Chapter 73

When she awoke, Dijana stretched and reached for her husband and when her hand ran across the empty space beside her that felt cool to the touch, she made a sound of exasperation and sat up, frowning as she looked at the empty side of the bed as if her sight would find something different than her touch. Taeron was gone again! She had awakened in his arms only twice in the week that they had been married. If she had bonded with him, he would be beside her, where he should be instead of leaving her to face a new day alone.

The door opened and she pulled the bed covering to her chin to hide her naked body and was relieved to see that it was Chaela. "Where is my husband?" she heard herself demanding and she cringed at the shrewish sound of her voice.

Chaela smiled knowingly at her. "Did he not please you enough last night? Amyr said you sounded like a canyon beast in rutting season."

"I do not know what a canyon beast is, but I do know I heartily dislike your brother. Must he skulk around our chamber?" Dijana threw back the blanket and stalked to the bathing chamber with Chaela following carrying the drying cloth she had forgotten. As she stepped into the warm water, Dijana wished she was bathing with Taeron as they did on Norvana, but since the first morning after their wedding night, he had not joined her in the spacious bathing pool.

"My brother is Taeron's imperial guard. Has no one explained to you the intimate relationship with the imperial guard? At least Amyr does not sleep upon the mat at the foot of your bed."

Dijana paused in scrubbing herself to look at Chaela. "He could do that?" The thought of Amyr being in the room with them during their intimate moments made Dijana shudder with disgust. "I will not allow it."

"Don't worry. I overheard them discussing some sort of system to warn Amyr to stay away because Taeron does not want him disturbing your privacy."

She pursed her lips in annoyance before asking, "Was he in here last night?"

Chaela shrugged, but Dijana guessed by the smile she was trying to hide that Amyr had paid them a visit when they were distracted. Chaela did not answer as she gave Dijana the drying cloth when she exited the pool. Instead, she changed the subject. "Taeron has gone out to the city with his father to enlist warriors. My father hopes that seeing them will inspire men to rally to our cause."

"And Prince Amyr is riding with them?" Dijana knew it was too much to hope that she would not have to see Chaela's brother after his impertinent remarks about her intimate behavior with her own husband.

"Amyr is waiting for you." Chaela's announcement aggravated Dijana. "After his boorish remark this morning, Taeron told him it was time that he begin training you."

Dijana opened her mouth to say that she did not need training, that she had spent many hours with Guillem, but the possibility of catching Amyr off guard and retaliating for his rude behavior towards her was too tempting. "Am I to begin after first meal?"

While her father had gone to Edgeland Fortress to train with his men, Neria demanded that Dijana continue taking her morning meal with her as had been their custom on Teralon. The difference was that they were joined by the females remaining at the imperial palace. Dijana had become quite used to them at Edgeland Fortress, and since her appetite had returned and Lady Trynity was kind enough to find her palatable food, she enjoyed what had become a ritual imposed upon her by her overbearing mother.

"Amyr will come for you," Chaela told her.

"Then I shall take my time," said Dijana with a smile as she dressed in a tunic and leggings so that she could be ready to work with him. Her mother would not be pleased to see her wearing mannish clothing, had made a scathing remark about a similar garment that was elegant and feminine which Lady Trynity preferred to wear in place of the long skirted tunics, gowns or robes. Dijana had many such lovely garments thanks to Lady Larya and her army of seamstresses. She smiled now as she remembered the look on Lady Larya's face when she saw what had become of the gown Dijana had worn to exchange vows with Taeron. He did not seem to care about the enormous expense of the gossamer fabric that had been purchased from a frontier world or the work that his mother had put into sewing the gown with her own hands.

This morning Chaela escorted her to the emperor's private living quarters. "My mother is hosting the meal," she told her.

"She has come out of her trance?" Dijana did not quite understand trances, would not care to enter into another for the rest of her life although Taeron told her that he had done so frequently with Staefyn when they were children. Taeron spoke of those days matter of factly but she sensed that was feeling pain in anticipation of the likelihood of facing the brother of his heart in battle.

"Last night. I think my father was hungry. He said something about having the munchies, but I don't understand what he meant. Lord Duo thought he was funny and laughed quite loudly."

They had no more time to ponder the meaning because they entered the comfortable living space which had a table laden with food around which were placed padded chairs. The older women were already talking and picking at the food, most of which Dijana would shriek if she saw anywhere but on the platter on the table. Even seeing them there made her leery.

"Ah, the canyon beast has arrived!" The announcement by Lady Trynity made the other women laugh and Dijana blush.

"I thought you might sleep all morning," commented Lady Larya.

"She rose before equal distance," said Lady Arora. "Somebody should have a talk with Taeron."

The females laughed again and Dijana felt her cheeks growing even warmer.

Dijana went to Lady Arora. "I am sorry, my lady, that I did not have a chance to thank you for all that you did for us to be together."

Despite everything that had happened, the revelations that had turned the empire upside down, Lady Arora looked relaxed. "I was happy to help you and Taeron," she said with a smile. "Although I would have preferred a different ending..."

"I have noted that blood-letting follows Crown Prince Taeron," commented Dijana's mother with a sniff. "I am surprised that he was not drenched in it."

An awkward silence followed her comment which Dijana wished she had not made, but it was broken when the emperor walked into the salon, his hair wet after coming from his bath. When he passed by his wife, he trailed his hand along her back which made her smile, but he sat beside Lady Trynity on a small sofa. "Miss Stryfe, I thank you for your tea. What would I do without your pharmaceuticals?"

"Suffer, Trey." She filled a cup of tea to hand to the smiling emperor. "Suffer."

"We would all suffer," remarked Larya. "I cannot imagine starting the day without this tea."

"Where is Apolo?" asked Arora.

"I have worn him out," said Larya unapologetically. "So I have left him where I want him should I have need of him again." She glanced at Dijana. "I shall have to instruct you so that you do not wake to an empty bed."

Taeron had told her of his mother's instructions and she felt her cheeks heat again as she imagined such lectures from her.

"By the gods, Larya, you are embarassing the female." But Trey was smiling over his cup of tea at the white-haired female.

"And you are embarrassing yourself by taking first meal with females," she said tartly.

"Just pretend I am not here," he said with a chuckle.

Dijana never would have imagined the emperor of the binary system as this man. He was far younger than she imagined, and while the death he gave Renaeld of house Caron was something she would have expected of the emperor whose warriors inspired fear throughout the system, this domesticated side to him surprised her. Chaela had told her that he was like any other man but Dijana had not believed her until now.

"As you wish, my lord," said Neria, and she promptly turned to Arora who was smiling as she sipped her tea, her eyes on her husband. "I know very little of Guerani trances, so I would very much like to know if a male has more sexual stamina during a trance or in the physical world."

Dijana gasped. "Mother!" She noticed that the emperor seemed disconcerted by her question, and he looked at his wife as if fearing her answer.

Lady Arora finished her tea and set down the cup. "My daughter may be able to answer that question. Shamara and Dagan's entire courtship took place within trances and I imagine they still spend many hours in them."

Princess Shamara choked on her tea and received a vigorous pat on the back by Chaela. "Well, sister, do answer the question for Queen Neria." Dijana noted that the emperor seemed relieved not to have his intimate prowess discussed.

Shamara cleared her throat. "Well, you do realize that Dagan is also Guerani, so our trances are different from those in which my father joins my mother. I have never had a reason to complain about my husband's stamina."

"That is my cue to leave." Trey grabbed a handful of food from the platter. "I would rather not listen to my daughter talk about her mate's stamina."

They waited until he disappeared into the corridor that led to the sleeping chambers, then the females looked back at Arora. She shrugged. "I will echo my daughter's answer. I have had no reason to complain about my husband, in or out of a trance."

"My mate pleases me well," announced Neria to Dijana's dismay. "The first time was difficult since he had never been with a female. The fool did not seem to know what to do, but I have since trained him to never leave me wanting and he has amazing stamina."

"Mother!" Dijana was appalled to hear her speak of her father.

Neria looked at her. "You must do the same with Crown Prince Taeron."

Dijana was flustered by their frank discussion. "Taeron pleases me well enough!" she blurted, hoping it would put an end to it.

"Well enough does not sound encouraging," said Larya with a sigh. "I shall have to speak to him. There are a few things I may have neglected to instruct him on."

Dijana knew that Taeron would not want his mother instructing him yet again about his intimate relations with her. "You misunderstood me."

They all turned their heads to look at her now with wide, curious gazes. Did all females discuss such personal details with one another or just this group? Her mother, Dijana had already learned, was preoccupied with the intimate aspects of her relationship with her own mate and with Dijana's with Taeron. Lady Larya, Taeron explained to her, did not understand the boundaries of privacy and found nothing amiss in speaking openly about intimate topics. Lady Trynity had the curiosity of a healer, and Lady Arora enjoyed their lively exchanges. On those rare occasions that she offered her opinion, it was done shyly. Princess Shamara tried not to become involved, but she never refused to participate while Chaela enjoyed goading her sister and Dijana.

"I meant to say that I am very pleased with my husband," Dijana said, steeling herself against the embarrassment of her admission. The women waited, and she wondered what more she could say to convince them so that Taeron's mother did not take it upon herself to offer him more advice. "I think he is more skilled at handling me than he is his sword."

That announcement made the women look at each other in surprise and Dijana was congratulating herself on silencing them when she heard Amyr's voice from over her shoulder. "I will be sure to tell him that when I see him this afternoon." Gasping, she turned to see him grinning down at her. "I am not sure if that will inspire him to practice harder with you or the sword."

When he slipped past her to reach his mother, she tried to kick him, but he avoided her foot, and kissed Lady Arora's cheeks before snatching up a few green beetles. "Mother, I have come to take Dijana away. Taeron has demanded that I give her some imperial training."

"I don't think she has eaten," said Lady Arora. "We have been embarrassing her."

"That should not be too difficult," he remarked with a glance at Dijana.

"You might be singing a different tune if Quynn were here," remarked Trynity.

Amyr frowned. "I do not sing. My voice is not as pleasant as Taeron's."

"I meant ..." Trynity rolled her eyes. "Never mind."

Amyr turned his attention back to his mother. "I would like to speak to you and Apolo later."

"Can your father be present or is this secret Guerani business?" His mother winked at him and Amyr chuckled.

"The business is not secret, but it does concern our powers." He glanced at Shamara and Dijana saw that he was frowning at his sister. She looked at Chaela and saw by the question in her eyes that the three, if not all four, were communicating in their minds.

"This is quite discomforting," remarked Dijana's mother. "Does this happen frequently, my dear Larya?"

"Until recently, Arora often communicated like this only with Apolo, and it bothered me at first until Apolo told me what they said and I preferred not to hear their mundane remarks. We agreed that if it was worth saying aloud that they would do so."

"A wise choice," said Trynity. "There were many conversations between Quynn and Stryfe that I would rather not have heard. Do you hear them, Arora, or must you make a conscious effort to do so?"

"It is the same difference between listening and hearing although listening does take more of an effort," Arora told her. "I suppose they will tell me later although I gather it has something to do with Yori."

"Such a lovely child," commented Neria. "He is far more obedient than I imagine that rascal Amyr was in his youth." She received a nod of confirmation from Lady Arora and then she looked at Dijana. "Of course, your daughter will be beautiful, judging form Larya's and Lady Trynity's daughters." She raised her head proudly. "I have bred beautiful daughters as well."

Dijana hoped her daughter looked nothing like Sharisse, so nothing like her mother. She did not dislike her mother, but Dijana had grown up with Sharisse so she would not be able to keep from comparing her daughter with the sister that had despised her.

Amyr reached for a fruit and he tossed it to Dijana who had difficulty catching it because his action surprised her. "Eat on the way to the training court unless you would rather stay here and continue to share their conversation."

She could not leave fast enough and as Chaela joined them, Dijana could hear her crunching on something that made her moan with pleasure. She wondered why the Teralonians seemed to enjoy those green beetles, but she was not going to put one in her mouth to satisfy her curiosity. Now Dijana inspected the oblong fruit Amyr had given her, and hoping that it was free of pests, she took a bite and was glad to see that it was.

"You are going to have to learn to eat what we eat," Amyr remarked. "Lady Trynity eats our food. She says it is very healthy."

"Lady Trynity has been here for several years now," Chaela pointed out, coming to Dijana's defense. "Give Dijana more time."

She heard footfalls behind her and Dijana glanced back to see that Guillem and Valter had landed. More often than not she did not see them which was probably on orders by her father. She smiled at them, but neither acknowledged her and she felt guilty that they must now be so formal with her.

They arrived at the practice yard which was a long stretch of short grass surrounded by high walls that she had to bend back to see the top. The yard was ringed with a balcony that was empty now.

"If the imperial courtiers were here, they might stop by to watch," Chaela explained to her. "Most of them knew when Taeron came to practice, so they would plan to come by to watch him."

Having seen him in action, Dijana knew why.

"When warriors first begin to train," Amyr told her, "they use the side walls to run up and spring off to meet their opponents in the air. This is usually done when they are children, and by the time they are ready to be tested by their masters, they can take to the air without using the walls."

"Taeron told me about something called gravity." Dijana had a fond memory of when he had, a memory that would be more pleasant had her father not interrupted them.

"That is Lady Trynity's explanation," said Aymr, cutting short the development of a fantasy that Dijana hoped could play out later in Taeron's arms. "I do not understand the half of what she says, especially about our fighting style. She said something about the suns and the two moons and the forces of them, and … well, as I said, I do not understand her." Amyr shrugged. "I don't think Taeron wants you running the walls."

"What does my husband want me to do?" asked Dijana, glancing at Guillem to see that he was watching with a perplexed frown. She wished she could tell him that she was not displeased with his training. She planned to put it to good use. Very good use.

"He needs for you to learn to protect yourself. I don't think he would be able to concentrate in battle if he worries about you. I will demonstrate some basic moves to avoid capture, and then I will attempt to capture you so that you can practice them."

The move he showed her she had already learned from Guillem on Teralon in the many days he had worked with her. Glancing at him now, she saw him roll his eyes and Dijana tried not to smile, even when she poorly executed the move which had Amyr patiently showing her again and again how to perform it. When she made mistakes, Guillem looked away with his lips pursed and Valter grunted as if disgusted with her. If Amyr noticed their strange behavior, he did not comment and he had been working with her so diligently that she felt guilty when the time came for her to drop the pretense and show him how much she really knew by easily slipping his attack and smacking his face so hard that blood gushed from his nose as she elbowed his gut. She would have kneed him sharply where he would have been seriously debilitated, but Amyr proved himself a worthy opponent by not only avoiding her, but by flipping over her and coming up behind her.

He caught her with an arm around her neck. "I doubt Staefyn would send an ill-trained buffoon to capture you. An imperial will anticipate you fighting him."

She could not wriggle out of his grasp and she saw Guillem and Valter move restlessly. "Are you calling yourself an ill-trained buffoon, my lord prince?"

He tightened his hold on her and she gasped. "Do you think I am?"

"Amyr," warned Chaela. "You are hurting her."

He was hurting her, but Dijana refused to beg for quarter.

"You have been trained by a winged warrior to fight winged warriors," he said in her ear. "Taeron told me to train you to defend against imperials. There is a vast difference between them."

Amyr released her and when she stumbled, Guillem flew forward to catch her.

Amyr looked from Guillem to Valter. "My lord prince told me to train you two winged nursemaids as well."

"We are not nursemaids!" growled Valter furiously.

"She gave you the slip on Teralon like you are nursemaids," Amyr pointed out. He beckoned to them. "Try to keep me from your princess."

After only a few minutes, Amyr had proven that Guillem and Valter could not prevent an imperial from reaching Dijana. As Amyr worked with her guards, Chaela came to stand with Dijana. "Do not feel bad. Taeron spent many months training Amyr in a trance. He has not always been so skilled."

"Perhaps I should train in a trance as well." Dijana knew that time passed more slowly inside a trance so an afternoon in a trance might seem like several months.

"Taeron does not want you to train in a trance. I heard him discussing the possible ill effects it might have on the baby and they agreed not to do it."

Dijana put her hand on her belly. Now that she was not frequently sick, she sometimes forgot about her. She wondered if she should be training with Amyr at all.

"Don't worry, the babe is well," Chaela told her. "Amyr would not do anything to cause her any distress."

She heard a loud grunt and Dijana turned to see Amyr standing over both Guillem and Valter. "This is going to take a long time," she heard Amyr mutter.

Since he was not paying attention to her, Dijana sat on the ground with Chaela and took another bite of the fruit in her hand. Chaela offered her a beetle, but Dijana was not brave enough to try it even though Chaela told her it had been sweetened. She chewed on the fruit while watching her guards attempt to fight Amyr. At first they remained on the ground trying to attack him, and when Amyr went on the offensive and they tried to fly away, Amyr caught their wings before they could provide enough power to lift them from the ground. Now Dijana understood why the Calabrians had been so efficient in fighting the winged warriors. The wings actually slowed them so they were no match for the quick Calabrians with imperial training.

"I see that you are hard at work."

Delighted to hear his voice, Dijana turned to see Taeron watching her with a lazy smile that made her insides flip.

"Do you see the blood on Prince Amyr's tunic. I did that," she bragged.

"I hope that is not your blood."

She threw what remained of her fruit at him, and he caught it and tossed it back for her to continue eating.

"Amyr!" called out Taeron, stopping him from dragging Valter to the ground yet again. "Do you mind if I borrow your trainee?"

"Which one? I have three."

"The wingless." Dijana was hurt to hear herself referred to as wingless even though she had several years to become accustomed to the loss of her wings. Seeing her father's wings reminded her of what she had lost, and while Taeron did not care if she had wings, Dijana often felt less than whole without them.

"Is she going to be bellowing like a canyon beast?" asked Amyr impertinently.

Gasping, she threw her fruit at Amyr, and he caught it to toss back as well.

"I think she will." Taeron scooped Dijana in his arms and he leaned down to press his lips to the pulse at her neck that was now racing. "I know she will."

Dijana put her arms around his neck as he carried her away from the practice yard where Chaela and Amyr were laughing. The last she saw of Guillem and Valter, they looked as though they were not sure if they should follow.

"Must you carry me?" she asked although she enjoyed being in his arms.

"I think it is faster and a little more dignified than racing through the corridors dragging you behind." He lowered his head to brush his lips against hers. "I was flattered to hear that you believe I handle you with more skill than my sword."

She felt her cheeks heating. "Who told you that?"

"Who did not?" He laughed when she frowned. "I had hoped to return to bed before you awoke, and when I saw that you were gone, I found the females enjoying their meal. I must have just missed you and hoped to catch you before Amyr started training, but they would not let me escape. By the gods, I have heard more than enough advice this morning on how to pleasure you." He grimaced and then he gave her a slow smile. "You would not mind if I put into practice what they told me?"

She raised her brows. "Some of it?" She could imagine how much their mothers had suggested.

"No, my lady wife, all of it."