Pirate Satellite, Calabrian Empire
The clang of swords accompanied by cheers in the garden drew Relena to that direction where she was not surprised to see Heero and Trowa in what appeared to be a life and death match. They were both stripped to the waist, their muscles straining to swing the heavy Calabrian swords. Dripping with sweat, they seemed to be fighting for their very lives. As she watched Heero, either the sun or the sight of his bare torso made her grow even warmer. She knew she shouldn't be out of their rooms, but she had grown bored waiting for Heero to return.
Relena found the whole situation annoying. The gundams and the transport were repaired and any time they wanted to leave, they could. But Heero chose to stay longer to help "Prince Trey" regain his lost legacy. Relena had been on this pirate satellite long enough to know that Trowa's quest was a lost cause. Prince Dilan had been recognized heir of Emperor Zeno, and Dilan had even solidified his position by marrying Princess Ryana to gain the alliance of the Bayman ruler. With the might of both planets behind him, Dilan could not be defeated by what few supporters Prince Trey might find. Relena could even see that Trowa doubted himself. To make matters even more frustrating, Trowa refused to consider using gundams to help him because of his silly notions of honorable battle. His was a useless struggle destined to fail. When it was over and done with, Trowa would be dead and they might be trapped in the Calabrian system.
Seeing Trynity sitting on a stump watching, Relena went to join her. "What are you doing here?"
"I was bored. Get down low so they don't see us."
Relena squeezed onto the stump with Trynity and peered through the bushes at the fight. "Where's Duo been?"
Trynity looked at her, and Relena could see fire in her eyes. "He left with Newt!" Obviously there had been an argument. The last four weeks there hadn't been anything but arguments between Duo and Trynity. Relena wished there was something she could do to help, but she would not break her promise to Trynity, and both Trynity and Duo were too stubborn to listen to reason. "They heard about a Calabrian shipment to Bayman," continued Trynity, "so they left to capture it."
"All they ever think about is fighting." Relena watched as Heero slashed away at Trowa who was stumbling back from his relentless attack.
Trynity snorted. "You know that isn't true!"
Relena felt her face burning with embarrassment. Their living arrangement left little room for privacy. "Does Duo still think we should return without them?"
"I absolutely refuse!" Trynity was clenching her fists. "I tried to explain to him that the wormhole is unstable. Maeryn has been collecting data for several years now, and it has recently had abnormal energy fluctuations. Any time could be last time for the thing to open and close. I'm not leaving him here!"
Relena was afraid of being trapped in this primitive system. Although they had the means to travel in space, their resources were so scarce that they could not make any meaningful use of their technology. As a result, they lived in wretched conditions where the strong crushed the weak, and bottom among their number, the women, were treated like animals. Maeryn forbade Trynity and Relena from leaving her palace, and when her men gave reports, Relena and Trynity were ordered to remain hidden, especially from the giant ape-man, Korrik. Trowa told them that Korrik had made plans to sell them on the Calabrian slave market where he hoped to make a huge profit, and so he had not been pleased to have them taken from him, even if it was by Maeryn. They were taking their chances being in the garden now while Trowa and Heero trained.
When Heero finally knocked the sword from Trowa's hand, Relena could not catch herself from cheering with the men who were exchanging money, having bet on the outcome. She sank back against Trynity when Korrik turned his head their way.
"Now you did it," hissed Trynity.
Trowa was not smiling as he picked up the sword. "I am still too weak."
Heero slapped a hand on his shoulder. "Give yourself time."
"I don't have time! I must return to Calabria."
"You can't return if you're not ready." Heero sheathed the sword he wore at his side, a required necessity on this satellite. Relena now understood why Apolo and Arora kept their swords with them at all times. The men liked to fight, and thrived on the sight and smell of blood.
Korrik, who had been standing near Maeryn silently watching the fight, stepped forward and began to talk to Heero in Calabrian, and Relena cringed as he gestured towards the place where they were hiding. Heero turned to Maeryn who folded her arms and watched Korrik with no expression on her face. It wasn't hard to see how a man like Korrik would appeal to the pirate chief. He was a strong brute who could control the men, but not bright enough to control her.
Korrik was still talking, now gesturing toward the place where Relena and Trynity where hiding.
"What is he saying?" Relena asked Trynity.
"How would I know?"
"You're an expert at everything!"
Trynity raised a brow. "My grades were just as bad as yours in Drivel's class."
School seemed a thousand years ago, and she almost wished she were back there now. "I think I heard him say Calabria, and I think I heard him say "female."
Korrik raised his voice and started toward them, anger twisting his features into an ugly mask.
"What an oaf!" Trynity hopped off the stump clenching her fists. "Come and get it, big boy! You'll be singing a higher pitch when I get through with you!"
Relena cringed. Trynity had spent far too much time with Duo Maxwell. She had lost all common sense.
Trowa hurried to get between them, but Korrik struck him down with his big, meaty fist. He reached for Trynity, but Relena slapped at his sweaty arm, as Trynity suddenly realized the danger she had put herself in and scrambled away.
"Keep your filthy paws off her!" Relena didn't even reach the middle of the giant's chest, but she glared up at him just the same. Somebody had to protect Trynity if that jackass god of death wasn't around.
He turned his eyes on her, and the look almost made her stumble back. Before she could react, he reached out to grab a handful of her hair, and like a caveman, he tried to drag her from the garden. Relena kicked and scratched, but he did not release her until Heero called his name.
Korrik trust her away so hard as he drew his sword, that Relena fell on the ground, and she looked up to see Heero advancing on the beast with his sword drawn again. Relena hurried to Trynity, her heart thumping painfully as Korrik drew his own huge sword. There was no betting now as the two men circled each other.
"What is going on?" Relena was afraid for Heero who seemed so much smaller than the pirate.
"Korrik is challenging Heero," said Trynity.
"I hate this place!" whimpered Relena.
She gnawed on her fingers as she watched Korrik swing at Heero, the latter barely able to stop the blows with his own sword. She could see that Maeryn wasn't about to put a stop to it, and Trowa had moved away to watch with a frown. Yet Trowa glanced at Maeryn, silently pleading for her to stop Korrik even though she did not even blink as she watched the battle. Korrik was stronger, by far, but Heero managed to keep on his feet to parry every blow. After several minutes, Heero, tired already from his fight with Trowa, lost the grip on his sword and it flew from his hand. Laughing triumphantly, Korrik swung his sword again, but Heero dived just in time to avoid having his head neatly sliced off. Relena almost fainted when the tip of Korrik's sword grazed his arm and a thin river of blood began to pour from the wound. Trynity had to hold her back from going to him.
Heero seized his sword just in time to stop another blow, then quickly countered the surprised Korrik whose sword clattered to the garden tiles. Heero held the point of his own sword to Korrik's throat. Relena could see he wasn't going to kill him, and Trowa said something to Korrik who grunted.
"He concedes," announced Trowa.
Relena breathed a sigh of relief, as did Trynity. They were both dependent on Heero to protect them. She started to go to him when he tossed aside his sword, but Korrik reached behind and pulled out a dagger. Standing, he would have thrown it at Heero, but suddenly the behemoth staggered, then spun and fell on his back, his eyes wide and lifeless, an arrow protruding from his chest.
Maeryn set aside a bow and went to stand over his body, then raising a disdainful brow, she glanced at her men. "Somebody get rid of this waste."
As four men hurried to comply, Relena dashed to Heero who was having his arm bandaged by Trowa with strips torn from his own shirt.
Heero's eyes met hers, and she could see that he was furious.
She had no excuse to be here. She knew better. Still, she opened her mouth to defend herself.
"Don't speak!" he warned her. "Or I will beat you in front of everyone."
Trowa chuckled although he sounded as shaky as Relena felt. "They would expect it."
"Shut up!" she snapped at him.
"Don't speak to Prince Trey like that," warned Heero, his voice low with unspoken threat.
"You are both ridiculous!" she cried angrily. "We should be going back to L10!"
"I belong here," Trowa told her. "I'm not going back."
"Suit yourself, clown prince!" She looked at Heero. "This isn't your fight."
"I'm making it my fight, and if you don't like it, I suggest you and Trynity get back on that transport and return to L10. You shouldn't have come in the first place."
Tears came to her eyes.
Heero stared at her until she spun and hurried away.
"A little hard on her, weren't you?" asked Trowa as he handed Heero his sword.
"This is no place for her to be. And she's turned Trynity into some kind of creature that doesn't do anything but nag Duo."
"Don't blame Trynity. Duo has been a prick since he came here. He doesn't deserve her."
Heero ran a hand through his sweaty hair. He needed a bath. Relena had disappeared, and he realized with annoyance that she was unlikely to scrub his back. He should have waited until after the bath to scold her. Maybe if he apologized to her in just the right way, she might massage his aching muscles, and then…
"I am sorry for Korrik's behavior." Maeryn interrupted his wandering thoughts. "He had been sulking since I chose to keep them."
"I'm sorry you had to kill him," said Heero.
"Korrik took a gamble by attempting to reclaim them. He thought I had some affection for him, that I would not challenge him." Her eyes didn't betray any feeling. "I don't trust any man."
"Does that include me?" asked Trowa.
Her cold gaze swept over him. "Especially not you, son of Zeno."
Trowa didn't have a chance to respond. The unruly ragtag group of men who had gone out a raid invaded the garden. Among them was Duo who had become quite friendly with the mercenary Newton. Heero listened to the tale of their attack on the Calabrian ship, Duo telling most of the story. When he deferred to Newton who began to give an accounting to Maeryn of their spoils, Duo wandered to Heero rubbing his hands.
"I had forgotten how enjoyable freedom is!" His eyes went to the blood-soaked bandage. "Hey, what happened to you? Trowa get a little carried away?"
They started to walk back to their apartments. "While you were out having fun, I was protecting your woman from being sold off to a Calabrian slave market."
Duo stopped walking and stared at Heero. "What?"
"Korrik challenged me so that he could take Relena and Trynity." Heero frowned at him. "Your assistance might have been useful."
Duo shrugged. "You're better at that kind of thing. Anyway, they should get back to L10 where they belong."
"We belong there too," pointed out Heero, although he hated doing so after what he had said to Relena. He looked back at Trowa who remained near Maeryn listening to Newt. "I'm having doubts that Trowa has any hope of success."
"Well, we got some good news! Ryana was on the ship headed back to Bayman. Seems she didn't appreciate Prince Dilan and vice versa. Their marriage is over and the alliance between Bayman and Calabria has been ruptured."
"That is one obstacle out of the way," commented Heero. "But Trey has little backing on Calabria. As crowned prince, he commanded imperial guards, but Dilan is the recognized crowned prince so he cannot count on them."
"If only he could remember how he left Calabria in the first place, he might be able to use it against Dilan. I can't believe Zeno would not re-instate his first choice, given the circumstances in which Dilan gained the title."
"According to Maeryn, Zeno would rather see his sons kill each other than surrender his throne to either."
Duo shuddered. "Hey, I wouldn't want to be the emperor. Why does Trowa want that kind of life? He would be destined to be murdered by his own son."
"There is some primitive logic in their succession," commented Heero. "Their society lauds might. Any hint of weakness in the emperor could not be tolerated. Once the emperor loses his youthful strength, his men are anxious for a leader who can with a strong arm who can dominate dissenters. The flaw to their logic is that the emperor is never in control long enough to use the wisdom of age."
"Looks like Trowa ain't going to die of old age," remarked Duo.
Heero chuckled. "I never thought any of us would." He sobered and frowned at Duo. "You had better go see Trynity. She's shaken up."
Duo grimaced. "You know, I just don't feel like listening to her. She hasn't done anything but whine the last few weeks. I wish she would just go back to L10 and get out of my hair. If this is marriage, then count me out. I've already had enough of the ball and chain."
A soft gasp followed by a sob made them turn in time to see Trynity hurrying away. Heero turned to look at Duo. "Smooth move, jerk."
His friend shrugged. "It couldn't last. You all said so. Now I'm a believer. She's become an absolute bitch to be with."
"I'm sure she has her reasons." Heero wasn't about to reveal his suspicion to Duo, and Relena didn't discuss Trynity except to nag Heero to talk to his friend about his insensitive behavior. Heero could put one and one together to make three, but Duo Maxwell was too obtuse to do the math. Heero wasn't about to step in that crap.
"Look, she's better off getting back to L10 and accepting that fellowship."
"She might be better off with you," pointed out Heero.
Duo laughed. "Why would she be better off with a guy like me?" Heero could sense despair in Duo. He understood that Duo was on the offensive in his relationship with Trynity so that he didn't have to be defensive. Not an altogether ineffective method of dealing with an enemy on the battlefield, but it was not very bright in matters concerning the heart.
"Are you prepared to see her with some other man?" asked Heero, his brow raised.
"Is that a threat?" Duo took a step toward Heero.
Heero smirked. Duo cared more than he wanted to. "Well, if you're done with her…"
Another gasp and Heero spun to see Relena marching away. He turned back to Duo.
Duo didn't smile. "Smooth move, jerk." Then he followed Relena back to their apartment.
Heero sighed as he headed in the same direction. By the time he reached it, Relena had thrown everything that was his into the common area, and he watched with annoyance as Trynity pushed past Duo carrying an armful of her own clothing. Relena gave him one last glare before she followed Trynity into what used to be their room. Although he had fought enough that day, he wouldn't mind pounding Duo Maxwell. How had he managed to let Duo's problems spill into his shaky relationship with Relena?
Thinking a bath might help, he stripped and climbed into the small pool that Relena had obviously run for him before he put his foot into his mouth. At least it was relaxing, so after washing, he put his head against the side of the pool and closed his eyes as steam rose around him. Almost dozing, he was rudely awakened when something hit his head and plopped into the water. Heero opened his eyes and saw a bar of soap floating.
Turning, he found Relena standing near the pool, hands on her hips as she glared at him.
"Just for the record, you ass, Trynity is not in the least attracted to you!"
Heero frowned at her. "I said that to Duo to give him something to worry about." Relena didn't seem convinced as she continued to stare at him, her brows together. He stepped out of the pool and tucked a towel around his waist as he walked to her. At least she didn't turn her back on him, but he wondered if he preferred that to the shrewish look she was giving him.
He put his hands on her shoulders and gently drew her to him. "What can I do to make you realize how I feel about you?" She felt so good in his arms, even stiff as she was. Putting his fingers under her chin, he tilted her head up so she had to look at him. "I love you, Relena. If I hurt your feelings when I told you to return to L10, it's because I fear for your safety. In my heart, I would rather you were by my side."
She let out a long sigh and slid her arms around his neck. "I don't want to fight with you, Heero."
He brushed the hair back from her face. "Why don't we get married? We can exchange vows in front of witnesses, like they do here, and when we return to L10, we can have a more formal ceremony."
Relena stared at him wide-eyed in silence for a moment. Heero had expected a little more enthusiasm. Then she laughed softly and patted his cheek. "Don't be silly, Heero. Why spoil a good thing?"
He raised his brows. He didn't know what to say.
"I want to be with you, Heero. But I can't marry you!" She laughed again. "What would Miliardo say?"
"I rather thought he might say something like "congratulations"." Heero pushed her away. "So what you said at school that day, it was the truth. I think I can cut around the bullshit to sum it up; I'm not good enough to marry."
Relena stamped her foot in anger. "Don't be a jerk! You are spoiling everything!"
Heero snatched up his clothing and headed towards Duo's room. "It's been a long day. Don't come crying to me when you want some company in the dark." He heard her shout his name, but Heero ignored her and pushed through the beaded opening.
Duo was sitting on the bed. "Hey, what the hell are you planning to do?"
"Move over, dumb ass. We are roommates now." Heero threw his things in a corner, then fell onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling. He couldn't help feeling hurt that Relena rejected him. He had allowed a part of him to think he could make it work. What made him think she would ever marry a man like him? She was a princess, and he was nothing! He had even managed to screw up his own command by becoming caught up in Trowa's problems.
"I suppose Nelson is at L10 by now, lord of my castle." he murmured. "Like Trowa, when I return, nothing will be there for me."
Duo turned to look at him. "What did you say?"
Heero saw that Duo was frowning. "I was just talking to myself about my own problems, but since you are to dimwitted to make a connection, I will spell it out. There is no need for gundams on Earth, so Nelson probably has been sent to take over my command, and when you manage to persuade Trynity to go back to L10, he'll have your woman."
That certainly didn't sit well with Duo. Nelson was a sore spot for him. He should be. Nelson did a good job of pretending to step aside for Duo because Trynity loved him, but Heero saw the looks he gave Miss Stryfe when she wasn't aware. Lars was still in love with her, and if Trynity returned to L10 vulnerable and alone, Nelson might not have too much trouble making her forget the god of death.
"You are jerking with me."
"I'm telling you something you haven't even considered, aren't I? You want Trynity to follow her dream as you see it, but did you stop to think that a woman like her isn't going to have opportunities?"
Duo stared at him, panic in his eyes. "But she wouldn't…she…"
"You leave her, and she'll have another guy in the blink of an eye."
"I can't be selfish," Duo said more to himself than to Heero. He rolled onto his back and stared at the vaulted ceiling. "Well, maybe I could be a little selfish just for a little longer. I'll talk to her tomorrow when she's had some time to cool off."
That might be long enough for Trynity to tell Duo what she needed to. At least they could be happy together.
Heero glanced at his completely oblivious friend, trying to imagine a miniature Duo Maxwell with red curls. He laughed out loud and when Duo asked him what was so funny, he just laughed again.
Half asleep, Trowa could hear the soft notes of a flute. His eyes fluttered open and he turned to see Maeryn perched in the arched window of his room. The breeze from the filtration system blew her hair, and he could only see her by the light that reflected off Calabria from one of the suns. Calabria was even bluer than Earth. Perhaps that is why he had been attracted to Earth in the first place. Seas and deserts covered the planet, but the only habitable areas were those controlled by the emperor. Why was Maeryn in his room?
As she took the flute from her lips, Trowa half-closed his eyes so he could watch her. He wished he had put a dagger beneath his pillow. Maeryn made no secret of hatred of Zeno and her distrust of him. Perhaps she was here to kill him.
She slid off the window into the room. Maeryn was a beautiful woman despite her age, but Trowa hoped she wasn't interested in forming a relationship with him. Yet, with Korrik now dead, he could only come to one conclusion about her presence in his room in the middle of the night.
When she sat on the edge of the bed and leaned toward him, he forced himself to relax so she wouldn't know he was awake, but she wasn't fooled.
"You fought well, today, Trey. But you held back."
He opened his eyes to look at her. "I did not. I could not defeat Heero."
Her fingers brushed his cheek and slid through his hair. "He is really no match for you with your imperial training. I think deep inside, you do not believe who you are and it prevents you from regaining your abilities."
"Tell me, do you believe my cause is lost too?" Trowa trusted her opinion.
She sighed and caressed his cheek. Trowa wondered when she was going to join him in bed, and he hoped she didn't. His thoughts kept returning to her apparent lack of feeling as she stood over Korrik's lifeless corpse. He would have to tread carefully with her. Maeryn wasn't one of those brainless women at L10 who were satisfied with a whack on the backside when he finished with them.
"Do you believe that right shall prevail?" she asked him.
"How do I know if I am right?"
"You should not have doubts, Trey." The stroke of her fingers against his cheek was comforting. He thought of his childhood, of the woman he never had a chance to know.
"How well did you know my mother?" he asked her. "What can you tell me about her?"
"She was a researcher, a brilliant young woman. She was so engrossed with her work, that she lacked social skills and had few friends. Dr. Sakarov seemed to like it that way. Distractions kept her from what was important. But after the crash, when everyone was frightened, she took charge and held us together. I suppose it was inevitable that a man like Zeno could seduce her. She was a fool where he was concerned."
"Did she love my father?" His mother had died when he was so young that he had few memories, and those that he did have conflicted.
Maeryn drew away from him and he was sorry to lose her touch. "Do you understand love, Trey? Let me tell you about a young prince who dared to love where he should not."
Trowa closed his eyes. He already knew that story. It was his.
"A young prince fell in love with a woman he could not have, a woman who was not of his kind. The yearning was so strong, that one day he went to his father to demand the right to marry her."
His eyes flew open. "How does your story end?" Maeryn surely knew what had happened to him! Somehow she had found out what he could not remember.
She sighed. "They could not overcome their differences, Trey. Even love may not be strong enough for that." Maeryn returned to her place in the window where she hugged her legs to her chest and buried her face in her arms.
"What if the hearts are pure?" he asked. It was madness to think that Arora might still be alive, yet he had to believe. His heart could not accept what his sense told him. For what they had shared, she could not be forgiven.
"I have yet to meet a Calabrian with a pure heart." She forestalled any further conversation by raising her head and picking up her flute to play.
Trey laid back and closed his eyes. Before he fell asleep, he felt a soft caress on his cheek, and warm lips touched his brow. He slept without disturbing dreams that night and felt rested the following morning. Heero met him for breakfast, but he was not at all talkative. There must be trouble in his paradise, thought Trowa as he munched on a fruit, but if Heero didn't want to talk about it, he wasn't going to ask.
Duo joined them after several minutes of silence. "Trynity has calculated that the wormhole is opening today. She'd like to get a closer look at it."
Trowa raised a brow. "You two are on speaking terms again?"
Duo scratched his head. "I suppose I was being a moron."
"Being?" Heero snorted. "You are a moron."
"Hey, I'm not dumb enough to ask Trynity to marry me. You should be enjoying what you have before Princess Pain in the Ass realizes what a lost cause you are." Duo grabbed a fruit.
Trowa looked at him. "Is that what you are doing? Do you believe Trynity is that shallow?"
"I am being realistic. She has opportunities now that are far better than anything she'll have with me. Some day she is going to wake up from her dream and wonder what the hell she is doing with Duo Maxwell. I'd rather not see that look on her face."
"If she hasn't done it by now, it ain't going to happen," predicted Heero.
Duo looked back at Trowa. "Did Maeryn tell you about the offer from Bayman?"
Trowa had no chance to respond before Maeryn came into the room accompanied by a man who was wearing Calabrian garb. The man took one look at Trowa and fell to his knees. "My lord prince! This is truly a miracle! You yet live!"
"Get off the floor," said Trey with a smile. "Here I am not a lord prince, but a visitor who is tolerated."
The man rose. "I am Wattan, imperial guard in the household of the mighty Emperor Zeno. I was en route to Bayman with the princess Ryana when my ship was attacked by these cursed pirates." He spat.
"This cursed pirates have saved my life," Trey told him. "Show them a little more respect, or they might cut out your liver and cook it for a meal."
The man's face drained of color until he realized his prince was joking. He laughed nervously. "Have you been among these…these people all this time?"
"That is a long story, Wattan, which I am not ready to tell today. What news do have you to tell me of Calabria?"
"My lord prince, there is rebellion in the Wastelands."
"There is always rebellion in the Wastelands," commented Maeryn. "Were they not treated like animals, they might be more loyal subjects of Zeno the Butcher."
Wattan looked at her. "Who is this female who dares to speak?"
"She is the chief here," said Trey. "The pirates follow her commands, so you need to show her particular respect."
Wattan stared at her, first in surprise, then in puzzlement. "I think I have seen you before, but I know not where."
"You may have seen me in Calabria. For a short time I was in the emperor's household." When Trey looked at her with surprise, she nodded. "I was part of your mother's household."
"It was you who played the flute to get me to sleep," Trey said, realizing why the music was so comforting. She had cared for him when he was very young.
She smiled. "So you remember! It seemed to work magic on you although Zeno feared it would make you soft and weak. "
Trey turned his attention back to Wattan. "Tell me more."
"This is not an ordinary rebellion. There is a man the people call Warlord. We do not know where he has come from, but he has been gathering forces and conducting a guerrilla war against the imperial troops. So far he has seen limited success, but many men in the Wastelands are rallying to him."
"No one know who this man is?" asked Trey.
"No one. He strikes quickly and escapes after doing considerable damage to the emperor's garrisons."
"I am surprised Zeno has not organized a retaliatory strike against his followers," commented Trey. "Punish the people, and they will not support this upstart."
"Is that your solution?" asked Maeryn, her voice tight with disapproval.
Trey glanced at her. "It would be highly effective to maintain the imperial peace."
"You would see innocent women and children slaughtered to strike at only one man?" she demanded angrily. She drew her dagger, but Wattan quickly stepped between her and Trey.
"Kill me first, woman, but do not spill the blood of Zeno's son."
She glared at the man for a moment, then tucked the dagger back in her belt.
Trey pushed Wattan aside to face her. "I told you it would be effective. I didn't say I would do it."
"Yet you have," she said. "I see it in your eyes, that you have done already Zeno's dirty work."
"I am his son," he pointed out. She didn't need to know how sickened he was by the things he had to do as the heir of Zeno. Looking back at Wattan, he said, "I need to know what have become of my imperial guards, Apolo and Arora of the house of Lord Dax."
"They are dead."
Trey forced himself not to show just how much anguish that announcement gave him although he had expected it. "How?"
"I don't know for certain. Dax set the female in the Wastelands with no food or water because she dishonored his house. There is a rumor that Dilan still wanted her, but Dax would not relent in his punishment. As a result, Dax has been sent to command the garrison at the Edgeland Fortress."
Trey wasn't sure if he preferred to hear of Arora's death or that she was with Dilan. Not so long ago, he knew the answer. Now that she was gone, the emptiness of never seeing her again over rode the possessive jealousy that once consumed him. "And Apolo?"
"Dilan has bragged that he killed Apolo, and he has been seen wearing Apolo's imperial sword."
Trey wanted to cry, but he refused to shed the tears. His heart was gone with his beloved Arora and his friend and brother Apolo. He felt more alone now than he ever had. "Wattan, do you think I could gather any support if I returned to Calabria?"
"Your brother is not a popular man." Wattan put his hand to his chest. "I pledge myself to you, my lord prince, and I am sure there will be others."
"What of my father? Does Zeno have some special affection for my brother to succeed him?"
Wattan snorted. "Why wouldn't he? Dilan is a useless, lazy scoundrel. Your father will die an old man before Dilan would be strong enough to take the throne from him."
"Xuxa is his mother," said Maeryn who had listened silently, as did Heero and Duo. Although they could not speak any fluent Calabrian, they had become proficient enough to understand most of the discussion. "Dilan may never be strong enough, but if he is anything like his mother, he is crafty and would take it by trickery."
"He disposed of me easily enough," commented Trey. He put his hand on Wattan's shoulder, and the other man nearly jumped out of his skin at his touch. "Thank you for your pledge, Wattan. I will ask you to return to Calabria to muster more supporters for me."
Wattan bowed low to him. "Anything for you, my lord prince."
When he had left Trey's presence, Heero remarked, "Can that man be trusted?"
Trey blew out a long sigh. "He is one of my father's men."
"Your father cannot be trusted," stated Maeryn. "Zeno will not want to let go, and you are a threat to him."
"What about this Warlord?" asked Duo. "Couldn't you try to strike up some alliance with him?"
"He has his support in the Wastelands," said Trey thoughtfully. "I don't think I could get any support there any other way."
"Why not?" Maeryn was staring at him.
Trey stared back. "Because I had lead many raids against rebels, and I helped to hunt down suspected Guerani survivors."
She was stunned and angry, and she stared at him speechlessly for several moments. The tension between them was so thick, even Duo kept his mouth shut. Then she said, "You are a hypocrite, Trey. Why should any of us help you gain your father's throne? Like your father before you and his father before him, you will hold it together with the blood of innocents and those they did not understand."
"I am not like them." Trey reached out to touch the beautiful pirate chief's hand, which was gripping the hilt of her dagger. "I am not a full-blooded Calabrian. There is a human side to me."
He watched as a tear slid from the corner of her eye before she spun and walked away.
"You have much to do to convince her," predicted Heero.
"If you ever can," added Duo.
Trey didn't have any opportunity to speak to Maeryn again for several days because she chose to accompany Trynity on her short expedition to the wormhole. During their absence, he spent most of his time training, trying to regain the strength and skill that he had lost in the last five years. Heero was happy to assist, but his mood had turned dark and ugly, so there was little communication from him beyond the clang of their swords. Trey assumed Relena was at the root of Heero's mood. The shrew didn't leave her apartment once while Trynity was gone, and the one time Trey asked Heero what had happened, he became belligerent and even more sullen.
The morning the group returned from the wormhole, Trey received a message from Wattan on Calabria. He had gained at least two dozen supporters among the imperial guard who would likely bring in even more. Two dozen among thousands was not encouraging, yet Trey believed that he had right on his side. Trey wanted desperately to return, if for no other reason, then to get vengeance for Arora and Apolo's deaths. Afterwards, he could return to Earth with his friends, where he could begin a new life, but not without first seeing the lifeless heads of Dax and Dilan at his feet. Calabria was doomed to wallow in the muck of decay and he no longer wanted any part of it. Trey had no love of his father, no love of his throne, and no love of Calabria.
He had wanted to return for Arora. But she was gone.
"Are you planning to leave?"
Trey turned to see Maeryn watching him as he contemplated the message in his hand. "What news have you about the wormhole?"
"It is highly unstable. I do not believe there is much time before it closes permanently."
Trey stared down at the paper again.
"You can return with your friends," she suggested. "Forget Calabria."
"I can never forget Calabria." He could never forget Arora. Trey's eyes went to the sword she wore at her side, his sword, the sword Arora had so lovingly held for him until the day that he had taken it from her.
She saw his gaze and pulled it from the sheath. "Do you think you are ready?"
"I don't want to kill Zeno."
Maeryn tossed the sword and it clattered as it came to a rest at his feet. "But you will."
Trey stared at the sword without picking it up. "Zeno can have his degenerate little empire. What I wanted is gone." Yet he continued to stare at the sword. He remembered the joy that came into Arora's eyes when she took the sword from his hands. How had it come to be in his possession again? Why did he take it back? Trey sighed. Did it matter anymore?
He felt a touch on his shoulder and turned to look at Maeryn. "I only wanted to return for her," he admitted.
"Her?" Her brows raised in surprise. "You…you would risk your life for a female?"
Trey felt like a fool and knew he appeared weak in her eyes. No Calabrian man would admit to having feelings for any female. A dog could earn far more respect. Trey cursed that human side of him that was responsible for these unnatural impulses.
Maeryn laughed softly. "It was Arora, wasn't it?" When Trey didn't respond, she said. "I knew from the moment she came into your life, that she was destined to take and keep your heart."
"She's gone," he said as he knelt before the sword. "And it is because of me. Even though it seemed so right on Earth, I knew what I shared with her was wrong. But I thought we would return to Calabria together, that I could force them to accept our love."
"You are going to return without her, Trey." She was stroking his hair. "Put to rights, what is wrong there. Avenge her death, if it will give you a purpose. But don't leave without tying the loose ends of your life, son of Zeno."
He looked at her. "Why have you never returned to your own solar system? You must have realized that it is possible."
She sighed and her hand dropped away from him. "Because I haven't tied the loose ends of my life."
Trey reached out to touch the sword and he was not surprised to feel a vibration in his hand. Arora's essence was still part of it. His fingers curled around the hilt and he raised it.
The room seemed to spin around him, and he was sucked away from the present. He did not recognize the place he was in, but he did recognize the little girl who stared up at him with big, dark green eyes. She didn't speak as she watched him, and he said nothing to her. Then she reached out her chubby little fingers to him, and he held out his hand to her, but before they could touch, she disappeared, and he found himself looking at Maeryn.
"I have to go back," he said with conviction. "Someone is waiting for me there."