by Toni Cox
Maia felt herself relax. People were laughing, the few children of the clan were playing, someone started to sing and soon couples were dancing to the ever-changing songs coming from the reed pipes.
At the back of her mind she felt Midnight circling overhead and she knew the Guard, the Sentinels and the Night Watch were even now patrolling the perimeter of the city. She was acutely aware of Jaik’s absence and kept glancing down the different paths, hoping to spot him. He had said he would join them a little later to present his gift.
She sipped her juice while she watched the people. Everyone seemed happy, but she knew what was at the back of everyone’s minds. A couple came walking past her, discussing something that caught her attention.
“They say he has been seen numerous times already,” the man said.
“It cannot be a good omen for the new home,” the woman replied.
“Indeed, to have a Death Wolf this close to the city can only mean ill for all of us.”
Then the couple was past. Maia shivered. Maybe it was just a rumour, maybe someone had actually seen him. She was not sure if she really wanted to know. Why was he here? She felt as if he was following her and that his presence had nothing to do with the Vampyres or bad omens or anything else. He was here for her and her only. She almost jumped when someone spoke next to her.
“Come, dance with me.”
Before she could answer, Jasmin grabbed her by the hand and dragged her along to the open space between the trees that acted as an impromptu dance floor. She laughed with Jasmin as they spun in a circle. It was their feast and she was happy for them. Maybe she could forget, even just for a moment, that her people were threatened. Forget she was stalked by Death and that her heart felt as if it were being held in a vice.
She let Jasmin spin her around and she twirled past other couples that were laughing and singing and she felt herself relax some more. Then, just when she thought she was actually enjoying herself, Aaron stepped out of the crowd that was watching the dancers and approached them.
“Mind if I cut in?” he asked Jasmin, who immediately offered him Maia’s hand and stepped away.
Maia stiffened as Aaron’s hand slipped around her waist, under her blouse and held it against the small of her back. His hand felt hot against her skin. Gently, he pulled her a little closer, before guiding her into a simple two-step dance pattern.
“We used to do this often,” he said. “You used to love dancing with me.”
Maia could smell his scent, of soap and leather, tarragon and sun-warmed rock and the wine he had drunk. Her skin now prickled where he touched her. She matched his step, it was easy enough to follow, but she could not relax into his guiding arm and it was more than once that they bumped into another couple. He leaned closer, their cheeks touching.
“You look so beautiful tonight.”
She held her breath. Was she supposed to respond? Desperately, she glanced around and caught Jagaer’s eyes watching them. She shot him a pleading look.
Almost immediately, the music stopped and someone blew a horn, announcing a speech. The couples on the dance floor separated and everyone gathered around the small speaker’s platform that had been erected for the ceremony.
“Maybe later,” Aaron said, bowed to her and then walked off to stand next to Luke, who was already standing by the platform.
Maia’s shoulders slumped as she released the tension. Her legs were shaking. Why did he make her feel like this? She had heard the ladies speak about men that made them weak in the knees, but she was sure it was not supposed to be like this. If this was love, then she wanted nothing to do with it. She took some steadying breaths and then went to retrieve the bundle of gifts she had stowed under one of the tables.
Silas was now standing on the platform, indicating to Aaron, Luke and Jasmin where they should stand. Jagaer and Malyn were first in line to the platform and Maia made her way over to them. Once everyone had taken up their positions, Jagaer stepped forward and opened the ceremony.
“We have come together today to bless a new dwelling for Aaron and his children, but before we can do that, there is one small matter that we need to see to.”
Jagaer reached into his robe and pulled out a small leather bag. He undid the string at its mouth and withdrew a necklace. The pendant, hanging from a delicate leather band, was carved out of wood. Although Maia could not see the details from where she stood, she knew what the design was. The medallion was carved to represent the circle of life. It had the tree of Life and Death in the centre, an outer ring with Elemental writing and four spokes, each representing an Element, dissecting it. Each quarter contained the image of one of the elements. Earth, Fire, Water, Air, carved in intricate detail and then coloured. She felt hers now, the metal warm against her skin.
Every member of their clan had one of these medallions and she gasped as she came to understand the meaning of Jagaer representing Aaron with one. She watched in shocked silence as he draped the string over Aaron’s head and then pulled out two more medallions and proceeded to do the same with Luke and Jasmin.
“Aaron, Luke and Jasmin,” Jagaer gave a short bow in their direction, “we welcome you as members of our clan. It has been a long time since we have accepted someone not our own, but any family of Maia’s is our family. Let it be known,” Jagaer raised his voice so everyone could hear, “that the Nightingale family is now part of the Longshadow Clan and has a right to its protection, resources and knowledge. Are there any objections?”
Maia glanced around at the silent people gathered around the platform. Jagaer waited for almost thirty heartbeats. Maia could see the tension in Aaron’s face and wondered what he was thinking.
“Good,” Jagaer said. “It is done.”
The crowd erupted into cheers and there was smiling, laughing and good natured pats on the back, before Jagaer could continue with the ceremony.
The crowd quickly settle back into silence and Jagaer began.
“Aaron, Luke and Jasmin, this is not just a house, but it is a home. It provides you with warmth and shelter. It will accumulate good memories and fond experiences. It will harbour you through the dark of night and the cold of winter. Let it be blessed with love and the laughter of children. Let it be comfortable well into your elder years. Let it be strong and sturdy, your support and comfort of your lives. Do you, Aaron, pledge to treat it with respect and care for it, so that it may care for you for generations to come?”
“I do,” Aaron answered solemnly.
“Then, as leader of the clan, I hereby present you with five barrels of grain, a cache of smoked meat, a barrel of vegetables and a barrel of milk. The items are stored for you in one of the caves.”
Jagaer handed him a token loaf of bread, which Aaron took from him with shaking hands. Aaron had been told to expect gifts. It was a tradition even on Earth to give gifts at a house warming, as he called it, but he had not expected this much.
“This is to get you started. Your work as a Builder will earn you a living and provide you with a means to look after your family. Be welcome.” Jagaer clasped arms with Aaron and then moved off to make way for Malyn.
“Aaron,” she said, “as wife of the clan leader I present you with these pots.”
She handed him one small, fired clay pot, beautifully decorated. Aaron took it from her and put the bread inside.
“There are some for cooking, some for washing and some for lamps. They will be brought to your lodging later. Be welcome.”
She moved off and Maia took her place.
“Aaron, as daughter of the leader, I present you with this rug. May it always be comfortable by your fire. Be welcome.”
She handed the bear skin to Aaron, who took it from her once he had set the pot with the bread on the floor. Their fingers touched briefly and Aaron smiled at her. She moved over to stand before Jasmin.
“Jasmin, I present you with this ivory comb and amber earrings and these items for your wash room. May your beauty never fade and may love
always find you. Be welcome.”
She gave Jasmin a smile and winked at her when Jasmin questioningly lifted the bag with the wash goods.
“Made them myself. Lotions, powders and everything a woman needs,” she whispered before she moved on to Luke.
“Luke, I present you with this medicine bag. It contains all the items a Healer should have. I wish you all the best with your studies. Be welcome.”
When she was finished, she stepped off the platform, expecting one of the Elders to take her place, but it was Jaik who stepped up. She had not notice him join the feast and she gave him a bright smile as they passed each other.
“Aaron, as son of the leader, I present you with this fire making kit. May your lights never go out. Be welcome.”
Next came the Elders who stepped forward together.
“We present you with these scrolls of our histories and wisdom. May you find them useful. Be welcome.”
The Guard also stepped onto the platform together, even Jaik, but it was Archer who spoke.
“As Guard, we present you with these lanterns, to let them chase the shadows away and keep you safe. Be welcome.”
The line of people continued.
“As Weaver of the clan, I present you with these baskets. They are for storing food and other items. Be welcome.”
“As Seamstress of the clan, I present you with this bedding. May you always sleep well. Be welcome.”
“As Blacksmith of the clan, I present you with these tools and eating utensils. Be welcome.”
One by one the clan members moved up to give their gifts to Aaron, Luke and Jasmin. The platform started to get crowded, the pile of items growing behind them, even though most of the things were just token items and the bulk of it had already been brought to the stairs leading to the new house. Jasmin had tears running down her cheeks as she accepted yet another gift. Luke’s face was flushed and he was shaking a little. Even on Aaron’s face the emotion was plain to see.
They received clothing, food bowls and platters, candles and torches, pillows and blankets, rugs and carpets, beds and some furniture and someone even provided some potted Lumina flowers. The people had thought of everything a new family might need. It was their way.
Once everyone had handed over their gifts, many hands made light work of carrying everything up to the house. They formed a chain, passing items from one to the next, all the while singing The Heart of the Home. After a few verses, even the Humans joined in the song. Soon, their house was full. The furniture was packed in the correct rooms, the lanterns lit and the beds all made. All other items the family would have to sort out later.
The singing people moved the festivities back to the ground and they laughed and joked and danced and ate until late into the night. Aaron spoke to so many people, that by the end of the night, he could not remember who he had thanked and who he hadn’t. He was overwhelmed by their generosity, but at the same time glad they cared so much about their well being.
By the time the revellers retreated to their own homes, he had not had a chance to speak to Maia. He had hoped to convince her stay with them tonight; their first night in the new house; but now that it was time to settle down, he could not find her anywhere.
He spent a small amount of time looking for her, but then decided not to dwell on it. She was not going anywhere and he would get his chance. Still feeling the excitement from the festivities, he climbed the stairs to his new house. Luke and Jasmin were already there, sorting through their new things. He spent the rest of the night with them, enjoying their company and their joy, until eventually they settled into their beds and into an exhausted sleep.
He found his own bed then and lay thinking for a while. Despite himself, he was enjoying his time with these people. Before, he had still harboured the hope of returning to Earth one day. Now, though, with Maia constantly at the foreground of his thoughts and after seeing how happy his children were, he was sure that Earth held nothing he still wanted. What was there to go back to? An empty house without a wife and children? A meaningless job? A poisoned planet?
He snuggled deeper into the soft blankets. Although the house had no personal items yet, it already felt cosy and comfortable. The Elves had provided everything they might need, even food, and although he didn’t know how to cook, he was sure he could learn. Jasmin would help him.
With a sigh of contentment, he pulled the blanket over his head. He was happy here, he realised, even though he was lonely. He would work on that. Maia was the last thing on his mind before he fell asleep.
Maia sat on a flat rock by the river, dangling her feet into the water. She dipped the cloth back into the cold water and again pressed it against her biceps. The skin was already turning blue. She could heal it, of course, but she had promised Jaik not to. He said the bruises were a reminder for her to be more careful next time.
They had been sparring almost every day now. Jaik had shown her how to defend herself without weapons, using just her body. Then he had made her practice with a wooden staff, then a knife and finally a sword. She had shown some aptitude with the staff and had discovered that her knees and elbows made for good weapons, but had so far failed to impress Jaik with the sword.
The one thing she was, however, really good with, was a set of knives, called the Twin Blades. They had always been her favourite. They were more like little swords. Sharp edges on both sides, straight blade with a pointy tip. They were longer than her hunting knives, but not quite as long as her arm. They felt right in her hands. They were light enough for her to wield without difficulty, yet strong and tough enough to inflict some real damage. They had been practicing on dummies and she would shred them to bits every time.
Maia winced as she moved to dip the cloth back into the water. Today, they had been practicing with the swords. Even wrapped in leather, the pain Jaik’s sword inflicted when it connected with one of her body parts, made her gasp for breath every time. Jaik had been relentless. His argument was that, when faced with an enemy, he would not decide to fight with another weapon just because Maia wanted him to. She understood, but it did not lessen the pain in her arm.
Sighing, she rose from her perch and made her way back to the city. Wolf ran ahead of her and Midnight followed at a distance. They were the only reason she was allowed down by the river at all. Most people were confined to the city.
It had been three cycles of the moons since she had returned. It felt like so much had happened in such a short time. She had had her ceremony and was now officially recognised as their Life Elemental. They had made their trip to Braérn and she had obtained the scrolls relating to the subject of Soul Reaping. They had spent endless hours going over the information, studying it again and again and again, but had still not found a viable solution. Reports of the attacks had spread like wildfire through all the cities in Grildor and beyond and, once the news that the attacks were, indeed, by Vampyres, the entire land had gone on the defensive.
Amid the chaos of armed patrols around the city, the forest and Greystone, curfews, weapon making, shooting lessons and sword training, Aaron had completed his house and moved in with his children, now members of her clan. Luke had done exceptionally well. He spent every day with Silas, studying and he had already successfully healed two people. Although Jasmin spent most of her time running their new household, she often went out with the Hunters, and always returned with something for dinner.
Maia was immensely proud of them and spent as much time with them as she could, but mostly when Aaron was not around. He spent a good amount of time in the Carpentry Workshop, learning as much as teaching, and he was already well respected by the people he worked with. In general, her people had accepted the Humans as their own, and, besides the obvious physical differences, they looked like they belonged. Jasmin and Archer had grown ever closer during the time he was not away on patrol and it was understood and accepted by all that he was courting her. Aaron had at first been against it, but then he had suddenly changed his mind and wa
s now actively encouraging it.
Maia stopped suddenly, brought out of her reverie by a mental stab from Midnight. She glanced in his direction and saw that he was looking toward the north, his body tense and his mind alert. Maia hurried to his side and put her hand on his leg. Wolf, aware of the tension in the air, stood guard in front of them, his coat bristling. He growled into the general direction they were looking, but saw not what it was that upset the dragon.
“What is it, Midnight?” she whispered.
Midnight twitched, as if aware for the first time that she was there, and then showed her what he was looking at.
“Dragons,” she gasped, “from Thala Yll. And they are carrying riders. We have to let Father know.”
Urgently, she shoved against Midnight’s leg until he lowered himself so she could run up and settle herself on his back. With two powerful strokes of his wings he was airborne and flying towards the city. Wolf was left to race after them through the late summer grass.
It took only moments before they reached the city. Midnight landed right on the edge of the Silver Forest, making the branches sway and she heard some shouts of surprise as the people came out of their workshops to see what the commotion was about. Midnight roared at them, but Maia was not paying attention. She was already running, sprinting along the well-worn paths of the little forest, up the first flight of steps and along the maze of pathways and ladders that would lead to her father.
“There are at least twenty of them, all heading in our direction. They are armed and flying with great haste.”
“How long do we have?”
“I don’t know, Father. Midnight can see pretty far, but I doubt they were more than ten miles away when he spotted them.”
“Find your brother. He’s got perimeter duty today. Meet us by the field. I don’t think they mean us harm, but have Midnight stand by just in case.”