“What about Auntie Warrioress Kadlin? How will she find us?”
“Oh, she will find us,” Matthew assured as he put his back to the rock wall and began to move sideways. “She is a great tracker and can find anyone anywhere.”
“I would like to learn to do that,” Emily said as she followed Matthew’s lead and shimmied along the wall. “Tracking people sounds like fun.”
“Now pay attention and move carefully,” Matthew warned. “If you move forward even a little bit you will get scraped by sharp branches and rocks.”
Emily nodded and followed his every move. The way was well-hidden from prying eyes but tight, especially for a man his size. Yet it was worth the difficult route because it led to a cave system that few knew about.
“It is going to grow very dark soon. Even for dragons,” Matthew said softly, maintaining the octave of mystery that Håkon loved. “That is when you must trust me, Emily. Everything I ask of you. All right?”
“Okay,” she said, her eyes wide as they grew closer to the dark entrance.
The truth was he could create light but wanted her to have some fun.
“Are you paying attention to everything with your hands like I taught you?” he asked. “At least with your free hand?”
“I am,” she confirmed as they entered the small entrance to the cave. “It’s cold.”
“Is there wind?”
“No, none at all,” she murmured. “It’s sort of creepy, isn’t it?”
“At first,” he replied. “But not for long.”
“Why?”
“You will see.”
Now that he knew Emily could sense some of his thoughts, he made a point to block her. Or at least filter her so she couldn’t see everything going through his mind. So when he relayed the telepathic message to his kin what to do when it was their turn, she didn’t hear. It was really just a small jump bordered by a waterfall, but with a little dragon magic, it could be a whole lot more for a child eager to fly.
“Oh, I feel something,” Emily said. “Water.” He could hear the frown in her voice. “How come I can’t hear it?”
“Because this is a special waterfall in a special cave,” he said. “One that doesn’t have a top or bottom.”
“That makes no sense,” she said. “There has to be a top and bottom somewhere.”
“You would think.” He stopped. “All right. It’s almost time to fly.”
“It is?”
“Yes.” He squeezed her hand gently in reassurance then released it. “I’ll go first. When I call out, you will follow, yes?”
“Yes,” she said. “But I can’t see anything. And what about Mama?”
“As soon as you land, I will call out for her to follow too.”
“Okay,” she said. “If you promise.”
“I do.” Matthew leaned close. “Do not forget to pay attention to your dragon hands. They will lead the way.”
“So you say,” she said.
“They will,” he assured. “I’m going now, Emily. I will call out when it’s your turn.”
He didn’t wait for her to respond but leapt. It wasn’t a long drop for someone with magic, but fatal for those without it. But that wasn’t the point of this. The point was for her to have fun and to start trusting him. What happened next was the last thing he expected, though maybe he should have known better considering Emily.
“All right, Emily,” he called up. “It is time to fly.”
He sensed Shannon’s sudden unease as Emily smiled and leapt after him.
Then he felt far more.
The pure elation Emily felt as she did exactly what he taught her and held out her hands, palms down. She picked up the shift and sway of the wind coming off the waterfall. The slight decrease in temperature. Truth told she was at such ease that it only made sense she would trust her dragon instincts as she drew closer to the bottom.
It didn’t matter that Matthew was there waiting to catch her. Emily’s dragon was all about self-preservation and perhaps even the chance to break free. The next thing he knew, a flicker of color twinkled overhead and a little girl didn’t land in his arms but a small, black dragon.
The waterfall ignited with dim white light as her pale blue dragon eyes locked with his.
Matthew remained perfectly still as she studied him. Interestingly enough, she made no movement either. Typically when someone first embraced their dragon, they flapped their wings. It was just natural. Håkon had.
Instead, Emily eventually flexed her talons and kept staring at him, almost as if she was awaiting his next instruction. That’s when he realized. She was waiting for him to tell her what to do next. She had trusted her dragon-hands-turned-talons as instructed.
He had asked it of her, and she was listening.
Unfortunately, he should have taken into consideration Sven’s youth and how he might respond the moment he sensed Emily shift. More protective than usual. So protective that he shifted and slid down half the rock face. He was so intent on Emily that he didn’t take into account the power of the waterfall.
Matthew did his best to protect her as rocks rained down. The last thing she needed right now was drama. Her dragon might overreact. Yet it seemed he didn’t have to worry as she remained perfectly calm in his arms and peered up at Sven. Meanwhile, Sven’s dragon was every inch the bumbling fool as it awkwardly held on to the side of the rock, a foot hanging down at a clumsy angle as he came close and looked right back at her.
If all that wasn’t enough, Kodran—in human form thankfully—dropped down beside him then seconds later, Shannon landed in his arms. Her jaw dropped as Emily’s dragon tore her attention from Sven and met her mother’s eyes, all the while, perfectly content in Matthew’s arms.
“Oh my God,” Shannon whispered, tears in her eyes as she stared at Emily. “That isn’t…that can’t be…oh my God…”
Clear as day, he heard Emily speak within Shannon’s mind. “Yup, it’s me, Mama! Isn’t this great?”
Shannon swallowed hard and stuttered, “Matthew, how did…how do…can she…is she stuck like that?”
“No.” He kept his voice calm. “She just wanted it so much that her dragon listened. As you can tell, she is very happy. As is her dragon.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” she said through clenched teeth, her eyes still locked on Emily as Kodran set her down.
Matthew looked up at Sven. “Shift and get down here now. If anyone can bring her back, it’s you.”
Sven muttered something about shifty winds and jagged rock faces making him look bad before a flash of color later, he was once more human and standing beside them. Emily’s dragon perked up at that, but she still didn’t move her wings.
“It’s time to shift back now, little Emily,” Sven said softly, smiling as he touched her flexing talon. “So that we can go save Håkon, yes?”
Emily cocked her head. Though it appeared she was considering his words, Matthew realized based on his varying expressions that she was already speaking within Sven’s mind. What was more impressive was that she was doing it without anyone hearing.
“Please set her down, Uncle Matthew,” Sven murmured. “She has decided you should help her shift back.”
She had?
As if she agreed with Sven, Emily met Matthew’s eyes again. While tempted to keep her safely in his arms, he knew better. She needed to feel like she could do this on her own. More so, she needed to know she could still trust him.
So he crouched and carefully set her down. For a second, he flashed back to the day Håkon first shifted. As he had with his son, he kept his hands around Emily’s mid-section until she felt secure standing. And just like Håkon, it didn’t take long. Yet unlike him, she never moved her wings but stood there still clenching her talons as she tried to feel the air.
“That is just for when you want to fly and test the air, Emily,” he said into her mind. “Though you cannot fly here, you can spread your wings.” He smiled. The first genuine smile h
e had worn in a long time. “Go ahead. You will enjoy it.”
Emily’s dragon kept staring at him, her shoulders jerking a little. “How?”
Matthew debated the best way to describe it and realized the answer was simple. “Pretend you are getting ready to hug your mother.” His eyes went to Shannon. “Then hug her.”
With any luck, this would accomplish two things at once.
Emily’s dragon continued to eye Matthew before it looked at Sven then swung its head in Shannon’s direction. All the while, Shannon had remained perfectly calm. The only thing that bespoke any emotion were the silent tears that continued rolling down her cheeks. He didn’t fault her for them. This was a lot for a mother.
“It’s okay, baby girl,” Shannon whispered as she fell to her knees, having clearly heard Matthew’s internal message. “Just hug me if you can, okay?” She offered a wobbly smile and held out her arms. “I’m right here waiting.”
The little black dragon cocked its head and kept eying her before it took a few uncertain steps in her direction.
“That’s right,” Shannon whispered. “Just give me a hug.”
Matthew remained as still as Sven while Emily mulled it over. Seconds later, she spread her wings, raced into Shannon’s arms and a blur of color later, shifted and hugged her mother. Shannon trembled as she pulled her daughter against her, shooting Matthew a look of gratitude when he wrapped a fur around Emily.
He rubbed his forehead and released a sigh of relief. That could have gone entirely different. They could have been traveling the rest of the way with a baby dragon that was, believe it or not, more vulnerable than her human counterpart. Even worse? Not only had she shifted but Sven had too. And that, as he had warned Kodran earlier, made them far more detectable to the enemy if he was nearby.
“We need to keep traveling,” he muttered. “Now. Deeper into the caves where it’s safe.” He glanced at Kodran. “Where’s Kadlin? I cannot sense her.”
“Coming soon,” Kodran said. “She’s keeping her magic at a minimum to evade the enemy but using just enough to hunt quickly and follow.”
Matthew nodded. “Then we must go.” He murmured a chant into Shannon’s mind. “Repeat that and Emily will be dressed in whatever you choose.”
Shannon bit her lower lip and nodded, a thankful look on her face as she hugged Emily a moment longer then did as he suggested. All the while, her daughter raved about how much fun she had. How incredible it was being a dragon ‘for real.’
Within minutes, they were on the move again as he led them deeper into the cave away from the waterfall. They would travel for another hour or so then make camp. He stayed at the front and Kodran and Sven at the back as they made their way. Cameron remained right behind Shannon and Emily, clearly confused by everything seeing how he finally made it down moments after Emily shifted back.
Emily became unusually quiet as she walked hand in hand with her mother. Yet Matthew knew her mind was at work as she processed everything that had happened. Or at least what she could make sense of. Bits and pieces. Excitement, fear, a new beginning. All those same thoughts Håkon had felt. All those thrilling insecure moments that came with your first shift.
When they finally stopped, he opted on a catacomb of small, closely knit caves that could be well guarded. Even better, there were several pools in separate caves in which to bathe. While the water was not as temperate as the last place, it was fed by a distant hot spring and warm enough for what they needed. Enough for a peaceful resting period.
Or so he thought...until Vigdis appeared.
Chapter Nine
SHANNON WAS STILL trying to process everything that had happened when a phantom she’d only ever dreamt about appeared. At first, she thought she must have entered into Helheim but soon realized as the woman spoke that it might be worse than that.
“Ah, at last, you have arrived!” she declared, sauntering into the cave, her arms spread and her sway sensual. “Matthew, my stalwart warrior.” Her eyes swung over the rest before they hesitated on Emily then shot to Shannon. “And there you are.”
Shannon clenched her jaw and wished Emily wasn’t sitting several feet away but snug in her arms. This woman had been nothing but trouble for her sisters and as it turned out, never a good figure in her own dreams.
“How are you here?” Shannon kept her voice level and calm. “Why are you here?”
Matthew was beside her in an instant, his posture relaxed but ready to defend at the same time.
“Is it not my right to check in on you when you travel so close to the Place of Seers?” Vigdis ran a hand languidly through her white-blond streaked black hair. “Is it not my right to check in on she who has dreamt of me so often?”
Shannon clenched her jaw and shook her head. “I’m not sure it is.”
“Oh, it is,” Vigdis murmured as she sauntered over and stopped in front of her.
A shiver of warning whipped through her. This woman wasn’t just in touch with the land of the dead but somehow part of it too.
Vigdis’ eyes crossed once, twice, rolled back in her head then snapped into focus as they met Shannon’s. “Oh, yesssss,” she purred. A blink later, she fell to a knee, lowered her head and held out a closed fist. “Take these. Find him. Then find me again.”
“I don’t want anything from you.” Wary, Shannon shook her head. “Leave here. Stay away.”
Vigdis kept her head lowered in what almost appeared to be respect. “Take these and find him,” she repeated, her voice low and raspy. She flipped her wrist and opened her palm. “Take my bones and find him.”
Shannon knew about this seer’s bones and stones. How whoever had them controlled her. Heidrek was supposed to have both, but it seemed Vigdis was spreading herself around outside of rumored bounds. Yet something about the woman’s posture seemed familiar. Something about the tone of her voice…the pain in it.
“Find who?” Shannon asked. “And why me?”
“Because you are the only one who can.” Though Vigdis kept her head bent her eyes rose to Shannon’s. “You are the only one who can find your father again.”
“What? My father’s dead,” Shannon whispered. “Why would you say that?”
The seer ignored her question. “Take my bones and find your father.” Her eyelids fluttered, and her voice changed, deepened. “Then you might just find your mother again.”
“What?” Shannon mouthed, her voice non-existent. She cleared her throat and finally managed to get a few more words out, grateful Matthew was close for support. “What are you talking about?”
“Take them,” Vigdis ground out. “Or all of this is for naught.”
“All of what?” Shannon said. “My parents are already gone.”
“Are they?” Vigdis hissed and closed her fist. “But now it is too late. Now all hope is lost.”
Shannon’s eyes widened as the seer stood and looked down her nose, seething. “If you could have trusted in me—”
She would never know what came over her at that moment, but it felt a lot like the way she had felt on a warm summer day a long time ago. For the first time in a long time, her mother felt good and insisted that she and her family spend the afternoon outside. She even sat in a chair they placed on the shore so she could dip her feet in the lake. The scent of freshly cut grass drifted on the wind, boats cruised by and burgers sizzled on the grill. Music played, and everyone laughed. It seemed like the recent arguing and sadness might, at last, be behind them. Her family was happy. Together. All five sisters and their parents.
It was the best day of her life.
It was also the day before her mother passed away.
“Give me them,” Shannon blurted. “Give me the bones.”
The truth was, the worse thing a medium of her caliber could do was touch the bones of someone deceased. She always had an employee handle the ashes from the crematorium. Never her or Cameron. Even bone fragments could do great harm to their kind. They brought the spirit into them like a white
carpet soaking up black ink. They consumed it with little or no hope for repair. It was equivalent to drawing the ‘white light’ spirits followed to the afterlife directly to the medium. Like a moth to a flame, it was unnatural and damaging. Humans shouldn’t consume the energy and souls of other humans.
Yet here she was holding out her hand.
Compelled almost.
When Vigdis dropped the small bones into her hand, Shannon could only stare at them. Something very bad had happened in connection with these. Her world dwindled down to them in a heartbeat.
The weight of them in her palm.
The way they made her feel.
Angry. Sad. Resolved.
Ready.
He was worth it. He would always be worth it.
Shannon had no idea who she was thinking about only that she had loved him fiercely.
Suddenly, blazing heat spread up her arm. Fiery, unavoidable pain. Oxygen became scarce. Her lungs burned. Flames consumed her. Then it almost felt like her spirit was separating from her body.
“Are you all right, Shannon?” Matthew said from far away, alarmed. “Can you hear me?”
Drawn by his voice, she snapped back to awareness and gasped for air.
“Shannon, are you with me?” She was sitting, and he was crouched in front of her. His hands were firmly on her shoulders as if he might have been trying to shake her awake. A heavy, concerned frown pulled at his lips as his eyes found hers. “There you are,” he murmured. “Just catch your breath. You’re okay now.”
“No, I’m not,” she gasped and shook her head, aware that Cameron stood close by too. He knew how dangerous her situation was. “Not as long as these bones are touching me.”
“Then give them to me.” Matthew held out his hand. There was no missing the contained fury he felt at Vigdis for putting her in this situation. “Now, Shannon. Before they cause you any more pain.”
“No,” she whispered when he tried to take them from her. “They were given to me now I have to keep them.
I need something…” She rubbed her fingers together, unsure, but felt her Indian blood rising to the surface. The Sioux. Every kill meant something to them. Every kill was put to good use. She needed an item of that ilk to put the bones in. Something that had died not for sport but to help another living soul. It would cushion and create a barrier between her spirit and the bones.
Fury of a Viking (The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors' Kin Book 4) Page 15