BIRTHRIGHT 2 – THE GATHERING
by Soledad
Author's note:
For disclaimer, rating, warnings, etc., see the Prologue.
The name Atreides is not borrowed from Dune. In fact, it was a name for the progeny of Atreus in Greek mythology – a family whose members were damned to kill each other.
The status of the Omega warrior is based on the place of an Omega wolf in the pack. The Sacred Band of Thebes was a real institution in ancient times.
CHAPTER 11 – OATHS, ALLIANCES AND THE FOUNDATION OF THE FUTURE
While they were waiting for the Matriarchs to make a decision, Kaveh introduced the others to Tyr. Aside from Amfortas and Shakuni, there were two other adult males, both from the Greek bloodline.
Paris Atreides, the security chief of the Völsung compound, had become infertile due to hard radiation during the destruction, just like Kaveh, and therefore lost his former Alpha status. His brother, Hector, was fertile, but barely Beta material, sot he women hadn't chosen him for breeding. He worked at Haukin Vora spaceport, at the docks – not the sort of work any Nietzschean would wish for himself, but one that at least earned some money for his family. Aspasia, Paris' wife, shared her husband's infertility, because of grave injuries she had suffered at the destructions, in which they had also lost their only child. From this family, Völsung Pride could not hope any children.
The only other mature adult present was Indira Mohasai, Shakuni's wife. All the others were under thirty, way too young in Völsung – and Kodiak – terms to be chosen for mating. Both Prides preferred partners that were in their prime when breeding.
But it was the twins who fascinated Tyr beyond anything else in the compound. There was a certain… potential that he could put to good use, if he played his cards well.
"Tell me more about them," he demanded from Kaveh.
"There isn't much to tell," the doctor replied with a shrug. "Their parents, Ahalija and Muruhan, both came from highly respected families. In fact, Muruhan Ravanashwar used to be the Second Alpha of their bloodline, and Ahalija was considered the second Isis Khmer. That's why their marriage had been arranged, and why their child, and unborn boy, had been chosen for this… experiment in the first place. The idea was to split the fertilized ova inside the uterus of the mother, and so achieve two extraordinary children instead of one son."
Tyr nodded. The idea itself was sound, and genetic manipulation had always been an important factor in the evolution of the Nietzschean race.
"What's gone wrong?" he asked.
"We don't know," Kaveh admitted. "The Perseid geneticist used a new procedure, unknown to us all. And after the… results, he vanished without a trace. I've been trying to hunt him down ever since – so far no luck."
Tyr glanced at the two young warriors, standing left and right from the door, their smooth, beautiful faces unmoved like bronze masks.
"Whom do they belong?" he asked, as it was obvious that they couldn't have been accepted as full members of the Pride. Kaveh shrugged again. He seemed to do that a lot, probably having become fatalistic after all that he'd been through.
"No one," he said. "Officially, they're not even counted among the Völsung survivors. Their biological bloodline considers them pariahs, and since they are not acknowledged by their own people, they have no family, no rights… nothing."
"How have they managed to receive such an excellent training, then?" Tyr asked. "I can feel that they are deadly warriors. Their stance, the way their move – all those are signs of natural born fighters. But they must have had good training, too."
"I think Shakuni originally decided to train them to anger Parvati," Kaveh said with a humourless grin. "He could have been accepted as an Alpha, had Parvati been just a little lenient… his genes are really good. But Parvati didn't want any competitors for her sons, and so Shakuni had to accept Beta status. He never forgave Parvati for that, and has tried to challenge her authority ever since. The twins responded well to his care, of course. Small wonder – nobody else ever admitted their mere existence."
"And yet they remain here and protect this place?" Tyr shook his head in amazement.
"They don't really have any other choice," Kaveh said. "No other Pride would ever accept them; thy are abomination, neither male, nor female. Amritray has no ovaries, and Arjuna isn't even able to grow a beard – not to mention other shortcomings."
"And yet they could play a pivotal role in the history of our people," Tyr said thoughtfully. "Are they both telepathic, or just the female?"
"They can read unguarded thoughts and strong emotions emanated by others," Kaveh explained, "but they only can speak kind to mind with each other. It was an unexpected side effect."
"It's still a very useful skill," Tyr said slowly. Kaveh shot him a suspicious look.
"What do you have on your mind?"
"I was wondering, whether they'd be willing to take the Omega oath," Tyr replied. Kaveh's eyes widened in surprise.
"You'd be willing to accept them?"
"Why not?" It was now Tyr's turn to shrug. "If Shakuni trained them, they must be better than good; assassins are rather meticulous in that area. I need them for my further plans, and to protect my family aboard the Andromeda. They need a purpose. The arrangement would be mutually beneficial. The question is: would they see the advantage of it?"
"I don't have the answer to that," Kaveh said, shaking his head. "You'll have to ask them."
"Oh, I intend to," Tyr said, "as soon as the Matriarchs have announced their decision."
"In that case," Kaveh replied, "you won't have to wait much longer."
Following his glance, Tyr saw the three Matriarchs entering the atrium again… but not alone. They were accompanied by three other women, all considerably younger than them. The potential wives, most likely.
"That's promising," Kaveh commented softly. "They've brought the brides. Your chances stand good."
"Can you tell me something about them?" Tyr asked.
The doctor nodded. "Of course. The redhead is Derdriu; she's the oldest among them. A botanist and bio-engineer by trade, she works on breeding edible plants that can be grown on the tundra. The dark-haired one with the pale face is Finnabair. She has a degree in computer sciences and works for the local administration. The third one is Ayeshwariam, Parvati's granddaughter."
"She looks awfully young," Tyr said, eyeing the round, child-like face in concern. Kaveh nodded.
"Barely nineteen. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't be allowed to breed for another six to ten years, depending on personal maturity. But these are not normal circumstances for our people. If Kodiak or Völsung, the Pride needs children with good genes. Desperately."
Their whispered conversation was interrupted by the First Matriarch, who turned to Tyr, without taking her seat again.
"We, the Matriarchs of Völsung Pride, have decided to allow you to display for the young females of our Pride, Tyr Anasazi, out of Victoria by Barbarossa," she announced in the most formal manner. "If they decide to choose you as their husband, there will be an alliance between Völsung Pride and the new Kodiak Pride. However, we wish to keep our independence. We won't hinder Shakuni, or anyone who wants to follow you, in doing so. But we won't give up our Pride completely."
Tyr inclined his head in respect. This was a minor throwback in his long-term plans; besides, it still gave him the opportunity to gain what he wanted from Völsung Pride most: wives from his own blood.
"I understand and accept your decision," he said formally; then he turned to the young women and added in the same manner. "Ladies, my time here is limited, not by my own choice. If you wish to do this, we must do it hurriedly. How do you want me to display for you?"
"We want to talk to you – in private," Derdriu, the redhead, who had some faint similarity to Third Matriarch Nemhain, said. "And we want to see your fighting skills with our own eyes before we decide."
"That's doable," Tyr smiled, "if Shakuni is willing to participate, that is."
The former assassin nodded, a fine smile playing on his smooth face. "Of course. Trying my skills against your greater strength would be a worthy challenge."
"For me, too," Tyr said with a wolfish grin, welcoming the chance to spar with someone of his own abilities. "When and where?"
"It's rather late already," Shakuni glanced at the darkening window. "You won't offer a good display without real sunlight. What about tomorrow morning? We have our daily training at 0800, local time. Would that suffice?" he asked, not from Tyr, but from the three women.
They nodded in unison, and Derdriu, who seemed to speak for the other two as well, said, "We shall speak with you after the display, Tyr Anasazi."
With that, the potential wives withdrew, and the Matriarchs dismissed Tyr, asking Aspasia to show him to the guest room.
"Follow me," Aspasia said to Tyr, choosing a door on the right side of the atrium and leading him out.
She was a tall, imposing woman with curly dark hair that she wore in a low knot on the nape of her neck. Her face still bore the burn marks and other scars from the injuries she had suffered during the destruction. Still, she had the natural grace and authority of a born Matriarch – something she'd never be able to become, due to her lost ability to bear children. But she carried her fate with great dignity, and Tyr couldn't help feeling respect for her. If this was the norm in Völsung Pride, he was looking forward to know his potential wives better.
"We have prepared your old rooms, too," Aspasia said, addressing Kaveh. "It's been too long since you visited our home. It's your home as well, you know."
"Is it?" Kaveh replied with a mirthless grin. "I'm alone – the last one of an extinct, minor bloodline. I cannot contribute to the survival of the Pride, either. So, what use could I possibly have for the Matriarchs?"
"You might be alone," Aspasia said, "but you did our bloodline great service by saving and raising Hermes and Achilles when we ere unable to do so ourselves. You'll always have a place among us. I may not have the right to speak as a Matriarch, but I still am the oldest – well, the only – female of our bloodline. Even know, I can offer you that place."
"Why haven't you done so before?" Kaveh asked.
"You never expressed any desire to belong to us," Aspasia said simply. "But the future of our bloodline lies in your hands. With the boys you've raised. By their rights, you are one of us – you just never asked to make it official."
"I didn't even know such an opportunity existed at all," Kaveh admitted.
Aspasia shrugged. "It's a very old custom, most people are unaware of its existence. But we must use every tool tradition offers us to ensure our Pride's survival. And it seem that with your arrival, Kodiak," she added, turning briefly to Tyr, "Völsung Pride might get a chance to actually have a future."
She stopped in front of a heavy door and handed Tyr a small code card. "Your key. We might seem a little paranoid in your eyes, but Castalian agents have tried to infiltrate our compound before. The card reacts to your DNA only and will destroy itself after two days of unuse. After it's self-destructed, the guest rooms become accessible again."
"That's a clever design," Tyr said in appreciation. Harper would love to play around with something like that, but I very much doubt the Völsung would share.
Aspasia smiled. "Finnabair is highly talented. She's developed the entire security system of our compound. Since we established it, no one has been able to penetrate our defences."
Tyr whistled softly. If one of his future wives had so highly developed computer skills, he'd have to do everything in his power to woo her. A computer wizard of such scale could be immensely useful for his long-term plans, aside from bearing his children.
"I'm looking forward to know her better," he said, and Aspasia grinned broadly.
She and Kaveh wished him a restful night and left him alone in the sparsely but comfortably furnished guest room. Tyr placed his duffel bag next to the bed and checked the comm unit. Andraste would probably have his communications recorded, but at the moment he didn't really care. He needed to talk to Ferahr, and the topic wasn't one he'd have to keep secret.
The artificial day on Haukin Tau Drift matched the natural one on Haukin Vora, which meant that the Drift had begun its night period as well. Ferahr was accordingly annoyed about the disturbance.
"Do you Niets never sleep?" he asked morosely. "Well, we mere humans do, especially at my moderate age. Could it not have waited till tomorrow?"
"No," Tyr replied, completely unfazed. He didn't offer any explanation.
Ferahr rolled his eyes. "Right, why do I even ask? I should know better by now. What's it this item?"
"I want you to send me a message to the Andromeda," Tyr said. "I might have a few others for you tomorrow – it depends on how thins will develop here in the morning."
Ferahr's small eyes began to sparkle with interest. He knew what Tyr was doing on the planet, and he was actually crossing his fingers for success. Strange as it would sound to other Nietzscheans, their friendship was as genuine as it could be, given their differences.
"What are the ladies like?" he asked.
"Promising," Tyr replied neutrally, always considering the possibility that Andraste or one of her aides listened. "I'm testing various possibilities here. I'll tell you about it in person." Not everything, of course. But more than he'd tell anyone else, with the exception of Freya.
"I can't wait," Ferahr grinned. "Well, transfer that message of yours."
"I already have. Freya wanted a daily update."
"Hmmm, I see. Luckily for you, there also seem to be two brand new letters, just coming in from the Andromeda. Can I sent them to the comm station you are speaking from?"
"Of course," Tyr was intrigued. One of the messages would be from Freya, but the other? He waited for the transfer to be completed and read with surprise Harper's name in the 'Sender' slot. What would the little professor want from him? "I got them, Ferahr. Anything else?"
"A piece of good news and a piece of bad news," Ferahr replied. "The good ones first: I think I've found a ship for you."
"Really?" Tyr's brows climbed up to his hairline. "That was fast."
"Well, yeah, a bit of luck, actually," Ferahr admitted. "It's a cargo ship, as you wanted. A bit bigger that the rustbin you've arrived with, but still very fast. It doesn't look like much on the outside, but the Perseid who used to run the engine room had done a damn fine job. The ship has very few of its original parts, and every change is an upgrade."
"Sounds like the Maru," Tyr commented. Ferahr nodded.
"With the exception that it was a Perseid design to begin with – and a damn good one at that. Belonged to a Nightsider who made the mistake to piss off some Drago-Kazov thugs. The ship has suffered extensive damage, but nothing that couldn't be fixed, given enough time and the right engineer. Should I put a bribe on it? In its current state it'd be a bargain to get it."
Tyr frowned. "I need to check first in what shape it really is."
"No, you don't," Ferahr said. "I have the tip from that Perseid dockmaster on Meitner Drift – guy's never wrong, and he's never cheated me. If he says the ship is worth its price and some more, then it is."
Tyr hesitated for a moment. He did remember the Perseid in question: a friendly chinhead with a great deal of respect for Harper's abilities. A man who liked ships and understood his job. Well, if Ferahr thought he was reliable…
"Very well," he said. "When can I get it?"
"That's the bad news," Ferahr admitted. "The thing needs to be towed in; engine failure. Then it needs to undergo a great deal of repair… it can take weeks, probably even longer."
"If it's really as good as you told me, it doesn't matter," Tyr said. "I want to purchase it before if gets fixed, so you understand? And have it brought to the Spaceport here, so that my people can take care of the repairs."
"Understood," Ferahr punched a few commands into his work log. "Anything else?"
"Not at the moment. I'll contact you when someone comes up."
"Am I not a lucky man?" Ferahr commented sarcastically and broke the connection.
Tyr grinned. He genuinely liked the obnoxious human, which he would never admit, of course. But Ferahr was a delightful person to deal with – and extremely useful.
He turned his attention to his two letters. As assumed, the first one was from Freya, telling him that he'd been contacted by Ezekial El-Hakim again, and that the Sabran Alpha had addressed the issue of his marriage with Mikaelan.
"I told him you were off, negotiating several possible alliances," she said with a grin. "That made him a little… agitated, insisting that his daughter become Second Wife status, regardless of how many other wives you might acquire." She became serious. "I agree with him, Tyr. He's a much more powerful ally than your own people can ever hope to become, it wouldn't be a good idea to antagonize him. Cementing this alliance should be your first priority, as soon as you return." She paused again, a slightly sad smile ghosting over her face. "I hope you won't take much longer. I miss you. Freya out."
Tyr pondered a little over his wife's message. He knew Freya was right. The alliance with the leader of the Centauris A colony was, logically, the most important one. He'd allowed himself more sentimentality when it came to the Völsung than he should have. Still, they were his blood – and they could help him establish his own Pride, with some of the Kodiak blood served from complete extinction.
He shook his head and switched to Harper's message. It was a very brief one, delivered in the cocky engineer's usual snarky style.
"Hi, Big Guy," Harper greeted him brightly. "I hope you have a grand old time with all those hot Niet babes. By your luck, you can take your time and have fun. Negotiations at Nindalph went straight to Hell, as expected, and we're on our way to Ornithrone to pick up Trance and the Makra. Dylan is fuming because her purpleness didn't ask nicely before she hopped planets with Catwoman, but we others are really enjoying the peace. Meet you in two weeks at Ornithrone. Harper out."
Tyr contemplated the unexpected news for a while. Actually, they served his purposes rather well. In two weeks, he could even arrange a visit on Centauris A and get the alliance with the Sabra all wrapped up. He'd have preferred Freya to be present at his wedding with Mikaelan, but Freya had already approved of the person of his future Second Wife, so it was doable. He'd require a written approval from Freya, of course. But that could be organized tomorrow.
Tomorrow will be an important day, Tyr thought, as he stripped and walked into the shower cubicle. Probably the very foundation of the new Kodiak Pride. I just hope the Völsung females will be reasonable enough to see why I'll have to give Mikaelan El-Hakim a higher status.
Two hours after the local sunrise – considering the fact that Haukin Vora had a twenty-hour day – all resident members of Völsung Pride were gathered around one of the smaller training areas in the courtyard to watch what promised to be the performance of the year: the fight of Tyr and Shakuni, both stripped to the waist, wearing only boots and skin-tight leather pants. They were armed with a large knife each, their long hair bound together on the nape of their necks to keep it out of their faces. Both offered a gorgeous sight. Shakuni was smaller and more slender, but quick like a striking cobra, while Tyr could have been the living proof that Kodiak Pride, indeed, had bred for physical perfection.
The duel had been going on for quite some time. No blood had been drawn so far, but their upper bodies, one mahogany and one bronze, were slick with sweat, glistening most alluringly in the reddish light of the raising sun. They were circling each other warily. Nietzscheans didn't put up mock fights, not even for the sake of a display, so they'd pay for every mistake they made a bloody price. It was greater strength against greater speed, and the outcome by no means certain. Tyr had to win this particular duel, if he wanted the three women to choose him, but he knew Shakuni wouldn't make it easy for him.
His greater body mass, a definite advantage in a short fight, could become disadvantageous in a longer one, so he had to end it as quickly as possible. With that goal before his eyes, he trust at Shakuni with his knife again, but the former assassin's battle instincts worked flawlessly. He raised an arm to defend himself in time. He parried Tyr's strike with ease, and extending his forearm spikes, he slashed at the Kodiak's throat. It was not a mere tactical move – he would have cut Tyr's throat, given the opportunity. The whole reason of this duel was to display the Kodiak's fighting skills – losing would have proved him unworthy.
Tyr parried as well, their spikes interlocking. For a moment, they stood frozen, testing each other's strength, then Tyr forced their arms downward. Shakuni saw the move coming, of course, but was unable to fight against it – the Kodiak was simply too strong.
Flexing his arm, Tyr sent his opponent stumbling to the ground. The former assassin tried to spring back to his feet and almost managed to do so, but was just a heartbeat late. Tyr leapt down onto his back, holding him in place with his bent knees pressing against Shakuni's ribcage, cutting off his breathing. Shakuni made a feeble attempt to slash the bigger man with his forearm spikes, but from this angle and without any leverage, all he could achieve was to scrap them along Tyr's biceps.
Tyr laughed, ignoring the hot pain, caused by the bloody scratches. He'd won, and they both knew that.
"Do you yield?" he asked, breathing heavily. Shakuni had put up a good fight indeed. He had enjoyed himself enormously.
"I yield," Shakuni gasped, but he was laughing breathlessly. "It was an honour to fight you, my lord."
Tyr let go of him and extended a hand to help him up. Tactically, that was unwise, as Shakuni could have easily overwhelmed him, but the former assassin had just given him the honorary title, formally accepting him as his Pride leader. He didn't need to worry about Shakuni any longer. Not as long as their interests didn't clash, that is.
The three potential brides were watching them with avid interest.
"He's good," Derdriu murmured in appreciation. "I've never seen anyone besting Shakuni before."
"He's gorgeous," Ayeshwariam whispered dreamily, with all the admiration of the inexperienced youth. "See those pectorals, those big arms… and his calf muscles are excellent, too."
"A well-honed body is a good thing – but not enough," Finnabair commented softly. "We should speak with him now."
"Agreed," Derdriu said. "Let's invite him to share breakfast with us. Relaxed settings are always better for important negotiations.
The others cleared the atrium, so that they'd be able to talk undisturbed. Someone had already decked the table, placing bowls of fruit, a pitcher with cups and various sorts of healthy and nutritious food that still could be eaten with one's fingers on it. The women were sitting in wide, low armchairs at the table, not even touching the food yet.
Tyr was offered a seat opposite them, within the zone of kinship but outside that of intimacy. He watched them with interest, getting his first really good eyeful of them. Derdriu was tall and voluptuous, with a flaring mane of red hair, a freckled face and keen, intelligent sea-green eyes. Finnabair, somewhat shorter and younger, had very pale, almost translucent skin, chestnut hair and a slender built. She looked like someone who didn't trust easily – an admirable trait. Ayeshwariam, still barely beyond childhood, reminded him of ancient Indian reliefs: round-faced and almond-eyed, with midnight black hair, bronze skin, and very pleasantly rounded on all the right places.
To the neutral eye, they were very average Nietzschean women, the likes of whom one could find in every Pride where the Matriarchs took care of proper breeding. To Tyr, they were beautiful, all three of them, each on her own way. But they were more than just beautiful. They were the future of Kodiak Pride. They were his blood.
"Sit," Derdriu ordered, acting as their spokesperson, as someone used to be obeyed. For the time being, Tyr was willing to cooperate – he needed them as much as they needed him.
"Kaveh said you prefer blunt speech," Derdriu continued, "which is a fortunate thing, since so do I. As you can see, neither I nor Finnabair are inexperienced child brides. We've both had our share of lovers, although we have not yet chosen a husband. Yet time won't stand still for us; and we do want children."
"Children only, or a full marriage as well?" Tyr asked. Either option was free for the women to choose.
"We want to marry you," Derdriu replied matter-of-factly. "Your genes are excellent, and you are worthy. The children you'd father would be strong, beautiful and intelligent. They would help us to re-build the Pride."
"Which Pride?" Tyr asked slowly. "Völsung or Kodiak – or both?"
"That is the question," Derdriu admitted. "If we marry you, we'd belong to Kodiak Pride and be lost for our own. But Völsung Pride needs fertile women, too, or it would become extinct. So we decided that Ayeshwariam would not marry you, at least not right away, so that her child would strengthen Völsung Pride. It's only proper. Besides, she's still too young to leave her only family."
"Things would be a lot less complicated, had the Matriarch agreed about the fusion," Tyr growled, not liking the idea of giving any child of his away.
"That's true," Derdriu nodded. "But I'm sure you can understand hat we don't want to give up our identity entirely."
"I do understand," Tyr sighed, "but I don't have to like it, do I?"
That earned him the first smiles from his future wives.
"Of course not, "Finnabair answered softly. "It's enough that you accept it. Just as we have to accept that you have other obligations: to your Fist Wife; to your promised bride, whose person would cement the alliance with the Sabra branch on Centauris A…"
Tyr shook his head in amusement. "So you did monitor my communications last night?"
"Of course," Derdriu said calmly. "Would you expect anything less?"
"Certainly nit," Tyr grinned, starting to like these determined women. "In that case you must also know that I cannot live her with you as a husband and father. I cannot help you bring up the children I'll father… unless you follow me to the Andromeda."
"We've discussed that possibility," Derdriu replied. "For the time being, however, we'd prefer to stay here. There are Castalians on board that ship of yours, whom we don't trust. And it might be better for the survival chances of the new Kodiak Pride if not all your wives and children lived on the same spot. At least not until you have a safe enough haven for us all."
"I agree," Tyr said slowly. It made abundant sense, and it also showed that his future wives had given the situation a great deal of thought – which was amenable. "Although I must admit that the Andromeda isn't my ship. Not yet," he added, with a glance at Finnabair. "I've heard of your skills, lady mine. I might have need of them one day."
Their eyes met, and the two women broke out in identical, feral grins of understanding. Only Ayeshwariam seemed completely useless, glancing from one another in honest confusion.
"It seems that we have come to an understanding," Derdriu declared. "Now let's discuss the technicalities. How long can you stay?"
"I have to meet the Andromeda at Ornithrone in a little less than two weeks' time," Tyr said. "But I'll have to squeeze in a visit at Centauris A, which, unfortunately, is a different direction."
Derdriu looked at Finnabair, who made quick calculations in his head – an impressive performance at a time when everyone had long become dependant on computers. In his whole life, Tyr had only seen Harper doing the same before.
"That would leave you with two days for each of us," Finnabair finally announced. "Time enough for the wedding and for us to catch a child."
"The wedding has to wait till my return," Tyr said, a little uncomfortably. "As you know, Ezekial El-Hakim insists on his daughter having Second Wife status, and I am in no position to deny his wish."
"Of course," Derdriu nodded nonchalantly. "We are aware of that. It doesn't matter. You need this alliance – we all need it. Let her be Second Wife. We are still blood."
"You are," Tyr agreed, "and you'll always be. Now, we have six day to do this. When and where would you like to begin?"
Apparently, the women had already come to a consensus in that matter, too.
"I shall be the first," Derdriu said, "as I am the eldest. Finnabair will follow, and Ayeshwariam will come at last, so that we'll be able to instruct her, based on our experiences with you."
Tyr nodded in agreement. Again, what she said made sense.
"When and where?" he repeated.
Derdriu rose, walked over to him and slid an inquiring hand down his bare shoulders and chest.
"Right away," she answered, "in my room. We'll have the food transferred there to strengthen ourselves, if necessary."
Tyr spent the next five and half days in the respective bedrooms of his newly acquired wives – for wives they were, even though they had to prolong the wedding after his return from Centauris A, and Ayeshwariam's even longer. He only left for his morning run and the daily workout with Shakuni. The former assassin kept an eye on him, seeing that he exercised every muscle thoroughly, and so would be able to perform in his wives' beds properly. Sometimes Tyr had the feeling that he'd been transferred back in time, under the stern surveillance of his father's armsmaster.
His wives displayed tempers that were as different as their looks. Lying with Derdriu was like resting in the shadow of a great tree – alluring, relaxing and comforting. Finnabair turned out as fierce and demanding as she seemed cool and distant to the casual eye – quite the surprise, and not an unpleasant one. Ayeshwariam, finally, was sweet and clinging like a leech… and, despite her youth and relative inexperience, stunningly skilled in the arts of lovemaking. As Kaveh later revealed, members of her bloodline, both males and females, were trained in the ancient techniques of the Kama Sutra from a rather young age on.
Tyr didn't spare his strength, giving his wives everything they wanted, everything he had to give. And on the sixth day, it was joyously announced that all three of them have caught, indeed. Unlike human women, Nietzscheans could discern pregnancy less then a day after the act. It was still way too early for in-vitro scans to ascertain the children's gender, but Tyr didn't really care if they were male or female. The important thing was now that his bloodline would continue. Whether Kodiak or Völsung, these children – just like Freya's unborn son – would bear the stamp of his proud Kodiak heritage.
He was due to leave in the next morning; the Maru checked for departure, his duffel bag packed, as his return would be a brief one. But before he left, there was one more thing for him to take care of.
He found the twins in one of the training areas, where they were practicing knife fight, displaying the same lightning speed and deadly elegance as Shakuni, with the additional limberness of their youth. They were beautiful to look upon – but, sadly, completely useless for the re-building of their Pride. Or so most of the Völsung thought. Tyr was about to prove those people wrong.
"Stop this for e moment," he said to the young warriors. "I need to speak with you – somewhere private. And I mean really private."
The two exchanged a look, then moved in unison, leading him to the surveillance room of Paris Atreides, where all the cameras were switched to automatic work.
"The only room without surveillance I know of," Arjuna, the brother said. "Aside from the bedrooms, of course, but you won't want to be seen there with us, I presume."
"Probably not," Tyr agreed, "at least not right now. But that can change,"
They gave him puzzled looks, and again, it was Arjuna who spoke for them both. "We do not understand."
"Before I tell you more, I need to now whether you have any oaths of loyalty that would bind you to anyone in Völsung Pride," Tyr said. They shook their heads.
"We're not wanted here," Arjuna said. "We're the shame of our line became flesh. We are abomination – barely tolerated."
He spoke these words, the worst judgement any Nietzschean could ever be subjected to, matter-of-factly, without the slightest overtone of self-pity. He'd apparently been indoctrinated very thoroughly.
"That's unfortunate for you," Tyr said, "but Völsung Pride's loss can become my gain. I have need of you. Both of you."
They stared at him in such profound disbelief that it would have been comical, had Tyr not known that their entire life had been nothing else but the living proof of how useless and unwanted they were. That someone – and a powerful and respectable Alpha, the last sprout of the leading family of the mother Pride at that – would want them for anything, was beyond their comprehension.
"What use could we possible be for you, my lord?" Arjuna asked, slipping into casual mode from the sheer shock of it.
"I live on a ship among strangers with my First Wife and unborn son," Tyr replied. "My quest is such that I often must leave them behind, without protection. I want you to accompany me aboard the Andromeda Ascendant and guard my family in my absence."
The twins seemed to have a mind-to-mind conversation, their smooth, beautiful faces unreadable.
"But my lord," Arjuna said, "you're about to rebuild Kodiak Pride. We'll never be accepted as a rightful member of your Pride. We'd be a liability for you, should you take us into your household."
"There is a way," Tyr said. "An ancient and half-forgotten way, but a legal one nevertheless. Have you ever heard from the Omega oath?"
They shook their heads simultaneously. Tyr frowned in displease.
"Education in Völsung Pride doesn't seem to be what it used to," he growled. "Have you at the very least heard of the Sacred Band of Thebes?"
That name apparently rang a bell.
"The old Matriarch of the Atreides family, Clytemnestra, told us about it," Arjuna said. They were a hundred and fifty pairs of bonded male lovers; fierce warriors, dedicated to protect their city and their king."
"It was believed that the strong bond between lovers would cause them to fight even more fiercely than an army of one's family or tribe," Amritray, his sister, added; even their voices were completely similar. "And that a warrior would rather die in battle than disgrace his lover. They fought valiantly and fiercely in battle for nearly thirty-three years, until finally defeated by Phillippos of Macedonia and his son, Alexander the Great, at the battle of Chaeronea."
It sounded like a quote, like something they had learned by heart during childhood. Tyr nodded.
"You have learned your lesson well, Arjuna Ravanashwar, out of Ahalija by Muruhan; and so have you, Amritray. Know also, that our people used to have a similar institution: the sacred bond of Omega warriors."
Hearing his full name and heritage quoted and acknowledged by a Pride Alpha, Arjuna paled under his bronzed skin.
"You honour us, my lord. But we are only two people, and siblings at that. We can impossibly bond that way. Even if there weren't the issue of incest, I… I'm not male enough for that," he admitted in utter humiliation.
"No need for that," Tyr said. "Omega warriors bond in the first place with their Pride Alpha. Which means that you won't be bonding yourself to your sister; you'll both be bonded to me – in both, body and mind."
"My lord, you shouldn't waste your precious genes on us," Amritray protested in shock. "Our bodies are but barren husks; and you have wives you must consider."
"My wives won't have reason to complain," Tyr said calmly. "My loins are powerful enough to service them properly – and to keep your bond to me alive. I need you to protect my First Wife and my unborn son... and for other, even more important purposes. But I can't trust you, until I've shared your bodies and minds. I need someone I can trust unconditionally. Your… gift could make you those persons. But I cannot tell you what's at stake here – not before you've sworn the Omega oath."
"What, exactly, includes the Omega oath?" Arjuna asked. "We are inclined to accept your generous offer, my lord, but we'd like to know what we are getting ourselves into."
Tyr nodded in appreciation. The twins were apparently balanced enough not to accept anything of face value without asking for the details. That was a very good thing.
"Omega warriors are more to their Pride Aloha than lovers and less than slaves," he explained. "If you accept my offer and go through the ritual with me, you'll be mine, until the end of your lives. Like an Omega wolf in the pack, you'll have the lowest position in the Pride. But in exchange, you'll belong to my household, and I'll reinstate your status and your family name. You'll be acknowledged members of Kodiak Pride – but you'll be part of my family, too. You won't have any obligations to anyone else than me. No one can demand anything from you… but I can demand everything, and you'd have to obey. Consider this carefully, for once taken, the oath cannot be reversed."
The mind-to-mind communication of the twins lasted longer this time.
"What does the ritual involve?" Arjuna asked.
"Traditionally, the ritual only requires that I claim you as mine – before the eyes of two witnesses," Tyr replied. "But with you, I want to take it a step further. I want not only a bond of flesh; I also want a bond of minds. Can it be done?"
The twins looked at each other again – and shrugged in unison.
"We don't know," Arjuna said. "We never tried it with anyone but each other. We can try to initiate a mental bond… but it might be a long, complicated and very… unpleasant process."
"I can live with that," Tyr shrugged. "But if you do accept my offer, the bond must be completed before I leave for the Andromeda. The question is: do you want to go through the ritual?"
The young warriors nodded as one, and Arjuna answered for both of them. "Yes, my lord. We never had lovers – who'd want to touch anything like us, neither male, nor female? – no family, no status. Accepting your offer would at least give us status."
"Very well," Tyr nodded. "We'll do it upon my return from Centauris A. Whom do you want as your witnesses?"
They looked at each other, and this time Amritray gave the answer. "Nemhain… and Shakuni."
This choice surprised Tyr. "You don't want your own Matriarch to witness the change in your status?"
The two shook their heads in cold dismay.
"We have no Matriarch," Amritray said coldly. "Parvati knew what was done to us in our mother's womb. She allowed it to happen. And when things had gone wrong, she declared us pariahs. We do not trust her."
"As you wish," Tyr shrugged. "The choice is yours. Now, there's one more detail to clear. Amritray, which way do you wish to be taken: as a male or as a female?"
The warrior's head jerked back in surprise. "You would allow me to choose?"
"Certainly. This is your life, after all."
"No one has ever considered me a woman," she whispered in awe. "All knew I was… damaged, a failure… They avoided me like a plague, as if my… condition were contagious."
"Like a woman, then?"
"But I'm not worth…"
"That was not my question," Tyr switched to formal mode. "I asked you, Amritray, out of Ahalija by Muhuron, what do you want. What do you truly want. Tell me."
There was no chance to avoid a direct answer. So she glanced up into his eyes and said in a determined, albeit a little shaky voice. "I wish to be taken as a woman, my lord."
"Then so it will be," Tyr said. "I shall be back in four days' time. Don't tell anyone till then, not even your chosen witnesses. I don't want anyone to interfere. Understood?"
"Yes, my lord," they chorused.
"Very well. Go now. I'll see you in four days."
They parted company, and Tyr returned to the guest room to have some rest before leaving for Centauris A.
TBC
