FORBIDDEN TALENTS
Page 35
“All of you?” Dahleven asked.
“Father Ragnar needed witnesses when he received Baldur’s blessing,” Father Lojal replied. “And Lord Che’veyo said there should be five of us.”
Gris emerged from the room. “What happened to Father Vali?”
“Vali seemed disinclined to follow the ritual,” Lojal said. “We corrected him. Somewhat forcefully, I’m afraid.” His grim smile didn’t look in the least contrite.
Ragni looked at his priests. They’d half expected his death when they’d asked to stand with him; now they glowed with pride at having witnessed Baldur’s blessing of the new Overprest. Then his gaze fell on Che’veyo. “I’m sorry Baldur did not see fit to heal your sight, my friend.”
The Shaman shook his head and smiled. “The gods have granted me a different vision in its place. I will not disdain their gift.”
Ragni gripped the other man’s shoulder. He wasn’t sure he could have accepted that exchange with such equanimity.
“Father Krimm will stay with Sig, my lord Overprest. Shall I begin planning the ceremony of Recognition?” Father Lojal asked.
Another ceremony. Why did he want this job, again? Still, it was better than being Jarl. Or Kon, as Dahleven was destined to be. He almost smiled.
“Proceed with the plans. But don’t schedule it for a several days. I could use a bit of rest.” His knees weakened and he began to slide down the doorframe, starting a new flurry of exclamations from the women.
Dahleven caught him and eased him to the floor. “Get Ghav,” he ordered.
“I don’t need a healer. I’m as healthy as a man can be. I just performed a Great Healing, after all. I’m only tired. All I need now is to sleep for about three days.”
Saeun sat next to him on one side, Utta on the other, both asking if there was aught they could do or fetch for him.
“There is one thing I want before I rest.” He looked at Utta and cocked a questioning eyebrow at her while tilting his head toward Saeun. His betrothed smiled and nodded, and he felt her approval. Then he turned to Saeun. “Well?”
Saeun blinked, confused. “Well, what?”
“I’m still waiting for your answer. And there’s only one which I will accept.”
For a moment Saeun’s expression was blank, then understanding flooded in. A maelstrom of emotions swirled in her, making each one indistinct. She glanced at Utta, who reached out, clasped her hand and said, “Please say yes.”
“But I’m of the tree-folk.”
“You’re the ambassador of those who saved Quartzholm,” Utta said. “You’re a heroine. I will be honored to claim you as a sister.”
Ragni felt Saeun’s surge of affection for Utta, but doubt still clouded her heart. “I don’t care about your lineage,” Ragni said, placing his hand over both of theirs. “It’s part of who you are—and I love you. Please, be my elskerinne.”
Ragni felt her answer only an instant before she spoke.
“Yes, Ragni, I’ll—”
His kiss swallowed her assent.
Yes! Yes! Yes! He pulled Saeun half across his lap, wrapping her in his arms. Her unreserved joy flowed into him, mingling with his own. She held nothing back. All the time she’d been missing, it was as if she’d taken an irreplaceable piece of him with her. Even when he’d found her again, her fear had held part of her away from him. Now her heart was fully open. He kissed her again and exhausted though he was, his body responded to her desire.
Beside him, Utta glowed with pleasure. Even the amusement of the others watching them couldn’t dim his delight. Baldur’s Blessings! Saeun was his at last!
*
Saeun snuggled back into the heat of Ragni’s body and drew the covers up under her chin, wondering at how her life had turned on its head in only three short weeks. Thora’s stones had spoken truly: great change had come, as well as opportunity.
They’d laid Neven to rest in the Hall of Kings three days ago, and Wirmund had been buried with honor the day after. Ragni had told her about the Overprest’s threats, but they’d gone unmentioned as the priests sang him to his rest. He was gone, and could no longer hurt anyone. No need now to besmirch his name.
The Elves had witnessed Ragni’s Recognition as Overprest, giving their approbation to his assension. He’d promised Saeun that when the Council of Priests convened at the next Althing, the Laws of Sanction would be brought up for review. It would be a struggle to convince some of the older priests that the old magicks should again be permitted, but because she’d used her magic to save Quartzholm, he had a better chance of persuading them. And just yesterday Dahleven and Lord Kaeron had shocked most of the Nuvinlanders by asking her, a woman, to act as ambassador between the mortals and the Elves. The Light Elves, anyway.
She smiled, remembering how Ragni had urged her to accept the position. She supposed it made sense, since she’d spent time among the Elves and was already the liaison with the tree-folk. And deep down, she was glad her new friends would not be lost to her.
Lord Kaeron and his people had departed just this morning, escorting the Tewakwe back to the drylands. The passes wouldn’t be closed to anyone traveling with the Elves. They promised to return in the spring, and Che’veyo seemed sure that the Shamans who had argued for a cleansing war would be silenced when the Katsinas spoke against it.
A number of young women had sighed forlornly as the Elven warriors departed. Apparently the stigma of being Fey-marked was no longer a problem, at least for some people.
Ragni pulled her closer, stroking his hand over her belly, sending shivers of desire through her body yet again. Saeun wondered if she was with child yet. If not, it wasn’t for lack of effort. Contentment and joy filled her to overflowing and she savored the emotions, knowing that Ragni would feel her happiness along with his own.
“Utta hopes we’ll both conceive soon, so our children will be of an age with Celia and Dahleven’s son.”
Ragni laughed and hugged her. “I’ll happily do my part, love. Just give me a chance to catch my breath.”
“And Aenid and Sorn’s daughter will be only a year older,” she added.
“Freyr and Freya!” Ragni chuckled. “I can just imagine the gaggle of them running wild through the halls like Dahl, and Sorn, and I did. We’ll have our hands full in a few years,” he said, caressing her breast.
Her arousal was instantaneous and she pressed into his palm, wanting more. “You mean like yours are?” she teased.
He rolled her under him, and his smile was full of love and the promise of more. “Gods, I hope so.”
THANK YOU!
Thank you for buying and reading FORBIDDEN TALENTS and allowing me to entertain you for a few hours. If you enjoyed this book please tell your friends, and consider leaving a review on the site where you purchased it. Indie authors depend on word of mouth and good reviews from their fans.
For news of upcoming releases, visit me at www.FrankieRobertson.com.
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS
This book is better due to the generous advice of the Working Title critique group: Brian Gross, Larry Hammer, Jill Knowles, Roxy Rogers, and Janni Lee Simner, and has benefitted from the attention of the Tanque Wordies critique group: Dennis L. McKiernan, Diane Turner, and John Vornholt. A special thank you to Martha Lee McKiernan for plying us with delicious desserts.
My editor Rochelle French at Edits That Rock helped put the final polish on FORBIDDEN TALENTS, and Kim Killion of Hot Damn Designs designed the cover. Natasha Fondren of E-book Artisan Design formatted the POD interior, and Lucinda Campbell formatted the digital version.
The Saguaro Romance Writers chapter of the Romance Writers of America is an amazing group of people. They've been extraordinarily supportive, and have given me a safe environment to learn and grow as a writer.
Most especially I want to thank my husband Brian for his unending encouragement and support.
Frankie Robertson writes fantasy and romantic fiction with an otherworldly twist. She has lived all over t
he United States, but now lives with her husband in southern Arizona. Her backyard is often visited by hawks, coyotes, javalinas, and bobcats, who don't get along well with the bunnies, quail, and lizards. She brings a varied background to her writing, including experience as an investigator with the Western Society for Paranormal Research.