Tempest Rise (revised edition 10/2013) (Treborel) (33 page)

“Leave me alone!” She sobbed.

“Lysette, you’re hysterical,” Katar spoke softly trying to calm her, “Give me the baby before you fall.”

“Baby!”
  Lysette shrieked, “That’s all you’ve ever wanted isn’t it! A baby!  Well here!” She thrust Arbus into his arms, adding, “He has no one to love him, and you so desperately want a child, take him!”

Katar stared at her confused, glancing at
Sean, he wondered if Lysette had been subject to more horrors than he had imagined. Katar pleaded with her, “Let me take you out of here, Lysette. I want to help you.”

“Help me?” She stammered
, as exhaustion finally took her. “You’re too late to help me. I had to help myself. Why didn’t you come before . . . I killed all those people?” She staggered back from him and sat down in the grass, unable to support herself any longer. “I killed five men today, Katar!” She moaned, placing her head in her hands. “Never in my life have I injured even the smallest of creatures. I always thought that everyone and everything had a purpose, a reason for existing. I thought mine was to save lives and take away the pain. But I was wrong!” She wailed shaking her head violently, tears streaming down her face. “I killed 3 men so easily, so quickly with my bow.” Her strength left her as her voice turned to a whisper. “I’ve always been good with a bow.”

Struggling
, she rose and crossed to where she’d dropped the bow in the grass. As the light of a new day filed the clearing, Lysette smashed the weapon against a tree and turned to her uncle in despair, saying, “I’m glad I killed Connor, he was evil, but not Joah. I killed him as surely as if I’d shot him like the others. I killed him with my stubbornness and pride. I pushed Andru and bullied him to escape. If I had waited just one more night! Joah would be alive!  Of all the people who had to die, I was the one who had the least to live for! I was the only one who thought of myself. Not about Arbus or Andru, not about how dangerous it was to bring them out here. I thought it would be all right, I thought I could handle it.”

Lysette glanced back at Katar as she began to sway with fatigue. “You know, I can’t remember the last time I did anything right.” Her last words were barely audible as she collapsed into Katar’s arms.

Bird song invaded Lysette’s dreams. How did a bird get into the nursery, she thought. She opened her eyes and found a lace canopy above her. Sitting upright, she scanned the room, as the horrors of two nights ago came back to her.  Catching a movement out of the corner of her eye, she turned to find her uncle Sean sitting in a chair next to the bed watching her silently. Behind him, the ocean rocked in the distance as the sun touched the water briefly with a sweet warm kiss.

“How long have I been asleep?” She asked quietly.

“It was nearly late morning when we reached the coast. You were exhausted, so we took the transport from the bluff and came directly here to the harbor.”   Sean answered smiling, happy to see she was back to normal. “We got here just after lunch, and asked the harbor master to let us have the use of his upper floors.    That was two days ago.”

“Two days?” Lysette smiled surprised, “The Borel
Harbor?”

Rising from his
chair, he moved to the side of her bed, sat and kissed her lightly on the forehead. “Yes, the harbor master was very happy to allow his future King access to his home.” His smile lightened as he watched her reaction.

Not ready to broach the subject of Katar, Lysette hugged him and quickly changed
the subject, asking, “Where are Andru and the twins?”

“All three are in the room next door. He’s taken charge of them. I think they’ve found a new father.”

“Is he alright?” She asked concerned, remembering his grief at his grandfather’s passing.

“He’s weak
, but there's not a mark on him.” Sean smiled sadly.

“Joah gave his life force up
, so Andru could live.” She whispered as tears welled in her eyes.

“He loved his grandson very much.” Sean answered
, looking away from her out the window studying the ocean.

“As much as my grandmother loved me?”
She asked, forcing the tears back as he slowly turned to face her.

Sean looked at her for a long time before answering, “She couldn’t let you die.” His words were full of love.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She reached for him, and he took her in his arms hugging her tightly.

“You were so young, you wouldn’t have understood.” Sean answered, “There’s so much about your grandmother and your father I haven’t told you.  One minute you were too young, the next I was afraid you would never forgive me for not telling you sooner. Then you were a surgeon running off to join the Medical Relief
Corp”

“I want to know everything, no matter how difficult it is to tell me.” She pulled back
, looking into his eyes.

“When we get to Borel, I promise I’ll tell you the entire story.”

“Borel? Why are we going there?”

“Queen Sari wants to meet you. You and Katar . . .”

“I don’t want to talk about him?” She turned away, climbing out of the bed and pulling on the robe she found at the end of the bed.

“But, Lysette . . .” 

“I don’t want to see him, ever again.”

Studying her once more, Sean tried desperately to figure out what was wrong.  “I think we need to talk about your captivity.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” She snapped, moving to open the French doors that led to the balcony and walking outside.

“Lysette if something happened when you were with
Commander Connor . . .” Sean knew the only time she had been away from Andru was the last night when she had gone off with Connor.

“Uncle Sean, I’m fine, no one hurt me.” Lysette turned to him and smiled
, touched deeply by his concern. “I’m just not ready to deal with Katar.”

“I can’t tell you what a relief it is to know that.” Sean smiled back at her.

“Can I see Andru?”

“Of course!
Get dressed, I’ll tell him you’re up.” Sean kissed her once more on the cheek, and headed out the door.

When he returned
, he found Lysette dressed in one of the traveling outfits the harbormaster’s daughter provided. “You look good in blue; it brings out the color of your eyes.” Sean winked at her, and led her out the door. “Arbus and Rey are both awake and hungry. I think Andru could use some help.” Sean smiled and left her at Andru’s door.

“Thanks for the warning.” She said with a smile, and then called after him as he headed down the stairs, “Can you find me a medical probe?”

“Absolutely not.” Andrus voice came from behind her as he opened the door. “I’m not being treated by a barbaric female toting a miniature computer.”

“We
ll at least I could heal a wart if I had to.” Lysette smiled and gave him a huge hug.

“Save your energy for these two eating machines.” Andru laughed
, pulling her toward the two small infants lying on a heap of blankets in the middle of the floor.

Lysette picked up Arbus and examined him
, before placing a kiss on his chubby cheek. Placing him back on his makeshift bed, she stroked Rey’s head, kissing it and turned to look over at Andru.

“I’m fine.” He smiled
and backed away after seeing the look in her eyes. “I was ready to travel yesterday, but I wanted to stay and see you before we headed out.”

“We?”

“Well, I figured since you weren’t going to let me spirit you away to my ancient ruin, I’d take the next best thing. Arbus and Rey.” He grinned and winked at her.

“Uncle Sean said you had taken charge of them. Are you sure this is what you want?” She asked
, realizing the burden he was taking on all by himself.

“More sure than you could ever know.”

“I’m sorry about Joah.” She said softly, almost afraid to mention his grandfather’s name.

“Don’t be, he did what he had to do. I’ve been giving myself the same speech I gave you.” He smiled sadly. “And I’m the one who should be sorry. I never should have started that conversation. I should have known be
tter than to delve into your past, when I had no idea where it could lead. We were in a deeply stressful and emotional situation, and I made it so much worse for you.”

“It’s alright; I know we didn’t get a chance to talk after that. I realized later that you were right.” She rose and went to him taking his hand in hers. “I’m sorry about the things I said. I was being very cruel to you.”

“I deserved it.” Andru pulled her to him for a quick hug.

“No you didn’t. I just
spoke with my Uncle, and he didn’t deny it.”

“Well it’s good to know that you do listen to me on occasion.” Andru smiled.

“You are the most honest person I know. I always listen to you, Andru.  ”

“But you don’t always hear what I say.” He added softly.

Seeing the love in his eyes, Lysette wished with all her heart that she could love him. She knew it was impossible as long as Katar filled her thoughts. “Oh Andru, I wish . . .”

“Marry me Lysette.” Andru pulled her closer, “I’ll never hurt you
, and in time what you feel for Katar will fade. I can’t take his place, but I can help fill the void.”

“I can’t.”
She answered softly.

“I guess I knew the answer, but I had to try.” He smiled, “I’m going to take the twins to the Northern Colony, if you're going to change your mind
, you’ll have to do it fast.”

A knock came at the door
, and Sean stuck his head into the room saying, “The Regent is sending her transport to escort us back to Lavose, Lysette. If that’s what you really want.”

“It is.” Came her quiet answer, Sean nodded.

“It will be here in the morning.” He added, and disappeared closing the door after him.

Lysette and Andru spent the rest of the day discussing their plans
, and talking about the twins. Andru was going to adopt them legally, and raise them as his own.  Elsebeth’s family wanted nothing to do with the sons of a psychotic serial killer. It was after midnight when Lysette returned to her room.

When she turned on the light
, she found Katar sitting in the chair beside her bed. For the first time, he had actually become concerned about Lysette’s relationship with Andru. Could the two of them have shared more during their captivity than friendship? Could they have turned to each other in a desperate need for comfort? Pushing the jealously that was growing inside him to the back of his mind, he rose and smiled softly.

“I just got back from Bantor.” He began, “I felt I should be the one to return William and Elsebeth to their home.” He moved slowly toward her
, not wanting to frighten her again. “I see you’re doing well?”

“I’m very tired; I’d like to get some sleep.” Lysette managed a reply
, and turned stiffly toward the bed walking past him.

“Lysette,” He called her name so softly she felt the old grip of fear return to her
stomach; it had been so long, she’d nearly forgotten. She stood with her back to him, frozen, unable to move. Katar said, “I love you.”

“Then why did you marry someone else?” She asked softly
, as she turned to face him.

“I didn’t marry Enda, I put her in prison.” Katar said, softly confused.

“Prison? Why?” Lysette asked, as hope flared within her.

“She betrayed Treborel. She betrayed me.”

“She only did what you asked of her.” 

“I never asked her to betray you to Connor.” Katar stepped forward, thinking she had been blaming him for her captivity.

“No, she’s having your child.” Lysette stammered.

“My child?”
Katar smiled, “Lysette there is no possible way that Enda is ever going to give birth to a child of mine.”

“You killed the baby!” Lysette gasped
, horrified.

“Of course not.”
  Katar shook his head in frustration, “Lysette, listen to me carefully. Enda has never been, nor will she ever be, pregnant with my child.”

“You didn’t marry her?”

“No,” He answered softly.

They stared at each other in complete confusion, Katar though he would lose his mind before she ever understood. Then suddenly she began to laugh, uncontrollably. Sweeping her off her feet
, he took her to the bed thinking she was having a nervous breakdown. He laid her on the bed and went to the decanter on the small dresser near the balcony. He poured her a glass of brandy and forced her to drink it. She sipped from the glass between giggles. Then taking a large swallow himself, he sat on the bed beside her, watching with deep concern.

As
Lysette’s laughter subsided, he spoke softly to her, asking, “What has happened to you? Did Connor torture you?” He was afraid to ask the real question in his mind. Had he managed to find his way into her mind as he had William? Was this his final revenge against him?