Chapter Eleven
Lisa laughs as the girls run in front of her, searching for signs of the Great Raptor. They’d been disappointed they’d missed Grim, but she distracted them by promising a walk in the garden, now that the sun has finally decided to make an appearance.
Ion and Nairn follow discretely, giving them their space, while making sure they were always in sight. They’d been relieved when the King left, not only because he seemed more relaxed, but also because the Queen was smiling again. The sound of running feet has them turning, as ten unknown warriors bursting out of the trees. Drawing their swords Nairn contacts Luanda while Ion yells at Lisa.
“Run!” He orders.
Lisa turns at Ion’s shout and immediately follows his order. Grabbing the girls’ hands, they flee up the path, her mind racing. Grim said intruders had landed but he hadn’t said they were anywhere near Luanda, rounding the bend Miki’s hand slips from hers as she falls.
“Mommy!” She cries out. Skidding to a halt Lisa looks around, frantically trying to figure out where they are.
“Mommy?” Carly gives her a frightened look. Dropping to her knees, she pulls both her girls close.
“Shhhh, it's okay, we’re going to be okay.” Realizing the sounds of battle have ceased she knows they are in trouble. Ion would have called out if they were safe. Seeing a large rock, she suddenly realizes where they are and what she must do to protect her babies.
“Girls I need you to be very brave for me. Can you do that until Grim gets here?” They immediately nod. Rising, she quickly leads them to a tree.
“I want you to climb up this tree and stay there until Grim comes for you. Do you understand me?”
“Mommy?”
“Listen to me girls. Bad males are here. They want to take us from Grim. We aren’t going to let them do that. We want to stay with Grim, don’t we?”
“Yes mommy.”
“Then we need to help him. You two are going to climb up this tree.” She points up.
“You are going to stay there. Being very quiet until you see Grim. Only Grim girls, no one else. Do you understand me?” Lisa won’t trust anyone else with her babies.
“You will do what Grim says. He will always protect you.”
“Yes mommy.” They respond in scared little voices.
“Then up you go.” Lisa starts them up the tree.
“Mommy, come with us.” Miki pleads.
“I can’t baby, I’m too big.” She gives them a reassuring look.
“I’ll find another tree to hide in. You do what Grim tells you, promise me.”
“Promise mommy.”
“I love you girls now stay quiet until you see Grim, no matter what and I’ll see you soon.” With one last look at her babies, she forces herself away from them, running up the hill. Once there she can see that the intruders are closing in on where the girls are, she needs to distract them.
“Grim!” She screams at the top of her lungs. Seeing the warriors turn, she waits until they zero in on her then runs for her life. Following the path, she runs deeper into the garden. Tripping, she slides on the rain-softened ground, looking up she sees the warriors are gaining on her. Scrambling around another bend, an arm shoots out snagging her around the waist, slamming her back into a hard chest. Struggling to get free she’s jerked off her feet.
“Cease!” Recognizing the voice, she looks up to see Farber.
“Farber!” Sagging in relief, she knows she now has a chance.
“We have to move!” She struggles again.
“There are four warriors heading this way!”
“Where are the young ones?” He demands, looking behind him.
“They’re safe. We have to move.” She tries to wiggle out of his grip.
“Where!” He demands, whipping her around, he holds her in a bruising grip, giving her a hard shake. Lisa’s eyes widen in shock at his handling of her.
“Where!” He shakes even harder before glaring at the warriors that have slowed their advance.
“Where are the young females?” He demands of them.
“We do not know, we thought they were with the female.”
Lisa watches in shock as Farber talks to the warriors. Farber knows them…he’s with them…
”What have you done?” She whispers in disbelief, drawing his attention back to her.
“I’ve elevated my station. A station you compromised.”
“How?” Lisa can’t stop herself from asks.
“You complained to the King about my serving you. Now I patrol the walls instead being a member of his Elite Guard!” He fingers dig deeper into her arms causing her to cry out.
“It is a station I earned!” He shakes her angrily.
“You will pay for that!” The grin on his face tells Lisa she isn’t going to enjoy his method of payment.
“Enough Farber.” The new voice has Lisa’s head whipping around.
“Luuken…” She whispers, knowing she’s now in deep shit.
“Hello again female, you have caused me a great deal of inconvenience.” He advances towards her, another male behind him.
“Really?” Farber spins her around so she’s now facing Luuken.
“That really upsets me Luuken, thinking you might have been inconvenienced.” Lisa glares at him, refusing to let him see her fear.
“It should.” Luuken steps close, so she’s sandwiched between two hard male bodies, his lips inches from hers.
“It really should, Lisa, because I am the one who will decide how much you suffer.” Before she can turn away, his mouth crushes hers, leaving no doubt what he means. Whimpering she tastes blood when her lip splits, but she refuses to grant him access.
“Where are the young females?” He demands, pulling away, he smiles at the bruised lips and hint of blood, it quickly disappears at her reply.
“With Grim.” She tells him arrogantly, flinging her head back.
“Safe. You’ll never touch them.” Growling his displeasure, he turns on the warriors.
“How did they get away from you?” He demands.
“We do not know my lord. We verified they were with her before we attacked. She must have hidden them.”
“Gee, you think?” Lisa sneers, knowing that every minute she keeps them talking is another minute for Grim to find her.
“Silence!” Luuken’s sudden backhand would have sent her to the ground, if Farber hadn’t been holding her so tightly.
“Luuken!” A shocked male voice has Lisa raising pain-filled eyes to find Korin standing several steps away.
“What’s wrong Korin?” Farber gives him an evil smile.
“Not male enough to watch a master handle a female.” Ignoring him, Korin pulls his eyes from Lisa, to address Luuken.
“Luuken, we need to move, before our location is discovered.”
“Good point Korin, I knew you were worth something.” Yanking her out of Farber’s grasp, Luuken pulls her to his side.
“Korin, Farber, lead us out of here.”
“Sire! The grounds of Luanda have been breached!” Carnot storms into the interrogation room.
“Where!” Grim demands.
“The gardens sire…sire the Queen and princesses are in the garden!”
Focke chuckle evilly.
“You’re too late my King.” He sneers.
“The female and her offspring are dead…if the Goddess has smiles on them and I doubt she has.” Alger watches Grim’s entire being still, his eyes going blank before they fill with a cold murderous rage that gives even him pause.
“All guards to the garden!” He orders, his tone deadly.
“Lisa and our offspring will be found. It is death to any that harm them, to any who have assisted them.” He looks at Focke, who pales. Grabbing his weapons, he storms out to find his family.
Within minutes, they find two of the Queen’s Elite Guard, seriously wounded, surrounded by six, dead, unknown warriors.
“Where is the Queen?” Grim demands grabbing Ion.
“She escaped sire.” He coughs up blood as he tries to rise.
“She and the little ones…deeper into the garden…we tried…four followed…” He falls back to the ground.
“Notify the healer.” Grim orders.
“Reinforce the perimeter, no one gets out! No ship leaves the planet!”
“Yes sire.” Alger opens his comm, conveying the King’s order, when they all freeze.
“Grim!” Lisa’s scream cuts deep into every male that hears it. Grim spins around, trying to zero in on her location.
“Two stay with the wounded, the rest with me!” He takes off running in the direction of his Queen. Scanning the area before him, he can easily see where the warriors’ tracks have crossed Lisa’s and the girls. Stopping he frowns, suddenly he finds only Lisa’s tracks.
“Grim!” Two little voices call out, the entire Guard freeze, eyes frantically searching for them.
“Grim, up here!” Looking up, Grim sees his daughters, tucked safely in the branches of their favorite tree, their young faces full of fear.
“Stay there little ones, I’m coming.” Quickly Grim scales the tree pulling them into the safety of his arms.
“Are you hurt?” He demands, his hands quickly checking them.
“No…”
“Where’s Lisa? Where is your mommy girls?” He asks as gently as he can, knowing they are scared.
“She went that way.” Carly points up the path.
“She said she was too big to get in our tree and she’d find another. She told us to wait for you Grim. That we weren’t to get down for anyone but you.” Tear filled eyes meet his.
“Four warriors ran after her.” Carly starts to sob. “Find mommy Grim.”
Grim’s quickly realizes what Lisa has done. She’s protected her children by leading the warriors away, putting herself in danger instead. Her scream was to draw their attention.
“I will baby, I promise.” He gives them both a reassuring hug before handing them over to their Guards.
“I want you to go with Kirk and Basco. They are going to take you to your room in Luanda.” He looks at the guards seeing they understand him.
“They and the remaining Queen’s Guards will stay with you until I return with your mother.”
“My King…” Kirk starts to protest.
“Protect our girls Kirk. It is what your Queen would demand.”
“Yes sire.”
“What is this about Luuken?” Lisa demands, purposely making Luuken drag her along, ignoring the growing pain in her arm.
“What this is about.” Luuken replies yanking her down the path.
“Is Grim thinking you have secured his throne. When you are the key to destroying him.” He chuckles at the thought, missing Korin’s jerk.
“And how is that Luuken?” Lisa sneers his name.
“By proving just how unfit a male he is!” Luuken’s temper rises at this small female’s continued disrespect.
“You’re insane. Grim is what every Tornian male wishes he was.” All hear the belief in her voice.
“He is scarred!” Luuken jerks her to a stop, enraged that she would continue to defend Grim.
“He was the victor in a battle of eight against one! Every scar is a badge of honor, stating that not only is he the fittest warrior but he is a survivor. Anyone who doesn’t realize that is unfit!” Lisa rages back at him, refusing to back down.
“It matters not that he survived that attack…he will not survive you!” His evil smile has a shiver running down her spin.
“When what he has done to you becomes known, not even the Emperor will be able to save him.”
“Grim has done nothing to me.” She denies.
“He has severely abused you.” Lisa cries out, as he violently throws her to the ground.
“You are truly insane if you think I won’t tell the Emperor the truth!” Lisa throws over her shoulder angrily, flinging her hair out of her face as she tries to rise.
“You have to be breathing to do that.” Luuken states, placing a booted foot on her back he presses her down onto the rocky ground, letting what he’s said sink in.
“It will be fully documented of course, your injuries. Not just the external but the internal damage, caused by Grim’s blatant disregard of the harm he caused your body during repeated joinings.” Farber’s chuckle has fear skittering down Lisa’s spine.
“We will, of course, do all we can enroute to save you but unfortunately you are small and weak and will succumb to your injuries just hours before our arrival. Wray will give me your young females for my efforts, securing my position.”
Lisa’s breathe catches as what Luuken is saying sinks in. He plans to rape her, repeatedly, so he can blame it on Grim. Her eyes flash to Korin before moving to Farber.
“Why?” She asks looking at the male Grim once trusted.
“What’s in it for you?”
“You, first.” His smile is deadly as his eyes rake her body.
“Then I will be Captain of Luuken’s Guard, when he becomes King of Luda.”
“Shut up Farber.” Luuken orders.
“Why? It is what was promised. It is what I have earned!”
“You…Captain…” Lisa doesn’t try to hide her contempt.
“You can’t even clean windows properly. Who would trust you with their security? Especially when you’ve already proven you have no loyalty!” Snarling Farber drops to the ground, flipping her over, he to straddle her hips, ripping open her shirt.
“I will have her now!” Farber roars angrily.
“Grim!” Lisa screams before Faber cuffs her throat, squeezing, cutting off her cry. The world starts to dim as she struggles, trying to buck him off, but it is a losing battle. He is too heavy, too strong, she can’t stop him. Grim! She cries out silently, I’m sorry.
“No!” Korin dives at Farber, knocking him off Lisa. He’s has had to stand by too many times, has allowed too many things, that never should’ve happened. All to protect his brother but this, this he can’t stand aside for. He may not have much honor left but what he does have won’t allow this. Females are sacred, to be protected at all costs, especially this one, his true King’s Queen.
Grim kneels, carefully assessing the ground in front of him. Lisa had fallen further up the path before coming to a sudden stop here. Here, the other warriors had stopped, only to be joined by three more, seven warriors total with Lisa between them. She wouldn’t have had a chance.
Grim’s fear grows, his Lisa is so small, and delicate she would be unable to defend herself if these warriors had no honor. Rising he looks to Alger and can see his Captain feels the same. Turning to follow the seldom-used path that leads to a hidden perimeter door, he freezes at Lisa’s second scream.
This one is full of pain and terror before it is abruptly cut off, causing Grim’s heart to stutter. Disregarding any attempt for stealth he storms down the path, this scream is much closer. He is going to find his Lisa.
Coming upon the group Grim raises his sword, cutting through all who stand between him and his Lisa. Luuken, startled by his sudden appearance, stumbles back as Grim swings, his blade cutting across his chest.
Grim ignores Luuken and drops down next to an unmoving Lisa, his eyes quickly taking in her bruised and battered body, the state of her clothing.
“Lisa…” He whispers, carefully sliding an arm under her shoulders, pulling her to his chest.
Lisa jerks, gasping for breath and struggles against Farber’s hold. She’s not giving up. She’s not going down without a fight. She will not let Luuken use her against Grim.
“Lisa, shhhh little one, I have you, you are safe.” Terror filled eyes fly to Grim before they fill with tears.
“Grim…” She whispers, sagging into the safety of his arms, weeping.
“I have you my Lisa.” Carefully he tips her face to his, taking in the damage before moving down to her bruised throat, torn clothing and angry red marks marring her breasts. His eyes fly from where Luuken is withering in pain to the bloody Korin who has quickly surrendered to his Guard.
“The girls…” Lisa whispers, drawing his attention back to her.
“Safe in Luanda, surrounded by not only your Guard but the entire household.”
“Ion and Nairn?”
“Being treated by a healer, everyone is safe my love.”
“It was Luuken, Grim.” She starts to tremble.
“He…he wants your throne, he was going to…to rape me, let his warriors rape me, then kill me so he could claim you did it.” Her voice breaks but she forces herself to finish.
“That way Wray would have no choice but to remove you, to take the girls from you. Oh god Grim…” She buries her face in his chest as the full horror sinks in.
The gentleness of Grim’s hold belies the rage in his eyes as he looks to each of his warriors, seeing their horror at what Lisa has said. It is only then he truly understands what Alger has tried to tell him. Lisa might be his Queen but she is theirs as well. All eyes turn to Korin.
“You will pay for the insult to my Queen Korin. You will suffer, greatly.” Korin bows his head to Grim, accepting his punishment, knowing he deserves it.
Hearing him Lisa knows Grim has misunderstood.
“No Grim.” She pushes away from his chest, forcing him to look back to her.
“It wasn’t Korin. It was Faber.” All eyes turn to one of their own. “Korin protected me when Farber tried to rape me.”
“She is confused my King.” Farber denies his anger eyes boring into Lisa’s, trying to intimidate her.
“Korin was attacking her when I found them, I stopped him.” Grim carefully rises making sure Lisa’s steady before he stepping away, raising his sword. His Guard move to protect their Queen.
“Then why were Luuken’s warriors watching instead of attacking Faber?” He moves towards him.
“How is it they were heading towards the part of the wall that you were to protect?”
“My King, I was on the wall, I only left my post when I heard your female scream. Korin is the one that came with Luuken. You can’t possibly believe a female over one of your own warriors!” Farber continues to deny his involvement as he glares at Lisa.
“Korin.” Grim looks to his former student.
“I came with Luuken sire, I do not deny that, he is Lord Bertos’ heir, it is my duty, but I did not attack your Queen. I was told she was to be delivered to Tornian, unharmed, so she could rejoin the other females. There is no honor in harming a female, you taught me that.”
Grim looks at the male whose early training he’d been honored to have a hand in and can see no lie in the eyes that unflinchingly meet his.
“You lie.” Grim’s eyes flash back to Farber as he raises his sword bringing it down quickly, cutting threw Farber’s sword arm.
“You’ve plotted against your King.” He swings again, catching him across his chest.
“But it is for harming my Queen that you shall die the death of dishonor.” Plunging his sword into Farber’s belly, he slowly draws the blade across, watching shock and pain fill Farber’s face before turning his back on him, letting he fall to the ground.
Lisa watches as Grim dishes out his brand of justice to Farber and feels the blood drain from her face. It’s too much. Seeing her sway, Grim drops his sword, barely reaching her before she hits the ground. Swinging her into his arms, he pulls her limp body close and turns to Luanda.
There’s movement and sound. Voices, many voices. Lisa struggles through the darkness, trying to open her eyes.
“I’ve got you my Lisa, rest.” Grim’s voice leads her from the darkness and into the beauty of his eyes.
“Grim…” She whispers, forcing the words past her bruised throat.
“I’m here Lisa.” Feeling him laying her down, she clutches at him, refusing to let go. Shifting, Grim sits, easing her into his lap.
“It’s okay little one, we are home.” Looking away from the comfort of his eyes, she realizes they’re in their chamber.
“The girls…”
“In their room. Padma is with them.”
“Padma…” Confused eyes return to him.
“She was delivering your coverings when the Guards returned with them. She insisted on staying with them, keeping them calm.”
“They didn’t see me.” Worry fills her eyes.
“They saw nothing.” He reassures her.
“The healer is on his way.”
“Healer…no, no healer.” She croaks.
“I’m fine…I just need to clean up before the girls see me.”
“You are not fine.” Grim forces through gritted teeth, fighting for patience.
“You are bruised, have cuts and scratches. Your coverings have been…” Grim finds he can’t go on. His Lisa, the most beautiful thing in his life, has been harmed because of him.
“Grim,” She puts a dirt streaked hand on his cheek.
“This is not your fault.”
“Of course it is.” He growls angrily, while carefully covering her hand with his.
“I did not properly protect you. Luuken was able to attack you because of it.”
“He was able to attack me because of Baccuus, Focke, and Farber. You aren’t responsible for their actions.”
“I should have realized…”
“What? That you’d be betrayed. No one can foresee that Grim.”
“Sire.” Alger stands in the doorway, hating to interrupt.
“What is it Alger.” Grim looks over his shoulder impatiently.
“Healer Hadar is still with Ion, he states he is still in serious condition.”
“How badly is he hurt?” Lisa looks to Grim’s Captain and sees him quickly look away. Looking down she realizes why, her torn shirt is gapping opening, showing more than it should.
“Sorry.” She mummers, pulling her shirt together.
“Hadar has him in the deep repair unit but it is struggling with all his injuries.”
“He is the priority.” Lisa croaks out before Grim can speak, letting him know her desire.
“And Nairn?”
“Is out of the repair unit and in the recovery unit. He will be a little worse for wear but will fully recover.”
“They bought us time." She looks to Grim, her eyes filling again. "They sacrificed themselves, so the girls and I could get away. They represent the best of Luda. They shall be treated as such. There is no shame in them being wounded.” She looks to Alger making sure he understands.
“Of course not my Queen.” Alger nods to her before looking to Grim.
“There is something else my King, an encoded transmission from the Emperor.” Lisa feels Grim stiffen beneath her.
“I will check it later.” Alger gives him a slight bow and leaves.
“Grim…it’s a message from Wray. You need to see what he wants.” She tells him even as she sinks deeper into the comfort of his arms.
“I need to see that you are cared for.” His look tells her he won’t budge on this and she can’t argue. She’d be the same way if it were him.
“Okay,” She gives him a small smile.
“Then will you help me into the shower? I want to get clean…need to get clean… before I see the girls.”
Instead of answering, Grim stands carrying her into their cleansing room. Gently he sets her on the counter and carefully removes her ruined coverings, his hands trembling as he gently touches each mark marring her beautiful skin.
“It’s okay Grim,” She whispers resting her head against his chest.
“I’m going to be okay. Thanks to you.”
Grim finds he can’t speak as he carries her into the cleansing stall. Lisa rests trustingly against, him soaking up the comfort of his touch. Instinctively knowing he needs it as much as she does. This hadn’t just been attack against her. It had been an attack against Grim, against the Emperor.
“Did I ever tell you that Peter attacked me once?” Her eyes remain closed, as she rubs her undamaged cheek against his chest, feeling his hands still.
“He attacked you?”
“A couple weeks before Mark died. I wouldn’t sign the papers giving him control of the girls’ trusts. He caught me when I was alone in the garage.” Tipping her head back, she moans, as Grim’s hands sink into her hair, caressing her scalp.
“He…”
“No.” Opening her eyes, she sees his fear.
“You saw Peter, Grim. He’s not a Tornian male, I could handle him.”
“What did your Mark do?”
“I never told him.” She sees the disbelief in his eyes.
“He was so weak by then, what good would it do to tell him? I handled it and made sure I was never alone with Peter again.”
“You’ve handled much by yourself my Lisa.”
“But I couldn’t have handled Farber and Luuken, not without you. I needed you.”
“You will always have me my Lisa.”
“I know. I love you Grim.”
Lisa sighs tiredly, letting her headrest on the back of the couch. God she’s so tired, the terror of the day, taking more out of her then she thought. Letting her eyes close she doesn’t let herself think about what could have happened, she'd drive herself crazy if she did. She'd learned that with Mark's illness, the would of's and could of's are a waste of energy needed for what was.
And what was, is that Grim saved her, saved her and the girls again before any serious damage could be done. She knows he doesn’t see it that way. That with every scratch, every cut, every bruise that he gently cleaned in the shower he saw failure, his failure. The same way others saw his scars as a failure but she'd take a bruised and battered body any day over what could have happened…would have happened if not for Grim and his warriors and that includes Korin.
Korin protected her because of what Grim had taught him. Against Luuken, endangering his brother, because he still had the honor taught to him by Grim, something even Luuken couldn't destroy. She hadn't missed how he called Grim sire, giving him the respect he deserved while calling Luuken, Lord Bertos’ heir, telling her he still considered Grim his true King. The dipping of the couch has her gazing into concerned eyes. Grim wants her in bed, to rest, not to love.
“Soon.” She promises reaching up to caress his cheek.
“I just need to see the girls.”
“And Hadar.” His tone telling her not to argue.
“And Hadar.” She reassures him.
“Once he’s done with your warriors.”
“Sire.” Both look to Montfort standing in the doorway and he can’t hide the shock at his Queen’s appearance. The King rushed her through Luanda, allowing no one to see her and now he understands why.
“What is it?” Grim growls his displeasure at Montfort’s continued gaze.
“I’m sorry my King. My Queen.” He lowers his eyes, fighting to stop them from filling.
“It’s alright Montfort.” She reassures, seeing him struggle.
“I know I look a mess but I am okay.” She gives him an encouraging smile.
“I have brought a meal for you.” He forces the words out, not wanting his Queen to see how distressed he truly is at her appearance.
“Her throat is damaged Montfort.” Grim informs him.
“I brought several items sire, including soup that should not irritate.”
“Thank you Montfort, that sounds wonderful.” When she goes to stand, Grim puts a gentle but restraining hand on her shoulder.
“You will eat here.” He is unbending.
“But the girls…”
“The little ones are currently eating with your Guard my Queen.” Montfort informs her.
“With my Guard? Why?” Her eyes fly to Grim.
“What’s wrong?”
“There is nothing wrong my Queen. Truth.” Montfort speaks before Grim can.
“When it became time for their meal the Guard refused to leave, even a few at a time and the little ones refused to eat unless your Guard did too so they are eating together.”
“Oh…” Lisa finds she can’t speak, as her eyes overflow at these males affection for her daughters.
“Bring in the meal Montfort.” Grim says gently wiping away her tears. Nodding he leaves.
“Your warriors are such good males Grim.” She whispers.
“Our little ones have captured their hearts as much as you have.” Gently he kisses her, taking care with her split lip, pulling away only when Montfort returns.
Grim watches his Lisa closely as she eats, when she falters he takes the bowl from her, feeding her himself. That she doesn’t argue tells him truth, she is hurting more than she wants him to know. When the bowl is empty, she leans back.
“I’ll have Montfort bring more.”
“No, I’m full, but thank you.”
“You are sure?” He frowns.
“I am.” She rubs her hand along his thigh.
“I need to go see the girls.”
“No.” Grim denies her.
“What?” He sees the shock in her eyes and knows she has misunderstood.
“You will stay here. I will bring them to you. You will not move from here Lisa.” His voice is as stern as she’s ever heard it.
“I promise…just get them…please…” He sees the concern she’s been trying to hide. She’s trusted him when he said they were unharmed but now she needs to see for herself. She is their mother. It’s her job, her responsibility…Grim finally realizes what he and every other Tornian male has been denied, something truly important, a mother’s love. He’ll make sure his offspring aren’t.
“I will get them my Lisa. Just promise me you will not over do once they are here. I need you to take care of yourself…for me.”
“I promise Grim.”
“Mommy!” How the girls escape Grim’s restraining hands he will never know, but they do, making a beeline for their mother.
“Girls!” Grim cringes, as they dive into her arms, seeing her flash of pain even as her arms enfold them.
“It’s okay Grim.” She waves him off when he would have pulled them from her. Lowering her head, she pulls them even closer, breathing in their clean innocent scent. Thanking the goddess for watching over them until Grim could.
“Mommy…” Carly reaches out a hesitant hand touching her bruised cheek.
“You’re hurt.” Her eyes fly to Grim.
“It was the tree baby.” Lisa’s had time to think about what to say to her girls and while she doesn't like to lie, there is no way she can explain what’s really happened.
“I told you I would find one and hide until Grim could find us and I did.” She looks to Grim seeing that he understands what she’s doing.
“But what happened mommy?” Miki asks her voice quivering.
“I misjudged baby.” She sees their confusion.
“Made a mistake, I thought I’d found a good tree and trusted it but it wasn’t and I got hurt.” She sees the fear in her girls’ eyes.
“But Grim stopped me from being really hurt. These are just bumps and bruises…you’ve both had them before right?” They nod. “So don’t worry, I’m going to be fine.”
“Promise mommy?” Miki whispers fearfully.
“I promise baby. Now tell me what you’ve been doing. I hear Padma stayed with you.”
“She did mommy.” Miki tells her excitedly, her earlier fear forgotten.
“She said we had to cleanse before she’d let us try on our new clothes…coverings.” She leans back letting Lisa see what she’s wearing.
Lisa looks and sees both girls are wearing clothes she’s never seen before. Looking up, she sees Padma standing just outside the door, Gossamer close behind.
“Thank you Padma.” The tightening in Lisa’s throat has nothing to do with its injury.
“It was nothing my Queen.” Padma looks at her feet.
“It is something Padma.” Tears overflow Lisa’s eyes.
“You cared for my children when you didn’t have too. You gave them comfort. I will forever be in your debt.”
“No, I did nothing for yours, you didn’t do for mine.” Grim follows the exchange between the two females and realizes he’s never given Gossamer’s female the respect she deserves. She obviously loves her offspring as much as Lisa does hers and because of this, they have forged a bond that only they truly understand.
“Padma," Grim addresses her directly, something rarely done. "Would you be willing to stay the night? In this wing of course, fully protected, to assist with the care of our offspring so Lisa may rest worry free?”
“My King?” Padma looks at him shocked.
“Gossamer too of course.” He looks her in the eye.
“You have proven that you are not only a loyal, but a true friend to my Queen. You could have left Luanda at the first sign of trouble, but you refused, you stayed and cared for our offspring when we could not, in a way no one else could have, this will not be forgotten It will be made known that you are a true and trusted friend to the Queen and King of Luda.”
“I…” Padma doesn’t know what to say. What the King has just said will change their lives. Auyangian women are viewed as scum by Tornian females and at best playthings by the males. It is why Gossamer always keeps her so close. For the King to proclaim her a friend...it will give her unrivaled protection for her and her family.
“We will stay my King.” Gossamer speaks from behind Padma.
The arrival of Healer Hadar has Lisa kissing the girls goodnight as Padma ushers them to bed. When the door closes, she turns to Hadar.
“How is Ion?” She immediately demands.
“He will survive my Queen. Now let me see to you.” Pulling out a palm sized device he moves towards her.
“What is that?” Lisa leans back, looking at the device suspiciously.
“This?” Hadar looks at her surprised.
“This is a micro body scanner. It will scan your injuries and assess what needs to be done. You will feel nothing and it causes no harm.” Lisa looks to Grim and seeing his nod relaxes.
“Alright.” As Hadar starts his scan, Grim turns impatiently to answer yet another knock on the door.
“I’m sorry for the interruption my King but we’ve received another communication from the Emperor, this one demanding an immediate reply.”
“Grim.” Lisa pulls his attention.
“Go see what your brother wants. The girls are in bed, Hadar is here, I’ll be going to bed as soon as he’s done.”
“Lisa…”
“I will give you a full report my King.” Hadar informs him knowing he’s not going to get accurate readings if the female doesn’t stop moving.
Grim frowns not wanting to leave Lisa but knowing she is right, for Wray to demand an immediate reply means it is important. But leaving her…
“Go." She encourages him with a soft smile, full of love and understanding. "The sooner you leave the sooner you will be back.” Hadar moves aside as Grim walks over, giving her a gentle kiss before looking to Harder.
“You will see she is settled before you leave, will inform her Guard.”
“Of course my King.” He immediately replies.
“Your Guard is posted throughout the wing, my Lisa.” He wants her to know she’s safe and watches her nod. With one last kiss, he forces himself to leave her.