by Crymsyn Hart
“No. It’s okay. This is Belik, my mate. Thank you for your invitation to share a meal, but I was hoping I could speak to your healer, shaman, or chief—whomever would be your leader.”
She nodded. “Sure. Ohanzee can take you to see him.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” Belik asked.
“I think I should do this by myself. If that’s okay.”
He kissed her lightly. “Of course. I’ll look after Marta. Asha, do you need any help with anything?”
Asha glanced at Ohanzee, who remained silent, and back at Belik. “Sure. That would be nice. I can show you where the visitors stay when we’re done. That is, if you are staying and not just passing through.”
He smiled at Illiana and went with Asha. Illiana glanced back at Ohanzee. “I really do appreciate you doing this for us. It means a lot.”
He shrugged. “It’s not a problem. I’ll take you to meet Ranolo. He’s our shaman and our chief. I am sure he would want to meet you anyway. He greets all travelers, and he would be the one to invite you to stay with us if you plan on doing it for more than a night. This way.”
Ohanzee led her through the center of the village, up a hill, and toward the community where the huts appeared to be older and more spaced-out. They kept walking until they were clear of the huts to the top of the hill. From there she looked back and could see the whole village and how vast it was. There had to be at least forty huts scattered about, that she could count.
The one they were going to appeared to be built into the canyon. It was fashioned from stone and wood as if the two had molded themselves together. A large stream ran along one side of the cabin and down toward the village. Her heart slammed into her chest, and her palms sweated. Illiana was not even this nervous when she had been initiated into the flock. Thinking about it made the brand on her left breast itch. Maybe they should have done this when she had a chance to rest and wash up because she was covered in grime and dirt from traveling.
Ohanzee knocked on the door. As he did, it hit her what he called his shaman, she just had not recognized the name because of his accent.
“Wait, you said his name was Ranolo?” Illiana asked.
He was about to answer, but the door opened. The man before her was taller than her by a couple of inches. He had the same reddish brown skin the others in the village did and the same dark brown hair. Within his locks appeared to be a raven feather, a very old feather that was brittle and had broken off a few times. His eyes were hazel, and they were filled with a wisdom that came with time and experience. He wore a beaded vest made from black leather and cloth-woven tan pants and suede boots. Around his neck was a pendant with the same stones she had on her necklace: amber and turquoise. It was nearly identical.
She sensed the wind element around him and wondered if he was the one who had been controlling it earlier. Fire sparked within her and raged along her nerves, and she could feel the heat of the element raging through the shaman before her. There were other things, but she could not place them.
“Ohanzee, I see you brought our visitors. I was coming down to welcome you into our village. Why don’t you come in? Ohanzee, I’ll bring her back down to Asha’s when we’re through.”
“Of course, Ranolo.”
Illiana glanced at her guide and felt a zap of panic run through her about Ohanzee leaving. But her mouth went dry, and she lost all of her words before she could protest. Ranolo ushered her into his home and shut the door behind her. The heat of the fire played across her flesh. She fought her instinct to reach out to touch it, hoping to learn more about his man from the elements. She did not want to give anything away in case this was not the man she sought. Or if he was the man, then there was always the chance he could reject her.
“Forgive me, I’m Ranolo, leader and shaman of this tribe. And you would be?”
Her mouth seemed glued shut as she took in the contents of the hut. It reminded her much of her aunt Coret’s lodging. Dried herbs and wind chimes made from bones and other materials were suspended from the ceiling. Animal skulls and bird wings were scattered around a table and shelves. There were bottles of liquids and boxes of other things. The living space was open, but she assumed behind the door were his private rooms. Illiana shivered as she smelled the heady scent of sage permeating the space and making her a little light-headed. A small touch on her shoulder made her jump and yelp.
“Sorry, I wasn’t sure you heard my question.”
Illiana rubbed her fingers over her arms and to relax. This is it. This is what I’ve been waiting for. What I traveled all this way for. “My name is Illiana. I’m from the Corvus flock. I’m a raven shifter.” She searched his face, but it did not seem he recognized what she said. She dug into her bag and pulled out the map she had. “My mate and I live in a great forest that stretches for miles, almost to the sea. We share our territory with a wolf pack below while my flock lives in the trees. I got here by following this map.” Illiana handed it to him. “My mother gave it to me.”
“It’s an old map drawn from an aerial perspective, so if you are a raven shifter, it would have been easy for you to follow.” Ranolo handed it back to her. Nothing about it seemed to spark any reaction from him.
She pulled out the necklace she had tucked into her dress and handed it to him. “This is the other thing I had.”
He glanced at her and then back at the pendant. “This can’t be. I gave this away years ago. Where did you get it?”
She heard the panic in his voice and disbelief. His fingers ran over the metal and the stones. He studied her and waited for an answer. “My mother’s name is Lelana. She never spoke of my father until this past year. And it was my aunt, Coret, who revealed that my father was a traveler and arrived in our territory as an injured wolf. My mother nursed him back to health. They fell in love, but her parents never approved and soon he left as an eagle.”
Illiana held her breath. Ranolo looked at her and back at the pendant. He clutched it, and she saw tears in glistening in his eyes. He fingered the feather in his hair.
“You have your mother’s eyes. That was twenty-one years ago. I never knew.” He walked over to a table and poured himself something and took a drink of it. From the redness that appeared on his cheeks, she figured it was alcohol. But that did not surprise her. Ranolo had discovered that he had a daughter he did not know about. From there he sat down and stared at her.
“She knew you were never aware of my existence. You were the love of her life. She never mated with anyone else. I don’t think she ever assumed I’d come looking for you. My mother said she thought I might, but I don’t think in her heart she really believed it.”
Her father ran his hand over his face and closed his eyes, still taking everything in. When he opened them, he motioned for her to sit in the chair across from him. Illiana perched on the edge, still not sure what he would do. From his expression and reading his eyes, he had as many questions about her as she did about him. A log popped in the fireplace, and before she could think about it, she reached out and grabbed control of the fire before it flared and tried to singe them. The spirit of the fire did not recognize her and tried to fight against her at first. Once it realized she was in control, the element relented.
Ranolo glanced at her with wide eyes. “You can control fire.”
“Yes. Sorry. I’m still learning to harness that ability. I can speak with air, too. Are those the ones that you can speak with?”
He nodded. “Along with earth and water. Have you tried with those elements?”
She shrugged. “I’ve never thought about it. Water maybe. Lately, when I touch the surface of it, it feels like I’m being shocked.”
“That’s it. I bet you can control the earth, too. Have you ever tried? What are your natures? How come I never knew about you? Tell me everything. By the gods, I have a daughter,” he said all in one breath.
Before she realized what had happened, he had pulled her to him and hugged her vigorously. She was not
sure how to react at first because her mother was not into physical displays of affection, but being in his arms felt like she had come home. This was truly the end of her journey. The spirits had led Ohanzee to them. Maybe they were trying to make up for what had happened with Christopher. Maybe they were allowing her to heal her heart, and if not with a mate, at least with a father she never assumed she would find because all her life, until the very last year, she had assumed Ranolo was dead. Illiana returned the hug and pulled away to catch her breath.
“Sorry. I never thought . . . ” he began
“I know. I never thought this, too. My mother always told me you had died. It wasn’t until last year that I discovered I was two-natured. She raised me to be like the rest of the flock, but I was always an outsider because I looked different than them. I was heavier, so they thought I’d never be able to shift into a raven, but also because I can drift on the air without shifting. It was an emotional key that unlocked my other half. If I had never been rejected, I doubt I would’ve discovered that I could shift into my other animal. It was the same with the fire, being able to control it.”
“Did you have to go through the test? What happened to you? What is your other animal?”
“I had to walk through the fire and be baptized by it.” She held out her wrist and showed him the scar. “The fire spirits said this was the way other fire beings will tell I’d been marked. My other animal is a wolf, like my father. Is that how it runs? In families? Are your parents alive? Are all the villagers here able to shift into two different forms? Can they all control the elements?”
Ranolo burst into laughter. “I think we both have many questions for one another. This is enough for today. We can answer one another’s questions as they come up. Here, I’ll bring you to the hut we have set up for visitors. For now, that’s all we’ll say about who you are. Many will wonder why you’ve come. When I look at you, I see your mother, but I can also see myself in you.”
He pulled Illiana to her feet, and they exited the hut. “Wait, there’s a little girl who came with us. We rescued her from a clan of cougars in the plains. They thought that being two-natured made her evil. They were going to kill us and Marta. Her sister entrusted us with her safe-keeping so that she could grow up without fear of who she is. So we brought her here. She’s not old enough to shift, but she’s cougar and coyote. Would you be able to find a place for her here?”
Ranolo nodded. “We should be. There are some families here who are without children and want them. Maybe she would fit with them. How did you know she was two-natured?”
Illiana thought about it and explained to him how the elements had shown her what Marta was. It was tricky to get the answer straight and put it into words. When she finally got it out, he nodded as though he understood. “One other thing I have to ask, are you against shifters who change into one animal?”
Her father stopped her. “Of course not. We interact with many other shifters who are not two-natured. Some shifters revere us and think we’re blessed by the gods because of it. There are some, even here, who might be born two-natured, but they can shift into only one animal. It’s a rare thing. People don’t realize it’s not a hindrance, but it’s how that person is born, as though they have different-colored eyes. Why do you ask?”
“My mate, Belik, is a raven shifter. He fought hard for me when I was hung up on another. Well . . . that’s a long story, but I don’t want him to feel isolated here because of what he is.”
Ranolo placed his hands on her shoulders. “I won’t let that happen. If you introduce him as your mate, they will accept him for who he is. I doubt that anyone here will discriminate against him because that was how he was born.”
Relief flooded Illiana knowing that Belik and she were safe and that Marta would have a home. The best thing of all was she had found her father and that her journey had ended.
They reached Asha’s home, and she found Belik helping Ohanzee and Asha with dinner. Marta was playing with Asha’s children, and she appeared happy. Belik glanced up and smiled at her. Ohanzee stopped his work and also stared at her. Belik’s words slipped through her mind that their guide was attracted to her. She shook it off and focused back on her mate. Seeing him whole again, she was so grateful that he loved her enough to follow her through the journey they had made. Illiana was anxious to be in his arms again to have some alone time. Her mate stood, wiped his hands on his pants, and came over to her.
“Belik, this is Ranolo. He is the tribe’s leader and shaman.”
Her mate stuck out his hand and shook her father’s hand. “Nice to meet you, sir. Your hospitality is most appreciated.”
“You’re welcome to stay. Winter will be coming soon, so it might be good if you wintered with us. The season lasts longer here in the mountains than it does where you are from. Illiana tells me you live near the sea.”
“Yes, we are close to it. Maybe a day’s flight depending on how fast the raven flies.”
Ranolo chuckled. “Come, I’ll show you where you’ll be staying.”
“I had offered them dinner. Why don’t you stay, too, and they can settle in after that?” Asha invited him.
“That sounds wonderful. Thank you, Asha. I’ll join you soon. Let me get something to join in this impromptu feast.” Ranolo left the house.
Illiana slipped her hand around Belik’s waist. “Do you need anything, Asha?”
Asha shook her head. “No. Thank you. Sit. We will eat soon.”
Illiana sat down with the children who had now assembled at the table and stared at the blaze. The fire was surprisingly silent and did not wish to trouble her. Maybe it sensed she was not in the mood to speak. It was just nice to sit and relax. It was nice to not have to focus on the next day’s journey. Soon, when they were alone, she would begin to unwind completely. Belik sat next to her and leaned close to her ear. “Is he your father?”
She looked into her mate’s eyes and saw the concern for her. Concern that if he was not her father, that she would break apart again. But she realized now that after all the months of traveling, her heart had begun to heal. The ache for Christopher remained, but it had dulled. Maybe one day she could completely forget it. She smiled and ran her fingers down his cheek. “He is. He wants to know me, and he’ll even find a place for Marta. We can stay here as long as we want. Finally, I have someplace that will accept me.”
He pushed a strand of hair from her face. “I’m happy for you. You’re no longer alone.”
“Yes, being here is a good thing. But I was never alone. You were here with me.”
* * * *
“Hey, where did you go?”
Ohanzee glanced up at his sister, who was banking the fire she had built for dinner. All of the children were in bed, and his sister was heading toward her room in a few minutes to join her mate. He had been staring at the fire, trying to rid his mind of the thoughts bouncing around in it. “What? Sorry.”
“What has gotten into you? I haven’t seen you this distracted since Shirta turned you down.” Asha paused, and a knowing smile grew on her face. He hated when she had that look. “You like this woman.”
“I do not,” he scoffed. The idea was preposterous. “She’s visiting. She’s just different. That’s all.”
“It’s more than that. I saw how you were looking at her tonight while she was eating. You do know she has a mate.”
“What kind of a mate is he when he can barely provide for her? She’s too good for him,” Ohanzee snapped.
“Ha! I knew it. I haven’t seen you this aggravated in a long time. You can’t make assumptions of her mate when you don’t know anything about them. And maybe she’s open to having another mate? You won’t know their customs or their beliefs. They’re staying for the winter, you heard Ranolo invite them. Maybe you can figure it out while she’s here.”
“Did you see how Ranolo was fawning over her? He never treats visitors that way. And the pendant she wears is one of ours. Don’t you find that odd?”
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br /> His sister shrugged and got up from the hearth. “Not really. We trade with all manners of tribes and peoples. Maybe the piece found its way to her village. Who knows how far it has traveled?”
“No. It’s more than that. I can feel it.”
She patted his shoulder. “I’m sure you do. She seems nice enough, so we shall see.” She retired to her bedroom for the night.
Ohanzee slipped out of the hut and strolled toward the outskirts of the village. He needed to get away and erase Illiana from his mind. Asha was right. Illiana was there for the winter, and he did not know her customs. Maybe she was open to having another mate. Ohanzee shook his head. He did not want to focus on her when she would have no interest in him. It did not matter that she resembled the woman he had been dreaming about. Maybe she was the actual woman, but when she looked at him, Illiana did not see the man, but the guide who had led them to the village.
Ohanzee found the spot where he normally worked. He leaned his back against the stone, gaining strength and peace of mind from the earth. From the outcropping he was hidden from view while he had a good view of the village. The treeline was to his left that led into denser foliage up the mountain. Once the earth had steadied him, he glanced up at the half moon hanging in the sky. The hawk yearned to be free, but he would not fly tonight. He closed his eyes and felt in his mind where his other animal should have been, but he was met with the dark barrier he always came upon. No matter how much he tried to go beyond the wall, he could never penetrate it. Frustrated, he opened his eyes and saw a black wolf emerging from the forest around the village. It did not see him, and he did not recognize it as anyone from the village. There were a handful of people in the community who could shift into a wolf. The largest he had seen in the village was Ranolo. The beast walked closer to him. All the while, the wolf was changing back to human form and finally became the woman he had led into the village. Ohanzee held his breath. Bathed in the moonlight she was the most amazing creature he had ever seen. Her copper skin glowed in the light. Her hair hung to her waist and covered her breasts. She was curvy and voluptuous. Ohanzee had never seen anything like her with full hips and thighs that made his mouth water. She seemed comfortable in her own skin, and he could barely take his eyes from her.