Guerani Palace, Calabria
The first sun was rising as Trynity stared at the window opening to the balcony overlooking the central courtyard. The sun's pink and yellow rays streamed through the window, casting an eerie glow. She had slept hardly at all the night before, or neither that night nor the night before. Trynity hadn't had a decent night's sleep since she arrived on Calabria, and each day she spent at the palace of the Wasteland governor, her nerves grew stretched to almost beyond limit. She knew if she didn't do something soon, she would snap, and yet she couldn't bring herself to do what needed to be done. Trynity couldn't talk to Duo, couldn't even bear to be in the same room as him knowing that if their eyes met, she would probably dissolve into a puddle of tears.
Yet she couldn't bear not to see him. Now she could hear the beginning of activity in the courtyard below the window, so she drew herself up slowly and quietly crossed the room to a spot where she stood obscured by the drapery. There she watched the troops from the second moon prepare their horses and gather together their supplies. They were headed out on another foray into the Guerani hills in search of the elusive insurgent who had wreaked havoc on the second moon. The man had been an annoyance then, but now his activities in the Guerani hills had earned the ire of the emperor. Gathering together any disgruntled men he could find, the insurgent went from one peaceful village to another, preaching the coming of Camridaeus, and those who did not accept his teachings, were attacked by his band of thugs. Trynity knew that Duo was under great pressure from Trey to find him, yet the man stayed one step ahead of him, as if he had help from the dark god himself in eluding his pursuers.
Seeing Duo step from the stable leading his own horse, Trynity backed away so that he couldn't see her if he looked up at her window which he usually did. The man could not let her go. Yet she craned forward to get a better look at him, then gritted her teeth as a couple of pretty young servant girls hurried to him delivering his supplies. While he thanked them, he ignored their bold flirting as he fitted the rations in the packs tied to the horse. Part of Trynity wished he would take them up on their blatant offers, maybe so she could have a reason to be angry with him. Then again, she felt a cold wave of jealousy rip through her now as one of the girls put her hand on his arm to draw his attention.
"Just what do you think you are doing?" The sharply delivered question frightened the girl into skittering away from Duo. Lady Larya came into view, her hands on her hips. She did not need to say more to send the girls scurrying back into the palace.
Duo said something to the beautiful woman, which made her smile. Her reply made him laugh, and Trynity felt a stab to where her heart used to be. She had never wanted to see this, Duo and Larya together with only her pregnant belly between them. Larya was everything that Trynity wasn't. While Trynity spent her days sick as a dog, Larya glowed with impending motherhood. She was fair, graceful and beautiful. Trynity felt like a troll every time she caught her reflection in a mirror. The gods obviously favored a match between Duo and Larya. Trynity was only in the way. The gods had never favored her for anything.
Having seen enough to feed her depression, Trynity trudged back to her bed and lay down to stare at the ceiling. She tried not to remember the life she had once had, but she couldn't help reliving the months of what she would term bliss during the time following the collapse of the Coalition and her first arrival on Calabria. Duo had been hers then, and she couldn't help wondering now what she had done to deserve losing him. Of course, she knew the answer. She had not trusted him enough to tell him about her condition. Her father's conviction that she would destroy what was left between her and Duo meant nothing to Trynity. Nothing remained. She was so soiled by Quatre that she could not imagine being with Duo, and although she knew that Duo would raise her child whether it was his or not, she could not live in such an arrangement if her baby was Quatre's.
Trynity wished she would receive word from the Imperial Palace that the entourage of Prince Zieben was ready to return. She could not avoid Duo forever, nor could she stand this pain much longer.
Sighing, she closed her eyes, willing herself to dream of happier times, a dream that could last forever.
By the time she awoke again, the second sun had risen and her room was flooded with warm light. She heard some giggling, and she turned to find the same young women who had been flirting with Duo now standing in her room looking through her clothing. The dark-haired one turned to look at Trynity, a smirk on her lips.
"So, you are awake! Do you wish to have a meal brought to your room?"
Trynity sat up in her bed. "What are you doing with my things?"
"Nothing!" sniffed the lighter of the two. "We were curious about your strange dress."
The dark-haired woman tossed aside one of Trynity's dresses. "My name is Naiya and this is my sister Macayl. We are here to serve you."
"I don't need anything," Trynity told her. She didn't care for the way Naiya was staring at her, as if she were sizing her up.
Naiya apparently didn't believe in keeping her thoughts to herself. "Are you Lord Duo's woman?" She didn't give Trynity a chance to answer before she rushed on. "He has not spoken vows with you, although you have given him a son and a daughter. He has not spoken vows to Lady Larya either. Neither of you is woman enough for him."
The door opened, and Trynity cringed to see Larya standing in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest. Naiya turned away from Trynity, and for a moment she returned Larya's malevolent gaze before subserviently lowering her head.
"What brings you here?" demanded Larya. "Your duties for the day do not bring either of you anywhere near this wing of the palace."
Naiya was at a loss for words. Her sister filled the void. "We…we only wanted to be helpful to our guests."
Larya glanced about the room where Trynity's clothing had been tossed carelessly by the malicious young women. "I see how you have helped. Now get back to work before I decide you need a whipping."
Both women walked to the door, but Naiya paused when she could stare at Larya eye to eye.
Larya's perfectly curved lips now formed a frightening sneer. Trynity was reminded that the woman had once tried to kill Trey.
Naiya sniffed disdainfully and continued on her way out. Larya watched them retreat, then turned back and entered Trynity's room. She closed the door behind her and immediately went to retrieve the clothing.
Trynity left her bed and started to help her. "You don't need to do that!"
Larya paused and looked at her with her brow raised. "While Princess Shamara is here, I am in charge of the household. I feel responsible that those two snakes were able to intrude upon you as they did."
Trynity wished Larya would go away. Not only did she want to wallow alone in her self-pity; she certainly didn't want to have any kind of conversation with Duo's woman. "You could not have guessed their intention."
The other woman snatched a few more articles of clothing from the floor, then looked back at Trynity. "I know their type, and all their tricks. They'll do anything to get what they want."
"I don't have anything they want." Trynity tossed what clothing she had retrieved onto a dressing table.
Larya shrugged and did as Trynity had done with the clothing she had picked up. "Naiya believes she can seduce Lord Duo into making her his wife. A young and foolish woman like that can prove to be a danger to anyone that stands in her way."
"What she or Duo does has nothing to do with me," pointed out Trynity. She hated noticing that Larya's skin was flawless, or that her eyes were sparkling. There was absolutely nothing that wasn't perfect about her. Trynity hadn't bathed in a couple of days, her hair was tangled, and her face greasy and still marked by freckles that she had to hide beneath makeup. Larya had probably never used makeup in her life!
"She perceives you as a rival, whether you are or not." Larya headed to the door where she paused. "There was an attack on a village to the west. Lord Apolo asked me to find out if you would be willing to assist him in helping the victims."
Although she wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed, her weak spot had always been helping others. Why else had she spent so many years on that godforsaken colony on Mars? "Tell him that I will."
Larya was openly surprised that she had agreed. "You will need proper Calabrian clothing or you may make the villagers uncomfortable. I will lend you some of my clothing for now until you can make some for you."
"I won't be staying long enough to need a Calabrian wardrobe," Trynity told her. She didn't want to borrow anything from Larya, yet she had no choice. By the reactions of Naiya and her sister, Trynity's clothing was odd by their standards. "But I thank you just the same."
"The bath is through that door." Larya pointed out tactfully before walking out. The woman hadn't said so, but Trynity knew that she must look even worse than she thought.
The bathing chamber opened to several suites, but it was deserted now. Trynity knew she shared it with Stryfe and Quynn among others, but they had gone out with Duo as they did every day. Neither of her children would admit to it, but she knew they wanted to spend as much time as they could with their biological father. Duo had made quite an impression on the both of them, and Trynity suspected they wondered why she had rejected him in the first place. They would not understand how it had been between them. That she could be young and afraid of being abandoned, that the man who now epitomized responsibility could do anything irrational. Now soaking in a hot bath, Trynity didn't know if she understood exactly how they had both managed to screw up such a good thing. She did know that there was no going back.
She had been so deep in thought, that she hadn't heard anyone enter the chamber, so she was started when she felt warm water pouring over her hair. Turning, she managed to see through the water dribbling into her eyes that Larya was pouring shampoo in her hand.
"I…I don't need any help," she gasped. Trynity was beginning to feel deeply humiliated by Duo's woman.
Larya ignored her. "Don't be ridiculous! Sit back and relax."
By the tone of her voice, Larya had no intention of listening to Trynity, so Trynity shut her eyes and tried to block out the fact that Taeron's mother was washing her hair.
As if she could read her mind, Larya remarked, "So what do you think of my son? I am very proud of him."
Trynity couldn't respond. She was completely mortified to the tips of her toes. Fortunately Larya poured a pitcher full of water over her head, then another almost before Trynity had caught her breath. When she had finally wiped the water from her eyes, she saw that Larya was waiting with a towel. Not wanting to appear foolish by resisting, Trynity stepped from the tub and gritted her teeth as Larya wrapped the towel around her.
Larya turned her around to face her. "I am grateful that you opened Lord Duo's eyes about my son. I had given up hope that he would ever see the truth. He is a very stubborn man."
Trynity recalled how stubborn he had been over the stupid fellowship that had driven them apart. But she didn't say anything in response.
"You seem to be a stubborn woman as well," commented Larya with a smile.
Trynity couldn't take it anymore. "Why are you being so nice to me? I don't think I would be as kind as you are if I were in your position!"
Larya seemed taken aback. "What…what do you mean by that?"
Trynity looked meaningfully at the other woman's distended belly.
Larya gasped, her eyes widened, then she laughed as she laid a hand on her belly. "This? Do you think…?" She laughed again, and Trynity felt like slapping her.
"What kind of woman are you?" Trynity pulled the towel closer around her. "Don't you want the father of your child to be with you?"
"Of course I do!" Larya was still laughing, but she suddenly sobered and she dropped down on a bench beside her over which she had draped the clothing she had brought Trynity. "I just don't think it will ever happen." Now there were tears rolling down her cheeks.
Trynity grabbed the clothing and turned away as she dressed. This was worse than a bad soap opera! Larya was sniveling, and Trynity felt like heaving what little was in her stomach. "You needn't worry about me! I am going back through that wormhole, and I will not stand between you and Duo. Soon enough he will realize that he is better off with you."
Larya grabbed her arm and dragged her down on the bench beside her. "Lord Duo is not the father of my child."
Trynity was taken aback, and for a moment there seemed to be a ray of sunshine in her life, but the black cloud of memories of Quatre quickly raced to blot it out. "I don't believe you! Duo told me that you asked him to give you a daughter."
"I did," Larya told her. "And we intended to…but orders from the emperor prevented us from acting on our plans before he left with Princess Shamara again. He did not tell you that this is his child, did he?"
Trynity honestly couldn't say that he did. "I just assumed…"
"Lord Apolo is the child's father!" Larya suddenly wailed. She grabbed Trynity's shoulders. "He won't believe me! He thinks I am trying to trap him because I cannot have Lord Duo. Duo can't make him listen to reason! I don't know what I am going to do!"
Her own life was such a mess that Trynity didn't know what to say. But she suddenly understood the strange behavior Apolo had been exhibiting towards women. When she had been on Calabria before, Apolo had never been without a woman to keep him company and wait on him as if it were her greatest pleasure. And he had amply rewarded them for their loyalty. But Trynity hadn't seen him with a woman since she had arrived and his remarks about women indicated he had a thorn stuck in his backside. Was this the thorn?
"I don't think he can ever forgive my past," whimpered Larya. She grabbed Trynity's hands and as she met her eyes, Trynity was quite gratified to see that Larya was not nearly as pretty with swollen red eyes. She guessed the other woman didn't show that side of herself too often. "I had to protect myself. When Trey banished me to the pirate satellite, I did the best that I could, which was accepting Newt's protection. That man was a loathsome creature, but I didn't think I had a choice in being his female until Duo arrived at the satellite. He was the first male I ever wanted to share my pillows with."
"I really don't want to hear this," mumbled Trynity. She was sure she was going to be sick.
Larya ignored her. "I thought he would protect me if I was carrying his child because I believed he was honorable. After all we had gone through together, he rejected me and our child."
Trynity was starting to feel faint, either from lack of food or from serious embarrassment. "Are you finished?"
She wasn't. "Fortunately for me, Trey is a forgiving man and he believed me. Although Duo wanted nothing to do with our son, Trey treated him with all the respect and love he would give any acknowledged child of his friend. He also appointed me as governor of the first moon. Many of the people on my moon are former slaves with backgrounds similar to my own. We have made a peaceful life there."
"I'm hungry," Trynity pointed out.
"But it's not enough for me!" Larya wiped away her tears. "I knew what was missing from my life the moment Apolo walked into it."
Trynity raised a brow. "Was that the first time, when you were seducing him into letting down his guard so that you could kidnap his sister and her innocent infant child?"
Larya pretended not to hear her though Trynity noticed she flinched when reminded of one of her dastardly past deeds. "He does not believe that there is nothing between Duo and I."
"You must have given him good cause to think so." Her stomach growled.
Larya chose not to tell her why Apolo had good cause not to believe her. That made her wonder about all that Duo had left unsaid about his relationship with Larya. "You haven't eaten much in many days since you came here. Perhaps you are ready now."
What a time to think of her comfort! She wanted to know what happened between them, but Trynity did not ask Larya for fear that the other woman would start confiding even more intimate details. While he had become a man wise to the wiles of a women, the Duo Maxwell that Larya had wrapped around her finger on the pirate satellite many years ago must have been way out of his league with her. Did he develop feelings for her? Did he still have feelings for her?
Not wanting to dwell on it either way, she forced any wild imaginings from her mind as she followed Larya through a labyrinth of corridors until they finally reached the patio looking out over the Guerani Hills. Sitting at a table, Apolo was reading what appeared to be a dispatch, and recognizing Trey's seal, Trynity knew the papers engrossing his attention must be official.
He looked over them, and his gaze zeroed in on Larya first. Trynity knew she was right, that Larya was his thorn. His eyes narrowed for a moment, but when he looked from her to Trynity, his handsome features relaxed, and he tossed the documents aside and left the table to greet her.
"Trynity! I am so delighted that you have decided to join me!" He took her hands and kissed the knuckles on both before drawing her to the table. He hardly spared Larya a glance as he said, "Get some food for our guest. And while you are in the kitchen, send someone else to serve us while you make arrangements for the day. The meal on my table last night was barely palatable, so I hope you can manage to put together something that won't make me and my guests prefer death to starvation over what you serve."
Larya's cheeks turned pink with embarrassment and Trynity saw a spark of anger in her eyes, but she merely said, "Yes, my lord." Then she hurried away.
Trynity glanced at Apolo who had already picked up the missive from the emperor and was flipping through it. "You were a little harsh with her, weren't you?"
He looked over the papers at her. "I know what she told you." Of course he did, because he had invaded her personal thoughts with his touch. Trynity should have been more careful in allowing him to touch her. "She is a consummate liar, you know. That child is Duo's. She planned to conceive it and I assure you that he was very much in agreement. They were taking a break form their reproductive activities when I arrived with orders from Trey."
"What makes you think I want to hear this?" asked Trynity with annoyance. She was wondering whom to believe now. Apolo was just as adamant as Larya. He was about to say more when she put up her hand. "I don't want to know any more. The three of you are disgusting! Each of you deserves exactly what you get out of this bizarre arrangement." If she believed Apolo, then he had hopped into bed with Larya the moment Duo left it. Knowing him, that did not surprise her.
Apolo lowered his head and turned his full attention back to the papers. A servant arrived several moments later with a tray of food that Trynity attacked with surprising gusto. While she preferred the fruits and bread, she managed to choke down a bit of the unidentifiable hash that she suspected was a concoction of various creepy crawlers. Remarkably enough, even that did not make her stomach knot. Perhaps she was getting over the worst of her pregnancy.
Finished, she sat back against her chair and turned her attention to Apolo. He folded the papers and set them aside. "That must be very important."
"Just an order of execution for the Camridaen bastard causing such trouble both here and on the second moon. One of his followers tried to sneak into the palace with the intention of assassination. Trey believes, and I agree with him, that Shamara and Dagan must be protected at all costs."
"Do you believe they are the salvation of the gods?" asked Trynity, unable to keep the sarcasm from her voice.
He frowned at her. "Of course I do! And even if you do not, surely you can understand how a fanatic could believe that by causing their deaths, he would be rewarded by Camridaeus himself."
Trynity wasn't going to get anywhere by arguing with him. "Lady Larya relayed your message. I assume we shall be going out to the village."
"Yes. I have had reports of several deaths, and dozens of injuries. I would appreciate your help in treating them."
"Will Shamara be helping us?"
He shook his head. "I think that she and Dagan are in a trance. I spoke to them last night, but they seemed far away."
Trynity laughed. "They are on their honeymoon. I'm sure their thoughts are only for each other and their future."
"If the threat of Camridaeus is not dealt with, there will be no future."
"A rather dire prediction based on belief in gods that may not exist at all. From what Shamara has said, even the original gods were merely highly advanced people from Bayman who took advantage of the ignorant savages on Calabria."
Apolo sighed. "You refuse to understand our ways, Trynity. What you don't realize is that those highly advanced people from Bayman were endowed with remarkable powers that even today do not exist on Bayman. Is it so difficult for you to understand that the spirit of a god could dwell inside of a mortal being?"
"If you are talking about Dagan, I am wondering if his powers aren't merely clever tricks taught to him by Master Nazzar in order to perpetuate the myth." Trynity made a sound of disgust. "As for Shamara, she has merely tapped a strength that any being could with some practice. There is even evidence in human society that people have been able to heal with touch. Granted, they are few and far between, but they have existed." She leaned closer to Apolo. "Where did you receive your powers?"
"My healing power is innate. I received it from my mother who received it from her dying father."
"Was she dying when she passed her power onto you? A traditional belief that supernatural powers are passed down at that mysterious moment when one leaves this plane of existence can be a powerful inducement to one's mind." Trynity was thinking of all the research she had done on such healing, and she had done much since she had been released from Quatre's psychotic control by his death in space. Although the power was rare, it certainly was not unique to the Guerani of Calabria.
"Then you could explain why Shamara has the gift although I did not bestow it upon her at my death."
"But such a moment existed between you if I remember correctly. Arora did say that you breathed life into her newborn infant."
"That was the first moment I became aware of my power," he told Trynity. "When I held her lifeless body in my hands, I felt an urge that was more powerful than I can ever describe. A strong warmth came from within as I breathed into her, and she came to life in my hands."
Trynity waved her hand dismissively. "That strong urge is caused by a rush of adrenaline, a hormone that forces the body to react. You could not let her die."
"Why not?" He raised his brow. "What use was she to us? Arora was furious that I had saved the female's life. She had intended to bear a son, but because a female had not raised her, she did not know exactly how to go about ensuring the gender of her child. At least that is what I believed at the time."
"And now you believe differently?" Trynity laughed derisively. "Now I suppose you believe the gods had chosen the sex of her child so that she could ultimately mate with the already born Prince Dagan."
Apolo nodded. "That is exactly what I believe. They would not allow her to die and directed me to save her."
"I see there is no convincing you otherwise." Trynity sighed. "Then you would not help me to learn your healing powers?"
"I will guide you best as I can, but I doubt the gods will grant you any power."
"I don't need the help of the gods," she retorted angrily. "I am a healer, and I know I can do it!"
The ride to the village took almost an hour during which time Trynity suffered through Apolo's incessant proselytizing about his gods. She gave up any logical argument she had because Apolo had no intention of listening to reason. Instead of listening, she tried to enjoy the sunshine, warm breeze and fresh air. Although her backside was sore from the unaccustomed travel on horseback not to mention the pain in the butt that wouldn't stop prattling about imagined deities, she enjoyed the trip through the Wasteland countryside. When it came to an end at the village that smoldered from recently extinguished fires, she put aside any thoughts of her own enjoyment.
The religious fanatic's followers had almost completely destroyed the village. The bodies of the dead were already laid out, and the wails of the grieving combined with the moans of pain and agony. Some of Apolo's people had already come to the village and were giving aid under a white tent erected to shade the injured from the suns. Trynity had never worked in such primitive conditions, and the agony of the injured was almost more than she could bear, but she did what she could by applying bandages and comforting those merely suffering from the shock of losing their homes and loved ones. Apolo stayed near her, offering her words of encouragement that she found annoying at first but later grew thankful. She witnessed his healing power more than once, and each time she tried to determine how he managed to cure some very serious injuries.
As she watched him now lay his hands on a dying woman whose small children sobbed hysterically around her, she was surprised that the woman stopped her fight for life and lay back calmly as death overtook her. Apolo said a prayer over her before he stood away from the lifeless body and turned to place his hands on a shoulder of both her children. For a moment they continued to cry, then peace seemed to descend on them. One of Apolo's people took the children away.
"Why did you let her die?" asked Trynity, looking from Apolo to the dead woman.
He rubbed his eyes before looking at her. She could see that the healing process was exhausting to him. "The gods called her. I knew the moment I touched her that she would go. She remained only long enough to be assured that her children could be cared for."
"And you conveyed that to her through your touch?"
"And I allowed them to know that she was at peace in her new life."
"You should have done something to save her present life so that she could raise her children," grumbled Trynity.
He raised a brow. "Is that the root of your anger towards the gods? Do you not realize that the mother that was taken from you when you were an infant has been with you ever since?"
"You're ridiculous!" But he had struck a nerve deep inside her. Trynity had no conscious memory of her mother, and yet in her dreams she sometimes heard her voice singing a lullaby, or felt her kiss on her cheek.
Apolo sighed. "You cannot see her, but I can. She will be with you always."
Disgusted, she stomped away and threw herself back into her work. For what remained of the afternoon, she helped as best she could, and when the first sun had set, Apolo came to her as she bandaged a small child that sat in her lap. She was exhausted, filthy and hungry but she concentrated on the whimpering child in her lap. The little girl wasn't seriously injured, yet the burns up and down her arm were painful.
She noticed Apolo watching her. "I put some salve on her arm which should help the healing. I wish I could do something for the pain."
"You can." He took her hands and laid them on the bandaged arm. The little girl sobbed, and Trynity tried to pull her hands away, but Apolo covered them. "Close your eyes. Put yourself in her. Feel her pain. Become one with her."
"I can't!" The girl was squirming, trying to escape the touch that was no doubt stinging her mercilessly.
"You must," murmured Apolo. "Believe that you can do it, Trynity. Now close your eyes." Despite her skepticism, she did as said. "Put yourself in her. Feel her pain. Become one with her." She tried to imagine what he said, but she shifted with frustration that nothing happened. "Relax, Trynity. Put yourself in her. Feel her pain. Do you feel the fire?"
Trynity began to feel dizzy and faint, and she could smell smoke. She opened her eyes and saw only a blurry, smoky haze. No longer in the makeshift infirmary in the village, she realized she was hiding beneath a bed watching flames shoot out from under a door.
"Orya, where are you?"
She couldn't answer because when she opened her mouth to do so, she breathed in smoke and fell into a fit of coughing. The noise must have alerted her father. The door to the room crashed open, and a wave of flames crashed through, engulfing both her and her father. Strong arms pulled her from beneath the bed, and she was swung in the air. The flames licked at her, catching her clothing and burning the length of her arm.
"Remember," a voice whispered to her from the void. "You are not her. Make her one with you. Return to yourself."
Almost instantly, Trynity realized where she really was as unfamiliar warmth rolled through her and out her hands. The little girl was no longer crying, and opening her eyes, Trynity saw that Apolo was smiling.
"So you were right, Dr. Nelson. You are a healer."
She took a deep breath to calm herself. She felt very weak and emotionally drained, and her arm tingled from the burns the little girl had suffered. "I…I couldn't do that again today."
"Of course not. You must begin slowly, and with practice you will learn to do it faster, and with less injury to yourself. You will also learn to recognize when the gods have the final say." He grinned at her. "Shall I tell you a sure method of quick recovery?"
She absently combed her fingers through the little girl's hair. "I would appreciate it since I doubt I could stand up and walk at this moment."
Apolo leaned in close to her so that his lips were hovering over hers and she could feel his warm breath blow across them. Normally such close contact would make her freeze, but she found his nearness pleasant. "An offering of thanks to the gods, and since you do not believe in them, I have found that a close second is the celebration of life in the attempt to create it."
Trynity jerked back before he could kiss her. The little girl giggled and asked for her papa. Grateful for the intrusion, she ignored the chuckling Guerani healer and managed to stand. The girl took her hand, and Trynity accompanied her as she zigzagged through the many displaced villagers in search of her family. They hadn't gotten far when Trynity heard a shout from the lookout man that was riding fast toward the remains of the village. Behind him appeared to be a dozen men on horseback, whooping and letting out bloodcurdling cries. The wounded and despondent villagers scattered in many directions, screaming with terror. The scout was cut down before he reached the village. Trynity heard Apolo shouting out orders to his men engaging the marauders who were clothed in black from head to toe. Only their eyes were visible, and they were the eyes of fanatics.
Her first thought was for the child's safety, but Trynity didn't know where the girl's family was. The frightened child suddenly jerked her hand away from Trynity and started to run haphazardly, shouting for her papa. Trynity chased after her, then saw that one of the attackers noticed them and turned his horse in pursuit. She reached the girl just as the man thrust out his sword, and she tackled her and rolled away as the sword buried in the ground where the girl had been. Trynity was furious that he would attack an unarmed, injured child. Catching sight of a man trying to nock an arrow to a hunting bow, she quickly dragged the girl to him, grabbed the bow and arrow from his shaking hands and spun to face the attacker who had turned his horse around to come in for another charge.
The man behind her shrieked and ran away, not even taking the child with him. The little girl threw herself at Trynity's legs, locking her arms around them and almost making her lose her balance. Even if she wanted to run, she couldn't now. Instead, she raised the bow, nocked the arrow and waited until he was close enough to cause the most damage. Before she released the arrow, she heard the pounding of hooves, the clanging of steel behind her and a charge of heat and electricity before the awful crunch of a body. The arrow released and flew straight to its target.
His body fell, the arrow protruding from the back and front of his skull, but the horse continued its charge forward. Trynity realized she was going to be trampled the little girl along with her until she felt an arm around her waist and she was suddenly in the air, the ground moving rapidly beneath her. The girl was slipping from her, but suddenly that burden was gone as well when another rescuer snatched her in midair before she could hit the ground.
The horse slowed enough for her own rescuer to leave her safely to the ground, and she turned to thank him only for find herself staring up at Duo's face. She had never seen him like this before, white-faced and absolutely livid. Before she could speak, he shouted down at her. "What the hell are you doing here? And what were you trying to prove back there?"
She was taken aback by his anger and her own rose in response. "I was trying to save that little girl!" Trynity spun to find Taeron lowering the little girl to the ground. The girl ran towards Trynity who was glad someone was grateful for her help, but she continued past her shouting for her papa, and Trynity watched as a sobbing man swung her up in his arms. That left her with Duo as Taeron returned back to what was shaping up to be a rout by the newly arrived troop from the second moon.
Duo glanced around to see that his men were rounding up what remained of the attackers, and seeing that he was not needed, turned his attention back to Trynity. "You could have been killed!"
She almost was, but she didn't say so. Something inside her rebelled against his tone. Trynity wasn't a little girl or a weak female and she resented him treating her as if she were. "I wasn't killed."
"Thanks to me!"
That much was true. "Well, I guess since you've given yourself the thanks, there's no need for me to add to it." She turned and stalked away, swearing under her breath. Duo had become a complete Neanderthal. Where did he get off treating her like this when she could have easily kicked the snot out of him? Well, maybe that was quite a few years ago, but still, didn't she deserve some kind of respect?
She didn't realize he was silently following her until she came upon Apolo who was uninjured but obviously exhausted and shaken from the ordeal.
Apolo looked past Trynity to Duo. "You arrived at a most opportune time."
Duo snorted. "So I have you to thank from dragging Trynity out here? I noticed that you did not have enough men to adequately guard the village, nor did you anticipate the marauders would return despite their penchant for doing so."
"I guess I am out of practice with such tactical decisions," said Apolo sheepishly. "I left most of my men behind to guard the palace."
"Let me know the next time you feel like wandering off on a mission of mercy," snapped Duo. "And I will make the tactical decisions."
Trynity frowned at Apolo. "Are you going to let him talk to you like that?"
"Yes."
She turned back to see that Duo was looking rather smug that he had won that round. Before she could come up with some scathing remark to cut him down, Stryfe arrived and jumped off his own horse.
"Mom, you're still alive! Of course, I never doubted Lord Duo would get to you in time to kill that bastard coming up behind you, but I thought you were a goner with that horse until he snatched you up." Stryfe slapped Duo on the back. "I've only seen that kind of thing on an action adventure virtual game."
Trynity gritted her teeth as she realized what had been going on behind her back as she concentrated on killing the man on the horse. Apparently Duo had saved her life twice in the span of a couple of minutes. It was galling to be in his debt, especially when he now preened under Stryfe's praise.
"Where is Quynn?" she suddenly snapped for lack of anything to say.
"I told her to remain back with Amyr."
"He thinks he's protecting her," commented Taeron as he dismounted. "I should get back to them before Amyr realizes it's the other way around."
Stryfe snorted with laughter. "I'll come with you. By now they are at blows."
"Quynn has probably already drawn first blood," Trynity heard Taeron comment as they walked away leading their horses.
"It's getting late," snapped Duo.
"We stayed out too long," admitted Apolo.
Trynity was annoyed that Apolo acted like a whipped dog around Duo. Someone had to defend them. "There were people who still needed our help! Did you think we could actually leave them knowing they were still suffering?"
Duo grunted. "I suppose not!" He turned his attention back to Apolo. "We should head back now. My men are tired and hungry, and there is nothing more to be done here."
"There are more injured…" started Trynity, but Duo cut her off.
"Apolo's people can care for them. You're going back to the palace with me." He grabbed her arm and yanked her along with him to his horse.
"Let me go!" She tried to struggle from his grasp, but it was in vain until she realized he would have to relax his hold to mount his giant horse. But Trynity underestimated his strength. With only one foot in a stirrup, he managed to leap onto the animal and haul her into the air with him. She was scared witless until he seemed to effortlessly settle her in front of him on his lap.
Duo shouted a few orders to his men before spurring his horse forward. She tried to wriggle out of his embrace but found it impossible. "I can ride on my own," she pointed out.
"I know you can," he responded with a soft laugh. "But I like this arrangement better."
She was sitting so close against him that she could feel exactly how much he enjoyed it. "You are a pig!"
"No, just a man."
"Humph! And I thought you had been elevated to that status of a god!" Trynity wished there were some way to get away from him. He was far too warm, and although he smelled of horse and leather and sweat from his day under the sun, it was far from unpleasant. It made her dizzy with feelings she didn't want to have for him.
"I haven't done anything any imperial guard couldn't do."
Any further discussion was halted by the arrival of Quynn, Stryfe, Taeron and the crowned prince. The four of them were stone silent, none of them looking at each other as they rode. Trynity wondered what had happened but it would have to wait until she could question Quynn when they returned.
"I shouldn't have left them alone," murmured Duo under his breath.
"I'm sure they had an argument," said Trynity.
"I doubt it. If you hadn't been holed up in your room, you would have seen the sparks flying between them."
Trynity didn't like his veiled accusation that she was a neglectful mother. Yes, she had been holed up, but she spoke to Quynn every day. "Quynn isn't a fool. Amyr is the crowned prince of Calabria, and she is…"
"My daughter," finished Duo. "If he has dishonored my house, I will be forced to take action."
"She isn't part of your house," Trynity reminded him.
Duo's arms stiffened around her. "She is a part of my house. I have publicly claimed both her and Stryfe. They are acknowledged members of my family."
"How dare you do such a thing!" Trynity was furious that he would do it without speaking to her first.
"I dare because they are mine." He was rigid behind her, and Trynity heard the angry resentment in his retort. "That is something you cannot change no matter how hard you have tried."
She wanted to argue with him that it wasn't true, that she hadn't tried to change who they were, but she knew it was a lie. All those years she had been so angry and hurt about being left alone that she tried to make herself believe what Stryfe and Quynn had - that Lars was their father. Trynity had allowed Lars to replace Duo in all ways, but it did not change who Stryfe and Quynn really were. But Trynity wasn't going to apologize to the bastard who bailed out of the relationship in an escape pod.
They continued on in silence for several minutes during which time he relaxed his grip, as he seemed to have wrestled his own demons and succeeded in locking them away. Unfortunately, since she wasn't arguing with Duo, Trynity had nothing else to do but think about how strong he was, and that made her feel uncomfortable in a pleasant way. She credited it to the fact that she was tired and hungry and weak from the events of the day. She noticed that all the riders in the group headed back to the palace were weary.
Suddenly she felt Duo's warm breath on her neck, making her hair tickle her. "Your hair smells good," he remarked.
She shivered, and brushed the hair back. "I wish I could say the same for you."
"When we get back, you can give me a bath, and make my hair smell as good as yours."
"Humph! Well, you'll have to call Larya to help you because she did my hair." Trynity didn't like the image of her helping Duo with his bath because there were far too many opportunities to indulge in activities that would be a mistake. She couldn't believe she was having these thoughts when she knew she wasn't good enough for him. She had to keep him at a distance. After what had happened with Quatre, she knew that what they had wouldn't be the same.
"I knew I recognized that scent," he commented with a chuckle. "I'd like to know how that came about."
"I don't want to talk about it!" Trynity was still annoyed by Larya's shameless invasion of her privacy.
He ignored her. "I suppose she cried on your shoulder."
"You are a jerk!" She twisted her head to look at him. She couldn't believe Duo could say something so flippant about Larya. "Is she carrying your child?"
"Did she say that I was?"
"Answer the question! I want to know which of you three nitwits is lying." Trynity didn't want to hear that Duo was the father of Larya's child, but she mentally prepared herself for it.
"None of us is lying. Apolo doesn't want to believe the truth because he refuses to believe that a woman like Larya has hopelessly snagged him. As for me, I won't say one way or the other until she reels him in, because if she fails, I will claim her child. I owe her that much."
Trynity wanted to retort that he certainly did owe her something for the years she had spent raising Taeron on her own, but the sheer magnitude of his chivalry hit her head on. "Do you know for a certainty that the child isn't yours?" she asked.
"I'm suspecting you want to hear me say no, but I won't. Larya and I have never had a particularly memorable relationship, and if it weren't for Taeron, what happened between us would have been easily and quickly forgotten. I admit that I was on the verge of accepting her proposal to have another child together when Apolo arrived with orders from Trey. Maybe I was annoyed that Apolo intruded on my privacy and so obviously wanted to seduce the woman in my bed when I hadn't even gotten any closer than ten feet from it. And although I knew that Larya had done whatever preparations these Calabrian females do to ensure pregnancy, I decided not to warn him of our plans. I suppose he never gave Larya a chance to say anything either. I knew she was furious with both of us, so after I left I felt a little guilty, believing that I had allowed her to be manipulated again. But when I returned to Calabria, the two couldn't keep their hands off each other. Now he has the nerve to reject her. I'd like to give him a richly deserved beating, but Larya would never forgive me. Have I answered your question?"
Trynity couldn't decide if she liked the answer. She was much safer in not speaking to him anyway and was glad that the uneasy silence between them continued until they returned to the palace. Women swarmed into the courtyards to greet their returning men as well as other servants who rushed to take the horses from the tired soldiers. Trynity tried to jump off Duo's horse, but he caught her arm in order to lower her carefully to the ground.
"I didn't save you so that you could break your neck here," he said.
Trynity glared at him but didn't respond before stalking past the annoying young woman who had set her sights on Duo. Naiya glared at her, then hurried to offer whatever service she thought Duo might need. Trynity didn't need to guess what was at the top of list. Larya was standing serenely inside the entrance hall like the queen of the palace, and although she looked as if she wanted to speak to Trynity, Trynity headed directly away from her. She could hear Larya call out her name, then her footsteps behind her, and she contemplated slamming the door of her bedchamber in her face, but she managed to control her temper long enough for Larya to enter.
The other woman was almost out of breath because of the swift progress Trynity had made to her room. "I heard about the attack on the village. I hope that you were unharmed."
"Not a scratch," she said through gritted teeth.
Larya was wringing her hands as she stared at Trynity. "I…I saw you riding with Lord Duo. Did you have a chance…?"
If they both weren't pregnant, she would sock the beautiful Calabrian woman. "I spoke to him. He told me everything. I'm not going to pretend to understand what goes through your head, or his for that matter, but I will not stand in your way. Both Apolo and him are yours for the taking."
Larya gasped with exasperation. "I don't want Lord Duo!"
Trynity couldn't take standing in the same room as her any longer. She grabbed Larya's arm and marched her to the door. "This and any future discussions between us are at an end! Untangle the mess you have made on your own."
Larya stopped her from shutting the door, and she peered at Trynity through the crack. "You don't need to be jealous of me. I have no interest at all in your man."
Disgusted, Trynity slammed the door shut not carrying if she crushed the other woman's delicate fingers or not. She paced for several minutes trying to calm her nerves, and when she was finally relaxed enough to think clearly, she remembered that she wished to speak to Quynn. Before opening the door to the corridor, she listened for any sign that there were others about, and hearing none, she ducked out and walked quickly down the hall to Quynn's room.
She knocked. "It's me, Quynn."
The door opened, and Trynity saw that Quynn had already bathed and wrapped in a bathrobe. "Mom! Aren't you going to get ready for supper? I had hoped you would eat with everyone else since you appeared to be feeling better today."
Trynity sat down on the bed. "I am feeling better, but I don't know if I feel up to…"
Quynn snorted. "Mom, I think you can sit at a table with Lord Duo. You sat on his lap all the way back here. I know you were talking."
"We were not talking! We were arguing. He is a jerk!"
"Stryfe and Taeron told me he saved your life." Quynn picked up the gown she was planning to wear. Trynity noted that it was Calabrian in style, and the color would suit her perfectly.
"Where did you get that?" She hoped Quynn wasn't borrowing clothing from Larya also.
Quynn turned away as she slipped on the gown. "Lord Duo bought me some clothing."
Trynity took a breath to calm her anger, then said, "Quynn, why did you let him make you a part of his Calabrian house?"
Her daughter spun around to look at her. "Thank you, mother, for providing us with a family and a loving father. But I am his daughter, and I've become damn proud of it. I'm just glad he doesn't hold your stupid foibles against us!"
She resisted the urge to cry. "I'm sorry, Quynn."
Quynn sat down beside her on the edge of the bed, and she reached over to take Trynity's hands. "You shouldn't let it bother you, mom. It's water under the bridge."
Not for me, she thought miserably. She remembered her original purpose in coming to see her daughter. "Quynn, did something happen between you and Amyr?"
For a moment, Quynn didn't answer, then she said, "I don't know what happened. One minute we were arguing, and the next we were rolling around in the grass. If Taeron and Stryfe hadn't returned when they did, I don't know how it would have turned out. I guess I just lost my head."
Trynity wasn't sure if she should offer Quynn any advice, but she did know it was time for some motherly warnings. "You must be very careful with Prince Amyr. He is the crowned prince of the empire."
Quynn rolled her eyes. "I know that, mom."
"I doubt he is free to marry…"
"Mom! I am not going to marry a jackass like that! He's a selfish, spoiled brat."
"I doubt you thought about that when you were rolling around in the grass with him."
"We had a little fun. So what? You didn't get on my back about what went on between me and Chaz, or me and Zieben, or me and any other guy I dated."
"The situation is different now. You are a member of Duo's house. He may be from our system, but he has become a Calabrian and lives by their rules. If Amyr dishonors you, Duo would be obligated to find a way to restore the honor to his house."
Quynn stared at her with a frown.
Trynity sighed. "Do you understand? Either Taeron, Stryfe or himself might have to Amyr to regain the honor of the house or you would have to marry him."
"Are you kidding?" Quynn plainly didn't believe her.
"He already mentioned it to me on the way back here. He suspects there is something going on between you, and I warn you not to doubt his resolve in maintaining the honor of his house."
Quynn stood. "Well, you can tell him not to draw his sword. I can prove that I haven't dishonored his house."
Trynity was relieved. "For everybody's sake, do your best to keep it that way while you are on Calabria."
Quynn walked her to the door. "Don't worry, mom. Today was a mistake I don't intend to let happen again."
As she stepped into the corridor, Trynity was remembering how she had the same thoughts after the first time she had been with Duo on the beach of that deserted island. But virtually the next time she had been alone with him, she had lost her resolve, and after that she just gave up. She hoped Quynn had better self-control than she ever had.
So engrossed in her thoughts of the past, Trynity almost bumped into someone who entered the corridor from the room across the hall from her own. She was about to apologize for her clumsiness when she realized it was Naiya, and the girl was soaking wet with a self-satisfied smile on her lips which only increased when she saw Trynity.
"I was helping Lord Duo with his bath," she said with a toss of her wet hair.
"Good! I noted that he needed one. Send someone to tell me when he is finished so that I might take one myself."
"Oh, he's finished." Naiya laughed as she spun and walked away with a spring to her step.
Trynity turned to glare at the door to what she presumed was Duo's room, then she reminded herself that he could do what pleased. She had no claim on him, and she had no right to be jealous. She wasn't jealous! She simply didn't care if he bathed with women half his age!
Someone slammed the door to her bedchamber, and someone tore through her clothing to find something to wear, but it couldn't have been her. She wasn't jealous!
She chose something Larya had left for her, then went to bathe. The room was empty and tidied, but as she scrubbed herself, Trynity caught herself imagining what immoral behavior had been going on. By the time she finished, she was steaming. The sooner she got away from Calabria and Duo Maxwell, the happier she would be.
When she entered the dining hall, Stryfe came to greet her. "Mom, you look great! Lord Duo thought you would spend the night curled up in your bed after what happened today, but I knew you were made of stronger stuff than that."
Trynity glanced across the room where Duo stood with Quynn clinging to his arm as he was talking to Apolo. "He doesn't know me as well as he thinks he does."
She didn't have a chance to talk to Duo at all during the meal because several chieftains from the foothills had come to discuss the protection of their villages. Trynity was extremely annoyed to find herself seated near Larya who persisted in chatting with her as if she were a confidante despite the fact that Trynity did no more than grunt in response or give her a dose of muttered sarcasm. She talked about how happy Shamara and Dagan were to be shut away from the world in their own wing of the palace. She had spent time with them in the afternoon during which time Shamara expressed her hope that Trynity was feeling better. Then Larya chattered on about how her duties kept her busy, but she enjoyed the work. Trynity didn't answer any of the questions she asked about the afternoon, but Larya did not stop pestering her. Despite all that she had heard of Larya, Trynity was beginning to think she was an empty-headed wench not much better than the empty-headed wench now leaning over Duo to re-fill his soup bowl. Naiya blatantly rubbed herself against him, and Duo pretended not to notice as he spoke to the gruff old chieftain next to him, but he did glance at the girl as she walked away.
"If I had any say," hissed Larya in Trynity's ear, "I would toss that little whore out the door, but she is the daughter of the man sitting to the right of Lord Apolo."
Trynity looked at Larya. "She is a chieftain's daughter?"
"It is customary to send females to work in the great houses. There they have a chance of being seen by eligible men. These backward chieftains just want to get rid of females they still see as a burden to their houses. Many send their daughters to Lord Apolo because he seems to work magic in finding them suitable mates."
"Before or after he helps himself?" asked Trynity sarcastically.
"He has never been challenged, so I believe he has behaved honorably with those entrusted in his care."
Trynity laughed. "I do believe you are naïve, Lady Larya. He has not been challenged because he is the brother of the emperor's wife and because he ends his affairs with a satisfactory match for the dishonored female."
"I will not believe that!" Visibly upset by Trynity's revelation, Larya tossed down her napkin and stood. "I need some air."
Trynity watched her escape through open doors to the garden, and she thought the woman had gone unnoticed except that Duo suddenly left his own seat and followed her out. The meal finally came to an end and the tables where cleared and carried away to make room for the entertainment of traveling musicians Trynity remembered from her brief stay at the emperor's palace. Their show hadn't changed or gotten any better, so Trynity soon grew bored. She noticed during the performance that Larya returned, but Duo remained outside. Trynity kept looking at the door watching for his return, and when he did not, she realized this might be her best opportunity to talk to him about Quynn.
She left the hall through the same doors to the garden and was glad to see that the two moons were not obscured by clouds so they provided good lighting for her to follow a smooth, stone path through the thick vegetation. Trynity still could not believe this was the same place that had once been the epitome of any culture's hell. The Wastelands had transformed beautifully into a paradise.
Duo was near a pond sitting on a fallen tree, tossing rocks into the shimmering water. She thought she was being quiet as she approached, but his senses were keener than she could ever imagine. "What are you doing out here, Trynity?" He hadn't even turned around!
"How did you know it was me?" she demanded. She didn't want to believe he possessed any superhuman powers.
He turned his head to look at her. "I could say I recognized the pattern of your footsteps, or that I detected your scent on the breeze."
She was amazed. "That is unreal!"
"Yes it is." He chuckled. "Actually, I saw your reflection in the pond."
Trynity wanted to push him in the pond. "I hope you are amused."
"Very much so. However, I am not amused by the spiteful remarks you made to Larya."
She didn't like being scolded by him. "The woman is aggravating beyond belief! I thought I'd give her some insight into what her precious Lord Apolo is really like."
"He is an honorable man who has helped many women have better lives than they would have otherwise. He has never touched any of them."
"Is that so? What about his guests? Are they as honorable toward his foundlings." She folded her arms and raised a brow at him. "Did you enjoy your bath with Naiya this evening?"
Duo raised a brow too. "How did you know about that?"
"I ran into her in the hall. I hope she remembered to wash behind your ears."
Duo chuckled. "There were a lot of places she wanted to wash, but I'm not about to get trapped by her when her father is under the same roof."
"How did she get all wet?" Trynity didn't believe him.
"She slipped and fell in the pool before I even entered the bath chamber. At least that is what Larya told me and I have yet to hear Taeron back her on that point. They were both with me and can attest to my innocence. Taeron was there to tell me about Quynn and Amyr and Larya - well Larya came to whine about her life, although she did scrub my back for which I was grateful."
"She didn't wash your hair?"
He laughed and ran a hand through his long hair. "You know I don't let just anyone handle my hair."
She looked away from him to the water of the pond. He looked away too, and for a moment they were silent, then he tossed a pebble into the water, and they both watched the ripples spread out. Finally, she said, "Quynn wants you to know there is no reason for you to go after Amyr and that she will behave properly in the future when she is on Calabria."
"I can accept that. She can do as she pleases when she is not here. I doubt you or I could have much control over her anyway. She is every bit as independent and headstrong as you are."
Trynity opened her mouth to argue, but she realized it was pointless. He was right and they both knew it. "I trust her. I think she has learned her lesson."
He didn't say anything for a few moments, so she turned to look back at the pond. The water was calm and peaceful with only the reflections of the moons marking its shimmering surface. She knew she should go back into the palace and get away from Duo, but she couldn't make her feet move. She should tell him about the baby, but she couldn't find the words. She should turn around and put her arms around him, hoping to find the warmth that had been missing in her life for too long, but she couldn't bear either his acceptance or rejection.
She heard him move, then his hands were on her shoulders and his body was so close to hers that she could feel the heat. Her heart pounded so hard in her chest that she was sure he could hear it, and she had trouble breathing. Any moment now she expected to lose consciousness, and she didn't like feeling like a weak woman.
"I know you didn't want to come here," he said softly in her ear. As Duo gently massaged her shoulders, she closed her eyes and leaned back against him. This felt right, comfortable. "I love you, Trynity. We can get through this together, if you will only give us a chance."
"He doesn't love you! He never made you his wife despite the many opportunities. You've been nothing but his plaything."
Trynity tried to blot out Quatre's words, but she couldn't, just like she couldn't deny them when he said them to her.
"Do you think he'll ever forgive you? Why should he? He can get what he wants from you with a snap of his fingers. All he has ever done is use you."
She closed her eyes tightly and pressed her fingers to them.
"He doesn't want you anymore. Why should he? Why do you think he comes and goes whenever he wants? You are nothing to him."
Trynity shook her head, trying to clear her mind, but she couldn't.
"I want you, Trynity. I've fallen in love with you, and each day I fall further and further. You can love me, Trynity. I will take care of you. You will love me, too."
Trynity broke away from Duo, and she almost stumbled into the pond. Although he reached out to steady her, she managed to avoid a dunking and quickly step out of his reach. "I'm not feeling well."
"I understand."
He couldn't possibly understand, but she didn't say so. She hurried away, not even looking back to see if he followed. Before she reached the house, she had to empty her stomach, and she felt so weak and sick that she was afraid she couldn't get back to her room without assistance. Avoiding the dining hall, she managed to find another entrance and stumbled most of the way to her room where she threw herself across her bed.
She flung an arm across her eyes and let her tears soak the sleeve of her gown. The memories that came flooding back to her now were so painful that she was almost moved to find Shamara or Apolo and beg them to take them away. Memories of Lars, faithful and forgiving to a woman who could not give herself completely to him, of Quatre who had become so obsessed with her that he tried to destroy them all, and of Duo whom she could not forgive for the one decision he had made that affected them all forever. Her heart ached and her head pounded as memories came flooding to her from the darkest corners of her mind.
Whether she fell asleep or just lost consciousness, Trynity didn't know, but she was awakened some time later by noises in the outer corridor as others sought their own beds. She rolled around and ignored them, preferring instead to return sleep. Although she was drowsy, she felt a breeze ruffle her hair and tickle her cheek from the open window, and she stirred realizing that someone was sitting on the edge of her bed.
Trynity pushed herself up. "What are you doing here?" She was sure the silhouette belonged to Duo. "I can't be with you. Why do you refuse to understand that?"
When he reached out to lay his hand on her cheek, she was instantly aware that she had been mistaken. As the realization of his identity came to her, Trynity was turned to stone. "I'm so gratified that you are keeping away from him, my dearest Trynity."
She couldn't move as Quatre Winner came closer to her and moved his hand from her cheek, down her neck, then slipping under her nightgown.
"You have finally come to understand that you are my mine now, Trynity. I'm the only man who can understand you." His other hand slid up her back and slowly drew her closer to him. "I will help you, my love. I will kill him so that he doesn't come between us, just as I did that fool Nelson." His fingers slid into her hair and he drew her close so that her lips were under his. "Tell me again how much you want me, how much you need me. Tell me that you love me as much as I do you."
Trynity couldn't speak, couldn't move.
He brushed his lips over hers, then tilted his head to kiss her more fully. The shock of the intrusion of his tongue in her mouth made her spring into action. She swung out her hand, catching him full on the cheek. Quatre's head snapped back, and he reached up to wipe a drop of blood from his lip. She tried to move away, but he caught her and shoved her back on the bed. Trynity managed to wriggle away before he covered her with his own body, but he grabbed her ankle before she could escape. He jerked her back on the bed, and they rolled around in a struggle before he tired of the effort of trying to keep her subdued and pulled back his hand with the intention of striking her.
Trynity used all of her strength to throw him off and roll off the bed. When he became entangled in her blankets when he tried to follow, Trynity was able to reach the door and throwing it open, she stumbled across the hall. She was about to pound on the door to Duo's room when she saw him walking down the hall towards her. She dashed to him and grabbed his arm, and although she knew she sounded and probably looked like a hysterical madwoman, she managed to convey to him that there was a man in her room. She didn't dare tell him it was Quatre because he might think she was insane.
Finally understanding her, he opened the door to his room. "Wait here and I will check it out." From somewhere he produced his imperial sword.
Trynity closed the door to his chamber and leaned against it for a moment, dreading what might happen. She didn't know how Quatre was armed, and she regretted not telling Duo what he might be facing. Then she reminded herself that Duo had proven that he was perfectly capable of overcoming any hidden danger. Now she began to worry about herself. She was in Duo's bedchamber, and glancing toward his bed, she felt panic of a different sort beginning to develop. She couldn't trust herself with Duo.
Then she saw a movement on the bed, and she moved close enough to see a dark head move out from under the covers. Naiya sat up, and in rubbing her eyes, she let the blanket fall away to reveal that she was completely naked. When she blinked and focused on Trynity, she frowned and pulled the blanket back up to cover her.
"I thought you were Lord Duo returning."
Trynity's nerves were tighter than a bowstring, so she certainly didn't need a confrontation with his whore. "He'll be back momentarily."
Naiya looked past her to the door, still frowning. "What do you want? Can't it wait until morning? My lord has other things on his mind."
The door opened and Duo stepped in. He didn't even look at Naiya. "There was no one in your room."
"Good, then she can go back." Naiya hopped from his bed and slipped on a flimsy, garment that barely covered her.
Duo's brows popped up in what appeared to be surprise. Maybe he wasn't expecting her to still be with him after they had concluded their business for the night.
Trynity started for the door, disgusted to be a part of this. "I'll go sleep with Quynn."
Duo grabbed her arm to prevent her from leaving. "I want to talk to you."
"Let her go!" snapped Naiya. She was wringing her hands now as if she were nervous.
Duo glanced back at her. "She stays, and you go."
Naiya didn't budge. Trynity tried to shake off Duo's hold. "I didn't mean to intrude."
Suddenly a pounding at the door disturbed them, and outraged shouting in the corridor was surely going to wake everyone one in the wing.
Duo looked back at Naiya. "Are you expecting someone, because I am not." Before she could answer, Duo swung open the door to reveal the man Larya had pointed out as Naiya's father accompanied by several angry-looking young men. "Ah, Lord Kandohr, I wasn't expecting to continue our conversation in my bedchamber."
The older man seemed startled to find him standing at the door, Trynity in his grasp. He looked past them to his daughter, and Trynity caught the silent communication between them. Duo had already guessed what was going on, but he was still as trapped as if she hadn't been there. "And I wasn't expecting to find my daughter here."
Others had gathered in the hall now, and Trynity saw Apolo pushing his way through the crowd.
"I wasn't expecting to find your daughter here, either."
Apolo seemed to understand instantly what was going on. He spared one scathing gaze for Naiya, then turned his attention to her father. "I am quite perplexed about this situation."
No one was really perplexed about the situation. It was an obvious attempt to trap Duo in marriage that had gone badly awry. If Trynity weren't still frightened over her encounter with Quatre, she might laugh.
Kandohr didn't seem to know what to do now. He turned his wrath on Trynity. "Who is this woman? What is she doing here?"
Well, she was the fly in the ointment and everyone knew it. Apolo pursed his lips together, but Trynity knew he was suppressing laughter. Trynity was about to introduce herself when Duo spoke.
"She is my wife."
"Your wife!" He was echoed by many angry as well as amazed voices . Trynity was so shocked she could not say anything.
Kandohr glared at his daughter.
Naiya burst out, "He's lying! I am more his wife than she is!"
Duo shot her a look that made her step back.
Kandohr turned on Trynity. "Is this true?"
Trynity opened her mouth to deny it, but she knew the consequence would be that Duo would be forced to take Naiya as his wife. She hoped Quynn was around taking notes about how rigid this ridiculous honor-bound culture was. As for Duo, he didn't even look at her. Although she would never admit it, when she was young and in the first stages of her first love, she imagined a wedding in which she wore a beautiful white gown like a princess, carrying a bouquet of - what else - thistles. And she would walk down the aisle to lay her hand on Duo's arm. They would say their vows, he would place his ring on her finger, and he would kiss her like he did the first time in the moonlight at the Stardust Ball.
This Calabrian tradition was completely devoid of any romance, and she certainly hadn't expected to be standing in a room wearing her nightgown with dozens of people staring at her as if she had two heads, waiting in breathless anticipation for her answer. Everyone but Duo. The least he could do was look at her with some sort of silent pleading, but he continued to stare defiantly at Kandohr as if he expected Trynity not to deny him. He deserved to have Naiya for his wife and the conniving Kandohr as his father-in-law!
"Speak up, woman!" Kandohr was looking at her as if she were a lowly slut.
Trynity raised her chin. "I am his wife! And I am wondering what your daughter was doing in our bed."
