by M. K. Eidem
“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.”
“What are they trying to tell us Abby?”
“Well, one, they are glad we are here and two that our House color the color for House Rigel of Etruria should be hunaja and finally that our House’s symbol should be the blazing sword, signifying the return of the one true and rightful heir.” Abby held her breath waiting to hear what Ynyr thought as he stood and began to pace. It was something she’d learned he would do when he was thinking but only in private. In front of others, he would remain perfectly still.
Ynyr wasn’t sure what he was thinking or feeling. Everything his Abby was saying felt right, perfect almost but there was something… Ynyr was searching his mind it was something the Goddess had said but what was it? Just as he thought he found it his comm went off and it was gone.
“Yes?” He demanded impatiently.
“My Lord, you wanted to be informed when we would begin testing.” Korin’s voice came over the comm.
“Yes, I’ll be there in a few minutes. Do not begin until you see me arrive.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“I have to go Abby.”
“I understand.” Rising, she went to kiss him goodbye.
“I agree with your ideas my Abby. It will be done. House Rigel of Etruria shall now be represented by the color hunaja and a blazing sword.”
“It will?” Abby asked, beaming up at him.
“Yes. Tell Cairbre to create a mark for our furnishings.”
“I will. Ynyr?” She asked as he turned to leave.
“Yes?” He looked back to her.
“Have you talked to Ull yet?” She saw a flash of something she didn’t understand in his eyes before they went blank.
“Yes. He said he needed time to consider it.” And with that he left.
Abby’s eyes followed Ynyr as he left the chamber. What did that mean that Ull was ‘considering’ it? What was there to ‘consider’? Ynyr was Ull’s brother. Ull’s brother needed help. You helped. Spinning on her heel Abby went to the comm.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Isis spun around trying to figure out where that strange beeping sound was coming from. Finally, she realized it was coming from her comm unit she had placed on the dresser.
‘Oh Goddess!’ She thought. ‘Someone was calling her!’
Picking it up, she frantically pressed the button not wanting whoever it was to disconnect.
“H… Hello?”
“Isis? Is that you Isis?”
“Abby!” Isis’ happiness and excitement came through the comm.
“Hi Isis. Hey push the green button and we can see each other.”
“We can?”
“Yes. Kim forgot to tell us that. Lisa told me when I talked to her a few days ago.”
“You needed to talk to Lisa already?” Isis found the button and Abby’s beautiful face filled the small screen. “You are having problems?”
“Not with Ynyr. I needed to know how to decorate a House that is entirely made of black stone. Isis!” Abby suddenly frowned. “What happened to you?”
Isis gave Abby a startled look, she had forgotten she had yet to fully dress. The comm was apparently showing the fading bruises on her arms. “It is nothing.” Setting the comm down, she pulled on a robe, covering her arms before picking it back up.
“Isis!” Abby shouted.
“I am still here Abby.” Isis reassured her.
“What happened?!! Did Oryon hurt you?” Abby didn’t want to believe it, Oryon had seemed so caring with Isis, but then didn’t most abusers put up a front?
“Of course not! My Oryon has never once in over twenty-five years put a hand on me in anger! How could you even think that!” Isis had to take a deep breath to calm herself.
“Because he never lets anyone else near you. If not him, then how are you bruised?” Abby whispered.
“There was a fire within the House several days ago. During the confusion, I fell into a wall and was bruised. I am fine.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. Oryon immediately called for the Healer. These will be gone by midday. Now tell me daughter, was Lisa able to assist you?”
“Some, we got sidetracked when I asked her what I should do with all of Risa’s things. I still can’t believe how crammed full her level is.”
“Yes, well she did have five males.”
“I know… crazy… but I think I’m really going to like selling a lot of it and using the proceeds to help the people of the Etruria Region.”
“You would use it to benefit others? Not keep it for yourself.”
“Goddess no! Do you know how much is up there? Well of course you don’t, but it’s more than any female could possibility need in ten lifetimes. Just think Isis, the things Risa treasured most will be used to help those she considered unfit.” Abby couldn’t stop the giggle that escaped.
“She will be screaming her rage to Daco.” Isis said and found herself laughing at the thought.
“Yes. I think the Goddess would approve.”
“So do I.” Isis agreed. “Your mind, it is slightly twisted Abby… I like it.”
“My mom always said when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”
“I do not understand this saying.”
“Well, at its most basic it means you take something bad and useless and change it into something good and useful.”
“As you are going to do with Risa’s things.”
“Yes.”
“If she had even half of what I think she had… you will be able to do great good with them Abby.”
“That is what I am hoping to do but I’m going to need your help Isis.”
“Mine?” Isis asked shoc
ked. What could she possible do from Betelgeuse?
“Yes…” Abby went on to tell Isis about what had been happening in their new House. Well, not everything, she didn’t tell her about Ynyr’s meeting Raiden and the Goddess, but she did tell her about what Ynyr was struggling with.
“I… I never gave that a thought…” Isis whispered.
“I don’t think anyone did. Ynyr is working so hard trying to do it all, but Isis, there is only so much time in the day. That’s why he called Ull and asked for his help.”
“Ynyr did?” Isis couldn’t keep the shock out of her voice. “What did Ull say.” She demanded.
“That he would ‘consider’ it!” Abby spat out. “Ynyr doesn’t have time for Ull to ‘consider’ it Isis. He needs his brother here! Now! At his side! He needs Ull, someone he knows and trusts, to support him now, the way Ynyr always supported him!” With each sentence Abby’s rage grew at Ull’s total lack of loyalty to his brother.
Isis was slightly taken aback at Abby’s anger that Ull wasn’t there. A Tornian female would have demanded Ull never be allowed near her or the House she resided in after the way he had spoken to her.
“You… you wish Ull to be there?” Isis asked hesitantly.
“It’s not that I ‘wish’ him here Isis. Ynyr’s the only male I want. Never doubt that.”
“That’s not what I was insinuating Abby, I know Ynyr is the only male for you, the way I’ve always known Oryon is the only male for me. What I meant and expressed badly is that many would not allow a male into their House that had spoken so… harshly to them.”
“I know Ull is upset about not being chosen Isis, but he is Ynyr’s brother and that makes him family and family is important. No one knows that better than me.” Abby’s anger dissolved as she thought about her family.
“I am sorry Abby. I did not mean to make you remember all that you have lost.”
“I will always remember them Isis,” Abby felt her eyes fill, “and when Ynyr and I have offspring I will tell them about them. They deserve that.”
“Offspring… are you…”
“No!” Abby started to laugh, wiping away her tears. “Goddess Isis, give us a little time, we haven’t even been here a week!”