John examined his stomach, wiped away the remaining blood and vainly sought his recent wound. No trace. He looked at Dallan with excitement, wonderment and awe. “Lany,” he began on a whisper. “Dallan healed me. Not the Maiden.”
Lany’s eyes widened at the words, truth sinking in. He stood and looked at Dallan who still held the Maiden in a lover’s kiss. “Creator help us all.”
John nodded silently. “Should we tell the Elders?”
Lany shook his head. “Let them find out on their own. It could have been the peak emotions that gave him her full abilities. We don’t know anything yet. Let’s not be hasty.”
“What does this mean?” Angus asked as he helped a shaken Kitty sit on the floor beside John. “There, now lass. Here ye needs to be warm.” He took his sweater off and placed it over her shoulders.
Lany bent to where she sat. “Are you all right?” Kitty looked at him blankly and nodded. Lany smiled back.
John sighed with relief. “There’s never been a Time Master who could control his wife’s involuntary and voluntary abilities as well as Dallan just did. And I for one thank the Creator for it.”
Lany and Angus nodded at John in agreement as they both glanced at Dallan.
Dallan finally broke the kiss which silenced the Maiden, and captured her in a possessive gaze. “Ye’ve a might fine voice, lass. But I think we need a few lessons yet.”
Shona reached to the back of his neck, pulled his face back to her own and kissed him. For a very long time.
Lany sighed. “Well, I think we still have some loose ends.” He retrieved his laser from the other end of the room, checked it and walked to where a stunned Brennan still lay. Lany studied him and shook his head. “‘He mocks proud mockers, but gives grace to the humble,’” he quoted calmly and poked at the still form with his foot. “Paralyzed. Not bad.”
Brennan’s eyes sought the Assistant Councilor’s. Lany merely smirked at him then walked away.
“Well?” John asked.
Lany glanced between the kissing couple and Brennan. “He’s not going anywhere until Dallan wants him to. He’s still holding him somehow.”
“By the Creator, Dallan can extend beyond the Maiden’s song as well?” He looked desperately up to Lany. “He’s more powerful than any of us thought he would be. The Elders will never want him to leave service.”
“Tough what they want. He only has to serve for a hundred years.” Lany suddenly spotted company. “Oh, now you show up!”
John began to stand. “What?”
“Easy, Eaton. Stay on the ground a while. It’s only Kwaku.”
As if on cue, the Azurti entered the room from the hall followed by Zara, the Whittards, Tomy, and lastly Julia pushing along a cane-brandishing Mother MacNab.
Kwaku and Zara immediately went to Dallan and Shona who still held themselves locked in a deep kiss. Zara knelt and began to sing as Kwaku stood proudly, arms stretched out to either side of his tall warrior’s frame. He joined his wife in singing to the young couple as they fed themselves as best they could with what privacy was available.
Lany’s eyes grew wide. “What’s happening?”
John managed to get to a standing position again. “I’m not sure. But I think I can guess.”
Angus shuffled forward as a stunned Evan and Maggie joined them. “Do we want to know, Lord John?”
“I think we’re about to witness the passing of the guard.” John answered as they all watched Dallan and Shona break off their recent kiss.
“Oh, my living stars,” Lany began as he took a step back. Evan and Maggie, too relieved to see Dallan and Shona safe, merely stood and watched the odd rite about to take place.
Kwaku raised his own deep voice above his wife’s and threw his head back. His body lurched and moved as the light from his shared heart shot from his chest to join with Zara’s. The light burned a bright yellow and danced and swooped about the Weapons Master and the Maiden as their shared heart had during the Sutyne.
Dallan instinctively stepped away from Shona to face Kwaku. Shona went to kneel in front of Zara as Kwaku stopped their song.
All four closed their eyes simultaneously as Kwaku, now in control of all of them, began to speak. The mysterious words brightened the light of his heart even further, only to be suddenly joined by Dallan’s blinding blaze. The two men’s hearts twined about one another briefly and those watching saw something of Kwaku’s light remain with Dallan’s, embedding itself into the Highlander’s heart to stay.
Soon Zara began to speak, her words joined by those of the Maiden’s. The yellow and white light of their hearts met and exchanged as one took the gift offered by the older and wiser of the two.
The gift of wisdom.
The combined hearts of both couples grew in intensity as all four voices got louder, the story they told the same, all the cadences in unison, all the words alike. But the words were none John, Lany or Angus had ever heard, even from Kwaku. Only Kitty, now held tightly in Tomy’s arms, briefly recognized the words that filled the room.
After a moment, the strange recital faded, leaving Dallan standing, his eyes brighter than before, face locked in awe as he stared at Kwaku.
Kwaku laughed. “Now you are de one, Boyeee! Now it is you who controls everyding! Do you know what dat means?”
Dallan took a step forward, stopped and raised his hands in front of his face, the light of his words and song still swirling about his body while Kwaku’s had retreated. “Ye bloody heathen,” he whispered, but with awe instead of rancor. “What ha’ ye done to me now?”
He watched the light of his heart roam the room on its own, seeking, touching people in greeting. It swept past the Whittards who stood open mouthed next to a stunned Julia. The light landed upon Kitty and Dallan jerked slightly, sensing something special within her, but not knowing what. It wrapped itself around Angus and Lany in an almost playful manner before releasing them to hover in front of John.
John reached out to the light in front of him and let it tangle about his hand. The light then began to form.
Into the image of Dallan’s mother.
Dallan let out an anguished choke but couldn’t move.
The image looked into John’s eyes, mouthed to him the words, “thank you,” and disappeared, the light of his heart forming once again into a bright ball.
It then streaked across the room to where Brennan lay and spread over him like a blanket. “NO!” Brennan screamed, “Don’t let it take her from me! You can’t have her! She’s all I have left!”
Dallan’s heart ignored the desperate pleas and began to lift something from Brennan’s body.
A woman stood up out of Brennan, her blonde hair flowing nearly to the floor, eyes a breathtaking blue and clad in a dress similar to Shona’s.
Zara stood and went directly to Kwaku. “Lissa…” He put an arm around her and nodded, a huge smile on his face.
The woman walked away from Brennan to where the new Time Master, Dallan, stood. She glanced from one person to the next, her eyes settling on Dallan once more. “His life is in your hands. His fate sealed by your tongue. I am free.”
She walked to Zara who began to cry as she approached. Kwaku smiled tenderly and stepped away from her to stand next to Dallan.
The woman took Zara’s hands in her own. “It has been a long time, sister.”
Zara looked quickly to Kwaku, who nodded. She turned back to the woman before her. “Yes.”
The woman looked to Shona who still knelt. “This is the twelfth Maiden of the Shamaelon house?”
“Yes,” Zara whispered.
“And that is her mate.”
Zara glanced to Dallan. “Yes.”
“Teach them what you know you must. Their hearts will not be completely filled until the Creator has them.”
Zara shook with silent sobs. “I will.”
“The prophecy has yet to be fulfilled. Time tells many things. For now, rest, sister. Their hearts are pure. The Creator controls all
things for reasons known only to him. My death was in his hands and brought you the Maiden. I disobeyed my oath and did not tell my husband how to find the boy. I further disobeyed him by not directing him to all the prospective mates of the Shamaelon house. Their safety is now in your hands. You know what you are to do. My job is finished. Do not let my disobedience disarm you. I disobeyed my mate, but not the Creator. Teach the difference to this Maiden. She will need it for what is to come. I fear hard times come for you and our people.”
Tears now streamed down Zara’s face and she nodded, unable to speak.
The woman released her hands and turned to Brennan. “I still love you. But know that I love my Creator more. Your choice of masters was unwise.”
Brennan’s eyes became frantic. “He told me it would all work! He promised me power!”
Lissa looked at him, her face calm. “He promised you death.” She turned from him and began to slowly walk away.
“No! Lissa! Don’t leave me! Don’t go! You know what will happen if you do.” His voice was filled with desperation.
She turned to him. “Yes, I know what will happen.” She continued toward Dallan again.
“Lissa! LISSA! Come back! I command you to come back!”
She reached Dallan and stopped. “I am sorry. I did what I had to do. Lives have been lost because of my husband and myself. I have brought shame to my sister’s house.” She glanced briefly to Zara. “I have caused great pain to those around me. I ask your forgiveness, Time Master.”
Dallan looked into her eyes, captured and searched her, the light of his heart again within himself and Shona. “My God, lady. Yer real.”
“No. I only seem so because you are now like me. Muiraran. We do not die; no one does. We go on. I go to be with my Creator, but not before he has me finish the work given me. I need only one thing. I need your forgiveness.”
Dallan softened his look and shook his head. “But Lady, I dinna need to forgive you for anything.”
“Yes, Dallan, you do.”
“What, lass?”
“It was I who took your father from you. I sacrificed his life in order to save yours. Philip had me kill specific males of a certain line. I killed your father instead of you. His blood saved yours.”
“My God, what are ye saying?”
“Philip was to kill all prospective mates of the Shamaelon house. This you know. I did not follow his orders. You are alive, as are the others. That is all I can tell you. You will discover them when the time is right. Your only concern now is the care of the Maiden. She is your love, your life, your protection. Everything for you that you shall be to her.”
Dallan’s eyes widened at hearing the words he himself had spoken to Shona the day before. “Aye…” He grasped the woman’s hands and held them tightly. “Ye did what ye had to do. As have we all.” He captured her again. “I forgive you, Lady.”
She backed away, nodded briefly and slowly faded from sight.
Zara lunged forward. “Lissa!”
Kwaku grabbed her and held her close. “Shhh. Let her go, beloved. Let her go home.”
Dallan remained where he was, eyes still planted where the woman had stood. After a moment he held an arm out to Shona, beckoning her to his side. She rose from the floor and went to him, her eyes locked on Brennan’s silent, anguished form. The look on her face was one of firm resolve. All she waited for was the command of her husband.
Dallan held her to him as he brought her face up to his own and kissed her tenderly. “It’s not yet finished, lass.”
She looked up into his eyes and nodded.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I know.”
Dallan looked around himself and smiled. “Weel, lass, did ye ken we now ha’ the power to take over the world?”
John and Lany blanched.
Dallan caught the look and suppressed a chuckle.
She cocked her head. “You play at odd times, Dallan. What are you up to?”
He lowered himself to her ear and tenderly whispered, “I dinna ken, I think mayhaps the heathen gave me a wee bit o’ his mischievous side. The good-for-nothing put something inside me, but I’m not sure what.”
“He gave you what you will need, Dallan. A part of himself, I think.”
“Aye, lassie. That’s what I’m afraid of.” He winked at the Councilors who sighed in relief.
Kwaku began to laugh and crossed the room to where the others still stood in stunned silence. Dallan and Shona watched him before locking themselves into a needful kiss.
Kwaku marched up to John and slapped him on the back. “See! I told you everyding would be all right!”
Lany glared at Kwaku in John’s stead. “Why do I get the feeling you knew things would turn out this way all along?”
Kwaku laughed heartily. “Because I did know, Mos-go-fi-an!”
Lany, for once, had no response.
Kitty and Tomy, still huddled together on the floor, climbed to their feet and went directly to the Whittards. A steady flow of jumbled words flowed out of Tomy. “I don’t believe this, this is too much for me, my momma ain’t never gonna believe me when I tell her, no one will believe any of this, I might as well quit school, my job and move into a rubber room cause no one’s gonna ever believe this…”
Kitty, silent for once, stood by Maggie’s side and watched Shona and Dallan.
The new Time Master and his Maiden broke off from each other and turned to face the rest of the assemblage. Kwaku laughed and took in the sight of the young couple as they stared at him. “You are one togeder now. You Boyeee are to take us home.”
Dallan raised a curious brow, unwrapped Shona from his arms, then went up to Kwaku and grinned.
Kwaku stopped his chuckling and stood as if waiting. “Go ahead, Boyeee. I know what it is you long to do.”
“Nay, not like this. ‘Twould not be fair.”
“No? Den let me make it fair.” Kwaku’s fist moved so fast no one saw it coming. He knocked Dallan to the floor with a single move.
Dallan nodded, leapt to his feet and sprang at Kwaku, his fist connecting squarely with the Azurti’s jaw to send him into the wall.
Lany cringed. “Oof.”
Angus smiled broadly. “Aye, it’s grand, isn’t it?”
“Stop it, both of you.” John interjected. “Dallan, Kwaku. We still have a problem.”
Dallan had actually picked Kwaku up from the floor and held him high above his head. “Aye, John?” he replied.
“Yes.”
Dallan let Kwaku drop to his feet in a torrent of laughter. Power surged through both men, the light of their hearts shining out from within again.
Shona and Zara stood to one side, holding each other, their faces filled with odd concern. “Dallan,” Shona began her voice shaky. “Something is not right somewhere.”
“M’eudain?” Dallan ran to her side. “What is it, Flower? What’s wrong?”
She shook her head, eyes frightened and pointed to where Brennan lay.
Dallan followed her gaze and stood suddenly straight. “Saints…”
Philip was on his knees, the corners of his mouth covered with foam and saliva, eyes glazed over and turned a hideous yellow, his hands and fingers curled claw-like. His hair had gone dull, gray and wild, his skin slack and wrinkled. He snarled at Dallan like a trapped animal. “He will kill you! He will see you dead!”
Shona moved to Dallan who wrapped her in a protective embrace. “He canna harm ye, Flower. ‘Tis all right, dinna be afraid.”
“She was to be mine and you took her from me! He will kill you! He will kill all of you!” Philip continued to rave to anything and everything in the room, occasionally clawing and striking at the air.
Kwaku moved to Dallan. “You are de one responsible for him, Boyeee. I have given to you my office. You are de Time Master now. It is as Lissa said. Brennan’s life is in your hands, his fate lies on your tongue. What does your tongue have to offer dis man?”
Dallan’s piercin
g glare caught first Kwaku, then Brennan. “Justice.”
And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven,
Having the key to the Abyss and holding in his
Hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that
Ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan and
Bound him for a thousand years. He threw him
Into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over
Him, to keep him from deceiving the nations
Anymore until the thousand years were ended.
After that, he must be set free for a short time.
Revelation 20:1-3
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Dallan stabbed Brennan with a cold look, an evil hiss the ex-Time Master’s only response.
Shona drew deeper into her husband’s embrace, which made his anger at Brennan double. His jaw twitched with the knowledge of what Brennan had done, had been about to do, to his new bride. He stood to his full height and looked to John, eyes intense. “Ye ken I want to kill him.”
“Dallan,” John began. “As much as he deserves it, there are still certain legalities to look at. The Elders will want to question him first and…”
“I’ve no taken any oaths, John. I’ll do it my way.”
“Eaton?” Lany’s whisper had an air of menacing finality. “Let Dallan have him.”
John, his face stern, sought Kwaku, who looked from Dallan to a panting Brennan. “It is de Boyeee’s right to pass and carry out sentence. Brennan, he has killed, and worse he tried to take control of de Maiden, an act of murder in itself. I agree with Mos-go-fi-an. Give Brennan to de Boyeee.”
John threw Kwaku a knowing look. “You passed your office to Dallan now on purpose, didn’t you? You could have waited until we returned to Genis Lee or Mishna. Why?”
Kwaku smiled. “Is it not obvious, Councilor? Brennan has his own destiny laid out for him, as does de Boyeee. Let destiny be fulfilled. Let de Boyeee have what he needs. Brennan belongs to him.”
John looked back to Dallan and nodded. “So be it.”
Dallan stood straight and tall, his eyes brighter than before, and released Shona from his arms. His jaw danced as he slowly approached Brennan.
Time Masters Book One; The Call (An Urban Fantasy, Time Travel Romance) Page 54
