Oryon (Tornians Book 3.5) (3 page)

“Ull…” Isis shook her head sadly. “Ull’s universe has suddenly shifted and he is no longer sure of his place in it.”

“His place? His place is
here
. On Betelgeuse.” Oryon frowned down at her.

“Are you sure?” she questioned softly. “I know he always thought it was. There was never any question in his mind that
he
would be the next Lord Rigel. But now his brother… his
third
brother, the one who was supposed to be returning to Betelgeuse to support
him
, to train
his
future warriors and help make
his
House stronger. Now
Ynyr
has been named Lord to a more powerful House than yours.”

“None of that stops Ull from one day becoming Lord Rigel,” Oryon countered.

“No, it doesn’t but as you said, that will be
one
day while
today
Ynyr
is
Lord Rigel.
Today
Ynyr has a female, a female that will most likely give him female offspring. Abby chose Ynyr when she
could
have chosen Ull, just as the Emperor
could
have chosen Ull to rule Etruria. She didn’t and he didn’t. Now everyone is comparing what Ull will
one day
become to what Ynyr
is
. Ull, for the first time in his life, is being seen as the lesser brother and his pride is stinging.” Isis’ gaze went to the movement outside on the training field.

“You truly believe this?”

“Don’t you?” She pointed out the window to where Ull, in the fading light, had stripped to the waist and was currently pummeling a training station with his sword. Rage filled every movement.

“I’ve never seen him doubt himself before,” Oryon said quietly, watching as large chunks of wood flew from the station.

“He never has. That is why he is struggling so much right now. In time, he will settle and find his way.”

“How can you possibly know that?” Oryon turned away from his first male to look at his Lady.

“Because
you
are his manno and you have taught him how to be a truly fit and worthy male. He will find his way, Oryon. His honor will allow him to do no less.”

“You are truly a gift from the Goddess, my Isis.” Gently he brushed a hand over the top of her head. “One I don’t think I have ever treasured enough.”

At Oryon’s words, Isis felt her eyes fill. She’d always known her male cared for her. It had been in his every touch, every action but to hear him say it…

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“My Lord.” Captain Shen stood just inside the doorway of his Lord’s resting chamber.

“What is it, Shen?” Oryon asked impatiently, turning to face his long time Captain.

“Your Leads are waiting for you in your Command room.” Shen informed his Lord.

Oryon was surprised to find he’d forgotten about the meeting he always had with his Lead Warriors upon his return to Betelgeuse. They would inform him on what had happened in his absence and where his attention needed to be brought to bear first. Oryon found he wanted his attention on his Isis, but he couldn’t neglect his duty.

“Tell them I’ll be there shortly.”

“Yes, my Lord.” With a slight bow, Shen turned and left.

“I need to go, Isis.”

“But it’s getting late, Oryon. Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

“No. I always meet with my Leads when I return. It’s necessary, especially this time, when so much has occurred. They will have questions, questions that need to be answered by their Lord so they can then relay correct information to others.”

“Information about Bertos and Risa.”

“That and about what they need to do if they wish to present themselves to the remaining Earth females. The Emperor’s declaration that they may choose any male is going to have every male scrambling.”

“Wray also declared that it was now a House’s responsibility to make sure the female is well cared for and protected.”

“Yes.”

“Will House Rigel be able to do that?” she asked hesitantly.

“Of course! Why would you think otherwise?” Oryon frowned at her.

“It’s just that the demands extra females make could be a burden on a House.”

“And because of that you think I would not be able to adequately provide for
you
?” Oryon couldn’t keep the shock or hurt out of his voice. “I have
always
met your
every
need.”

“You have and I know you will continue to. That’s not what I’m questioning Oryon.” Isis tried to calm him quickly.

“Then what
are
you questioning?”

“If House Rigel will have no problem supporting more females, why is its Lord living in a chamber that is as sparsely furnished as the trainees’?”

“What?” Oryon couldn’t hide his confusion.

“You are my male, Oryon. My Lord and yet the only comfort you take for yourself is the bed you share with
me
! Why? Has my refusing to leave you put such a burden on our House that you can’t even have the most basic of comforts?”

“Isis…” Oryon trailed off when he realized what she was really questioning. She thought their House had suffered because of her, because of what he had given her, when in truth it had flourished. Isis had never made any extravagant demands on him as he had heard other females did. She had certain pillows she liked, would occasionally ask for an expensive fabric but nothing that put a strain on the House’s resources. He knew of males who took decades recovering from the demands a female had made on them, while some never did.

“Have I, Oryon?” Isis asked in a wobbly voice.

“No, Isis.” He gently pulled her into his arms. “You have not. My chambers are like this because…” He let his gaze travel around the room and shrugged. “I know nothing else. Warriors don’t have ‘comforts’, not like females. My comfort is you. Seeing you. Holding you. Joining with you. It is all I have ever needed.”

“But I want you to have more. You deserve more, Oryon. Don’t you know that? You are such a good male, so fit and worthy. I know many judged you harshly because of me, because of my refusing to leave you, including the Emperor.”

“None of that matters, Isis, because I have
you
. Don’t you understand that?” He used his thumbs to wipe the tears from her cheeks.

“They wanted you to force me to leave” she told him and saw his surprise that she knew. “Females do talk Oryon. Not to me, but loud enough to make sure I heard.”

“And it never happened. You are
mine
. My Isis, my one comfort. Just the thought of another male touching you that way…” His voice became a deep growl as he spoke. “I’d never allow it. I would kill him first.
You
are
mine
.”

“I am,” Isis agreed, stretching up to kiss him.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

It was sometime later that Isis angrily eyed the door someone had the nerve to be knocking at. Oryon had left for his meeting and she had been working on bringing things down from ‘her’ chamber to ‘their’ chamber. It had started with a rug that she had rolled up and dragged down the curved stairway. It now lay proudly in front of the fire Oryon had made sure was burning brightly before he left.

Next came a small table, which was the only one she could carry. She placed it next to the chair she knew Oryon spent a lot of time in as it had the impression of his body embedded into it. She’d placed an afghan over its back so it would be there when he needed it.

She was just getting ready to tackle their luggage and hang her coverings up next to Oryon’s, which she found she really wanted to see, when the knocking had interrupted her.

“What?” S jerked the door open only to find two startled young males from the kitchen staff standing on the other side.

“Lord… Lord Oryon ordered that last meal be… be brought to you, my Lady.” One of them stuttered and flushed before he looked away.

Staring at them, Isis suddenly realized they must be new trainees since they appeared years younger than her Zev. It was a common practice to start new trainees in the kitchen to see how they responded to the early morning’s pressure and long hours.

Stepping back, she tried to put a serene expression on her face. After all, she
was
their Lady and allowed them to enter the chamber. “Put it over there.” She gestured to the low table between the couch and fire.

“Yes my… my Lady,” the male stuttered again and they quickly carried the trays in.

“What are your names?” Isis asked.

“My Lady?” The second young male stared at her in shock.

“Your names,” she said slowly.

“Umm, I am called Nabil.”

“I am Galal,” the stutterer said, blushing.

“How long have you been on Betelgeuse?” she asked.

“Two… two weeks,” Galal told her.

“I see, well welcome to House Rigel.”

“Thank you, my Lady!” they said together.

“Has last meal been delivered to Lord Oryon yet?” she asked.

“No, my Lady,” Nabil responded. “Cook said he was not to be disturbed.”

“That’s ridiculous! It’s been hours since midday meal. Give me your comm.” She held out her hand.

“I… what, my Lady?” Nabil asked.

“Your comm, I know you have one. All kitchen help does.”

“Yes, my Lady.” Reaching into his pocket, Nabil pulled out his comm and carefully handed it to her, making sure not to touch her.

Isis took the comm and pressed the only button on it. New trainees were expected to carry it at all times for they were at the disposal of Warrior Lajos, otherwise known as Cook.

“What’s taking you little cachus so long?” Lajos angry voice burst out of the comm. “I told you to deliver that food and come straight back!”

“They have delivered my meal, thank you Warrior Lajos,” Isis said, her calm voice glaringly opposite of Lajos.

“Lady Isis…” Lajos’ tone and volume immediately softened.

“I’ve been told that last meal has not yet been taken to Lord Oryon and his Leads.” Isis got straight to the point.

“No, my Lady,” Lajos told her.

“I want it sent now,” she ordered.

“I’m sorry but…” Lajos started.

“There are no ‘buts’ here Warrior Lajos.” Isis’ voice became as hard and inflexible as any Lord’s could be. “Lord Oryon has not eaten since the midday meal on the Hunter. It is now late into the evening. You will send thick sandwiches filled with twrci, rashtar and the queixo made in the Mriga region.”

“My Lady,” Lajos tried to interrupt.

“I’m not finished. You will also send along an assortment of fruits and drinks. Enough for all the warriors. Is that understood, Lajos?”

“My Lady, you do not understand. Lord Oryon does not like to be interrupted during his meetings with his Leads.”

“You are the one who does not understand, Warrior Lajos. I will not have my Lord do without, not anymore. Now you either do as I have ordered or I will come down to the kitchens myself and take care of it.”

“I… yes, my Lady,” Lajos said suitably chastised.

“And Lajos.”

“Yes, my Lady.”

“When you deliver the meal, make sure you let your Lord know it was because his Lady ordered you to do so.”

“Yes, my Lady.”

Ending the call, Isis handed the comm back to Nabil. “Thank you, Nabil. Now you both best hustle back to the kitchen, for I believe Cook will need you.”

“Yes, my Lady,” they chorused and immediately left.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“Then there have been no more problems with the training in the Mriga Region
?
” Oryon asked reading a report.

“No, my Lord. Once the problem with the equipment was discovered and corrected the injuries stopped,” one of his Leads informed him.

“And the investigation has been started to find out how the defective equipment got there in the first place?” Oryon asked his voice deceptively soft as he looked to Lead Phong, his Lead in charge of tactics and tracking.

“Yes, my Lord,” Lead Phong told him.

Nodding, Oryon relaxed and leaned back in his chair to look at his Captain and Leads. They were good males, every one of them. Most had been with him for years. He wondered which ones would want to go to Luda to see if they could attract an Earth female.

“Now, questions about what occurred on Tornian,” he said, because he knew they all had them.

There was silence for several moments before Warrior Eike, Lead for weapons training, spoke. “Is it true that Lord Bertos was attempting to over-throw House Vasteri? That Lord Reeve was assisting him?”