Frowning she looked from the obvious places in the room to those that weren’t so obvious. She had talked in depth to Lisa about what she had done within House Luanda. About her openly displaying what King Grim had given her. About how she had gone about it because Isis wanted to do the same thing here. She wanted House Rigel to shine just as brightly as Betelgeuse did in space and she now realized she had her work cut out for her.
This place definitely needed a female to make it shine. There was dirt in the corners, dirty equipment stacked against the walls and the windows weren’t even clean. Her chambers would never be allowed to get in such a condition and neither would Oryon’s, so why wasn’t that same attention being given to the rest of the House. Well, she would make sure it was from now on.
“Isis?” Oryon’s question had her eyes turning to him and found that Oryon and every male there was watching her.
“Yes?” she asked.
“Is something wrong?” They’d been moving through the entrance, towards their Wing as they always did, when she had slowed then stopped.
“Of course not, I was just inspecting the room, making sure it reflected well on its Lord.”
Oryon raised an eyebrow at her words then let his eyes travel around the room. He saw nothing out of place. Warriors gathered here after a big hunt or training, warming themselves before the fire and telling tales. Large chairs and a table were set before the fire for just that reason. House Rigel was not nearly as formal as Torino. It had none of its extravagance or its high shine. House Rigel was a Warriors House. Did his Isis wish it were something more?
“I see nothing out of place,” he told her.
“No, not out of place, just not as well kept as it could be.” Seeing Oryon frown she slipped her arm through his and smiled up at him. “Don’t concern yourself. I will speak with Master Kaspar about it later.”
“You will do what?” Oryon asked in a deceptively soft voice. Did she really think he would let her ‘speak’ to Master Kaspar?
“I said,” Isis repeated, looking up at him sharply, she knew that tone, it was the one he used when he was extremely ‘displeased’ with a male. “That I would speak with Master Kaspar about making sure this room was adequately cleaned in the future. There shouldn’t be dirt in the corners and the windows need cleaning.”
“You will not speak to him,” Oryon growled.
“Excuse me?” Isis demanded, jerking her hand from his arm.
“I said…”
“I heard what you said Oryon,” she snapped letting all hear she was just as angry as he was. She would not be ordered around as if she were one of his Warriors. She was his ‘Lady’ and she demanded the same respect from him that he would demand others give her. “I just can’t believe you said it. Not to me.” With that, she stormed away shocking them all for none of them had ever heard Lady Isis raise her voice, let alone seen her act this way.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Oryon watched in confusion as Isis stormed away from him. “Follow her!” he ordered two of his warriors. “See that she makes it to our Wing safely.”
“Yes my Lord.” The males bowed and quickly took off after Isis.
“It seems the time spent with the Earth females has mother forgetting her place.” Ull’s words had Oryon giving him a sharp look, along with Vali and Zev.
“Her place?” Oryon questioned turning to his first male.
“Yes, she can’t just speak to another male. It insults you.”
“How does it insult me Ull?” Oryon asked softly.
“Her thinking to Join with a male from within your own House,” Ull said feeling as if he shouldn’t need to state the obvious.
“And you think that is why your mother wishes to speak to Master Kaspar, to initiate a Joining.” Oryon had to admit that had been his initial kneejerk reaction to Isis’ words. It was why he had spoken to her as he had. Now, hearing someone else say it, he realized it was absurd.
His Isis loved him, had loved him from the very beginning. She had chosen him over twenty-five years ago and with her every word, every deed since, she had proven she never regretted it. Never once in all those years had she looked at another male. She had refused all offers. She wasn’t going to start now.
She had stated for all to hear why she wanted to speak with Master Kaspar. Kaspar was the Master of House Rigel, responsible for making sure the day-to-day operations of the House were taken care of. She wanted more attention paid to the Great Hall’s appearance, wanted it to reflect well on him. It was something Queen Lisa had done with House Luanda and obviously, Isis wanted to the same here.
“Of course. It is the only reason a female speaks to a male,” Ull continued.
“So that is what the Empress was doing when she addressed the Assembly? She was looking for a new male to Join with?” Oryon demanded, feeling his anger return. “What Queen Lisa was doing when she also spoke there?”
“No, of course not,” Ull said dismissively, “that was different, they are Earth females.”
“So you are saying that our females, Tornian females, should be treated differently than Earth females. That they don’t have the right to speak to whomever they wish, whenever they wish and not have it mean they are interested in Joining with that male.”
“It’s not their way,” Ull said.
“It is my Lady’s way,” Oryon growled taking a threatening step towards his first male, “and I will not have you or anyone,” he looked to the other males in the room. “Insult her by saying otherwise.” Oryon spun on his heel finding he needed to leave the room before he did something he’d never done before. Strike one of his offspring in anger.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Isis couldn’t believe Oryon had spoken to her like that! As if she were some newly Joined female that needed to be told her place. She knew her place and it was no longer in her chamber alone. It was in this chamber, at Oryon’s side, helping and supporting him with their House. At least that’s where she wanted it to be. Maybe Oryon didn’t feel that way.
Storming into Oryon’s resting chamber, she slammed the door in the faces of the two warriors Oryon had sent after her.
‘Did he think she didn’t know the way?’ She thought fuming as she crossed the room. She already had the door open to the stairwell that lead to her chambers before her steps faltered. Looking up, she thought about her rooms, rooms that took up the entire second level of the Lord’s Wing.
She had spent over half her life in those rooms, had presented four fit and worthy male offspring there and had watched them grow from its windows. If anyone had asked her before this trip if she were happy in those rooms, she would have said yes.
She couldn’t now.
Now she knew there was so much more she could do. So much more, she wanted to do. She couldn’t go back to those rooms now. They would feel like a prison.
Turning, her gazed traveled over Oryon’s resting chamber. She had passed through this room many times in the past, for it was the only way to reach her chamber. An ‘extra protection’, Tornian females had always been told, so that unfit males could never reach them. Now she wondered if it wasn’t just another way to control a female.
She had actually spent very little time in this room, with the exception of Joinings. Oryon had always preferred to have their ‘discussions’ in her rooms, where they wouldn’t be interrupted. How strange that seemed to her now, for they could have been ‘interrupted’ just as easily here during Joinings. Now she wondered if it were so others weren’t aware of how much Oryon actually did discuss with her.
Was he ashamed of her?
Slowly she walked across the room, taking in all the things she never had before. The room was sparsely filled. The fireplace that had always blazed so brightly, heating the room and allowing her to see her way during their Joinings, was now banked, giving off little warmth. In front of it sat a large couch that upon closer inspection, seemed to have seen better days. Looking around the room, she realized most of the furni
shings appeared to be in the same condition. All except for the bed. It was covered in rich fabrics, soft sheets and the pillows she had once said she so loved.
Why?
Betelgeuse was a prosperous planet. Why wasn’t Oryon using some of that wealth for his own comfort?
Thinking back, she realized most of House Rigel was this way, sparse and… cold… while her rooms never were… was she to blame for this? Had her staying with Oryon somehow depleted the resources Betelgeuse provided? She had always thought her staying would mean just the opposite, that without the need to attract another female, House Rigel would be able to retain more of its wealth. Could she have been wrong?
The sound of the door opening had her turning to find males she knew served under Master Kaspar, carrying in her and Oryon’s luggage. When they saw her, they froze, shocked at her presence in their Lord’s resting chamber.
‘Well, they were just going to have to get used to it.’ Isis thought because this is where she was staying. “Set them both right there,” she ordered pointing to the doors she knew led to Oryon’s closet.
“What…” they stuttered looking at one another in confusion.
“Do as Lady Isis has ordered,” Oryon ordered, his deep voice booming as he stepped into the chamber, his eyes boring into the males.
“Y… yes my Lord,” they said, quickly moving to put the luggage where Isis had indicated before quickly escaping, while their Lord and Lady silently stared at each other.
Oryon slowly approached Isis trying to assess her mood. She had been so angry when she’d stormed away from him but now she seemed to have settled, returning to the calm female he’d always known. At least that was the way it appeared.
“You wish to do more than to just rest in my Chamber with me?” He asked tentatively, unsure if that was what having her possessions left here meant.
“Yes,” Isis said her eyes searching his to see if that upset him. “If you do not mind.” She found herself adding.
“Mind…” Oryon reached up to caress her cheek with the back of a knuckle. “There is nothing in the universe that would please me more then to know you were here waiting for me.”
“I’ve always been here Oryon,” she told him, “but I don’t want to just be waiting for you anymore, I want to be a part of your life.”
“You want to speak to whomever you wish.” He sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead. “Go wherever you wish inside House Rigel.”
“And on the grounds,” she told him, her eyes moving over his suddenly tired looking face.
“You know that will cause problems,” he said, moving away to stand before a window that looked out over the training grounds he had moved all those years ago so Isis could watch her offspring.
“Why?” she asked moving to stand behind him, placing a gentle hand on his back.
“Because males will think you want to Join with them.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Isis snorted her eyes looking out to the darkening field. “In all these years I’ve never considered another male, have refused all offers. I am now forty-three years old and have not presented offspring for over fifteen years. No male would consider Joining with me, even if I offered.”
“That is where you are wrong Isis.” Oryon turned to look at her, his hand covering hers to bring it to settle it over his heart. “Any male would be proud to have you as his. Offspring or not. You are beautiful and kind and loving and when they learn about females resting with a male….”
“You are the only male I want to rest with Oryon, the only male I love.”
“I know this but… you need to know there are those already wondering, one of them being your own offspring, Ull.”
“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 he 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’ eyes went to the movement outside on the training field.
“You truly believe this?”
“Don’t you?” she asked then 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. His rage easily seen in every move.
“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 asked turning 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.”
Isis felt her eyes fill at Oryon’s words. 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 asked, frowning 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 quest
ioning Oryon,” Isis said quickly trying to calm him.
“Then what are you questioning?” Oryon demanded.
”I’m questioning why, if House Rigel will have no problem supporting more females, is its Lord is 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 as what she was really questioning finally hit him. 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 Houses resources. He knew of males that took decades recovering from the demands a female had made on them, some never did.
“Have I, Oryon?” Isis asked in a wobbly voice.
“No, Isis,” he told her, gently pulling her into his arms. “You have not. My chambers are like this because…” He let his eyes 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 asked using his thumbs to wipe away the tears from her cheeks.