Wasteland Palace, Calabria

Although she could not go back to sleep after Duo had gone, Trynity also did not get out of bed. She felt too ashamed of herself after what she had revealed to him about her betrayal of Lars and by their subsequent hurtful words to each other. Her mind had erased the entire affair with Quatre as if it had never taken place until he triggered the memories. Trynity hadn't told Duo every memory that had come back to her about Mars Colony, especially what had happened when she and Lars had returned to the clinic. Quatre had tried to meet Trynity in secret to continue the affair, had seemed more excited by the prospect of being caught by Lars or Dorothy, but Trynity didn't have feelings for him. She guessed Lars had threatened him to stay away from her, but that only made Quatre more tenacious.

In the midst of the upheaval in her life at that time, Trynity realized she was pregnant. She hadn't known whether to feel happy or horrified, but Lars was happy they would have another child regardless of how it came about. That was when they made plans to leave Mars Colony forever, partly because they did not want to raise a child in such a place and partly because neither of them had wanted Quatre to know about the baby. The shock of losing Lars triggered a miscarriage, and on top of everything that had happened, Trynity discovered when reading the routine genetic testing results on the child, that it had been Lars who had been the father, not Quatre. Trynity had become so overwhelmed guilt and grief that she had lost consciousness, and when she awoke, she didn't remember what had happened between the time Lars left on his shuttle mission and when she had regained consciousness. After she realized what had happened to Lars, the doctor must have decided it was for the best that he not tell her about the baby.

Trynity covered her face with her hands now as she relived each memory. Because of her selfishness, she had caused the death of Dorothy, Lars and the child she and Lars must have made on L11. Lars had gone to his death believing he was destined to raise Quatre's child and he never knew that he was the father. She blamed herself for the unfolding of events that began when she chose not to tell Duo that she was pregnant. Against the advice of everyone that cared about her, she had thrown away the best thing that had ever happened to her. She didn't deserve to be happy. Certainly that is what the gods were telling her.

No one disturbed her throughout the day and as the sun started to set, she went out onto the balcony to watch for Duo's return. But when his troops clattered into the courtyard, he was not with them. Worried, she left her room and hurried to find Taeron who was talking to Apolo but they fell silent when she approached. Trynity didn't have to be telepathic to know they were talking about her.

"I was about to come to you," Taeron said.

"I didn't realize you had come out of your room," added Apolo. They both seemed to be uncomfortable by her presence.

Trynity looked at Taeron. "Where is your father? I did not see him among the returning men." She feared the worst, that Quatre had somehow gotten to Duo and the two men standing before her didn't know how to tell her. Then she realized if something would have happened to the great Lord Duo, there would be a great outpouring of grief. Duo's men were as jocular as usual with the women flitting about them, and although Taeron and Apolo didn't seem pleased, they certainly didn't look as though they were keeping a horrifying secret from her.

"My lord father will not be returning for several days," Taeron told her, his tone so tight that he might as well be accusing her for his absence.

Trynity knew that she was the reason that Duo was not returning. "Where is he?"

"He has decided to take a retreat in the hills." Taeron was obviously not pleased by his decision.

Trynity looked at Apolo. "What…what is he talking about?"

Apolo glanced first at Taeron who was now frowning at Trynity, and then he took Trynity's arm and led her away from the young man. "You have nothing to worry about. Duo can take care of himself."

"What is this "retreat"?" she demanded as she looked over her shoulder to see Taeron talking with his mother who nodded sympathetically and patted her son's shoulder. Trynity looked back at Apolo as they sat on a bench set apart from the main entrance hall where the men were talking about their leader.

Apolo released her and clasped his own hands. "Duo has gone on a retreat so that he can reaffirm his faith. He hopes that by praying and fasting in the sacred hills that he can get guidance from the gods."

"What?!" Trynity could not believe what she was hearing. "But…but…how could he do such a thing at a time like this? How long will he be gone?"

"Until he feels that the gods have answered him."

Trynity knew he would be in the hills forever waiting for the so-called gods to speak to him. Was Duo that naïve? Not only was he in danger from the fanatic calling himself Lord Camrin, but he didn't even know that Quatre Winner was on Calabria and could be stalking him this very moment as he tried to commune with his gods. Trynity knew it was her fault that he suddenly decided to hide in the hills. Duo was staying away from her because he couldn't stand the sight of the woman he had rashly made his wife.

"I know what you are thinking," Apolo interrupted her thoughts. "But you are not the full reason Duo has decided to do this."

"I'm not the full reason, but I am part of the reason!" Trynity shut her eyes tightly to keep from crying. "Doesn't he realize his danger out there?"

"He know the risks, but he felt it was something he had to do." Apolo put his hands on her shoulders to comfort her, but Trynity shoved them off.

She shot to her feet. "I don't believe in your silly gods! They are not real! They do not exist! I'll tell you what does exist: those crazy people who would kill and maim innocent people in the name of those gods. Duo is in danger!" She spun around and saw that everyone was staring at her. Trynity didn't care. She looked directly at Taeron. "Are you going to leave your lord father out in the hills at the mercy of those fanatics?"

Taeron looked straight back at her. "My father is only at the mercy of the gods. He has put his trust in them and they will not fail him."

They had failed him many times but Duo was too bull-headed to realize it. She pushed Apolo away when he tried to grab her arm, and she hurried out the door leading to the garden aware that she was being followed. When she reached the spot where she had encountered Duo only a couple of nights ago, she stopped to catch her breath.

"Mom!" Stryfe had caught up to her, and she saw that Quynn had followed as well as Taeron. What a strange bunch of people to call her family, she thought with annoyance. All that was missing was her absentee father.

She turned away from looking at the water to Stryfe. "I am afraid for him! I told him some things…" Trynity wasn't going to tell her children about her confession. Losing Duo's respect was far different from losing theirs.

"I figured you two had some kind of deep discussion because he wasn't really up to talking today," Stryfe told her. "I think he will be safe enough, Mom. He's an imperial guard."

Quynn laughed. "Gee, Mom, haven't you noticed that he's a demi-god? He can take care of himself. I bet he's done this before."

"Not with Quatre Winner out there waiting for a chance to strike!"

Trynity guessed their reaction even before Stryfe blurted, "For God's sake, mom! Winner is dead!"

"He's not!" she insisted. "He…he attacked me two nights ago!"

"Mom! Get a grip!" Quynn seemed to be both annoyed and worried, and Trynity knew that in their eyes she was behaving irrationally. "The man was incinerated in space!" Quynn stared at her with her brows raised and Trynity had the horrifying feeling that her daughter was involved in the attack on Quatre's transport.

"I'm not crazy!" she shouted.

Taeron stepped forward. "She's right," he said to Quynn and Stryfe, then he looked at Trynity. "My lord father knew who attacked you that night. My guards have been following you since then to prevent similar attacks."

"What!" Quynn, Stryfe and Trynity exclaimed at the same time.

Trynity was mortified that Duo knew that Quatre had his hands on her that night. Hearing her admit to her affair with Quatre must have made him think he was a fool to protect her. Was he thinking that she still encouraged him? Was that why he didn't return to the palace?

"You didn't tell me?" Stryfe was openly hurt that his half-brother hadn't confided in him.

"How did he know?" asked Trynity. Had she given it away somehow?

"The stench of the boreworm," Taeron told her before looking at Stryfe to say, "Our father did not wish to tell you until your mother admitted it to him."

Trynity could not feel lower than she already did. Duo was surely wondering why she hadn't told him.

Quynn tried to put her arms around her. "You should have told us!"

Trynity pushed her away. "Just leave me alone! You wouldn't have believed me anyway!" She wiped the tears from her cheeks, then looked at Taeron. "Knowing this, you still won't go out to find him?"

Taeron shook his head. "His decision to do this was not suddenly made."

"Did you at least try to talk him out of it?" Trynity was becoming quickly overwhelmed with frustration and guilt.

"We did not discuss it. He told me his plans today."

Larya finally came upon the group, out of breath. "Here you are!"

Trynity would rather she go away.

Stryfe looked at Taeron. "Do you think we should do something? Maybe we should just find him and set up a guard…"

"Absolutely not!" Larya seemed horrified. "He will not find peace with the gods with you all traipsing around. Besides, I will assume that he has already given you instructions about not disturbing him."

Stryfe and Quynn hung their heads guiltily.

Trynity glared at Larya. "He doesn't know what is for his own good! I think Stryfe is right! There should be a guard…"

"Mom, Lord Duo told us that we were not to look for him," said Quynn.

"Since when have you ever obeyed?"

Quynn's face turned red, and Trynity saw tears in her eyes. "I am trying hard to be his dutiful daughter!"

"She's right," admitted Stryfe as he put his arm around Quynn's shoulders. "We cannot take lightly our duty to obey Lord Duo."

Trynity turned her back on them. "Go to hell! All of you!"

For a moment no one said anything, then she heard their footsteps and waited for them to die away before she burst into tears. But she choked back her sobs when she suddenly felt comforting hands on her shoulders, and she turned quickly to see Larya looking at her with concern in her blue eyes.

"You go to hell too! Especially you!" Yet Trynity didn't move when Larya pulled her close and hugged her. "I hate you!"

Larya laughed softly. "You have no reason to hate me. I understand how you feel."

"You don't! You don't know!" She knocked against Larya with her fists. "I should have been the one to have his children! Me! Only me!"

Larya grabbed her upper arms and shook her gently. "Stop talking like this! If that is what you wanted, then why did you never tell him about your children?"

Trynity fell to her knees and cried more. "I can't take it back! I can't take any of it back!"

The other woman knelt before her and gently brought her into her arms again. "You must realize that the gods are merciful, and they will ease your pain. Duo knows this. He has gone to ask for their compassion and to reaffirm his belief in them." Larya put her hand under Trynity's chin and raised her face to look at her. "You must believe in them and in him. The gods will bring peace to your life."

Trynity wanted to believe her words, but she just could not after everything that had happened to her. She managed to calm herself enough to convince Larya that she would be all right and that she needed time alone. She noticed that before entering the palace, Larya raised her arms to the sky in that Calabrian pose of prayer. What was she praying for? Why did she believe in gods who would allow Apolo to treat her as he did? But when Larya reached the doorway, Apolo was waiting for her, and he drew her into a tender embrace. Seeing them kiss made Trynity feel even more miserable. Why had the gods given a woman like Larya happiness?

Wanting to avoid any more encounters, Trynity walked further into the garden. When she remembered what Taeron had said, she looked around for the men who were supposed to be guarding her. Just when she thought Taeron must be mistaken, she spotted a man who was standing negligently by a tree. Trynity had never noticed that her movements were followed. Now she was angry that her privacy was invaded.

She stayed in the garden for a long time trying to sort through her thoughts and feelings. A part of her wished Duo had never come back into her life, that this was all some awful dream she would wake up from to find Lars holding her in his arms as he always did when she had one of her emotional dreams starring Duo Maxwell. Lars had been quicker to forgive her when he learned of her affair than she had been to forgive herself. They both knew why.

"You cannot forgive yourself for cheating on him."

"Who are you talking about?"

Lars laughed. "After all these years, you think I don't know what is in your heart? You didn't cheat on me, Trynity. You cheated on Duo Maxwell."

"Don't be ridiculous! I betrayed your trust, Lars."

"I have forgiven you, but now you're waiting for his forgiveness and you will never be able to get it."

Maybe Lars had been right, and she felt hurt now that Duo had left her alone with the uncertainty of how he felt. Perhaps she did need Duo's forgiveness, and based on what he had said to her, she would never get it.

Trynity walked back to the palace and was aggravated to see that Apolo was waiting for her. She tried to walk past him, but he stayed by her side. "Shouldn't you be with Larya?"

"She is sleeping. She tires easily."

"How fortunate for me! I don't have to put up with her smothering me with kindness." Sighing, she turned to look at Apolo. "I don't agree with any of this! Don't I have any say as his wife?"

"You are not really his wife, Trynity, and everyone knows it. Trey told Duo that he would not give his blessing."

"So what does that mean?" Trynity wasn't surprised Trey would not approve of their marriage. He had all but said so when he spoke to her the day before. "Is Duo going to divorce me?"

"There is no divorce on Calabria," Apolo told her. "Once a man takes a wife, there will be no other."

Trynity wanted to argue the stupidity of such a custom, but she felt a profound sense of pleasure of knowing that she was Duo's one and only chosen wife. Yet the responsibility of being the wife of such a man was daunting. Could she actually leave him behind to return to her wretched existence on Mars Colony? Trynity no longer had any illusions that her life there would be anything but miserable. She couldn't treat her patients any more than she could even look them in the eye. Everywhere she would look she would think of Lars and Quatre. And she would not see Duo when the only thing she wanted in life was to be able to turn around and see him, to know that when the sun set, she would be in his arms. Even if it had to be two suns.

"Do not worry about him," Apolo tried to reassure her. "You don't realize how strong he is. Perhaps you should spend this time of separation in meditation. You might find guidance from the gods comforting."

They wouldn't listen to me, she thought, but she nodded to Apolo and he let her continue on her way to her room. Trynity decided to speak to Quynn first and apologize for her harsh words earlier, but when she came to the door to her daughter's room, she heard voices, and one was a male, quite certainly that of the crowned prince. Even on Earth Quynn shouldn't be entertaining that kind of young man in her bedroom. What was she thinking? Was this her idea of being a dutiful daughter? But then she heard Taeron's voice followed by Stryfe's and Trynity released the breath she had been holding. What she wanted to say could wait until morning, so Trynity went to the room she shared so briefly with Duo.

Trynity was surprised to find the young servant, Macayl, waiting for her, sitting on the edge of the bed. The young woman jumped up immediately when Trynity closed the door.

"I have no need of a servant," Trynity told her. She was tired and wanted to get some rest.

Macayl was wringing her hands nervously as she approached her. "I did not come here to serve you. I heard of your displeasure at Lord Duo's absence, and you have good cause to be angry."

"Are you not a believer of the gods?" Trynity raised a brow. She could hardly believe there was a Calabrian not obsessed with a god.

The young woman lowered her head. "Of course I believe." She looked at Trynity. "But I know how you must feel, and I have heard of the danger he is in."

"Do you have a point?" asked Trynity impatiently.

Macayl looked at her. "My father's tribe camps in the hills. When I was a little girl, I was out walking one day and I came upon Lord Duo. I now realize that he was on his retreat before attaining the rank of imperial guard."

"Do you remember the place?" Was it too much to hope that Duo would return to the same spot?

Macayl nodded. "I could take you there."

Common sense shouted at Trynity not to trust the sister of the young woman who had tried to trap Duo in marriage, but she was too alarmed about Duo's safety when Quatre Winner could be stalking him even now. She knew Quatre wouldn't hesitate to kill Duo, just as he hadn't hesitated in killing Lars, then Kurt Duran.

Trynity needed to speak to him again. Despite everything that had happened, she was still in love with him. That would never change, even if he could not forgive her for the lack of trust she had in him seventeen years ago. He hadn't meant to abandon her, and if the wormhole had opened up, she knew he would have come back to her, and she would have been waiting. If Duo did not wish to leave his retreat, she could at least tell him the truth of her feelings and to ask his forgiveness. Trynity owed him that much.

Trynity grabbed a cloak and started toward the door, but she stopped when she realized that Taeron's men would follow them. "Meet me at the edge of the garden," she ordered Macayl. "I am being watched."

Macayl nodded and left. Trynity went to the window that overlooked the garden and she looked down. The distance wasn't nearly as far as the heights she used to easily jump when she was younger. But that was way back when she was daring, not to mention a bit more physically fit. She really had no choice, so shoving open the window, she slipped a leg out onto the ledge, and she was just getting up the nerve to jump when another window opened.

"Stop!" Damn Taeron! He was leaning out Quynn's window.

With no more time to spare, Trynity pushed herself off and soon she was falling. Taeron was shouting for the guards, and she hit the ground with a thud that shocked through her body. She couldn't even let her sore limbs recover before she had to run because she could see Taeron leaping through the air like some damn acrobat from the circus. Trynity knew he would hunt her down in the shrouded garden that he knew much better than she did. The gods apparently favored her escape because clouds were creeping over the moons. Unfortunately, she kept stumbling as she ran and she was disappointed in her own clumsiness when she tripped on something and fell headlong into a bed of flowers. She almost hit her head on a rock, but her arm was grabbed before she hit the ground.

"Are you all right?" Taeron was towering over her and Trynity realized he had tripped her. "What do you think you are doing? It is dangerous out here!"

Trynity regretted the necessity, but she grabbed the rock and whirling around, she swung out to club him. Taeron seized her wrist to stop her, but before he could do anything else, a tree limb hit him from behind. Taeron's eyes widened with surprise, then he lurched forward onto Trynity. Her first instinct was to check his wound, and she felt a lump and her hand came away sticky with his blood.

"Come with me." It was a man's voice.

Trynity ignored him as she checked Taeron's pulse. He was not critically injured, so she knew she had little time before the imperial guard regained consciousness. She accepted the help of her rescuer, and they said no more as he hurried her through the garden to where Macayl was waiting with a horse.

The clouds cleared for an instant long enough for Trynity to see the face of the man. Although she had never spoken with him, she did recognize Duo's advisor, Orhan. "Why…why are you helping me?" she asked him.

He glanced at her. "You do not belong here."

His tone stung her. "I…I know that."

Orhan looked at Macayl. "You know the way?"

"Very well," she answered.

He put his hand to his heart. "Praise be to Camrin."

"May he live forever," Macayl responded and they both bowed their heads. Then Macayl looked at Trynity. "We must go before the first sun has a chance to rise. Imperial guard Taeron will send his men to find you, but I know of places to hide."

No sane person would have left with Macayl, especially hearing her praise Camrin, but Trynity now had another purpose to find Duo. She was convinced that Orhan was the man who was aiding the fanatics in the hills, and as she headed away from the palace into the night with Macayl, she worried about the safety of Taeron. Orhan could easily kill him although it was more likely that Orhan would return to help Taeron so that he could continue his deception. She seemed more worried that Taeron had enough time to regain consciousness and gather up a force to follow.

They traveled for hours, much of the time on narrow twisting paths in the Guerani foothills. When the suns rose, they barely drew any curious glances from the native people. Macayl said nothing to Trynity except to offer her something to drink or eat, both of which she accepted without complaint.

By midday she was exhausted as they ascended higher into the mountains. "How much further?" she asked when they stopped to rest and have water.

Macayl glanced at her. "Not much."

A cold chill passed through Trynity as she looked up now at the peaks of the Guerani Hills. Soon the horses would not be able to travel on the rocky, narrow paths. Her prediction proved true when only about an hour later, Macayl told her they would have to continue on foot. The rugged terrain was beautiful, yet also frightening. Macayl insisted there was a plateau ahead where they would find what she was looking for, so Trynity followed.

Finally she could make out a campsite ahead, but where Trynity expected a single tent, there were several, and she saw even further beyond that there was a large community of tents. Before she could turn and flee, Macayl grabbed her arm and pulled her along with her.

"Duo isn't here, is he?" demanded Trynity as she tried to fight her.

Macayl released her as two men came to grab Trynity's arm to drag her along with them into the camp. From one of the tents stepped Kandohr, and Macayl hurried to greet her father.

"I have brought her!"

"His lordship will be most pleased!" Kandohr had a delighted fanatical gleam in his eyes.

"Where is his lordship?" demanded Trynity. She looked around and seeing a central tent that was obscene in its flamboyance, she guessed the leader was inside. She had every intention of seeing the man that claimed to be Lord Camrin. "Let me go!" she ordered the two brutes holding her.

Kandohr nodded to them. "She has no place to go."

When they released her, she rushed to the tent but stopped short when the opening was brushed aside and Naiya stepped out adjusting her clothing and running hands through her mussed hair. No one needed to be a soothsayer to know what she had been doing.

"Well, I see you've quickly found someone who appreciates your talents," remarked Trynity.

The opening of the tent was brushed aside again before Naiya could respond, and Trynity felt her world tilt as Duo stepped out. He saw Trynity, and his brows raised a bit in surprise, then his lip curled in scorn. "Ah, my dear wife. What brings you here?"

Some of the men snickered, and Duo smiled in response.

"I …I want to talk to you!" Trynity felt sick to her stomach. All of Duo's excuses about Naiya were lies. She couldn't believe that she was so gullible that she actually believed him! This was no spiritual retreat!

He held out his hand, but she ignored him. With a mocking chuckle, he walked away from his camp where the filthy men who followed him watched them with amused interest. Trynity followed him, her anger ready to burst. Naiya crept after them although her sister and father called for her to come back.

Duo led Trynity to an outcropping that overlooked the hills and valley. For a moment she became dizzy and disoriented from the heights, but she quickly overcame her vertigo and turned to look at Duo. "I came here to help you, but you don't deserve my concern. You are a lying bastard! All I want is to be released, and I will go home. You can have Naiya as your wife."

"Marriage is forever here." Duo was smiling. "You are mine now, to do with as I please for an eternity."

"Or at least until one of you dies," added Naiya slyly as she came closer.

Trynity started to feel panic, and she looked at Duo. "Are you going to kill me?"

"He doesn't need to." Naiya lunged forward to push Trynity over the edge, but Duo quickly swept Trynity aside and grabbed Naiya by the hair.

Trynity lost her balance and fell to the ground at Duo's feet. At least she was safely away from the edge of the precipice. Duo had put a hand around Naiya's slender neck, and he raised her off the ground with what seemed to be superhuman strength. Naiya was clawing at his hand and kicking futilely in the air. Trynity could see that Duo was choking her.

"Stop!" cried Trynity as she regained her feet. She could not bear to see him torture the girl even though Naiya would gladly have thrown her off the cliff.

Duo glanced at her. "Such compassion, my love, for this undeserving bitch! She is not worthy." When Naiya's struggle weakened, Trynity heard a snap and the girl's body became limp. He dropped her at his feet, and Trynity could see that Naiya was dead, her neck broken.

"My lord!" The cry of horror had come from Kandohr who was standing several feet away.

Duo looked at the older man. "Your worthless progeny tried to kill my woman."

To Trynity's surprise, Kandohr fell to his knees, then prostrated himself. "Forgive me my lord! Forgive me and my house!"

Duo nudged the girl's lifeless body off the edge of the cliff.

Still on the ground, Trynity looked up at Duo. "Why? How could you do such a horrible thing?"

His eyes met hers, and for a moment their gazes locked. "I did it for you, Trynity." Suddenly his eyes changed from deep blue to a clear color, and before her eyes he transformed until she found herself looking at the face of Quatre Winner. "You are my woman, Trynity, and I will not let anyone harm you."