by Melanie Ray
"You're grandmother was a princess." Well, that explained the purity for her.
"Sworn to secrecy. Her family rejected her existence. She settled down, married my grandfather and then they had children." Ezra wiped her eye and sniffed. "King Sheward knew, and he still called for the family's extermination. His own blood, without a word."
"King Sheward." Yed remembered how time screwed up his own head each time he left. "Time messes with the head, there's no telling whether he remembered that or not."
"I don't care." Ezra moved his hand and proceeded to walk again. "It doesn't matter now."
"Can you really raise Regwallis fairly with that kind of history?" Yed questioned her. "His father-"
"-was repulsive, but he's not the same. Regwallis is different, I can feel it. Can't you?" Ezra turned to him. "He's spirited, but he's so much better. He deserves a family." She laughed. "Not that it helps much if we all go, but it's a nice thought."
"Exactly." Yed's smile returned. "That's hope, and you've got a tiny bit left. Focus on that."
"I can only try, but I don't want to be referred to as Queen Ezraponia," Ezra said again. "Haven't you explained that?"
"To him? He doesn't listen." Yed shrugged. "It's probably easier knowing there is still a king and queen of the kingdom. Even if we deny the part. King of a falling kingdom, not something you really want to claim."
"Not by a longshot," Ezra agreed. "Sorry I had to hide it from you."
"Hey, at least you weren't secretly having my children. Secrets aren't easy to keep," Yed admitted, "I know that. I'm glad you told me."
"It's not a big deal anymore." Ezra shrugged. "Although, I guess if we do make this through? We won't have any choice but to accept the throne. Regwallis is too young."
"Uh?" Yed's eyes darted straight at her. That hadn't even registered with him. "Well, it's better than death. Maybe we can take on a role of instruction guardians for King Regallis as he ruled?"
"Which is still?" Ezra laughed as his face scrunched together. "Don't worry, most likely we'll all die."
"Death or ruler. Tough choice." Yed kept the atmosphere light. "We better head back up closer. If there's an attack, I want to be near."
"Yes, as long as you take Carressella off around your neck before engaging in battle." Ezra looked at Carressella in the basket. "We're so helpless, we need baskets to carry our children. I doubt you'll be able to do much if we were attacked."
"Don't underestimate me. I was trained for everything, including primal." Yed stopped a second, and showed her his freed hand. "As long as I can grip and control one hand, we have a chance."
"Sure." One hand? Maybe for one, but if more waryes came like at Golden Wood? Even having his entire body back to normal might not be able to save them. Even the other Protectors couldn't survive, how could Yed? He couldn't. Still, Ezra smiled. He could make anyone believe that he could do anything, even if there wasn't a chance he could.
Like now. They were following a rhyme to save the warno race. Seriously? Yet he went on, and even tried to convince her to have some kind of hope. Funny. It was one of the things she had loved about him. Even as a child learning to be a Protector, he had never acted like an amateur. He had acted like he was a Protector, and even demanded to hold that title before it became official.
Then again, it was a future version of Carressella from a different dimension who wrote it, and Guy did change back into a warno. Full blood-drive waryes, like any other, now a warno. Oh, see? Yed did it again. Ezra found a little more faith. One more round of faith. One more time to believe that the sun wasn't ready to set on the warno race yet.
Just have faith, one more time.
Chapter 82
IRI’S CHOICE
Iri wished she could comfort her husband.
"No, no, no, no." Xiam stared ahead, banging his head into a wall, repeating the word over and over. He hadn't traveled through time, that required more technical equipment. His mind was still seeing different worlds, and different times.
She wanted to wrap her arms around him. She yelled out that it was okay several times, but she had been chained to the wall on the other side of him. She couldn't touch him, couldn't give her husband the warmth and support he needed. His mind was alone, traveling to different dimensions. She didn't know how much he had seen, but he was getting worse. His eyes were losing their luster and becoming lighter. She was afraid for her husband's sanity. "Xiam, please, fight it!"
What was that awful king going to do with her husband? He was sweating, and his eyes were so far gone.
"No, you betrayed. You betrayed." Xiam's words continued to repeat. "You, no, no." A few more words muttered, but nothing sensible.
Iri could only watch as her husband lost his mind more. There was nothing to stop it from possessing his mind. Waryes thrived on other people's misery, which was probably why she was sent there. Having to watch but being unable to help, there was nothing worse in the world.
She watched as King Fayu approached with two guards on his sides. If only someone were here who could trample him. He smiled oddly at her. Waryes were capable of smiling? She would have questioned it further, but she was more interested in what he had planned for her husband.
"How is he doing?" King Fayu came closer as Xiam mumbled, banging his head on the wall. "Looking good it seems. Have you seen the world your Protector left you in to die on your own? Females taken once again, why had you even bothered to save your family. Have you visited the world where he made you murder him? That was an interesting time."
How did he know so much? Iri pulled at her chains, knowing they wouldn't break, but a signal that she didn't agree with what was going on.
"Don't worry, he'll be fine. Smiling and right as rain. Do you know that saying, right as rain? Popular on Earth." King Fayu approached Iri, his guards moving closer into him. "I had to kill myself in numerous times over on that planet. It's where he spent most of his meddling moments." He rubbed his face. "I'm afraid I've finally gotten bored of it."
"Then stop," Iri growled. "What does it matter what's going on in different dimensions?"
"Oh, you wouldn't understand unless you traveled. Once I tapped the power of time travel, I wanted it again and again. Watching the Protector squirm from dimension to dimension, it was great. A high I could only enjoy until he died. Then when he died, I'd go to another dimension. But things are changing." King Fayu approached her closer. "The power I tapped into gave me a long life, but I can feel it slowly ebbing away. I'm getting tired, and I want to stay and enjoy my reign now. This is home, no more skipping."
"You talk too much," Iri complained, "and I don't want to listen." Brave or foolish, all she could think of was the suffering Xiam was going through.
"Don't even care about your own welfare, just your husband? Shame. I suppose marriage is out of the question?" King Fayu laughed.
He had better be kidding. "I'd rather die."
"You may not get that option. If I wanted, I could turn you right here, right now into a mindless savage beast with no remorse. Just, with a few shards of pink inhibitor." He presented the inhibitor to her. "It would work wonderfully, only one thing. Once you cross the line, you never cross back, and warnos have to breed with waryes. It's a flaw, that even after all this traveling, I cannot..." His joking attitude disappeared as he banged his fist next to her head. "I could not find the answer! I've traveled to thousands of different dimensions, and I couldn't find it. Why can't we breed without you sniveling, stupid warnos?" He humphed. "Marriage is only a pleasantry anyhow, doesn't matter. I could still bear a child with you. DNA doesn't follow the law."
Iri started to struggle even more. "You wouldn't dare."
"Oh, I would. I've even tried to nab AnoNymous before. Tricky little wench eluded me, but anything to make Protector Yeducavich even more pissed, it's what I always did. The madder he would get, the less he saw the true objective. Driving his best friend mad, while at the same time bearing a child with his best friend's wife
? Or maybe, there is something else we could agree too?"
King Fayu looked over toward Xiam. "I'll let him go if you agree to stay and bear me a child. I need someone to continue to rule after I'm finally gone."
Iri felt something in the back of her throat. She was so repulsed that she was ready to throw up. Xiam. Betray Xiam to save him? "How do I know you'd do it?"
"Oh, that's easy." King Fayu went over to her husband, and moved the inhibitors he placed around him. He handed them to his guards and snapped his fingers. "Hey, wake up."
Xiam shook his head, and his eyes blinked. Iri could tell he was aware of what was going on again. "Iri?" He reached out toward her. "Oh, Iri!"
Xiam hadn't even been chained to the ground. He ran toward her, finally sharing an embrace. "Iri, oh, Iri." His voice was thick in pain. He was grasping her like she was air itself.
"See? He'll be fine. We'll even send him toward the mountains where his friends are going. Drop him off, he can go in peace." King Fayu rested his hand on Xiam's shoulder. "What do you think about that? Freedom from all the pain you saw?"
Xiam couldn't look at him, but he refused to look at Iri.
"All I want is your wife in return. She's going to bear me a child."
Xiam tried to take a swing at King Fayu, but the guards stopped him. "Never! You'll never have Iri, or I'll kill you!"
"Oh, goody, those inhibitors are working nicely. We've got a contender here." King Fayu touched Iri's cheek. "It's not your decision though, it's sweet Iridescent's choice. Save her husband's sanity and let him go, or reject me and you can go back to the torture."
Oh! Iri tried to blink back her tears, but this was unfair. This wasn't right! "Xiam."
"He wouldn't keep the promise, he wouldn't. I'll go back, Iri," Xiam begged. "Don't let him touch you."
"Soil myself with warno? Ugh." King Fayu waved it off. "A simple scientific procedure, I'm not going to mess with her physically. The thought is nauseating, not to mention not guaranteed. No, I want to bear a child, first time." He winked at Iri. "Think of it this way. You've always wanted kids."
Xiam struggled against the guards. "Never, I don't care how you do it! You're not having anything to do with my wife!
"No touching, just carry the child. What's easier than that?" King Fayu continued to look at Iri. "Your husband lives on in peace, no more insanity. Let's face it, I could do this against your will if I wanted too."
"No, Iri." Xiam clung to her shoulders, but Iri's eyes couldn't meet his. She couldn't continue to let him suffer. She felt him move his chin up, and she saw the anguish in his eyes. He didn't want to lose her like this, but she had seen that anguish there before constantly when he was banging his head against the wall. "I will always love you, no matter what. Go, Xiam!"
"No!"
Iri heard him scream in agony as King Fayu's guards started to carry him out.
"Wait." King Fayu held his hand up, signaling his guard to stop. "You really want your wife back that bad?" He approached Xiam. "Come back to me, with one of the Protector's children in your arms, and I'll give her back."
Oh, no. "Xiam, no, don't trust him." Iri wanted to break free so bad.
"He'll trust you. He needs to leave the babies with someone at each spot. Yes, I know about it." King Fayu chuckled. "How could I not? But, there's no reason to get all frantic. One missing, and the trick won't work. That's all, I won't hurt it. In fact, we'll exchange. Instead of making a child with your wife, I'll just take his son or daughter."
"Take Tigeravich or Carressella?" Xiam's mouth hung open.
"I want an heir. You already know that. It'll save me time." King Fayu patted Xiam's head. "Their lives would be safe, they'd be royalty. In fact, they will be better off than any of your other friends." He snapped a finger at a guard and they took off. "Show up to my kingdom, and tell them "I have it." When the guard lowers their weapon, turn around and show them your back." The guard returned with a large object Iri couldn't see. "This is a brand for traitor to the Warno Kingdom. Once he sees it, he'll come get me, and I won't be far that day. Waiting for my new family member, I'll be right beside the gates."
"Give you one of Yed's...or Iri?" Xiam shivered involuntarily. "It'll be raised safely?"
"No, Xiam!" Iri yelled. "Forget it, don't do it. You are friends to Yeducavich but...if he finds out, he'll kill you!"
"It'll be raised safely?" Xiam repeated, ignoring her words.
"Like royalty." King Fayu patted his shoulder. "Well?"
Iri closed her eyes. There was silence for several seconds before she heard Xiam yell in pain from the brander. She opened her eyes after it was over, no longer knowing if she made the right choice.
"If you have a choice, I'd love his son. Tigeravich grows up fine and strong, I've seen him before. He has a lot of his father's spirit, and that would be perfect for the Waryes Kingdom." King Fayu chuckled as he helped Xiam back forward. "Of course, little Carressella isn't to be underestimated. I could raise her as a daughter to if need be."
He snapped his fingers and the guards let go of him. He fell to the ground without the support.
"That'll sting for some time, but you'll be recovered soon." King Fayu nodded toward his guards and handed him the red, green and pink inhibitors again. "Take him toward the mountains, and let him go nuts. Enjoy yourselves, but don't kill him. Oh, and when the Protector comes, move the inhibitors away from him. No matter how he acts, the Protector will fall for it. Make sure you stay around the most massive inhibitor area so you'll run into them. Go, but don't follow the Protector. Xiamipoc Cattral must feel like it's all up to him."
Chapter 83
MUIN’S SPOT
"Yed?" Ezra asked as she looked at Tigeravich. He was starting to shiver slightly, and she felt gusts around her Toga. "It's getting windier."
"We're up in the mountains, the weather is different." Yed put down his basket and adjusted the blanket around Carressella. Ezra followed his lead, as did Muin.
"It's really different, Yed father," Regwallis agreed as he covered his shoulders. "It's colder, but the wind is worse."
"I agree," Muin added as she bundled up Cooey tighter. "She's finicky and I don't blame her. Don't we have warmer blankets? The farther we travel, the worse the wind gets."
"We brought what we could," Ezra reminded her. "We can't bring everything."
"I miss the car," Muin whined again. "We should have had Guy drive it up further."
"Then we could have risked damaging it. We've got to think smart Muiny," Yed said. "Let's get going, we're getting closer." Yed helped Ezra and Muin get their baskets back on, and they began to move again. Only thing was that Guy was moving behind further, covering his nose. Ezra knew what that meant. The strong wind and her scent were driving Guy mad, but he wasn't going to try anything with Yed around. Not until it got to the point where her pheromones drove him nuts. Hopefully it didn't come to that point, but the wind was rougher. She caught Yed stealing a glance toward Guy. He must have been sensing the trouble as well.
"Hang on." Yed stopped and bit off some of his toga cloth. He motioned for Guy to bend down, and handed it to him. "Pinch your nose and keep this over it. I don't want to have to hurt you because you can't control yourself."
Guy nodded and covered his nose. "It's...strong."
Ezra looked away, but even with the cold wind, she could feel her cheeks become warm. They continued onward, but the wind became even rougher.
"The side, hit the side more."
Ezra heard voices ahead. Yed signaled for everyone to stay back. Waryes, it had to be waryes. She peered over the edge along with the others.
Xiamipoc! Poor Xiam was being hit on the side.
Muin almost shouted, but Yed covered her mouth.
"Later. Stay here." Yed headed downward.
"Is he really going to fight with one hand?" Guy asked.
Yed could do anything, Ezra tried to remember that. She continued to watch Xiam get beat up on the side, until she saw Yed. Actual
ly, Yed's tail. He had gained a running speed, and jumped toward both of the enemies.
With his arms, he had one of the enemies in a chokehold, and with the other, he was strangling with his tail. The Waryes were flung backward by the imbalance. Cutting off their oxygen, Yed didn't let go until they were knocked unconscious. At least, Ezra hoped they were unconscious. Yed didn't blink twice by the action and ran to Xiam. "Xiam?" He shook him, trying to get him to move.
Ezra and the others ran down.
"Brother, get up!" Muin shouted as she helped Yed with the shaking.
Xiam was mumbling, and his eyes were unfocused. Yed lifted something away from Xiam and pitched it far away.
"What was that?" Muin questioned Yed.
"Inhibitors, not good ones." Yed touched Xiam's head, he was coming back around. "Xiam."
Xiam groaned, opening his eyes. "Iri..."
"She's gone," Yed explained. "I'm sorry, Xiam."
"Iri." Xiam looked toward Ezra, and the others. "Why are you all on the ground like that?"
"We've been changed," Muin said, almost painfully. "You're alive." She turned her attention to guy, and her eyes flared. "You lied!"
Guy held his hands up in defense. "He was as good as dead. I'm sorry."
"He told me Muin," Yed stood up for him. "Ezra and I knew. Don't go after him."
"You knew?" She looked toward Ezra. "You knew too?"
"I guessed," Ezra said, "and I was right. Yed didn't simply tell me."