Rod of the Heart

by Cebelius

  "I'm no mooch," he said sharply. "That's your money. You do what you want with it. I can make my own way. I'll talk to Yuri later and get my cut. That reminds me. Got something for Laina in the dungeon I think she'll like, and I owe her an apology."

  Laina quirked a brow at him and he said, "I stole your pack and one of your axes. The ax is ... a bit the worse for wear. The pack and gear I'll give back to you after I meet Yuri. They had to keep it all for me while I came to sort out the mess here."

  Euryale was shaking with suppressed laughter, and as he looked at her Terry saw her blue eyes twinkling as she smirked at him. She said, "Master, you are being silly. I have my trove with me. I haven't a clue how much a razor costs, but you've got several hundred pounds of copper, silver, and gold at your disposal, not to mention magical artifacts I've collected over the centuries. Have you forgotten? 'Everything I have, everything I am, is yours.'"

  Her smirk widened into an open grin as her serpentine tongue flickered out of her mouth. "In a very real way, you defeated the mistress of Monsoon. To the victor go the spoils."

  "Suffice it to say," Shy said, glancing from a fuming Laina to a smug Euryale, "money is not at issue. Your beard is ... interesting, but it needs to go. I want to see your face."

  "Same," Laina said with a definite nod.

  Euryale tilted her head as she considered him, then said, "I haven't seen his face without a beard, but I find it masculine. I wonder if he won't look too boyish without it?"

  Great, not only do I now have the girlfriend fashion police problem, but they can't even agree on what they want.

  "Putting that aside for now ..." He looked at Laina and asked, "Do you want to talk first or do the other thing?"

  She quirked her eyebrow at him and gave him a half-smirk. "'The other thing?' For a tough guy, you can be such a wuss. Let's talk first. 'The other thing,' can wait a little bit. This is important."

  Terry pulled up a chair and sat down as Laina outlined her concerns. She was a bit more circumspect with Euryale listening, but she got her point across, and by the growing nervousness on Shy's face, the dryad understood immediately what was at stake. Euryale's expression was inscrutable, though he noticed that more than half her snakes were watching him steadily as she kept her blue eyes on Laina.

  When the minotress was done, Euryale looked at him and summarized, "You are concerned about what will happen to others if you are killed?"

  "It bothers me, yeah," he said. "I don't want innocent people to suffer."

  "What will satisfy you?" she asked. "I know that I will out-live you, but even after your death I would not do anything to knowingly displease you. Tell me, and I will limit my vengeance accordingly."

  "If I die, I would ask that you find Laina and do as she tells you. I trust her moral sense."

  "And if she is dead? If all your women are dead? What then?" she asked.

  Terry opened his mouth, then closed it and thought. There were so many possible scenarios that it didn't seem there was any simple way to cover them all. Finally he asked, "Do you think I'm a good man?"

  "I suppose it depends on your point of view. From a human perspective, no, not really," Euryale said after a moment's thought. The tone of her voice told him that didn't matter to her in the slightest. "You sympathize with monsters and the world that cheats human heroes of their just reward. My understanding is that you want to destroy Thomas, who is himself trying to destroy Celestine. Celestine eats heroes for breakfast, and you know I hate heroes. Celestine itself is — in its own way — a monster, pretty though it is. The longer it lasts, the more heroes it will consume."

  He closed his eyes and hung his head. That wasn't what he'd wanted to hear, but at least she was being honest with him. It was true that he'd killed over thirty people yesterday — using Euryale as his weapon, granted — for the sake of his freedom. That he'd then been able to return them to life wasn't nearly as comforting a thought as it should have been, because he knew even if there were no way to restore them he'd have done the same thing anyway.

  So what's the limit? How many is too many? At what point is my right to protect myself not enough justification?

  His attention snapped back to her as she went on.

  "From a monster's perspective though, you're the best kind of man," she added, not missing a beat. "You want to save their world. You're a bit of a sap, but that makes me happy, because if you weren't I'd still be stuck in a cave and you'd be just another piece of rock in my collection."

  Euryale leaned forward, her blue eyes set on his as she said, "Master, I was terrified when we were together that you would realize just what you were doing. Maybe I shouldn't say this, but I know you. You've given me your oath. You're mine, just as I am yours, so I will tell you truly, you're fighting for the wrong team. If you were really a human hero, you'd have joined the Twilight Zone. There are no innocents, anywhere. This world is a purgatory for your kind, just like Tartarus was for the titans who survived the God's War. Maybe worse, because you have a chance to fall from the state of grace you died in. Thomas knows that. It's why he does what he does."

  "So absent any other instruction, what will you do if I get killed here?" he asked.

  "I'll go fight for whoever will give me vengeance. If one of the Powers or a minion of theirs kills you, I'll go to the Twilight Zone. If zone agents kill you, I'll fight for the Powers. I don't care who wins, so long as the one ultimately responsible for your death loses."

  Terry looked at Shy, and saw the horror on her face. He glanced at Laina, and saw the minotress looking steadily at him with an expression that told him her worst fears were justified.

  "Here are my instructions then," he said, turning his eyes back to Euryale. "In the event that you and I are the last, take no vengeance at all. Maybe you're right, and I'm not serving humanity's best interests anymore. It's quite possible that if I had a proper moral compass I'd go help Thomas destroy this world so other men aren't deprived of their just reward. But right now, I don't know what I don't know. There may be more to this than anyone has figured out, so all I have to go on is what I can figure out for myself. So far, I'm certain that Shy isn't evil. Laina isn't evil. The world that produced the kind of goodness they've shown me doesn't deserve to be destroyed, so if I can, I'll keep that from happening."

  "I AM evil, Master," Euryale said quietly. "What of me?"

  "I don't think you're evil either," he said. He reached out and took one of her claws, its cold metal fingers intertwining with his on the table. "I told Laina earlier that I don't believe you're evil. I think you're very, very powerful, and that kind of power makes it hard to see the little things. I don't know if it was conscience that kept you in Monsoon, but I can't imagine it being anything else. You recognize your curse for what it is, and sought not to inflict it on the undeserving. If I ever find a way to lift your curse, I'll do it, Euryale. I want you to be happy, but more than that I want you to be happy with the good things in life, and I know you can be if given the chance. All you have to do is want it, and work for it."

  "Before you that was impossible," she said, her blue eyes boring into his. "Now do you understand why I love you?"

  "I'll try and live up to that love, Euryale, but if something goes wrong, I want you to act based on my desire to protect Celestine. There is good in this world, and it's worth fighting for. I understand if you can't bring yourself to serve the Powers — hell, I won't serve them either — but at the very least, I'm going to ask you never to join the zone."

  "What if you join the zone?" she asked. "You know I will follow you anywhere. You're entitled to change your mind. These others may abandon you for that, but I never will."

  Terry kept his attention riveted on Euryale. He couldn't bring himself to look at the other two women, and knew it was important that the gorgon understand this was his decision alone.

  "If I join the zone, kill me."

  Euryale's already thin lips practically vanished as she gave him a hard look, as though s
earching for the depth of will behind his words.

  "You're asking me for the impossible," she said at last, shaking her head. "If you join Thomas, I will continue to serve you, Master. No matter that you are a hero or a villain, a good man or an evil one, you are mine, and I am yours. I am selfish. That will not change, and you are my everything. I would do anything for you ... but I won't do that."

  He sat staring into her eyes, utterly at a loss. When she had offered herself to him, he had been unable to fully grasp the import of her promise, her oath. Now it was driven home that she truly was his responsibility. It was up to him to make sure that she didn't turn to evil.

  'This vow I make to you now will be my bond and your burden to bear ...'

  She knew. She always understood what she was doing.

  "Euryale," he said, the words coming slowly. "Help me protect the ones I love. Help me protect Celestine. Help me stay the course I've chosen. Please."

  Her smile returned as she got to her feet and leaned across the table to kiss him, whispering against his lips, "I can do that."

  He leaned back and looked at Laina as he said, "And if Laina opposes my decisions ... ask yourself which of us is doing the right thing with respect to what I want now. If she's right, back her up. Same for Shy."

  Euryale quirked a brow at him and smirked. "You trust them that much?"

  "Yeah." He looked at Laina and nodded as she looked at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. "Yeah I do."

  The gorgon shrugged and leaned back into her seat. "As you wish, Master."

  Turning his attention to Laina, he asked, "That's the best I can do. Satisfied?"

  "I don't want that kind of responsibility!" Laina said, not quite shouting, but close. "None of us has that kind of authority!"

  "You do now. Own it," Terry said, shrugging. "Look, Laina. You came to me wanting my help, and I gave you what you wanted. Now I need something from you. This is give and take. If you're in this for the long haul, then you need to be all in. I'm not going to stop. If you want out, any time, you can leave. You got what you wanted from me and saved my life at least once in return. We're square. As long as you stay though, I need your support. I need to know that what I'm doing is the right thing. Right now I'm pretty damn sure if I do something that makes you want to leave, I fucked up. I've fucked up enough in my life. I'd rather not make mistakes I can avoid."

  Laina frowned at him as her brows drew down, but then she nodded. "Fine, Boss. It's not like I was ever going to bite my tongue anyway if I thought you were screwing up."

  "Attagirl."

  "But in future, if you want my opinion on your plans you're going to have to tell me those plans in ADVANCE," she said, reaching out and thumping his chest with a finger. "No more, 'Show time!' and kill-a-whole-bunch-of-people surprises. As for that bitch naga, I understand. She was nuts. But don't do that to me again."

  He nodded. "That's fair."

  Glancing over, he looked at Shy and said, "How about you?"

  Shy was looking at Euryale, who stared steadily back at the dryad. He knew the two could see each other. Shy was — after all — the ultimate owner of the mask Euryale wore. Now though, her expression was reserved. She nodded at length and said, "Laina was right to bring this up. I admit I hadn't thought that far ahead. Euryale, I hope you don't hold our fear of your power against us."

  Euryale shrugged. "Anyone who isn't afraid of me is ignorant or stupid, I get it. I just hope eventually you understand that my unconditional love of my master extends to you as long as he loves you. I refuse to be a burden to him, any more than my power demands. It makes me feel good that Laina understands just what I'm capable of, and is still willing to give me a chance."

  With a final glance around at the three of them, Terry spread his hands.

  Best I can do ... and I admit, it's a weight off my mind.

  "With that out of the way, Laina and I have some business to attend to," Terry said, pushing back his chair as he stood up and offered the minotress his hand. "I'm hungry, and I know what I want for breakfast."

  Shy made a rude sound as she stifled her laughter and stood, only to raise her eyebrows as Laina waved her back into her seat, her eyes locked on Terry. "Sorry, Shy. I need some alone time with my man. It's not like I won't have enough."

  "Am I missing something?" Euryale asked, glancing around.

  """Yes."""

  Terry and Shy chuckled while Laina turned to Euryale and added, "Shy can explain."

  She then reached out, set a hand on Terry's back, and shoved him toward one of the side rooms. He held his hands up in mock surrender, and went quietly.

  5

  Go Hard or Go Home

  Laina closed the door behind them as Boss found and assembled the items they'd need. Laina had prepared them before she'd gone looking, and nodded in satisfaction.

  "Boss?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Thanks." Laina reached for her buckle and loosened it, then tossed the belt and her loincloth aside. "I didn't know what to expect. Makes me feel good to know that you care what we think. What I think."

  He turned to her and she lifted her arms as he found the end of her sarashi wrap and began loosening it. His expression was thoughtful, and Laina resolved again to make him get rid of that damn beard. It hid too much of his face and she wasn't looking forward to the way it would tickle her skin.

  "Back when we were waiting for you to come back to us, that first night out by the river, Shy told me not to fall in love."

  Laina blinked, but he kept speaking, so she held her peace.

  "She told me that if I fell in love it would keep me from doing what she needed me to do. I had no stake in this world when I showed up. She saved my life. Going up against the Twilight Zone was her idea, but I took it for my own out of gratitude, and because it seemed right at the time."

  He glanced up into her eyes, and she merely nodded for him to go on as the wrap came away layer by layer.

  "I always knew that of all of us, you're the practical one. Now I know you're the moral one. I ... really need your help. I worked my whole life trying to be the man my father never was, the man my family needed me to be."

  He paused, and pain crossed his features. "In the end, I don't know if I did right, or if it was enough, and now it's too late. I can't fix that, and the idea that I might have done better if I'd had someone to help me makes me wish ..."

  He trailed off, shook his head, and went on. "Anyway, it means a lot to me that you're here. That you can help me stay on the right road. Here, on Celestine, I'm lost. I really don't know who's right and who isn't. Given what little I know I can understand why Thomas is doing what he's doing. But for you and Shy, I might have gone down that road instead. I need you both to keep me grounded, so I'm going to rely on you. You're a good woman, and I'm lucky you found me."

  Laina didn't know what to think. She thought through what he'd said and it clicked.

  "Did you just ... wow, that was the longest, most roundabout 'I love you,' I ever heard, Boss."

  He laughed, and pulled the last of her wraps away, releasing her breasts. They were so taut with milk that it barely made a difference. He grinned as he looked up at her and said, "Yeah, I guess it was. I love you. Hope you don't mind me not being—"

  Laina bent at the hip and kissed him to shut him up. Her tongue invaded his mouth as she set her heavy arms across his broad shoulders and held him for a moment.

  "You talk too much," she said as she finally released him. "Do your job."

  He gave her a sardonic grin and cupped one of her breasts, then set his lips around her nipple and began to suck.

  Initially it felt as though he was just building tension up inside her, but all at once that tension eased as she felt a rush of sensation. He let out a soft groan of satisfaction and his throat worked as he drank from her.

  She cupped his head, but didn't press. The feeling of having her man drink from her was euphoric. She enjoyed Shy's attentions too, but having him do it felt di
fferent. She knew he still wasn't entirely comfortable with it, but that he was willing to put his inhibitions aside for her was something of a rush all its own.

  Her eyes grew heavy-lidded as she felt the flow from her to him, and the look of obvious enjoyment on his face was deeply satisfying. This was his true gift to her. Being able to feed her family was the one thing she'd always feared she would never have, and now, with him, she had both the means and the family. Did she love him?

  Yeah ... yeah I do. He's strange and he's not anything like what I dreamed of when I was little. He's silly in some ways, cold in others, but he's strong, he loves me, and he's mine.

  Eventually he let her go and tipped his head toward the stool he'd toed into place. Laina nodded and knelt, then leaned forward onto her hands as he set a bucket under her and wrapped strong hands around her breast. She lowed as those hands worked, and the relief as he milked her came in waves.

  His hands are so strong ... feels so good ...

  For the next twenty minutes her thoughts didn't go much past feelings of release and relief as he worked.

  When it was obvious he was just about done, he said, "So ... 'Cowhand?'"

  The name sent a jolt through her, and she tipped her head to look back at him as, with one last squeeze, he finished.

  "Are you serious, Boss? You sure know how to ruin a mood."

  He chuckled, reached for one of the damp towels, and she leaned up to let him wipe her down.

  "Laina 'Cowhand' Lowe. Here you were letting me think you weren't any kind of fighter, that you didn't have any appreciation for your own power, and the whole time you were sitting on an undefeated eight and oh in the fight games. You been holding out on me."

  She let out an aggressive low and turned, catching him under the shoulders. She hoisted him up as she came to her hooves and launched him back onto the bed. He bounced once, then she had him pinned. She stared down into his face as he looked back up at her with a cocky grin. She glared at him, but couldn't keep it up and shook her head ruefully.