Wastelands, Calabria
Both suns were blazing in the sky, as close to each other as they would ever get. Arora didn't fight the bindings at her wrists, although her heart was pounding erratically and she fought tears. She didn't want to show him any weakness, but she was frightened, and heart-broken.
Arora had harbored a secret hope that Dax would forgive her, but he proved that he had never felt anything towards her but hatred. His first act upon her return was to beat her; his second was to refuse Dilan's persistent suit to make her his concubine, an act that would have cleansed the house of Dax of the dishonor Arora had brought to it. When Dax refused, Dilan had even made the outrageous offer to take her as his wife, but Dax would rather leave her to die in the Wastelands, proclaiming that he did not wish to be offended by the mere sight of the dishonored female. After Apolo's heated argument with Dax in her defense, he had disappeared, and Arora heard from the servants that Dilan had killed him. She knew it wasn't true! They were linked by their powers, and she still felt his.
"You have brought shame to my house and my name," pronounced Dax, standing over her, his sword drawn. Arora knew he wouldn't use it. The gods would curse his house if he spilled his own child's blood. But his men shifted uncomfortably behind him, unsure of his intentions because Lord Dax did not seem to fear anyone or anything.
Arora lifted her head to look at him, tears blurring her vision, and he stared back at her with dark, cold eyes. "I did not mean to shame you, father."
"Do not call me that!" His knuckles were white on the hilt of his sword. The desire to slay her shone in those inhuman eyes, but Arora knew he wouldn't. She felt it.
Dax buried his sword in the sand near her, then knelt before her, seizing her robe and jerking her to him until they were nose to nose. "Are you not going to use your Guerani powers on me to bend me to your will?" When she gasped, shocked that he knew about her, he laughed. "Do you think I am a fool? I know exactly what you are."
"Why didn't you leave me out here then?" she demanded, tears stinging her eyes.
He laughed. "I didn't get a chance."
She heard horses approaching and they both turned to see Zeno arriving with Dilan and several guards. Dilan started to dismount, but the emperor put up his hand, and after ordering him to stay back, he came close to them and dismounted.
Dax held Arora so tightly in his grip that she could scarcely draw a breath. "So you come to save her again, Zeno?"
To her surprise, she saw shame flicker momentarily in Zeno's eyes. "This serves no purpose, Dax. My son has offered to take the dishonor from your house."
Dax laughed. "I don't want your son's help. I never want to see this creature again!"
Zeno took a step towards them, and Dax pulled a dagger to hold the point to Arora's throat. "You would not do that, Dax."
Dax was stiff with fury. "I should never have trusted you, Zeno. I have always known you to be a weak and indecisive! I do not even know how you managed to wrest the throne from your father, but it surely involved treachery for that is all you know."
The emperor did not respond for a moment, then he hung his head. "I am responsible for your dishonor, this I know."
Dax shoved Arora away and stood to face Zeno. "Perhaps it was destiny, Zeno, that all this should come to pass. I would have gladly died for you, my friend, but I cannot allow you to stand in my way now. I made my mistake many years ago by trusting you."
"I have paid dearly," said Zeno sadly. "Because of what we did, I lost my wife, my son, and…and…" His voice broke and he couldn't finish.
"The female who is a part of these sands?" prompted Dax when Zeno looked away to stare into the distance.
Arora looked at the emperor and saw great sadness and pain.
"I got rid of her for you!" snapped Dax.
Zeno looked at him. "If you hadn't, she would have been my burden to bear."
"Instead you left me with this!" Dax balled his hand into a fist and hit Arora who felt back against the hot sand, the pain ringing through her head, her face throbbing.
Zeno dropped to his knee beside her. "Stop this! Leave her and be done with it!" He put his hand behind her head, and his face was blurry in her vision. As he wiped blood from her lip, she reached up to touch his hand, but he quickly jerked it away. Arora knew then that Zeno was aware of her powers.
His eyes met hers but he said nothing.
"You've done enough!" Dax took a threatening step towards them. "Leave her be. I've made up my mind. She's already dead as far as you are concerned."
Zeno gently laid her head back against the ground. Then he rose, turned on his heel and walked away.
Dax sneered at Arora. "He didn't have the guts to dispose of his own female child. I did it for him! You and she were born only hours apart. I was leaving the city to rid myself of you when I met him on the road. He was returning with the female Virineia had pushed into this world. But the gutless bastard couldn't do it. Virineia had made him too soft! I couldn't let him return with it; the imperials would have lost all respect for him. So I took it and left it out here, and all he had to do was to do the same with you! He couldn't do that either! He brought you back to me."
Arora's eyes snapped open and for a moment she felt disoriented. She could hear whispering, felt a warm body beside her, and turning she was momentarily startled to see Trey. He was cuddling it to him. Not an 'it', she reminded herself sharply, but Shamara, her daughter. Although she had been with them for several days, Arora still found it difficult to believe that Trey was keeping their female child. The baby was smiling up at him, waving her tiny fists, and making contented sounds. They were bonded, she thought, and her heart swelled with a happiness she did not think she would ever feel.
Then she remembered her dream. It hadn't been a dream, but a memory. Zeno had left her with Dax who cursed and struck her a few more times before leaving with his men. How she managed to survive until the setting of both suns was a mystery, and when darkness enveloped the lands, Zeno had returned. With him came Apolo, and she knew without Apolo having to tell her later that when Zeno had tried to leave her in the Wastelands after her birth, she had bonded to him to her with her powers. Now as she watched Trey and remembered his comment that Shamara had shown him the future, she wondered what she had shown Zeno. Whatever he had seen compelled him to save her.
"What does she show you?" she asked Trey.
Without looking at her he answered, "A sweet smile."
Arora moved closer. "Will you let me see what Shamara has shown you?" She reached out her hand to him.
Trey smiled and joined his hand to hers, their fingers lacing. Only a moment passed before she saw the images Trey had seen. Their beautiful daughter would be loved by many as the first imperial princess, and she would never cause them shame. But before she could read more, the images stopped as if Arora did not have the right to know any more. She guessed Trey had been given even greater insight, but he either could not or he would not ever reveal the future of his daughter.
As long as she was holding his hand, Arora tried to search Trey for his memories, but he still had none of concerning his disappearance from Calabria.
She didn't let him see her disappointment as she released him, then moved away to dress. "I want to see Apolo, to be sure he is all right."
Trey yawned and lay back with the baby in the crook of his arm. "I need the rest anyway. Between you and Shamara, I got no sleep last night."
Arora was still blushing when she left the tent, hand on the hilt of her sword as she made her way to Apolo's tent. The men glanced at her briefly. There were perhaps a dozen in her brother's camp when he brought her in from the Wasteland to care for her and they had grown used to her presence. Arora thought some might even respect her. Were it not for Apolo and Zeno, Arora would have died after Dax left her. And yet even though he had helped them, Zeno could not be trusted with the truth about Trey. Neither Apolo nor Arora knew which son Zeno favored, so they feared that the emperor would send Dax through the wormhole to hunt down Trey.
When she entered Apolo's tent, she was annoyed to see him dozing with his two women tucked on either side. Arora snapped at the lazy females to find food for him, and she watched with annoyance as they scrambled from the tent half-dressed.
Apolo yawned and rubbed his eyes. "You spoil my fun, sister."
Arora sat cross-legged on the ground near his bed. "You are supposed to be resting."
"I tried to rest last night, but I couldn't. Was that you howling at the moons?"
She covered her face with her hands. There was no privacy in the camp!
Apolo laughed and reached out to pull back her hands. "Do not be ashamed. I only wish I knew what secrets he learned on Earth about females."
Arora frowned at him, then looked away as he reached for his clothing. "You will have to ask him! He confessed to me that he had extensive practice after we left!" She couldn't help but feel hurt when Trey asked her forgiveness for his perceived betrayal of their love. He was deeply remorseful, but she felt partly to blame for leaving him as she had. He did not need her forgiveness.
"What worries you, Arora?" he asked, drawing her up and putting his hands on her shoulders.
"He is in danger here!"
"Trey chooses to stay, Arora. He has a right to determine his future now."
She looked down at her clasped hands. "There are no memories inside him." Arora looked at Apolo's face. "Have we made a mistake?"
Apolo met her eyes with his own gaze. "How can you doubt, Arora? He is Trey! Do not be so hasty to assume that because he has no memory of what happened that night that he is not Trey of Calabria. Your child recognized him."
"My child reached out to the man who is her father, be that one called Trowa Barton or Trey of Calabria."
"I have no doubt," shrugged Apolo. He flexed his arms and stretched. "I take up my sword again today. Trey is taking the men into a village to recruit volunteers."
Arora sighed. "I wish there were some way that Trey could return to Earth!"
Apolo grabbed her shoulders. "We cannot protect Trey. Not this time! Zeno chose him to rule Calabria, so he has the right. Dilan will not find it so easy to take it away from him now."
"How can he expect the imperials to follow him when he has taken a female into his house!" Arora didn't want to admit that keeping Shamara was a mistake, but Shamara would be considered a sign of his weakness. She would have to be deaf not to hear the grumbling of the men when he appeared with the child tucked against his side. Most, if not all, considered him foolish and soft to have brought the child back with him. When she mentioned it now to Apolo, he laughed.
"Not a single man would dare say such a thing to his face. He will bring changes to our world, Arora. He has already begun by having the courage to allow his daughter to live. Arora, that took courage, not weakness."
She sighed. "I wanted to protect him, and I have failed. I wanted to give him a son, and I failed."
"All Trey wants from you is your love, Arora. In that you have not failed." Apolo framed her face with his hands and tilted her head to look her in the eyes. "Shamara was meant to live, Arora. She cried out to me to help her when she was born and she has called Trey back to Calabria. The gods have a purpose for her."
Arora still found it difficult to believe an infant who could not even draw her first breath on her own had the power to call across galaxies. Trey's bond with both her and Shamara was strong.
"We must believe in what the gods have done. Did they not bring Trey's mother to us? And I believe the gods took him away from us so that he could become the man he has. Now they have returned him so that he can change Calabria."
Arora could see that Apolo earnestly believed his words. "Trey is just a man, brother. He bleeds like the rest of us."
Apolo laughed. "I know that! But I believe that everything has happened for a purpose."
"My living?"
"Zeno saved you twice, Arora."
"I don't think he had a choice," she said sadly.
Her brother threw back his head in laughter. "Sister, Zeno doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do. He is even more despicable than our father is. I often found it difficult to believe that a woman like Virineia could find something to love in him, but in the end he destroyed that too. She never forgave him for disposing of her infant daughter."
Although Arora knew that Dax was responsible for that, Zeno was just as guilty for allowing his imperial guard to act in his behalf.
When they left the tent, Apolo parted from her to ready his horse, and Arora saw that Trey had risen and was doing the same. Trynity Stryfe stood nearby holding Shamara while Trey was talking to Heero and Duo, the latter already mounted on a horse, the former adjusting the saddle of his own with Relena looking on, wringing her hands. Arora could see that she was afraid for her mate. Arora had some idea how she felt because Trey had ridden out many times at the head of the imperial guard to quell trouble in the Wastelands. The difference was that she had been at his side.
"I think she's sleepy," commented Trynity, drawing Arora's attention to the baby. Trynity was tickling under Shamara's chin but the baby's tiny lashes were fluttering shut while her mouth was still curved in a smile. "She's so adorable."
"Hey, don't any ideas, babe. You and me aren't the parenting type!" Duo was openly laughing, and Arora saw tears come to Trynity's eyes. "I think you better just stick to your experiments and test tubes."
Arora reached out to give her comfort from her touch, and she felt the pulse of new life in the other woman. Trynity shifted the baby into Arora's arms, then turned and walked away. The men in the camp watched her; her uncovered bright hair acting as beacon, and Arora knew any one of them would take her given the opportunity. Try as she might, Arora would never understand the people of Earth.
"You are such an ass!" proclaimed Relena, taking the baby from Arora and glaring at Duo. "Go apologize to her!"
"For what?" he scratched his head.
Arora sighed and turned her attention to Trey. "How much trouble are you expecting?" she asked him.
Trey turned to look at her. "From these men or from those I encounter? I cannot trust Apolo's men, and the men of the village would sooner slit my throat for what I have done to them in the past than to listen to my plea for help."
She put her hand on his arm. "You don't have to do this, Trey. You could return with your friends."
Trey took her shoulders in his hands. "This is my home, Arora. I have finally found it, and I will not abandon it. I would rather die on Calabria today than to live the rest of a long life in another galaxy."
Arora saw that he was determined, and she put her hand on his cheek. "I will pray every moment you are gone for your safe return."
"I don't need your prayers, Arora." His hands slid up to her face, and he ignored the restless murmuring among the men as he lowered his head to touch his lips to hers. Soon enough, she didn't hear or feel anything but the pounding beats of their hearts together.
"I should give that kissing business another try," remarked Apolo as he came to stand beside Relena.
She frowned at the handsome Calabrian. "I would have thought you had plenty of practice with Ryana of Bayman."
"I don't think she knew what she was doing." He watched his sister and Trey for a moment. "No, I am quite sure. I didn't feel what I think my sister does." He looked at Relena. "Perhaps you care to teach me the correct procedure."
"Are you so eager to return to your deathbed?"
They both turned to see Heero pointing a gun at Apolo.
Apolo raised his brows. "Are you going to shoot me?"
"I don't have any bullets," confessed Heero with a chuckle as he tossed aside the useless weapon. "I was planning to pistol whip you if you touched my woman."
Apolo laughed. "Then I am glad you gave me fair warning." He turned back to Relena. "Princess, I regret that I will have to forgo any lessons."
Relena glanced at the oblivious Duo, then back to Apolo. "I'm sure Miss Stryfe would be more than happy to give you some pointers."
"Unfortunately, I don't have time to pursue that now." He moved forward, leading two horses. "Enough, Trey. We should go before the second sun reaches its zenith."
He released Arora who seemed to be in a daze. Relena certainly understood that feeling. She glanced at Heero and found him looking at her. Oh yes, she understood exactly how Arora felt.
"I will keep Shamara safe while you are gone," Arora assured Trey.
Trey took her hand and opened it, then kissed the palm. "You have a duty to me, Arora. Until I otherwise say, you are still my imperial guard."
She looked at the scar on the hand he had kissed. "But…but I thought…"
"Arora, I'll not waste your abilities by having you stay back to care for Shamara." He left her side and came to scoop the sleeping baby out of Relena's arms.
"What are you doing?" demanded Relena as he moved to his horse, then easily mounted while holding his daughter. "You are not taking her, are you?" She was horrified that he would put the infant in such danger.
Trey tucked her comfortably at his side. "Shamara shares whatever fate I have."
Arora looked at her hand for a moment longer, and Relena noticed that she squeezed her other hand shut before mounting one of the horses Apolo had prepared. "I, too, share your fate, Trey."
Relena knew that if anything happened to Trey it would only happen because Arora and Apolo would be struck down first. She never would have guessed that of the gundam pilots, silent Trowa Barton would be the first to become a father. Then again, she could not imagine Duo Maxwell in that role either. Nor would she have guessed that Heero would be happy to hear that their carelessness was going to result in a baby. Relena did not want to even imagine what Miliardo was going to say about this if or when they returned to their solar system.
Heero came to Relena and kissed her forehead. "Take care of yourself."
"I should be saying that to you," she said, fighting tears. "I know how reckless you can be! Remember that you aren't encased in gundanium."
"Don't worry, Relena. I have something to return for." He brushed his lips against hers, then turned to leap on his horse.
She looked up at him. "Talk to Duo, please."
"We can't get involved in their problems. They have to work it out on their own."
Relena stepped back and watched as Trey lead his men out of the camp. He left a dozen men behind to protect the women and the camp despite their obvious contempt for such a task. In their eyes, everything was dispensable and all they needed was what they carried with them. The females were easily replaced.
When they had disappeared on the shimmering horizon, Relena went in search of Trynity and found her at the water's edge chatting with Apolo's women as they scrubbed clothing. Trynity was giving the women such detailed intimate advice in how to train Apolo to their liking that Relena felt herself turning ten shades of red.
"You must be feeling better," she interrupted as the two women – Relena didn't know their names and she doubted Apolo did either – giggled and continued to scrub.
Trynity pushed her bare toes into the sandy mud at the water's edge. "I miss the beach at Seaside. Everything was much simpler there."
Relena sat near her but kept her sandaled feet out of the water. "I told Heero last night."
"He was happy, wasn't he?" Trynity hugged her knees and stared across the water of the pool. "I can't tell Duo yet. I have to wait until we get back to L10."
Relena put her arms around Trynity. "You don't need to wait. He might not be happy at first…"
"You heard him! He doesn't even think I would be a good mother. He doesn't believe me when I tell him I do not want that fellowship, that I am not interested in studying space." She looked at Relena's face. "You have become a dear friend to me Relena, and I value your opinion, but I will not change my mind. I have to wait until we return to L10."
"Your father is probably very worried about you," commented Relena.
"He won't reject me when I tell him."
Relena wished she could make things right for Trynity, but only Duo Maxwell could do that, and Duo seemed to be heading in a direction away from Trynity. Trynity was probably right to wait before telling him. She would need the comfort of her father if her relationship with the god of death fell apart.
As she rested her head against Relena's shoulder, Trynity fingered the golden necklace Duo had given her over a year ago. So much had happened in the year since that ridiculous fiasco at the Stardust Ball. She almost felt as if she and Trynity had exchanged lives. Relena cringed as she thought of her own spoiled, childish behavior with Heero. There had been no excuse for it, and she must have known deep down inside that she had been wrong to pursue him as she had, but she couldn't stop herself. Perhaps the frustration of not being sure who she really was kept her from using common sense. Losing her father, gaining a notorious brother, losing a kingdom, all these things combined made her reach for someone. She was so ashamed by her pursuit of Heero Yuy that even his forgiveness didn't make her feel any better about it. She could only resolve to act in a manner from now on that would make him proud, not squirm in embarrassment.
"Somebody is coming," said Trynity as she pushed herself up and put her hand to her forehead to shade her eyes as she stared over the oasis pond to the horizon.
Relena also stood and watched the cloud of dust come closer.
Apolo's women left the clothing behind and dashed away shrieking.
"I see banners," said Trynity. "The design looks like some sort of bird."
Relena glanced down at the abandoned clothing. A golden clasp for one of Apolo's robes was in the mud, and she saw an embossed bird. She drew Trynity's attention.
"That's it!"
They turned to see the men scurrying to get to their horses. "What are you doing?" demanded Relena as she grabbed one of them.
"They are imperial soldiers from the Edgeland garrison. We're not losing our lives to defend you worthless females."
As the women were huddled together wailing, Trynity managed to wrestle a bow and quiver of arrows from one of the fleeing men. After having seen how women were treated, Relena almost joined the women, but she stayed by Trynity.
"It's Dax," said Trynity. "I heard Trey say that Dax was commanding the border, and Apolo wears the emblem of his father's house."
"I'm scared," admitted Relena as the horde came closer.
Trynity looked at her. "Stay behind me."
"You're not in a gundam either," remarked Relena, but she scooted behind Trynity anyway.
"I'm not a gundam pilot because I am a good pilot," said Trynity. Relena knew it was because she wasn't' afraid to die. Trynity nocked an arrow and raised the bow. "I don't know which one is Dax, but one of them is getting it between the eyes now."
This was madness! Trynity Stryfe couldn't possibly think she could stand against dozens of imperial soldiers! Relena was sure this was a nightmare!
"This place is damn hot!" Duo was drinking from his canteen again. "What the hell are we doing here?"
"Helping Trey," Heero reminded him.
Duo laughed. "Oh, yeah. Having a little fun, too, until reality runs us aground."
"What reality are you talking about?"
"You know. Peace." Duo sighed. "I can't imagine life without Deathscythe."
Heero hadn't any intention of speaking to Duo about his relationship with Trynity, but the mess was beginning to get on his nerves. "You should be imagining life without Miss Stryfe."
"Not this again!" Duo jammed his canteen back on his saddle.
Heero didn't think he had been nagging Duo. He could recall only one other conversation with him. Well, then he wouldn't talk about it. He didn't really want to anyway. He would rather think about Relena, about the news she had given him that gave him a strange sense of satisfaction. Seeing Trey with his daughter made Heero realize that he wanted the same kind of happiness with Relena. He was still young, but so much had happened in his life that he wanted nothing more than to settle down. And raising children with Relena was all the excitement he wanted after this experience on Calabria was over. Unlike Duo, he could imagine life without his gundam.
"She just doesn't get it!"
Looking out the corner of his eye, he saw Duo staring in the distance at no particular object. Heero looked away. Relena had been reluctant to tell him about the baby, but she knew he did not want to be kept in the dark like Duo. Trynity was probably right not to tell him just yet. He was acting rather unpredictable.
"I didn't mean what I said to her," said Duo, by now talking to himself because Heero was only paying half-attention to him.
As far as Heero was concerned, Relena was his wife. She might not feel comfortable with that yet, but Heero was certain there would be no impediment to their marriage. He knew Noin wasn't against it. Miliardo wanted the right thing done. At least that was what he ordered when he called him shortly before he took off after Trowa. Apparently Relena had made a fool of herself on the telecom to her brother when he had called to give her the news about the birth of Prince Zieben. Zechs didn't waste any time contacting him to give him a royal butt chewing for taking advantage of his sister. Him? If anyone had been taken advantage of, it had been Heero.
"I just don't want to share her yet!"
So Relena was going to have a baby. They might have to settle on L10 for awhile until they were sure there wouldn't be any danger from Calabria. L10 had been a desolate place when they had arrived, but sixty percent of the colony was completed and even a few parks had opened under the artificial atmosphere. That colony wouldn't be a bad place to raise children. Children? Heero definitely wanted more than one.
"Besides, she can't pass up that fellowship."
He'd like to have a son, but seeing Trey with his daughter made that option attractive as well. But a girl would be trouble. Not the kind of trouble Trey would be experiencing with his daughter, of course, but Heero just couldn't imagine Relena giving any kind of useful guidance to a girl, and he certainly didn't know anything about them.
"And when she finishes with that, I want her to myself again for a while."
Heero winced. Duo was getting on his nerves. Too bad Trynity was already pregnant because Duo Maxwell really shouldn't reproduce. Heero could see himself with a son. Maybe more than one son. Two or three. He was smiling to himself when he heard Duo prattling again.
"I mean, what do I know about kids? I don't even remember being one. I doubt whether Trynity does either."
"I thought you didn't want to talk," Heero reminded him. Duo was interrupting his own little fantasies.
"You brought it up!"
"Just shut the hell up. I have things to think about."
"I didn't appreciate you giving me things to think about!" Duo was openly pouting.
"Don't have kids," Heero advised him.
"Why? You think I can't raise a kid?" Duo glared at him. "I'd do a better job than you!"
"We'll see."
"What do you mean by that?" Duo almost shrieked, panic on his face. Heero wondered if Sherlock had started to put together the clues.
"Relena is pregnant," announced Heero, his voice sounding proud even to his own ears.
"Hell! You had me going there!" Duo blew out a big sigh of relief. "I thought…well I was afraid…"
"Shut the hell up," repeated Heero. He wished he had his gun. It was time for Maxwell to meet his maker.
For a few blessed minutes there was silence. The other men in the group did not speak although further ahead, Trey was discussing his plans with Apolo and Arora. Heero didn't want to be part of that discussion. Trey had warned him earlier that he expected the arrival in the village to be ugly. Shortly before leaving Calabria, he had lead a raid in this area, leaving carnage in his wake. The crowned prince had proven himself to his father while making his name a curse in the Wastelands. Trey had guts to ride back in to try to make an alliance with men whose sons and fathers he had killed.
"Maybe in a few years when I am sure she won't leave me, then we can have a kid."
Heero rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. He wanted to tell him to get ready for the event a little sooner, but he respected Trynity's right to tell him. Heero just knew Duo Maxwell was going to screw everything to hell. When he did, at least he and Relena would be there for Trynity. She wouldn't be alone.
More silence. Heero was glad. The heat of the suns was almost unbearable, so he contented himself with thoughts of children greeting him after a day of work. His horse plodded over the hot sands, breathing heavily and the heat made the horizon hazy. No one could live in this. He wondered how Arora had managed to survive a day with no food, water or protection from the sun. Dumping unwanted people in the Wastelands was an effective, if barbaric, practice. Unfortunately for Zeno, some managed to survive, becoming even greater enemies. It was these people that Trey was seeking to help him gain his father's throne.
"Hey, how is it that both you and Trowa managed to knock up your women?"
Heero looked at him and couldn't resist jerking with him. "Maybe you can't. Could be that the same radar waves that cloak Deathscythe has made you incapable of fathering children."
"What?!" Duo looked horrified.
Heero forced himself not to laugh. "I'm not even going to get into all those force fields Miss Stryfe was exposed to in the Shadowhawk. I doubt Dr. Stryfe even took any after effects like that into consideration in designing the gundam."
"But…but…" Duo was so disoriented by the possibility that he couldn't speak. What an ass!
"Tough luck, buddy." said Heero, biting his lip to keep from smiling.
Duo fell silent, but Heero knew it wouldn't last. "I think she wants kids! She's been hinting at it! What am I going to do now? Crap! I knew she would ditch me for some reason! I just didn't think it would be because I couldn't father children! I never gave any of that a thought!"
Heero rolled his eyes. "Dammit, Maxwell, shut up! For all you know, she is already pregnant."
"She'd tell me. Besides," he smiled smugly, "I think I would know."
Heero squeezed his eyes shut and slapped his forehead with the palm of his hand. "Nothing gets past the god of death."
"Damn right!"
Trey heard the last exchange from where he was, and he chuckled. Maxwell was in for a rude awakening.
"I'm worried," remarked Arora.
"Me too." He shifted Shamara who was still sleeping. "I am worried she is going to need changing."
Arora wrinkled her nose. "I wasn't talking about that!"
"You wouldn't be because you never change her and may the gods help her if you did," he commented with a chuckle.
Arora glared at him. "I am worried about you! You don't seem to be taking this very seriously!"
Apolo laughed. "Trey knows what he is doing." He glanced at the baby nestling against him. "At least I think he does."
"My daughter stays with me." For some inexplicable reason he hadn't wanted to leave her behind even though he trusted Relena and Trynity. "Have you approached Joran before?" he asked Apolo.
Apolo grimaced. "He is like a wounded bear. That man had three sons, and two were killed in your attack."
Trey didn't want to think about that particular event. When it was over, Joran had taken his tribe into the sacred Guerani hills to hide and lick his wounds. At the time, Trey had not questioned his father's orders to attack the village although Joran was Xuxa's brother. Joran's men had raided imperial settlements on the habitable areas of the Wastelands referred to as the Edgeland. So Trey took a force of imperial soldiers which had included his personal guard as well as his brother into the Wasteland to retaliate. Dilan had enjoyed the slaughter. Trey had done what was expected without pleasure. At the time he had seriously considered slaying his brother in the confusion. Trey did not doubt that Dilan had the same thoughts. Were it not for Arora and Apolo guarding his back, Trey might be dead. When it was over, he was so sickened by the bloodshed that even his father's rare praise could not erase the guilt he felt.
The village was set around a small lake, one of few fed by underground streams. Behind the sparkling blue waters were the foothills that ascended into the high peaks of the mountains where no living being could survive so close to the suns. The Guerani considered the hills sacred, but then the Guerani had considered themselves the exclusive servants of the gods. Perhaps it had been their high holy opinion of themselves that lead to their extinction. At least Apolo and Arora, despite their powers, had some humility.
Dogs barked and nipped at the heels of the horses as they entered the village. Trey's horse kicked one aside, and Trey patted it with appreciation. Maybe the animal wasn't so dumb after all.
The noise awoke Shamara who began to whimper, but after a moment, she realized she was safe and quieted. Trey wished he could feel as safe. Children scattered, and women ducked into their ramshackle homes, some still charred from the attack he had lead. The men began to file out onto the dusty street, their swords held ready. Soon enough, the road ahead was blocked with men bearing all manner of weaponry.
The elder, a large man with long white hair and beard, pushed his way through, holding his own sword as a younger man stepped out from a hut to join him.
"Stop!" ordered the older man that Trey recognized as Joran. "Who are you and what do you want?"
Trey tossed back his cloak. "I am Trey, son of Zeno, crowned prince of Calabria."
The announcement sent a ripple of outraged shouts through Joran's men. Joran glared straight at Trey. "Prince Trey is dead! You are an impostor."
Trey expected such a response. He had already heard that imperial guards called him the pretender prince. He suspected Wattan of spreading the rumor. Trey had made two mistakes with that man: one to trust him, the other to allow him to live.
"I assure you, I am Trey, son of Zeno."
"I recognize Apolo, son of the demon." Joran's blue gaze moved to Arora. "You travel with a female, pretender?"
"My imperial guard," he said.
"The female spawn of Dax," grunted the elder, then spat on the ground. He clearly had no respect for Arora.
Joran turned his attention back to Trey. "What do you want in this village, pretender?"
"I seek help in regaining my rights and challenging Zeno."
Throwing back his shaggy white hair, Joran burst into laughter. The young man at his side chuckled, but his attention was on Arora. Trey did not like how he was looking at her. He thought that he might have to fight because of what he had done years ago, not to protect his woman.
"I am not a pretender, Joran," he announced. "I rode into this village in the past with fifty men and chased your cowardly backsides into the hills."
Joran stopped laughing, and when the young man stepped forward with his sword raised, he put out his hand to stop him. "You dare make such a claim? You are, indeed, a fool! Do you realize, pretender, that Zeno the Butcher has put a bounty on your head? Yes, he has heard of you too. I could earn ten thousand zenos by returning your head to him."
"Only one thousand for returning you alive," said the young man with a smug smirk.
Trey raised a brow. "Do you think you will collect it?"
Joran crossed his arms. "My son, Garek, is my most skilled warrior. Do you believe you can defeat him?"
Trey assessed the man's size and probable ability. Garek was large and brawny, probably a head taller than himself. He would have to use cunning and agility to defeat him. He slid off his horse, as did Apolo and Arora. Heero and Duo came to his side, and with a wink at Heero, Trey dumped the sleeping Shamara into Duo's arms.
"Hey, I don't know anything about…What is that smell?" Duo's nose was wrinkled. "You take her, Heero. You need the practice."
Heero put up his hands and took a step away.
Trey turned his attention back to Joran and Garek, drawing his sword. "I will…"
Apolo put out his arm to stop him. "I cannot allow you to fight him, my lord prince."
Trey looked at him. "This is my fight, Apolo."
"He's right," said Arora. "You cannot allow yourself to be challenged by every petty chieftain or his son. There is too much at stake."
Garek swung his sword in an arc. "Well, pretender?"
Apolo pulled his sword. "My lord prince will not fight you. I will do so in his place."
"You can't fight," snapped Trey. Apolo was barely healed. He would not be able to survive a sustained duel. "I won't have you dying on principle here."
Arora drew her sword and stepped forward. "Then I shall fight in your stead, my lord prince."
Trey had no chance to protest as Arora walked past and put herself in position to challenge Garek.
The other man stared at her as if she had two heads. "You expect me to fight you?" He looked at Trey. "Are you going to allow me to kill this whore?"
He had been about to tell Arora to step back, but the man's insult angered him. Trey wanted to cut out his tongue for his words, but he would give Arora the satisfaction of humiliating him instead. "No, Garek, I may just allow her to kill you." He gave him a mocking bow and stepped near Duo and Heero to give them room to fight. Arora gave Trey a look that conveyed her gratitude for his faith in her, then turned her attention to her opponent.
It took all his willpower to watch each blow of the sword without so much as batting an eye. Garek clearly expected to cleave her in half with the first swing of his sword, but she easily sidestepped it and sliced through his tunic, drawing blood on his arm. With a roar, he swung again, but she ducked to avoid losing her head. Trey's insides twisted with worry each time Garek attacked and Arora barely avoided his sharp-edged blade. Joran's men were laughing at Garek, enraging him even further, but his anger only made his attacks clumsy. Arora was smaller, quicker, and because she was a woman, she had compensated for her lack of strength by learning any possible weaknesses in her opponents. Garek had many, not the least of which was his pride.
While Garek fought like a clumsy bear, Arora danced about gracefully, striking with finesse. Apolo stood next to Trey, just as silent and anxious as he was. When Garek and Arora came together, sword to sword, nose to nose, Trey clenched his fists, fearful that the bigger, stronger man would now have the advantage. Garek laughed confidently until Arora hooked her foot behind him and sent him sprawling into the dust. Trey knew how that felt. Even before he realized his loss of advantage, Garek was flat on his back, a sword pressed into the flesh at his throat.
"Stop!" Trey moved forward.
Joran was staring in disbelief at his son and his peril, then his gaze shifted to Trey. "You have the right to take his life."
"There has been enough bloodshed," stated Trey. Arora would kill Garek without giving it another thought if he gave the order. But Garek's death would serve no purpose. "I have come here seeking warriors to fight at my side, not to kill the strongest."
The elder burst into laughter. "How can I believe that you are the son of The Butcher? You who come into my village carrying a babe, protected by a female?"
Apolo came to Trey's side. "Will you believe me, Joran, when I tell you that he is, indeed, my lord prince, Trey, son of Zeno?"
"Son of Dax, would you give up your warriors to him?" When Apolo nodded, Joran sighed. "I trust you, Apolo. These last few months, you have protected us from the imperials." He turned back to Trey. "You have courage, Prince Trey, to return to the site of your triumph and our sorrow. I will discuss the matter with my warriors."
Arora stepped away from Garek, and Trey watched her march to Duo who was having a difficult time holding Shamara. The baby was now fussing with hunger, and Arora took her.
"She is a worthy mother for your son," commented Joran.
Garek came to stand by his father. "When you are finished with her, son of Zeno, I will breed a son of her."
Trey looked back at Arora. She was still standing by Duo, but he looked even more uncomfortable as she allowed the baby to nurse. "I will give your offer consideration," he remarked with a smile. He knew he would never be finished with Arora. "And I do not yet have a son. I have a daughter."
"Daughter?" Joran didn't seem to understand the word.
"A female," supplied Apolo with a proud smile.
"A female!" Joran burst into laughter. "How humiliated Dax will be to discover that his imperial female has bred another!"
Trey had never considered Dax's shame in saving Shamara. Now he realized Dax would be furious that his line was being continued through females. By now he must have learned of Shamara's existence and that Trey had allowed her to live. Dax was a bitter man whose cunning was unrivaled. He would have his revenge, of that Trey was sure.
"Come! Share a meal with us, Prince Trey. There is good food and beautiful females to amuse you." He put his arm around Trey's shoulder, but Trey held out his hand to Arora before the chieftain could lead him away.
She smiled and crossed to him, Shamara now quiet. When she slipped her hand in his, he said, "I have my own beautiful female," he said as he drew her to his side. He scooped Shamara from her. "In fact, I have two beautiful females. I have no need of others."
Joran laughed heartily then barked orders to the curious women lurking in the shadows to prepare a feast. They ate outside in the shade of trees near the lake after the first sun had gone down. Joran listened to Trey's tale, at the end of which he assured him that once his warriors learned of the betrayal in the imperial household, they might choose to fight for him. When Apolo wasn't adding to the story, or eating to his heart's content, he was flirting with the women serving him. Trey turned his back on him for only a moment and Apolo had disappeared in pursuit of a light-haired young woman.
"Your brother is hopeless," Trey whispered in Arora's ear. She sat beside him despite the discomfort of Joran's men that she remained amongst them. Shamara was sleeping on her lap, having eaten her fill and been changed, a task Trey left to Arora this time. No need for the men to see he liked playing with his little imp when he took care of those necessities. Later he would re-arrange her diaper since Arora still didn't know how to properly fit it to her.
Catching a glimpse of Heero and Duo, Trey thought about Relena and Trynity. Trey hadn't felt comfortable with the force he left behind to protect the women, but Apolo assured him that they would be safe. He had handpicked the strongest. Apolo probably wasn't the best judge of character, however, and while he valued and adored his sister, Trey knew Apolo didn't feel the same about other women. They were still objects to him. The fact that he was probably enjoying some other woman now while two awaited his return to camp proved he had no respect for them.
Trey quickly made arrangements to meet with Joran again, and by the time the second sun was dipping in the sky, they were returning across the Wastelands to their camp. They moved at a much faster pace, but they were still some distance by the time only the moons were lighting the sky. Before they reached the oasis camp, another force appeared on the horizon.
Apolo brought his horse to a stop by Trey. "Do you think it is Dax?"
Trey stared at the force of at least three dozen riders and perhaps a hundred foot soldiers. "If it is Dax, somebody is going to collect ten thousand zenos."
"Over my dead body," stated Arora fiercely.
He raised a brow. "That goes without saying, my dear heart."
"Let's meet with him," suggested Apolo suddenly. "Perhaps I can talk some sense into him. He is my father. I am his only son. He has never championed Prince Dilan, so if he realizes, Trey, that you are still alive…"
"That is a ridiculous suggestion!" burst out Arora.
Trey looked at her. "Apolo might be right."
"He…he was going to kill me," she said, a catch in her voice. Trey realized her father's actions had wounded her deeply. Arora had spent her life trying to be the male Dax wanted, and in the end she was nothing but the despised female to be left in the Wasteland to die a horrid death.
"Dax cannot hurt you anymore," Trey told her softly as he reached out to brush the windswept hair from her face. "He would have to kill me first."
"If he did, I wouldn't care what he did to me." She turned her head to kiss his hand.
"Hey, if you guys are done with the romancing, do you think someone could go out to meet them." Duo pointed in the distance. A single rider had detached and moved forward to stop halfway between both forces.
"I'll go," said Trey. He looked down at the baby wrapped in his cloak against the chill of the night.
"Bring her with us," said Arora. "Without us she would be nothing. If we die, I do not want her to live."
He nodded, and without wasting the breath arguing for Arora to remain behind, he moved forward with his two imperial guards. Their fate had been entwined since the moment their blood had mingled long ago in an oath given by a child.
"I will protect you with my life's blood until I have no more life in my body."
Trey's heart ached as he realized that moment had come.