Chapter 77

After escorting Meridon to his mother's chamber so that he could rest, Taeron hoped he could find Dijana, preferably alone since he had not been with her for several days. But Meridon forced Taeron to remain and demanded to have tea with the princess that had caused so much trouble. Taeron was eager to go find her, but his mother forced him to sit with the old chieftain while she left to find Dijana, and by the look she gave him, his mother knew that he had no intention of returning soon once he found his wife. So as Taeron waited for his mother to return with Dijana and the tea, he and Meridon discussed the upcoming battle that would decide the fate of Calabria and the empire.

The old warrior had great confidence in Trey's ability to overcome the odds. "He surrounds himself with men that do the impossible," Meridon remarked. "And women," he added as an afterthought. "That Guerani female kept an army at bay for many years."

Now that the truth was known, house Caron had nothing to fear from Arora, and with Staefyn on their side married to their female, they could very well end Trey's reign. Would Staefyn raise his sword to his father? Could he actually end his life? The thought of him trying sickened Taeron. The Staefyn who ruled the hills from Guerani Palace and threatened his father was not the Staefyn he had known. That conniving, vindictive female had twisted him into a man Taeron would not be able to recognize.

His mother returned with Dijana and several servants who prepared the tea as Taeron introduced his wife to the old chieftain. Meridon viewed her through narrowed eyes, but Dijana did not cower under his intimidating gaze.

"So, you are the female that my lord prince believed worth breaking his oath over?"

Before she could answer, Larya spoke. "My son did not break his oath."

"You did not make an oath to the Caron female?" Meridon asked Taeron.

"I made no oath." At least that was true although he had come perilously close to taking Keilana as his mate. Just thinking about it made him shudder.

"The slippery devil that sired my son managed to keep from even signing marriage agreements." Larya laughed and Meridon smiled. "That was one of those rare moments that I remembered why I allowed him to sire my child. He fooled both Caron and Trey."

Meridon grunted and looked at Dijana. "Are you pleased that this match has resulted in a war?"

Before Taeron could object, Dijana responded. "My marriage did not precipitate this war."

"No, your Varoonyan lover did."

Taeron shot to his feet in anger, but Dijana reached out to grasp his wrist and pull him back down. "My lord..." she began.

"I am no lord," Meridon interrupted her. "I am the chieftain of a clan exiled to the moon. I risked the emperor's wrath to return to fight for Taeron and I want to know if you are worth it."

"This war has been a long time coming," pointed out Larya. "I, for one, have never enjoyed watching a man die more than I did that night. I think you would have been proud of Trey, Meridon."

He rubbed his bearded chin and drank some tea before responding. "You are a vicious female, Larya."

As he sipped tea again, Taeron glanced at Dijana to see if the old man had upset her, but he could not sense her feelings and he was glad that she had mastered hiding them. If not, she would fall prey to all manner of cruelties at the imperial court. He supposed that she had plenty of practice growing up at Balak's court and would probably find the petty mischief of the bored imperial nobles child's play after what had happened to her on Teralon.

Meridon turned his attention back to Dijana. "Lady Larya is right, princess. House Caron has probably been planning to seize the imperial throne for many years, so you should bear no blame. I have yet to hear that you are worth the trouble you have given Taeron." He looked at Taeron. "Does the princess please you, my lord prince?"

Taeron had never been asked the question, and he smiled as he looked at Dijana who met his gaze, her own concerned as if she worried about his answer. He had not been with her since leaving for Edgeland Fortress two weeks ago and now he wanted to be alone with her, to tell her and show her quite thoroughly, how well she pleased him.

He was about to answer Meridon, but his mother, as usual, did not allow him to respond. Then again, he probably should have spoken instead of admiring his beloved wife.

"Of course, she pleases him!"

"I have heard that he handles her like he does his sword, so he must be well pleased," remarked Meridon with a wink at Dijana..

Dijana's face flamed, but Taeron started to think about handling Dijana like he did his sword and about other ways to make her blush.

"You are well informed," Larya said.

"His men gossip about him and I doubt there is anyone in the empire who has not heard."

Taeron was frowning to think of his men talking about his personal life, but then he reminded himself that he had asked for help in composing his ballad on Teralon, so he should not be surprised that they took a personal interest in his marriage. There were many men from house Caron who had gone to Teralon with him and helped in his courtship so Taeron could not help feeling betrayed that they would raise their swords against him.

Meridon guessed his feelings. "Do not think of those Caron dogs. You have earned their loyalty of my men, boy and they care about you as more than a leader. They are willing to die for you."

"I would be willing to die for them as well," said Taeron.

"I would rather you did not die,"sniffed his mother. "Your new wife needs a mate and your child needs a father. Perhaps Trey should try something new, something like diplomacy."

To his surprise, Dijana made a sound of disgust. "Diplomacy will not work with men like Warlord Kai. He is determined to rule and nothing will stand in his way."

"I will stand in his way." Taeron would kill the bastard on the battlefield. Dijana might be free of him now, but Taeron would never be satisfied until the creature was dead. Not just for what he had done to Dijana, but for what he had done to countless innocent men and women on Varoonya, Teralon and Calabria.

"You are glowing, my dear," remarked his mother.

"I am not glowing." Taeron could not see what she had pointed out but he noticed Dijana trying not to smile. By the gods, he would rather be with her than entertaining Meridon.

"Darlac told me about his holy light," commented Meridon. "I did not believe him until now."

"I do not have a holy light," denied Taeron. Why did they persist in attributing him with magic?

"I approve of your mate," announced Meridon. "But I heard that she is already breeding. How can that be when I know that you are an honorable man and would not shame a female."

Taeron would have told him that he believed Dijana to be his wife, that he had been bonded to her, but his mother responded. "Gods forbid! My son and his mate are foolish young people who got carried away on Teralon when he was bonded to her."

"Is he no longer bonded to her?" asked Meridon.

Taeron took a breath to explain, but his mother spoke for him. "That infamous sorcerers on the frontier removed his bond and Dijana has wisely chosen not to bond with him."

Meridon frowned. "My people only bond when their devotion is deep. I was bonded to my dear Caelitha and I never once regretted it."

"And yet this ugly business at Guerani Palace proves how easy it is for a female to misuse it," argued Larya.

"What she did is forbidden," growled Meridon.

"That woman will do whatever she wants to whomever she wants as long as she draws a breath." Larya was trembling with anger. "I was with Arora when Staefyn was born, and I feel her pain at losing him to Xuxa as if it were my own."

Dijana moved restlessly and when Taeron caught her eyes, she looked at the door as if to ask if they could leave. So he started to rise, an excuse on the tip of his tongue, but his mother glared at him, so he dropped back down on his seat.

"Lady Larya, were you sold in the imperial slave market?" asked Meridon after chuckling over their aborted attempt to escape.

"When I was a small child," she told him. "Lady Xuxa purchased me in the market. I do not even remember the day because I was so young. "

"We have that whore to thank for this debacle," grunted Meridon. "Zeno should have dealt with her permanently long ago. She lied to him, betrayed him and shamed his house in many ways."

"And continues to do so," sighed Larya as she prepared another cup of tea for Meridon.

After drinking a generous portion, he looked at Taeron. "Why are you still here, boy? Have you not been separated from your mate for several days now?"

His mother made a sound of irritation. "My son has little understanding of a woman's needs."

Taeron might have argued that they had not given him a chance to leave, but he was not going to give his mother an opportunity to stop him. So he held out his hand and Dijana quickly took it. "My mother is right, I have much to learn."

Dijana smiled at him. "And I have much to teach him."

As they hurried out, Taeron heard Meridon laugh and then ask, "Is it true that she howls like a canyon beast?"

When they were further down the corridor where they could not hear his mother's response, Taeron pushed Dijana against the wall with his body and covered her mouth with his own. He was not bonded to her, but his desire for her was just as acute as if he were, and because she clung to him, returning his kiss with equal fervor, he knew her need matched his own.

He was about to lift her and carry her to his chamber which he unfortunately shared with Amyr, Jeshed and his father when he heard a clearing throat and he reluctantly raised his head to find Danlaer standing a few paces away, his lips pressed together to keep from smiling.

"My lord prince, the emperor asks that you attend him now."

Dijana's sigh blew across his neck and he closed his eyes against the wave of desire that shot through him. He leaned down to brush her lips with his and then touched his forehead to hers. "I must go."

"I should rest," she told him although he could see in her eyes that she would prefer to be doing something else. "The journey here was long and I did not sleep well on the ground these last two nights. With the feast this evening, the day promises to be long as well."

Taeron felt guilty for not thinking of how she must be feeling physically after the three day trip from the city on the back of a horse. But that did not stop the frustration he felt at being separated from her now. Later when he would have to spend the night with the men of his house. There was so little time left for them to be together.

"My lord prince," prompted Danlaer.

Reluctantly he left her behind with the promise that he would find a way for them to have time alone together. As he followed Danlaer, Taeron passed Lady Trynity had gathered and was instructing the men and women that would serve as healers in the courtyard. They would stay at the rear of the forces, but beside his father's mate and Shamara there were no other healers besides Chaela who were trained to fight. Chaela would remain at Edgeland Fortress because she did not have full command of her powers and her mother feared she would overuse them. Although Dijana's guards, Guillem and Valter seemed capable enough, Taeron was relieved that an imperial warrior of Chaela's skill would be with her as well.

A small force of guards would stay behind at the fortress to protect those remaining, and Jeshed was included among their number. The shapeshifter was not pleased to be left behind because he believed he would be of more use to the warriors, but Taeron had pointed out that he would only be able to make one fire-breathing pass over Kai's army and even then he would be at the mercy of the catapults that the Varoonyan forces had built to protect against his aerial attack. They would be watching for the dragon and Taeron doubted Jeshed had ever learned to dodge attacks from the ground. So Jeshed would remain at Edgeland Fortress charged primarily with protecting Yori.

The emperor did not hide his surprise that Taeron had come so quickly in answering his summons, but he did not comment before directing the attention of his warlords to the map spread out on the table. Jeshed had flown high over the plains that morning so that he could report on troop movements. Warlord Kai's thralls, those he had brought to Calabria with Staefyn's help and those that he had made among the clans still hiding in the hills, were positioned between the divided warriors from house Caron. Those would be commanded by Aevan and Caerl, two warriors who had not blooded their swords and had no experience in command. As for their own forces, Taeron would lead the clans with Darlac while Lord Duo commanded half of the forces that remained loyal to the emperor and Trey would lead the rest into battle with Arora and Apolo at his side.

The warriors from Bayman were sworn to Shamara, so they would be protecting the healers, and since the Teralonian warriors were not fully trained, they would be used as couriers between the warlords and Edgeland Fortress. Queen Neria wanted to fight, but her husband reminded her what had happened to the Teralonian warriors that Balak had sent against the Calabrians. Taeron suspected Neria would put her chakrams to good use regardless of what she was told.

Several healers would remain at Edgeland Fortress to take care of any wounded transported from the battle zone. Larya would be in charge of the fortress which would be shielded with wards that the Guerani would set before leaving. If the battle was lost, the Teralonians would return to take away the survivors at the fortress in their ships. Larya would stop at Dagmaeus for her children and then she would continue on to Bayman with Yori and Jeshed. Dijana's parents would take her back to Teralon, and Taeron could not imagine how Dijana would feel if she were forced to leave him behind. He hoped that she would realize that their child was too important to risk in a vain hope that he would survive. Their unborn daughter was important to Teralon, but she was even more precious to Taeron because she was his legacy and the living symbol of his love for Dijana.

When the meeting ended late in the day, Trey stopped Taeron when he would have gone in search of his wife. His father had already gone, and Arora left with Apolo, so he was alone with Trey.

"I know how you are feeling at this moment. Your father has probably told you about some of the impossible odds that we faced in the past."

Taeron had heard stories of some of the battles the emperor and his imperial guards had fought, some against fathers of the house Caron warriors they would soon face on the battlefield.

"I am not afraid," he told Trey.

"Of course you are not. You cannot afford fear for yourself, Taeron, but I know that you must be worried about Dijana and your unborn child."

"She will be safe here with the gates closed and warded." Taeron hoped he sounded more confident than he felt.

But he could see by the emperor's rueful smile that he did not. "When I was young and bold, I took Shamara into battle with me. She was with me the night that Amyr was born, on the battlefield clinging to me as I swung my sword, both of us protected by Apolo's spell. In those days, I would rather she died with me on the battlefield than at the hands of my enemies."

"I do not want Dijana to die," admitted Taeron. "Even if I fall in battle, I want her and our daughter to live."

"Danlaer and Keldar will remain behind to keep the hyperspace transports ready for escape. Our children are our future. I was a fool to risk Shamara's life. I would never do it again."

The woman of whom he spoke was approaching them. "I am sure that I must have saved your life once or twice, father." She reached him and kissed his cheeks and he slipped an arm around her waist.

"I am sure that you did." He kissed the top of her head.

Shamara looked at Taeron. "Your wife is helping with the feast preparations. I think Larya is enjoying ordering her around."

"Perhaps I should rescue her," said Taeron, wondering what his mother was making Dijana do that a princess would be able to do. He remembered that Shamara had proven herself on Mars Colony to be almost incapable of doing household chores so he doubted Dijana had ever done anything so mundane as preparing food or arranging dinnerware. He could well imagine her reaction to what Larya was planning to serve, especially since he knew that his mother had supplies aplenty in the dirt floors beneath the fortress.

Shamara was reading his mind. "I have noticed that Dijana has not yet accustomed herself to our food preference. Dagan is still disgusted by what I choose to eat. There is a delicious variety on Bayman."

"If we survive this debacle, then I expect you to bring me samples as Taeron has done," said her father.

Shamara laughed. "I can see the look on Dagan's face now as you negotiate for the newest technology and shipments of all manner of insects."

"I regret that I did not have my memory so that I could sample them on Earth," remarked her father. "Your mother and Apolo both told me that what they did try was tasty."

"Lady Trynity has suggested that Dijana's digestive system may not be able to handle what we eat," remarked Taeron.

Trey snorted derisively. "Leave it to Trynity to give her an excuse to avoid a good source of food just because she is squeamish. You will have to get Dijana to eat as we do if she is to stay on Calabria."

"If not her, then your daughter," added Shamara. "Dagan does not stop me from feeding our children what I believe is best for them. And I have noticed that Yori enjoys crispy sandslugs."

"Who does not?" Trey chuckled. "Oh, yes, Quynn. I doubt anyone is offering her a variety of food at Guerani Palace. Amyr will owe Staefyn for training his wife to eat like a civilized Calabrian."

Taeron was eased by talk of the future and he smiled as he imagined his sister's reaction to how Calabrian Yori had become in her absence. "When we win this battle, we will march on Guerani Palace to free my sister." In Taeron's heart, he also hoped to save Staefyn.

Trey put his hand on Taeron's shoulder and he knew he sensed and shared his unspoken desire. "So we shall."