Ynyr (Tornians Book 3) (30 page)

“I understand, Captain Dai.”

“I believe he did Lord Ynyr.”

“Did what?”

“Name a superior warrior.”

“What?!!” Ynyr couldn’t hide his shock.

“You have always been an exceptional Warrior Lord Ynyr. The most talented I have ever had the honor of training. I will admit that I had my doubts when the Emperor first informed me of his decision. It shames me to admit that I had started to think about what the others were joking about.”

“You would have made an exceptional Lord, Captain Dai.”

“No. I would not have. I know who I am and it is not a Lord. I am a Warrior. A leader of Warriors. A Lord must be more than that. He must be able to lead more than Warriors. He must be able to deal with and solve problems that no Warrior would ever consider. I am not able to do that. That was more than proven to me in this room. I would have challenged and ended Oscosh for his insult. I would have ended Menawa for having been so careless in protecting my female. You did neither.”

“It would have caused strife within your ranks Captain, dividing an already fractured House.”

“Yes, but I would not have realized that until after it was over and done with. You instinctively knew it. It is something only a true Lord would recognize.”

“I… thank you Captain Dai that means a great deal to me coming from you, a male I have always greatly admired.”

“I am just speaking truth Lord Ynyr. I will do everything within my power to help you create a House so strong that every male presented in the future will wish he could have served under you.”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Abby tilted her head slightly to the left, then taking a step back, tipped it to the right. Did she like that statue there? Was it too much? Too little? Did the light hit it right? Goddess she wished Lisa was here. She would know exactly what to do.

“I think it looks amazing there.” Paganus told her. He had been watching her move this glass statue several times in the last few minutes. “The morning light passing through it is amazing.”

“You think so?” Abby turned her smile brighter than the sun.

“Yes, my Lady that is a statue of the Lower Goddess. She is said to represent light and warmth.”

“What was her name?”

“Name my Lady?”

“I’ve noticed how you always say ‘the Goddess’ and now you say ‘Lower Goddess’ but the lower God Daco, he has a name.”

“I… I do not know for sure my Lady. It is just the way it is.”

“Oh, turning back, she looked again at the statue.” It really wasn’t shaped like a human form it was more an oblique shape, but within it, as the light hit it you saw golden shapes appear that could be human. “Why do you speak of her like you are not sure what she represents.”

“Few speak of the Lower Goddess my Lady, she has been all but forgotten. Those that do remember her say it is because she did something that angered the Gods and that they have tried to erase her from our memory.”

“But you don’t know what.”

“No.”

“That’s sad, even for a Goddess, no one should ever be forgotten.”

“It is common for Tornian males my Lady.”

“Not for you. You remember your ancestors Paganus.”

“That is because my bloodline has survived. If I do not have offspring my bloodline will cease and all will be forgotten. That is why it is so important for a male to have offspring.”

“It’s not just for him then, like I thought, it is so that all that came before him are remembered too.”

“Yes.”

“Then we will have to make sure you have offspring Paganus.” Ignoring his shocked look Abby went over to start making the bed. Paganus was immediately there to help her. “So have you started to think about those you want to serve under you?”

“What my Lady.” Paganus stopped working on his side of the bed.

“Males Paganus. Have you decided what males you would trust to work in this Wing so that when Ynyr has time he can clear them?”

“You were serious?”

“Of course. I plan on filling this Wing Paganus, there is so much on the third level that… it will fill this House. It is going to take a small army to make sure it is properly cared for.”

“I… I will start on that immediately.”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

The next few days flew by for Abby. Ynyr still rose early and came back late, but he now told her all about his day, about which trainees were progressing well and which ones he knew he would be releasing when their week was up. Abby wasn’t surprised Quant was being released.

Cairbre had surprised her, returning with not only some pieces he thought she might like to use in their Wing until new could be created, but a stack of designs he had done and a large leather bound tome that contained his ancestors’ designs. Abby had been astounded at the detail and craftsmanship that she had seen. There had been thousands of designs for tables and chairs along with which room they were meant for including the banquet hall… Abby hadn’t even realized they even had a banquet hall.

Paganus informed her that it was in the empty Wing where they had stored the furnishing from this one. Past Rulers and their families had held great celebrations there. They would invite all their people, warriors and servants alike to join them. It had not been used for that purpose in centuries.

When Abby had asked what type of celebrations it was Cairbre who informed her there had been many reasons, Joinings, births, the Festival of the Goddess, but most often it had been used to announce an achievement or advancement of a warrior or servant.

“You mean like reaching Warrior status or being made Master.”

“Yes, my Lady,” Cairbre had informed her. “It was a way to announce it to all and celebrate the achievement.”

When she had asked why they had stopped Cairbre had just shrugged. “It became… irrelevant to the Lords.”

“How is recognizing another’s achievements irrelevant?”

Neither Paganus nor Cairbre had an answer.

Knowing Ynyr would not yet allow her to travel to all the different Wings and rooms of the House yet to see what furnishings were needed, she had asked Cairbre to and report back to her. That was when Paganus had informed her that Cairbre could, by carrying a comm, allowing her to see the rooms on her own comm as Cairbre did.

After some discussion, it was decided they would start from the outside of the Lord’s Wing as it was the core of the House and work their way out. And so they had begun the transformation of the House.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“No I think your right Cairbre, the couch needs to be larger in that room. The other design works better.” Hearing the door to the chamber opening Abby turned, a smile breaking out over her face when she saw Ynyr entering.

“Cairbre, that’s enough for today, if you’d get started on those items I’d appreciate it.”

“Yes, my Lady.”

Disconnecting she went to Ynyr. “What are you doing back? It’s barely past midday?”

“I needed to change coverings.” It was then that Abby noticed one of his sleeves was torn from shoulder to wrist.

“You’re hurt!” Abby’s heart began to pound.

“I am fine Abby, the shirt is ruined though.”

“What happened?” Carefully, she parted the material and saw that he was undamaged.

“One of the trainees was a little overzealous.” He wasn’t going to tell her that it had been Quant and that Ynyr was sure it had been no accident. No dagger ‘accidently’ flies out of the hand of a male at such a perfect killing angle. It hadn’t been thrown at Ynyr but at Mabon who had been training in the next group over. If not for Ynyr’s quick reactions Mabon would have met the Goddess this day.

“Overzealous?”

“Yes his dagger slipped while he was throwing it. There was no harm done, except to my shirt.” Leaning down, he gave her a gentle kiss. “The portable repair unit wasn’t even used.” Stepping away from her he went into the closet.

Abby knew Ynyr had made sure every Warrior now carried a unit and that every trainee was being taught how to use it. Ynyr was not going to let what had happened to Paganus happen to one of
his
trainees. He took his responsibility to them very seriously.

“You were talking with Cairbre when I came in?” Ynyr asked, his voice filtering out of the closet.

“Yes. He was showing me another room. Goddess Ynyr, I can’t believe how bad some of these rooms are. Bertos just shoved things into them without a care. This is one of the most important Houses in the Empire, but none of these rooms represent that.”

“Bertos only cared about himself. Has Cairbre found any more furnishings?” Ynyr was looking down buttoning his shirt as he walked out of the closet.

“No.” Abby pouted as she said it. The day before Cairbre had discovered one of the night stands that matched their bed frame. It had been stuck in a corner, another taller table over it and a couch in front of it.

“Don’t let it upset you Abby.” Ynyr watched her run her hand over the top of the table she had insisted go on
his
side of the bed. “If the other nightstand survived Cairbre will find it.”

“I know.” She looked up at him. “I know you need to get back, but do you have a minute for me to show you something?”

“For you my Abby, I will make the time.” The brilliant smile she rewarded him with made him realize he needed to give her more of his time during the day, he wasn’t sure how he could, but he would. When she turned away from him and pulled out one of the nightstand’s drawers he frowned. “Abby…”

“I want to show this mark.” Setting the drawer on the bed, Abby kneeled down and pointed to the spot, Cairbre had shown her, on the underside of the table’s top.

“There’s a mark?” Ynyr kneeled at her side having to duck his head low to look at where she pointed.

“Yes. It’s the ‘Maker’s Mark’. It identifies who made the piece and for whom. This one is King Varick’s and his Master Woodworker Fyodor.

Ynyr sat back on his heels. “It’s a sword. A blazing sword.”

“Yes.” Rising, she held out her hand to him. “There’s something else.”

Taking her hand Ynyr rose knowing he would follow her anywhere but when she stopped in front of the closed chamber doors he frowned. “Abby?”

Instead of answering him she lifted his hand drawing his fingers over where the mianraí dubh was in the wood.

“What?” Ynyr moved even closer to the door finally seeing what his fingers were feeling.

“When the first light of the sun or the moon hits it all the mianraí dubh begin to glow and it creates a blazing sword.”

“King Varick’s symbol.”

“Yes.”

“How did you discover this Abby?”

“By chance. I was waiting up for you that first night the doors were put back where they belonged and it just appeared. Ynyr???”

“What my Abby.”

“Have you given any thought to what you want the symbol of
your
House to be?”

“This is
our
House Abby you have as much say in our symbol as I do.”

“I…”

“You have thought about this.” Turning from the door he lead her over to sit on one of the new couches Cairbre had brought. “Tell me your thoughts Abby.”

“Well,” she gave him an uncertain look.

“Tell me.”

“Well, I’ve had a lot of alone time to think since we’ve arrived.”

“I am sorry Abby, I should have realized…” gentle fingers on his lips stilled his words.

“It wasn’t a criticism, Ynyr. I was just trying to explain how I reached the decisions I did. You are with me when you can be, like now and I’m used to being alone so I’m okay with it. Okay?”

“Okay.” Ynyr kissed her fingers as he spoke the Earth word.

“So I thought about what you told me about meeting the… Raiden and the Goddess.” Abby barely stopped herself from saying God remembering only at the last minute that he didn’t like that. “The kril Raiden gave you,” they had stored it away in the closet, “is that beautiful golden color.”

“The color of hunaja.” He said reaching out to touch her hair.

“Yes,” Abby smiled at him, “the same color as the kril he gifted Varick if Paganus’ legend is true.”

“Yes.”

“You descend from Varick’s first female.”

“Yes.”

“The doors that protected King Varick and his family have been restored to their rightful place, his protection ‘returned’ so to speak.”

“Yes.”

“And then there was the way the stones of the walls greeted us…”

“Greeted us?” Ynyr looked at her stunned for that had been one of the questions the Goddess had asked him, but he had never told Abby that. There was much he still had not told her.

“Well… that’s what it felt like to me. At least for a moment. You saw it too.”

“I did.”

“So… I think someone is trying to tell us something.”