Akila found that she had drifted down river much further than she had planned; none of the area around her was recognizable. But she certainly didn't consider herself lost; she had no doubt at all as to the direction she had come from. She began to fly up river, staying high enough to have a good view of the countryside.
In the fields below her she could see laborers gathering in the harvest. It was obviously a good harvest, and if her fall into the river, along with assorted bruises and sore muscles, had anything to do with that, Akila was glad of it. And who's to say that it didn't help the harvest? There's certainly no way to prove it either way, and I do know that magic exists and works.
She flew slowly, since her muscles were protesting her attempts to use them. It was infinitely easier to be a fish floating down river than a bird using its wings to stay aloft—or even a human walking around. But no doubt she would recover her strength in a few days. Some food would help too, she thought, suddenly aware that she hadn't eaten anything to speak of in days. But I don't dare eat now; I'll have to change back soon, and I don't want a repeat of what happened the time I ate in wolf-form and then changed back. Well, maybe just one mouse....
She ate three of them before her stomach stopped aching, and she was convinced that they were the most delicious things she'd ever eaten in her life. Darkness had fallen when she was done, so she found a suitable tree to spend the night in. This way I'll have time to digest the food, and besides, I don't think Druscilla and Briam want me bursting in on them in the middle of the night.
She woke at first light, feeling less hungry than the day before, but much stiffer—she would have sworn that every feather in her wings had petrified. Well, waiting won't make it any easier, she thought, forcing her wings to beat and carry her aloft again. After a few minutes it hurt less, but she was still conscious that she wouldn't be able to go on for much longer in this form.
Fortunately she was beginning to recognize landmarks, and soon she reached the point where the road to Druscilla's estate branched away from the river. There was a rider on that road, and even from Akila's height she could see the uniform of one of the Queen's guards.
Coming to tell me that Briam's dead? Akila forced an extra burst of speed from her tired wings so that she would reach the estate first. Now where did Druscilla put my clothes?
The servants were up and beginning their daily chores, and Akila could hardly land in the middle of the courtyard and turn into a naked human, so she went in the window of Druscilla's room. She hit the floor with claws outstretched, changing as she landed. As she rose to her feet, the bed curtains were pulled aside from within and Briam looked at her crossly.
"Akila, why can't you use the door—and knock first—like normal people?"
"What?” Druscilla's sleepy face appeared over Briam's shoulder. “Akila. When did you get here?"
"Just now, and there's a Queen's guard not five minutes behind me—where did you put my clothes?"
Druscilla rolled out the far side of the bed and went to open a chest in the corner. She threw several garments at Akila, then opened the next chest and began to dress herself as well. “Why is she coming?” she asked, her voice muffled by her undertunic.
"I would imagine,” Akila said, pulling on her skirt, “that the Queen sent her to notify me—” her eyes slid sideways to Briam.
Druscilla considered briefly. “You're probably right. Just one guard?” Akila nodded. “Then that's probably it—if anything had happened to the Queen they would have sent a full escort to drag me back. And I just got rid of the last royal escort!"
Briam got up and reached for his tunic. “I'll come down with you,” he announced.
"No, my love, please,” Druscilla pleaded. “Please stay out of sight."
"But, why?” Briam asked. “You said the Queen was done with me—why would she care that I've married you?"
"Probably because until her baby is born, Druscilla is still her heiress,” Akila put in hastily. “I'll go down now—before the servants say I'm not here. I'll send someone if she asks for you, Druscilla, all right?"
"Yes, fine,” Druscilla said, advancing on Briam with the obvious intention of keeping him in the room by any means necessary.
Akila arrived in the Hall just in time to hear Druscilla's steward say, “I'm afraid that the Lady Druscilla has not arisen yet. Would you like some ale until breakfast is ready?"
"Thank you,” the woman said. “It was a cold ride this morning.” Akila recognized the guard now; it was the one who had asked if she should kill the wolf.
"Good morning,” she said, approaching the swordswoman. “Lady Akila,” the guard bowed, looking uneasy. Akila wondered idly if this assignment were punishment for letting the wolf escape—as if anyone could have stopped him.
A servant came up with a mug of ale, gave it to the guard and looked inquiringly at Akila. “No ale for me, thank you,” Akila said. “I'll wait for breakfast.” He bowed his head and departed, still looking puzzled, but Akila was fairly sure the guard had thought nothing of it; her attention was now concentrated on the ale.
"We'd best get out of the way while they set up the tables,” Akila said, smoothly drawing the woman to the end of the Hall by the stairs and positioning her so that her back was to them. “How is the Queen?"
"Well enough,” the guard replied. “She still spends much of her time resting, but they say the baby grows well. And of course there's not too much for the Queen to do this time of year—” she stopped abruptly and took another gulp of ale.
"And my brother?” Akila asked lightly. “How is he?” The swordswoman looked around wildly. No doubt, Akila thought, she's looking for a place to put my fainting body.
"I am truly sorry to have to tell you, Lady Akila, of your brother's death."
"My brother, dead?” Akila gasped, swaying artistically, as the guard put an arm around her to steady her. “Dead? How?"
"Drowned, my lady; he fell in the river. A tragic accident.” The woman propped her against the wall and looked around for help. “Let me call your maid."
"No.” Akila resolutely dragged herself upright. “No, I'm all right, and I don't want a fuss made.” She made a show of pulling herself together. “How is the Queen taking it? Does she want me to return to the city?"
The guard looked relieved, now the worst was over and she could fall back on her instructions. “The Queen is grieved, of course, but she has the consolation of her child. She bids me say to you that you need not return on her account, but that you have a home in her palace as long as you wish. In any event, she hopes that you will return at winter's end for the birth of the child."
"I shall, gladly,” Akila said.
"If you chose to stay here, you can ride back with Lady Druscilla then,” the woman said kindly. “She'll be summoned for the birth, and the Queen will send an escort."
"Of course,” Akila said. “I thank you for coming to tell me. Do you wish to see the Lady Druscilla?"
"No, Lady Akila, my errand was to you. If you have no need of me, I'll start back to the city now."
"You may leave when you like,” Akila said, “but I'm sure the steward will be glad to feed you before you leave, and if you need additional provisions, have him see to it. If you will excuse me—"
"Certainly,” the guard bowed. “My deepest sympathies, Lady Akila."
"Thank you,” Akila said quietly, then turned and headed up the stairs.
At the top of the stairs she almost tripped over Briam, who was crouched behind the railing. Druscilla knelt behind him, with one hand held firmly over his mouth. Together the girls dragged him into Druscilla's room and bolted the door.
"What does she mean ‘your brother drowned'?” Briam demanded furiously as soon as Druscilla released him. “I'll show her how dead I am!” He started toward the door.
It took the combined efforts of both girls to wrestle him into a chair, and they could never have done it if he had been willing to hurt them to stop them. “Please, my lord!” Druscilla said.
"Briam, for the Lady's sake, stop and think for a moment!” Akila said in exasperation. Doesn't it occur to you that she might have a good reason for thinking you're dead?"
Briam looked suspiciously from Akila to Druscilla and back. “All right, what is it you two haven't been telling me? Doesn't it ever cross your minds that I might get tired of being treated like a stupid child?"
"I'm sorry, my love,” Druscilla said contritely.
Of course, Akila thought wryly, that does not constitute a promise of amendment. “How much did you tell him?” she asked Druscilla.
"She said that I was the Year-King,” Briam replied, “and that the Queen's marriages only last a few months, and then she releases the King and is considered a widow until the next Spring Festival. And even I can feel it—the bond with the Queen isn't there anymore; it went away the day of the Festival.” He frowned, “You know something, Akila? I can't even feel you the way I used to; I still can a little bit, but not all the time like when we were children. Druscilla's the one I can feel most strongly now.” He reached out and took Druscilla's hand.
"I know,” Akila said sadly, “the twin bond has been fading out for months. I think it was bound to happen when we left home and started meeting other people.” I feel almost as close to Lord Ranulf as I do to you, she thought, and when I marry him, no doubt I'll bond with him the way you have with Druscilla. “And you should be bonded to your wife,” she went on. “I just realized; I haven't congratulated you yet.” She hugged them both. “Be happy."
"Thank you.” Druscilla hugged her back and smiled.
"I thank you, too,” Briam said, “but you still haven't explained why the Queen's guard thinks I'm dead—or for that matter, where you've been and how you got all those bruises.” He looked critically at her. “You look awful—what did you do, get caught in another rock slide?"
"They think you're dead because they sacrifice the Year-King by throwing him into the river at the foot of the waterfall, and I got the bruises on the rocks under the waterfall,” Akila said bluntly.
"You took my place.” Briam stared at her. “Why?"
"Because it would kill you, silly,” Akila snapped, “and I didn't go to the trouble of saving you when our estate was invaded so I could watch you get killed within the year!"
"But why didn't you just tell me to run away?"
"I tried to, months ago—don't you remember?. You wouldn't even think of it. Don't you remember how you felt about the Queen before she released you?"
Briam nodded slowly, and Druscilla shuddered.
"Which reminds me,” Akila said. “Don't ever go back there for the Spring Festival—having been Chosen once doesn't give you an immunity; you'll always hear when the Lady calls."
"But surely his bond to me—” Druscilla began.
"Maybe,” Akila said. “I'm not sure. Lord Ranulf told me he can still hear it, but as far as I know he's not bonded elsewhere. Anyway, I still wouldn't risk it."
"I won't,” Briam said. “I'm content where I am.” He smiled at Druscilla in a way that made Akila suddenly feel very useless and out of place. “But where did you see Lord Ranulf?"
"He fished me out of the river,” Akila said. “Literally."
"You mean you were a fish?” Briam chuckled.
"It seemed reasonable at the time—I had to breathe somehow."
"You are a shape-changer, aren't you?” Druscilla said in a small voice. “Like Lord Ranulf. I thought you might be—"
"But you were very careful never to find out for sure,” Akila finished the sentence. “I noticed that, so I didn't tell you. But, yes, I am—and Briam is not.” She saw Druscilla relax slightly on the last words and decided not to share Lord Ranulf's theories about shape-changer children. Time enough to worry about that if it happens.
"What are you going to do now?” Druscilla asked. “You're welcome to stay here if you like."
"Thank you,” Akila said, “and I'll gladly stay for a few days. I need to eat a few regular meals and get my muscles back into shape and the bruises healed—I really don't recommend long periods of life as a fish, not if you ever intend to be anything else again."
Druscilla smiled. “Maybe you should have been a mermaid instead."
"Perhaps I'll try that someday. But what I intend to do next,” she looked at Briam, “is to go home and marry Lord Ranulf. I hope you don't object."
"Why should I?” Briam shrugged. “You're the one who'll be living with him."
"Why are you marrying him?” Druscilla asked. “To get your estate back? Because he's a shape-changer? What on earth will your children be like?"
"Probably a rare handful,” Akila laughed. “For one thing, it's almost impossible to lock a shape-changer in his room; I always used to sneak out of mine when I was supposed to be sitting alone and considering my faults. But, yes, it will be nice to be home again—Lord Ranulf may have done well enough with the farms, but the spinning and weaving will need to be checked, and I hate to consider the state of the stillroom."
Druscilla nodded, obviously perfectly able to understand that line of reasoning.
"When Lord Ranulf first asked me to marry him,” Akila continued, “he asked me where I'd ever find anyone else who would understand me so well. At the time I just thought he was trying to manipulate me into marrying him so he'd have a claim on the estate. But now he has the estate, and he still wants me, so it can't be that; he must truly want me for myself. And it's a good feeling to know that someone knows your darkest secret and still wants to marry you—it's such a relief not to have to pretend all the time. Oh, that reminds me, Druscilla, you were right, about Wolf; it was Lord Ranulf the whole time."
Briam's jaw dropped. “You mean all those months in the cave, all winter, hunting in the rain and snow, and living cooped up with us and the horses and all the rest of the wolves—that was Lord Ranulf?"
Akila nodded.
Druscilla looked warily at her. “You were one of the wolves, weren't you? The one who wasn't afraid of people."
Akila smiled sheepishly and tried to lighten the tension. “It's not people who bother me in wolf form—it's loud noises, screaming, for example,” Druscilla blushed, “and smells, such as perfume—it may smell nice to a human, but to a wolf it really stinks! And I had to be a wolf; I didn't manage to take enough of my clothes with me when we escaped to live through the winter in the woods. Remember when you found me in the city and all I was wearing was Briam's undertunic?"
Druscilla nodded, obviously rethinking many of the events of the last few months.
"Anyway,” Akila pointed out, “if Lord Ranulf still says he wants to marry me, after living in a cave with me all winter and following me around the palace most of the summer, he at least knows what he's getting for a bride.” She paused, then continued. “I think I'm going to enjoy living with him; I'm only now beginning to realize that. And I'll be so very glad to go home again; I've missed it so much."
"But you will still visit us, won't you, Akila?” Briam asked anxiously.
"Of course I will,” Akila said happily. “Often. I know the way, and it's not far at all—as the eagle flies."
After spending several days at Druscilla's, enjoying regular meals and sleeping in a proper bed, Akila was ready to go home. For one thing, now that she was back in human form, she dreamed of the temple every night. Rias was there now, so there were three of them calling her in her dreams. And the Lady of Fire still threw lightning bolts at Akila's heels, but she seemed to understand that Akila intended to return to the temple as soon as she was strong enough, so the lightning was more reminder than attack.
So as soon as she had her strength back, Akila rose before dawn in the morning, wrote a letter for Briam and Druscilla, and changed to eagle form. She took off quickly, going high enough to be unobserved, and then cast her mind back to the shapes she had seen Lord Ranulf use when he wanted speed above all other considerations, like a semi-normal appearance. She discovered that his mostly wing with very little body shape was much faster than she had anticipated, it was only mid-afternoon when she sighted Eagle's Rest.
She changed to her normal eagle shape for the descent; the people around Eagle's Rest were accustomed to seeing that form. In fact, she noticed that the sentries on the walls had spotted her and were announcing her approach. She banked around to her room, hoping that the shutters had been left open, and saw that there were two familiar-looking wolves sitting on her windowsill.
She studied their relative positions, remembering her promise to Rias. I'll probably never get a better chance, she thought, and if he can't manage the change, Ranulf and I should be able to catch him in time. She swooped in fast, at an angle designed to knock the wolf cub off the sill into the chasm. It worked as if she had rehearsed it for months.
Rias fell, howling and thrashing about, Ranulf launched himself from the sill after him, changing to bird shape, and Akila dropped after Rias, extending one wing out just enough to warn Ranulf off. After about a fifty-foot drop, Rias started to sprout wings from his shoulders, running the length of his back on both sides of his spine. Aside from the wings, he was still a wolf, but he did manage to get his wingspan large enough to hold his body, and catch the updraft. A few minutes later he managed to beat his wings enough to get himself back to the windowsill. He jumped from there to the floor, twisting his head in an effort to see what had happened to his body.
Akila landed on the windowsill, dropped to the floor, and changed back to human. “Congratulations, Rias. You can fly."
Lord Ranulf landed on the sill behind them, still in bird form, with the most surprised look that Akila had ever seen on an avian face. The expression didn't change much as his form changed to human. “Akila, why did you do that? You could have killed him!"
Akila shook her head. “No, both of us were in range to catch him before he hit the ground; it's a very long way down. As for why—I was keeping my promise to teach him to fly."
"But I've been trying to teach him for years!"
"The same way you learned?” Akila asked. I'll bet it wasn't.
"No, of course not!” Lord Ranulf replied. “I learned by accident when I fell off a cliff as a child, but I'm certainly not going to shove my own son off a cliff!"
"I fell off a shed roof,” Akila said, “but I was only three and it seemed an awfully long way down. I think you really need the feeling of absolute terror to start the change—at least the first time.” She looked at Rias, who was still bemusedly regarding his wings, which were a beautiful silvery-grey color that blended in nicely with the wolf's body.
"Rias?” she waved a hand in front of his face. “Speak to me.” She snapped her fingers to get his attention.
A shudder ran through Rias's body, then it blurred and reformed in human shape. “I did it!” Rias said in surprise. “I really flew, didn't I?"
"Yes, you certainly did,” Akila agreed. “You need more practice, but we can work on that tomorrow.” She smiled at him. “Why don't you go get dressed now; it's almost time for the evening ritual."
Rias leaned over and hugged her hard. “Thank you,” he said, “for everything.” He stood up and headed for the door. “Galin and Marfa are sure going to be surprised when you show up for the ritual—shall we tell them it's magic?” He grinned at her and left without waiting for an answer, his bare feet padding down the stairs to the second floor.
Ranulf jumped lightly down from the windowsill, took the quilt from the bed and wrapped it around Akila as he cradled her in his arms. “Welcome home, my dear,” he said, dropping a light kiss on her forehead. “Dare I hope that this means you are willing to marry me?"
"Yes,” Akila said, looking up at him shyly, “if you're really sure you want to marry me."
Ranulf's arms tightened about her. “I'm positive,” he said, “even though I did just watch you push my firstborn child out the window.” He shook his head. “It wouldn't have occurred to me as a teaching method, but I won't quarrel with success. And nobody can claim that you don't keep your promises."
Akila tilted her head up and kissed him lightly on the jaw. “Marfa will be claiming exactly that if I don't get down to the sanctuary for the evening ritual. Please let me go so that I can dress."
Ranulf released her reluctantly. “Very well, I yield to the claims of the Gods. But after the ritual, I want you back."
Akila laughed, happier than she'd ever been in her life. “I'll sit beside you at dinner—and probably steal half the food from your plate. I'm still starving!"
Ranulf laughed. “I'll order a large dinner.” He changed to wolf form and left the room, doubtless to return to his own room and clothing.
Akila dressed and went downstairs to join the ritual. They were waiting for her, and Rias had told the others of her return. Galin and Marfa both fell on her neck, thanking the Gods for her safe return.
Akila embraced them in turn, then moved to her place at the south side of the altar. “It's good to be back. Shall we begin?” Galin, Rias, and Marfa moved to their places at west, east, and north. Marfa picked up the basin at the center of the altar and moved it to the Earth Mother's side.
"In the beginning was Earth, mother of all life.” Marfa took a bit of a mixture of rich brown earth, green leaves, and dry twigs from the small bowl on the Earth section of the altar and placed it into one of the shallow divisions of the basin. “From Her body all are born and to Her all return at the proper season. Honor the Mother, thank Her for Her blessings, and remember that our roots are in Her body.” Marfa passed the basin to Rias.
"The partner of Earth is the Sky, Father and Observer of life.” He picked up a small cone of incense from the bowl on his section of the altar, touched its tip to the flame from the lamp on the Fire section to light it, and placed it in the next division of the basin. “Under His gaze we live our lives, and under His inspiration we dream. Honor the Sky Father, and thank Him for the dreams, by which our souls are fed.” He passed the basin to Akila.
"Fire is the daughter of Earth and Sky, Lightning, the first-born of the children which link them.” She took a twig from the earth part of the basin and lit it from the small lamp that burned perpetually on the Fire section of the altar. She wondered who had kept it filled with oil and burning while she was gone. But it still burned, and now she was home where she belonged; that was what was important. Placing the twig into the Fire division of the basin to burn, she continued, “All life is changed by contact with Her, yet Her essence never changes. In all the changes of our lives, remember that, though the form may change, the reality is eternal.” And, Lady know, my life has certainly been through changes. As the form of the twig converted itself to a line of ash, Akila passed the basin to Galin.
"Water is the son of Earth and Sky, Rain, the second-born of the children which link them.” Galin picked up the vial of water and slowly poured some of it into the Water division. “Water flows through all that lives, yet Water never changes, however far He may travel. The reality is eternal.” Galin placed the basin carefully back in the bare center of the altar, between the carved portions allotted to each of the Elements. He reached out to Akila and Marfa as they reached out to Rias, and the four of them stood silently holding hands until the last rays of the sun passed below the sanctuary windows.
When they left the sanctuary, Lord Ranulf waited just outside the door. “Is all well, my lady?” he asked, smiling as he took Akila's hand.
"Yes, my lord,” Akila replied smiling in return. She was back where she belonged; she could feel it through every nerve in her body. “Very well indeed."
Hand in hand, they went in to dinner.
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