Chapter 6
Their first stop for supplies was on the moon, Dagmaeus. While Taeron's mother, the governor, greeted him effusively, her husband barely acknowledged Amyr's presence. Although he was the son of his sister. Apolo greeted him as if he were a visiting stranger, and at first Amyr seemed upset - after all his behavior with the females was compared frequently to that of his uncle. In his youth Apolo had spread himself thin with his charm, but after Trey's ascendancy to emperor, Apolo had not taken advantage of his position. He had, in fact, served as an example for Trey's new laws regarding the treatment of females. He had saved many from certain death by rescuing imperial female infants left in the Wastelands by houses that were slow to accept the emperor's edict against the practice. On the other hand, Amyr had denied himself no female he wanted and there wasn't a single one that would refuse the crown prince.
Apolo and Amyr left Taeron alone with his mother, although it was apparent that Apolo did not wish to have any private conversation with his nephew. Having cared for Quynn after she had been tortured in the human system by another man, Apolo was appalled by Amyr's insincere treatment of her. He knew that she had been vulnerable when she first met Amyr and Taeron could feel the anger simmering in Apolo as he thought his sister's son had taken advantage of a female that had been in his care. If Amyr expected any sympathy from Lord Apolo, Taeron knew he would be disappointed.
Once they had gone, Lady Larya pushed Taeron down on an elegant, high-backed padded bench and ordered a serving woman to bring refreshment. When he had a cup of cool sweet juice and food before him, she sat beside him. "I will worry about you every moment that you are away at this horrible war."
"You don't have to worry about me, mother."
She brushed back the hair from his face and he wondered if she still saw him as a fatherless little boy who would weep on her bosom after behind taunted that no man had taken him into his house. "I can't help myself. I love you, Taeron, and I will not be able to sleep well knowing that you could be in mortal danger."
"I have been in mortal danger since I became Amyr's guard," he remarked wryly.
She frowned. "I know, and I have heard of your more recent troubles. I do not envy Trey for the son he has sired."
Taeron turned to look at her and he hated bringing up her past, but he was not deaf to the whispers of the men looking for any excuse to justify scorning Amyr. "Mother, you helped Prince Dilan take Lady Arora from Prince Trey. Is it possible that Prince Dilan sired Amyr?"
His mother was open about her dark past and did not hide in shame from what she had done as a slave to Emperor Zeno's courtesan. Now Larya's white brows raised. "Why would you ask such a thing? Does it matter? Trey has acknowledged Amyr as his son. How can you dishonor him by questioning what he has decreed?"
"You haven't answered my question."
"I haven't answered your question because I think it is ridiculous! I grant you that Arora was never taught to control her ability to make children, if such a thing is even possible among the Guerani, but I assure you that Dilan did not have the opportunity to mate with her. Dax's bastard wanted her desperately and could not even mate with another female, so once he had her in his possession, he tried to force himself on her in the Wastelands, even with his own men watching."
Taeron was disgusted to hear that a man had treated Lady Arora so brutally. Violating a female was the most abhorrent of crimes, even during the time of Zeno.
His mother continued. "She fought him like a wild hillcat until he threatened the life of her babe, but before he could take advantage of his power over her, Lord Wattan, Zeno's imperial guard arrived to prevent him. The silly girl had given him her imperial bond before leaving to escort the Bayman princess and he had grown mad with need for her. When Dax found out what Arora had done, he was infuriated. He had wanted Arora to mate with Apolo and he did not want his Calabrian bastard interfering."
"If there were witnesses to the contrary, why do imperials still challenge Amyr's rights?"
"When she was brought to Lady Xuxa's apartments upon her capture, he tried to mate her again, but I was there to testify that once again he was thwarted because Zeno summoned that odious pack of bastards to his presence before he could. I will never forget that day because I was finally released from that monster, Lady Xuxa. Zeno should have taken her head, but he sent her back to her people in disgrace and her brother refused to take her back. I should have gone to look for her and cut her throat. She was an evil woman."
Taeron could see that she was agitated by the conversation,and he knew it was because Lady Xuxa had not been a benevolent master. Captured from a Wasteland clan as a small child, she had come into Lady Xuxa's hands as a slave and the foul woman trained her to serve the needs of the most despicable men in Calabria. With her white hair and light eyes the color of the palest thistle flowers in Lady Trynity's garden, she was a mysterious beauty that attracted many males, and Lady Xuxa used her as ruthlessly as any brothel owner would have. Taeron's mother had been alone and afraid after Lady Xuxa's banishment, having been in the abhorrent female's care almost all her life, and blaming Trey and Arora, she had tried to kill them. When that failed, she tried to seduce the emperor in front of his own wife before he finally her banished from Calabria to the pirate satellite between Calabria and Bayman. No one knew more about the vile underbelly of Emperor Zeno's court than Larya.
His mother now sighed. "I can tell you that Dilan fervently wanted her, but he was never able to fulfill the blood bond that had been made between them. Nor was he able to take another female because of that bond and I imagine his death was relief for him."
"I am sorry I asked." Taeron was ashamed that he questioned Amyr's parentage. He also felt a small measure of sympathy for Dilan if he had been bonded by blood to Arora. Taeron had heard that the need the bond created was like a sickness that could only be eased by the female to whom a male had bonded. The emperor himself had suffered it in the years he was separated from his imperial guard, that he had found relief in using mood altering drugs.
"As you said, it does not change my duty to him, one way or the other. I would give my life to keep him safe." He put his hand to his heart, then held open his palm to look at the scar where he had been cut. While he had made a verbal oath to Shamara, they had not cut their hands.
Taking his hand, she raised it to her lips to kiss the scar. "You are the best of me, Taeron."
He drew her into his arms. "I will return, mother."
She was trembling and he knew she was trying not to cry. Larya did not show this side of her to many people. Others saw her as a arrogant female that did not know her place. He kissed the top of her white-haired head and silently thanked the gods for her. Only Larya had the audacity and determination to do what she had to give him life, and while others might call her whore, he could respect and love no woman more than he did her.
"Enough of this sad talk!" She pushed herself away from him and looked up at his face. "Is it true that Trey is making plans for you to marry?"
Taeron shook his head. "Mother, I have not wish to begin my house."
She did not seem to hear him. "Taeron, you are being given a great honor in the females he has suggested. However, I may have some knowledge of the houses proposed, so I will inform Trey that I must be given an opportunity to give my opinion."
His conversation had been private with the emperor, but Taeron guessed that Trey had called his mother to discuss what female was going share his life and could imagine him arguing with Larya about his choices. Taeron often marveled at their friendship after all that she had done to hurt him.
"I am not ready, mother, to take a wife."
"I know that you are strangely frightened of marriage …."
"I am not frightened." He could not believe his mother was all but accusing him of cowardice.
"... and that females are still a great mystery to you..."
"Females are no mystery to me." Thanks to Amyr's castoffs, he had been given as thorough an education as a respectable unbonded male could have.
"... but you must begin your house. I don't know what Trey is thinking by mentioning house Caron, for I had already decided that an imperial from a lesser house might be coaxed into wedding you..."
"I don't need anyone to be coaxed into marrying me." But Taeron knew it was probably true. He might be of Lord Duo's and Lord Apolo's house, but he was still the bastard son of a whore who had tried to kill the emperor.
Free of the restriction of finding a suitable match, Taeron had secretly hoped to find a woman with whom he would fall in love, the kind of love his father shared with his wife and his mother shared with her husband, especially the love the emperor and his wife had for each other. Now he feared he would be trapped into marriage with a female he did not even know.
"Don't have such a long face! I shall insist that your bride be beautiful."
"Beauty means nothing to me," he told her.
She gave him an arch glance, "I'm sure it will mean a little when you try to mate her."
"Mother, I do not wish to have this conversation." Taeron was becoming embarrassed. This was not the first time she had broached the subject and he thought he should stop her before she delved into the more intimate aspects of marital life. Her need to instruct him in his relations with females would only become stronger when he did take a wife, so he intended to put it off indefinitely.
She looked thoughtful for a moment and then said to his surprise, "Very well, then I shall send a message to Duo to have this conversation with you. I am not sure what that fool can tell you – he was a gods awful lover – but there must be some reason why a woman like Lady Trynity chose him for a mate."
After leaving Dagmaeus, the imperial armada went to the second moon where they would take on the supplies gathered by the governor and his wife who had prepared healing salves and bandages. In addition, Meridon insisted that men from his clan who were eager to fight should accompany them and since Taeron had great respect for the prowess of his dark clad warriors, he accepted them on Amyr's behalf. The old chieftain had refused to acknowledge Amyr and told Lord Duo that his son, Darlac, would answer only to Taeron.
When they had some time together, Taeron was relieved that his father chose not to do any more than mention the message from Larya which seemed to embarrass him as much as it did Taeron. He was more interested in talking about upcoming battles than the establishment of Taeron's house, perhaps because he knew that Taeron did not feel ready and he respected his decision.
Amyr did not even dare to speak to Duo and stayed out of his sight, but he did go out of his way to seek Lady Trynity on the pretext of discussing her treatise on medicinal herbs. Taeron was suspicious of his motives, but he couldn't think of any improper reason for Amyr's interest. Before leaving Dagmaeus, Taeron had asked Apolo what he had discussed with Amyr, and he told him that Amyr had asked him many questions about his Guerani heritage and the powers that had eluded all of the emperor's children save Shamara. What did Amyr hope to gain? Taeron knew him well enough to suspect that he had an ulterior motive.
The opportunity to speak to Amyr about his strange behavior did not present itself until they were well on their way to Teralon. "You have never taken any interest before in the powers with which you were not blessed by the gods."
Amyr shrugged. "My mother's family is noted through the ages for their healing powers. If I do not have Guerani powers, perhaps I can find a more practical way to heal."
"I don't think the men are expecting their leader to provide the ointments for their aches and pains."
The prince chuckled. "I suppose not, but it would be an added bonus, wouldn't it?"
Once they arrived on Teralon, there was no more time to question Amyr's motives. The Varoonyans were waiting for them, so they were pressed immediately into battle, and because Amyr had never killed a man, he was at first too stunned by the carnage around him to do anything but watch in horror. Seeing that he was unable to give commands, Taeron shouted to the men and rallied them so that they were able to drive off the Varoonyan forces that had attacked after the transports landed in the southern plains only a day's march from the largest city where Chaela lived in the royal palace.
As expected, Taeron received the credit from the men. Amyr did not to show his resentment during the celebrations the night that they had defeated the first wave of Varoonyan forces, but Taeron could feel it. Taeron had not acted to hear the men sing his praises. His only thought during battle was in bolstering the men to fight, to lead by example and help them find the courage and determination when their generation had not had the occasion to fight during the peaceful reign of Emperor Trey.
"You have had your first taste of battle now," Taeron told Amyr as they sat near the fire in the camp over which they shared a meal with the captains of the squadrons.
He could hear the sounds of revelry among the soldiers, the husky laughter of the women who were inevitably drawn to the strong men sent to liberate them. Some of them might entice Calabrian imperials to marry them, but for now they were grateful for their freedom from the Varoonyans. Although no one would question him for finding comfort in the arms of one of them after the harrowing day of fighting, Amyr did not initially seem interested in any of the attractive Teralonian females circulating among the men seated around their campfire offering food or drink.
"Perhaps you are right." Amyr smiled his thanks to one of the females who had handed him an animal skin pouch. He took the stopper out and drank deeply the dark liquid that filled their air with strange fumes. Taeron recognized the odor of spirits.
"Beware, my lord prince, that the sweet nectar does not muddle your head," remarked one of the dark clad warriors sitting beside Taeron. Darlac, Meridon's son, watched Amyr with distrust that Amyr seemed oblivious to.
"This Teralonian nectar is tasty." Amyr pushed the pouch toward Taeron. "Try it."
Taeron shook his head, knowing that just a sip would be too much. "Someone has to have clear judgment on the morrow. The Varoonyans are regrouping and will launch an offensive to keep us from reaching the palace."
Placing a hand on Taeron's shoulder, Amyr looked into his eyes for an uncomfortable moment, then with a rueful shake of his head, he rose to his feet, and Taeron was discouraged to see him beckon to not just one of the females, but two, before disappearing into the tent that he would share with Amyr. Taeron wondered what exactly he should do in the name of his sister's honor as Amyr conveniently forgot again the vow he had made to her. After wrestling with his options, he decided to leave him be. Amyr was a man, after all, and he hadn't been with a woman for many weeks when he had spent the last year pursuing and sampling any female that even glanced at him. Tomorrow there would be another battle and no one could predict the outcome.
While he was waiting for Amyr to finish dallying with the females, Taeron discussed plans with the men for retaking the palace. They had learned from the Teralonian females that the royal family had fled shortly after the attack and remained hidden, and now Varoonyans led by the particularly sadistic warlord were entrenched in the royal palace and city.
Since arriving on Teralon, Taeron had not seen any of the famed winged warriors and wondered about the honor of men that would abandon females to invading forces. Those forces were battle thralls, men who had lost their independent will and existed only at the will of their master, Lord Kai. The thralls had fed from the blood of the females who were grateful to escape the creatures that had invaded their world. The Varoonyan warriors fought like mindless beasts, their eyes red, and when they managed to wound a Calabrian, they leapt upon them with mouths frothing to suck on the wound which seemed to invigorate them. The imperial warriors quickly learned to fight off the creatures to keep them from feeding upon them.
During the discussion around the fire, a beautiful young female approached Taeron and shyly offered him a drink of water although her eyes told him that she was offering far more. Taeron wished he could be like Amyr at moments like this, but he could not take advantage of a helpless female who offered her body because she was grateful for her freedom. Amyr would not think twice about using her for his own pleasure in acts Taeron would not do with any female but the one he chose to bond with. This lovely female might help him while away the night in mutual pleasure, but with the emperor making plans for his future, he would not encourage any females.
He took a cup of water and thanked her formally, making it clear that he had no further interest in anything more she was offering. She did not hide her disappointment by pouting prettily in one last effort to interest him, and when he looked away, she moved on. Soon enough she was trying to attract another man.
"I think Lady Larya would be proud of you, and your father as well," commented Darlac with a chuckle as he watched the female. Taeron knew that Darlac would not take a female because he was bonded and had several young children with his mate.
Taeron drained the cup. "I am proud to be his son."
"Your father's prowess in battle is legendary. Without him, I doubt the emperor could have prevailed against all the threats to his rule. He is the only man to whom my father would give his oath and I gladly give mine to you, Taeron."
Taeron knew that his own father had once regretted deeply the decision that had separated him from the only woman he had ever loved. That regret had become despair as the years passed and he knew he would never be with her. The gods had a hand in all that came to pass, and Lord Duo had been forced to remain on Calabria because it was their will that Trey should reign and he could not have done so without the help of his imperial guard and friend.
"The crown prince has much to learn," continued Darlac. "Trey was every bit as arrogant as his son when he was young, but he had the good sense to delegate to another. Amyr had best learn quickly that a leader is only is as good as his subordinates make him. Zeno ruled with the might of Dax's sword and magic, and his son would not be where he is today without Lords Duo and Apolo. My father might never admit it, but Lady Arora is one of the emperor's finest warriors. One day you will be the sword of the emperor as your father is now. I only hope that Prince Amyr recognizes how important you will be to his reign."
Although he wanted to talk more with Darlac, Taeron was starting to feel tired, and when he saw the two females slip out of the tent at that moment, he excused himself and joined Amyr. His friend was sitting on the sumptuous bedding provided him, his head in his hands, hardly the pose of a man who had just lain in pleasure with two females. His clothing was askew, but he looked pale and distracted, so Taeron guessed he was thinking of the battle. Taeron had fought on Mars Colony and again on the second moon as well as the Guerani Hills during the Camridean insurrection, so he had been blooded already. He could understand how Amyr was feeling at the taking of a life, even if they were enthralled, mindless warriors whose lives were taken long ago by their Varoonyan warlord.
Before he could say a word, Amyr stumbled to the basin and retched, then wiped his mouth with the back of his trembling hand. When he met Taeron's gaze, he could see that he was feeling ill.
"You should not have taken the wine," he scolded Amyr before he was overcome by a yawn. Taeron needed sleep soon or he would not be fit for battle on the morrow.
"Yes, the wine," muttered Amyr. "You look exhausted, Taeron. Take my bed. I need some air."
The words to tell him that he should not be wandering in the camp without him did not pass his lips. His knees suddenly became weak and he would have fallen had Amyr not caught him. He heard Amyr's chuckle. "And I thought you were a god! Did you sample the wine too?"
Taeron could not even respond because he was too exhausted to do anything but sink into the pillows, glad that he would not spend the night on a hard pallet nearby. Although the sleep began as deep and dreamless, something had awakened him, and he raised his head to see the tent flap open and for a moment he thought Prince Staefyn had entered his tent, but he realized it was a trick of the light because when he was able to focus, he saw that Amyr had returned with the females.
The women giggled as they stumbled in the dark, and Taeron tried to move, disgusted that Amyr would bring them in here when he was there, but he suddenly felt Amyr's hands on his shoulders, pushing him back on the pillows and then he reached down to seize his hands before Taeron could react.
"Do not fight it," he whispered and Taeron closed his eyes when the room began to spin around him. He could feel hands on him, pulling at his clothing, the scent of females disorienting him, but he could not react to their touch, and soon he became dizzy and lost consciousness.
Shouts and screams of terror awoke Taeron. Shaking out his groggy, leaden head, he was shocked to find himself entangled in soft limbs. The flap of the tent was thrown back and he had to blink from the light flooding through before he recognized Darlac who was shouting at him to rise. They were being attacked by the Varoonyans. The females scrambled for their clothing, screaming and wailing, and Taeron had difficulty moving to get his own. There was a bitter taste in his mouth. Had he drank the wine? He did not remember doing so, but the taste would not wash out no matter how much water he drank now. How had he come to be in this condition? Was this still part of his dream?
The answer to that question came on the battlefield. Still confused, he had difficulty matching blows with the men who came up against him, but as he fought Taeron gained more and more strength when the haze in which he saw the world cleared away. The Calabrian force had to fall back once, and during the time that they regrouped, Darlac informed Taeron that the prince had either been captured or killed in the first wave.
"You should have been with him instead of indulging yourself in vice," admonished the older man before leaving him alone.
Taeron had no time to wonder how he had come to be with the females or why he had completely ignored Amyr when Amyr's safety was of utmost importance to him. The Varoonyans attacked again, but this time Taeron fought like a man possessed, believing that when they defeated the enemy once and for all, he would find Amyr alive among the prisoners destined for slavery on frontier worlds.
But the fighting lasted for days, and when the Varoonyans withdrew, they torched the lands to aid in their escape, leaving nothing but ashes in their wake. If Amyr's body was among the remains that lay scattered on the battlefield, Taeron didn't think he would ever know until one of the men scouring through scorched terrain as the Varoonyans ships fled overhead came to Taeron to inform that they had found the prince's body.
He did not want to believe that Amyr was dead, refused to believe it until he stood over the charred corpse and recognized the imperial sword with its hilt decorated with gems from the Guerani hills still clutched in its hand. Taeron's heart was broken and he fell to his knees to weep with the sword in his hands.
His dearest friend was dead and he had himself to blame.
He had failed to protect the crown prince.