tyrian from everyone present. "Really?" Kyle frowned. "But you have such a powerful magical capacity. I can sense it so clearly that I thought you had a strong relic."

Tyrian shook his head. "I've never found one that I was comfortable with, but I know that I'm quite strong." He picked up the Seeing Relic. "I should be able to use this without any conflicts."

The evidence of his strong sorcerer potential was clear when the Seeing Relic activated without him fusing it. It hovered over his palm obediently and began projecting images into the air over the table so that everyone could see.

It was disturbing, to say the least. A dozen cities scattered across the vast expanse of the Empire were shown to be in the same condition as Teasarn. Broken buildings, dirty streets, people living in alleys. Soldiers swarmed the crowds. The façade of regular life was simply that.

"So people in other cities are beggared, while people in Trinan live perfectly happy, unassuming lives." Marian's entire body quivered with barely leashed anger. "To think that we were all so happy and carefree while people suffered . . . !"

Liang let out a hard breath. "The evidence is damning indeed. And as much as I want to believe that there must be a reason for this, I can't convince myself that it is a good one." He looked at Tyrian, who was very quiet as he watched the relic. "It's your decision, Lord Tyrian," he said quietly. "You know that I follow you anywhere."

Tyrian put the relic down and the images stopped. With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. In that moment, he looked every inch the adult he had been forced into becoming far too fast. "I can't think at all right now. My head is so scattered."

It took every ounce of Cassie's willpower not to lean down and hold him. She bit her lip instead. Why couldn't anyone else seem to see how tired he was?

Ophelia saw Cassie's agitation as clearly as she saw the swirling darkness inside Tyrian's heart. Softly, she said, "Cassie? Take him to a room where he can rest. Introduce him to R.K. too, so he knows who to go to for anything regarding his quarters."

"No problem." Cassie lifted her hand as Tyrian got to his feet. Her eyes missed nothing of the way he carefully concealed his exhaustion and pain. Damn it, did he feel as if he had to hide everything? He didn't need to take everything on himself. "Follow me."

Liang started to get to his feet as they left the room. To his surprise, Ewan firmly put a hand on his shoulder. "He's upset!" Liang protested. "Surely you noticed! He needs someone to talk to or he'll keep it all inside! I've always been his confidant!"

Ewan shook his head with a smile. "Cassie can handle it. In fact, I think she should handle it. You saw them together, Liang. If they aren't in love before the week is out, I'll eat my hat."

"Week?" Ophelia smiled. "Ewan, they're already in love. They just don't know it."

All eyes went to the door. "Could be," Liang murmured. "Could very well be."

Tyrian looked around curiously as he and Cassie walked down the hall together. The underground base resembled an underground city built from a series of convoluted catacombs. He had never even known the catacombs existed. If he had, he would have definitely explored them. He loved to wander and see new places. "You guys have really gotten yourselves set up well down here. It must have taken a while to build."

Cassie glanced up at his face. He sounded normal enough, but the darkness was in his eyes again. Instead of answering the unspoken question, she asked, "Is the only thing keeping you on your feet that iron will I can sense?"

"Sometimes, yes," he admitted. He let out a hard breath. "I couldn't even begin to describe how much it hurts that Ben is dead. But I just . . . I just can't seem to cry or grieve. If I tried, then I might never recover. It doesn't make sense, but it's how I feel."

She hesitated and then went with her instincts. She reached out her hand and gently took his. His fingers automatically laced with hers, and the sense of belonging was so strong that both felt it as a literal spark between their flesh.

"How long are you to stay with the rebellion?" he asked.

She gave a little sigh. "It's . . . sketchy. I was assigned this task for as long as it takes to achieve freedom. If we are on the cusp of losing, I'm supposed to retreat back to the Clans to regroup."

"Nice of them to be so specific," he said dryly.

A little smile touched her lips. "Isn't it, though? But I suppose I'm not mad about it. Not as mad as I was. Things have . . . changed."

He glanced down at their fingers. "You're telling me."

She swung around a corner and let go of his hand. "R.K," she called as she approached a long counter where a young man stood, "Lord Tyrian needs a room." She turned to smile at Tyrian. "Lord Tyrian, this is R.K. He's our innkeeper. He keeps track of supplies and maintenance and the like. He also does a fair chunk of the cleaning."

R.K. gave a long-suffering sigh. "I need to find someone to help me. I'm wearing so many hats that I looked in a mirror and thought I was a coat rack." He offered a hand to Tyrian. "It's an honor to meet you, Lord Tyrian."

Tyrian shook his hand with a smile. "Likewise. You seem young for an innkeeper."

"I'm probably only a few years older than you," R.K. admitted. "But my parents were innkeepers, so it runs in the family." At the question in Tyrian's eyes, the innkeeper said softly, "They were murdered by Empire soldiers when they refused to give free room and board to the unit who had massacred the homeless shelter."

"I'm sorry," Tyrian said quietly. He held R.K.'s hand tighter. "I promise, no matter what I decide to do, I'm going to try to change things. Something's wrong. I know it is. So, I promise I'll try to make it better."

R.K. looked at him, a little surprised. "It's odd. Somehow, I believe you. I know you'll do it. You're very . . . inspirational, I guess." He nodded a little to himself as he handed over a key. "If you need someone to talk to, just let me know."

"I will, thank you." Tyrian looked at the key and saw that the number matched the number over one of the doors. He looked around for Cassie, but she seemed to have faded into the scenery. A little sigh caught in his chest. Her monk skills were going to be the bane of his existence. He was sure of it.

He managed to hold onto his composure until he got inside his room and had shut the door. He turned a lamp on low and looked around the small room. It was sparse, but comfortable. The bed looked soft and welcoming and a table had been heaped with books. He would have never guessed he was in a catacomb, under a city being brutalized by the Empire that had helped raise him. Ben would have loved the irony.

Pain stabbed through his heart. He slowly sank down until he sat on the floor. Shoulders shaking, he buried his face in his hands. He couldn't cry. He wanted to cry. He wanted to scream and rage, but he couldn't. All he could do was endure the waves of agony washing over his heart and soul.

Soft hands settled on his shoulders, and he looked up sharply to discover Cassie kneeling next to him. "How'd you . . . ?"

"I used the shadows to slip inside. It's a basic skill." She tenderly cupped his face with one hand. "You loved him."

His eyes closed. "He was my brother. Adopted, but after the first year, we both forgot. He was five years older than me. Liang and I found him after he'd escaped a brutal home. I was eight. We brought Ben home and my father and mother decided to adopt him. He was my best friend."

Her heart breaking for him, she leaned in and gently pressed her lips to his forehead. She couldn't bear to see him suffering. "I'm so sorry, Lord Tyrian."

His lips curved a little. "If you don't drop my title, I'll be forced to do something drastic." He opened his eyes and looked at her. She was soft and vibrant in the lamplight, burning with some sort of inner light that he felt rather helplessly lured toward. She was shorter than he was, even kneeling beside him. She should have seemed too small to protect him. But he felt . . . safe. If she was there, he would never be hurt. "Cassie."

Her eyes closed as his hand lifted to frame her face. "I'm supposed to be comforting you," she whispered. "I can't stop myself, Tyrian. I can't. I want to protect you so badly. I feel . . . I feel as if I was born for that sole purpose. When I saw you under attack . . . I went a little nuts."

"You looked amazing." He leaned in and lightly brushed his lips over hers. "I knew it was you. And I knew you'd save me. Even now, I feel safe near you. I should be thinking that you need me to protect you, but I don't." His lips teased hers again. "Tell me you're legal."

"I'm nineteen." The words were breathless and her hands dropped to his shoulders. She didn't know whether she wanted to push him away or pull him close. Her entire body throbbed with heat. Just the little brushes of his lips were driving her slowly mad. "I'm older than you are."

His lips curved almost wickedly, and she realized in shock that his intense seriousness hid a wildness and reckless danger as deep as the sea. He slowly pulled her closer, and his hands burned her where they curved around her neck and hip. "I like older women," he said softly, his voice huskier and deeper than she had heard it before.

"This is the biggest mistake I've ever made," she whispered in return. "Why can't I push you away?"

"Because I'm not the only one feeling it." His eyes met hers and he found himself falling into the blue flecks that glimmered like gems in the lamplight. "Where the hell have you been all this time?" he asked, and there was an aching loneliness in his voice.

It touched a chord inside her. She had never even realized that it had been his voice and his eyes she had been subconsciously seeking. On a desperate sound, she pulled him closer and kissed him wildly.

He tugged her onto his lap and deepened the kiss, his tongue hungrily thrusting past her parted lips. A low sound rumbled in his chest as her taste shot through him. He knew her taste. He knew the supple curves pressed so maddeningly against his body. His entire body was burning, his arousal throbbing painfully. He broke free of the kiss and buried his lips against her throat. Her scarf was in the way, and he impatiently removed it so he could taste her skin. "At the risk of being obvious, I want you like hell on fire."

She gulped in cool air but it did nothing for her control. Quivering with need, she dug her fingers into his tunic. "Yes," she managed to say, "that's definitely obvious. And I want you too. Oh this is madness!" She felt his lips moving across her throat and went deathly still as her heart skipped a beat. "Stop."

His head lifted sharply as he heard the fear in her voice. His eyes met hers and he lifted a hand to tenderly examine her throat. His eyes couldn't see anything in the shadows between their bodies but his fingers could. They found the thin scar almost instantly. Something volatile filled his eyes. "Tell me it was an accident." Her gaze dropped. On a rough breath, he caught her close and pressed her face to his shoulder. "I can't handle hearing about it now. But I want to know later."

"There won't be a later," she protested, although weakly.

He remained silent for several moments and then, with a smile, he let her go. "Alright," he said calmly.

Warily, she eyed him. "Alright?"

"I'm letting you have all the room you need to run. When you get tired of fighting the threads tying us together, I'll be waiting." He stole a quick but hungry kiss. "And I won't gloat or hold it against you. I'm willing to wait. I'm a very patient man."

And she was in deep trouble. She took a shaky breath and got off his lap. "One day at a time," she said firmly. "We only met this morning. There's . . . something between us. Neither of us know what it is. So we need to take it one day at a time. Before we even think of being lovers . . ."

He smiled. "Cas, we're already lovers. We just haven't consummated the relationship. We both know it."

Shaken, she looked down. "How is this even possible?"

"I don't know," he said simply. "But we'll figure it out. Until then, I'll stop pushing you. I won't promise not to kiss you, though. I'm not that strong-willed." A little dryly, he added, "My 'iron will' gives me the ability to withstand any event and keep strong in the face of deep emotional grief and trauma. It doesn't, however, seem to do anything to keep me sane about you."

"I better go." Before she climbed onto his lap and begged him to kiss her again.

"Might be a good idea." He caught her hand and brought it to his lips softly. "When's dinner?"

"In," her breath broke as his tongue teased the skin between her fingers, "in an hour or two."

"I'll be there."

She tugged her hand free and suddenly disappeared. Though the door couldn't open the way he was leaning against it, he knew she had left the room. He could feel her presence disappear, and it left him cold and lonely again. He closed his eyes on a sigh. Of all the rotten timing.

There came a light knock on the door. "Lord Tyrian?" Ophelia called. "I thought you might be feeling up to a walk with me."

He got to his feet and opened the door. Oddly, he did feel better. Cassie's unquestioning comfort and support had restored his balance. Nothing hurt other than his desire for her. "I might be amiable," he said by way of agreement.

Ophelia gave him a once over and hid a smile. "We have showers installed if you want to, uhm, freshen up before bed." Her voice was carefully neutral but laughter lurked inside. "The water's almost always cold, though."

He sighed. "Thanks." He fell into step beside her as she began to head down a hall. Much to his surprise, he felt very comfortable with her as if he had known her his entire life. "Where are you from, if you don't mind my asking?"

"I do not mind." She linked her hands behind her back. "I was born in Caschin. I lived there with my parents and my older brother until I was fourteen. My brother is about ten years older than I am. He's an amazing strategist and trains other students. When I was fourteen, our parents died from a plague. Matthias and I ended up traveling."

"Is that how you met Kyle?" he asked.

"Indeed! I'm eighteen, for your information," she offered, "and he's nineteen. Ewan is twenty-one. Anyway, when I was sixteen, we came across the new Commune of the Soldiers. Kyle was there. He . . ." she considered her words, "was a rebel at heart. A handsome prince who desperately needed a princess to rescue. I needed a prince."

"So you fell in love at first sight."

"Uhm, no. We fell in love after I beat him at swordplay and he demanded a rematch every day for a week until I lost my temper and threw him in a river." She smiled when he laughed at her. He needed some laughs. He was far too serious. "We've been together since. When I decided to form this rebellion a year ago, it was hard convincing him. He wanted to wait until I was legal and he could court me. I told him there was no time, so he asked my brother instead for permission, and Matt agreed. Being engaged meant Kyle was my legal guardian for the next few months until I was eighteen."

"And your brother went along with it because he knew how bad things were." He lowered his gaze. "I wish I'd known how bad things were. I still don't even know if I want to help the Rebellion or if I want to go back to the Empire and work on them from there."

"I won't force your decision," she said gently. "I firmly believe it is a decision that you must make on your own. But there is something I have to tell you." She took a little breath. "I always knew that when I met the young man with an indomitable spirit in his eyes that I would soon die. You are that young man. So I will die soon. Very likely, I will be dying for what I believe in, so I don't regret it."

He said nothing for long moments, then, "Does Kyle know?"

"No."

"Ewan or Cassie?"

"No."

"Because they would try to stop it."

"Indeed." She studied him. "You seem amazingly calm for a man who just heard someone tell him that he was the harbinger of her death."

"I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop," he countered wryly. "For you to be so calm tells me you expect something good to happen."

"Something good will happen," she assured him. "I can see it, Tyrian. Freedom for everyone. If I have to die to ensure the world will someday be at peace, then I don't mind it so much."

"And Kyle?"

"I'm not his soul mate." She smiled as she said it. "When I realized it, I was deathly jealous of whoever this mysterious girl that was meant for him was. But then I realized that . . . I don't have a soul mate. Not yet. Something inside me is incomplete right now. So . . . I'm okay. But I need you to promise me something. After I'm gone, let Kyle grieve. When you see the first sign of him pulling back up and on the cusp of being ready to let me go, tell him what I've just told you. It might be years, but will you help him?"

"Without hesitation."

"Good." She leaned up to gently kiss his cheek. There were no regrets in her heart and a curious calm existed inside her soul. Everything was happening just as it was supposed to happen. "Now then, about Cassie."

He sighed. "Neither of us understands a thing about what is happening between us. That being said, however, I'm giving her room to try to come to grips with it. I, of course, will be making absolutely no demands on her."

"Oh of course not," she agreed drolly, tongue in cheek. "You are, after all, a paragon of many virtues including patience and willpower."

His dark green eyes danced as they met hers. "How nice of you to notice."

With a laugh, she swung an arm around his waist. "Let's get dinner. You can help me keep Ewan and Kyle from getting into a food fight with Kell."

 

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

Chapter 4->