The Missing Princess Book 4: Lord of Tarc

by RyuuNoOkaasan

Obi is finally sent into Tarc to begin fighting back against the Lord of Tarc. A legend from the land aids him in his work, but the clansmen don't always show what's in their hearts. He's finally learned the strength to be gone from Ilena, but is she going to be okay without him? Then there's the matter of taming Tarc itself. Sequel to TMP Book3: Royals of Wilant.

26. New Partnership

CHAPTER 26 New Partnership

Justinian sighed. He'd been ordered to stay and miss lunch. He turned to Reynold. "If we don't eat with this clan we won't get food for a long time."

Reynold blinked at him, then gave him a compassionate look. "And, whatever it is you're waiting for from Princess Ilena is being postponed again. I'm sorry."

Justinian blinked. Then only barely sighed this time. "That's not unusual, really. And actually, we could go with them and eat, then come back. What do you want to do? It's possible they wanted to give you the option of eating with the Halter Clan one more time."

Reynold gave him a slightly confused look. "Why didn't they leave me here then and take you? You could have come back when your things were done."

Justinian tipped his head. "Because they've set us as partners. Partners stay together, though when it's times like this we can choose between us what we would rather do. I'm okay with whatever you want to do. I can have Mistress Ilena do the cleansing any time, including on the return back to Wilant, but you can only have this one last meal here for the next year. We'll come back and visit next year, though."

"We?" Reynold took a moment to think that through. "You mean we're partners from now on, not just until we get to Wilant?" Justinian nodded, watching him. These kinds of new thoughts often sent Reynold into trying to figure out how to run. Would he still do that? Very cautiously Reynold asked, "...Just how far does that go, being partners?"

Justinian rubbed his cheek with his palm, thinking. He'd have to explain it carefully, most likely. "Not so much while we're here. Everyone is so busy that we're all spending time away from each other a lot. Normally each partnership would stay together...say, to watch over the clan...but here are too many clans so we have one person watching over each clan. So...you'd still be in your own tent and I'd still be where I'm supposed to be so that we can do what we're supposed to do, but around the edges - meals and the like - we're expected to be together." He sighed, then sat cross legged on the ground, his hand still holding Reynold's wrist so that he had to sit as well.

The hand he was holding twitched. "Will you tell me why you have this incessant need to hold on to me?" It was said calmly, and rather like Justinian would think a researcher would ask, but there was a bit of irritation behind it.

Justinian smiled slightly. "Because you still don't understand well enough yet - to not run away, that is. I'm not allowed to let you run away. It's easier to remind you by holding on that you can't, than to get us both put into punishment after you do run, even if I manage to catch you." That might help..., "That's part of the partnership thing. If you do something you're not supposed to do we'll both be punished for it since I'm supposed to be helping you learn your responsibilities. That's why I come get you and take you to where you're lessons are and then come back to pick you up, too." He stopped. He'd already learned he had to take it one thing at a time, even though he really liked to keep going. That was part of his own lessons in the partnership he'd learned.

Slowly Reynold said, "I'm sure that's not necessary?"

Justinian shook his head. "It is, I'm afraid. You don't even know when you're about to run. I think you'd find yourself surprised, actually. But I'd prefer it didn't happen at all. I don't want you to have to be in the tent of seclusion during the time you're excited to be studying."

"It would go that far?" Reynold asked in surprise.

Justinian nodded soberly. "When you've properly learned the lesson to stay with me and not run, then I won't have to hold on to you any more." He gave Reynold an encouraging look. "You're already a lot better than when I first was sent for you."

Reynold looked at him. "So," it was dry, "I'm wanted by the Princess, called up by the Consort, and you're assigned to teach me my place."

Justinian thought about that, then blinked. "It's a little more than that, but that's where we are at the moment, yes."

Reynold stood back up and tugged until Justinian stood up as well. "Then let's go eat," he said. "You're giving up enough time already. Thank you for being willing to let me have my farewells with the clan." He didn't complain about Justinian's hold on him until they reached the dining tent, then he asked for his wrist back with a pointed look at it. Justinian switched to hold the back of his sleeve. Reynold rolled his eyes and sighed but didn't protest, instead calling to be let into the tent and asking if they could take the meal with the clan. When the Halter Clan Head nodded, Reynold went directly to a place at the end of the second row of men that seemed to be his normal place to sit. Justinian let go on the walk over in such a way no one could tell he'd been holding on to begin with and sat as the last person in the row next to Reynold as if the newest junior member of the clan.

"You won't sit as guests?" the Left Hand Second asked in a little surprise over his shoulder.

Reynold shook his head. "No. Until my tent has been struck, I am still here as a clan member."

"And your wife?" another asked drolly.

"Bond brother," Reynold corrected mildly, putting food on his plate. He handed the dish to Justinian, who had already received a plate from one of the servants who had responsibility over the lunch.

Justinian almost didn't take the dish he was so surprised by Reynold's answer, then he looked down and humbly took the dish. "Thank you," he said. Reynold nodded and took three pieces of the flat bread out of the basket that had been passed. Justinian took a small portion of the meat dish, then accepted the basket and took two of the flatbread. He ate silently. It had been a while since he'd had to taste the Tarc food but most of it went down unnoticed anyway. He was struggling with feeling suddenly as caught as Reynold was. It had been hard enough to finally admit aloud that he'd been made to have a partner who was a stranger to him. ...But to have Reynold call it that...his heart somehow wanted to feel a little bigger and warmer. At the same time a warning voice cautioned that while it might have been an answer to give here in this place, that didn't mean Reynold actually believed it himself. It would be nice if he could come to someday, but Justinian had been hurt far too many times already to believe it would.

His own conscience pricked at him as well. He hadn't explained one detail about the punishment of seclusion that explained why Justinian would hold on to Reynold so he couldn't run. Reynold would have run if he'd heard it, but it was even more Justinian's most feared part of the punishment. If Reynold ran and was put into seclusion, Justinian would have to be in the tent with him unless he was performing a required duty out of it during the day. They would be made to spend more time with each other, rather than less. His own heart couldn't accept the relationship. Never had anyone who'd wanted to be close or who had offered such a thing been trustworthy in the end. The worst pain had come at the hands of someone like Petroi. Proud, hard, and beautiful. Justinian was glad Reynold wasn't like that, or he'd have run long ago himself. He'd learned on their travels in Tarc that Petroi wasn't really like that other man had been, but still, his fear wouldn't go away when little things were similar and showed themselves suddenly to make him afraid again. He was always careful to be humble and not make Petroi mad and he was grateful that the head knight would forgive or wave away anything that could have been offensive.

Today's slip had been unusual for Justinian. He had relaxed too much again, being surrounded by all of them. It hurt, actually, and was the main thing he wished Mistress Ilena could clear from him. If all those old wounds could just evaporate and go away...he really did just want to be able to relax with everyone and enjoy being with them. Master Obi had cleared his issues with his father and other authority figures who had allowed the horrible things to happen, but this remaining part he'd reserved, since at its core it was a general distrust of other men. He was worried, though. If it wasn't properly addressed before they reached the castle, he might not survive and he'd almost certainly find himself walking in a street of some village he didn't recognize when he woke back up. He knew very well how to tell when Reynold was going to fade out of consciousness and run. He'd done it himself many times and knew the warning signs.

Justinian sighed, then realized his plate and his hand were empty. He set the plate on the ground in front of him and sat, looking only at his lap, waiting for Reynold to be ready to go take his tent down. As long as they were working, he didn't mind helping. Very, very quietly, in the code he whispered, Reynold...please don't run. Don't ever run.

-o-o-o-

Reynold had only been allowed two from the clan to help, and that was to take down the tent and carry it, really. Inside, the work that needed to be done was rather large, Justinian was unhappy to see. He stood at the door and sighed as he watched Reynold walk around the room organizing it in his head first. With only a quick glance, Justinian knew how to put away his non-paper things. "Can I start on the bedding and clothes and those kinds of things?" Justinian asked. "I won't touch the papers."

Reynold looked up at him, glanced around the room, then nodded. "Thank you. That will give me more room to see."

Justinian was also thinking already that if he had to help carry and there was only them, it wasn't going to be enough. He wouldn't be able to keep Reynold from running if it became necessary. He was going to have to use helping hands. While he made and rolled up the bed, he considered his options. The bed was set outside the door, then he went to the clothes. This sort of work he did without thinking about, it was so ingrained in him now. His focus was split between the thinking he was doing, and not touching papers. If he did have to move them, he always set them down exactly where they'd been, only now without the clothing item between them and the floor.

By the time Justinian had the clothing properly put away in their bag for putting on the horses and outside the door, Reynold was into the sorting, using the space where the bed had been first. "I'll be right back," he said. Reynold nodded, absorbed in his work. Justinian waited until he really was back into it, to make sure that hadn't been the cue for Reynold to be preparing to run while he was gone, then he went out and picked up the bedroll and the bag of clothing. They were a bit bulkier than he could carry, but he managed to get them as far as the edge of the encampment. He took one step into the grass and dropped his burdens, then stepped back again. See these arrive at the space between the tent of the Regent's Tarc advisor and the Lieutenants, untouched and unpilfered. They belong to the Qu - King's newest acquisition. He was really going to have to practice facing the right direction. He waited until his order was properly acknowledged and the baggage was on its way.

When he returned to the researcher's tent, his fingers itched to take the wall down. That would have been the pattern while they were on the progress through Tarc, but he was afraid if any of the papers got blown, it might be a problem. "Reynold, is there something I can do to help with the papers?" he asked instead.

Reynold looked around the room. He pointed. "You can package up the pens and ink and the blank pages."

"You look like you've about got your piles ready?" Justinian was hopeful.

Reynold looked at him and frowned. "They are, for the most part, but I need them put into stacks that we can easily separate again, and I'd prefer they were in an order that made sense."

Justinian paused. "I could probably do that...but would it make you more comfortable if a secretary did it, or someone who works in an office that already might have an idea of an order to stack them in?"

Reynold froze briefly, then considered it. "Is there someone like that here? Or that would understand how a researcher thinks?"

Justinian nodded. "Mistress Ilena is a researcher and professor, as I said. Her secretary is here, as is the head of her interior office. They handle the paperwork for the Department so they probably can put things in a useful order." He swallowed. "I'll watch them carefully so I can help you better next time."

Reynold gave him a look, then looked back down at the papers in his hand. "If you feel it necessary. I would appreciate either one being asked."

Justinian stepped out of the tent and walked towards the edge of the encampment again. Miss Leah, Miss Rio, if either of you have the time, Reynold needs help getting his papers organized and I need to learn how to help him. If you come around the outside edge of the encampment to the west, I'll meet you and bring you in.

He was quite relieved when both showed up, coming together. He led them back through the tents to Reynold's tent. Reynold blinked a bit to see two women in his tent, but he considered who he'd been told they worked for and accepted it. With only a few explanations from him, Leah and Rio set about collecting up the papers. Justinian followed Rio around and she quietly explained what she was doing, the same as she'd been doing for him from the beginning. He watched just as closely as he'd been doing from the beginning as well. This pattern was comforting. When the papers were mostly organized, he went over to finish the part of the chore he'd been given earlier. It was already one of his assigned chores at the office so went quickly. When they were done there were six crates of papers and the box of supplies.

Remembering his orders, Justinian turned to Reynold. "Which are the most important ones?" Reynold pointed to the two in front of him. Justinian turned to the women. "Can you each carry one of the others?" They both nodded. "Reynold, call for the two who you're allowed to have help you and we'll get the tent taken down next. Miss Leah and Miss Rio, if you'll take one each to the edge of the grass and ask for the two Children who helped me set up the tent before to collect them and take them to the space between the Lieutenants' tent and the P'rathna's, then come back for the others."

"Ah...you have to go with them," Reynold reminded him.

"Right, thanks," Justinian said. He thought about that, then said, "Miss Leah, will you stay here? Rio and I'll go."

Leah raised an eyebrow slightly, then nodded. With this kind of working around, Justinian eventually had things set so that someone he trusted had an eye on Reynold at all times. He brought two pack horses back with him the second time so that they didn't have to have three trips to carry all the pieces of the tent by hand. Once the horses were laden he had the two servants of the Halter Clan carry the two boxes that weren't so important. Then he picked up one of the important ones and Reynold the other. When the researcher was ready, Justinian stood in front of Rio and Leah. "Come with us. I'll trust you to see he doesn't run."

They looked at him, then Rio gave him an odd look. Before she could say anything, though, Leah raised an eyebrow and said, "If either one of you run, I'll see you flat on your backs and the most precious of the papers scattered to the four winds to hold you down."

Justinian stiffened in horror. "Leah," Rio scolded. "You don't need to punish him threefold for not even knowing."

"I - I wasn't!" Justinian denied it.

Leah snorted. "See you don't."

Reynold asked Justinian on the walk to the edge of the encampment what it had been about, and Justinian looked away, with a blush. "They were letting me know that I was about to run without knowing it, too, like you keep wanting to."

"Why would you do that?" Reynold asked.

Justinian clamped his mouth shut, but Leah turned around and glared at him. Justinian's mouth dropped open. "But -!"

Leah shook her head. "You have to teach him how to take care of you, too."

Justinian froze and almost dropped his box he was trembling so hard. Rio's hands were on him quickly, holding him tightly about the upper arms. "That's enough, Leah," she said firmly from behind him. "This is not the place and time. Let him finish his task first. Such things should be properly said when they're alone. You know that."

When Leah opened her mouth again, both Justinian and Rio at the same time interrupted her, but Rio quickly fell silent as Justinian begged for patience until he could be cleared by Mother. "It's that bad?" Rio asked quietly. Justinian nodded, the tears streaking down his cheeks, though his eyes didn't leave Leah's face. With a breath for her own courage, he knew, Rio put her arms around Justinian and held him. "It's okay. We'll help you. What are you supposed to do after you see his important papers to the tent?"

Justinian had to close his eyes to remember. "If there's time once the things are set up in the tent, and if he wants to, I'm to take him back to the Marluk'nak' for the last part. Otherwise, if he stays in his tent or with the P'rathna, I'm free to do my work, but he's only to get out the essential things to work on. Master Obi doesn't want him to hold up the packing at the end."

"Okay. We'll stay with you until we can't any more," Rio promised. They both looked at Leah, who judged Justinian, then nodded a curt nod.

Justinian took a deep breath, trying to calm down. He had to get through another hour. At least one more hour, even if it was another hour after that, one hour at a time. In the next hour they'd have the tent up and have it habitable again. He focused on what that would look like and just breathed until he felt like he could walk again. Then he focused on Leah again and nodded. Rio let go, but not so he could run, slowly moving her arms from around him to holding onto his arms again. When he'd calmed a little further Rio nodded at Leah. Leah gave Justinian a stern look and when Rio moved to take his sleeve on one side he dropped his eyes humbly and followed her lead.

When they were half-way through the plain to the place Reynold was being taken to, Reynold asked. "Justinian...was Rio your partner before now?"

Justinian drew a breath. "Sort of. I'm actually new, too. She's been my partner to help me learn what I'm supposed to do and how, but it's temporary." He looked at Rio. "Is Amber your partner now?"

Rio nodded. "Yes. I'm worried about her actually, but since she already worked in the castle to begin with, it hasn't been hard for her. It's just that we've been away so long, I think she's lonely by now. I'll be glad to be back for her sake. It's a lot of work, too, for just one, though I told her to just do what she could, even if it was small. We talk regularly still and I still remind her that it's okay and together we'll get caught up."

Justinian explained to Reynold, "Amber is new, too, so Rio's been training us both."

"...Then who was Rio's partner before?"

Leah and Rio both twitched, and Justinian answered timidly. "Miss Leah was, but...she was -," he bit it off. "There have been a lot of new changes in the Family and office right before the war began, and we've had to be out of the castle for most of that same time, so it's been hard for a lot of us. Calling you up is part of those changes, too."

Rio answered more calmly from the other side. "Leah wants to retire. She's partnered with the person taking her place so she can." Justinian was glad when that answer helped Leah relax a little.

"Am I allowed to ask why?" Reynold asked. "That is, why the changes during this time?"

Justinian pursed his lips and judged the state of the man next to him. "Not yet." It wasn't that he might not be able to handle the answer, it was that they were arriving and he expected just having to be in the Regent's encampment would be hard enough for now.

They put their burdens down and joined in helping the two clansmen and the Children who had already gotten a start on the tent set the supports of the roof to the wall. The wall curtain went up fast with that many hands to tie it on and in a short time they were carrying the things into the tent. As Justinian walked into the tent with the bedroll, Rio was giving orders to the Children to carry the not-so-important boxes of papers to the staging tent and to have them marked for delivery to the Department of Intelligence's office on arrival. Justinian purposely stepped backwards into Reynold's pathway to the door, then turned to look at him. "She's doing it to see that you stay obedient to protect me. The important ones will stay here with you, but you should still be careful that you put things away as much as you get them out. Your life is also changing now. What you do for the remaining time here needs to be only and exactly what is the most important for you to do so you don't have any regrets."

When Reynold relented, Justinian went to the exact place the bed had been set up before and rolled it out there again. He made sure the clothing was set in it's exactly proper location as well. As Reynold set the second box of papers down, he looked around. "You remember?"

"Always, but you'll be receiving that training, too. It's peculiar to the Department."

Rio set down the smaller box of supplies and Justinian shifted it to its proper place as well. When he looked up again, the women were at the door, guarding the way out. Justinian froze briefly, then swallowed and turned to Reynold. "Now that the tent is prepared, what do you want to do? There is still likely some time. I would think they're getting rid of the bad Laws by now."

Reynold hesitated, looking at Justinian. "If the P'rathna is available, I would be happy to sit with him as long as I can, otherwise I have a lot of things to write up."

Justinian made sure he was sincere, then nodded. "I can take you there." Rio and Leah went out the door first and followed after the men. Justinian saw that the other helpers had already been dismissed. He hoped the fact he hadn't done it wasn't going to get him into trouble, but Rio had said they would help him, so maybe it would be okay. He wanted to sleep now and desperately held on. Ten more minutes. It might be ten more after that, but just the next ten for now. When he had received permission from the P'rathna to leave Reynold with him, he left the tent, then whispered for two of the Children of Chaos and Change to watch over the tents. Reynold was allowed to return to his own tent, but not to go anywhere else. When they'd received their orders, he turned back for the Regent's cooking tent.

He had to stop. His way was blocked. He looked up and Leah was standing in front of him. "You're next location is our tent."

Justinian blinked. It took a moment for his brain to switch from one direction to another. "May I ask if it's a punishment or more help?"

"No, you may not."

Justinian bowed slightly and turned for the blue and gold tent in the field. He kept his eyes fixed on it. If he looked at the grass, he'd run, he was sure of it. But if he looked at the tent, it made him long for his bed, and he could go towards it. Rio stayed close by him and Leah was walking close enough behind him to let him know that running wasn't an option. When they arrived at the tent, Leah pointed to her and Rio's smaller space. "Take your bedroll in there. You aren't to come out until you're called. You may sleep. Rio will watch over you." Justinian bowed to her and did as he was ordered. He was asleep on his bed in less than five minutes. It might be a punishment, but it was as much a help.

-o-o-o-

Leah left Rio at the tent, where she went back to work on what she'd been doing when Justinian called them. Leah was hopeful the work at the Marluk'nak' was almost done. Today wasn't supposed to go long. Ilena and Obi both would want to know about Justinian right away, so she shouldn't delay her report. Justinian's words had made the current problem rather clearer. It had been bothering her since she'd watched as everyone was gathered the day before for dinner. Seeing the ex-Queen of Selicia had made it slip her mind until now, or she would have addressed it at one of the meals in between.

She felt a bit exposed, not having anyone with her so she finally sighed and called for one of the Children to come walk with her. Even though the restriction had been lifted on the encampment, she really should have a male with her when walking through the clans. Even with an escort, she still felt bare. It was also part of the symptoms she had been watching and there was nothing to do but bear it, for now. She worked on how to pass along her message as they crossed the marketplace, noting with one part of her mind that there were actually a few merchants interested in setting up again. That would be good.

When they arrived at the Marluk'nak' door, Leah looked at the man standing on it. "What Law are they on?" He told her and she slumped slightly. Not done for a little while, but perhaps enough before dinner that it would be okay. That made it harder to decide, though. Finally she sighed. "Open the door just slightly and be my ears for me. She'll have to be quiet enough I won't hear it." The man nodded and obeyed. Leah closed her eyes and whispered towards the door. There has been too much planting and transplanting in the garden of the Second Tree without proper watering and nourishment. The most tender plant has fallen and lies near death. The oldest will follow shortly and the remainder will begin to fight over what resources are remaining. The Gardener is warned. She had request the day off from writing the Law, turning it over to one of the soldiers acting as Zen's assistant secretaries. The last two full days in the Marluk'nak' had worn her out completely and the high emotions of the evening had been the last straw.

The man at the door listened, then walked to stand close to her and said quietly. "Can it wait until the end of the changes to the Law?" He moved back a few steps to listen again.

Leah answered, The wilted will sleep until the Gardener arrives, their companions are sufficiently supported that long. The solution must be discovered this night. Already eyes are turned darkly companion against companion, though they don't know it yet.

The guard listened, then nodded and whispered, "Understood." They both waited for another half-minute, then the guard closed the door and stood at his post. Leah sighed and turned back for their own encampment. She was most definitely going to take her nap, though she'd sleep in the room she and Rio had been working in so Rio could still get her work done and watch over two. It would strain Rio that much more, but she was, so far, the least affected. It had helped that Rio and Leah could work together. The others had been alone. She was grateful that Reynold had understood and been willing to support his partner, even though he still wasn't comfortable with his new assignment.

-o-o-o-

Reynold received the final answers he'd needed from the P'rathna that had become the Tarc advisor to the Regent then excused himself to his own tent. He was quite sure he was being watched by Children of Chaos and was good and went straight from one tent to the other. He wrote down just enough notes to be able to recall later when he could sit and write in depth. If he was going to be in the castle, he'd have time to write, almost surely, though he wasn't quite sure what his duties there would be. He'd not have been allowed to come in the first place if it wasn't something still related to Tarc and writing up his research would probably fall under that hat. As Justinian had said, he needed to spend his few remaining days and hours on the important things.

He lay down on his bed, his hands behind his head. The first thing to do was sort it all out and determine the important things in order, then he could checklist them off. He wasn't sure how much longer he would have, but if this was the last day of changing the Law, then it couldn't be too far off. As he began to sort through his mental list he discovered it might become more difficult than he had thought. New things kept popping up on the list, and they weren't Tarc related. Why did the Princess have partnerships for training and beyond in her household? He wanted to observe them all and see what their commonalities and differences were. He even wanted to observe the Consort more to understand how he partnered with her and did she do that on purpose, too?

He was finding he wanted them to be his next research project, even if it was for personal comprehension only. Why did they need physical touch? He had seen how Justinian had been able to calm down when Miss Rio held him, even though it had been difficult for her. Why had she done it and was it because she'd been trained to or she understood Justinian had needed it? And why had it helped him? It was obvious to Reynold that Justinian had been on the verge of a mental break down and she'd helped him step back from the brink and she and Miss Leah had carried him until his assigned requirements were done. Reynold couldn't bring himself to undo that effort and selfishly make Justinian take him back to the Marluk'nak'. And he'd really learned all he was going to there. He still wanted to get his questions answered by the Halter Clan Head that evening and he needed to ask if he could go back and ask them, but even those questions were related to the Regent and the Princess, and only ancilliarly the Tarc.

As he pondered the questions that still floated about his head, a quiet call came from his door. He rose and went to it. "Miss Rio, may I help you?" he asked, holding the door flap open enough to see her.

"You've been summoned. Be as silent as possible and sit and listen." Reynold let the door flap drop behind him and he followed her back to the Princess' tent. She quietly led him through the rear door and sat him down outside an inner wall. She sat down near him, one leg tucked up under the other, her expression sober.

"Justinian. ...Justinian, it's time to wake up." He was a bit surprised to recognize the voice of the Princess herself.

There was a little gasp, and the sound of a person rising. "No, Justinian, you may stay there." It was the Consort as well, likely keeping Justinian from rising was Reynold's only guess.

"I've been summoned for you," the Princess said softly. "What do you need, Justinian?"

"Y-you're not pulled from the Marluk'nak'?" Justinian asked.

"No. We're done with setting the Changed Law," she reassured him. Reynold relaxed a little himself. He already understood that Justinian would have been very unhappy to have been the cause of interrupting her important work.

There was a pause, then a small, "That's good then."

"I'm here for you, Justinian. What do you need?" she asked again.

There was silence for a few seconds, then the Consort said, "I'll wait outside." Reynold was a little surprised that he'd leave his wife with Justinian alone. That might not be good on Justinian's heart. It wasn't too surprising to him when the Consort appeared around the corner of the inner tent wall, nodded at him and Miss Rio, then sat down to face the same room they were listening to. For it supposing to be a private conversation there were now rather a lot of them that were butting in on it. He supposed that since he'd been summoned, this was planned by the Consort at least, if not the Princess herself.

After a few more seconds, Justinian's voice, filled with pain and tears spoke. "Mother...I can't do it. I can't be Reynold's partner. Please let me stay with Rio." Reynold wasn't sure how he felt about having to hear that with Miss Rio also right there and the Consort. He wasn't sure he wanted Justinian as a partner either, at least past the initial learning-the-ropes phase. It would be helpful to have a guide through that much.

"Why do you say that, Justinian," she asked kindly. Reynold listened with growing horror as Justinian explained that his childhood, until he'd been called to work in the hidden depths of the castle, had been not just time spent watching to mark men too drunk in the tavern run by his parents, but in being sold to men of warped minds who wanted a pretty face, but a boy and not a woman, to take to bed. Several of them had been wealthy enough to purchase him for weeks or a month at a time. Some had kept him as a boy servant, but required him to be their page to tend to them at night, releasing him only after they'd had their way with him. Others had made him dress as a girl and openly taken him to their bedchambers in the evening and not let him escape at all at night.

"I've been trying really hard, Mother," Justinian's tears and sniffs were making it difficult for him to speak now. "I wasn't treated that way at the castle in the clothing department and the head was kind and protected me from the lords who laid eyes on me that looked the same, so that I eventually was able to sleep at night with the other men who worked there, but it took a long time. It's why I learned to fail in the manservant tests, too, and why he didn't scold me for doing it. It was hard to have you capture me for Master Obi. ...I was glad you partnered me with Rio, even though I could see it was hard for her. I didn't have to be so afraid and I didn't have to learn my responsibilities alone. It helped that Master Obi only has eyes for you. I think if I hadn't learned that before you sent me with them for the training to come into Tarc, I would have been lost again. I wouldn't have been able to sleep with them at all in the little tent."

Reynold looked at Rio and the Consort - Master Obi. Rio was looking sorrowful, but like she completely understood. Master Obi was listening to Justinian's words soberly, but didn't look all that surprised. "It was the hardest...," Justinian's voice was small, and he had to take a breath, "to be in the tent with Mister Petroi. The wealthiest of the men who purchased me was very like him, and he was one of the ones who made me be a girl for him, even going so far as to kiss me and hold me on his lap publicly. ...It helped that Master Obi and Thayne were with us also, all the time. I've come to understand Mister Petroi isn't that man, but there are still things about them that are the same. Sometimes Mister Petroi will do something and it will surprise me and put me back there again and it takes me some time to recover."

There was silence for a space, then Justinian said brokenly, "I don't like it. I want to have all of that go away so I can be happy being part of the Immediate Family. I like being with everyone, but I'm still so afraid. And...I'm afraid that, now that I've been taught to defend myself...if Reynold is disobedient, I'll hurt him in order to not have to be put into seclusion with him. I don't know him well enough to trust he won't hurt me. I've been working very hard to help him not be disobedient, but I'm so tired now. ...I was glad Miss Leah made me sleep...this afternoon was very hard. ...I'm sorry."

There was motion on their side of the wall that caught Reynold's eye. Master Obi's hand was being held out to Rio and was motioning to her. Reynold looked at her as she moved and her cheeks were wet with tears. Reynold was very surprised as she sat down with Master Obi and he wrapped his arms around her and allowed her cry into his shoulder, muffling the sound of it, compassion on his face. Reynold wondered if Princess Ilena was doing the same for Justinian on the other side of the wall, because it sounded like it, though the sound of his crying wasn't quite so muffled. He wondered if Rio loved Justinian and had heard a thing to break her heart, but he couldn't ask it. He'd been told to be silent.

He also had to wonder why they'd paired the two of them - himself and Justinian. Had they not understood this past of Justinian's? He supposed it wouldn't be surprising if they hadn't. No one would want anyone else to know that about their past, and Justinian had only been willing to say it when Master Obi was out of the room. He also supposed even he wouldn't have been there to hear it except they had been partnered and Miss Leah had scolded Justinian when he'd been silent on that issue and told him he was supposed to teach his partner how to support him. Reynold would have to know that past to not cause all sorts of unexpected problems all unknowingly, though perhaps he would rather have been told in person - if Justinian would have. He sighed to himself. What a problem. Likely Justinian would never have been able to, if he didn't trust men to begin with.

"Justinian," Princess Ilena's voice was gentle. "I can't take away the past. I can say I'm sorry you had to live through those terrible experiences, and I can tell you that I hid you away in the castle because I wanted you to be safe while Izana took out the House that was the central one in the child slave trade. I personally killed that man, I was so angry with him. I also took Rio from that House and brought her to mine to watch over her. She fears men for the same reason you do, but I'm grateful she has been able to heal little by little." Reynold looked up at Rio in surprise. She was shivering in Master Obi's arms and he was petting her gently to comfort her. She must be healing to allow that, ...or she trusted him enough... "If you've reached the point where you wish to find further healing with us, we'll help you. Do you believe I've brought you to a safe place?"

There was a quietly whispered, "Yes."

"I love you Justinian, and so does Father. All of us want to see you healed. You bring your joy and light to us and we want to give you ours." There was the sound of shifting on the other side of the wall. "Justinian. Who am I?"

"Mother."

"And how long have I known you?"

"Longer than I have known you."

"How long have I protected you?"

"Over five years."

"How long will I protect you?" There was a sniff, and no verbal answer. "Yes, Justinian - until I have no breath in me and then longer. I have given you to the third highest man in the country. No other man can take you now and he is safe. ...Justinian, if I have already done this for you, can you trust me, that I have not given you a partner amiss?"

Reynold froze inside as if he were a rabbit suddenly faced with a predator that was too close. He suddenly realized Master Obi's eyes were on him, but it wasn't he who was that predator. "How long?" he mouthed.

"Longer." Master Obi mouthed back.

Reynold felt something inside him crack and memories flooded back that he had hidden away for a long time. While they flooded through him, his logical researcher mind thought back to five years ago, when he'd been recruited to come up to Tarc and why he didn't like the man named Petroi either, though he'd only been polite as he made the request for a third party that Reynold come up here for a special research project. An opportunity to leave the court and Wilant offered by Mistress Ilena herself. But there was more to it, and Reynold knew, and now might understand why, but he wanted to know, to ask. He wouldn't be able to talk to Justinian without her present anyway, he was still so afraid. Reynold rose to his feet, found the corner of the wall and lifted it.

Justinian was sitting on a bed, likely his. Mistress Ilena had her hand on his shoulder, likely holding him from fleeing he'd flinched so badly at seeing Reynold. It made Reynold sad, but he understood. He stayed where he was so as to not appear any more threatening. "Justinian, listen to what I have to say so you can know me better." When Justinian gave a little nod, Reynold looked at Mistress Ilena. "You found my rough draft?"

"No, I was sent it. Your professor sent it to Izana and he sent it to me when he was ready to move. I was the sword in his hands. I moved you into Tarc before we began to move so that you also would be protected. Being here in Tarc, they couldn't blame you. They are all gone and it's safe to return."

Reynold slumped in relief and wasn't all that surprised when his eyes teared. He looked back at Justinian and swallowed so he could speak. "When I was young, I also was a child slave, with my sister. She died from her treatment and I was devastated. I was eventually purchased and adopted by a lesser lord of the court who had no heir. When he sent me to Lyrias university for my formal education, I was tested and a sociologist took me to be his student. I had already learned how to watch people and how they interacted in the minutest details to protect myself. He taught me how to use that in the formal study of peoples. But when I brought him my draft research paper, written in desperation and as a cry for help, he refused. He took it and kept it, saying that bringing to light such knowledge in the enlightened world we live in," his face twisted in his anger at the terrible irony of that statement, "would bring down not only the wrath of my adoptive father on me, but the whole court. Instead, he sent me back to the court and told me to watch the interplay between them. It would be a better research project, he said, if I could explain how the lords interact nonverbally as well as verbally to accomplish the work of that level, particularly since I was supposed to be learning how to be a Baron myself."

Reynold had to stop and get his anger under control enough to continue. His tone and expression were probably still bitter, though. "I did and came to hate the court even more, though I came to understand it in detail and depth...even to the point of understanding why it was necessary. I wrote that report and returned to the university long enough to polish it, publish it, and receive my diploma. My adopted father was pleased enough and began to teach me my place and encouraged me to use my understanding of the court in our work." Reynold closed his eyes and gave a little shudder. "Having already learned to be perfectly obedient, I couldn't do otherwise, but it grieved my heart. Was my whole life to be spent doing things for others that I hated?"

He gripped the curtain tighter in his fist and looked Justinian in the eye again. "When Mister Petroi came to visit me, I also recognized him and hated him, though he wasn't the same man. He still makes me afraid, like you. I wasn't at all pleased to see him in the Marluk'nak' market and hid myself in the clan tents after I did. But he gave me the freedom I was looking for. He offered me a place to run away to and to use the skills I had learned at the university...in exchange for a thing that frightened me so badly that I nearly ran from the room when he told me what it was." Reynold glanced at Mistress Ilena. She was looking at him calmly, but with perhaps a little pride in him. He blinked, then used that as his anchor. "He asked me to write up and sign a document saying that I had been purchased on the child slave market by my adoptive father, condemning him. But in return for that, I would be where he couldn't touch me, and where the members of the court feared to enter." Reynold looked back at Justinian. "He did warn me I would have to come back eventually, but until then I was free to stay and research the Tarc all I wanted. I thought if I could I would never return."

He was done with his story. Mistress Ilena took it back up. "That researcher was horrified and held on to that draft report, hiding it deep in his desk. The year my pharmacy paper was read to the assembly and Izana saw me chained to the worst possible lord that could have owned me, he began to deeply investigate how to get me free. In the process he came into the possession of that report, and promised that researcher he would do what he could to erase that blight from our country. Once he and I had an understanding, and I was placed to act, not just be acted upon, he sent it to me along with his own intelligence reports. I and my House did the deeper investigation on the nightwalker side and sent him our reports. When he was ready, he attacked the lords and I attacked the House." Her face went hard and slightly angry. "I can't get rid of the human trafficking market in the underworld. It serves a purpose, though I'm not pleased with it, but the House that headed the child slavery market, particularly for sex, has been completely burned to the ground. It's well known that if things get out of hand in that part of the underworld, the House of the Queen will appear and leave punishment behind."

Reynold froze and stared at Mistress Ilena. "The -?" he whispered.

She smiled at him. "Yes, Reynold. I am the Queen of Night." She gestured with a tip of her head at Master Obi. "Obi is the King of Night, now that I've finally captured him properly for the House." She had a teasing twinkle in her eye.

Reynold looked back at Master Obi in surprise. He shook his head. "I also was gone by the time that operation went into effect. I had arrived at Castle Wistal and was in the process of being captured by Master first at that time. If I'd been in Wilant still, I would have fought with the House, though. I'd already signed up for it, but my life was forfeit. My own brother had found me and nearly killed me. It was my responsibility to stay alive, so I couldn't stay." He paused, then said softly. "Ilena was owned by my oldest brother until she was sent to capture myself and Master in the plot of the Lord of Tarc. Then she was able to tell us everything and we were able to remove that House and free her. We are here now to free her from the Lord of Tarc, who also owned her until she and I subdued him the night of the new moon of this Marluk'nak'. She is now free, and she is mine and Master's."

Reynold wrinkled his brow. "Who is 'Master'?"

"Master Zen," Mistress Ilena said with a smile to her voice. "He is the one I protect, along with Obi and my Houses. He has chosen to keep me, and if we've successfully passed this test, Izana will allow it, because then both of his family that he loves will be protected."

Reynold suddenly realized he was having his questions answered and he sat down, not quite able to take it all in. His trained mind raced to put it all together. Unexpectedly there was warmth next to him, then a warm hand on his cheek. It was the first he realized he wasn't seeing, not just because he was inside his mind thinking, but because his eyes were filled with tears that were spilling down his cheeks. He was gently pulled to rest his head on Mistress Ilena's shoulder. She didn't say anything, though, nor was he scolded by Master Obi, so he cautiously went back to putting it all together. It was so important to see it right. Finally he closed his eyes and said, "That...that is rather overwhelming."

"Yeah, tell me about it," Master Obi said dryly. Justinian and Rio both also made sounds of agreement. "That's what happens when genius is angered."

"Particularly when it's Wisteria genius," Reynold said. "They're scary."

"Done your research on that, too, have you?" Mistress Ilena said.

Reynold flinched a little, but she didn't let go, only held onto him gently. "I wanted to know what kind of family could rule a country and allow that kind of thing to happen. When I read about the King's grandfather, I couldn't understand how he could be such an idealist and yet allow it to continue. I had the opportunity to ask one of the lords who was corrupt, though, and he told me 'horror' stories of the things that had been done by that king in the courts and underworld. That he was loved by the light because he ruled the night with an iron fist."

"We love and idolize our grandfather," Ilena nodded above him. "Izana has worked hard to follow in his footsteps. He has to move like him, though. At the pacing of kings and countries, so that the rot is all removed at once, otherwise the pieces left behind grow and it returns sometimes worse. It's necessary to have the proper proof at the level of lords and the court, so that takes people like you being willing to write it down and sign your name to it in exchange for protection. Thank you for doing that so we could move. We are both grateful. ...Please come and work the same now in the courts for me. As Wilant Minister of Intelligence-to-be, I will protect you, and use you to protect both Tarc from their closed minds, and to protect others who they desire to continue to oppress."

Reynold turned his head to look down and sobbed. He had just been granted a dream he could never have enunciated or asked for, though from the depths of his hidden heart it was all he could have ever wanted. A light, but warm, touch landed like a butterfly on his outward shoulder. "I'll help you," Justinian's quiet and earnest voice came to him. "I know how hard it is to be in the castle, but...the Family is a good place to be. I feel very protected there, ...even if Mister Petroi is scary. He does try hard to make it less so. He's very forgiving."

It occurred to Reynold...perhaps Justinian was so strange because it was his way to survive in this world. He'd been broken as a child. That thought made his own heart squeeze in sympathetic pain. Without looking at him, this butterfly, he held out his hand. "I'd appreciate the help. I promise I won't do anything, and I'm already rather obedient from the beginning. I just didn't want to go back."

There was a pause, and the hand on his shoulder didn't move. Then, very lightly, Justinian's other hand landed to rest on his palm. Reynold didn't move, just let it rest there, palm to palm. When Justinian slumped in relief, his heart felt sympathy for him. With some reluctance since it was a comforting place, he lifted his head from Mistress Ilena's shoulder and looked up at Justinian. The hands were removed quickly, but it was to retrieve a handkerchief and wipe his face for him. Reynold slowly smiled.

There was movement as Mistress Ilena sat back and Master Obi joined her to sit behind her and wrap his arms around her and hold her. Because they were all sitting rather in the way of the cloth wall, Rio rose and pulled it back out of their way, tying it up like a curtain to let in sunlight. It seemed rather apropos to Reynold. He felt very much like he'd finally had his own curtains of darkness pulled back inside him so that the sun could shine on his heart again. "Is it like this for everyone who works for Mistress Ilena and Master Obi?" he asked.

Everyone smiled. "Pretty much," Master Obi answered. "Me included, but her, too. It's because she's lived through it and understands it. Her goal has always been to protect people who can't protect themselves, even if it takes a while for her get them wiggled free." He looked at his wife. "Of course, she took the longest to get herself free, the idiot." She reached up and patted his head as he gave her a kiss on the temple.

She sighed and leaned back into him. "And now we need to heal everyone else. Rio, please call for them to come. We'll meet back here Leah, it's clear enough. Do you need to talk to me in private?"

As Rio left the tent, Miss Leah stepped up from where she'd been. "Not particularly. I can scold you with the King present and not have it bother me, ...though I hope I didn't offend by coming this afternoon and doing it in front of Master Zen."

"Well, he scolded me, too, since you had, but that's okay. I can live with those kinds of scoldings. He'll just want to know we've resolved it. He said he'd pass on the order to have dinner brought over here so we can talk as long as we need to, but...," she looked away and bit her lip and Master Obi held her a little tighter. She looked down. "He wants to finish the final punishment tonight, so we have to be done after dinner."

Leah immediately crouched down in front of Ilena and took her hands in her own. "I'm sorry, Mistress. I'm sorry they've come at the same time." Reynold was surprised to see tears in the eyes that were lifted to the older servant. Was Mistress Ilena under punishment? Leah bit her lip. "...But...it really shouldn't wait. Liam will fall next, from being the center of jealousy." The tears poured faster from Mistress Ilena's eyes and Leah sat down with a sigh in front of her. "I know you can't help it, Mistress, but you show favoritism towards him and he's still an unknown to everyone. Even I can't help it knowing what I know. And having everyone separated so much, more than we've had to have...," she glanced up at Justinian, standing next to Reynold now, the butterfly touch resting on his head. "I wasn't able to understand it other than that much until Justinian said it today." Leah held both of Ilena's hands in one hand and patted them with her other hand. "He said that there have been lots of changes in the Immediate Family just before we left for the Progress, and even during, but we've all been scattered during that same time, so it's being a difficult process trying to integrate everyone."

Ilena nodded. "And it's harder because even I'm too busy and separated from everyone." Leah nodded sadly and squeezed her hands tighter. Obi also held Ilena more closely to him. Ilena breathed a deep breath, then paused as Leah wiped her face with a handkerchief. Reynold was a bit taken aback to see it was that example that Justinian had been following in wiping his face. Did Justinian really take his responsibility to watch over him that deeply? "Will you tell me exactly what it was that I did that made people look at Liam with jealous eyes?"

"When we were walking the tents to pick them up yesterday and we finally reached Liam, you relaxed the most to see him. It felt as if in picking everyone else up it had been an excuse merely to have him with you again."

"I'm sorry, Leah. It wasn't that. But I suppose it could have been seen that way, since he was the last of the Family to be picked up." She sighed. "I'll explain it properly, though, and fix anything else that needs fixing."

"She just needs the horse pile," Justinian said as if explaining it simply.

Leah turned to look up at Justinian again. "I know. The rest of us do, too, really. But it can't happen until everyone understands properly." She turned to inspect Ilena. "And it won't really happen properly until we're back home again." Her eyes went to Obi. "Make sure Master Zen understands we need to be allowed a vacation as a Family when we return, or the office won't function."

"I will, Leah," he promised.

Ilena took her hand back to capture Leah's in it and raised her other hand to touch Obi's arm lightly. He let her go and she pulled Leah into her arms. It was odd to see a grey haired woman held like a child in the arms of such a young woman, but having just come from there himself, Reynold could understand a little. "Nana, I love you. I will miss having you so closely by my side. I want you to live for me, though, as long as you can. I am selfishly protecting you by having Liam take your place in the matters you're training him in. Please don't be jealous of those parts. I've already promised to keep you closely by me in everything else. I do still need you, and soon for things only you can do and have been waiting for since I was born."

They sat silently until Leah was finally able to relax and relent with a nod. Ilena kissed the top of her nurse's head and gently released her. Before Obi could move to take her again, Ilena rose to her feet. "They are coming," she said and moved out into the open space at the back of the tent. Obi moved to stand by her side. Reynold held out his hand to help Leah rise to her feet, then looked at Justinian questioningly. He didn't know where they should be.

Justinian looked around the room. "We shouldn't be hidden in the curtain, but we can stay against the wall." He walked over to a place he was comfortable and Reynold followed him. When Justinian shifted uncomfortably as he stopped next to him and stayed standing, Reynold sat down next to him again. When the butterfly touch came on his head again, he forced himself to relax. It made him remember when they'd walked to the place being prepared for the burning. Justinian had kept his hand on his mare as well, the touch seeming to either anchor him, or to bring him comfort. It wasn't likely that this one was to make sure Reynold was being obedient. That would likely be reserved for hand holding, though Reynold would be just as happy if it was rescinded to sleeve holding.