20. Thieron

The story so far:

---- Aija and the others are on the South-Land. They are waiting for the Leadership to attack. Goldstar is alive. They lost the Premiere, Leigh, Tailyn, Arah Lin. Ze is getting better in his training. Ze and Ruyanir aren't married yet. The war comes to an end when Iernei spaceships arrive. Aija finds her brother Rei and Vincent alive. Aija and Thieron tell Goldstar all that has happened with them. Aija and Thieorn want to go to Ierne to give Aa'di Irih'va the Avo. Luka didn't expect to survive this long. He now feels at home with Thieron and Nala. Zuri goes home. She asks her parents to go to the South-land with her. They refuse. Xan accepts Var-Inu's offer to get an Iernei body. Xan is now Iernei. Thieron talks to Aija; she says she's confused and needs time. They all go to Ierne, Aa'di Irih'va welcomes them and takes Aija away. Zuri roams the Palace. She meets Ze, who tells her he doesn't like Nala and makes Zuri doubt her relationship with Nala. Aija asks Irih'va to remove her bond with Thieron. He agrees and accomplishes it. Goldstar gives Premier Zhaleh a plan to use against the Leadership. Thieron wakes after the bond is removed. He misses Aija. Aa'di Irih'va asks him to go home and then to join the Ithi'hra to work with him. Thieron gives Aija candy; she accepts them and it makes him happy.

----Nala and Ze have a fight session. Ze wins. Nala gets to know Thieorn spoke to Ze about her and Zuri. She asks Thieron about it. He convinces Nala to go home. Xan struggles with Ishth'nor's memories. Xan learns from Aija what really happened to him; he feels hurt. He wants to warn his family about the experiments to save his siblings. Goldstar finds out Vincent is Ytean-human. And that he was responsible for his reputation. He is upset. He chooses to leave behind 'Goldstar' and be Rei. It is Ze's wedding day. He's happy. Diya and Nova are present. He sees Ruyanir before the wedding. Ruyanir's and Ze's wedding takes place.

----Ze challenges Na'thwir for the position of Zayr chief.

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****20. THIERON****

Low rumble of thunder; rhythmic thrum of rain. 

Zya'ara. Home.

Thieron braced himself as memories of life in Zya'ara assailed him. He wished to gather them, preserve them in an abditory, and throw its key down from the Vou'ran. He had good memories, too, yes, but they only served to remind him that he'd left home and turned into a monster.

Aija had brought them to the safe-dome that overlooked Zya'ara. It made Thieron glad that he had a couple more minutes to amass himself before facing family. He prayed for steadiness and strength, for he had to do it in front of the entire group. Like a rope tied them all, everyone had insisted on going to Zya'ara. Aija, he understood; she had the ist'we stone But the others hadn't taken no for an answer. He hadn't been able to send Nala to Uré. She'd claimed to go only after he went to Zya'ara. Thieron asked himself if this would be the trend going further, the seven of them going everywhere.

Thieron stood by the edge of the cliff overlooking Zya'ara. Weeks ago, Etrie had confronted him there; Thieron had taken a hit that sent him off the cliff. Aija had saved his life. He still remembered her skirt billowing in the wind, her in Ru colours. To think that he'd taken Aija to protect her made Thieron laugh; she'd saved him many times more.

Zya'ara would always be home; it would always be where Thieron had realised he needed Aija more than he'd presumed. It would always be where Aija had cried that she hated to leave and wanted to stay. Strange how memories were tied to specific places like tangible bonds, like their very own Uil'dran. Whenever Thieron had thought of Zya'ara lately, he'd inevitably pictured Aija in his arms, wearing Ru colours, after they'd swum out of Yu Oht'zya; the fragrance of the white flowers in her hair tingling his nose. Until then, he'd never bothered to learn its name, even though he'd lived in Zya'ara. They were just the white flowers of Yu Oht'zya. But on the spacecraft, while Aija slept, he'd gone snooping around the network and learnt that they were named Iamo'rh.

Thieron heard Ayr'i approach him. She nodded once, not needing to speak for him to know what she meant – it's time. Thieron took in a lung's full of petrichor before running his fingers through his damp hair to brush it away from his face. He heard the cacophony that had been contained within the dome spill out as the dome's door opened, and Ayr'i went in to call the others.

Ayr'i and Thieron had decided on using the stone to transport themselves directly onto Ru Manor grounds. That way, they'd avoid the gaze of the Tv'orm and other people and get indoors sooner. Thieron watched the rest of the group pile out of the dome, voices excited. Aija broke off from the others and came to him. When she approached him on her own like that, it broke his resolve to stay away from her. Her anger with him seemed to have eased; she'd let him touch her in front of everyone at Ze's wedding.

Aija peered over the cliff once before holding her hand out to him. Thieron didn't question her willingness to hold his hand; he interlaced his fingers with hers and felt the soft lurch of lightning when their skin touched.

"Want a dip in Yu Oht'zya?"

Thieron shrugged. "You're right; we can just fall off the cliff," he glanced at the yawning ground below.

Aija grinned. Thieron stood, dazed, the feeling of making Aija smile unknown to him. Untouched by such joy, Thieron let it brew in his heart until it swelled, taking up a lofty chunk of space in his heart, making the heat on his cheeks rise.

"It's scary to go home; I know," Aija whispered. "But you can do it," she squeezed his hand. "Don't run away; go home."

Thieron asked himself how she knew he'd been contemplating fleeing. "Okay,"

****

Quiet until a second ago, activity burst onto the Ru Manor grounds. Several Tv'orm surrounded them, weapons in hand. T'ea emerged from the Manor, a nyb gun in one hand, a blade in another, followed by their distant cousin R'irè and a girl Thieron hadn't seen before.

T'ea paused, her eyes falling on Thieron. "Ah'n?"

"T'ea,"

T'ea asked the Tv'orm to stab-by with a raise of her hand, approaching him. Thieron had seen her from afar in the days following Aija's recovery, but for T'ea, this was the first in decades.

"Ah'n," she embraced him. "You're home."

"I am," he held her.

"What is that?" Thieron heard Xan ask as a quick rush of sound approached them.

"Dhr'aar!" Aija squealed; the enyr knocked her to the ground, licking her face. Aija giggled, squirming, pinned under the beast.

Dhr'aar rose to greet Thieron. Three ighe ran from behind the Manor to him. Thieron marvelled at how big the three igh-ra-firi pups had gotten. He'd taken Ua'frn to the dome and reunited her with the pups after he was sure Etrie and his team had evacuated. He'd left Ua'frn to the forests, and she'd chosen to go to the city. She pounced, now, winding her way to him behind her pups.

"Ua'frn," Thieron patted her, aware of everyone's gaze on him; everyone, except R'irè, who seemed bewitched by Aija and Dhr'aar. Evidently, an enyr held more respect than an igh.

"Aija," T'ea went to her.

Aija embraced her, tiny in her arms.

"You brought him home,"

"He came on his own."

Ayr'i stood away from everyone. Only R'irè seemed to recognise her, and it occurred to Thieron that was because T'ea had arrived long after Alton had taken Ayr'i. She must not have come home since then.

"Where's Roè Eiva?" he asked T'ea, making a mental note to confront his sister, later, about her visit to Zya'ara.

T'ea squished her nose. "Let's get inside, first."

****

High emotions presided over the reunion.

His aunts, Eiva and Afè, had been out on patrol when they were called back to the Manor. By the time they arrived, An'ri had returned with Thieron's grandparents.

It had been obvious Ayr'i hadn't been home at all. Maybe, she, too, had been scared to meet family after hundreds of years. At least, he'd been home sometime. Ayr'i's memories of Zya'ara had to be only from childhood. En'ari and Ji-Ho lived in Rin'zomn or on Earth most of their time.

Thieron and Ayr'i were ushered into the family room on the topmost floor while R'irè and T'ea helped the others settle in. They sat with their aunt Eiva, spilling her brother, Ai'r's crimes. Ea had come home but hadn't mentioned her father. She'd left to Rin'zomn a week later and hadn't shown that anything had gone wrong. Thieron wondered why; was she embarrassed by Ai'r? Was she scared? But Eiva would never punish her for her father's crimes.

"I'm sorry," Eiva apologised.

"No, O'ht," Ayr'i consoled.

"I am," Eiva insisted. "I never liked Ai'r; even as a child, there was always something off about him. I should've gotten you both away from him. Ea never spoke of you two at once; it was either you or your brother. I should've suspected something was amiss. I assumed you were happy with him, and I didn't want to uproot your lives by insisting you stay here."

"It's not your fault," Thieron murmured.

Eiva's eyes filled with tears. "It is. The things he made you children do...it's sickening. The Ithi'hra never mentioned...they never do. They only inform family upon a member's death. After En'ari, I'm your mother. I failed to protect you. As her sister, you became my kids after she died. I failed you as your mother.",

Ayr'i hugged Eiva. "O'ht," she crooned. Mother. "It's not your fault. No one suspects family to commit horrendous crimes. I lived with ht'zra for so long; I didn't know the truth. Ea didn't know."

"He killed my sister," Eiva wept, holding onto Ayr'i. "My sweet En'ari; she only ever wanted to be like him."

Thieron glimpsed out of the room, through the glass walls at the rain. He didn't know what to think as images of hours spent sitting in his parent's blood flooded his vision. The kills hadn't taken long; En'ari and Ji-Ho were weak. They'd tried to get him out of the house, tried to get him to run.

"Run, Ah'n!" En'ari had screamed.

He hadn't run away; he'd run to help, blade in hand. But he hadn't had any training, and as a child, he never stood against the adults in strength.

Ji-Ho had pushed him towards the backdoor before going back in. "Go, son."

Thieron couldn't run away. He'd searched for Ayr'i after the murdered had left; he hadn't found her. He'd been about five in human-years; so young, so little. For so long, Ai'r had manipulated him and Ayr'i.

Eiva calmed; Ayr'i held their aunt in her arms for longer.

"They didn't inform me of Ai'r's death,"

"He didn't work for Ithi'hra anymore," explained Thieron.

Eiva nodded.

"Did Ea seem okay?"

"Yes, but she never mentioned Ai'r. I must call her back home. You two are home." Eiva whispered. "You kids are home. I won't fail En'ari again."

**

"Aija mentioned you. It's why I let her in. But I was still unsure if she really knew you. Her aura is unreadable." Eiva paced the hall while they waited for food.

Eiva had lunch brought up though Thieron insisted they join the others. Eiva told them it would just become another session of questions asked, answers demanded, tears shed. She wanted them to have a few more minutes of peace. Meeting the extended family could wait; they had time.

Thieron held back that he'd come to Zya'ara with Aija.

"You gave her the sole family ring," Ayr'i said.

Eiva smiled; Thieron didn't see a replacement ring on his aunt's fingers.

"Why were you on patrol?" Thieron asked before Ayr'i felt the need to tell their aunt about his feelings for Aija.

Eiva paused her pacing. Snippets of memories hurtled into Thieron's mind; another day, another time. Eiva pacing the same room, talking to him about Sei'nir. Sei'nir's warm eyes; dark, gleaming skin. Remarkably, the memories didn't flood him with hurt like they had years after he'd killed her. Flashes of grey eyes, brown skin, a scar over a cheek rushed forward instantly, calming him. Thieron trapped those images into his thoughts, holding them there, an anodyne for his aching soul.

"Wysi'th," Eiva grumbled, adjusting the cuffs of her gear. "We have every reason to believe they'll attack again."

"Again?" Ayr'i frowned.

"They attacked not long ago. Aija was here; she...," Eiva cleared her throat, taking her seat. "Aija almost died. Did she tell you?"

"Yes," Thieron answered, trying to look nonchalant.

Ayr'i narrowed her eyes at him but didn't probe the matter. A tap on the door paused further discussion.

The dark-skinned girl from earlier came in with R'irè, carrying trays of food.

"You should've sent staff," Eiva went to help them.

"It's alright, Roè," the girl brushed it off. She caught Thieron's gaze and smiled.

Thieron returned a stiff smile, supposing she was from T'ea's side of the family.

"Glad to have you both back," R'irè grinned. "Let me know when I can take you around. I'm sure Ayr'i's forgotten Zya'ara."

"I have," she admitted, sheepish.

"I remember you from Afè's wedding," the girl told Thieron.

He didn't; he didn't say so.

"This is M'nrn, T'ea's childhood friend." Eiva introduced.

"Se'isn," M'nrn bowed.

"Se'isn," Thieron and Ayr'i greeted.

"I came to visit T'ea, but I'm glad I get to stay for the wedding," M'nrn gushed.

"What wedding?" Ayr'i questioned.

"An'ri and Brun," Eiva smiled. "I'll introduce Brun when she comes home."

"Where's An'ri?" Ayr'i beamed.

"With Aija and T'ea," R'irè offered.

"Can I go?" Ayr'i picked her tray of food, practically prancing, bowing at Eiva.

Eiva laughed. "Yes,"

Ayr'i left, grinning.

"Everyone's excited," R'irè remarked, sitting where Ayr'i had moments ago.

"You should find a partner, R'irè," Eiva pulled her tray closer. "You're on the family hereditary line."

"It's harder than you think, Roè," he complained.

Eiva laughed.

"Do you have a partner, Ah'n?" M'nrn asked.

Thieron, who'd been smiling at R'irè's complaints, froze. Three pairs of eyes inspected him, waiting.

"No," Thieron replied, feeling weighed down by their gaze.

"See, Roè?" R'irè addressed Eiva. "If Ah'n doesn't have anyone, there's no hope for me."

Eiva and M'nrn laughed, diverting the focus off Thieron. But he noted Eiva eyeing him, the thoughts in her aura a maelstrom.

****

Thieron sat alone in his room, listening to the weighted patter of rain, the echo of thunder, a rhythm against the music playing on his Comm.

He hadn't resided in this room in ages. Eiva had reserved it, still, for him, all his old stuff exactly where they'd been, dust-free. Even the clothes he'd outgrown hung neatly in the closet, the books piled on the shelves by the windows, his training blades and swords stacked on a wall, the rurkè (the one he'd refused to continue learning) in a corner, lying in stasis, awaiting him.

Days had passed since their arrival. Nala refused to visit Urè just yet. Aija, Zuri, and Xan went about Zya'ara with Ayr' and R'irè.

Eiva didn't allow Ayr'i and Thieron to go on patrol yet. The drones took care of the lands beyond Zya'ara, the Tv'orm and others, the borders. Thieron had complained, wanting to handle watch-shifts too. Doing nothing allowed his mind to take control, reining him into madness. Thieron spent the mornings training with his cousins before many left for their vigils. Evening hours were emptied out by training with Nala and Luka. The nights somehow rushed past into daylight. It were the long, sleepy afternoons that Thieron had a tough time enduring. He tried reading, going on walks with Ua'frn, or avoiding M'nrn.

M'nrn had the brilliant talent of finding him anywhere in the city. If she wasn't on watch, she found him, asking to train with him or just linger by him as he did whatever it was he'd been doing before she arrived. It wasn't long before An'ri, T'ea, and even R'irè, who was out mostly with Aija, Zuri, and Xan, took notice of M'nrn's pull to him. Even Ua'frn's hostility didn't deter M'nrn from seeking him out. She joined him, Nala, and Luka in their practice sessions. Nala, noticing his reluctance with M'nrn, had taken to ensuring she or Luka became Luka's sparring partners.

To Thieron, irony lay in avoiding a person. The more he tried to stay away from Aija, the more he found her. The more he tried to avoid being seen around M'nrn, the more Aija seemed to catch him in only those very moments. Even without the Uil'dran, Thieron seemed to know where Aija would be; he thought, so much, about evading her, his thoughts were assiduously drenched by her. Will Aija be in the dining hall if I enter? Will Aija be with R'irè out in the city? Will I see her if I go out too? If I step out, will M'nrn find me and Aija see me with her?

Thieron patted his hair dry with a towel. He needed to ask Eiva to be allowed on patrols, preferably afternoons. No matter how much he tried to keep himself preoccupied, there still were moments he felt like the world would collapse around him in a single moment of dormancy.

He holstered his blades over his torso, going over the empty slot. He'd given the blade to Ze as a wedding gift. Thieron knew a blade wouldn't fix what he'd put Ze through, but he'd wanted to present Ze with something meaningful. With his fight with the Zayr Chief looming, a weapon seemed the most sensible.

He heard scratching noises at the door. It was probably Ua'frn or the pups, who had free access to the Ru Manor, thanks to Eiva accepting them as part of the household. Thieron commanded the door open to see a mass of dark bound into the room, trailed by a conglomeration of white. Dhr'aar leapt to the bed and settled there; Ua'frn and the pups followed. A figure popped in behind the enyr and ighe, peeping into the room.

Thieron sighed, so much for trying to avoid her. She'd come looking for him.

"Sorry, I asked Dhr'aar to lead me to you," Aija remained at the threshold, hands at the back.

"Come in,"

Aija did; she took in the room, hands still at the back. Her eyes lingered longer on the weapons stacked on the wall and on the rurkè. "I don't find you out, anywhere," she stopped by the bed where he sat. Thieron paused the music on his Comm. "I wanted to give you this," Aija presented him a book from where she'd hidden it out of his sight behind her back.

Thieron accepted it; his mother's poetry book, one of his favourites.

"Afè had given it to me. It was still in my room. The translation-rune doesn't help in reading. I'm sure it means more to you."

To Thieron, it meant more that she'd seek him out and hand it over. But he didn't tell her that. Of course.

Aija waited for a response. Thieron had none. No, he had tons to say. But he'd say nothing.

"Dhr'aar," Aija called, ready to leave.

The enyr whined once, settled comfortably on the bed, but jumped down.

"Aija,"

Aija halted, waiting. Thieron stood. He'd been prepared to let her leave, to not say a word. But in these moments when she came to him, his resolve floundered.

"Ah'n," Luka came in. "Oh, Aija," Luka startled, surprised.

"What?" Thieron asked, simultaneously vexed and relieved.

"Roè is asking for you," Luka informed. "Right now; family room."

Thieron didn't miss Luka's subtle stutter on the word family. "Right," Thieron placed the book onto his bed.

His gaze flitted once to Aija. She had her eyes on him, and it evoked emotions in Thieron that he hadn't encountered before, not even when he'd loved Sei'nir. If his love for Sei'nir had been an ember, for Aija, it was wildfire; it was the fire of stars ablaze in his soul.

****

Eiva paced the family room. Thieron entered, a pang of dread surging in him on seeing his aunt's nervousness.

"Ah'n," she gestured for him to take a seat. "Where's Ayr'i?"

Thieron shrugged. "Luka asked me to see you,"

Eiva nodded, taking her seat opposite him. "I'll come straight to the point, Ah'n. What are your plans? Ayr'i's?"

"Plans?"

"You're staying, right?"

Thieron's shoulders slumped under the weight of hope in her voice.

"You're leaving?"

"Irih'va offered me work on Ierne,"

Eiva pouted for just a second but steadied her posture. Thieron could see all the hurt and apprehension she felt in her bright-yellow aura, but she didn't push the matter further. Thieron, peculiarly, thought of Aija and the iamo'rh flowers. He couldn't stay in Zya'ara; he needed to leave.

"And Ayr'i?"

Thieron shook his head. "I don't know. I can't speak for Aija, Zuri, and Xan. Luka and Nala will go with me."

Eiva frowned. "Xan's on Earth,"

"What?"

When had Xan left? Why didn't he know?

"Aija sent the boy a while ago. You'd know if you didn't spend your time hiding. Aija came to Afè and me twice asking for you. But I don't know where you disappear to all day. What's troubling you, oidh?"

Oidh. Son. It had been ages since someone lovingly addressed him that way. Alton made sure to call him ahd'tna often to acquaint Thieron with his standing with him.

"Nothing, Roè,"

"Is it Aija?"

Thieron alerted, body tensing.

"Or M'nrn?"

Thieron cleared his throat, fists clenching.

Eiva gave him a playful smile. "I wish you'd stay home, Ah'n. I won't stop you from working with the Emperor. But won't you stay a little longer? You just came home."

"I...,"

A beeping on the Screen terminated Thieron's response. Eiva went taut as she focussed on the Drone report on the Screen. It displayed the warning, 'Level One: Dsar'ya.'

Eiva's Comm. rang at the same time R'irè rushed into the room, frazzled.

"," Eiva answered, holding out a palm at R'irè to wait. Whatever news came from the other side made her turn pale. "Ay'so," she cut the connection and faced R'irè, who appeared about to erupt in anxiety.

"Wysi'th," R'irè stuttered, panic engulfing him. "War; it's going to be war. There's so many...," he trailed off.

Thieron stood, heart racing. "Get the children out of Zya'ara,"

R'irè sought Eiva's approval.

"Nè, dre'var," she urged. "Ask R'aer and Brun to take the kids right now."

R'irè bowed and hurried away.

"I'm sorry,"

"For what?" Eiva frowned.

"It wasn't my command to give, Roè,"

"You're my rightful heir, oidh. You're allowed to give commands." Eiva checked all the reports popping up on the Screen.

"I don't know about rightful," he muttered, worrying over another war. He was tired of spilling blood, even to protect.

"What do you mean?"

"Ayr'i wasn't there. She may very well best me."

Eiva peeled her eyes off the Screen and laid them on him for long seconds. "I may have to repeat the challenge. You seem set on leaving."

Thieron bit his lip, guilty for leaving family again. But he needed time away. He had to admit Irih'va's offer gave him purpose, a reason to do good, in the right way. No more sins to taint his already tarnished soul.

"Those of the stars live as their own," Eiva gave him a heavy-hearted smile.

****

An undercurrent of urgency and unease overtook the Manor.

In the time it took Thieron to reach his room, the quiet stillness of the space had transformed into a flurry of activities in preparation for war. War; Thieron had come to despise it. An army, larger than that on the South-Land, was headed to Zya'ara. The drones hadn't stopped blaring reports and warnings; even the immensely trained Tv'orm were on edge.

Eiva had sent for Afè to discuss a possible word-exchange with Wysi'th. They needed to avoid a fight. Thieron didn't place confidence in it working. Wysi'th had come prepared for battle, not talks.

The Ru household had protected the hr'uf for centuries. Not just to save Zya'araean land. They knew greed for amplifiers could lead to chaos and more greed, for greed was forged from a bottomless container. The Ru's had controlled how much hr'uf could be given away for commercial purposes. But Wysi'th didn't know when to stop, even when there were governmental orders for them to back off.

Luka and Aija waited for him outside his room, undoubtedly having sensed the disquiet gnawing on the Manor.

"What's going on?" Luka queried.

"Wysi'th; they're bringing an army."

Luka and Aija exchanged a brief look of concern that made Thieron feel he'd missed out on whatever was going on between them.

"I'll go help," Luka offered.

"Yes," Thieron placed a hand on his heart, grateful, and watched Luka leave.

"I'll help too," Aija moved to follow Luka.

"Wait," Thieron caught her by the arm. "Go with R'aer and Brun. You and Zuri, both. They're taking the children to Au'avra."

"No,"

"It's an important task too,"

"I know. R'aer and Brun are enough. I'm staying."

Thieron worried his lower lip with his teeth. "I watched you almost die once, Aija. Not again."

"I'm staying," she repeated, tone defiant.

Thieron had known her answer. But he'd seen what the gore of war did to her health. He knew he needed her; she was powerful – the most in Zya'ara, at present. But that moment of seeing her nearly dying, his aunts trying to keep her alive, and the fading Uil'dran was burned into his memory. Thieron couldn't lose Aija.

"Scared?"

"Yes," Thieron admitted. "The fight on the South-Land will not compare to this on any level. This is worse."

Aija took his hands in hers. The lightning flowered between them, true and powerful; Thieron relished her touch. "Don't be scared. I'm here."

Her words made him smile. All around them, activity had taken root with his extended family rushing about to prepare for war. But it felt like time stood still for him; he felt ensnared in a moment of dhan'ry: a moment in time that rushed by incredibly fast and yet never moved forward at all. A moment in time that was long, but not enough at all.

"I'll ask only one thing of you then. Go with me, Aija. Fight beside me; I'm my best by you. I need you. Will you fight by my side?"

Aija observed him quietly. She gripped his hands tightly in hers. "Yes, it's your lightning I have."

"Really?" Thieron was surprised. 

"I promise," she whispered. "I'm also my best by you."

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