Irresistible Forces

Lily opened her eyes, wincing. 'That is, without doubt, my father.'

With a groan, Vyrl grabbed his trousers off the floor and yanked them on. He pulled on his shirt as he scrambled out of bed. With the shirt laces untied, its tails untucked, and his feet bare, he stumbled across the room. He shot a glance at Lily, to urge her to cover up, but she had already pulled on her dress.

At the door, Vyrl shoved out the bar that locked it — and he barely had time to jump back as the door crashed open. Lily's burly father, Caul, stood framed in the entrance. Vyrl had one instant to see Lily's mother hurry by them before Caul grabbed him, hurled him around, and slammed him against the inside wall.

'No slime-mold dishonors my daughter,' he roared, swinging his meaty fist.

Vyrl dodged in time to keep his face from being smashed, but the blow caught his shoulder and pain shot through him. Although Caul had neither Vyrl's height nor agility, years of toiling on his farm had muscled the man's already husky build. Vyrl raised his arm up in time to block Caul's next blow, but then Caul used his other fist to sock him heartily in the stomach.

Vyrl grunted and doubled up with pain, wrapping his arms over his abdomen. Lily was crying out and other voices filled the air; from seemingly nowhere, people crammed the small room. His ears rang with the commotion.

Suddenly Caul was no longer pummeling him. Vyrl gasped, but it was several moments before he could straighten up. When he did, he saw his older brothers, Althor and Del-Kurj, holding back the enraged farmer. As hard as Caul struggled, he couldn't free himself. Althor was six feet six, with a massive physique. Del-Kurj had a lankier build, lean rather than bulky, But he was still a good half-head taller than Vyrl and had plenty of strength. Caul finally gave up fighting them and glowered at Vyrl as if his stare could incinerate his new son-in-law.

Vyrl swallowed, regarding his brothers. 'Thank you.'

'I wouldn't be so grateful,' Althor said dryly. 'You're in a load of trouble.'

Del-Kurj smirked at Vyrl. 'Who would have guessed it. I didn't think you even knew what to do with a girl.'

Vyrl scowled at him. 'Go blow, Del.'

Caul jerked his arms away from Althor and Del-Kurj, and this time they let him go, sensing his calmer state. To Vyrl, he growled, 'I'll deal with you later.'

Behind the men, Lily's mother was holding her daughter. She was an older, plumper version of Lily, maternal rather than nubile, still as pretty as Lily. Seeing her, Vyrl could imagine his wife in twenty years, and it made him love her all the more. Right now tears streaked Lily's face, making his heart ache. As much as he wanted to go to her, his brothers and Caul had him penned in the corner. From the look of Lily's mother, he doubted she would let him near her daughter anyway. Vyrl knew where Lily had inherited her stubborn side.

Althor had unhooked a palmtop from his belt and was talking into its com. 'The house is about half a klick from where we landed.'

The voice of Eldrinson, Vyrl's father, came out of the com. 'We'll be there right away.'

Caul fixed Vyrl with a baleful stare. 'If I were your father, I would thrash you from here to the Tyrole plains.'

Vyrl used his most respectful voice. 'Good sir, I would never dishonor your daughter. Lily and I were married yesterday by a Bard in Rillia.'

'Don't you give me excuses,' Caul bellowed. 'I'll make you sorry—' He stopped, blinking. 'Married? You, a prince, marry the daughter of a farmer? You expect me to believe that?'

Vyrl didn't think this was the best time to point out that Caul was hardly treating him like a prince.

'Father, it's true.' Lily was still trying to escape her mother. 'Just ask the Emerald Bard.'

A deep voice spoke from the doorway. 'Apparently my Emerald Bard is conveniently off on a trip.'

Vyrl almost groaned. As if the situation wasn't bad enough already. The last person he wanted to face right now was Lord Rillia. No, make that the second-to-last person. Facing his father was going to be even harder.

Hard or not, however, he had no choice; both his father and Lord Rillia had entered the cabin. The two men were well matched in build and coloring, though Lord Rillia had darker hair and more height. Rillia was also older, more austere, with silver streaks in his hair and an aloof dignity that had always intimidated Vyrl.

But when Vyrl saw his father's face, he felt even worse. Dark circles rimmed Eldrinson's eyes, and lines showed that hadn't been there two days before. His exhaustion seeped into the cabin. Sensing his father's mind, Vyrl realized Eldrinson had barely slept for the past two days.

'Thank the saints,' a woman said, her voice catching.

Vyrl turned with a start. His mother, Roca Skolia, stood in the doorway, her usual brightness dimmed. Like his father, she looked as if she had been awake for much too long.

Vyrl made himself speak. 'I am truly sorry.'

His mother considered him, then answered gently. 'For frightening us, yes, but not for running away.'

Vyrl winced. Living in a family of empaths had its drawbacks. He couldn't deny her words; as much as he regretted causing them pain, he would run away again given the chance.

'It's not his fault,' Lily said. 'It was my idea.'

Everyone turned to her. 'Yours?' Her father snorted. 'I hardly think so.' He waved his hand at Vyrl. 'You've always had far too much sense for this boy. This is his kind of fool stunt.'

'It's true,' Lily said earnestly. 'I told Vyrl I couldn't bear the thought of his marrying the queen from the sky. I begged him to come with me.' She watched them with a wide-eyed gaze. 'Really.'

Her mother sighed. 'Oh, honey.'

Caul fixed Vyrl with a hard look. 'As if you hadn't caused enough trouble, now you have my daughter lying.'

Vyrl met his gaze. 'I love your daughter for trying to defend me, sir, but the truth is that I'm the one who urged her to come with me. The idea was mine.'

If a stare could have skewered a person, Caul's would have pierced Vyrl straight through. 'You better be telling the truth about marrying her.'

Lord Rillia spoke. 'The marriage is easily checked.' He considered Vyrl. 'Did a Memory record the ceremony?'

'Yes, sir.' Vyrl realized the Bard who married them must not have been the person who had revealed they were at the cabin. Odd that the fellow had chosen now to take a trip. Remembering the man's thoughtful consideration, Vyrl wondered if he and his wife had left deliberately, to avoid having to reveal what they would rather not say.

'Your Lordship,' Vyrl began. 'If I may ask…?'

'Go ahead,' Lord Rillia said.

'How did you know we were here?'

Althor started to speak, then glanced at Rillia. The sovereign nodded, giving Althor leave to continue. In the balance of interstellar hierarchies, Vyrl's family had far more power than Lord Rillia, but here on Lyshriol, Rillia held sway, and Vyrl's parents treated him with the respect due that position.

Althor turned to Vyrl. 'The Ascendant finally broke through the jamming fields you set up.'

Vyrl blinked. 'The who?'

'The Ascendant. A battle cruiser in the ODS.' Sensing Vyrl's confusion, Althor added, 'In the Orbital Defense System.'

Roca frowned at her wayward son. 'As opposed, Vyrl, to the planetary defenses — which includes the equipment you stole and the shuttle you damaged.'

Vyrl wondered if the military officers on the Ascendant would feed him after they threw him into the brig. He did his best to look repentant. 'My apology for any difficulty I caused.'

'Please,' Lily said. 'Don't let anyone hurt him.'

Roca glanced at her new daughter-in-law, her expression softening. 'I am so sorry, Lily, that Vyrl involved you in this.'

'But why?' Warmth radiated from Lily's mind. 'It is the most wonderful thing that could have happened.'

Sadness came from Vyrl's mother. 'Then I am truly sorry.'

Lily turned to Vyrl, her gaze questioning and uncertain. Even more uneasy now, Vyrl looked from his mother