Love Without Boundaries by M. K. Eidem, Michelle Howard Page A

wanted to go, he said nothing, just glared at the male. Moving towards the door, a bag over his shoulder, heavy with his ill-gotten credits, he bumped into one of the kitchen trainees, knocking the bowl he carried to the floor.
    “Galal!” Lajos screamed at the young male
    “I’m sorry Warrior Lajos, I did not see him.” Galal stuttered dropping to his knees to clean up the mess.
    “You unfit male!” Kaspar spat at Galal. “You will never become a warrior fit enough to serve this House if you can’t even control a bowl!” Flinging those hate-filled words at Galal, Kaspar headed out the door and to freedom.
     
    ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

 
    Isis made a slow tight circle in the room that had once held so many memories for her, now it was empty. Smiling she hugged herself. She had done it! She had actually done it! She had been able to move beyond the restraints that had once been placed on her, and in doing so, discovered the female she was truly meant to be.
    She couldn’t wait to empty the rest of this floor and spread it throughout Rigel. Vali had been amazed by what he had seen in just this one room, what would he think when he saw the rest?
    Walking into what was once her ‘private’ chamber, she looked at the things there. Most were things Oryon had given her, some she liked… others… not so much, but she had always treasured that he had thought to give them to her. Grabbing the ones she most cherished, she headed back down taking them to their new home.
    She took her time selecting the perfect spot for each item. A beautiful piece of glass would sit on the windowsill, capturing the light and sending shards of color throughout the room, Oryon had given it to her after she had presented Ull.
    A stone sculpture of a warrior, his sword raised, ready to strike, that she placed on the mantle. This was a piece Isis had never really liked. The warrior’s expression was too stark, to unemotional, it was as if it didn’t bother him that his strike was about to kill. Oryon had given it to her during their first year of Joining, shortly after the death of his manno, making him Lord.
    Her first instinct had been to refuse it, letting him know it wasn’t something she liked. Then Oryon had told her about it, about how it always went to the Lord’s first male, the future Lord. It was meant to remind the male that if he were to be a successful Lord he needed to remain strong and vigilant. Oryon’s manno had only given it to him moments before his death, even though his brother had been dead for years.
    Isis found she couldn’t refuse the gift after that. She was ashamed to admit she had been relieved Oryon’s manno had died. She had never liked the male. He had always seen Oryon as a lesser male than his brother. It was something Isis never understood because to her Oryon was everything a Lord should be and he wasn’t anything like this stone warrior. Turning it ever so slightly so the warrior wasn’t looking directly out, Isis turned away, knowing exactly where she wanted to place the last piece she’d brought down.
    Between the two large windows sat Oryon’s desk. It was a large desk, with several levels that were full of little cubbyholes for him to store things. Some had doors and some didn't. Walking over to it, she let her fingers trail along its smooth surface, enjoying its silky feel. This was the private desk of a Lord, there were papers scattered across its wide surface, notes on training schedules, reminders of things he needed to do.
    Her manno’s desk had been like this, full of things that needed his attention, things he wanted to do. It made her smile slightly to realize the two most important males in her life had so much in common and she hadn’t even realized it.
    Well now, they would have one more thing in common. Leaning forward, she placed the ancient carving of the Goddess on the top of Oryon’s desk, centering it so the Goddess appeared to be gazing lovingly down at whoever was sitting