“That bitch is the reason the fire started and the reason Odysseus is wounded. If she comes back here it should be at the end of a rope.” Thaddeus spit the words at them.
Yes, Death murmured.
“But she can wield sunfire. How do we force her to do anything?”
You can force her if you have more power, Death whispered.
“Let me figure that out—that’s what a leader does,” Thaddeus said.
That’s right, Death said. All you need is more power.
“She may have called down sunfire, but she’s a Scratcher. And a woman. I’ll take care of that bitch.”
Yes! Death goaded. Yes-s-s-s-s-s.…
The God quickly became bored as Thaddeus continued to bluster and pontificate, and His attention shifted, turning inward. Searching … searching … searching …
Always searching for his sleeping Consort.
He found her so swiftly that it surprised Him. She was there, just at the edge of His consciousness. The Great Earth Mother, giver of Life, His eternal lover, reclined on her side in the center of a moss-carpeted grove. Her naked skin was the color of moonlight. Her dark hair was a glistening river of silk that poured past her smooth shoulders to wash around her waist. Her breasts were full and perfect. Her eyes were closed in sleep, and her lips curved up, as if he’d caught her in the middle of a sweet dream.
My Consort! How I have missed you! Death said.
Ah, my love. I hear Your voice outside my mind, but cannot find You in my dreams. You no longer sleep?
No! I have taken a warrior’s body and, my Consort, I have found a body fit for you, as well. Soon I will ask you to awaken, to join me in the flesh so that we may rule the world of mortals side by side and be worshipped as we were worshipped too, too long ago!
The sleeping Goddess’s full, beautiful lips lost their smiling curve and her brow furrowed in distress.
My love, that cannot be. Do you not remember what happened when last You awakened? The world burned and was almost destroyed by Death.
But that was only because you refused to wake as well. With Life by my side, it will be much different.
No, my love, no. Death and Life cannot exist together except in our dreams. You know this—we know this. The sleeping Goddess stirred and languidly opened her arms. Leave the warrior’s body. Sleep again where we can forever be entwined.
Death reacted instinctively to Life’s invitation. He craved her—He would eternally crave her. She was everything He wasn’t. He had to have her. He had to possess her!
He reached for her, but His movement broke His trance and He shouted in grief and frustration as the lush Goddess faded into mist and He was jolted to consciousness.
“My Lord! I found sign of hog—”
Death moved quicker than the human eye could follow. His massive hand closed around Iron Fist’s throat and He lifted the man from the ground.
“Never wake me!”
Iron Fist sputtered and tried to speak, but his eyes rolled to show white and his body went limp. Disgusted at human weakness, Death dropped him, growling, “You are my Blade. You do not have permission to die!”
Iron Fist’s heart began to beat again. He gulped air and coughed, rubbing his throat with a trembling hand. “F-forgive me, my Lord,” he rasped.
“You are forgiven. Rise and report.”
Iron Fist staggered to his feet, gasping. “I-I found hogs. As You said, n-near the stream where You killed the boar.”
“Excellent! Lizard, your time is here.”
The sick man rolled over and then sat, looking blankly around as if he wasn’t sure where he was. Then his eyes found the God and he struggled to his feet.
“I am ready, my Lord.”
“Iron Fist, take us to the hogs. Remember to stay downwind. They must not scent Lizard.”
It didn’t take the three of them long to find the hog wallow. It was indeed close to the crossing point in the stream where Dead Eye had killed the enormous boar just the day before. There was a run-off area near a dam of flotsam that had created a muddy pool surrounded by dense brush. As they crept close, they could hear grunting and a few muffled squeals. The God went to His hands and knees, crawling the last few feet with the two men beside Him doing the same.
The God gazed through the brush to see one large red sow wallowing happily in the mud with two piglets at her side. He turned to Lizard and spoke fast and low. “She is exactly what we need. Stay here, but when I call for you, you must come to me with no hesitation. Stand behind me wherever I am—whatever is happening. Can you do that?”
“Yes, my Lord.” Lizard’s eyes were shining brightly with equal parts fever and excitement. “I cannot wait to be healed by the flesh of the beast, just as You healed my brothers.”
The God said nothing to Lizard. Instead, He commanded Iron Fist, “You remain here. No matter what—do not come to the wallow.”
“I understand, my Lord.”
The God began to crawl, moving with speed and stealth that shouldn’t have been possible for such a large man. Soon He was within arm’s distance of the wallow. There He paused, waiting in absolute stillness until the piglets wandered close to Him.
Death erupted from the ground, surging forward so quickly that He had no trouble snatching up each piglet. They squealed their terror as He held them aloft by their hind legs.
“Come to me, Lizard!” the God bellowed as the sow turned her massive head toward Him, roaring in anger.
Lizard did not hesitate. The diseased man ran toward his God as if his life depended on it, coming to a halt behind Death as he had been ordered.
The God dangled the piglets, swinging them around in front of Him, causing them to squeal deafeningly.
The sow responded immediately. She bared her teeth, lowered her head, and charged the God, but just before she reached Him Death lunged to the side.
Lizard, too sick—too human—to move with the God’s speed, could do nothing but scream as the sow rammed him. He fell backward, exposing his belly to the ferocious beast, who began shredding his stomach. His entrails spilled like fat, pink serpents from his body as he screamed over and over and over until the God cried “Enough!” and the sow’s body was lifted from behind and tossed to the other side of the wallow, where she got slowly to her feet, shaking her massive head, preparing to charge again.
“My Lord! Save me!” Lizard cried.
Death tossed the piglets into the brush behind Him. “Iron Fist! Do not let them get away!” Then He bent and took the Lizard’s face between His hands. “Know that you have helped save your People.”
“But I want to live!” he gurgled through bloody froth that spewed from his lips.
“Ah, but Death has called you. I honor and accept your sacrifice, your strength, your spirit.” The God kissed Lizard’s forehead softly. “Behold Death’s merciful blow!” In one motion the God twisted Lizard’s head, cleanly breaking his neck.
Then the God faced the charging sow, shaking out the rope He’d carried wrapped around His waist. She didn’t seem to notice He no longer held her babies. Her eyes were completely red with rage, just as her muzzle and teeth were red with Lizard’s diseased blood. She came at the God. Again He sidestepped easily, this time throwing a noose around her head, jerking it tight, and pulling the huge creature off her feet. Placing His knee on her neck, He pinned her to the mud, staring into her eyes.
Death smiled.
“I see myself already within you. The rest will happen quickly. I am sorry for your suffering but know it is not without reason.” He raised his voice, calling into the thicket above the squeals of the terrified piglets, “Do you have them, Iron Fist?”
“I do, my Lord!” Iron Fist stood, holding the struggling, squealing piglets tightly.
“Come closer, but only near enough for the sow to see that you have her young.”
Iron Fist obeyed. The God turned the sow’s head, lifting it so that she could see her screaming babies.
“When I
release her, run toward the City in the Trees—lead the sow to the Others!”
Understanding flashed through Iron Fist’s eyes. “I will, my Lord.”
“Now!” the God shouted as He freed the sow. She surged to her feet. Roaring with rage, she ignored Death. Choosing her young instead of revenge, she charged after Iron Fist, who sprinted away.
Back as they had come.
Back to the hungry, wounded, waiting Tribe of the Trees.
Content, Death stepped over Lizard’s body, leaving it to sink into the blood and the mud as He went to the stream, washing Himself while he anticipated the return of Iron Fist and the beginning of His People’s new future.
“Four days,” He said to Himself. “In four days the disease will have fully infested the Others. Thaddeus will be completely mine. Then will be time to strike. Then I will lead the People from the ruins of the poisoned City and into the trees. And then I will awaken my Consort, who will rule beside me for eternity, whether She desires to be awakened or not!”
CHAPTER 23
Mari woke slowly. She had no idea how long she’d slept, but by the cocoon imprint she’d made in her side of the pallet it was obvious she hadn’t moved all night.
My side of the pallet …
Mari’s eyelids went from heavy and sleepy to wide open as she turned her head, expecting to see Nik beside her. Sifting back through her dreams, she thought that he’d cradled her all night in his arms. Laru had been at the foot of the bed, and Rigel had been snuggled close on her other side. Surrounded by love, she’d slept better than she had since her mama’s death.
But now she was alone.
Mari sat, rubbing her eyes and trying to tame her wild hair with her fingers.
“Rigel?” she called softly, and just before he came galloping through the woven curtain that separated the main room of the burrow from her sleeping chamber and the well-stocked pantry that stretched behind it, Mari was pretty sure she caught the scent of rabbit stew.
The young Shepherd bounded up on the pallet, grinning his tongue-lolling, puppyish smile and covering her face in licks.
“Okay! Okay! I see you. Good morning to you, too.” Mari laughed and hugged the half-grown canine, kissing his muzzle and trying to avoid as much of his slobber as possible.
Laru stuck his head through the curtain and gave a soft woof of greeting.
“Hello, handsome!” Mari opened her arms in invitation. The big canine didn’t need to be asked twice. Two jumps and he’d joined his son on her pallet, licking her as the Shepherds wagged their tails and wriggled like they were both still puppies.
“I see I have competition.”
Three sets of eyes turned to the doorway where Nik was standing with a cup of steaming tea in his hand, grinning at the knot of canines and Moon Woman.
“Good morning,” Mari said, trying again to smooth back her hair as she wiped the Shepherd kisses from her cheeks.
“Good morning! I’m glad you’re finally awake.” Nik came to the bed, offering the mug of tea to Mari. “It was getting tough to keep Rigel from sitting by your pallet and whining like an anxious pup.”
“Thank you for the tea and for not letting Rigel wake me.” Mari took the tea and loved the way Nik bent and kissed her softly before he sat beside her.
“You taste like Shepherd slobber,” he said.
“Is that a good or bad thing?”
“It’s my favorite. How are you feeling?”
“Really, really hungry. Ravenous, actually. Is that normal? How long have I been asleep? Oh, Goddess! Don’t tell me it’s been days! Sora is going to kill me. Literally. Or do you have her bound and gagged in the other room? Not that that’s a particularly bad idea sometimes.” She finally paused to take a breath and sip the tea, peering up at him over the rim of the ornately carved wooden cup.
“Okay, I’ll answer in order. Yes, it’s normal to be starving after calling down sunfire. It’s normal to feel the effects for a few days yet. Just eat and drink more than you normally would—and sleep—and you’ll be fine. You only slept one night, but it is past midday. I don’t have Sora bound or gagged in the next room, but now that I know you’re not opposed to the idea I’ll consider it next time she drives either of us too crazy.”
“Past midday!” She swung her legs around, meaning to get out of bed quickly, but then she noticed how very bare they were and how almost naked—except for a thin sleep shirt—she was, and she paused, feeling her cheeks warm.
Nik gave her a long, intimate look. “Don’t be embarrassed about showing me your bare legs. They’re very beautiful. And did you know you like to sleep with them tangled up with mine?”
“No, I was asleep, so I couldn’t know it. Are you making that up?”
“Absolutely not. Ask Rigel.”
Mari glanced at her Companion, who gave her an openmouthed canine grin, tongue lolling. “I don’t have to. I see the answer in his face. Um, I’m sorry?”
“Sorry about wrapping me in your beautiful leg blanket? Don’t ever be sorry about that.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek, somehow making an innocent gesture feel intimate, even exciting, as his lingering lips promised more to come. Then he stood. “But I will let you get dressed in peace. You are dressing, right? And not considering undressing and letting me shoo the Shepherds into the other room?” His moss-colored eyes glinted mischievously.
“I’d like to consider it, but if I’m gone too much longer Sora is going to march through the door with a mixed group of Earth Walkers and Companions in her wake, and that would be…” She trailed off trying to find the right word.
“A definite turnoff?” Nik offered.
“Yep. A definite turnoff. Um, and is that stew I smell?”
Nik chuckled. “It is, and far be it from me to stand in the way of a Sun Priestess and her breakfast.”
Mari’s brow furrowed. “I’m not a Sun Priestess. I don’t even know what that is.”
“Then how do you know you’re not one?”
“Because I don’t even know what it is?”
“You’re answering my question with a question. You definitely need food. I’ll ladle up a big bowl of stew for you. Do you want bread and honey, too?”
“I want a whole loaf, please. And an entire comb of honey. I mean it. I’m going to eat a lot.”
Nik stopped at the curtain and then turned to look back at her. “I’m not surprised, and I already have the loaf sliced. Oh, and a Sun Priestess is a revered member of the Tribe who has been chosen by a Shepherd as Companion and has the ability to call down sunfire—which tends to make said priestess ravenous. The Tribe hasn’t had one for generations, though the appearance of one is considered magickal and auspicious for the future. Laru, Rigel, with me! Let Mari get dressed in peace.” The canines bounded after him, leaving Mari alone with her thoughts.
Sun Priestess? Is that what calling down the sun makes me? Wonder how that works with being a Moon Woman? She mentally shrugged. Since I’m not going to be part of the Tribe of the Trees, I don’t think I’m going to have to worry about serving two roles at once. Mari washed her face in the wooden trough that Nik had somehow refilled while she’d been asleep. How had he found his way out of the bramble thicket? As soon as her mind formed the question she realized the answer—Rigel. He had to have led Nik. I probably should feel worried or at the very least a little strange about Rigel helping Nik, but I don’t. It makes me feel safe, loved even.
Mari used a willow twig to clean her teeth, and then she dressed and combed her hair. She liked hearing the sounds of Nik and Laru and Rigel in the other room. It made her feel safe, too. And loved.
She wondered at the changes in her world. In just a few weeks she had gone from being committed to living a solitary life with Rigel as her only companion to having a burrow filled with people and canines—and even a Lynx.
Mari’s hand paused mid-brush of her hair as she realized, I like it. I like having people and their animals around. I like being part of something more than
myself.
But it wasn’t the Clan way. Moon Women led their Clans but were supposed to live solitary lives committed to serving, but serving alone—except for an occasional lover and the gray-eyed, female offspring those lovers produced. The thought of going back to that lonely life made her feel hollow.
Nik is right. It is time for all of us to make a change.
Mari stepped through the room-dividing curtain and stopped. Her stomach did a little flip-flop as she took in the pelt Nik had spread on the floor of the burrow before the hearth fire. On it were two bowls of steaming stew. The one that was heaped completely full was also sitting next to an entire loaf of sliced bread and a wooden container brimming with honey. And beside the bowl of stew was a small figure, carved from wood. Rigel and Laru were lounging before the open door of the burrow, and a lovely warm breeze was drifting in with the wan light of an overcast day.
“Moon Woman, your breakfast awaits.” With a flourish Nik gestured to her place at the makeshift table.
“Wow, this is wonderful!” Mari hurried to take a cross-legged seat before her bowl of stew. She picked up the wood figure and gasped in pleasure. “Nik! It’s Rigel!” Her eyes found Nik’s. “You carved this?”
He nodded and shrugged a little uncomfortably as he took his place beside her on the floor. “Yeah, well, I’m not sure my mother would approve. It’s not very good. I’ll make you a better one when I have more time. I barely finished that before you woke.”
“I love it!” Mari studied the little figure, turning it over and over in her hands. It was definitely Rigel. The details of his wide, intelligent brow, his gangly paws and oversized ears—they were completely her Rigel. Mari’s eyes swept around the burrow. Nik had made breakfast, tidied up, fed the canines—obviously, as they were snoring contentedly in the doorway instead of begging and slobbering all over Nik and her—and carved a miniature figure of her canine for her. Her eyes found Nik’s, and she leaned into him and touched his cheek, drawing him closer to her. “Nik, I am sure your mother would approve. Everything you’ve done here is perfect. Absolutely perfect.” Then she kissed him, long and thoroughly, pulling away only because she couldn’t ignore the steaming stew for another moment.