As the Crow Flies (Book 19 in the Godhunter Series)

by Sumida,Amy

  He picked me up, cradling me to his massive chest. He was much taller than I'd originally thought. Or maybe he'd grown as he lifted me. I had no idea, these Celtic gods were tricky like that. But I didn't care, because as he stood to his full height, that of a small tree, the fog reached our clearing.

  It filled every nook and cranny, concealing all within it. The last thing I saw before it consumed us, was the smiling face of a green man. Then I heard Cernunnos take a deep breath. Air rushed from him, and the fog was simply blown away. Morrigan stood before us, as naked as I, her face filled with shock, anger, and just a little fear.

  “Cernunnos,” she bowed her head respectfully. “You've caught my prey.”

  “Your prey is a faerie queen?” he asked conversationally.

  “She is more than that,” Morrigan lifted angry eyes to me. “She prevented me from killing the Formorians, and-”

  “I stopped you from getting killed,” I hissed at her. “I was trying to help you.”

  “And yet you wouldn't help me kill them,” she growled. “And you refused to aid us against them. Did you even deliver Dagda's letter to King Cian?”

  “I did,” I sighed. “Cian demands the head of Fand in exchange for his assistance.”

  “What?!” Morrigan screeched.

  “He believes that Fand manipulated events to keep his son from him,” I went on calmly. “She was tasked by Ethniu to take Lugh to Faerie, but instead, she took him to Tara, and raised him herself.”

  “And why would she do that?” Morrigan scoffed. “Why would she lie to us?”

  “Because she was rejected by King Cian. A woman scorned and all that.”

  Morrigan's face fell. I had a feeling that she knew full well the lengths a scorned woman would go to for revenge.

  “Sounds as if the High King is within his rights to demand justice before offering aid,” Cernunnos said calmly.

  His green men nodded their agreement.

  “Don't you even care that the Formorians are at our doorstep?” Morrigan growled at Cernunnos.

  “No,” Cernunnos smiled peacefully. “They are a part of us, the other side of our magic. We cannot have sun without rain or growth without decay-”

  “Yes, yes, save me your nature boy crap,” she gasped at her own temerity, and held a hand to her mouth. “Forgive me, Lord Cernunnos.”

  “Of course,” Cernunnos chuckled. “Just as soon as you free Queen Vervain's people.”

  “What? I cannot,” Morrigan declared. “They're my leverage.”

  “Free them or I will,” he said blithely, and she paled. “All of them, Morrigan.”

  “But we need her,” Morrigan looked to me. “Without her aid, we will lose the battle. I have seen it. People I love will die. People you love will die.”

  “Child,” Cernunnos shook his head. “This is not the way to win allies.”

  Oh, I liked this guy.

  “I must send the Formorians back to their prison.”

  “Morrigan, all know of your broken heart,” Cernunnos sighed. “What do the humans say? Ah yes; let it go, girlfriend.”

  He delivered the human colloquialism with the same slow and calm cadence of all his speech, and I nearly choked on my laughter.

  “I will not let it go!” Morrigan screeched. “So be it! Take your people back, Godhunter. But one of them may not live to share your reunion.”

  She smiled wickedly and burst into feathers. A crow shot out of the feathers and circled us, crying out in a mocking manner before flying away.

  “No,” I whispered as I flailed. “Put me down please.”

  “Easy, Queen Vervain,” Cernunnos said. “I will take you to your people. Just one moment please.”

  And then I was riding a great, white stag through the forest of the Celtic Otherworld. Cernunnos' body bunched and stretched beneath me, covering the ground even faster than I could have in lioness form. And as we leapt over logs and thick underbrush, my lioness curled up inside my belly, guarding a little spark of life that was flaring brighter with each passing moment.

  “Oh Kirill,” I whispered as I choked on my tears. “No,” I leaned into the stag's neck as I laid a hand to my stomach. Beneath my palm, my daughter stirred, the little life that was just beginning while her father's ebbed away.

  I knew it with certainty, could feel Kirill's energy fading along the cord that bound us together. And there I was, far from his side, unable to even hold his hand, and tell him that his wish had been granted, Lesya would live. I sobbed into the stag's fur, and begged him brokenly to hurry.

  Prepare. The word echoed through me and my head shot up.

  “Alaric?”

  Pre-pare, he whispered.

  “Pare,” I sniffed back my broken sobs, and tried to think. “Cut. I need to cut...”

  Light burst within me and everything else disappeared. All was starlight; all was my star and my star illuminated all. The things which were normally invisible burst into stark clarity. There were the cords within me; the lines which tied me to my husbands, my lions, my sons, and even the Froekn. Each line took a little power to sustain, a little energy which I was more than happy to extend in order to be bonded with them. But I needed that energy now. Every little bit of it. Kirill needed it.

  “But if I let them go, will I be able to get them back?”

  The star seemed to answer me, pulsing with reassurance. Those threads would be held within her light, a sort of limbo, waiting until I was able to reconnect them.

  “You can cut things away without fully releasing them,” I whispered Lachesis' words. I understood them now, just as she'd promised.

  I began to cut things away. First the Froekn, then the Intare. My husbands went next and then finally my children. They were the hardest to let go. First I gave up Vali and Vidar, my grown sons. And then I cut away my babies, Rian and Brevyn. I mourned every separation, my mind screaming in denial and my lungs tightening in pain. But I knew they'd understand, and those bonds would be waiting for me when it was all over. They would survive. I just hoped Kirill would too.

  Each cut gave me more strength, more power, which I funneled into Kirill's cord. But it wasn't enough. I flinched and shook with his final breath, feeling his soul lift and begin its journey to the Void.

  “Kirill!” I screamed.

  We had reached the site where the castle had stood, but it was gone now, just an open field full of grim gods. They were gathered around a body. Trevor was bent over it, sobbing. I didn't have to see the face of the corpse, I already knew who Trevor held. Kneeling beside them, were Odin, Azrael, and Re. They were bent over too, but not with grief. They seemed to be in pain. I panicked further. Were all of my men dying?

  Then I realized what it was, the severance. They were feeling the cuts I'd made, our sacred bonds broken. I felt a horrible ache for them, but I didn't have the option of offering them comfort. I had to make sure their pain would have meaning.

  I leapt from the stag's back and ran to Kirill, easing Trevor aside. Trevor fell back into the grass, his own body twisted with the anguish of our severed bond. It would be the worst for him. The Froekn Binding was the strongest of my links, especially on Trevor's end, and he would feel the cut more like a knife in his back. His expression said it all, horror and betrayal. But then he saw my face. His shock and pain turned to hope.

  “Minn Elska,” he begged with a groan, “help Kirill.”

  “I will, Honey-Eyes. It's going to be okay,” I scooped up my dead husband, and held him tight to my chest, wishing I could feel as confident as my words sounded.

  I could sense Kirill's soul down the line still connected to me. But that line was lifting, already a foot above his body, and soon it would snap. I wasn't about to let that happen. I used all of my gathered powered to latch onto that cord. It stopped, jerking against me. I pulled and pulled until sweat broke out on my forehead and my body began to tremble.

  “Move back. Let me through,” Teharon's voice. I felt his hands slide between me and Kiri
ll, and then the warmth of his magic pulsed against my skin.

  Kirill's body jerked and the gods around us gasped.

  “Heal him,” I prayed to Teharon.

  “I'm trying, Vervain,” his voice was strained. “Bring him back. Turn his soul around. Give him a reason to live and be healed.”

  A reason. Wasn't our love wasn't enough. But this wasn't the time for bitter thoughts. I did have something that might persuade him. The one thing Kirill had always wanted.

  “Kirill,” I laid my lips to his ear as sweat dripped down my cheeks, mingling with my tears. The energy I was expelling to simply keep his soul from moving, was taking a heavy toll on me. “You were right. We made a baby together. Lesya will live, and she'll need her father. Come back to us. Please don't leave us, Kirill. You promised. You promised me that if you died, you'd return. Now keep your word, lion, and come back to us!”

  I strained and sobbed, and that little life inside me flared from a spark into a flame. Kirill's soul flared in response, and immediately dove back into his body where he belonged. I jerked from the release of the strain, and my star flashed, instantly restoring my bonds to me. Everything came into glaring focus as I opened my eyes, and found Kirill staring up at me.

  The gods around us shouted with joy and relief, while Teharon drew away, and laid back in exhaustion. There was such a commotion around us. I heard Trevor bawling, Odin being comforted by his sons, and Azrael exclaiming his relief to Re. Beside me, Karni Mata was with Teharon, asking if he was alright, and Fenrir was howling with happiness. But I couldn't look away from those velvety blue eyes, and the smile that slowly spread over Kirill's lips.

  “Ve made baby?”

  A laugh burst from my lips and I nodded. “Yes, we made a baby. You're going to be a father.”

  “I have strong seed,” he grinned wider, “to make baby on first try.”

  I laughed full out, and then dropped into a sprawl across him, hugging him to me.

  “And you saved me again,” he whispered, suddenly serious. “Just as I said you vould.”

  “You came back,” I looked down towards my stomach, “for her.”

  “For us,” he corrected and kissed me. It was deep and long and lasted until the shuffling sounds of awkward voyeurs broke us apart. “I love you, Vervain,” Kirill said with stoic sincerity. “I love you more zan life. As I left zis body, I felt how much veight vould leave vith me. How much I take from you. How much strain I am upon you. And I didn't vant to be zat to you anymore.”

  “Kirill, no-”

  “But zen I heard her,” he placed a finger to my lips. “Zat life ve made called to me, and showed me truth. Zere is no burden greater zan love, but it also brings ze greatest joy. I vill gladly carry zis veight vith you.”

  “I love you,” I whispered to him and smiled mischievously. “I don't care how much you weigh.”

  Kirill laughed, and it rang out among our friends like a victory bell. He sat up with his laughter, pulling me into another hug and kissing me again for good measure.

  “I love you too, Tima,” he whispered into my ear. “Zank you for bringing me home.”

  “You are my home,” I swallowed hard, and laid my forehead to his. “And no one's taking my home away from me.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “All is well,” Cernunnos said with satisfaction as he stood over me and Kirill.

  “Thank you for your help,” I stood and Kirill got up with me. He wrapped himself around me, covering my nudity casually with his arms and hair. “If I can ever repay you, let me know,” I held my hand out to Cernunnos.

  “Not at all, Queen Vervain,” Cernunnos shook my hand. “It was I who owed you recompense for what my people have done to you and yours. You owe me nothing, but I feel that I must apologize for the Tuatha Dé Dannan's behavior. I hope you can forgive them, they've long hated and feared the Formorians. I've tried to convince them to work towards peace, but both sides are passionate in their opinions, and passion can sometimes be very dangerous.”

  “No kidding,” I smiled. “Because you asked it, I will try to forgive them. But I want no part in their war.”

  “Neither do I, little queen,” he shook his head sadly, and then lifted it as if he heard something. “I would try once more to intervene, but I fear it's too late.”

  I looked in the direction he faced, and saw the land sweeping away to a bright sea. The hazy forms of islands curved against the straight horizon, and I knew one of them must hold Tara.

  “So it's begun?” Odin came up beside us with our sons, Vali and Vidar beside him. Thor stood at his father's back.

  “It has, Allfather,” Cernunnos bowed his head to Odin. “There will be blood spilled on Tara today. I don't believe that has ever happened.”

  “I'd like to spill a certain black-haired bitch's blood on Tara,” Fenrir growled as he stared off in the same direction wistfully.

  “Dad,” I shook my head. “She almost killed me. That's not a fight you can win.”

  He looked back to me in shock, “You? How? You have that star and your dragon.”

  “Morrigan is a masterful tactician,” Cernunnos answered for me. “And she has the power of the sight to aid her. It's difficult to fight a warrior who knows your every move before you do.”

  Fenrir growled, narrowing his eyes, “She won't be able to predict the actions of the entire Froekn pack.”

  “Perhaps not,” Cernunnos agreed diplomatically. “But I have returned your people to you, Great Wolf, and I have saved your daughter. Could you not release your rage in exchange?”

  Fenrir's body shook, his fur standing up on end so that he looked even bigger. Drool dripped from the corner of his open mouth, and his lips trembled on a snarl, revealing sharp canines. Emma slid in before him, and placed her hands to his wide chest, staring up at her husband serenely. She didn't say a word, just looked at him, but he collapsed forward and wrapped himself around his wife.

  “Easy now,” I heard her whisper. “They're all safe. Isn't it best to be thankful and celebrate life instead of seeking out death?”

  Fenrir lifted his head and shrunk back into his still-enormous human body. He was naked and didn't give a damn. He stood proud, as if he wore the finest clothes. But nudity didn't faze the Froekn, and even if it did, Fenrir's nudity was nothing to be ashamed of. He looked towards his children. Ty gave him a wide grin, his usual carefree self, and the tension in Fenrir's shoulders eased.

  “I have my own bone to pick with that woman,” I said in a low voice. Fenrir's eyes shot to mine. “I'm not asking for you to give up on your vendetta, just to bide your time. Our time. Let's hunt her as a pack, with our strength and our wits. When the time comes, we'll pounce and she'll die.”

  Fenrir's face broke into a wide grin. “Now that's a plan worthy of my daughter,” he nodded, and then looked to Cernunnos. “You know as well as I that your freeing my people doesn't clear the slate, Horned God. But it will get Morrigan a reprieve.”

  “Understood,” Cernunnos nodded back regally. “Peace between us, Great Wolf.”

  “Peace,” Fenrir said the word as if it left a bad taste in his mouth. “Now, Little Frami,” he looked to me. “What magic did you weave to bring back our lion?”

  “The Star and the Moon,” I shrugged, “Love and Lions. I used everything I had.”

  “You let go of me to condense your power, didn't you?” Azrael came up behind me. I glanced back and saw all of my men standing there together. “It was some of the worst pain I've ever experienced, but I know it was necessary.”

  “She let us all go,” Trevor came up to lean his forehead to mine. He rubbed it side to side before pulling away. “And I would bid you to do it again if it meant saving one of us.”

  “What about me?” Re huffed, and slipped in beside Trevor so he could lean in and give me a quick kiss.

  “Yeah, you're one of us,” Trevor said grudgingly.

  “Thank you,” Re smirked, and then returned his attention to me. “You w
ere wondrous to behold, Lala.”

  Kirill still hadn't let me go. His hair draped over my body, one arm holding it in place just beneath my breasts, while his other hand rested over my belly protectively. I felt like Lady Godiva. All I needed was a horse. Or maybe chocolate. Hey, I was a pregnant Lady Godiva, give me a break. And yes, it was only a day and I was working the pregnancy sympathy already. Any mother out there will tell you that sympathy is the least of what we should get for doing our part to continue the human race. Well, perhaps that human race bit doesn't exactly apply to me.

  “Just one question,” Odin moved forward, so that my men encircled me completely. “Did I hear you say something about Kirill becoming a father?”

  “Da,” Kirill smiled wide, his chest lifting proudly into my back. “Ve made baby.”

  “When did you make baby?” Azrael gaped at us.

  “Earlier today,” I gave a little disbelieving laugh. “Kirill asked me to try, just in case he died. He wanted to be sure Lesya would live.”

  “But Vero was supposed to come next,” Trevor said, his face dropping into worried lines.

  “It will be okay,” I laid my palm to Trevor's cheek. “They will all be born, but this is a new timeline, and things may be different. They need to be different.”

  “Okay,” Trevor let out a slow breath. “Well then, there's only one thing left to do.”

  “What's that?” Re asked with a little confused frown.

  “Celebrate,” Trevor gave me and Kirill a brilliant smile, and hugged us together. “We're having a baby!”

  “A lion princess,” Azrael joined in the hug. “Heir to the lioness throne.”

  “I have a throne?” I laughed. “Why have I never seen this throne?”

  “Now look what you've done?” Odin grumbled good-naturedly as he joined in, and our hug grew into a huddle. “She's going to go home and make herself a damn throne.”

  “And a mini throne for my daughter,” I teased. “Come on, Re, get in here.”

  “If you insist,” Re sighed, but gave me a sweet smile as he wrapped his arms around us.

  “This is just ridiculous,” UnnúlfR grumbled to his father and Ty.