Romancing the Paranormal Page 22

  CHAPTER 3

  The diplomatic scouts made their reports to their alphas and, as SilverRuff had declared, the Council met again the day after. The discussion on whether or not to overturn Lunark’s policy on technology, particularly arms, was far from consensus. The first day was a volley of raised voices. By the second day, everyone who had something to say had been given the opportunity to speak and talks were devolving into heated argument, fueled by the resistance of the First Colony contingent.

  Liulf had been silent for the duration, carefully listening to the various points of view, trying to evaluate each on its own merit. By the afternoon of the second day, he was ready to add his opinion. When he stood, voices quieted immediately. He was not only one of three alphas who carried immense respect and authority, but also an imposing figure even among creatures as impressive as werewolves.

  He addressed the First Colonists directly.

  “I have heard yer speeches and know that each of ye speaks from the heart. I understand why ye feel as ye do.

  “When I first visited this world, I recognized it for the paradise that it was. No one of sound mind would argue that the old ways are no’ better for our kind, me least of all. If I could choose anythin’, I would choose to have Lunark forever remain as it has been.

  “Perhaps the dragons’ threats were a strange form of jest that we don’t understand.” He glanced at Ken, who met his gaze and gave Liulf a subtle, but distinct shake of his head. “But ‘tis no’ likely. My brother, Ken, has a gift for true observation and I’ve good reason to trust his judgment. If he says the dragons are a serious and imminent danger to us, I believe him. And I believe we need to prepare to protect our tribes. This is said to ye by one who has spent much of the past millennium defendin’ territory from invaders.

  “SilverRuff’s tribe has ne’er lived with human technology. For First Colony, ‘tis an unknown.” He looked at the First Colony wolves, eyes lingering on his mate for a second longer than the others. “Suspicion and reluctance is natural and warranted. The rest of us know that, like most thin’s, there’s good and bad. I also know that muscle, fang, and claw will no’ protect my mate and my tribe from this threat. Likewise, bow and arrow will no’ bring down dragons.”

  Liulf paused for a full minute as he looked around the room. “’Tis my job as alpha to protect those who have put their faith in me, old, young, wee, and strong. All count on me, as they do the other alphas and elders.

  “We did no’ ask for this. Far from it. We would all like to have thin’s remain as they were. But when dragons migrate to Lunark without permission and refer to our emissaries as food, we are left with no choice but to prepare the best defense possible. If that means acquirin’ advanced weaponry from off-world,” he pursed his lips for a moment, “I say aye.”

  As Liulf moved to sit down, the representatives from New Scotia and New Elk Mountain responded with howls and shouts and pounded the tables in front of them with their hands.

  The members from First Colony remained silently sullen. One of their elders had just begun to rise to make a response, when two Elk Mountain wolves charged into the tent, changing to human form as they arrived. One tried to begin speaking before his snout had finished retracting and re-forming into a human nose and mouth. He was clearly frustrated by his garbled speech. He growled and shook his head violently as if that would speed up his transformation.

  Stalkson Grey had moved toward the new arrivals at first alarm. “Redmane. What brings you here looking like a devil is chasing you?”

  After a few more seconds, Redmane’s words became intelligible. “Seven of us were stalking game on the foothills. The dragons came.” He was panting, still out of breath. “When we saw them we tried to run, but… they flew close enough to the earth to slash at us with their tails.” He stopped and looked into Grey’s darkening eyes. “It was like they were playing with us. When they flew away, three hunters were dead.”

  Stalkson Grey straightened. “Who?”

  “Cloudspring. Pathmaker. Jimmy Clear Eyes. Three of our best.” Redmane looked down at the ground. “All had families.”

  “Have they been told?”

  Redmane glanced up at his alpha, but his eyes went immediately back to the ground in front of him. “No, Alpha. The widows don’t know.”

  “Go outside and wait for me.” After the two wolves were outside, Stalkson Grey turned back to the Council. “As you’ve heard, I’m needed. If anything useful could come from the senseless deaths of young wolves, let it be that you make the right decision. We need weapons powerful enough to either exterminate the dragons or persuade them to move on to another world. The New Elk Mountain tribe votes yes. As you are deciding, remember that I’m leaving to attend to our dead and the loved ones left behind by this senseless act.”

  As Grey turned to leave he heard one of the First Colony advisors tell SilverRuff that he had warned her the whole Council thing was a mistake. With that the wolves from Grey’s tribe departed for the grim rituals of informing families and arranging funeral rites.

  The remaining assembly fell silent for a time after the Elk Mountain wolves were gone. They were, no doubt, each in their own way, contemplating the implications of Lunark werewolves being murdered without provocation.

  Liulf and Ken leaned together in a whisper a few seconds before Ken rose and called for a vote.

  “As ye all heard, New Elk Mountain votes aye. Likewise, New Scotia says aye.”

  There was an immediate uproar as the infuriated First Colony contingent rose to their feet. SilverRuff, while remaining seated, simply raised a hand. Her confidantes begrudgingly took their seats and waited for her to speak.

  “We agreed when the Council was formed that a majority vote would win. Two out of three tribes have voted to import weaponry sufficient to eliminate the threat, now confirmed, posed by the dragon shifters. First Colony will honor the vote and abide by the terms of the Council,” she looked pointedly to her right and left at the other First Colonists, “as agreed.

  “According to the plan set out by Stalkson Grey, we will await an off-world visitor who might convey our need to those who would give us aid. In the meantime, the young must be always attended and always close to shelter. Hunt and travel only at night. We must exercise great caution if we want to contain the damage. Naturally all Gatherings are suspended until the threat is resolved.

  “Anything else?” She looked around the room at the remaining Council members. No one moved or indicated that they had something to add. “We are adjourned. Wait until dark. Carry this news to your tribes.

  “Liulf.” Liulf raised his chin when SilverRuff spoke to him directly. “Please send a messenger to your uncle with the news of this decision.”

  Liulf nodded once, then leaned over and murmured something to Ken, who, likewise nodded.

  CHAPTER 4

  Stalkson Grey couldn’t remember a funeral burdened by such a great sorrow. Three very young werewolves struck down before they’d passed so much as a single century. As the one responsible for the migration to Lunark, there was an ugly voice in his head repeatedly suggesting that he was to blame for the disaster. The task of carrying the news to the families had been gut-wrenching, easily the hardest task he’d ever been called on to perform as a duty of the alpha.

  The first day, the bodies of the slain were cleaned and wrapped. The second day the families sat in the room with them while members of the pack came to offer condolences. All the while they could hear the sounds of the pyre being built.

  On the third night the widows and children were brought to the pyre. The alpha’s wife, Luna, was responsible for escorting Lestriv, mate to Jimmy Clear Eyes. Through Lestriv’s haze of grief, she was still able to recognize the enormous assembly who had come to pay their respects to the fallen. Many of those present were from First Colony and New Scotia, including Liulf and his brothers, Konochur and Cenead. That meant many faces she’d never seen since she’d never been to one of the Gatherings. Jimmy wa
sn’t interested or curious. He’d been happy to be at home with his girls and she’d been happy to be at home with him.

  Songs were sung to help speed the spirits of the dead onward to a happy place with blue sky, clear water, green grass, tall trees, and no natural enemies. At the appropriate time, Stalkson Grey came forward and said the ancient words of mourning.

  The number and ages of the victims made it the most solemn occasion that Konochur had ever witnessed. The sorrow hanging in the air was palpable. When his uncle finished reciting the poem of spirit flight, he lit three torches, and gave one to each of the widows as it was custom to have surviving mates light the pyre.

  That was the first time Conn had ever laid eyes on Lestriv.

  She didn’t hang her head and weep like the other two. She threw the torch with resolution, then stepped back and stared at the rising flames while streams of stoically silent tears coursed down her cheeks and fell on her breast.

  Conn’s heart squeezed in his chest as he watched her, transfixed. Without taking her eyes away from the flames that reached toward the sky, Lestriv bent and lifted a little girl who clung to her skirt. His eyes drifted downward to the slight swell of her belly and a renewed sense of outrage washed over him.

  It was well known that Conn had never had much use for humans and had never understood why a wolf would stoop to mate with one. But truth be told, Conn had never understood why anyone would mate at all when there was so much sexual variety to be experienced. That was why it surprised him so when the voice in his head chanted, “‘Tis no’ right to be a widow so young and for no good reason.”

  When the attendees began to file away, the three brothers remained to speak to their uncle about the plans to arm. Liulf asked Grey to be informed about any new development.

  “I will, of course. You’re welcome to stay with us until tomorrow night.” He gestured toward the three.

  “Nay, Uncle, if we go now, we’ll be in New Scotia when the moon is still high.”

  Grey nodded. “I believe it meant a lot to the families that you came and I thank you on their behalf.”

  “No need. We’re all in it together.” As an afterthought, he added, “Good times and bad.”

  “Just so, Liulf,” Grey said.

  After a few days of thinking about the widow and a few restless night’s sleep, Conn decided it was time to pay his uncle’s village a visit. When he arrived, he didn’t go straight to see Stalkson Grey, but wandered around until he spotted Lessie. She was hanging clothes up to dry on the side of a small cabin. He observed her for a while without making himself known. After she finished the hanging, she picked up the little girl he’d seen at the funeral rites, swung her around once and then stood swaying while she sang a song that was as soothing as a lullaby. The wolf was captivated by the sound of the woman’s voice. It pulled him nearer like a magnet and did funny fluttery things to his stomach.

  When the woman went inside her little cottage and closed the door, Conn went straight to his uncle’s house to find the alpha’s wife. He was told she was at her clinic and there he found her looking in the mouth of a wolf cub who, apparently, was too frightened of seeing the healer to hold his human form.

  “Conn. What are you doing here?” Luna was clearly surprised by the visit, but pleased as well as she liked her husband’s nephew-by-marriage well enough.

  “I want ye to introduce me to someone.”

  Luna looked confused and shook her head. “Someone? What do you mean someone?” Then his meaning seemed to dawn on her and she responded with a throaty laugh that originated in her chest. That had always been one of the things Conn appreciated most about Luna. She had an unapologetically lusty laugh. “Conn,” she began, shaking her head again, this time in disbelief. “I wouldn’t introduce you to my worst enemy.” She stopped what she was doing with the child and took a good look at Conn, who appeared to be both surprised and insulted. “Since when do you need introductions anyway? That doesn’t sound like your style.”

  “Well, ‘tis no’. Usually.” She noted he seemed a little uncomfortable. “But this particular person might no’ appreciate a simple wink and grab. She’s, ah, human.”

  Luna’s laughter started all over again. “Oh. That is too rich. Aren’t you the werewolf who holds humans in complete disdain?”

  Conn’s eyebrows drew together. “Is that what ye think? I do no’ hold you in disdain.”

  “Uh huh,” she said without conviction. “So that makes me and one other. Who is it?”

  Seeing that Conn looked like he was in pain, Luna began to take him a little more seriously.

  “The widow. The red-haired one with the little girl.”

  Luna gaped at Conn for a full minute before returning to her patient. She finished with the little wolf, set him down on his feet, and sent him on his way.

  “Conn, the woman you’re talking about is the last person in this dimension that I would introduce you to.”

  It was Conn’s turn to gape. “Why so mean, Aunt? I have no plans to brin’ harm to the woman.”

  Luna shifted her weight to one side and put a hand on her hip in a posture of challenge. “What then? You’re going to offer to mate her?”

  Since the day Luna had learned that werewolves are real creatures, she had never been as surprised as she was by Conn’s hesitation in answering that question. He seemed to be searching for the right thing to say. Awkwardly.

  “Well,” he stumbled, “I’m no’ sayin’ that exactly.”

  “Then what are you saying? Exactly.”

  “That I’d like to get to know her better.” He tried for a nonchalant shrug.

  “Know her better,” Luna said drily. “That’s what I thought.”

  “’Tis no’ what I meant, Luna. You’re twistin’ my meanin’. I did no’ mean gettin’ to know her better in a carnal sort of way.” Luna looked unconvinced. “Exactly.”

  “Since when have you had any interest in females other than in a carnal sort of way, wolf?” Luna smirked.

  Conn screwed up his face with a mix of expressions from frustration to aggravation of the most perplexed sort. “For Sprit’s sake, human. I’ll just do this myself.”

  Luna grew serious. “You will not do any such thing, Conn. She’s had enough torment at her doorstep without having to deal with a horndog wolf dry humping the door jamb.”

  He was clearly confused. “I do no’ know what a horndog is, but if I take yer meanin’, ‘tis no’ as complimentary as I’d like. That aside, I can see that ‘twas wrong to ask for help here. So I’ll just be on my way.”

  Luna narrowed her eyes. “Very well. Just make sure that ‘on your way’ you don’t pass by the widow’s house.”

  Conn gave her a glare and started for the open doorway. Luna hurried round and stepped in front of him. “I’ll be needing your word, Conn. That you will leave her alone.”

  Conn towered over Luna when he stepped closer, but she didn’t give way. “I’ll be needin’ you to step away from the door, Luna.”

  Luna blocked the door with her arms. “Promise me.”

  “Are you movin’ away from the door?”

  “Not until you promise you will leave the widow alone.”

  “Can ye be dissuaded from this course?”

  “No,” Luna said firmly, her chin in the air.

  Conn watched as Lestriv sat her little girl by the entrance to the chicken pen. With a wicker basket over her arm she began struggling to open the gate. It was mostly mesh, but framed and supported with heavy posts made from four inch tree trunks. One of the hinges had loosened in such a way as to make the gate unwieldy and hard to manage.

  Lessie jumped when she heard a voice close behind her. It was deep, but soft and pleasant, and gave no cause for alarm.

  “Here. Let me help with that.”

  She turned to look directly up into Conn’s face and immediately blushed, partly because of the thought that he was sexy, beautiful and charismatically compelling, and partly from guilt for noti
cing that just a week after her husband’s funeral. When Conn reached past her to take hold of the gate, she stepped back, but not before he noticed that her scent was intoxicating as peach trumpet vine. He took a deep whiff.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Hmmm? Oh, no’ a thin’. What’s yer name?” he asked.

  She looked around, wiping her hands on her apron. “Lestriv,” she said without looking at him.

  He repeated her name slowly, then smiled. “’Tis hard to say.”

  Conn thought he saw surprise on her face as her eyes jerked to his. That was just before she seemed to get a faraway look like she was no longer actually seeing him.

  “Lestriv?”

  He watched her face and she refocused her attention on him, on the here and now. “People usually call me Lessie.”

  “Ah. Much better. And what’s yer name?” He looked at the little girl and smiled. She was a beautiful child with mahogany-colored hair and eyes the same gray color as the skies of his homeland in northern Scotia.

  The child didn’t react to him or answer until her mother prompted her. “Say your name, love.”

  “Lileeee.”

  Conn smiled.

  “Her father named her Liluye. It means ‘hawk singing while soaring’. We call her Lily and she just turned four.”

  Conn looked down at the child. “Hello, Lily. I’m Conn.” He looked at Lessie. “Well, actually ‘tis Konuchur, but most people call me Conn and I’d like it if ye would as well.” As an afterthought he decided to add his credentials. “I’m second to the alpha of New Scotia.”

  “I know who you are.”

  “Do ye?” Conn seemed surprised.

  Lessie smiled a little. “Everyone, well, at least all the females know who you are. Your reputation is, um, well-known?” Conn looked away and began fiddling with the misbehaving hinge. Lessie thought she saw a red flush touch his cheeks. “What does Konuchur mean?”