5

Jack was talking to him and Ianto finally recognized the fact he was ignoring him, turning to simile apoplectically "Sorry Cariad?"

"Are you OK Tiger?"

"That man over there in the blue britches with the woman in the red dress… I know them"

Jack turned to look at Dawson and Abigail "From the Seltherat servant pool? They brought their own and insisted they have high standing quarters, can you believe that? Daddy is so over their bullshit."

"Dawson is the one who was the infiltrator in the stables, he is the Seltherat spy that set fire to everything and destroyed the business and Abigail was Lisa's best friend who is clearly the inside agent we could never detect that helped him learn the hidden walkways in the walls." Ianto said under his breath. "They killed my mate and babies."

"What?" Jack yelped a little too loudly.

Ianto yanked him over to a tapestry, looked around and then pulled him behind it. Jack found himself entering a windowless room. He stood in silent amazement as the robber's hole was revealed.

"Lisa and my children. This!" Ianto pulled up his sleeve to reveal his arm and it's vivid scaring, the tattoo faintly recognizable under the scar tissue. "The Seltherats were behind the destruction of a competition's head stables and the murder of most of the breeding stock. They had lost too many good bids at auction and could not afford our children, they were also jealous of how much our children were gaining compared to their own offerings. They then demanded, cajoled and begged. They wanted their own breeding stock from the bloodlines of my stables, namely MY children. Rane was the last straw. They threatened the Master that if he did not sell to them at their asking price they would make sure he never made profit from this stable again."

"And he refused?"

"And it was less than a week later the fires raged."

"Jesus. They asked about slaves, trade. When we told them we do not do that they seemed shocked and … insulted. Wow. So that fucker out there is the one who killed your mate Lisa? And the babies… all those children" Jack turned to stare at the wall where the tapestry snugly fit against it.

"Looks like driving my master out of business and forcing him to sell what was left of us to the meat men or slavers gained those two a higher position than the scum they truly are. They are swanking about up here like they are society, not soldiers. I can only assume they are both retired and given land and title as rewards… or…"

"Or are here on a mission. Another fire, coming our way this time was the plan?" Jack surmised, nodding as he felt Ianto trembling against him "Hey, you OK?"

"Cold."

Jack pulled him in close and kissed his forehead lovingly, trying to soothe the man who was shivering like a wild animal about to bolt. Jack knew of Ianto's memories. Knew the curse he had of total and complete recall of every moment… the smells, the sensations, the fear. Out there, in broad daylight were two visitors that were the lowest of the low.

"Do you love me?" Ianto whispered in the darkened room.

"Yes, eternally."

"Then… forgive me. I must do something, for her, for my children, for the other poor children and all those lives lost… I must… I cannot simply pretend it did not happen, not with her last breath… her death rattle rasping in my ears, her begging me not to forget her, to avenge our babies… I have to" Ianto buried his face in Jack's neck and clung to him, the wet tears soaking into Jack's collar.

"Ianto, there would be nothing to forgive if you strode out there and set them on fire in the middle of the room. Hell, I will stop anyone who tried to get a glass of fucking water"

Ianto snorted softly and pulled back, his eyes glowing in that unnatural way as his Dragon Sight looked directly into Jack's heart, finding only the warmth of another true love. This one… this time it was true. Lisa had been loved, but this one… his soul mate… needed no explanations... Their hearts beating as one. Ianto's was pain bleeding through their bond so clearly that Jack felt the tightness in his own chest. It was almost sickening, the unseen fist around his throat. Squeezing the life out of him…. Such… disgust.

Ianto had to come up with a plan. Setting the fuckers on fire right now might be satisfying… but not helpful.

He needed to know why they were here.

First step… gain allies.

.

.

"You know he looks like a smarmy fucker" Owen agreed as he lifted his glass to drink, Toshiko leaving them to walk closer to the pair who had no idea they were the subject of scrutiny. "I will get Andy and Rhys over there… Rhys is already looking at them weird."

"My anger I filling the room with a heat those with old blood can feel. Although they are not sure who it is directed at, they do know someone is gaining my ire and they are bristling on my behalf. I see four servants already being surly to the guests." Ianto admitted to Jack "I must leave before they see me and I give them away as well as myself. The room will cool and things will normalize."

"I will not stay without you, I will leave too. I don't want to breathe their air anyway. Tainted with betrayal" Jack said loyalty, "Let's go be with our son. Let his love wash away this bad juju."

"Yes, let's take a moment to be thankful for what we have." Ianto agreed, Then added…

"Then I will decide their fate."