by L M Lacee
Esther said. ‘She will be gone by nightfall, and I have…’
Just then Helen came from the cleansing room with Keylan, who squealed and waved her arms around. Reaching, not for any of the adults she knew. It was for Carrick, who lifted her from Helen’s arms and cuddled her into his shoulder. She patted his face and sniffed his neck.
The boys and Hope, and every adult there, stared at him and before they could comment. Avana came in with Koana, and she too squealed when she saw Carrick and reached for him.
He took her in his free arm. She gave his face a pat with her little hands as though she had done so many times before and babbled at him.
‘Why?’ Peyton asked Esther, who shook her head and grinned. ‘I was going to explain.’
Sighing at the adorable pic he made with the girls, Avana explained. ‘He is their Urnu.’
Darby frowned. ‘Okay, that’s a new one, what does it mean?’
Penny asked. ‘What language is that? It is none of the ones I know.’
Esther told them. ‘It is the language of the Stars. Urnu is as close as we will get to the word. It is pronounced Err New.’
They all looked at Peyton, who nodded. ‘Seems right to me.’
Reeve looked stunned as he asked Esther. ‘Is he here for the babies?’
She shook her head. ‘Not just them, Carrick has been asked to care for all the young of the Star Daughter and her family.’
Reeve said. ‘Oh Carrick, my friend, that is going to be tough.’
‘It will be tougher, if someone does not explain this to me.’ Darby announced, and no one misheard the annoyance in her tone.
Peyton agreed. ‘Yeah, what she said.’
Hope laughed as she said. ‘Oh Mama, you are silly.’
‘I know, so do you know what it means, beautiful and clever Draygon girl?’
Hope still so unused to praise smiled widely as she said. ‘No Mama, I do not.’
Reeve said with awe in his voice. ‘I have read that many yentas ago the Star Child would ascend a worthy person to the position of Urnu. The Urnu was then tasked with guarding the chosen of the Stars.’
Marlo said with the same tone in his voice. ‘It is said they are touched by the Star Child and asked to perform this duty.’ With that, Reeve and Marlo inclined their heads in a sign of respect to Carrick, who returned it.
Darby asked Peyton. ‘How come you didn’t know?’
Peyton shrugged. ‘A surprise, I guess.’
Carrick stood with both babies in his arms. A fierce, well-muscled Warrior with long dark hair and a blue ring in his eyes. Darby thought he looked exactly right holding the infants and something deep within her needar settled, as if something clicked into place. She wondered if Peyton and Avana felt the same. From their calm expressions, it seemed they did.
Hope whispered to Peyton as she looked at the huge Warrior in amazement. ‘Mama, he is special.’
Peyton grinned and kissed her cheek. ‘Oh baby girl, Mama knew that the first time she met him.’
Carrick look at her, amazed by her words. ‘Madam, I was shooting people.’
‘I know for points.’ She grinned, and he found himself returning the smile. ‘Now Carrick what does Urnu mean, please?’
‘It means Guardian Warrior, and as Commander Reeve and Commander Marlo say. I was asked to care for and guard the young of the Star Daughter’s family.’
She asked. ‘I see and when was this?’
‘It is hard to say Madam, the dreams started on our way home from collecting the Draygons. Then two nights ago, I knew for sure this was my destiny. I spoke to Lady Esther, and she confirmed my decision.’
‘Ahh, I see, and you wish to do this Urnu?’
He smiled down at the babies in his arms and Hope and the boys. ‘I cannot think of anything more worthy.’
Larson moved farther into the room from the transfer circle and said. ‘It is an honorable task. Carrick, I can think of no one more suited to the position.’
Carrick inclined his head. ‘I thank you, Commander.’
Darby, who had taken Draykin from Reeve and was sitting beside Peyton. Asked and one may have thought the answer did not matter to her, unless they looked into her eyes. ‘What happens when you find your mate?’
He shrugged and looked confused. ‘Specialist Darby, I do not understand the question. I am a Warrior, I always will be. Regardless of what else I do. My mate will be my heart as I will be hers, so she will understand what my duty is.’ He looked at her and smiled, transforming him from coldly remote to a gentle, handsome male. ‘I think you wonder if my brother Warriors will think less of me.’
‘I don’t want you to suffer.’ She said quietly. ‘People can be mean.’
Draykin hugged her, feeling her sadness. Reeve came to her and touched her shoulder. ‘My heart, do not worry.’
Carrick softly said. ‘Sister Darby, thank you. I am not sure when the last time someone was concerned about me, but let me assure you. Commander Reeve, do you think less of me for guarding and caring for the young of our Star Daughter?’
Reeve placed Rayvan on the floor as Draykin squirmed to be let down from his mother’s lap. The boys instantly went to stand by Carrick, as Reeve stated. ‘Urnu Carrick, there is no higher honor than the one you have been given by the Star Child. So in answer to your question and my mate’s concern, no. And let no male or female say different or they will meet my sword.’
‘And ours.’ Marlo and Larson said in unison.
Peyton smiled at the fervor the males stated their support of Carrick. Gently, she said. ‘You understand, Carrick, you can no longer remain a Warrior in the Armee. As Urnu, you are outside the jurisdiction of Commander Hawk. In fact, you are your own unit. So I will grant you the commission of Commander and you will command with Esther, the children’s nannies and guards. Esther will recruit nannies, you will need to recruit the guards. Are you ready for that?’
Carrick nodded. ‘Lady Esther prepared me for this. I am still willing to assume my responsibilities, Madam.’
Peyton grinned. ‘Then I am happy to welcome you to our family, Urnu Carrick. Penny, he will need… no, scratch that. They will need an area. I am thinking…’
Esther cut her off, knowing that discussion could take all day. ‘Okay then, thank you, so we have our Urnu and we will with Carrick’s help train suitable people as guards. I will have all the nannies by the end of this weken. Training for them will start in less than two wekens.’
Peyton asked. ‘Oh well, umm… how are we going to do that?’
Esther said. ‘I have several potential candidates. All we have to do is weed them out and start training, which Reeve and Carrick will undertake for the guards.’
Reeve nodded. ‘Now, I have Carrick. We will train them to our standards. We will only take selected candidates, and we will see who can withstand the rigors of our young.’
‘You can count on us to help.’ Marlo told them.
Peyton nodded as she said. ‘Because there are heaps of babies here and to come.’ She started ticking them off on her fingers. ‘Trina, Penny, Patty and Darby’s then there are mine and Avana’s Bee-Bee…’
‘Stop calling her that, even my family calls her that now.’
‘You don’t like blue-berry, this is a compromise, and she does not care.’ Stated Peyton righteously.
Avana snapped. ‘I am her Mama and I care.’
‘Oh, you so do not.’
‘So, Penny finally told you?’ Darby said, halting the fight before it got traction. Peyton and Avana locked eyes, but Peyton still answered Darby.
‘Yeah, took her long enough, she says she was waiting for the right moment.’
Bewildered, Penny asked. ‘I was, why would I lie?’
Esther said. ‘To change the subject, Lott and I are to go to Terra today. We will be there for the next weken. Carrick is here to work out a schedule for the children, and Brenda will oversee a place for the playroom. Which I, Brenda and Helen have already decid
ed will be on this floor. The builders are here remodeling Jean’s apartment and will do whatever you wish for the area. I am thinking about the two lounges we do not use. But I will leave that up to you. I must go, my shuttle is waiting.’
She hugged Peyton, Darby and Avana, and the other adults. Kissed and hugged all the young and as she hugged Hope she said. ‘Remember Draygon girl, comm me anytime. Jax will do so if you ask him too.’
Hope hugged her back. ‘I will miss you and yes Grammie, I will remember.’
‘Good girl, come on Lott.’
Peyton asked. Lott, keep her safe.
As always, Beloved.
I am happy you are here, Lott.
Thank you, Beloved.
TWENTY-ONE:
A few mins after Esther had gone. Heather, Heddro and Kate, followed by Kitolin and Rave arrived.
Kitolin, how are you? Peyton asked as he rushed to her.
Mama Star, I am well.
‘I can see that, but are you happy?’
My bonded loves me and I love her and my brothers are as they always were but different.
‘Yes, that seems to happen around here.’
‘Greetings Rave.’ She said to the Prowler, who waited patiently for her to acknowledge him. Greetings Beloved. I am training Kitolin, he has leadership qualities.
‘Of course he does. Kitolin I am proud of you.’
You are?
‘You survived.’ She took his face in her hands. ‘That my precious Prowler is the greatest accomplishment of all. I also heard you are a good fighter.’
I am. He whispered and looked away. I did something that makes me sad. Maybe it was bad.
Peyton turned his head until his eyes stared into hers. ‘I know young Prowler, I know.’
As thoughts crowded his mind, she placed him in sleep and lowered him to the ground.
Kate asked. ‘What have you done… what is going on?’
Rave asked. Wait, please Artar.
Peyton asked him. ‘You know?’
We do, he asked permission to come and see you.
‘I see, comm Telfor please.’ Peyton asked Darby. She did so, and a few seconds later he arrived.
‘Madam, you wished to see me?’
‘I am sorry. I hope you were not busy.’
‘No, I was disturbed, so was on my way here.’ He looked at the sleeping Kitolin and smiled.
‘Ahh, I see.’
Distraught, Kate said. ‘Well, I don’t! Please would someone tell me what is happening to my bonded?’
Peyton told her. ‘Kitolin had to take a life before he could leave Porquiel, and it has played heavily on his mind. He needs to speak to Telfor.’
Kate nodded. ‘I knew there was something, he would not tell me what it was.’
‘No, he is worried you will disavow your bond.’
‘Oh my dearle Kitolin... Wait, is that a thing?’
‘No, but this is new for them and they do not know all the rules. He is still young.’
Telfor said. ‘If you do not mind Kate. I will take him with me and see to this matter.’
‘Thank you Telfor, please do what you can to help him.’
Peyton woke Kitolin and Kate hugged him, saying. Kitolin, go with Mystic Telfor, please.
He hung his head. I will, you will not stop loving me bonded?
She rubbed his head. He was so young and so very new to this world. She kissed him between his ears. Never, you are mine always. No one or anything you did can take you from me. We are a team, are we not, my protector?
I am. He nodded but did not lift his head.
They all watched him go with Telfor onto the lift. Kate looked worriedly after him and asked quietly. ‘Who did he kill?’
Peyton, her eyes on the lift, replied. ‘His father.’
There was a collective gasp. ‘Oh poor Kitolin.’ Darby whispered as she took Kate’s hand in hers.
Peyton looked at them and said sadly. ‘He would not let him leave. Kitolin pined for his brothers, fear for them ate at him night and day. His mother became anxious, he lost weight, and he barely slept. She felt he was losing touch with reality so she consulted Dinkora second to Quineria, and she advised her to let him go or suffer watching him die in front of her eyes. Kitolin’s father was not pleased when he learned of her decision to allow him to leave. You see, Kitolin was his only son and the potential leader of his small pride. Enraged, he attacked Kitolin’s mother, killing her. Sadly, this snapped the tenuous hold Kitolin had on his sanity at the time and he killed his father.’
Darby asked. ‘Do Tad and Red know?’
She nodded. ‘Yes, Jarrod spoke to them. We had to wait for Kitolin to realize he needed help.’ She looked at Kate. ‘We could not tell you. He needed to do this on his own. Rage said it is part of what will make him a better, more honorable Pride Leader.’
Kate nodded. ‘I understand, an Alpha needs to accept responsibility. He needs to accept what he did and why. Therefore making sure he does not repeat the same mistake again.’
Avana said. ‘It was in defense of his mother. To my way of thinking, a noble reason to take a life.’
Peyton said sadly. ‘I agree with you, and to a point what he did was noble, it is what he did after that is in question.’
After a minute, Kate said. ‘Oh I see, well regardless he is mine.’
Rave said. We all have done things we are not proud of in our lives. It would be impossible to be otherwise. He is no less for what he did, and the lessons will stand him well into the future.
Rage told them as he moved from the transfer circle. Blood lust is something we all struggle with, even Terran’s are susceptible to its power. Kitolin has not the maturity to halt its draw. We will make sure we train him and with Mystic Telfor’s guidance this will not be a concern now or in the future. This is another reason we are fortunate to have Mystics in our Pride.
‘Greetings Rage, I am happy to see you.’
As I am you, Beloved.
‘I never thought it would be a problem. Kitolin is not a murderer. He is young and was placed in a terrible position. His father should have known better.’
Rage said disgustedly. This is true. Although his parent was always an olesho.
There was an explosion of laughter at the large Prowler’s words. Peyton brought the discussion to a close by saying. ‘Okay then, what Rage and Rave say is true of all of us. So what happened to Kitolin is for him to come to terms with. I know he will have a lot of help along the way.’
Marlo harrumphed and said. ‘Eggs.’
‘Yes… yes… wait, one min please.’ She asked Rave and Rage. ‘Is there something I can do for you two?’
Rage nodded. Yes, Fanharr is tiring, we will return the kits tonight.
‘Wonderful, is she okay?’
Yes, I am here to take the young ones to visit her and the kits. He looked around. Not the infants.
Peyton laughed. ‘Okay, so guys do you want to go visit Fanharr and the kits?’
They cheered and went to Carrick and asked. ‘May we Urnu?’
Carrick nodded. ‘I will come with you.’
Rage asked. You are the Urnu?
‘I am.’
I knew we were to receive one. Greetings Urnu Carrick. I apologize, I would have asked you first if I had realized.
‘It is not a concern. Lady Esther is to make it known in the Oracle.’
As I will to the Pride.
Avana asked Peyton. ‘How is it Rage knew about Carrick and you did not?’
Peyton frowned. ‘I have no idea, a miracle maybe.’
Darby narrowed her eyes as she asked. ‘Were you not paying attention when the Star Child talked to you?’
Peyton grimace. ‘They talk so often, sometimes it goes in one ear and out the other, you know?’
‘No, Star girl, we don’t know. You are meant to listen to them when they speak.’
‘Yeah... yeah.’
Darby then murmured to Peyton as they watched the young talk with Carri
ck. ‘Do you feel like we are redundant here?’
‘Yes.’
‘Why does he have more say than we do?’
‘Who knows why?’
‘Well again you are meant too.’ Snarked Darby as Peyton waved her hand. ‘Yeah… yeah.’
They both looked at Avana, who said with a smirk. ‘It is what it is, live with it.’
‘She has got very snippy, since she came back from her séance thingy.’ Darby muttered to Peyton, who grinned, especially when Avana asked.
‘What is a séance thingy?’
When they did not answer her, she narrowed her eyes and threatened. ‘I will find out.’
Marlo growled loudly, exasperated with the delays. ‘EGGS!’
‘Oh my.’ Brenda said. ‘Marlo luv.’
Marlo slashed his hand in the air between them. ‘No more waiting. This is important. You.’ He pointed to the children, who giggled. ‘Leave with Rage and Rave, and you.’ He pointed to the adults. ‘Stay or go but sit. I want answers.’
Carrick passed the babies to their mothers, then he and the children left with the Prowlers.
Peyton said as though Marlo had not just growled at her and everyone else. ‘Oh yes please, everyone sit, we have had a request for the unclaimed eggs, how many do we still have left, healers?’
Helen and Brenda placed food and drinks on the table and soon everyone was eating and drinking.
Heddro asked. ‘What is this about the eggs?’
Peyton smiled at him, ignoring Marlo’s long-suffering sigh. ‘Greetings, Heddro. I have not seen you lately, are you well?’
He returned her smile, which emphasized how handsome and healthy the blue male Draygon was.
‘Greetings, Madam, I am well. My mate and I are incubating one of our eggs and we have, with Lady Esther’s help, employed a wonderful nanny. She and my mate Calina are becoming friends, and she is introducing Calina to other ladies and teaching her to cook. It is a most satisfying development.’
‘That is wonderful.’ Peyton said pleased for the healer. ‘What of the health of our Draygons?’
‘Most are well and flying, others are progressing toward a healthier body and will soon be in the air. We are well on the way to being the fittest we have ever been. Thank you, Madam.’