Renounced: The Shelean Moon, Book Two

by J. Lilley

  Ali stared. “What d’you mean? Why not? It’s just a rock, for heaven’s sake.”

  Leira shook her head. “No way is it just a rock. It’s the Armin Stone.’

  Ali shook her head. “No idea about that, nothing to do with Wicca.” She stared at them in turn. “Look, one and all, it’s fairly obvious, none of us are exactly normal. Shall we do a trade and tell? I will if you will.”

  There was the sound of a vehicle being driven much too fast, and Brios’s polo appeared round the bend of a muddy track, before screeching to a halt.

  “Your brother’s driving is worse than mine,” Troy muttered under his breath. Leira stifled a grin as both car doors flung open and Rach and Brios appeared, followed by Andy.

  “Our gods and us,” came from each of them as they reached the others. Brios stared.

  “Why are you all standing in the rain when it’s dry by the stone?” Brios’s voice was incredulous.

  Gah, brothers…A mind like a sieve.

  “Do you not remember last time we were here? I went over to it, and all hell broke loose.” Leira shuddered. “No thanks, I’ll stay wet. You lot go.”

  “What’s the Armin Stone?” Rach asked. “C’mon, Lei, let’s get into the dry. You and Ali look like drowned rats, and my hair’s going to corkscrew.” She took Leira’s hand and held out the other to Ali. Brios nodded and walked with Donny and Troy following him.

  “Don’t say you weren’t warned,” Leira advised as she stepped from wet to dry, and joined the others.

  The noise was incredible. Howls and shrieks echoed around them, bounced off the rocks and sent lightning and sparks into the air. The ground began to shake, and the waters of the loch rose, moving towards them. Leira stared as first her feet and then her legs began to submerge.

  “Quick, climb up.” Donny’s voice was urgent. “Get onto the stone. It’s safe, c’mon, the others are already up there. Move.” She felt Troy’s hand on her bum as he gave her a shove and started to scramble up after her…Donny close behind.

  There was a roar. Leira felt hands helping her to the top of the stone and then watched in relief as Donny joined them. The air shimmered, and a wave rolled over the spot she had scuttled over seconds earlier.

  Mine. Still mine. All mi…

  21

  “Struan,” Leira and Donny spoke together.

  Donny looked across the flat top of the ancient stone to where Brios sat with his arms around Rach. She was pale, and her red hair curled wildly around her face. Ali sat wide-eyed nearby, with an angry Troy on one side and a furious Andy on the other. Neither expression was anywhere near the rage he felt, or Brios displayed.

  “Not drowned?” Leira asked. He felt her tremble…through fear or cold, he wasn’t sure.

  Donny smiled. He saw a tell-tale blue streak that moved steadily along the track that led to the village. He pointed. “Our Patriarch is about to descend upon us.”

  “Pardon?” Ali sounded puzzled. “What’s a Patriarch? Don’t you think it’s time you let me in on your secret, you lot? After all, I flew Donny here.”

  She has a point. You going to explain before your dad gets here? This was one occasion when Donny was more than happy for Brios to make the decisions. He saw Brios’s wry smile.

  Thanks, bro.

  Hey, my pleasure.

  “Stop it, you two. That’s rude.” Rach poked Brios in the side. “Talk properly and tell Ali what you can.” Rach looked fierce—well, as fierce as a shivering girl with frizzy red hair could look. “Be nice.”

  Donny laughed. “Sorry, you’re right—over to you, Bri.”

  Brios looked at each of them in turn, one eyebrow raised. Donny watched as they all—except Ali—nodded. She just looked expectant.

  “Okay then. Ali, what do you know of Shalea?”

  “What? How do you mean? Have I heard of it? Well, duh, of course, there’s been interaction between us and sh…shoot.” She groaned. “Well, I was busted anyway by bringing Donny here, so, no secrets about what I am. I’m Wiccan, a witch, and I can fly. I guess you are all Shalean, all from the Sept?”

  “Yeah, in some way or another…Donny, Leira, Andy, and I are. Rach half is and Troy? He can tell you that.”

  “Half Shalean, and half witch from my mum’s side, and all Aussie,” Troy said. “I’m a flyer as well. Not that many of us are.”

  Bugger, I wonder how it was decided to bring him here? Donny sensed the annoyance in Brios’s mind. No doubt Dad could tell us—if he chose to.

  Well, he’s almost here…so maybe now’s your chance to ask him.

  Hmm. Brios didn’t sound too sure.

  “So,” Ali persisted. “What’s Struan and the Grey Side got to do with whatever it is that’s happening?”

  “We wish we knew,” Brios replied. “This is the first I’ve heard of the Grey Side. They’re new to me, to all of us, I guess.” There were nods from the others. “Look, Dad is almost here. He’ll want to know everything. So let’s wait and see how he wants to play it.”

  “And there’s more,” Andy broke in. “Not long before you picked me up, I had an interesting meeting with Struan. By accident, but very well, I was going to say interesting but I reckon maliciously would be more to the point. He is one nasty person at the moment—and he has so got it in for Shaleans. He threatened Leira…and well, sorry, Bri…I marked him.”

  Donny was sure in Andy’s place he’d have done the same thing.

  “The Patriarch will judge. Where did you mark him, and with what?” Brios asked.

  “Left cheek. Shalean mark for traitor. Okay, I overstepped my place, I know that, but the things he threatened to do…so not on. And then, well, he threatened me.”

  “How?” Donny jumped in before Brios could speak. “And how did he threaten Leira?”

  “Dad’s here, let’s wait and we’ll only need to tell everything once. Look, it’s stopped raining, and the loch’s calm.” Brios was living up to the trust given to him as future Patriarch. His attitude firm and calm.

  He was right. The sun was out. The clouds had rapidly dispersed, and the loch had returned to its usual, placid self. If it weren’t for the debris caught in the crevasses on the rock face, there would be no evidence of the violent forces that had been at work so recently.

  “Can we get down now?” Leira still looked worried. “I’m not exactly happy up here. These hieroglyphics have dug into me, and my feet need a soft, soothing bath. Those thistles were darned sore to land on, and I’m going hot and cold in turn. I can see three of you, Bri, and that’s not a pretty sight. I tell you, this stone and I are not buddies.” She grabbed his arm, and her nails dug in. “Please, D, I feel really weird up here. Okay, it saved me from the waves, now though…now I feel like it wants me off and away big time.”

  Donny watched a wave of grey roll over her skin, the way the mist rolled in on a damp November day and Leira’s face twisted as if she was in pain. He could see the stone’s markings begin to show clearly on her legs and arms—strange signs that were ancient with meaning. What meanings, he had no idea. Nor did he know why they superimposed themselves so deep on Leira.

  “Bri? We need to get Leira off here super quick. Something really isn’t right. Look at her legs.”

  Everyone watched as Leira’s color changed from grey to red.

  Sod it, D. Tell the world why don’t you.

  Sorry—not. We need to move you.

  “Lei, can you stand?” Brios asked.

  “Course I…er…can’t.” She’d tried to stand up, and grabbed onto Donny when she wobbled. “My legs won’t hold me.”

  Donny looked down to the grass some twenty feet below them. Marok had parked his car, and he and Donny’s dad hurried across to the base of the stone.

  He watched Marok bow briefly and touch the stone with his left hand before he looked up. What was that all about? He debated if he should ask Brios and decided not to. If he needed to know, someone would tell him.

  “Right, let’s get you all
down.” Again, Marok touched the stone. “If you go to the side nearest the rocks, you’ll see it’s easier. There are crevasses you can use. Troy and Andy, will you help Ali first? Donny will you bring Rach, Bri and Leira in that order?”

  What on earth for, why like that?

  Your guess, bro, I’ve no idea. We might find out—or not.

  Brios raised his voice. “Okay, Dad, will do.” He turned to the others. “You heard the boss man, let’s move.”

  It was a slow process. They’d been fueled by adrenaline when they climbed to the top as the need to escape the water propelled them upwards to safety. Now, with the adrenaline rush over, they were all cold and wet, and their limbs were stiff from sitting. The stone was slippery, and the crevasses full of muck. Donny watched as Troy, then Ali and Andy slowly began to descend.

  At one point, Ali couldn’t find anything to hold on to. Her hand flailed, and she began to slip before Troy held her steady. It was a long, slow, worrisome ten minutes before they made it safely to the ground.

  Donny stood up. “Okay, Rach, over to you…Let’s show them how it’s done.”

  “I’d love to.” Her voice was puzzled. “Except, I seem to have what Leira’s got…Look.”

  He gawked. Across her arms were the same strange markings he saw on the stone, and on Leira.

  “Can you stand?”

  She shook her head. “Nope, my legs feel heavy and my arms tingle.”

  “Hell, my arms are covered too.” Leira’s tone was full of disgust. “And my hands—I’m not even going to look at all the other bits of me. I tell you, if this crap hits my face I’ll be mighty pi…er…fed up. Let’s get off here. Can’t we all go together? Abseil, or something?”

  “You got any rope?” Donny wanted to ruffle her hair to make her roll her eyes and go duh, and take that panicked look off her face.

  Why hasn’t Ali been affected? Is it because she’s not Shalean? But if that’s the only reason, then Brios, Troy, and I should have been marked as well…Something else to discuss with the elders.

  “We’ll sort it,” Brios said in a no-nonsense voice. “Okay, Donny, you go first and then Rach.”

  “And, I’m back up to help.” Andy’s head appeared over the edge. “So how about I go down in front of Rach…then Donny, Leira, and you. Oh, your dad’s idea—not mine. Something to do with the right and proper respect to be accorded to the Armin.”

  “Well, please.” Leira sounded almost tearful. “Proper respect given, now get me off this dar…er…dear stone. Get Rach down, and then I can go.”

  Andy held his hand out.

  “Ali sent these.” He passed a pair of ballet flats over. “Said they might not fit but would be better than nothing.”

  “Ah, love you, Ali.” Donny watched as Leira blew a kiss towards the ground, and thrust her scratched—and now marked—feet into them. “Perfect fit,” she called.

  Andy and Brios almost carried Rach to the rim of the stone. Andy went over the edge and guided her feet.

  Donny gave Leira a quick hug. “Want me to help you?” he asked. “Before I go down…as a friend?”

  “Nope. Not because you’re not my friend. You really are, but because this stone is not going to win. I am…Even if I slide on my bum to the edge.”

  He stood at the rim with Brios and waited as Leira half-crawled, half-staggered towards them.

  Your sister is well stubborn.

  He sensed the laugh and admiration in Brios as he projected back immediately. Tell me about it, and Rach is fast catching her up. Right, off you go…I’ll make sure she gets over and towards you.

  “I can tell you two are projecting. Stop it—you’re being rude to Leira again,” Rach said as she made a slow climb down the side of the stone. Donny checked she was far enough down for him to swing his legs over the edge and begin his way down the wet surface to position himself in the best spot to guide Leira. He waited until he heard a shout from Andy. “We’re down. All’s fine. Your turn next.”

  “Okay, Lei, let’s do it.” He watched as Brios helped her turn and her feet and legs swung down towards him.

  “Bri, I’ve got her.”

  He guided her feet into a crack so she could slide down. “Use your hands now, and let’s get you lower,” he urged. “You’re fine. That’s it.” It was a slow and painful process. Several times he saw Brios peer anxiously downwards.

  For a few minutes, they edged towards the ground. Donny guided each leg to the best place to give her grip and did all he could to aid her as best he could. When they came to a place where the grips were fewer and farther apart, he helped her to stretch and wedge first one foot, then the other, before she brought each hand lower.

  “Halfway now,” he said encouragingly. “The worst bit is over. Move your right hand…yup there…great…now, the left foot steady—it’s slippery.”

  “I’m trying…oh, shoot…I can’t hold on. Donny, help I’m slipping…” Leira ended on a yelp and began to slide towards him. They were still a full six feet from earth. He looked frantic and checked quickly to see if there was anything he could do other than brace himself.

  There wasn’t.

  22

  Oh, shit. She was going down, and nothing could stop her…except Donny. She hoped he was ready for her to fall on top of him.

  For a moment, she thought she might be fine and able to just use Donny as a sort of brake, then grab hold of the stone again.

  No such luck. The stone pulsed out heat. Leira’s hands felt scorched, and her feet moved out of the cracks. She fell…right onto Donny.

  She heard the breath go out of him, and his oomph sounded anguished; however, luckily his arm held her, and somehow he didn’t slip or fall…just grasped her tight with one hand, and the stone with the other. It seemed as though he couldn’t feel the stone pulse and throb.

  I like this feeling. He can hold me anytime. Hold on…What am I saying here? Duh, Lei…duh, duh, duh.

  Still, she did like the tingles that ran through her. They were a definite improvement on the sheer terror she’d known as she felt herself lose her grip.

  “What do we do now?” she asked. “Apart from fall, I mean.”

  “We won’t fall,” Donny replied. “Let’s just get down as quick as we can. Okay, I’ll cling onto you with one hand and move us down. You just stay still and don’t wriggle…or sneeze, scream, or talk. Once we hit the ground—not literally—you can do all of them. Right, moving.” She felt him tighten his grip on her and began to descend. Leira shut her eyes. It was no use denying it, she really didn’t like this. The heat from the stone seemed to spread across her skin, which—weirdly—still felt clammy to her.

  “Down.” She felt several hands lift her, and then her dad had her in his arms. He hugged her tight. She looked up at the stone that towered above her.

  How the hell did we all get up there so fast? Amazing the strength that fear gives you.

  She was crying. Leira hated crying. It made her eyes puffy, her nose stuffy, and her skin blotchy. She looked at Rach, with Brios, now safe off the stone, and huddled together, and decided Rach didn’t look a lot better.

  “Right, I need some Shalean shifting here.” With a last quick hug, her dad stepped back and turned to them all. He looked at Ali. “Ali, you’re as much involved now as any of us, but will you be comfortable if we shift? It’s needed to negate the stone’s fury and power.”

  Ali looked startled. “You don’t mind me being here? I mean, all I know about Shalea is what my Grannie Jeannie told me. I won’t diss it or anything, but will it be a problem having a witch around? Gran said we could co-exist if we tried, although, not unless both sides wanted to. I didn’t even know there were Shaleans in the area…let alone who they were, and now? Well, I’m fine with it if you are.”

  Marok nodded. “You have company. We have evidence of co-existence.” He waved towards Troy who bowed.

  “I’m a halfling. Mum’s a witch, Dad’s a Shalean. So, welcome…I’ll shift and spell as
well.”

  “What is it with the stone?” Ali asked the question Leira suspected all of them—apart from her dad and Donny’s dad—wanted to know the answer to.

  Her dad sighed. “Long story, too long for here and now. We need to shift and do penance. Let me just say Armin was a Shalean from many centuries ago who lost the love of her life to another Shalean. According to her, it was the other woman’s fault she had led Armin’s lover astray.”

  There was a snort from Leira, and a muttered, “Yeah, couldn’t possibly be the bloke’s fault, could it? Weak as water.”

  Marok frowned at her. “Armin turned herself into this stone and vowed to make sure no female Shalean could touch her and not be marked by the experience. She reasoned that all men were fickle but redeemable, and all women were responsible for turning men away from their true paths. Therefore, Shalean women need to be reminded how to act. If we show her due respect, those marks on Leira and Rach should fade. They tell her story of love and perfidy. If we shift and show we understand and are trying to be better Shaleans, all should be good.”

  “Huh, that stone hates me,” Leira muttered out of the corner of her mouth. “I must have really pissed her off, after all, I’ve renounced.”

  Unfortunately, her dad heard her.

  “Well,” he pointed out. “Actually, you’re in Cadal, so it’s immaterial. Cadal means little sleep,” he explained for Ali’s benefit. “It’s the period when Leira—or anyone who renounces, takes the time to think about it before the formalities. That only happens at Shalean moon. Leira was meant to have that time, in theory, to think things through and look at her options. Circumstances seem to have derailed that a bit.”

  Leira watched as the Shalean shimmer began to grow and surround everyone—except her and Ali. Ali walked closer to her.

  “Lei, I’m really sorry for being such a bitch. He’ll never move on, you know. He won’t fight you. He’ll let you go your own way and decide your future, but Donny is yours—whether you accept it or not. Whatever you do or say, he’ll be there for you.”