by Lexi Ander
Halfway through Xun’s change the pain stopped, and Ewen simply flowed into the form of a loong. Their roar was ear-splitting, high and piercing. Many of Ewen’s kin placed their palms over their ears. Xun shook, and Ewen caught a brief glimpse of clawed feet covered in yellow and blue scales.
Fordel had not stood idle. He, too, had changed into his mathan form. Fordel and Xun were of a height, though Xun seemed longer. Fordel rumbled in warning. Ewen cautioned Xun, for injuring Fordel would also harm Roi. Wary, Xun circled Fordel, both loong and mathan posturing, neither truly wishing to fight. But emotions were high, and neither he nor Xun would back down from their stance. Roi deserved not this terrible fate.
“If he does not yield then we shall simply follow him wherever he goes. He shan’t be shed of us with such ease,” Xun vowed to Ewen.
Fordel growled as if he divined Xun’s thoughts. A great paw smacked Xun on the head, the force causing him to tumble. With nimble grace, Xun gained his feet and used his long, whip-liketail to smack Fordel upon the arse.
The sharp crack of a walking staff to the bridge of Xun’s snout brought water to his eyes and caused him to back away from the agèd woman brandishing a staff. Fordel, too, yowled and shook his head as the crone, who somehow stood betwixt them, struck him upon the nose as well.
“That shall be quite enough of that,” she announced, much like a mother scolding her children.
Xun and Ewen changed back to human form, Xun’s senses telling Ewen of the boundless magick the tiny woman held. Xun lifted the cloak brought to them by a kinsman and belted it about their waist. Brigid hurried from the towerhouse, her eyes wide.
Upon seeing her run to them, Fordel charged over as well. “Nay, Brigid, he be too dangerous.” He motioned for her to come to him instead. She ignored Fordel and ran to Xun.
They smiled fondly down at her. Stroking her hair, Xun reassured her. “All be well, hatchling.”
“I be no bird,” she groused, though her scent held a trace of fear.
“You cannot claim the cubs, drakon.” A cloak belted about his waist, Fordel stalked towards them.
Xun frowned darkly at him. “It is loong to you, bearwyr, and I be there at her birth, the same as you. Why do you claim a people you hate?”
Fordel beheld Brigid with no little fondness. “Nay, I despise not the babes. How be it you speak for Ewen when I never could?”
Xun preened, shooting Fordel a knowing grin. “What child embraces that which hates him? He withdrew to shield himself against the malice you carried like a shield.”
Fordel blanched. “I never—”
“Aye, you did. You forget I travelled with the two of you for many a year. You hid not your loathing as well as you think. You did not even try to befriend him until Roi entered our lives.”
Ewen wished he could look away, close his eyes. Fordel’s words from yestereve still hurt. He had used Ewen, tricked him, and though Ewen understood the why, it lessened not the sting of betrayal.
“Are ye going to fight again?” Brigid asked, holding onto Xun’s hand.
“Nay, they shall not, young one,” replied the crone with a firm tap of the butt of her staff upon the ground. “Avory, bring yer marrae and three other witnesses. Ebba, ye may come with four of yer embraced people as well. Eight be a fortunate number, be it not, Xun?” The crone shifted her gaze to Xun and Ewen. “Eight as witnesses would please Master Yingjie, would it not?”
Donn chose Arailt, Edan, and Olghar. When they all headed to the gate, Brigid refused to be left behind, especially after all the ravens flew out with them. The crone walked briskly across the bridge, Xun and Ewen following her through the village, past the field and towards the Caledonian forest.
From the wildwood stepped the Mórrígan, the currents from the ravens swirling overhead to greet her lifting her long robe of black feathers. Next to her stood Kernunnos with his wide rack of antlers and long, flowing beard the colour of spring moss. Cerridwen, with her braided red hair and soft, white linen dress, stood on the other side of the Mórrígan.
Fordel’s steps quickened as he rushed to embrace Kernunnos, burying his face in the thick neck of the towering god. All Ewen heard was “Greetings, Father,” afore he bid Xun to back away to give them privacy. Brigid’s hand tightened in his as her gaze took in the three gods. As they awaited, he explained to her who they were and what part they played in their oral histories.
“Who be the crone?”
Ebba answered. “She be many things, many faces. My people know her as simply the Mother. She has come to me many times and guided my way, unlike Cerridwen, who abandoned us.” Ebba’s voice held a bitter, angry edge. “Roi served Cerridwen faithfully, yet this be his reward.”
Cerridwen turned her youthful countenance to them. “Have I not protected Roi all of his life? Watched over him, cared for him?”
Ebba met that hard, flinty stare with one of her own. “For a purpose.” Ebba’s cold glare flicked to Fordel. “Not that I would not see a wrong undone, but the life of an innocent should not be the consequence of the undoing. What has been done to Roi be no better than the wrong foisted upon Fordel.”
Cerridwen bestowed a small smile upon Ebba. “Agreed.” She left them then to greet Fordel. Cerridwen, along with the Mórrígan and Kernunnos, spoke to him, and he shook his head several times afore finally nodding. All three embraced him one last time afore he slipped between them, changed into his mathan, and disappeared into the forest.
Ewen watched him go, refusing to call out, beg him to come back. Fordel could not leave, could not take Roi from them, not now, not yet. Xun comforted Ewen, and Brigid hugged him about the waist, her gaze, too, focused on where Fordel had been swallowed by the wildwood.
“There be no place he can go that I cannot track. I have marked him,” Xun vowed.
The three gods approached, so Ewen gave no voice to his fear, that no matter how long they harried Fordel he mayn’t find it within himself to choose a middle course.
Kernunnos stepped forward and met Ewen’s gaze, his voice a deep, soothing rumble. “We give you thanks for returning Fordel to us. We know you be not to blame for the folly of your ancestors, and be ever grateful to you for giving our son back to us.”
The Mórrígan moved to his side, their shoulders brushing together lightly. “We would like to repay you. You have been diligent guardians of the land, but the world has been turning from the old ways for some time now. People such as yours have become myth because living amongst humans openly be not safe. Time and again we have witnessed the barbarous horrors rained down upon those suspected of being of the weirding way. So we offer to you a new home in the land betwixt and between until such time as you can safely live in the open once again.”
Cerridwen clasped her hands before her, giving them a gentle smile. “The druids of old be no more, but the land needs guardians such as yourselves. Any amongst your people who wish to take up this mantle we shall guide and teach. We understand you need to confer with your peoples, but if you have need of us, invoke our name three times and we shall come.”
The three gods moved amongst Ewen’s kin, speaking in low tones and squeezing hands. Ewen stood to the side and watched Brigid speak to the Mórrígan, yet his gaze kept returning to where Fordel had disappeared. He had thought it agony to look upon Roi’s countenance without Roi being truly there. But now Ewen would accept any morsel, no matter how small, to gaze at Roi’s visage again.
“Roi be a noble a man, of great heart and greater courage.” Ewen gazed up at Kernunnos. There was no censure in the god’s eyes, only soft affection. Surely his gentle look was not meant for Ewen but for the man they both thought of?
“He be everything I am not.” Ewen’s voice caught as he again felt the weight of Roi’s loss keenly. He swallowed hard to hold it back.
“I believe he would disagree. As do I.” Kernunnos squeezed Ewen’s shoulder in his large, clawed hand afore retreating to the forest.
Soon after, the Mórrígan
and Cerridwen returned to the wildwood and Ewen trekked back to the castle with the others. Each was silent, lost in their thoughts. At the keep, Ewen called a meeting, and once his kith and kin were gathered in the courtyard he laid out the offer of home and guardianship as put forth by the gods.
Those with family and young readily agreed, for already new grumblings of rebellion and war spread amongst the humans. They wished only to be left alone. The youth wavered, but many yielded to the wiser amongst the wyrbears. And Cerridwen had assured him that they could return to this world if the new home sat not well with them.
Ewen called for a subhachas, and he gifted his people free rein within his home. Ebba and her warriors joined the festivities. He watched but did not partake, not of a mind to smile and laugh at their good fortune.
Ebba came out of a dance, flushed and breathing hard, to take a seat beside Ewen.
“Did Roi know ye be lynx?” Ewen was curious.
“Nay. I were human. After I left him at the temple, I crossed the great waters in search for a way to help my son. I travelled long until I came to the Oneida people. To become a shaman, one must be one with their spirit animal. A lynx be fortunate; I could have been an otter.” Ebba flashed Ewen a grin full of humour.
At Ewen’s puzzled expression, she explained what an otter looked like, and they both laughed heartily. She slipped her hand over his. “We shall have him back.” Then she rose and joined the dancing, though mayhap her laughter was somewhat forced.
No one seemed to notice, or if they did they declined to voice their concerns, when Ewen slipped away to his bedchamber. He did not disrobe afore he fell upon the coverlet to bury his nose in Roi’s pillow. Afore his children, afore his kin, Ewen schooled his countenance and hid all he truly felt, for none could soothe him or draw away the pain. Alone, Ewen fought the anguish of Roi’s loss. Nothing short of Roi’s return would cure Ewen of his malaise.
XXXI
EWEN CARED NOT to count the days that passed, for they were barren without Roi. Most everyone had some affair to put in order afore the wyrbears moved. Ewen sent missives to all the enclaves under his rule. Once his kin here at Loch Raineach were safely away, he would travel abroad, spreading news of the breaking of the curse and helping others to move if they so desired. He knew his duty to his people and would carry it out, regardless of his hopelessness.
The last morn to be spent in Alba, Ewen awoke at first light with a heavy heart. Work had kept him busy so he would not think upon the man missing from his side, but each morn afore the day began, he yearned. Horses and supplies had already been delivered to the shieling. Ewen would head there after the Goddess Cerridwen arrived to deliver his clan to safety. Though the preparations had kept his mind from his sorrow, this day he would have no such luck. Xun had been quiet and brooding, but they shared their distress. Ewen had wondered if it would be a detriment to them, but he found that in many ways he and Xun lifted each other up so that they were not overwhelmed by their shared sorrow.
Ewen enjoyed how well suited he and Xun were, working together as if they were born to be one. When Ewen voiced his concern over his favour to Master Yingjie, Xun soothed him. The master may or mayn’t call in the favour, and if he did, it would be naught they could not do.
“Mayhap we can search for Fordel on our way to the port?” Xun sounded hopeful.
“Aye, we could.” Ewen doubted they would find an argument to sway Fordel, but to lay eyes upon Roi’s visage…
“He comes! Rise! Dress quickly. He comes!” Xun shook and shivered with excitement.
Ewen startled, caught up in Xun’s exuberance. Only one person could elate Xun so. Ewen fell out of the bed, hastily donning breeches and a tunic, barely managing to sweep up his cloak and put on his shoes afore he was running out the door, wending his way through the great hall into the bailey.
Then Ewen sensed him, the gut reaction spurring Ewen to run faster. The spectacle he made as he moved with great haste drew a crowd, but Ewen could not bring himself to care about the display he was making. Passing through the gate, Ewen skidded to a stop, for there, halfway across the bridge, strode two Rois, both smiling wide when they espied Ewen. Yet none need tell Ewen which was his beloved. He did not halt until he had his arms around his Roi.
His laughter—Gods!—Roi’s laughter was a balm unto Ewen’s very soul. Xun whooped, and together they joined Roi’s delight as they lifted him and crushed him to them.
“My Roi,” Ewen said over and over again, his eyes burning and throat raw.
Together, Ewen and Xun laughed with Roi, then they cried and laughed some more. When Ewen thought he could bear the small distance, he released Roi to behold Roi’s handsome, marred face betwixt his palms and kissed the tears from Roi’s blue eyes. Pressing his lips to the scars, Ewen was thankful for each and every mark.
Then Ewen brushed his lips against Roi’s. The feel of him, the taste of him…. Never did Ewen want to be without Roi again. Ewen kissed him softly, ardently, tongue sweeping in to be greeted by Roi’s. Oh, how Ewen’s eyes burned. Of a sudden his heart was too big for his chest and Ewen choked a little on the joy that caught in his throat, causing it to ache.
Roi ran his fingers through Ewen’s hair and deepened the kiss. Roi did not have to steal Ewen’s breath for he willingly gave it over to Roi. Everything Ewen was, all that he would be, belonged to his belovèd.
“Dragon Master,” Xun whispered, spellbound as he revelled in the reunion.
“My beautiful loong,” Roi returned, his smile widening as Xun pushed forward to preen under Roi’s gaze.
Ebba’s joyous shout caused Ewen to pull away from Roi, though there had been a moment when he thought of chasing Roi’s lips again. But he would not be so selfish. When they parted, Roi gained an armful of Ebba. She rained kisses upon his visage afore drawing him down to press his forehead upon her shoulder. She stroked his hair as Ewen listened to her whisper of how she dealt with the very man who had chased them from their village. Cursèd or not, Shaye Drake would not be rising from the bog.
The clearing of a throat and a shuffle of feet brought Ewen’s attention to those surrounding them. They had been joined by kin who resided in the keep or close by. Fordel, the twin of Roi, smiled softly at Ewen, and Ewen’s vision blurred.
“My thanks,” Ewen barely got out.
Fordel looked embarrassed. “Nay. Please… I be afeard and acted rashly. I could not in good conscience leave you broken-hearted and Roi more trapped than I ever were. That be not my intent. Yet I knew not how to make it aright without losing meself. I had been caged for so long… I trusted not…”
Ewen crushed Fordel to him, for he understood. Fordel held himself stiff in Ewen’s arms then relaxed and returned the embrace. When Ewen released him, Avory was there waiting to greet Fordel. Ewen returned to Roi and drew him close, loath to be away from him though it be a matter of mere feet. Ewen sensed it would be some time afore he would cease to worry when Roi left his sight.
“Da?” Ewen heard Brigid’s voice but espied her not. She appeared as she, then Una and Eumann, squeezed through the crowd followed by Freya carrying the babe. The children’s voices turned shrill when they beheld Roi standing next to him.
Roi knelt on one knee and greet them amid ardent hugs and kisses. “Aye, I be here to stay. Aye, ye be my family now. Aye, Ebba can be yer granma.” He answered their questions as quickly as they gave them until they were satisfied he would not be going away as their mother had.
Brigid noticed Fordel watching and went to him. He, too, knelt upon a knee to meet her eyes. She cupped his face and stared long. “Greetings, Bear, I be happy to finally meet ye face to face.”
Fordel blinked several times rapidly, seeming dazed, then Brigid hugged him tight. Una and Eumann joined Brigid, giving Fordel an armful of chattering children who bestowed upon him kisses in between their questions.
Una snuggled into Fordel’s side under his arm, staring at him with wide, innocent eyes. “Since Da can only chan
ge into the loong, Xun, shall ye be the one to help us learn how to change into our mathan?”
Fordel seemed to be a loss for words. Ewen rescued him. “He would love to be your mentor and teach you the history of our people.” Ewen kept his face plain when Fordel’s gaze snapped up to Ewen’s. Whether he had planned to be such a large part of the children’s lives, Ewen knew not. But with their excited chatter, wide smiles, and their small arms wrapped about his neck, Fordel’s bemuddled countenance changed to adoration. He would not tell them ‘no’.
Roi clasped Ewen’s hand and retrieved a tall staff topped with a fist-sized moonstone that he had dropped to the ground when he first embraced Ewen. He drew Ewen along behind him, away from Ewen’s kin and the keep. Ewen said naught, perfectly content to be by Roi’s side, half convinced he was dreaming and afeard he would wake to find Roi gone again.
“Do ye remember aught?” Ewen held his breath.
“Nay, only reaching for Fordel from the water. I woke this day at Kernunnos’s home beside Fordel. The Mórrígan told me many days had passed.”
Not wanting to think back on the days gone by, Ewen merely nodded, gladdened Roi not be caged as Fordel had.
“Cerridwen tells me ye have taken on the loong.”
Xun rolled in excitement as Ewen explained what happened. “Brigid shall regale you about how pretty Xun be. He preens under the attention overmuch, in my opinion. But the children have taken to him quite well. Xun enjoys basking in the sun whilst the children crawl over him. They shamelessly demand he carry them around like a pony.”
“And ye, how be ye and Xun together?” Roi’s countenance held concern and hope.
“We be well suited, more of one mind than two,” Ewen confided. “Sometimes I be assailed by guilt, for I know this be how I should have been with Bear.” After his confession, Ewen stared at the ground as he and Roi walked away from the village.
