Chapter 36
Walking through the corridors, his hand on the hilt of his sword, Taeron ignored the imperial nobles that paused their conversations to turn and stare at him. He had suffered their judging looks and whispers since he was old enough to understand his place in the world, but now they had been given good reason to sneer at him. He was wearing Amyr's clothing, altered to fit him, sleeping in Amyr's chamber and he had been taken into Amyr's house. As Arora predicted, the imperials had jumped to the conclusion that the reason she had fled was that she had finally learned the truth of her human mate's infidelity.
Upon the return of the shuttle from Bayman, the news of her miraculous escape from tragedy coupled with the disgrace of the crown prince polarized the court into factions with one siding with the emperor while others, albeit few, supported the son he had named heir. After already having renounced Amyr, Trey did not feel that he could do the same to Staefyn only days later without appearing weak to the warlords that would use the discord in the imperial family to make a bid for power. Instead, he stripped Staefyn of most of his support by naming Taeron lord prince commander of the imperial warriors, and because Taeron had earned their respect for how he had handled the Varoonyans, most warlords chose to remain loyal to the emperor.
Although it had been almost two weeks since Edgeland Fortress had been retaken, communications had not been restored because the parts needed to repair it had disappeared. It would take months to manufacture the crystals to power the system, so communication to the other worlds of the empire was impossible. The moons were cut off from the surface, and there was no way to discover what was happening on Teralon. Taeron would not know until he drew close and the ships would be in range if Balak had already seized power. And Trey had fretted anxiously about his family until the transport returned to report that they had been delivered safely to the home of the first princess.
Preparing to leave on the morrow for Edgeland Fortress, he had been going over last minute details with his commanders when the message had arrived to join the emperor. He would have preferred conferring with the warriors on planning a strategy in case Staefyn tried to intercept the troop transports on the way to the Wasteland spaceport, but he ended the meeting abruptly to accompany the messenger back to the palace. The emperor would not have interrupted preparations unless it were important.
Taeron had almost reached the receiving hall when he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye, and he partially drew his sword. He had already been attacked in the palace by men whose house claimed loyalty to Staefyn, but he now shoved the sword back into its sheath when he saw a female detach from a group of males that he recognized. Aevan and Caerl of house Caron were among the worst wastrels at Trey's court. They avoided the practice yard, harried the servants and while their father, Rendael had made his support of the emperor clear in offering his warriors for Taeron's excursion to Teralon, Taeron did not trust his sons. He caught himself now wishing the arrogant imperials would attack him so that he could be justified in his suspicions.
He did not blame the female for leaving them behind when they had already proven in their behavior towards the female servants that they adhered to the old misogynist customs that Trey had abolished. But Taeron was dismayed that she was making a path straight to him. With black hair, pale skin and brilliant blue eyes, her attractive form would make any man turn his head to look at her. But as she drew closer to Taeron, he pursed his lips in annoyance. Since learning of his elevation in status, imperial males pushed their females under his nose so that he might consider one as his mate. They approached him so frequently that the inevitable clash with Queen Neria was bound to happen. Seeing Dijana's mother now leave the protective circle of her winged guard to move towards him, Taeron knew there would be a confrontation unless he could head it off.
The female managed to reach him before the Teralonian queen, and when she dipped low in a respectful curtsy, he noted that she was shockingly exposed by the elegant gown that was sleeveless and cut low according to the current fashion of the nobility at court. Although he had certainly never seen them, Taeron was sure that the undergarments of the females of Meridon's tribe were more concealing that what this female was wearing.
"My lord prince," she murmured huskily.
Taeron nodded in greeting although he still felt like an imposter when he heard others refer to him as a prince. He would rather return to the moon to stand as Amyr's imperial guard than to be facing the simpering females sent to accost him by the ambitious males of their houses.
"My lady," he murmured. He did not know her name, nor did he care. Amyr never had either, but then Amyr would have given her instructions to meet him in some private corner and she would show just how she could please the crown prince. More than one female had made it clear that she would do the same for him, but even if he were not bonded, Taeron had no interest in taking advantage of his position.
Before he had a chance to dismiss the female, Queen Neria swooped in – not actually, but given she had wings, she very well could have – and she pushed past the female who almost lost her balance. "My lord prince," she said loudly enough for anyone to hear, and few would not be able to. "How are plans proceeding for the departure to Teralon to bring your mate back to Calabria?"
The pretty female at his feet struggled to rise without falling out of the enticing gown, and while Taeron thought he should help her, he dared not touch her with his mate's mother hovering over them, her brow menacingly arched.
Taeron was impressed that Keilana could ignore Queen Neria to focus on him when she finally succeeding in facing him. "I am Keilana of house Caron."
By the gods! He had not known that house Caron had a female looking for a mate. Many of the warriors that had accompanied him on the campaign to Teralon and Varoonya had come from her father's southern holdings. Although he had not come to the imperial court in all of Taeron's memory, Rendael had sent hundreds of men to train at Edgeland Fortress so that now he commanded as sizable force as his father had. Lord Caron's had been the last imperial house to surrender to Trey and accept his rule, and Taeron could imagine Trey's warning not to alienate that house when their warriors comprised the bulk of the army he was taking to Teralon.
Queen Neria's unwavering stare vexed him as she waited for him to respond to the question she had asked, and by the expectant raise of her brows, she was waiting for him to dismiss the imperial female, but he could not just send Keilana of house Caron on her way with a bland compliment as he could the females of lesser houses. He caught Keilana giving Queen Neria a brief look of disdain, so he knew she was very well aware of the power of her house. Taeron wondered how much trouble this female was going to give him.
"I am honored to meet you, Keilana of house Caron." Even that innocuous remark had made Queen Neria's lip curl in disdain.
But a smile curved Keilana's full lips which were reddened with the favored cosmetic of the young females, ripe berry juice. Another man might be enticed to lick her lips as he stole a kiss, but Taeron would never consider it, not when his body was telling him now to move away from her. The medication Lady Trynity had delivered to the surface for him along with the regular shipment of healing herbs was wearing off, and if he did not have more before long, he would have to return to the emperor's apartment to rest until the symptoms abated.
"Perhaps you will recall training with my brothers, Aevan and Caerl." Her soft, breathy voice was contrived to make her more attractive, and by the looks she was receiving from the unbonded males in the hall, she was performing admirably. Although he did not count himself among them, most Calabrians appreciated weak females that needed protecting. When she took a breath, her gown slipped even lower and Taeron glanced quickly away at what she revealed and found himself looking into Queen Neria's eyes.
"Would you honor me with a walk in the garden?" Keilana asked softly.
Normally a male would ask that favor of a female he was interesting in courting, but Taeron was beginning to sense that Keilana might have more to her than outwards appearances alluded to. If she had approached him a few months ago, he would have been intrigued enough to agree to her suggestion. But a few months ago she would not have given the bastard warlord any consideration. Keilana of house Caron's station had been far above his own.
Seeing that Dijana's mother was ready to flay the female with a cutting remark when her lips parted and she took a breath to speak, Taeron quickly responded to the imperial female.
"I am flattered, Lady Keilana, but remind the males of your house that I am mated." She could not have asked without their permission and probably did so because they had demanded it. He focused on her forehead to avoid looking at all that she had exposed, wondering what she had planned for him during their garden stroll. He hoped Stryfe was not skulking about in the shadows to report on this exchange to the emperor because he could imagine the details he would add to entertain Trey.
"You did not celebrate the bonding ceremony," she dared to say although he had politely dismissed her.
Taeron glanced at the men of her house who were watching her closely. They wore elegant clothing, jewels on the fingers and on the hilts of their swords. He had grown up around these people and yet he felt closer to the tribesmen on his father's moon. Aevan and Caerl had been lazy brutes in the practice yard and he had not been surprised that their names had not been on the rolls for service on Teralon several years ago. If they had blooded their swords at all, Taeron would be surprised. Would they beat their sister if she failed to attract him?
Seeing that Neria was about to speak again, Taeron gave her a warning look before responding to Keilana. "I have bonded with my mate in the old way."
The smile faded from her lips as she gasped and took a step back. She reacted as if he had admitted to mating a canyon beast, but it served his purpose. Imperials did not bond in the old way like the tribesmen on the moon, but Taeron had done it because it had felt natural. The moment he had joined his life with Dijana's, he believed they had been blessed by the gods. But since he had learned of her deception, he tortured himself with the suspicion that Dijana knew what she was doing, that she had seduced him and trapped him as the scribe so that she could reject the warlord who had come to take her as his bride. How would she feel when she learned that he was that warlord and she could not reject him?
"The emperor has important visitors," Queen Neria told him after Keilana had quickly retreated to the males of her family who did not seem pleased with her lack of success. Taeron watched as Aevan seized her arm and by her wince of pain, he was not gentle as he dragged her close to whisper in her ear. There was nothing he could do to help her without giving her and her brothers false hope that he would consider her as a mate, but he did not like watching them handle her roughly.
"He has closed his hall to all but you."
Sighing, he turned his attention back to the queen. "Do you wish to speak to him?" he asked her.
"No. But you are my son by marriage, so I expect to know about anything that affects you." Gods damn! Her interference in his life was going to be worse than that of his own mother.
Having been busy that day since before the rising of the second sun, Taeron did not know with whom Trey was meeting, but whoever it was had arrived when the court had not risen for the day or he might have already heard about newcomers to court. The lazy imperials usually rose closer to the point when the suns were at equal distance in the sky. Without the tea supplied by Ulfynaeus, they stayed abed even longer which did not bother Taeron at all since they had become quarrelsome. Trey cursed Taeron's father daily when he was beset by their constant petty petitions against each other.
"Are you going in there now or are you waiting for another female to flirt with." When Queen Neria was at her most demanding, Taeron was reminded of Dijana, and denying that he was flirting with females was a waste of breath when he had determined that Dijana's mother did not listen to anyone but herself. Thinking of some of his earlier encounters with Dijana, he chided himself for not realizing that she had that same arrogance even without having been raised by the woman.
Pushing away thoughts of Dijana before they made him anxious, he invited her mother to join him by offering his arm to escort her. He wasn't foolish enough to touch her because the first time he had tried to take her arm, she had informed him that she preferred he keep his blood-stained Calabrian hands to himself. He did not want to touch the winged harridan anyway, and when she sniffed at the arm he had offered before moving past him in the direction of the receiving hall, he gladly let it fall to his side.
As he followed her, he acknowledged the bows of the imperials along the way who did so only to ingratiate themselves with the imperial prince who now controlled the emperor's army. But just before he reached the door, he sensed a movement before he saw the flash of not one, nor even two blades. A handful of men had drawn weapons from their elegant garments and they charged him together.
Taeron frowned at such a display of poor tactics as he drew his sword, leaped over them and adroitly skewered them one after another, trying not to leave a mess in the hall. The last time he was attacked, he had swung his sword with no thought but to rid himself of the threat to him and to the emperor, but blood had sprayed out from the wounds he had inflicted, drenching the onlookers. Trey had scolded him because the imperials in the hall were furious to have their clothing ruined and had even presented the emperor with petitions demanding reimbursement for the damage the his lord prince had caused. One man had the audacity to suggest that Lady Larya provide him with new clothing and Trey had to bite his lip to keep from smiling as he gave the man permission to approach her with his demand. His boldness had deflated quickly as he must have imagined how Larya would respond.
After leaving the attackers dead on the floor to soak up their own blood, Taeron noticed that the courtiers that had not fled during his exhibition did so now with screams of horror. Turning in the direction from which they fled after carefully wiping his blade, he saw that they were terrified by a man who advanced on Taeron, a long blade in his hand, his eyes glowing red. Did Staefyn think that a Varoonyan battle thrall would be any more successful than an ill-trained Calabrian? Taeron had lost count in the first half-hour on Varoonya how many of them he had butchered. With a sigh, he glanced at Queen Neria to be sure she was a safe distance before he turned to face his challenger.
When he stepped into the receiving hall a few moments later, the stench of burning flesh wafted into the room until Taeron closed the door. He regretted coming into the presence of the emperor with blood on his tunic, but he would be happy to report that he had saved the wardrobes of the imperials. Despite her contempt for brutish Calabrians, Taeron detected a hint of approval in Queen Neria's blue eyes. He thought it odd that all it took for a brutish Calabrian with blood-stained hands to earn her approval was to hack off limbs and disembowel others.
Trey was sitting on his padded chair, elbows on his knees, his head in his hands as he listened to a woman concealed in a cloak standing before him. Taeron could not hear what she was saying, but he could see that she was wearing down the emperor and he was about to rescue him, with his blade if necessary when he heard a voice behind him.
"My son."
Turning he saw Apolo leaning against the wall with his arms folded over his chest and he glanced briefly back at the emperor and recognized his mother now. He could not hear her, but her words could be as efficient as a sharp dagger and he could imagine what she was saying to the man who had dredged up her past by taking Taeron into his house.
Deciding that Trey would have to handle this without his help, he smiled at his mother's mate and went to greet him with a hug.
"I have you to thank for saving my sister's life," said Apolo, leaning away although he held his hands so that he could sense his feelings. Taeron did not care if Apolo felt his anxiety at being taken into Trey's house and given an honor he had never desired.
Taeron's mother broke off whatever she was saying and she spun to look at him. Seeing the blood staining his tunic, she gasped, whether in horror from a perceived injury or in outrage that he was not wearing something she had provided, Taeron could not determine. But she rushed past Queen Neria without even looking at her in her haste to get to him although the woman was hard to miss.
"Are you hurt? Oh, Taeron, I have been so worried about you!" She threw her arms around him and hugged him close, weeping against his chest, not caring that the blood soaking his tunic now stained her clothing. Taeron felt comforted for the first time in many weeks to be held in her loving embrace.
Sighing, Trey rose from the chair and went to them. "You are not hurt?" Taeron raised a brow at the superfluous question and Trey chuckled. "How many this time?"
"Five foolish imperials and a Varoonyan battle thrall," Taeron told him.
"Is it too much to hope that you have cleared out the rabble from the hall with your swordplay?"
Larya pushed herself from Taeron and turned on the emperor. "How can you jest? You have done this to him! They should be trying to kill your son, not mine!"
"Mother, they would still have to go through me," Taeron pointed out.
"You are an imperial prince now!" She shot the emperor a glare before turning back to Taeron. "Do you not have an imperial warrior to guard you?"
Trey snorted. "Who could possibly act as his imperial guard? He would only get in the way."
Larya looked at Taeron now. "My son, how could you let him do this? He is not your father! You have allowed him to make you a target for that bastard's assassins."
"I am not afraid of assassins and I am honored to serve my emperor in any way he demands."
"You are impossible!" She turned her ire back on the emperor. "What about Amyr?"
"You have been here for hours nagging me about your precious son and you haven't given me any news of my own."
"You repudiated him! Why should I tell how he has impressed me in ways I thought impossible for him five years ago? Did you want me to tell you how charming and bright your grandson is? Or how happy Amyr is with his wife? Do you want news of his expert handling of the clans who want to storm the surface and hunt you down for how you have treated your imperial guard, the man to whom they have given their oath? You are fortunate that he talked them into only cutting off your tea!"
"So!" Trey smacked his fist into his hand. "Now I know who to blame! I knew Duo would not be so cruel!"
Larya rolled her eyes and turned back to Taeron. "He misses you, my son. Amyr cares about you and he is afraid for your safety. He has even offered to be your guard."
Trey threw back his head in laughter and moved to sit in his chair. "By the gods! Amyr is a fool to imagine that would ever happen."
Taeron ignored Amyr's father. "I would be honored to accept his offer."
The emperor stopped laughing. "Are you serious? Taeron, you would spend all your time protecting him or protecting yourself from him."
"I trust Amyr with my life," Taeron told him, aggrieved that Trey could mistrust Amyr. "Not only has his skill as a warrior improved, he has been working on his Guerani powers as well."
"Taeron is right," said Apolo with a censorious frown at Trey. "You, of all people, know how useful it is to have a Guerani at your back and my sister's son is developing his powers quickly now that he is near Calabria."
The emperor sighed. "I can hardly believe Amyr would make such an offer." He fixed Taeron with his gaze and cocked his head. "Are you sure it is not some sort of ploy to regain what he has lost?"
"You only know the Amyr that left five years ago," Taeron said. "I am honored to know the man he has become."
"As am I," added Apolo.
The emperor's eyes glistened. "Arora was right, I should have discussed this with her before acting."
"My sister is always right," pointed out Apolo. "I thought you knew that."
Trey grunted. "I was a fool to listen to Staefyn."
"Staefyn has become very skilled at manipulating others with his golden tongue," Apolo said as he went to slip an arm around Trey's shoulders. "He has had many years at your side to learn your weaknesses, and he knows how much pain you feel at what the imperials say about Arora behind your back."
"I love him. I trusted him. I did not even recognize him in the man that told me Arora was better off dead in the Wastelands, that he was shamed to be her son."
Apolo pursed his lips and Taeron could feel his anger, but he reigned it in to lean forward to look into Trey's eyes. Taeron knew he was using his powers to ease his distress and he was glad that Apolo had come. He might be able to talk the emperor into planning his offensive against Guerani Palace instead of spending his days wondering how he could convince Staefyn to return to the imperial palace to justify his behavior. Taeron knew that Trey felt as if he had failed as a parent.
"This is not your fault, Trey. Sometimes fruit rots when it falls from the tree."
"And sometimes it gets worms," said Taeron, believing that Kai was responsible for Staefyn's actions. "The only way to end this is to take the army into the hills to find the worm."
Apolo had not taken his eyes from Trey's. "Whatever the reason, Trey, the fruit has been spoiled."
Even with Apolo's healing hands upon him, the emperor's grief was evident at the reminder that this would probably end with Staefyn's death. Taeron's heart ached from the despair the emperor felt at losing his son.
When Apolo drew Trey into an embrace, Larya tugged on Taeron's hand. "We should leave them." She noticed Queen Neria who stood back watching the exchange with no hint on her face of her feelings. He wondered if she thought of her own son who had not helped her when her consort had imprisoned her for many years and who now actively colluded with Balak to end her reign.
"Am I to assume that this is your mother by marriage?" asked Larya tersely. The edge to her voice warned Taeron that Queen Neria was going to be treated to the cutting edge of his mother's tongue. She had probably been informed of the sordid details of what had happened on Norvana and had leaped to the conclusion that Dijana was at fault. Taeron could not feel too sorry for Queen Neria when she had been a thorn in his backside since coming to the palace.
"Queen Neria of Teralon," Taeron said by way of introduction. "My mother, Lady Larya, governor of Dagmaeus."
The two women nodded while sizing each other up as if they were preparing to cross swords. Taeron's nerves were fraying as they stared at each other, but he swallowed and suggested they become acquainted in his chambers. As he walked with them, they did not speak so he knew Larya must have decided to wait until they were in private to express her thoughts. As soon as they reached his apartments, she ordered Taeron's servant to bring hot water to be delivered to the small salon where she led Dijana's mother. Taeron left them briefly to prepare his own medicine and after gulping it down quickly, he returned to the women who had sat on the elegant sofa side by side.
Taking a seat opposite them, he waited until the male servant had set the steaming pot of water before them and stepped aside to wait for further instructions.
Larya withdrew a packet from inside the decorative pouch she wore and she smiled at Taeron as she added leaves to the water. "A gift from your father," she told him as she stirred the tea and poured the beverage into cups that she handed to Taeron and to Queen Neria before settling back with her own. "Sometimes Lord Duo is tolerable."
"He must have been more than tolerable on at least one occasion," remarked Queen Neria with a pointed glance at Taeron.
Larya looked at her with raised brows. Taeron held his breath, wondering what scathing reply she was going to make, and as the two women stared at each other silently, Taeron's hands shook so badly from the tension building that he almost spilled some of the calming tea.
Then his mother laughed and he nearly yelped with pain when the steaming liquid sloshed over the edge of his cup.
"I did all the work," Larya boasted. "I tried every trick I could think of, but I couldn't get the bastard to bond with me. Had I known humans could not bond, I would not have bothered although he behaved as if he had bonded with that snake-haired witch he has taken as his mate."
"I have heard she is very skilled at healing."
"She is a gods-blessed woman in her skills and for putting up with that idiot."
"Mother," warned Taeron. "I do not care to hear you malign my father." He should be used to it, but he respected his father too much to let her do so without defending him.
"I am sorry, Taeron." Her apology was not as sincere as he would have liked, especially when she continued. "He is fine with a sword and he governs well, but when it comes to women, he is brainless as well as spineless." She narrowed her gaze at him. "Have you followed his example?"
Taeron opened his mouth to speak, but Queen Neria did before he had a chance.
"Since I have learned that he is the scribe that seduced my daughter, then I can vouch for the fact that he is, indeed, brainless and spineless. How else can you describe hiding your identity from the woman you have made an oath to take as your wife?"
"Mmm." His mother sipped her tea and he expected her to defend him, but he was dismayed that she did not. "I told Trey he wasn't ready for a wife, but he insisted, and since Taeron considered it a great honor, I allowed him to accept."
Allowed him to accept? Taeron doubted he had a choice.
"I would have expected that a man who accomplished what he did on Varoonya would be ready to mate a female."
Taeron was growing hot with embarrassment. He tried to think of something to say to defend himself, but the women continued talking as if he were not present.
"I blame his father for not instructing him properly," stated Larya. "I did what I could and asked Lord Duo to instruct him further – although that would not add much to what I already told him since he is an awful lover – but as usual he was not up to the task."
Squirming under their scrutiny, Taeron tried to make himself another cup of tea, and when he started to make a mess, he noted that his servant rolled his eyes and came forward to make one for him.
Both women pursed their lips and then turned their attention back to each other.
"It is not as if he hasn't had the opportunity to sample the females," said Larya matter of factly.
"Mother!" Taeron was appalled that she would say such a thing to Dijana's mother.
"Good! My daughter needs a man with experience." Queen Neria sighed. "I have not seen Dijana since she was a babe, but Sharisse visited me off and on over the years with Avar and she was quick to point out that Dijana failed to attract the notice of males." She glanced at Taeron with a curious lift to her brow and he was afraid she was going to ask why he had preferred her over Sharisse. He would not know what to tell her since he did not know why his heart had chosen to quicken in her presence.
The Teralonian woman slammed her cup down so hard that it shattered, startling him from thoughts of Dijana, thoughts that were straying to memories of their stolen moments at the pond on Norvana. "I hope you did not hurt my daughter with your fumbling inexperience after all that she has been through!"
Fumbling inexperience?
She didn't seem to expect an answer, so Taeron guessed it was an accusation. Before he could defend himself - he did not know how he would go about doing that - his mother inquired what had happened to her son's mate. Taeron was appalled that she had asked, and he hoped that Queen Neria would not be as blunt as his mother usually was. But he hoped in vain because she told his mother exactly what had happened to Dijana, giving horrific details that had been related to her with relish by both Avar and Sharisse. Dijana had not spoken of everything Kai had done to her, and hearing it now made him want to leave now to find the bastard and rip out his innards with his bare hands.
"That Varoonyan creature must have torn off her wings, and he carries her beautiful hair on his belt as a trophy! Avar thought it a very amusing story."
"My son will put an end to the both of them."
Taeron confirm his mother's faith in him, but Neria did not let him.
"I confess that I had reservations about this match after his foolish behavior on that frontier planet, but after watching him deal with those assassins," the queen smiled menacingly, "I will be delighted to watch him kill those male usurpers."
"Is your daughter in danger now?"
"They will have to wait until I return to Teralon," Neria told Larya. "And then they will try to kill her in the ensuing chaos, thereby blaming Calabria."
His mother frowned. "What if you are wrong?" She looked at Taeron. "You bonded with her!" They both knew that the odds of him being able to bond with another woman were slim and if he tried, the odds were greater that the blood bond would kill him.
He left his seat to drop to a knee at his mother's feet and he took her hand. "Do not worry, mother."
Larya reached out to lay her hand on his cheek. "Do you know how many times others have said in my hearing that I do not deserve a son like you?"
His heart ached for her. "I could not ask for a better mother."
She smiled wryly and dropped her hand to his shoulder. "You would never ask for a better mother, Taeron, but they are right, you deserve one. Now you must hear even worse things about me after what Trey has done."
"I don't care what they say," he denied hotly even though he did care and wanted to punish anyone who insulted his mother.
"What they say about Trey and me is not true, but it is not for lack of my trying. Xuxa demanded that I seduce him, but his bond with Arora kept it from happening. She beat me many times for my failure, and when Xuxa was gone, I wanted to punish Trey for all that she had done to me. Even after all that I had done, to them and to Duo, they forgave me. I am blessed by the gods to count Trey and Arora as my friends because I shudder to think what would have happened to us if they had not stepped in for your father."
"It is the will of the gods." Queen Neria looked at Taeron. "They seem to have taken a particular interest in charming your life."
After the queen left Taeron alone with his mother, she told him about her visit to Ulfynaeus. He was glad that she seemed to understand his need for news of Amyr and he was relieved to learn that Amyr was not regretting his decision. Taeron was not sure how he would feel if Amyr now thought better of leaving behind his life of privilege as the crown prince. His mother told him that Amyr had taken his room at the governor's palace and that he was wearing his clothing. Taeron was not surprised since Amyr had taken every garment his mother had made for his nuptial trip to Teralon.
"But I will be god's damned if I will make a single garment for him or that strange creature that wishes to call me mother!"
Taeron raised a brow in question.
She gave an exasperated sound. "That … that creature that calls himself Jeshed."
"Jeshed wishes to call you mother?" He loved her dearly, but he could not imagine any man giving her that kind of power over him.
"I do not understand how, nor does Lady Trynity, but somehow Jeshed has used bits of you to make himself." She turned up her nose in disgust. "I cannot imagine the gods are pleased by that abomination."
"Jeshed is a magical gift of the gods," Taeron admonished her. "You should be honored that you can count him as your son."
She pursed her lips in thought for several moments and then she said, "Well, he does have all of my good looks, and I cannot complain that he is formed like your sire. Lord Duo disgusts me, but he is the one man beside my beloved Apolo that I could even countenance mating."
Taeron didn't think his stepfather would be pleased to hear that since her attempt to mate with his father again had almost kept them apart. His mother would never betray her beloved mate, but she was very blunt and honest about her thoughts and feelings which made for some very interesting and embarrassing arguments with Lord Apolo. He did not want to hear any arguments about his father ever again.
"I shall consider taking him in hand," his mother concluded. "I now regret leaving him on Ulfynaeus with Lord Duo because I am going to have to overcome the effect he will have on poor Jeshed."
That night, after seeing his mother off on her journey to Edgeland Fortress where Apolo would take command of the forces that would protect the imperial city, Taeron found it difficult to sleep after the setting of the second son. During the dark hours, he left the bed that had been Amyr's and he paused at the mat that he had so many months rested lightly on at night, across the room when on those rare nights he was alone and on the balcony when he sported with his females. He had not looked forward to his marriage to Quynn because he knew she would come between them when he had finally built some rapport with Amyr after spending a childhood suffering his insults. Having seen the worst of Amyr, Taeron had been convinced that the crown prince could not make his sister happy, and yet Amyr had proven him wrong. He had proven him wrong in many ways.
Stepping onto the balcony, he looked up at the second moon shining brightly in the night sky. He missed his family and wanted to be with them; he missed being at Amyr's side. He had been overwhelmed to hear that Amyr wished to be his guard, and he was glad that Amyr had finally learned the humility that was required for him to make such an offer.
A movement drew his attention and he turned to see that the emperor had stepped onto the balcony from his chamber. They had gotten into the habit of retiring after taking their medicine together, but this evening Taeron's personal servant brought him the medicine with the regrets that the emperor could not join him. Now he watched as Trey leaned against the balustrade and gazed up at the same moon as Taeron.
Trey turned his head to look at Taeron. "You cannot sleep?"
"I was thinking about Amyr," Taeron told him.
Trey pushed off the balustrade and Taeron held his breath as he took two long strides and leapt into the air, clearing the wide expanse between the balconies with ease although missing it would have meant his death. He proved that he was still very agile which did not surprise Taeron when he had practiced with his father enough to know that Lord Duo was still a formidable warrior.
"I spent the evening listening to Stryfe repeat what he had learned of those years Amyr was held as a slave," he told Taeron. "But I think you must know more because few are closer than an imperial guard. I know you are not a scribe, but I also know that you will tell me from your heart about my son. Tell me who he has become, Taeron."
Taeron led him into the chamber, and when he sat cross-legged on the mat on the floor, the emperor joined him and sat across from him. He told him everything he could remember, giving him the details that neither he nor Amyr would ever admit to Stryfe. How he had gone into that arena happy to have the chance to slay Amyr for betraying him, how Amyr had tried in vain to kill him because of what Taeron had caused him to lose by allowing Quynn to see him with another woman. Taeron spared nothing in the story of their changing relationship, changes that seemed to accompany his emerging Guerani powers. Amyr had once tried to use his powers to get revenge and they had failed him, but when he used them as Taeron had seen Apolo do, Amyr had unlocked not only his full potential as a Guerani healer, but also his full potential as a man.
"He is the brother of my heart," Taeron finished with a sigh. His head throbbed briefly at the statement, reminding him that he had risen early that day and would do so again to leave with his army on the four day march to Edgeland Fortress.
Trey reached out to grasp his hands. "I know how you feel, Taeron. Apolo has always been the brother of my heart. When you were younger, I feared that you would not bond with Amyr as I did with Apolo. You were always with Staefyn, but as you grew apart from Staefyn, I saw that you and Amyr accepted that you would be together always." He squeezed his hands again before releasing him and standing. "Thank you, Taeron, for sharing your most private thoughts with me."
Taeron rose to face him. "I have never asked you for anything, my lord, but I am asking you now to reinstate Amyr as the crown prince."
Smiling sadly, Trey put his hands on Taeron's shoulders and he leaned forward to touch his forehead with his own. "I would give you anything Taeron, but not that. I discussed this very thing with Apolo this afternoon and I know that Arora would agree with our conclusion. Amyr can never be emperor. He must be a protector and the emperor has to make choices that would be impossible for him to make as a Guerani."
Taeron did not know what to say. He had hoped that the emperor would agree, but he could not argue with his decision when he had made it for the good of Calabria.
Trey leaned away. "Only the gods know what I am going to do. If I renounce Staefyn, he will target Caedriq and Caedriq is a defenseless child that has only recently learned to walk."
Before he left, Taeron reached out to put his hand on his arm and the worried lines eased from the emperor's brow. "Have faith that the gods will give you a solution. In the meantime, trust that my sword will keep you and yours safe."