Birthright

by Wendy L. Koenig

  He looked up at the two guards and smiled as sheepishly as he could. Leaning close, he winked and spoke in a low voice, as if he were trying to keep anyone else from hearing. Not that he really cared if anyone overheard his tale. “The truth is, fellows, that I fancy a game of chance now and then. Traveling gets tedious, especially when alone. I stopped at a little burg called Midden and sported in a game with a few of the occupants at the inn. Sadly, I lost every bit of coin I owned. I had to trade my boots for this horse. They were fine boots, too. From Spain. Made from the finest kidskin, tanned under a dry Tuscan sun. They had golden buckles—”

  “Go on.” The second guard irritably waved him into the city, shaking his head, disgust written on his face.

  The first one added, “If you fancy a game, again, I like to relax at the Troubadours’ inn outside the east gate.”

  Efar nodded, trying to look excited at the prospect of meeting up with the guard, and led Captain through the stone gate into Chester proper. Now, how to find Fiera? If he’d asked at the gate, it would have given him away.

  A man pulling a cart approached with a woman by his side. Two small children rode in the cart atop a full load of drought-dwarfed potatoes. They were headed toward the gate, no doubt to trade with the boat merchants.

  Efar gave his friendliest smile. They slowed. Two small pairs of eyes gazed at him from the cart. The woman blushed, as most did when they met him, and the man regarded him with suspicion, also as most men with women did. Both glanced quickly at his hair. Efar asked, “Could you tell me where injured people are taken?”

  The man’s voice was hard. “To one of the churches, I expect.” He picked up his pace again.

  “Please. It’s just…my wife brought our child here and I don’t know where they were taken. Can you help me?” Efar spoke to them in general, but his gaze rested on the wife.

  She laid her hand on her husband’s arm and he stopped with a questioning look at her. To Efar, she said, “Mostly they’re taken to the big monastery near the end of this road.”

  He waved his thanks, sprung up on Captain, and hurried down the road. Looking back, as the cart passed under a lamp, he saw it was at full speed again and the two children were watching him intently. Then they were gone from sight, swallowed by the dark.

  Even after nightfall, Chester streets were busy. Because of the boat merchants docking at all hours, the city never really slept. Keeping Captain at a trot proved to be impossible and twice they had to stop all together because the traffic was so congested. After the main crossroads between all the gates, however, the way cleared and Efar was able to pick up the pace until he reached the side entrance onto the monastery’s property. From then, it was just a few moments until he reached the front entrance where he tied Captain to a hitching post.

  The building was impressive in size; he’d seen many castles smaller. The central door was framed in a tall tower. Two double story arms extended straight out to the sides, presumably to house monks and visiting clergy. The lowest level, below ground would be where the infirm were held and that’s where he rushed when he entered.

  He didn’t understand the frantic feeling he had to see Fiera and Marie again. It was new, something he’d never experienced before. It surprised him, after all the years of his life, that he should be overwhelmed by a feeling for two girls he swore he was leaving. It had to be because of Marie’s condition when he’d last seen her. But that reasoning sounded hollow, even to him.

  Striding rapidly down the central aisle, he glanced left and right, whipping aside partitions, searching pale, sickly faces, but to no avail. He reached the end of the hospital and had seen neither Marie nor Fiera.

  The fever pitch of urgency rose into fear.

  A monk approached from the far end and Efar, swallowing his feelings hard, walked to meet him. “There was an injured girl brought in last night. She was badly mauled by a wild beast. A woman was with her.”

  The monk nodded. “Yes. There were here, but they left. We don’t know what became of them. But, I doubt that girl lived. She was near death when she arrived.” He continued on his path.

  Efar stood in the aisle, heartsick. Marie dead? It couldn’t be.

  He’d experienced people passing before, even loved ones, but this hit him hard. And he’d only known her a day. The frantic urgency within him suddenly appeared again as a near panic. Fiera! She’d be devastated. He had to find her.

  He hurried back to the main floor and out the front door of the building. Standing on the stoop, he gazed at the lamps of the city. So many. And beneath them, a mass of people. He had no idea where she could be.

  As he untied Captain, he said, “Call Fiera in your mind. Perhaps she’ll hear you.”

  A few seconds later, the horse started walking down the monastery drive toward the street where he turned east, only to shortly turn south again on the next road. Efar walked beside him, holding the reins, trying to make it appear as if he were leading the horse, not the other way around. He caught a few curious stares, but most people didn’t seem to notice.

  A young woman ran toward them, flashing in and out of pools of lamp light. She had the same fawn-red hair as Fiera and was wearing the same clothes he’d last seen her wearing, but this couldn’t be her.

  The gauntness of her frame was gone. While still thin, it was fuller, rounder. Her face was softer. She looked older than before, reaching her full nineteen years of age. He had no idea how she could have changed so much overnight like that, but he heartily approved.

  She ran right up to him and wrapped her arms around him in an embrace, leaning her head against his shoulder.

  Efar’s heart battered his ribs and his mouth dried.

  * * * *

  Fiera hadn’t planned on hugging Efar, but when she saw him, something took hold of her. All reason had failed and she’d ended up in his arms. It felt good there: solid, safe, and…exciting. All at once. She breathed in the natural wild musk of him. A warm fire built beneath her skin, spreading to her belly and other parts of her body.

  With regret, she pulled away, unable to meet his gaze. She concentrated on Captain instead, leaning her small forehead against his giant one. Hello, friend! I’ve missed you!

  Friend? Really? I’m not just your horse?

  Of course, Silly. Do you think Efar would have gone after you if you were just my horse?

  Humph! The things he put me through!

  We’ll talk about it later. She reached up to stroke his neck, letting her magic flow over him. I’m giving back your color before something interrupts us. It should be safe, now.

  Captain raised his head high and twisted to look down his long body. My dapples! They’re back! He bobbed his nose in excitement.

  Fiera finally turned her gaze back to Efar, expecting to see amusement in his ever-dancing blue eyes, but they were still and filled with sorrow. His mouth was downturned.

  He took her hands in his. “I’m so, so sorry about Marie.”

  She frowned. Marie? Did he feel it was his fault she was injured? Her heart melted and she smiled softly. “It’s all right. You couldn’t have stopped it from happening. She’s healing well and I’m told she’ll wake soon.”

  His eyes widened and his shoulders relaxed. “She’s alive?”

  Surprised, Fiera nodded. Someone must have told him otherwise. “She is. Would you like to see her? Or do you prefer to stand out here all night?” She turned to lead the way, not waiting for an answer, knowing it already.

  Efar let go of one hand as she turned, holding Captain’s reins in it, but he held tightly onto her other hand, as if afraid she’d be stolen from him any instant.

  They walked a few steps in silence. Tension built within her, the heat of his hand burning hers. His nearness captured her every heartbeat. She sought frantically for something to say. Finally, she stopped, pulling him to a stop as well, looking him up and down. “Now, I have a question for you: what are you wearing?”

/>   Before Efar could answer, Captain’s voice butted into her head. Naked! He rode me naked! Such humiliation!

  Uncontrollable giggles bubbled out of Fiera at Captain. Shush!

  Efar blushed, assuming the giggles were aimed at him. “I had to make do,” he mumbled.

  She laughed loudly, pulling them to a walk again. “You have to tell me what happened. I’m getting bits and pieces from Captain, but…” She shrugged.

  Efar rolled his eyes. “That horse! He was so much trouble, I would have left him half a dozen times if I hadn’t promised you I’d bring him back.” As they walked to the parish house, he told her his story, interjected with comments from Captain in her mind.

  When he finished, she was laughing so hard she couldn’t walk and was nearly bent double with her free arm wrapped around her waist to help relieve the laugh cramps. Eventually she straightened. In between bouts of mirth, she said, “All Captain kept saying was, ‘Stinky, wet, and naked!’ He said it the whole time you were talking.”

  Wonder on his face, Efar watched her. “You’re not the same girl I met at the crossroads. You’ve changed, more than just your appearance.

  She wiped her eyes, still chuckling, and began walking again. After a moment she told her side of the story. He listened with rapt attention. Even Captain kept quiet. She finished by saying, “That’s why I’ve changed. Gwen says I was starved for magic, but it’s more than that. I’m finally free to be who…what I am. They accept me here. They even encourage me. I can learn spells and Marie can learn potions.”

  “So, we’re going to be here a while.”

  She looked over at him, confused and frowning. “We?”

  He stopped under a street lamp and pulled on her hand, bringing her up against him. He ran his free hand through her hair. His eyes grew smoky gray, looking dangerous and exciting all at the same time. “Yes, we. You don’t think I’m going to let anyone keep us apart now, do you?” He dropped Captain’s reins and cupped his hand behind her neck. Leaning in to her, he tenderly touched his lips to hers. Then, as she responded with her own kiss, he pressed harder, letting go of her hand to circle her waist, pulling her tighter against him.

  It was as if the spark that had been dancing around her stomach since the moment she’d seen him again had landed and burst into open flame. Her body fanned into a burning heat and, of its own, pressed against him. Her arms circled his neck and her fingers tangled in his hair. Their lips moved together in unison.

  His breaths came thick and heavy, hers just as dense. His tongue flicked across her lips and she offered him entrance, her tongue darting out to meet his, wrapping around and around, twisting and turning, like some kind of wild animal.

  It felt as if she’d fallen through the crust of the earth and found something akin to Heaven. It felt wonderful, and yet, it frightened her. She’d never been this close with anyone. Was it real? Would it last? Fiera dropped her hand to Efar’s chest and gently pushed away. As their lips parted, it felt as if he dragged her soul with him. His breath was ragged, matching hers, and his eyes had dropped to a near black. She said softly, “I’m not used to this.”

  He nodded slowly, playing with a tendril of her hair, concentrating on it. Then he focused his gaze on her. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

  She smiled at him. “I know. I’ve led such a sheltered life that I’ve not had much to do with romance. But, I know what I feel right now, for you, isn’t something that happens often.”

  “Shapeshifters live for a long time. I’ve been alive for almost two hundred years now and I can say that I’ve never felt this way before, either.” He pulled her close and kissed her again.

  She pressed hard against him, opening her mouth hungrily and darting her tongue forward to meet his. With a muffled moan, he crushed her to him.

  * * * *

  Efar drank in Fiera’s scent. It surrounded him like a fog. He hadn’t lied when he said he’d never felt as he did now. It had taken him almost two hundred years to find the woman who loved him and also captured his beast’s attention.

  He held her against his body as tightly as he could, yet it wasn’t enough. His body’s need was hard upon him, but it was his soul that cried for more. He felt ravenous for her love, as if he could devour her. And from her response, she felt the same for him.

  This woman was the one he would die for. Anything she needed would be his task to find. Forever. He would vanquish any foe, even 1000 dragons, to keep her safe. Speaking of which, now wasn’t the time for romancing.

  Reluctantly, he pulled away. “Let’s discuss this fellow who’s been asking about you. What did he look like?” He took her hand and, together, they walked down the road again. Captain followed, dragging his reins.

  “I don’t know what he looks like. Just tall and thin. I was hidden by the time he came into the barn. But Gwen could tell you.”

  “You said the agent was with him?”

  “I assume he was the fat man.” They reached the next road and Fiera turned right, pulling Efar with her. Glancing up at the houses, her step faltered.

  Efar gripped Fiera’s arm, following her line of sight. With his enhanced vision, he saw someone tall and thin approaching on the darkened road. A woman. She looked to stand at least a head taller than any of his brothers. She had a slow, stately walk, sure of herself. He whispered to Fiera, “Who is it?”

  “I don’t know. I can’t see very well.” The arm beneath his hand shivered.

  Before he could answer, the woman called out to them in a strong voice. “Fiera, Marie’s awake!”

  “That’s Gwen.” Relief coursed through Fiera’s voice. She started to pick up her pace again, but Efar held her back. The only people he knew that tall were dragons.

  He kept his voice low, in her ear. “Ask Captain what she smells like.”

  “What?” Fiera stared hard at him. “That’s Gwen. She’s my friend. I have to get to Marie.”

  “Just ask him.” He moved to be in between the two women, gently pushing Fiera behind him. If this woman was a dragon, he had to be ready. He embraced the griffin within him, ready to jump into the beast at a split-second’s notice. His skin tingled in anticipation.

  She was silent a moment, then answered with exasperation in her voice, “He says she smells pretty.”

  Pretty. Efar nodded to himself and relaxed. No dragon smelled pretty.

  “But,” Fiera continued, an edge of panic creeping into her voice, “He says there’s someone else nearby who does stink. And he says it’s not you.”

  Efar pushed her behind him again, circling so that her friend, Gwen, was also behind him. He peered into the darkness. Even with his vision, he saw no one. That didn’t mean anything; there were so many hiding places around the clustered houses.

  Captain bolted back the direction from which they’d come, his hooves throwing great clods of dirt behind him.

  Efar turned to face the darkness and the unseen menace from which the horse fled. They’d been walking right to it. No doubt it had followed Gwen. Was she a collaborator? Surely she would smell, even a bit, if she were. He bellowed into the night, “Show yourself, Dragon! Or are you too cowardly?”

  * * * *

  Bartheleme smiled to himself. The girl, whom he’d learned was named Fiera, was a rare gem, drawing friends to her like a magnet. Friends that lied for her and would defend her. Even now, the tall witch he’d met earlier was muttering a protection spell beside the man he knew as Efar.

  He stepped out of the shadows and approached, watching the face of the girl. Unlike the man she loved, whose face was filled with suspicion, or the tall witch who was obviously afraid, the girl was curious and more than a little defiant. Though he spoke to Efar, he kept his gaze locked on Fiera. “I’m no coward…griffin. Yes, I know who you are. I know all seven of your brothers and your mother’s uncle, who is the king of all your kind. If you knew who I am, you wouldn’t dare to speak that word to me.”

  He sto
pped ten feet away from the trio. Shifting his gaze to Efar, he watched with satisfaction as the possibilities clicked through the man’s mind and settled on one with widened eyes.

  The griffin spoke slowly, couching his words. “My apologies, My Lord, but we had no way of knowing what manner of man lay hidden here.”

  Bartheleme ground his teeth. It was true the royalty of shifter families rarely bowed to each other. Still, it would have been proper if the griffin had shown a little deference. And the apology was barely that, if at all. It contained a double insult, first in insinuating he was a mere man, not shifter royalty. Second, in suggesting he was a coward for hiding.

  He held back his rebuke, however. This was not the time for a fight. He’d only stumbled upon the little group because he’d been standing outside the parish house, considering options, when the tall witch had rushed out. It had been a simple matter to follow her. But he had no men with him. Though he could easily handle the griffin, the girl would likely run off in the commotion. No, he would not provoke an all-out fight.

  Fiera had moved out from behind Efar, staring at him with insolence.

  There was only one way to find out if someone was a mind speaker.

  While your witch friend has been out here, my men have taken the little girl. I’ll kill her if you don’t come with me quietly. Don’t say a word.

  Fiera’s eyes flew wide open.

  * * * *

  Fiera stared at the tall thin man before her, not answering, not moving. He had Marie! She couldn’t let anything happen to her young friend. Even if it cost her own life. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to step away from Efar’s side.

  I have your little friend. His voice came in her head again. He said nothing out loud, but he kept his gaze locked with hers. He’d spoken in her mind. Only animals could do that. Or was it something that had come with the surge of magic?