by Wendy Stone
A huge smile lit up Marshal’s face and he took her hand in his, kissing her palm and then her lips, unable to stop himself. “Come on,” he said, hurrying her toward the elder. “Let’s get this done before you change your mind.”
Lucinda grinned despite her doubts and fears. “As if you’d let me,” she teased, turning her hand in his and handing him the gold ribbon.
“Do you have the ribbon?” the elder asked, taking it from Marshal when he held it up and gathering two golden rings. He strung them on the ribbon, tying a knot so that they wouldn’t come off and then held the ribbon and rings over their left hands.
Muttering softly, he spoke in the guttural language of the weres, crossing the ribbon over their wrists, then under and over once more. The loose ends trailing into the slight breeze, he turned, picking up a small knife that was decorated with white and gold ribbons, tiny rings embroidered upon them in the purest of white.
It was extremely sharp, kept that way by the elder for the ritual that must be completed. “Lucinda, do you accept Marshal as your mate? Will you stand at his side, fight beside him and be his until death? Will you bless him with children, share his bed and his heart, stay with him in good and bad times?”
“Yes,” Lucinda said, her voice soft but not hesitant. She held her hand still as the elder made a sign over it with the dagger and then cut into her palm, a tiny slice that welled with blood.
“Marshal, do you accept Lucinda as your mate? Will you stand beside her, protect her and her litters, and be hers until death? Will you grace her with your children, share her bed and her heart and stay with her in good and bad times?”
“Yes.” Marshal’s voice was more confident and his voice could be readily heard by all. He moved his hand so that the elder could reach it, feeling the mating words in his soul. The sharp pain of the dagger was nothing. The elder placed their hands palm to palm, mixing the blood that bound their lives together. Grabbing the loose ends of the ribbons, he tied them tight, forming a huge bow. He smiled, seeing their fingers entwine. It was a good match.
Clasping their hands in his, he bowed his head over them, touching his forehead to the back of Lucinda’s hand. “It is done!” he cried happily.
Behind the crowd, who began to move closer to the couple, Lucinda heard a voice calling Lukah’s name. Then a roar came from the forest and a huge gray shape ripped through the pretty draping of material.
Marshal spun, bringing her with him, gasping as he saw a herd of Rhinos surrounding them. The one who’d ripped through the material kept up his charge, heading directly toward Lukah and Marissa. “Watch out!” he shouted.
Marissa looked up, eyes wide as she saw the shape barreling down at them. With little time to lose, she pushed Lukah out of the path of the charging hulk. It hit her instead, throwing her into the air so that she hit a tree behind her.
Pain of a kind unknown to her before suffused her body. Her mind wanted to shut down and get away from it. She heard a roar of pain-filled rage. Before she came to a complete stop, Lukah was there. “Marissa?”
Her hand rose, touching his cheek and leaving a smear of her blood on his face. “Are you okay?” she asked weakly.
“Why?” he cried, holding her hand to his face. “Why did you do that?
“I couldn’t let you die,” she whispered. “I love you.” Her eyes began to slip closed and a bubble of blood frothed from her mouth. “I love you,” she repeated, the last word coming out as a sigh.
“Marissa?” Lukah’s heart was ripped from him in the two seconds it took for him to realize she was gone. “Marissa, no,” he cried feeling her hand began to slip from his face. He grabbed it with his own, placing her palm against his cheek, holding it there. “No, baby. Stay with me, please. I need you.” Tears slid down his cheeks and a sob built in his chest but he wouldn’t let it loose. Carefully straightening out her body, he crossed her hands on her breasts before gently kissing her cheek.
With a roar of pain so intense as to be inhuman, he tore away the tux he’d worn, changing as his eyes picked out the rhino that had killed his mate. With a scream, the huge panther in the golden torc leapt, his claws gripping the back of the beast who tossed its head, trying to get away from the clawing, biting cat that clung to it.
The weres in the clearing changed, though they were clearly out gunned. Fifty rhinos, more than any of them had seen in a single herd, surrounded the clearing, charging at will at any panther that caught their eyes. Marshal pulled his hand away from Lucinda, ripping through the ribbon with a single claw. “Go help Marissa,” he told Lucinda. “Be safe.” Then he too was changing.
“You be careful,” she called, her heart in her throat. She saw a rhino begin to charge her, saw Marshal dart in front of it. The rhino changed directions, going for the panther instead of the human. Marshal changed directions as well, rushing the charging rhino and leaping high over the horn that tried to gore him.
He dug his claws in, leaving bloody furrows in the thick skin. His fangs flashed and he locked his teeth into the back of the rhino’s neck, feeling him buck and kick. He didn’t dare lose his balance now. If he fell, the rhino would crush him under his huge feet.
Hot blood filled his mouth, the taste of raw meant causing his mouth to salivate despite the danger. Digging deeper with his teeth, he ripped out huge chunks of flesh, hearing the rhino roar beneath him. But it still wasn’t enough. He had to break its neck or tear out its throat. He could do neither from where he was.
Marshal tried to find a different hold on the rhino but it bucked, almost throwing him off. He hung from the beast’s side, his claws scoring long marks as he tried to hoist himself back onto its back. One more hard buck and he went flying, landing on his side and knocking the breath out of him.
There was a rumble, the sound of a freight train going by, and he saw a blur of silver. In his head he heard Nashe’s voice. Get up, Marsh. Your lady is watching. You don’t want her thinking you’re a wuss, do you?
Very funny, he growled, rising to his four feet.
Nashe was on the rhino, tearing more bloody furrows in it. We’ve got to rip out the damn thing’s throat!
The rhino was charging blindly, thrashing with its head, trying to kill whatever was causing it so much pain. Marshal gauged the distance, gave it a moment more and then attacked. He found the fragile flesh at its throat and dug in, ripping more flesh from the damn beast.
Nashe jumped away just in time to see the rhino fall, its blood pumping onto the ground.
One down, only about forty more to go, he thought at Marsh.
A golden-brown shape flashed past them, leaping at another rhino. Will you two shut up and watch your fucking backs? Terry growled, bringing her back leg up and puncturing one of the rhino’s eyes with her claw. Blind the damn things and they run into trees. Flipping onto its back, she dug in with her teeth, reaching down to find the other eye as the rhino bugled its pain and rage.
When it was blind, she jumped off, the rhino charging blindly into the underbrush and snagging its horn in a trailing of vines.
A roar and a flash of fire gave away Kadian’s position. He blasted one rhino after the other with flame, only letting up if they turned and ran. Around them, more panthers were bringing rhinos down, either by blinding them or tearing out their throats. They were winning!
The sound of a scream spun all three of them. Lucinda, blood staining the front of her silk dress, was being held by a stocky, muscular man who had one beefy arm around her throat. The other held a long knife.
Marshal quickly changed, stepping forward confidently despite his nudity. “Let her go,” he ordered.
“I don’t think so. I don’t think you have too much to say about it,” Bray said, keeping the knife at her throat and letting his other hand roam over Lucinda’s beautiful curves.
“You mother-fucker, stop touching me,” Lucinda spat. “Get your foul, ugly hands off me. Do you have any idea of who I am?”
“You’re the blushing mate of n
ude boy over there,” Bray said, speaking softly. He glanced down at Marshal’s groin. “Not much there to write home about,” he laughed.
“What’s with the knife?” Lucinda spat back as she glanced down at the long blade. “Overcompensating for a lack in penis department, dickhead?”
“Mouthy,” Bray said, tapping her lightly across the lips. His light tap smashed her teeth against her lips and caused her mouth to bleed.
“Fucker,” Lucinda growled, turning and spitting blood in his face. “Go fuck yourself.”
Bray wiped the spittle off of his face, his beady eyes going murderous. “Shut your mate up before I do it,” he hissed at Marshal. “She won’t like the way I do it.”
“Lucinda,” Marsh began.
“He’s a fucking rhino, Marshal. He killed Marissa, he killed Lukah’s mate. Are we going to let him get away?”
“Trey killed Marissa,” Bray said quickly. “Lukah killed him. Debt paid.”
“Let her go and take me instead,” Lukah growled, stepping out of the shadows. “You can kill me when you get out of here. I have no real reason to live anymore.” He glanced over to where Marissa’s body lay upon the ground, her dress like a beam of light, her red hair a fiery halo around her head.
Bray started dragging Lucinda back, the still living rhinos following him. They’d killed more than half. Half again of the survivors were now blind, being led by those that weren’t. The rhinos had lost more today than they had gained.
“Lucinda!” Marshal cried, starting after her.
Nashe grabbed him, pulling him back. “They’ll kill both of you.”
Lukah moved toward Marissa’s body, shouting when he saw Kadian reach down and pick her up. “What are you doing? Put her down!”
Kadian shook his big head, spread his wings wide and took off, the downdraft from his wings causing the ribbons and draperies to flutter wildly.
“Kadian!” Nashe yelled. “Come back here!”
“Where’s he taking her?” Lukah growled, his amber eyes glowing wildly. “What’s he going to do with her?”
“I don’t know, man. Honestly, I’ve never known him to act like this.” Nashe shrugged his shoulders wrapping one arm around Terry as she came to stand next to him, a piece of the drapery wrapped around her like a towel.
Tears spilled down her face as she looked into the afternoon sky, seeing just the tiniest spot that was Kadian as he flew away with her best friend’s body. “God, I’m so sorry, Lukah.” She reached out to him and was suddenly engulfed in his embrace. He was shaking, his face buried in her hair, barely able to stand in his grief. He wanted to scream, to rip at his own body until the pain lodged in his chest had an outlet. He wanted to feel a blade thrust between his ribs so that he could be with her; his mate, the only one he’d ever loved.
“We had such little time together,” he muttered. “Why? Why was she put in my life to be taken from me in this way?”
“I don’t know, Lukah. But I do know Marissa. She wouldn’t want you to give up like this.”
Lukah pulled away from her staring as if she were deranged. “What kind of hope should I have, Terry? She’s dead. You saw.” Turning, he changed to panther and bounded through the trees, his screams of rage and pain heartbreaking for those who heard them.
Terry felt her own tears well and she looked over at Nashe. He gathered her into his arms, letting her cry her sorrow against his shoulder.
“We’ve got to go after them,” Marshal began, only to stop when a loud male scream sounded from the directions the rhinos had gone.
“Fucking vlaka! Yama yourounia, stupid prick.”
“Lucinda?” Marsh breathed.
Nashe flinched. “She’s the only one who’d call a rhino holding a knife to her throat a fucking moron.” Another scream and then the sound of a sharp bark had the three of them changing and rushing after the rhinos, followed by those panthers that weren’t taking care of the wounded.
Nashe got there in time to see jackals attack the rhinos, the pack going two or three jackals to a single rhino. Blood splashed; yip, whines and roars filled the air. The panthers joined the jackals, claws flashing as they worked together to bring the herd down.
Bray was the last one standing, though the definition of standing was questionable. He was huddled over, hands clutching his balls. Lucinda strode with dignity to her mate, laying her palm against his face and kissing him.
“My hero,” Marshal joked, pushing her back a step so he could look for wounds. “How did you manage that?”
“The jackals came. While he was distracted I gave his paparia a good tight twist.” She formed a fist with her hand and made a ripping motion. Nashe groaned at the image in his head.
“Paparia?” Terry asked.
“Greek for testicles,” Marshal told her, beaming at his mate.
“I thought the jackals hated panthers?”
“We did,” Shurene said, walking naked toward the two couples. Without her clothes, the bruises and bites were horrifying. “But I had my eyes opened last night. It wasn’t the panthers who killed my mate. It was the rhinos and their drugs.”
“What happened to you?” Nashe asked, his eyes running over the long bruise on her ribs.
“I had a run in with Trey and Bray last night. If it hadn’t been for Kadian, well, I probably wouldn’t be here. Where is he?”
“Marissa,” Terry breathed.
“Lukah’s mate was killed in the first charge. Kadian flew off with her body, we don’t know why.”
Shurene bowed her head. “At one time, such news would have brought me joy and satisfaction. Now I feel only sorrow and empathy. Do not leave him alone to let the pain fester, like mine did,” she advised. “When you see Kadian, please tell him that my people and I say thank you for everything.” She nodded at the four and then turned away, whistling up her pack and changing into a white-blonde Jackal, her strange eyes giving her an appealing look.
“A dragon and a jackal?” Nashe mused. “I don’t think it would be possible.”
“No one thought a wolf and a panther could mate either but you’re living proof of the lie to that. Don’t discount anything.” Marshal gathered his mate to him. “We should go and find out about our people, get those that need help to our medic. Someone needs to find Lukah, to check on him.” He looked at Nashe.
“Okay, fine, I’ll do that.”
“I’ll help with the wounded,” Terry volunteered, knowing that Lukah wouldn’t be happy with her presence. It was the last thing he needed right now. What he needed was Marissa.
* * * *
Kadian landed carefully upon the peak of the ice mountain, far to the north of any human settlement. It looked the same as it had the last time he’d been here, some hundred or so years ago. Pushing aside the huge sheet of ice he’d used as a doorway, he carefully brought Marissa’s still form inside.
“You’re still here, Marissa. I can feel you in here.” He touched the place on his chest where his heart pounded with a fierce and noble beat. “I don’t know if this will work or not, but I have got to try it. You’ll have to be strong. You’ll have to want to come back for Lukah. For Lukah,” he repeated, placing her carefully on a small pallet of furs, covering her warmly. With one quick exhalation, he started five pots of oil burning, giving off heat and light, though he didn’t need it to see or for the warmth. Going to a wall of ice that was as smooth as glass, he closed his eyes, concentrating as hard as he could and waited for the memory to play.
It was like ducking through cobwebbed doorways and staccato lighting, hearing snippets of thoughts, sensing the presence of others. Like a movie playing in his head on fast forward, or maybe it more specifically on rewind. He was searching the many years of his life, remembering the knight who’d come to his mother.
* * * *
His name was Bregowine and he was an Earl, carrying upon his standard double dragons holding branches of thorny roses in their tightly curled fists. Their faces were raised, flames shooting in the
air from their open mouths. He brazenly came to the village that his mother had guarded, flying his standard high for all to see.
“You are the dragon, Elspeth by name, is that not true?” he demanded, his eyes narrowed upon Kadian’s mother. She was a beauty in her human form with long curls of silken, sable hair and gem-like green eyes. Her body was long and lithe and even after giving birth, flat of stomach and pleasing to the eye.
“I am Elspeth,” she said calmly enough, holding up her hand when some of the men of the village would have stepped forward. “What might I do for you, Sir Bregowine?”
“Ahh, you’ve heard of me,” the good-looking knight almost preened.
“It would be hard not to have heard the flapping of the women’s jaws. They speak of your beauty and your prowess, and the fact that you have killed two of my kin, good sir. What do you wish of me? I should hope you don’t expect me to sit here and allow you to kill me as well?”
“Their deaths were accidents, Lady Elspeth. They were killed as they tried to help me. My wife was taken from me, her death a cruel and unfitting one. I loved her with every part of me. I had heard rumored that dragons can revive the dead. Your kin told me that it was the truth. They died trying to bring my wife back.”
“Why should I risk my own life for your wife?” Elspeth smiled, her fangs shiny and sparkling in the light of the candles. “I have my own to worry for and he is worth more to me than any gold or treasure you might offer.” Her hand stroked over the dark hair of the son who sat beside her, his eyes exactly matching hers. She smiled down at him, gently chucking him on the jaw before pulling his plate forward. “Eat, my son.”
“I would have a son also, a strong son who would bring together our peoples, who would blend the strengths of the weres with the prowess of men and keep all from harm. The witch killed my wife before she could conceive.” Bregowine sank down in a chair next to Elspeth, burying his face in his hands.
“So this isn’t a matter of love but one of fate denied.” Elspeth picked up her own spoon, a coarse wooden affair that matched the wooden bowl. She lifted a bite of the stew that had been specially prepared for her and her son by the women of the village. Special herbs flavored the broth, special because no human could eat them and survive. But Elspeth and her son thrived on the herbs. Mandrake and nightshade made for a tasty broth. She chewed and swallowed, enjoying her meal.
