The Black Morass

by Gerald Lambert

  Keeta blushed and suddenly regretted casting the spell that lit up the small area where they were sitting, since it would make her blush all too obvious for Nefin's keen eyes, though

  she hoped the helmet obscured it somewhat. "Thank you, Nefinelda," she replied with an air of formal teasing, while removing the helmet from her head. "But if you want to see

  the prettiest blue eyes ever, you just need to look in a mirror."

  Nefin shook his head and smiled. "Nope," he disagreed. "Do you want me to go now?"

  "No, but I should probably get back so Kent doesn't have to worry about the little ones alone. Would you like to fly with me?"

  "I would love to. I'll put all of this in Lightning's saddlebag."

  So he did. And for the first time since Arget had hatched, Nefin flew with Keeta on Lightning. From the way he wrapped his arms around her and held her close, Keeta knew he

  appreciated it more now than he ever had before.

  The day finally dawned for the seven couples leaving on the anniversary getaway and reunion to depart. The saddlebags were packed and ready, and the couples had already said many farewells to their adoring children. They repeated them yet again before mounting their dragons and taking to the skies. And all of the mated dragons were also going, of

  course. Thorn alone flew without his mate, and he was more anxious than any of them to land on the volcanic island where his lovely mate Snowfire awaited him.

  After their parents left, the oldest children spent the hours until lunchtime playing as a large group with the youngsters so they wouldn't miss their mothers too much.

  The day passed joyfully for all of the inhabitants remaining on the Isle, and once the littlest children were all asleep that evening, Keeta left her family's quarters—where her

  brother Kent was staying with their youngest siblings—and went to fly with Lightning. Though Brin had remembered Keeta's birthday, the big departure in the morning and the

  busyness of the remainder of the day caused everyone else to forget.

  Keeta wasn't resentful, of course, but she did want to be with her dragon. She had seen Angela in yet another dream, and Keeta was more sure than ever that something big was

  about to happen. Maybe within days. For her dream had finally been as Brin's the previous year. All Angela first said was, Be ready, Keeta. The time is very near at hand.

  apparently debating over adding anything more, Angela then said, I am proud of you, Keeta. You will see that your careful preparation was absolutely essential.

  Keeta and Lightning left her family's quarters by walking out the huge doors, rather than flying, so the loud thundering of his wings wouldn't disturb the sleeping children. Keeta

  thought they might spot someone on their way out to the courtyard, but they didn't. The others must have been settling down with their families for the evening. All of the oldest

  youth wanted to be sure that their youngest siblings wouldn't miss their parents too greatly while they were gone, so they were being especially attentive and caring.

  By the time they reached the courtyard, Lightning was already comforting her again. Everything will be all right, Keeta, he reassured. You have all prepared to the very best of your

  abilities.

  Yes, Keeta replied as she strapped her legs into his saddle. But what if something happens to you, Lightning?

  Dear one, Lightning gently interjected, I do not know what to expect, but worrying about it even more will not help. Where would you like to fly?

  I don't know. I just know I won't be able to sleep for a while. But we don't need to go far. Maybe to the eastern cliffs so I can watch the moon rise.

  So Lightning flew the short distance to the cliffs, and Keeta climbed down, sitting in front of him on the ground with her back resting against the front of his chest.

  It's so beautiful, Keeta commented on the view.

  Yes, dear one, Lightning agreed. I do not see the twins' ship anchored down there on the beach.

  No. Angela told them to move it from its usual location in their most recent birthday dream. But the Talíta is still right down there, same as it always has been for over thirty years.

  Sensing that Keeta was about to start obsessing again, Lightning interrupted, Let us try to enjoy this time and the ocean.

  So they quieted their mental dialogue and did as Lightning suggested. After about fifteen minutes, a soft rustling behind Lightning made Keeta's heart rate speed. She couldn't see

  anything around her dragon, but he had also heard, and he craned his neck to peer around behind himself. It is Nefin, Lightning informed Keeta. He wants to know if he can come

  around.

  Keeta's pulse raced faster as she jumped up in surprise, smoothing her hands over her windswept hair. Yes! she exclaimed, immediately guessing that Nefin had deliberately made

  an audible noise to alert them to his presence. He could be as quiet as a shadow when he wanted to be.

  Nefin skirted Lightning, stopping in front of Keeta. It was hard for her to make him out by the dim light of the moon, but she knew Nefin could see her perfectly well. She gazed the

  long distance up into his face, trying to discover any clue as to why he had shown up here.

  Nefin surprised Keeta when he dropped to his knees in front of her and pulled her into a tight embrace. He didn't say anything, but Keeta guessed from the way his breathing

  sounded strained that he was experiencing some type of powerful emotion.

  After an indefinite time, during which Keeta was trying not to let the reassurance of Nefin's familiar smell make her head swim, Nefin whispered, "Sorry, Keeta. Until we all got

  back from the Ceremony, I hadn't seen you in months. And there has never been a chance to talk before now. I was so worried about you when you were by yourself all that time."

  He didn't pull back, and Keeta didn't know how to respond, so she said nothing. Nefin didn't let her go, though Keeta had never raised her arms to return his embrace. She wasn't

  sure how to act. What Nefin said was true. She had been away—mostly by herself—all of the spring and the first part of the summer. And while she had almost immediately

  forgiven him for what had happened in Ellesméra with Alanna—and had even almost been able to pretend she had forgotten about it with how busy and occupied she had been—now

  that they were alone and he was so close, the memory rushed back to her.

  Nefin had been on his knees then too. His chest, which was right under Keeta's face, had been bare. But Keeta hadn't been in his arms. Oh no. But it was magic, Keeta

  reminded herself. He wasn't himself. He didn't want any of that, no matter how convincing the evidence to the contrary. And feel how he's holding you now. He wants this,

  there's no magic at work here.

  So she finally managed to mutter, "Thank you, Nefin. That means a lot to me."

  "I missed you, Keeta," Nefin gently said. "I'm just glad you're safe. And no one did anything for your birthday, so I had to make sure you knew not everyone had forgotten."

  "Brin didn't," Keeta murmured, smiling faintly.

  "But she's a female, your best friend, and was born only five days after you. Of course she remembered," Nefin rejoined. "I hoped it would mean something that a foolish male also

  had."

  "You're not foolish, Nefin," Keeta protested. "And it does mean something. Especially since it was you."

  Nefin finally pulled back and smiled at her, now from only a few inches above her since he was kneeling. Keeta tried not to start trembling at how beautiful he was, especially when

  he smiled, but to no avail. She briefly closed her eyes, looking straight ahead—at his neck—when she reopened them.

  "Is something wrong?" Nefin asked in concern.

  "Yes. But I'm not telling you what."

  Nefin's brow creased. "Do you want me to leave?"

  "No!" Keeta exclaimed. "I'm just embarrassed to tell you what's wrong, but it's
nothing bad."

  "I'm dreadfully curious, Keeta," Nefin wheedled.

  Keeta smiled at the unfamiliar, cajoling tone of his voice. "I'm not telling," she firmly insisted. "Did you follow me here?"

  "Yes," Nefin apologetically admitted. "I heard you and Lightning leaving as you passed our tree. I asked Hanna to stay with the little ones. I just ran so it wouldn't be as obvious as

  it would have been had I also flown. I wanted to give you your birthday present before it was too late."

  Keeta pressed her lips together in an effort to keep the smile from becoming too infatuated and cheesy. Nefin followed me to give me a gift! she joyfully thought. "You didn't have

  to, Nefin."

  "But I wanted to. I left it back behind Lightning. Let me go get it." He jumped up, darted away, and was back in about three seconds, holding something behind his back. He knelt

  down again—a little farther away—and brought the wrapped bundle around in between them. "Happy birthday, Keeta."

  Keeta couldn't temper her delight any longer, so she smiled as brightly as she had wanted to all along. "Thank you, Nefin!" she gushed as she accepted the gift from him, letting the

  cloth covering the present fall away and gasping when she recognized what she was holding.

  "Nefin!" she cried in amazement, running her hands along the smooth, glossy surface of the yew bow in her hands. "It's gorgeous! Thank you!" She held the bow in one hand and

  threw both of her arms around his neck, now returning the embrace she never had before.

  Nefin slowly brought his arms up and circled them around Keeta's back. "You're welcome, Keeta," he murmured into her hair. "Rhunön helped, but I did most of the singing myself."

  "You sang this for me? How lovely! And it's the perfect size, of course. I love it, Nefin. So much! More than any other present I have ever received!" She was so thrilled that she

  planted a quick peck on his cheek before stepping away from him to more closely examine her bow . Out of the corner of her eye, Keeta noticed Nefin raise one hand and brush two

  fingers over the place on his cheek where her lips had touched him.

  "I'm glad, Keeta. There's a quiver of arrows too. And a couple of other things from Rhunön, but this was the . . . main thing from me."

  "The main thing?" Keeta repeated, emphasizing the strange catch in his voice on the word main.

  "Yes," Nefin said, without elaborating. "Let me grab the other things." He repeated the process of rising, removing himself a short distance—less quickly this time—and returning

  with new items in his hands. This time he sat on the ground, motioning Keeta to join him, and set everything down.

  It was really getting dark by then, so Keeta murmured a spell to illuminate the area right between her and Nefin. Then she inspected what he had laid out. "My axe!" she delightedly

  cried. "But I thought Brin was going to make it."

  "She was. But I insisted."

  "Look at how beautiful it is! Lightning, it has exactly your coloring!" Lightning dipped his head down to carefully study the weapon while Keeta continued, "And my armor! Is this a

  helmet?" Keeta then asked, picking it up.

  "Yes," Nefin said, his voice taking on a note of worry. "Rhunön thought you—out of all of us—would most need it. Since your head is so much lower, I suppose. Right at the level

  where most people would swing their weapons."

  "That makes me feel great," Keeta wryly said. "But maybe it really does. I can't help that I'm short, so I will be grateful that Rhunön followed her instinct. When she did with Aunt

  Willow's armor, it saved her life. Did you know Willow gave it to Brin? Her steelsilk armor?"

  Nefin shook his head. "Interesting. Did you have another dream last night?"

  "Yes," Keeta quietly confirmed. "But Nefin, I've already been worrying about it so much. Lightning has heard of almost nothing else since this morning. Can we please not talk about

  it?"

  "If that's what you want, Keeta," Nefin reluctantly allowed. "But don't you think we others should know? Whatever's going to happen will surely affect us all."

  "I'll tell everyone," Keeta promised. "But right now I just want to enjoy myself. This is the only birthday celebration I'll get."

  Nefin smiled slightly and nodded. "Very well. Here's the quiver."

  Keeta accepted it. "So lovely," she breathed. "Thank you, Nefin. The axe is splendid, but I love the bow so much more." Then she tossed her head to get her long hair behind her

  shoulders and stuffed the helmet on her head. "How do I look? Like a warrior?"

  "The cutest warrior I've ever seen. With the rosiest cheeks and prettiest sparkling blue eyes."

  Keeta blushed and suddenly regretted casting the spell that lit up the small area where they were sitting, since it would make her blush all too obvious for Nefin's keen eyes, though

  she hoped the helmet obscured it somewhat. "Thank you, Nefinelda," she replied with an air of formal teasing, while removing the helmet from her head. "But if you want to see

  the prettiest blue eyes ever, you just need to look in a mirror."

  Nefin shook his head and smiled. "Nope," he disagreed. "Do you want me to go now?"

  "No, but I should probably get back so Kent doesn't have to worry about the little ones alone. Would you like to fly with me?"

  "I would love to. I'll put all of this in Lightning's saddlebag."

  So he did. And for the first time since Arget had hatched, Nefin flew with Keeta on Lightning. From the way he wrapped his arms around her and held her close, Keeta knew he

  appreciated it more now than he ever had before.

  The seven married couples arrived at their tropical destination in the early evening of the same day they left the Isle. Tomath, Elva, and Snowfire were eagerly awaiting them. After many exuberant greetings and embraces—among which were numerous exclamations of delight at Elva's obviously advanced stage of pregnancy—Tomath insisted on showing his

  beloved friends around the island that had been his home for nearly eight months.

  During the six weeks Tomath had known the other Riders would be coming for a visit, he had used much of his endless free time to build the visitors their own personal dwelling for

  the anniversary trip, complete with a comfortable bed custommade to fit each respective couple. He apologized that he hadn't had time to add more to the accommodations, but

  since none of them had any intention of staying longer than the planned week, they weren't concerned with the lack of plumbing they were used to on the Isle.

  They spent the first night unpacking and storing their belongings in these huts. Then the eight couples gathered together for their first dinner and evening away from their children

  in close to twenty years for many of them.

  Because of the long flight that day, most of the couples decided to retire early, anticipating the luxury of being able to sleep in the following morning. But Willow and Varhog stayed

  longer to catch up with Tomath and Elva, for the closeness of Willow and Tomath's relationship had never faded over the years.

  The older couple learned that Elva was now thirtyseven weeks along in her pregnancy, and Willow was elated. "So the baby could be born at any time with every chance of

  surviving!" Willow exclaimed.

  "Yes," Elva joyfully responded. "Tomath and I are so excited to finally be parents. It has been difficult for him to be so isolated out here, but I think it was necessary for me. I have

  gotten quite good at controlling my ability to perceive the pain or suffering of others, but it was difficult in Ilirea to avoid old habits. I had become so used to automatically

  assessing the wellbeing of the royal family that it was difficult to turn it off."

  "You know I haven't minded a bit, Elva," Tomath insisted.

  "Of course, dear," Elva agreed, favoring her loyal husband with a lovely smile. "You have never complained even once. But,"
she added as she turned back to Willow, "I think we

  have more than fulfilled any desire we might have felt to make the most of our last days as only a couple. It might take another twenty years before we want to get away from the

  children as you all have."

  "Do you think you'll have to go through the same seclusion with every baby?" Willow asked.

  "I'm not sure," Elva responded. "Possibly. But I'm hoping I won't. We want to be closer to everyone we love. And Snowfire missed Thorn dreadfully. At least Tomath and I had each

  other."

  The conversation continued on well into the night before Willow had to apologize for her weariness and she and Varhog left.

  The week leading up to Eragon and Arya's twentieth wedding anniversary was one of the most enjoyable of their many years together. Each day of their getaway was as relaxing

  and carefree as one could imagine. Every morning they slept in. They ate the finest, most delightful food possible, which grew in an even more abundant and succulent variety than

  it did on the Isle, thanks to the volcanic soil.

  Tomath had taken all who were interested on many tours to detail the wonders and attractions of the island. Some of these they engaged in on foot, whereas others they enjoyed

  while flying. The island was unbelievably gorgeous. Majestic waterfalls cascaded from towering cliffs into crystal pools. Luscious, verdant greenery swathed every surface in every

  conceivable form—tree, bush, grass, fern, and moss. And the endless diversity of flowers created a mesmerizing palette of color everywhere the eye turned, while also filling the

  air with the sweetest smells imaginable.

  The wildlife was exotic and stunning, and Tomath reassured them that none of the more dangerous predators would venture near, given the proximity of so many dragons. A fair

  few had already learned their lesson after ending up as Snowfire's unsuspecting dinner. But the gentler creatures were visible on these tours, and the visitors never ceased to

  delight in observing the chattering monkeys, the trilling birds, the vibrant insects and amphibians—some of which were an astonishing size—and the unending array of underwater