“Manno!” Vali’s call had Oryon turning his back on the dying male and rushing to his Isis’ side.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Isis fought to find her way out of the fog that seemed determined to blind her to where she was going. Up ahead was a faint light trying to guide her but the fog kept trying to block it.
“Keep coming,” a melodic voice encouraged, startling Isis, “if you want the life you have always prayed for.”
“What?” Isis asked, her eyes searching for the voice but was only answered by the fog thickening.
“Hurry,” the voice said again, “or lose it all.”
Isis didn’t know what the voice was talking about but she knew she didn’t want to lose what she had fought so hard for. So trusting the voice, she ran towards the light that became brighter the closer she got, finally after what seemed like an eternity the fog finally released her and she was surrounded with the most amazing light.
“It took you long enough child,” the voice said.
Looking around Isis found the source of the ‘voice’. Dropping to her knees, she bowed her head. “Goddess,” Isis whispered reverently.
“Rise child,” the Goddess said, extending her hand to assist her.
After a moment’s hesitation, Isis slipped her hand into the Goddess’ and an amazing warmth filled her. Everything was suddenly crisp and clear, there were colors she had never seen before and scents she had never smelled, yet every one comforted her.
“As you have comforted me, for many years, you were the only one that gave me hope Isis.”
“Hope?” Isis gave her a confused look.
“Yes that the Tornian people were worth saving.”
“I…” Isis didn’t know what to say. What could she have done to draw the attention of the Goddess?
“You refused to leave the male of your choice, even though many condemned you for it,” the Goddess informed her.
“How could I have left him?” Isis asked. “It would have destroyed me to Join with another.”
“As it did your mother.” The Goddess looked at her with knowing eyes. “She had very strong feelings for your manno and I had hopes, but she allowed herself to be lulled away by ‘things.’” The Goddess spat the word ‘things’ out as if it left a bad taste in her mouth.
“Her manno influenced her greatly.” Isis didn’t know why she was defending her mother, but she knew, while her manno had never forgiven her, he had continued to have strong feelings for her.
“For his own gain.” The Goddess told her.
“He gained from her leaving my manno?” Isis’ eyes widened at the thought.
“Of course.” The Goddess’ eyes softened. “You did not realize.”
“No. Did my mother?”
“Only after it was too late,” the Goddess informed her.
“That was why she became so bitter.” Isis’ mind traveled back to all the things her mother had said to her. How hard she had tried to get Isis to leave Oryon.
“Yes.” The Goddess agreed.
“Did my manno know?”
“Yes.”
“That was why he said he would always stand by me if I wanted to stay with just one male.” Isis now had a better understanding of some of the things her manno had told her.
“Warrior Geb was a truly fit and worthy male.”
“He was.” Isis agreed knowing the amazing tribute the Goddess had just given her manno.
“You were my last hope Isis,” The Goddess quietly told her.
“Me?” Isis couldn’t hide her surprise.
“Yes. If you had chosen another, if Oryon had forced you to give your gift to another then I would abandon all hope for the Tornian people but you didn’t and he didn’t, because of that, I have allowed compatible females to be found.”
“But…” Isis frowned at her.
“You question my decision?” The Goddess raised an eyebrow and the music ceased.
Isis looked at the Goddess, only weeks ago, she wouldn’t have been brave enough to question the Goddess’ actions. Now, because of the support and acceptance she had found from those who the Goddess called ‘compatible’ females, Isis found she had to. “Kim suffered,” she told the Goddess.
“It was necessary…” the Goddess began and was shocked when she was cut off.
“No! It wasn’t!” Isis said, ripping her hand way from the Goddess. “You are a Goddess! You could have prevented it! For you to just stand by and allow it, makes you no different than those that assisted Emperor Lucan!”
“How dare you!” The universe darkened in the presence of the Goddess’ anger.
“I dare because it is the truth!” Isis fired back refusing to back down. “Kim didn’t need to suffer like that! To nearly die, for you to allow them to be found! You are the Goddess!”
Isis didn’t know how long she was lost in the Goddess’ eyes, it could have been minutes or it could have been years, but it seemed she saw all of creation in the turbulent gray eyes. Life and death, love and hate, sadness and joy, good and bad, all intermingled in such a way that they were nearly inseparable in their touching and blending, and Isis began to understand. “You can’t have one without the other…” Isis whispered.
“No,” the Goddess responded. “Each affects the other. What Lucan did… others should have stopped but didn’t and my rage caused these effects… I am responsible.”
“Then fix it.”
“I cannot ‘fix’ what I have caused. It is why a God or Goddess must use care in what prayers they answer. It is up to you, the ones I have harmed, to overcome what I have done.”
“How can I do that?” Isis asked.
“You gave me hope Isis, that a Tornian female could still love a Tornian male. Oryon showed me that a Tornian male could love a Tornian female Because of the two of you, I brought Kim here, to find out if this Emperor was anything like Lucan and he has more than proven he is not. In doing so, I discovered there are more males that would be like Oryon and Wray if a female truly cared for them. If she loved and trusted in them as they had in the past before what I did in anger changed that relationship forever.”
Isis looked at the Goddess and saw the true regret that swam in her eyes. “What must we do?”
“What you are doing. What you have been doing. Stand by the one you love, no matter what. There will be difficult times ahead for you Isis. Daco is not going to give up what he has gained because of my actions.” The Goddess looked to the stars. “It is time for you to go, your male is becoming very… impatient.” Her eyes returned to Isis. “He loves you very much Isis, remember that in the trials ahead, and learn from my mistakes.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
“Why isn’t she waking?!!” Oryon demanded of the Healer as he stared at his Isis from the side the bed. She was laying in the center of it so still and pale.
“I do not know my Lord,” the Healer told him frowning as he studied his scanner. “I can find no reason for it, the blow to the head was not that severe.”
No longer able to remain so far from his Isis, Oryon sat beside her on the bed, leaned back on the headboard and slid his arm under her cradling her against his chest.
“My Lord, she shouldn’t be moved!” the Healer protested.
“What she shouldn’t be is unconscious!” Oryon growled at the Healer and the look he gave the Healer told him not to speak again.
“Come Healer Asa.” Vali’s tone was mild, but his grip was firm, as he led the Healer away. “My manno knows what my mother requires.”
“Wake Isis,” Oryon whispered, ignoring everyone in the room as he kissed her temple. “Wake for me, for my life is meaningless without you in it.”
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Oryon’s offspring watched and listened in amazement as their manno whispered to their mother. They had all known their relationship was unusual after all; they were the product of it. They had seen them together, especially on Tornian, but even with that, they had not understood the true depth of
their manno’s feelings for their mother. Not until they listened to his whispered words and saw the tears that flowed freely down his cheeks.
Before them was a male they all looked up to, who they wanted to emulate yet here he was saying his life meant nothing without the female in his arms. Was it truly possible? That a female could mean that much to a male? Did that weaken a male? Or strengthen him?
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Fog surrounded Isis again, only this time there was no light, no voice. No wait… there was a voice, but it wasn’t the Goddess’. Whose was it?
‘…my life is meaningless without you in it…’
She knew that voice. Oryon! Without another thought she flew to his voice for she knew without him, she was nothing.
“Oryon…”
Every male in the room froze at their mother’s faint whisper then watched in amazement as her eyes opened, immediately going to their manno.
“Why are you crying my love?” Isis whispered reaching up to wipe away the tears that didn’t belong on her male’s face.
“I thought I had lost you Isis.” Oryon buried his face in the crook of her neck.
“You could never lose me.” She vowed caressing his check. Suddenly Isis realized they were not alone and her eyes flew to find her offspring watching them intently. She took in their disheveled state and it all came rushing back to her. “Kaspar!” she gasped. “The fire!”
“Both are taken care of. There is nothing for you to concern yourself with,” Oryon quickly reassured her. “You only need to rest.”
“The fire is out? Everyone is safe?” Isis continued to question, her eyes rushing over her offspring.
“Yes. As is our House and offspring.” Oryon knew that was what her real fear was, that something had happened to their offspring. “Rest Isis, I will be here when you wake.”
As her hand come to rest over Oryon’s heart, she let its steady beat reassure her, and she slept.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
When Isis woke, she was alone. Rolling over she found that night had fallen outside the windows and someone had started a roaring fire in the room. Rising up she could see trays of food waiting to be eaten on a low table before the couch. Everything seemed warm and inviting. But where was Oryon?
“I’m here Isis,” Oryon’s steady voice came from the doorway separating the outer chamber from their resting chamber. “Ull needed direction in the cleanup and I didn’t want to disturb you. I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you woke.” He quickly moved to her side, his eyes searching hers for the slightest hint of pain.
“I’m fine Oryon,” she quickly reassured him, taking his arm so she could continue to rise. “What was Ull’s problem?”
“He was concerned about the damage the fire did to the structure of the Common Wing,” he told her absently, more concerned about making sure she was steady on her feet, than Ull.
“What did you tell him to do?” Isis asked.
“I told him to contact Master Bard. He will be able to direct him on what needed to be done and who is qualified to do it.”
“Your Master Cabinetmaker?”
“Yes.”
“You trust him? Even after he made that furniture?” Isis quizzed.
“He made what Kaspar ordered him to make. I have seen the invoices myself. His only failing is that he never verified them with me. Something, Kaspar assured him, would get him dismissed from my House. Kaspar blamed you for it being necessary.”
“Me?” Isis looked at him shocked.
“Yes, Kaspar told Bard that your demands were putting a strain on our House’s resources. Which was why I ordered peine instead of solid dair.”
“And Bard believed him?”
“Unfortunately yes but it has been corrected.”
“Good, no male should ever be afraid to come speak to you. You are a fit and worthy Lord, Oryon.”
“Thank you, my love. Now come, you need to eat. I had Cook send up several items for you to choose from.”
It was only later, after they had eaten and Isis was leaning back on the couch that her hand brushed against the vial she had put in her pocket earlier. Oryon had risen to stoke the fire as Isis discovered it and remembered what was in it.
“I want Asa to check you again before we rest, Isis.” Oryon turned his back to the fire and found his Isis staring at him with a peculiar expression on her face.
“Is Asa the one who gave you this?” Isis asked holding up the vial so it glimmered in the firelight.
“Gave me what?” Oryon asked taking a step closer before coming to an abrupt halt, paling. “Where did you get that?” he whispered his voice tight.
“It fell out from under your desk when I place the statue of the Goddess on it. It’s cohosh gorm Oryon.” Isis’ eyes darkened with betrayal as she looked at him. “Why?” she asked. “We talked about this after Ynyr was presented.”
“And then you conceived Zev!” Oryon said with more force than he had intended. “You refused to allow your mother to attend to you and I nearly lost you during his presentation! I was not going to allow that to happen again!”
“That’s not true!” Isis surged to her feet. “Yes, I had a difficult time with Zev but that is my own fault. I waited too long to notify Asa. Had I let him examine me while I was carrying Zev as Lisa is doing with Hadar, then it would have been easier.”
“I was not going to take that chance!” Oryon told refusing to back down.
“That wasn’t your decision! You know that I wanted to give you more offspring.”
“And I wanted you!” Oryon ran angry fingers through his hair. “Goddess, Isis, you gave me four fit and worthy offspring before you were even thirty! Your body was telling you to stop! You wouldn’t listen and do what was necessary to remain with me, so I did!”
“You let me think I had failed you.”
“I never did!” He denied. “Not by word or deed!”
“I wanted to give you a female…” Isis whispered her eyes filling.
“And we both know what would have happened if you had.” Oryon told her refusing to be swayed by her tears.
“I wouldn’t have left you Oryon. No one could have made me do that.”
Oryon moved to his chair, dropping down into it with a heavy sigh, rubbing his hands over his face roughly. “They would have just taken you Isis.” He raised weary eyes to her. “They would have come and taken you.”
“Who? Wray?” Isis refused to believe it.
“No, not Wray, his manno, there were already stirrings of discontent after Vali was presented. If I hadn’t been a Lord…”
“He would have taken me from you?” Isis paled at the thought. “Forced me to Join with another?”
“Yes. He informed me that it was only because of my position and continued support for him that he didn’t, but that if you gave me a female he would be forced too.”
Isis sat on a low table across from Oryon, putting a gentle hand on his knee. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.
“Because I knew you would be willing to take the risk. I wasn’t. I needed you in my life Isis, just the thought of another male…” Oryon’s face darkened at the thought.
“You still shouldn’t have kept this from me. Especially with how things have changed.”
“I know.” He covered her hand with his and squeezed. “I realized that today after talking to Jago.”
“To Jago?” Isis frowned wondering what Jago could have said to Oryon to get him to tell her.
“He wanted to be released from his vow because everyone now knew of the unfit decisions he had made in the past.”
“But he overcame them.” Isis instantly replied and it told Oryon, Isis was as proud to have Jago in their House as he was.
“Yes, he faced them and moved on. It was then that I realized I needed to do the same with you. I needed to tell you about the cohosh gorm and hoped you would forgive me. Will you Isis? Forgive me for wanting to keep you safe. For wanting to keep you with me and your
offspring? For we would be lost without you.”
Isis looked deep into her male’s eyes and saw that he was honestly worried that she wouldn’t forgive him. She thought back to the Goddess’ plea that Isis learned from her mistake of judging too quickly and harshly and then not being able to correct it and realized she didn’t need the Goddess’ advice.
There was nothing in the known universes that could cause her to leave her Oryon. Certainly not a deception that was only done with the best intentions, but she would make sure it never happened again.
“I would never leave you Oryon. Haven’t I proven that to you already? But,” she said when he went to pull her into his arms, “I want your vow that nothing like this will ever happen again. I am your Lady and I have the right to know if I am being threatened, even if it is by the Emperor.”
“I vow!” Oryon immediately gave her.
Isis evaded his grip again. “And I want you to stop taking the cohosh gorm.”
“What?” Oryon’s eyes narrowed.
“I am forty-three years old Oryon, the chances of me still being able to conceive are slim but I want to know that if I don’t, that it is because it is the will of the Goddess, not because of a drug.”
For several long moments Oryon just watched her, then he held out his hand, waiting.
Isis handed him the vial.
Standing Oryon walked over to the fire one hand tightly gripping the mantle while the other fisted the vial. “My vow,” he said looking at her with hard eyes, “but I demand your vow in return. If it is the will of the Goddess, then you will immediately see Healer Asa and the Healer Rebecca. You will do whatever they tell you. No matter what! I cannot lose you Isis!”
Isis opened her mouth to argue then realized she could not for she would be demanding the same thing if somehow the situation was reversed.