Chapter 31
Something awoke Amyr shortly before the rising of the first sun, and his first thought was that he did not remember Ulfynaeus being so warm. Although disoriented from waking so abruptly from sleep, he quickly became aware that he was not alone, but he did not open his eyes as he enjoyed the soft curves fitted against him and the female scent that soon had him thinking of how he could pleasantly spend the time between the two sunrises. This was how he wanted to wake every day, with his wife in his arms, her enticing body tempting him from sleep.
But then he felt the restless movements on the other side of him and remembered that they were not alone, and he realized that the other occupant of their bed was the source of the heat. Coming completely awake now, Amyr abandoned the lusty thoughts centered on his mate and turned instinctively toward Taeron. He felt a strong need to heal, so he rose up over Taeron and laid his hands on his shoulders hoping to calm him.
But Taeron jerked awake and he shoved Amyr's hands from him. "We fight a battle today. I do not want you weak because you aided me." His voice was raspy with pain, and the need to help him became stronger, but there was nothing he could do as Taeron's distress seeped into him, urging him to help.
He might be able to convince Taeron to allow him to help by reminding him that Lord Duo expected him to lead the warriors against the rebels at Edgeland Fortress. "And how do you intend to lead the men if you are in this condition?" he asked softly. Amyr's abilities had grown stronger since arriving on Ulfynaeus where he could feel the pull of the ancestors from the planet, but he could not absorb this much pain without risking his own wellbeing and Taeron knew it. Yet he would do it if it meant he could help Taeron.
Quynn stirred on the other side of Amyr and she leaned over him, her hair tickling his neck, and he was relieved by the distraction. "Taeron, can you not sleep? I will take you to my mother. I am sure she can help you." She left Amyr's side and after pulling the tunic over her head that Taeron had probably discarded in an effort to cool his fever, she hurried to help her brother rise with Amyr's help.
He would have gone with her, but she waved him back to the bed. "Wait here. You don't really want to risk my father waking, do you?"
Since Amyr had managed to avoid Lord Duo because of his concern for Taeron, he did not want to face him in the light of the first sun. Nothing good could come of that. She staggered under her brother's weight as she escorted him from her room with his arm around her shoulders, and Amyr regretted being unable to help . Quynn was a strong woman, but Taeron was a large warrior and in his present condition he was of little help.
Even if he were unable to sense Taeron's feelings, Amyr knew how he was suffering during his separation from his mate because Amyr had experienced it as well without Quynn, especially the first few months of his captivity. He had managed to get control of his needs even though he did not know what was happening to him. The day he saw Quynn on that wretched planet, the pain had swiftly returned. Thinking about those dark times now made him feel anxious for Taeron and even though he was not bonded to Quynn, he was eager for her to come back to her bed.
He did not have long to wait. "My mother is taking care of him," she announced when she slipped back into the room. "Father is still sleeping."
Sitting up, he watched her drag the tunic over her head and then his heart skipped a beat when she pulled off the knee length garment she had worn to bed, leaving her completely bare.
Laughing at the expression he must have on his face, she jerked back the blanket covering him and straddled his hips. "We don't have much time before the second sun rises."
Taeron's presence during the short night kept him from acting as he would have wished, but now that her brother was gone, he was not going to pass up the opportunity to satisfy his beautiful wife. The time between sunrises was short and once the second sun rose, he knew it would only be a matter of time before Lord Duo confronted him. And as long as Quynn was willing – nay eager – he was not going to turn her away out of fear of her father. Some things were worth suffering for.
Shortly before the second sun rose, he fell asleep with Quynn in his arms, contentedly spent, but it seemed as if he had not been sleeping long before something woke him. He sensed before opening his eyes that Quynn was gone, and he had a sleepy memory of her murmuring in his ear about working on the ship. He hadn't protested her departure when he hadn't even had the strength to raise his head. Now he felt something cold on his bare chest and he had a premonition that if he swallowed, he might regret it, so he opened his eyes and he was not surprised to find himself trapped with the flat edge of a sword against his chest, the point just below his chin against his throat.
Raising his gaze, not daring to breathe too deeply, he was not surprised to find Lord Duo standing over him, his dark bluish purple eyes unreadable. They stared at each other in silence for several moments, and then Amyr dared to grasp the blade to move away from his chest so that he could breathe without the sharp tip impaling him. Now blood dripped from cuts on his hand as he rolled to stand. His wife's father frowned and wiped his blade on the bed, Amyr quickly healed his hand before finding his tunic and drawing it on.
"So it is true, you have become a healer." the older man finally said. "I was hoping that I would not find you in here." Amyr could hear the disappointment in his voice and he felt regret when he considered Lord Duo as much his father as his own.
"Quynn is my wife," he said, but before he could say anything more Duo interrupted.
"Quynn is not your bonded wife. I have already had this discussion – argument - with my daughter this morning, but I did not think I would have to have it with a Calabrian male, certainly not with you." He sighed as he sheathed his sword, then he shook his head. "We cannot predict how Trey will react to Quynn's return. He was very angry five years ago when she left, as angry with her as with you, Amyr. My daughter shamed my house by breaking her oath to you and rejecting Trey's house."
"She has returned to me. She is my wife." He tried to sound like an imperious crown prince, but based on the look on Lord Duo's face, he probably sounded more like a small boy announcing his claim on a toy.
"Amyr, do not believe for one minute that your father will accept this union. Despite your egregious behavior, Quynn should not have fled. And now there is the complication of the child." Duo shook his head regretfully. "I fear that you may have to take the boy into your house without his mother."
Amyr could not believe that Quynn's father could even suggest it. "I would never part Quynn from our son!"
Lord Duo continued as if he had not heard him. "Trey might be convinced to understand how you cannot be blamed for Yori once he learns what Staefyn did to you, but I suggest you do not test the gods in the future." He nodded to the bed Amyr had just left. "Another child now would not be wise."
Amyr looked guiltily from the bed to Lord Duo whose lips pursed in disapproving understanding, and when he raised his hand, Amyr flinched, expecting the righteous anger of a father whose daughter had been dishonored, but the hand dropped on his shoulder.
"You must love my daughter, Amyr, because I did not think you were that much of a fool." Amyr was surprised when he pulled him into an embrace. "I have always thought of you like a son. I was ..." He pursed his lips as if he meant to say more, but he finished by saying, "I am not displeased that you have become my son in marriage to my daughter even though I had my reservations when you came to me five years ago asking to make her your mate."
"I am sorry that I have disappointed you, my lord."
Duo bent to touch his forehead to Amyr's. "You seem to have made my daughter happy. I shared the morning meal with her and Yori, and I already adore that child. Whatever Staefyn had planned for you in that trance, Amyr, I doubt the end result was that precious boy."
When he stepped back, Amyr did not know what to say because he was overwhelmed by the deep emotion that the other man felt.
"We will head to the planet in a few hours. Darlac has heard of Taeron's return, so he has convinced his father to meet with me to give you a chance to plead for men to help retake the Edgeland Fortress. You may have to use all your Guerani charm on Meridon."
Meridon? Why did it have to be Meridon? Almost six years ago when Lord Duo had escorted Amyr's sister to her intended husband, Amyr had acted as governor in his behalf. Since he had a capable adviser, Amyr should not have encountered any difficulty, but during Lord Duo's absence, his adviser had suddenly died, actually murdered unbeknownst to Amyr at the time, and religious fanatics had stirred up the clans on the moon. Meridon was the one chieftain that had offered to help Amyr which surprised him because he knew that the old chieftain was the last zenoite to be banished to the moon, that he had caused his father no small amount of trouble in opposing his rule. Meridon did not trust any imperials, and since crown prince Trey had raided his camps several times, he refused to recognize him as emperor. So Amyr had gone to meet with Meridon and he had been pleased to be on the verge of accomplishing something that his father had failed at for many years. Unfortunately, the agreement fell apart and his short term as interim governor on the second moon had ended in a debacle.
Now Duo smiled. "You may have to grovel in begging Meridon for his help."
After what happened with one of Meridon's unwed daughters which led to his subsequent refusal to help six years ago, Amyr doubted even groveling could convince Meridon to provide men now. He wondered if the chieftain was dangling the offer just so he could refuse again, knowing how much it meant to Amyr, and to Amyr's father. Lord Duo had a garrison of warriors and the dozen men brought back from Norvana were worth thrice their number after Taeron's diligent training, but they could not hope to recapture the fortress. Adding the experienced warriors of Meridon's clan would even the odds, yet Amyr knew it would not be easy to convince the chieftain to help the emperor he still refused to acknowledge with his oath.
Duo left him then, and Amyr bathed quickly, before going to Taeron's chamber to check on him, and finding it empty, he decided to help himself to Taeron's clothing so that he could look presentable. As he dug through Taeron's wardrobe, he mused that Lady Larya wasted her talents as a seamstress by governing the first moon. Taeron had not complained in the past when he wore his clothing, so when he found a very fine tunic of soft fabric and elaborate stitching at the back of the wardrobe, he did not hesitate to put it on.
When he was dressed, he went in search of Quynn or Taeron, making a detour to the kitchen where he was provided with a meal. The female serving women fell over themselves to keep his plate full, and while they flirted with him, he ignored their open invitations. As Amyr conversed with them pleasantly, he mused that he had always viewed women with one purpose in mind, gratification of his needs . But now he could read their feelings, and he was bothered that they were disconcerted to the point of fear by his lack of interest. Any one of them would gladly sacrifice her honor to please him and he was disgusted by the selfishness of his youth when he would have readily taken advantage of them. Only the gods knew how Quynn looked past that to see something in him that had been hidden under layers of narcissism and arrogance.
To put them at ease, he inquired of their families, their husbands, their children, information he was able to glean from a quick scan of their minds. When one of the women burned her hand over the cooking fire, he healed her before she could seek Lady Trynity for an ointment, and they all relaxed in his company enough that one of the females teased him about taking up his uncle's mantle. He recognized the speaker, Haedya, who he could have blamed for the trouble the night of his oath ceremony to Quynn. But Amyr knew the fiasco was his fault, not Haedya's, not Taeron's and certainly not Quynn's. Amyr did not mind her comparing him to his uncle, not when Lord Apolo was beloved of all females even after giving his heart to one. Amyr had once thought his uncle was a fool when so many females would do anything to be with him, but he understood now why he would give them up for the woman he loved. Just as Larya was for Apolo, Quynn was the part of him that had been missing. He had been too much of a stubborn fool to accept that truth.
When he finished his meal, he asked if any of them had seen Lady Quynn or Lord Taeron and they directed him to Lady Trynity's workroom, what she called her clinic. He was hoping to see her or Taeron on the way, but he guessed that they were at the ship preparing for the trip to the surface. And since he did not see Stryfe either, he assumed the scribe was with his father as he prepared to meet with Meridon.
Entering Lady Trynity's clinic, he saw Jeshed sitting on a chair rolling down the sleeve of his undershirt as Lady Trynity walked away from him with a small glass tube filled with blood.
When she saw him, she waved him to a chair next to Jeshed. "You are just the man I want to see," she said as she placed a label on the tube. "I would like a sample of your blood."
Not surprised by her request, he removed his tunic and watched her place the tube with Jeshed's blood in a holder that contained other samples on which he noted Taeron's and Quynn's names. Her methods were not as efficient as Guerani healing, but there were few Guerani, so her work was vital to the empire. In addition to the many medicines she had created from the plants that either grew naturally on Ulfynaeus or which she crossbred, she had trained many healers to use her methods and as a consequence the health and well being of all Calabrians had improved since her arrival.
"What are you planning to do?" he asked as he rolled up his sleeve.
When she inserted a needle to draw blood, he winced, but he quickly willed the pain away. "I am interested in Jeshed's blood, so I intend to study what has made him human, his DNA or his life strands as Jeshed calls it. Quynn told me that he was a dragon, but on another plane of existence. As for Quynn, she showed me her use of magic, so I am interested to see if her blood has changed." She smiled at Amyr. "She also wanted to know if you are as omniscient as you claim, and while I cannot yet know the sex of the child, I did determine that she is, indeed, pregnant."
"She will bear a female," Amyr told her confidently. "I sensed when it happened." He did not know how it was possible, but he had felt the creation of life the moment it happened.
"If she were not happy about it, I would ask why you did not prevent conception when I know you are surely capable." She sighed in resignation. "The gods must know what they are doing although I am not so sure about you and Quynn."
Amyr thought it best to distract her. "Why do you wish to study my blood?"
"Quynn told me that you had a bond with her and that the healer on Norvana severed it. I have been studying the phenomena for a few years now, so I am wondering what may have changed. Anyway, I want to compare your blood to Taeron's." She frowned in thought for a moment and then asked, "Do you think there is any way I can talk your father into allowing me to examine the cadavers of Calabrian males, bonded and unbonded?"
Amyr thought it as likely as Meridon hoisting his father on his shoulders and proclaiming him emperor of the universe. "The funereal right is performed as quickly as possible after death to send the dead to the gods."
Chagrinned, she said, "I thought not although I am sure I could learn much to help the men of Calabria."
"Taeron is better?" he asked, caring only about her helping one man.
"I have provided him with the same medicine that I have given to men with his affliction."
Amyr snorted. "I am surprised that my father would allow you to tamper with such a basic need for Calabrian males."
"He has no control over the tribesmen, and they appreciate my efforts to help." Lady Trynity laughed. "He was very angry when Duo told him about the medicine, but I offered it to him, and while I know he loves your mother, his need to be at her side hampers his ability to rule effectively." Amyr knew that his father rarely left the palace because he did not want to take his wife in public when many still reviled her because Dax had dumped her in the Wastelands as if she were trash. Whether he feared for her safety or did not want to hear the insults people might say about her openly, Amyr did not know.
She continued. "I want to offer it to males who cannot be with their mates." She put her hand on Amyr's shoulder and he saw the sympathy in her eyes. "I cannot imagine how you suffered, Amyr, when I have treated men with the symptoms, some even worse than Taeron's. For that alone, Staefyn is a despicable man."
Amyr did not respond. Despite everything that Staefyn had done, he did not want to believe that he could be so cruel. Was it possible that Staefyn did not know what had happened to him?
Jeshed came to stand by her, and she turned to look up at him. "I am honored to help you, my lady, in your study of my life strands."
She smiled up at him. "There is something very familiar about you, Jeshed, but I am not quite sure what it is. Perhaps I will figure it out when I examine your DNA " Sighing, she looked back at Amyr. "Duo stopped by looking for you shortly before you came in. Meridon has arrived with his people, so you should attend them in the courtyard. I will come with you."
After putting the tunic back on, Amyr waited for her to remove the apron over the knee-length tunic she wore over silky leggings that clung to her legs. There would be nothing amiss in what she wore were she at the imperial court or her husband's palace, but she could not appear before Meridon wearing such clothing. She did not leave her workroom until she was swathed in a dark cloak and cowl that partially hid her face. Amyr thought that Quynn's battle suit would probably infuriate and shock Meridon into a fit that would kill him so he hoped he was never in a situation to see her wearing it.
The black-clad warriors already filled the courtyard so Amyr had hope that the burly old chieftain now speaking to Lord Duo had already committed to liberating Edgeland Fortress from the rebels. Lady Trynity moved away from Amyr to stand with another female in similar garb and he was stunned to realize it was Quynn when he saw a chestnut curl had fallen out of the cowl which her mother quickly tucked back in.
"My sister has to be seething in that outfit."
Amyr turned to see that Stryfe had come to stand beside him along with Taeron who bore no resemblance to the debilitated man that had left his room that morning. Taeron's lips were turned down in a frown as he looked at the tunic and Amyr felt a little guilty now.
"My mother intended for me to wear that at my bonding ceremony," Taeron remarked. "My sisters did the stitching."
"There is no need for a bonding ceremony any more," said Stryfe with a chuckle. He fell silent when Amyr glared at him and Taeron cast a guilty glance in his father's direction.
"Has Lord Duo spoken to you today?" Amyr asked Taeron. He could not believe that Taeron's father would rebuff him, but Taeron shook his head with a quick glance at his father who was listening intently to something Meridon was saying. When the governor glanced their way, Taeron bowed his head and turned away.
"I will find out what Meridon is discussing with my lord father," said Stryfe. "It will give me a chance to practice his language. I am fascinated by the development of peculiar dialects by the moon's tribes." The scribe headed towards the two men, oblivious that he was talking to himself about vowels and consonants.
"Meridon does not like my brother," commented Taeron. "He calls him the emperor's hill weasal."
Amyr sighed. "I don't think Meridon is going to help. He hates me and he hates my parents. Should we worry that he is providing warriors that will stab us in the back because he has secretly allied with Staefyn?"
Taeron stiffened. "Meridon is an honorable man. He will not make any alliance with Staefyn because he has not proven himself, has never blooded his sword in battle. He will be infuriated if our suspicions are true that Staefyn masqueraded as one of his clansmen to secure his way to Teralon."
Lord Duo waved for them to approach and while Taeron dragged his feet, Amyr squared his shoulders and headed to the mountain of a man that commanded the warriors filling the courtyard. The men were dressed all in black from the wrap on the top of their heads, to the black warpaint that hid their features, to the tunic, leggings and boots. The warriors fought with two curved swords which were longer than daggers, and Amyr knew that they had several daggers hidden on their bodies. Meridon's men were as awe-inspiring as the imperial warriors of the emperor, had only been defeated once by those warriors almost twenty-five years ago.
Twice as wide as the governor, his body hard with muscles, Meridon was also twice as old and had survived the reign of Emperor Zeno as well as the constant attacks by the emperor's maniacal imperial guard, Dax. He had long, shaggy white hair and a matching beard that nearly reached his waist. His weathered face was craggy with age and marred with more than one scar that he had probably received from the edge of an imperial sword.
Now Meridon sneered at Amyr, his dark eyes flashing with disapproval as they swept over. "I agreed to speak to you only because I trust and honor Lord Duo." He spit at Amyr's boots, narrowly missing them. "I have no use for a bastard, certainly not the bastard of that Guerani whore and her bastard brother."
"My mother is not a whore!" Amyr reached for his sword, but Duo swiftly stayed his hand.
As if he could read Amyr's rage as easily as Amyr could read his contempt, the old man laughed gruffly. "Such swift defense, son of no man."
"I am of Trey's house," he said through gritted teeth.
"And yet he did not bring you into this world. That Guerani bitch crawled off to a dark corner of the palace to whelp you in secret. What man stood to claim you then?"
"Meridon," growled Duo furiously. "Did you bring your men here so that you could force us to listen to you insult gracious Lady Arora? I will stomach no more."
Meridon glanced from Amyr to Taeron, then to Duo. "My son will lead the men to the surface, but only under Lord Taeron's command." A warrior detached from the scores of men waiting and Amyr recognized him as Darlac, Meridon's son who had been at Teralon, who had fought at Taeron's side through the entire Varoonyan campaign. Darlac had no love for Amyr, not when Amyr had tried to order him to ready the men for the assault that had failed. In the subsequent chaos, many of Meridon's men had been killed when the Varoonyans overran their camp. That Darlac would fight at all to help him was surprising.
Before Amyr could accept those conditions, Duo shook his head. "Taeron will not command the men. They will fight for Prince Amyr."
Looking past Amyr to Taeron, Meridon frowned. "Then what I have heard is true. He has shamed your house."
"I will not discuss it."
Meridon rubbed his thick white beard, his eyes narrowed as he stared at Taeron, and then he shook his head and turned his attention back to Amyr. "My men will not fight for a man who has not proven himself."
"How can I prove myself?" demanded Amyr, stepping forward and speaking before Duo could intercede.
The old man's scornful gaze swept over Amyr. "Did you not prove your lack of worth of Teralon? You could not command the men there and many did not return to see their wives and children because of you. You could not be of Zeno's house! You are not even an imperial warrior." He spat again and started to turn away.
Taeron stepped forward and he spoke to Meridon in his own language. Duo's lips were pursed in disapproval, but he did not interrupt his son. Amyr could not understand his plea, but Meridon turned back, his gaze thoughtful. He looked at Darlac and said something to which the old chieftain's son nodded solemnly.
Taking Amyr's arm, Taeron walked him away from the other men and Amyr noticed that the courtyard had cleared as the warriors moved back. "Take off my tunic," he ordered Amyr. "I don't want you to get any blood on it after all the work my sisters put into making it."
Amyr frowned as he did as Taeron commanded. He noticed that Darlac had pulled his two swords and was swinging them with impressive speed. "What have you gotten me into?"
"Meridon claimed you were no imperial warrior, so I suggested that if you could prove otherwise, you are worthy of taking his men to the surface."
Although Amyr drew the sword of the crown prince, Taeron took it from him and handed his own to him. Amyr knew that reminding them that he was the emperor's son by using the sword would inflame them, so he did not argue with Taeron.
"I am to fight Darlac? Darlac?" He had a memory of Darlac spinning his sword in battle, cutting men down with the same ease that Taeron used his imperial blade. "He will kill me."
Taeron put his hands on Amyr's shoulders. "Touch me, Amyr." Amyr raised a hand to put over one of Taeron's and he was surprised by the confidence that he read in him. "You will put my training to use to defeat Darlac first and then to take back Edgeland Fortress for your father. I trust you, Amyr. I would readily follow you into battle." When Amyr dropped his hand to take his sword in both hands, Taeron smiled. "Do not kill Darlac. You need only fight to first blood."
"And will Darlac try to kill me?" asked Amyr as he watched the other warrior head to the middle of the courtyard.
Taeron shrugged. "I don't know what kind of mood he is in today."
With those discouraging words, Taeron moved away and Amyr took a deep breath before heading to the spot where Darlac waited. He did not even glance towards Quynn because he was afraid he would see her fear. There could be no place in his mind now for anything but the fight. But as they bowed to each other, Amyr could read in the other man's eyes that he would enjoy nothing better than to slice him up. For the first few moments of the fight, Amyr was on the defensive as Darlac came at him with his swords flashing in the sunlight, their deadly tips narrowly missing Amyr. Amyr almost stumbled and that would have been the end of the fight in more than one way, but he had seen Taeron do this very thing again and again, so he knew what to do. Amyr was an imperial warrior!
He flipped back to regain his footing and put more distance between him and Darlac before charging forward, his sword swinging, metal contacting metal again and again until Amyr managed to hook one of the curved blades and the strength of his blow sent the sword arcing high into the air. Darlac swiped at Amyr with the remaining sword, but the speed of his movement made the blade whistle into the air, missing as Amyr launched himself up, and as he spun, he seized the handle of Darlac's other sword now descending, landed and then flipped backwards over Darlac. The other man did not even realize what had happened until Amyr stood behind him, the blade of Darlac's own sword at his throat. He made the slightest nick and stood back to watch as Darlac raised his fingers to his throat and brought them away to show the blood.
Tense silence reigned in the courtyard and Amyr waited with the sword in his hand to see if he was going to be rushed by the warriors who had not reacted as they waited for their chieftain's direction. Then Meridon threw back his head in laughter and announced something that made Darlac turn and clap his hand on Amyr's shoulder as he held out his hand for his sword.
"Well met, Amyr," he said in the imperial tongue. "You are an imperial warrior."
The clan warriors began shouting and chanting, and Amyr wished that he had made some attempt to learn their language. Taeron came to stand beside him, so he asked, "What is going on? Are they going to kill me?"
"You proved yourself and Meridon is very pleased. He has made you a member of his clan."
Amyr sputtered. "A member of his clan? Me?" He could not think of a less likely male to be taken into the fractious old warrior's clan. He saw Jeshed arrive then with Yori on his shoulders and he wondered if they had watched the fight from one of the windows ringing the courtyard. The white-hared man lowered Yori to the ground and his son ignored his mother's outstretched arm and dashed across the courtyard to him.
Scooping up the boy, Amyr kissed his cheeks and settled him on his hip.
"You fight like the wind," Yori said with awe. "Can you best Taeron?"
Glancing at Taeron, Amyr almost burst into laughter. Could anyone best the gods' blessed holy paladin? "Perhaps some day." He caught Taeron's wry smile and he nearly laughed again.
Suddenly the black-clad males parted and Amyr watched as a female moved through the opening they had made. His stomach clenched and he gritted his teeth as he realized who she was, and he glanced now at Quynn whose head was bent to listen to her mother. Was she telling his wife that the female approaching Meridon was the old man's daughter, Falida?
Amyr had not seen her since the day he had gone to Meridon's camp to ask for help against the religious fanatics. While sharing a meal with the old man who seemed agreeable to his requests, he had tried to keep his attention from straying to the females when they took pains to stay in the shadows as they served the men. By the time the meal had come to an end, he congratulated himself on his self-restraint, but when he left to relieve himself in the wooded area after the meal, the female now facing her father boldly had just as boldly followed him then. Before he realized that he was not alone in the forest, she had him backed against a tree and was rubbing wantonly against him. Could he really be blamed for taking advantage of such a situation? Her father had caught them and Amyr had felt lucky to escape with his life. He expected Meridon to demand to the emperor that Amyr marry the female, but the demand never came, just an outraged tirade by an angry father which his father relayed to him added with his own sermon about setting a good example for the people.
Whatever she was saying to her father now had the old man stroking his beard thoughtfully before he turned to speak to Duo. Duo shook his head and said something which made Meridon frown.
"Can you hear them?" Amyr asked Taeron who was also watching them intently.
"I can and wish I could not." He looked at Amyr. "Falida's mate has not given her a child. She asked for the right to breed with another man."
Amyr raised a brow. "This is done?"
Nodding, Taeron said, "Her mate agreed because he wants to raise a son with her, and against Meridon's wishes, they sought Lady Trynity's help. She examined them both and determined that a childhood sickness has made it impossible for him to sire a child." Taeron shook his head sympathetically. "He is a fine warrior and would raise a fine son."
"Does she have a male in mind?" asked Amyr with amusement, sensing the answer before Taeron gave it.
"She asked for me," Taeron told Amyr who smiled at his imperial guard's discomfort. "But my father told Meridon that I am bonded."
Now Meridon and Duo seemed to be arguing until Lord Duo threw up his hands and nodded towards them, and Amyr chuckled. "I think she is going to try anyway." He noticed Stryfe detach from the group to hurry to his mother and sister, so he guessed he was going to tell them what was happening.
Taeron met his gaze. "Falida has heard that you have no bond with my sister, so she has demanded the right to mate with you."
"Me?" Amyr held Yori closer to him. "I will not!" Would Quynn think he had something to do with Falida's request?
"And if you do not, Meridon will be insulted," Taeron told him grimly.
Amyr set Yori on the ground. "Go to your mother." How was he going to get out of this?
Fortunately his son was better behaved than Amyr ever was, so he hurried to his mother who was listening intently to whatever Stryfe was saying, but Amyr took his attention away to face Falida who had come to them.
Her gaze had followed Yori, but then she looked back at Amyr. She inclined her head so succinctly that it was insulting. "My lord prince, my father has given me the right to mate with you so that I can give my husband a son." Her dark eyes glanced in the direction where Yori had gone, but Jeshed had taken him inside the palace. "You have a fine son. I shall bear a son like him for my husband and you will have to part in his life."
Without waiting for his word of acceptance to what she proposed, Falida reached out to curl her hand around his wrist and he wondered if she intended to mount him in the courtyard. Amyr could not read Taeron's expression, but suddenly his eyes widened and he stepped quickly away to allow Quynn to pass.
Quynn reached out to seize Falida's wrist and she jerked her hand from Amyr. "Prince Amyr is my mate," she announced.
Falida looked at Quynn, sized her up and apparently found her lacking. "You are not bonded, so he can mate freely. You may have him back when I have finished with him."
Amyr opened his mouth to explain that his bonding was of the heart, but Quynn stepped between him and the other woman. "He may not be bonded, but he is still mine."
The clanswoman put her hands on her hips. "Very well, human. I will fight for the right to mate him, and after I have defeated you and taken from him what I want, then you can have him back." Her disdainful gaze encompassed both her and Amyr. "And if I should want a second child, you will have no choice but to send him back to my pillows."
Appalled by her plan, Amyr looked past her to Lord Duo who shrugged as if there was nothing he could do to help. Amyr suspected that Falida was trained to fight because he had heard that the women of the clans were as ferocious as the men in protecting their children. The imperials had as much difficulty with the women as as the men when they raided their camps in hunting rebels.
Quynn cracked her knuckles, the sound so ominous that it startled Amyr. "Let's do this." She glanced at Amyr and winked. "You will owe me, princeling." He raised a hand to stop her from following Falida, but Taeron shook his head and he let his hand drop.
They came to a stop in the center of the courtyard, their voices low as they spoke to each other. Taeron came to stand beside Amyr who worried about the child Quynn carried, and he was grateful for the hand Taeron put on his shoulder, but not for the chuckling at his expense. Finally Falida lunged at Quynn and tried to grasp her wrists, but Quynn smacked her in the face with the heel of her hand, then swept out her foot as Falida staggered and knocked the other woman down. Quynn did not miss a beat before moving behind her, seizing her shoulders and Amyr did not know what she had planned, but her parents both shouted at her frantically to stop.
Quynn let the other woman drop. "Today is your lucky day, Falida. I was going to introduce you to the spine cruncher." She leaned closer to speak to her nose to nose. "Come near my mate again and my mother and father may not be around to save you."
She sauntered back to Amyr, and ignoring the impropriety, she seized Amyr around the neck and pulled his head down for a kiss. "You are mine, princeling."
To his surprise, Meridon burst into laughter and then he shouted some commands to his men who surged forth to pry Amyr from Quynn. Before being engulfed by the warriors he saw that the females of Meridon's clan that had accompanied their mates to the palace had overwhelmed Quynn and he lost sight of her. Worried at first about what they were going to do to him, Amyr realized that they meant only to welcome him to the clan with a change of clothing, and soon he was dressed in black like they were, his face smeared with the black warpaint, but when they tried to take his sword, he balked.
"You will be recognized by the stones," Darlac warned, offering him instead two curved swords. "Lord Taeron will not have time to guard your back and if the rebels see your sword, they will target you."
But Amyr shook his head. "I am the crown prince."
They compromised by wrapping the hilt with black leather so that he could easily grasp it, but he also took the clan weapons. Although he suspected Taeron could wield them with deadly accuracy, Amyr had no intention of using them, having been trained with a two-handed sword. Once he was dressed, he did not have time to react before several men hefted him on their shoulders and carried him to Meridon where they set him on his feet and stood back.
Amyr saw Stryfe watching with a smile although his father stood back with his lips pursed in disapproval before turning and heading to the crowd of females. They parted but reached out to touch the imperial guard of the emperor with coos of approval before closing in on him.
Feeling a presence beside him, Amyr turned to see that Taeron and Stryfe had come to stand beside him. "What is happening?" he asked, and he turned back to the females when Taeron nodded in that direction.
Lord Duo had exited the group and he now escorted his daughter. Quynn was dressed in a garment of brightly colored fabric, bangles on her wrists and a circlet of flowers around her forehead. Lady Trynity came forward, spoke a few words to Lord Duo that Amyr could not hear, then Quynn must have given her opinion because both her parents frowned, but they headed in his direction with their daughter.
"Are you going to tell me what is happening?" he asked Taeron.
"You are giving your oath of marriage to my sister in their custom," Taeron finally said just before Quynn came to stand beside him.
She smiled up at him. "I have been accepted into the clan. Who knew all you had to do was kick the snot out of one of them?"
Amyr returned her smile. "Who knew? Maybe my father should try it." He noticed that Lord Duo and Meridon were exchanging heated words again, but before Amyr could ask Taeron for a translation, the governor threw up his hands in resignation and turned to face Amyr.
"I offer my daughter, Quynn, to you, Amyr, of Meridon's clan." By the tone of his voice, Duo was not pleased to be doing this. Amyr did not need this formality because he already considered Quynn his wife. He remembered Duo's warning that morning about his own father's opinion of the validity of their marriage, but Amyr did not care. What could his father do now after Amyr earned Meridon's approval?
"Are you going to accept her?" asked Stryfe with a chuckle.
"I accept your daughter, Lord Duo," Amyr said.
The older man thrust her hand into his and strode away grumbling to himself.
Quynn glanced over her shoulder at him, then shrugged and turned her attention back to Amyr. "Don't mind my father. He likes to be a bucket of ice."
Amyr wasn't sure of her meaning, but he smiled anyway. "I respect your father's counsel on anything but our marriage."
"As you should not," said Meridon gruffly. "Lord Duo is the emperor's imperial guard. He will act in the interests of the emperor in all things, including you, Prince Amyr. But you are now in my clan, in my house as you imperials like to say, so you do not need to give a gods' damn about Trey's decrees. Will you take this female to be your mate?"
He already had, but Amyr said, "I will."
Meridon looked at Quynn. "And do you take my clan-son to be your mate?"
"Are there any conditions?" she asked after a moment of silence. "Do I have to bow to his wishes? Do I have to clean up after him and cook for him?"
The old man stroked his beard. "I have never been asked these questions. Do you not wish to clean up after him and cook for him? Will his wishes not be yours?"
"Hardly," she huffed with a glance at Amyr who realized he was frowning at her. He noticed Lady Trynity smiling with pride and he knew that his life with Quynn would be anything but boring.
"Very well," Meridon finally said. "If the imperial dog displeases you, I will see that he is thrashed and if you continue to be unhappy, you may sever your union. I will be happy to cut his throat myself."
Amyr swallowed nervously until he noticed there was an amused light in Meridon's dark gaze.
"I suppose I can take him for my mate then," she said as if she were doing him a favor. "But I am not cooking and cleaning up after him. As for the thrashing, I might take you up on that in the future." She looked at Amyr meaningfully for a moment and then said, "Under the conditions that I have set, I will accept you as my mate."
Amyr could see that Stryfe was shaking with laughter behind Jeshed's back and even Taeron looked as if he might smile.
The old chieftain took their hands and joined them, then announced loudly, "Under the laws of my clan, you are mates until such time that I will be required to cut Prince Amyr's throat." Meridon threw back his head in laughter and the clansmen and women cheered.
Quynn squeezed Amyr's hand and she smiled up at him. "Let's just hope it doesn't come to that."
Amyr raised her hand to his lips. "I think I can learn from a thrashing or two."
"I am not so sure," he heard Taeron mutter, but Amyr ignored him as he leaned down to kiss his wife, not caring what anyone thought or how improper it might be. She was his wife and no one was going to part them.