Page 55 of Wind and Water
She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Her soul is as lovely as her face, maybe more. I brush her hair out of her eyes and tuck the wild curls behind her ear. “I know, sweetheart. I’m not offended. My brother is an excellent diplomat as well as a good man. I am confident that he’ll make a fine king if the curse is lifted. As it is, no man can rule Domhan, and if Aaran tried, he would likely perish very quickly.”
She rests her head on my arm. “Tell me more about this curse. Because it seems counterproductive to have no females born, but no males may rule.”
I lie back and pull her so that she is tucked against me with my shoulder for a pillow. “The witch queen cursed the land to keep any male from ruling the elves. She likely meant to protect her crown from the lovers she takes. However, the old gods can twist this kind of dark, evil magic. No elven women have been born in these last thirty suns. If my mother were to fall, there would be no one in her line who could rule while the curse exists. A younger female elf might take up the battle against the witch queen.”
“When Venora took the white tower, how did the elves in the light escape?” Wren relaxes.
“Mother saw the evil coming. She tried to stop Venora, but half the army was turned into shadow demons, and the rest were forced to retreat. It was clear then that my mother had allowed Venora to become too powerful. She’d underestimated the dark magic and the lengths to which the witch queen would stoopto increase her power.” It’s not easy to keep emotion out of my voice.
“Your mother made a mistake.” There’s no judgment in Wren’s tone. She squeezes my hand. “No one is perfect, Liam. She saved all she could.”
That is true. “I’ve heard the curse has affected other races as well, though not for as long. I think the dark magic is pushing outward.”
“Most of the very young centaurs are male. I heard the women lamenting over it in the village before we left. I didn’t think anything of it at the time.” She yawns again.
“Sleep, Wren. Tomorrow will be a long day.” I wrap her in my arms and hold her and push aside a past that I was too young to alter. My mother did the best she could under terrible circumstances.
“Let me hear our songs?” Emotions, whose source I don’t know, tighten her voice.
Opening my mind, I allow her song and mine to merge, then filter it into her welcoming essence.
“I love you, Liam.” On a long sigh, she closes her eyes, and her head grows heavy.
Kissing her forehead, I’m filled with the joy of all things Wren. “I love you, too.”
Chapter Thirteen
Wren
It takes a full day to reach the river, but I’m told that in the south, the Naomh River splits in two, and the villagers will have taken the eastern fork while we are on the western fork. It will be three more days before we reach the main source, then another two before we finally reach Tús Nua and Liam’s home.
Adhar flies above us, keeping watch. The tug of a connection to the raven niggles at the outskirts of my attention.
Jadar is quiet compared to his usual teasing.
Perhaps I should break the ice. “Do you know much about familiars, Jadar?”
His shoulders pull back, and he holds his head an inch higher. “It is unusual for a centaur to have an animal who serves them, but I have read about them in the village scrolls.”
“What do the scrolls say?”
He’s at a smooth canter, and it doesn’t seem like carrying me makes his work any harder. He speaks as if we were both at rest. “Familiars are animal guides or partners. They are said to be sent by the old gods or at least with old magic. The reason one person is chosen to be the subject of a familiar is not certain, butit is considered a great honor. Even Adhar may not know why she was compelled to find you.”
It makes no sense. “So, she’ll follow me around for the rest of my life or hers. What is the purpose?”
“The scrolls say that a familiar will merge with the subject over time. You should be able to sense things from Adhar.”
I search the sky and find my feathered friend circling over us. “What kinds of things? So far, she’s only told me her name and given us some warning of danger.”
“She also brought healing to Liam. Leighis berries are scarce and don’t grow anywhere near here.” A soft scolding tone replaces Jadar’s shyness.
“That’s true.” It’s not that I don’t appreciate the beautiful white raven and her attachment to me. It just feels as if there should be more.
“The scrolls say that a witch with a familiar can tap into the senses of the animals. I read a story of an elf who saw the world through the eyes of her cat. When the cat sneaked into the enemy camp, the elf saw the number of soldiers, the layout, and how many were on watch. She was able to count the arrows and swords. That’s a handy gift.” Jadar shifts with the turn of the river.
Ahead of us, Liam is on Belloc’s back. They’re keeping pace with Corell. Liam’s shoulders are broad and his back straight as he talks to the centaur leader.
The grassland is flat and dotted with trees. Long blades sway with the wind and remind me of the Gulf of Mexico, where we’d go on vacation in the summer.
