Continued from S3-3-15: Thayland Dune. “This way,” Dune responded, turning toward a side corridor. Even he could sense that something was seriously wrong. Antonia had no reason to take Lennara from his chamber, where they could have opposed Rodrigo and the others with the strength of numbers. The House of Stars was a small complex, mostly open courtyards and terraces from which to observe the heavens, the observatory dome and the dormitory building; beyond that the upper slopes of Mount Armilla upon which it perched was barren rock. There was no place for them to hide that could not easily be found by a determined group of armed searchers in no time. “We will not find them there… Will we?” Syn challenged, turning his intimidating gaze from Dune to the youths who tried to hide behind him. Rynard and Blade had seen Syn reduce battle hardened men to cringing curs with such a stare. It took barely an instant for these two, who were little more then boys just come of age, to crack under its pressure and start babbling their confessions. Dune stood dumbfounded as his trusted acolytes blurted out how it was Antonia who gained their dedication to his teachings with her feminine wiles, and had rewarded them in her bed for such tasks as copying his celestial charts. Then they confessed to helping her take Lennara from Dune’s bed, after she had drugged them both, and hiding her away in a chamber beneath the complex; a secret place she had told them was a remnant from the days when Melnibone occupied these lands. “But you believed,” Dune stammered, his clam, arrogant demeaned crushed under the weight of the truth. “You took in my teachings and accepted the elithior as your gods!” “The only heavenly body we worshiped was Antonia’s!” one of the boys responded cruelly. “Although I’d have gladly given Lennara her due as well. But she wouldn’t have it… She’s the only one believed that nonsense you spout!” “What of Antonia?” Syn demanded. “Whom does she serve… and what does she want with Lennara?” “She said she had to hide her from you,” the other boy answered timidly. “That he couldn’t stop you form taking her, so she would, and, when you left, we could have her as our reward.” “You filthy dog!” Rodrigo raged, sending the youth crashing to the floor with a single sweep of the back of his hand. “How dare you even think of touching her?” Then he focused on other one. “Lead us to her… or by Donblas’ might I’ll gut where you stand!” Only Blade’s hand on his sword arm stayed his rage. The thought of his cousin willingly giving herself to Dune was bad enough, but for her to be soiled by them as a reward, was more then his pride and honor could bear. But as crushed as Rodrigo was, Dune was far more broken… He had thought that he had finally found acceptance; even if only from so very few. But only Lennara had truly believed, and Antonia was just using him… But to what end? To be continued on S3-3-17: The Chasm - Part 1. The sixteenth installment in the third "book" of my Stormbringer characters' adventures. Only three more installments to go in this series. Thanks for looking... Hope you enjoy! Comments and suggestions always welcome and appreciated!