Chapter 17 - Family

~ Sixteen cycles of the seasons - 7 Years earlier ~

Mid-morning sunlight warmed the mountains, their snow-capped peaks shining brilliant white despite the close of spring only a couple of weeks away. The air was fresh and the scent of the pines hung in the forest akin to a careless whisper. Lia looked out at the steep valleys and the broad river that snaked like a ribbon at the base, winding its way where the mountains met. Adjusting her haversack, she tamped down the straps, as far as she could see there were mountains reaching for the sky. They had just passed out from the upper village gates and were walking along a narrow road carved out of the side of the mountain, its surface paved with interlocked stone and a low wall skirting the drop.

The villagers had been surprised when both Selera and Lia had stepped out from the portal as it throbbed and vibrated the shops and homes that surrounded the village square. The curiosity of those nearby and of children calling out in wonder at Lia’s appearance had brought a smile to her face. Her exotic features, rich amber eyes and dark copper hair drawing their attention and her stilted speech bringing smiles and many hand gestures as the children tried to talk with her. She looked around in surprise, feeling so many with the thread of her people in one place, the children, adults and more nearby in homes.

“Lera, this place, so many of our own.” she asked as they excused themselves and made their way to the edge of the main street.

Selera nodded with a small laugh, “There are not many without it here. Some merchants and officials from the Dwarven cities and some other allies.”

Lia stared at her in surprise.

“But, we are still not many, maybe only forty or fifty families. Here is the last gathering of those with the thread.” she said as she waved to someone she knew.

“Here in the mountains we are protected. Nobody knows of our history, just that our allies many years ago provided us with sanctuary for what remained of our people.”

With those words, Selera had guided Lia to the upper village gates.

Lia walked to the edge of the road, resting her hands on the low wall and looking down at the river and following its dark ribbon. Her brows pinched as she made out something that caught her by surprise.

Selera laughed, “Further ahead, there is a point where you can see down into the cove properly.”

“There is a cove… here?” asked Lia with incredulity.

“It is cut into the mountain side, just off the main flow of the river as it comes around the bend.”

“How big?”

“Hmmm… Maybe four frigates could dock, the size of The Northern Wolf” Selera said, walking ahead and pointing to a vantage further along.

“North Wolf?” asked Lia as she caught up to Selera.

“Yes, The Northern Wolf is an Elven warship, its captain is like us. She makes dock here over winter and the rest of the time runs up and down the coast fighting pirates and delivering special cargo.” Selera, peered to the side over the low wall, “She’s here! Look!”

Lia looked in the direction Selera pointed out; from where they stood they had a clear view into the cove. It’s dark and calm waters a perfect circle cut into the base of the mountain with sheer cliffs serving as its walls. Sitting atop those calm depths was the frigate, its masts tall and its stance low in the water, Lia could just make out the sailors moving on deck. She rested on the wall, watching with interest as the lower sails were unfurled and the ropes holding them to the dock were cast off. She frowned, surprised that the sails instantly billowed and snapped full. She looked around the cove, the trees near the inlet were still and the day was calm with little more than the slightest breath of a breeze.

“Lera, how are they…” she asked, watching the ship start to cut its way toward the inlet, its three lowest sails full.

Her sharp eyes picked out a man standing mid-ship, his hand outstretched and still, a caster. At the helm stood a large man with broad and powerful shoulders, he was conversing with another at the till.

“Lera, how…” Lia asked, turning to Selera her eyes widening in shock, “Lera?!”

Selera was pale, her hand clutching at her chest and struggling to breathe. She slowly slid to a sitting position, her back against the wall. Lia quickly dropped to her knees, her eyes flaring as she quickly opened Selera’s jacket then placing her hand against her chest. A blue glow built under Lia’s hand as she tried to help.

Selera shook her head, wincing and pushed Lia’s hand away, “Help me up. Wolf, check, now.”

Lia helped her stand, steadying her as she looked down at the ship, Selera cried out quietly as she gasped for breath, “There.” she said, pointing.

Lia kept her eyes on The Northern Wolf as it drew closer to the inlet, the big man who was at the helm only moments before was now at the railing, gripping it with one hand and searching the cliffs.

“Lera?”

“It is receding, by the gods, I felt like my heart was being torn out!” she said, her eyes on the Wolf, watching the man turn and point to the inlet as he spoke to his first mate.

Selera nodded almost imperceptibly.

“Lera, what is happening?” said Lia again.

“Can you help me? I feel like all my strength has left me.” she asked, keeping a hand over her heart as she turned away and let herself slide down the wall until she was sitting.

Lia stood, shaking her head, watching Selera open the top of her blouse and checking the skin on her chest.

“Has the Wolf left the cove?” Selera asked, her eyes on Lia.

Lia took a quick look and nodded. Immediately the look of relief washed over Selera’s face and she rested her head back on the wall.

“I need to sit for a moment.”

“Do you think it is…?”

Selera opened her eyes slightly, “Maybe, or it could be something else.” she frowned, “Maybe.” she met Lia’s eyes.

“Is it really like this, among people like us?”

Selera nodded, “It is an accepted fact. You can not fight it.”

“But how? There is no choice.”

“There is a choice, you can choose to be with whoever you like until that moment when Destiny narrows your options to one. From then on it consumes you, you have to be with the one whom you have been matched to. Mind, body and soul. It is ancient magic that runs in our veins, since the time of the old gods.” Selera said, rubbing her chest and wincing.

“Lera, but this is?”

Selera met Lia’s eyes, her brilliant blue eyes on her amber, unwavering, “This is part of what it means to have the thread within us. We are not normal elves. Once we are of age, our matches are predetermined by the thread we carry, which ones resonate with another’s.”

She laughed quietly, “I was half expecting something to happen from the moment we came through the portal. At least I have graduated.”

“Lera…” said Lia, her eyes wide.

Selera suddenly smiled as she looked past Lia to the road ahead. Turning, Lia almost swore, quickly dropping her pack and stepping back. Alighting on the road ahead, its wings outstretched and beating the air as its paws touched down. The beast dropped to all fours, tucking its wings and making its way toward them. This was a creature she had never seen before. She had only read about them and seen paintings.

“Lia, calm. Mother sent him.”

Lia looked down at Selera in surprise.

“Your mother sent him? A gryphon?” Lia stared at the gryphon as it approached, “Wait, your family has a gryphon?”

“Mother has a gryphon.” Selera corrected, “Lia?”

Lia bent and helped Selera to stand.

“Father must not be at home for Mother to send Hendosphyre.”

“Hendosphyre?”

“That is his name.”

They both watched at Hendosphyre loped easily to them, the head, wings and front legs of a great eagle; with a body, powerful hind legs and tail of the great cats of the plains, but tipped with a blade of feathers. Dappled grey and brown on white feathers and a tawny light brown coat of fur. He pulled up short, making his final few steps slow as he came forward and touched his great head to Selera’s outstretched hand.

“Thank you, great one.” she said quietly, rubbing her hands on his beak and neck as he touched his head to her chest, “It’s good to see you too.”

Lia helped Selera down from Hendosphyre’s back, he was belly to the ground with a wing outstretched. She watched Selera partially lay on his back and rub the roots of his wings, thanking him. He watched for a moment with his bright intelligent eyes as she helped Selera to the door, before hooking the straps of Lia’s pack with his beak and carrying it over.

Selera laughed, “Oh, he likes you.” she said, watching the gryphon quickly turn and pick up the next bag from the roadside, “Really likes you.”

“What are you talking about?” Lia said, taking the next bag from Hendosphyre, before he backed away and went for the next.

“I have never seen him do this.” she said, watching him return with the last bag, dropping it at Lia’s feet before bunting his head gently against her shoulder.

Without warning he hooked his wing around and pulling her into his chest of feathers. Lia laughed, trying to get her arms around his thick neck.

“Hendosphyre, control yourself!” came the woman’s voice from the open door.

Smothering Lia in his feathers he let out a series of clicks and small squawks from his beak.

“I know, I know, you are excited, you have been cooped up for too long. But, let our guest breathe.”

Hendosphyre hesitantly released Lia, clicking his beak again.

“Nightfall, great one. Until then.”

Lia’s watched as he nodded and backed away before quickly disappearing into the trees that bordered the side of the house. Quickly turning she looked at Selera’s mother, so close in appearance, height and build that they could be mistaken for the same person at first glance.

“Mother of Selera, thank you for inviting me to your home.” Lia said with a short bow.

“Annetta and a pleasure, Lia of the Spyres.” replied Annetta with a warm smile before she looked to Selera, a frown quickly scoring her brow and taking the twinkle from her eye, “Lera, you didn’t tell me that Lia was one of the…Lera? What is wrong?”

Selera sat on the bench near the door, her hand against her chest.

“Lera?!” Annetta said more forcefully as she got to her daughter’s side, taking her hand.

“Mama, it hurts, I am just so tired.”

Annetta stared at her for a moment, at a loss before quickly looking to Lia.

“It happened when we were watching The Northern Wolf leaving the cove. I tried to calm it, but... My flames did nothing.”

“Lera told me of your power, regeneration and manipulation of the ethereal spirit.” she nodded slowly, “If you were unable to, then it means one thing.”

Annetta stroked Selera’s midnight hair, an understanding smile on her lips.

“No longer a child. I missed your transformation to this woman before me, but I am grateful.” she sighed gently, “The Wolf only has one that carries the thread. Are you sure?”

Selera nodded.

“Then it could only be the Captain... Alletair.” Annetta said at a whisper, her brilliant blue eyes shining, “We will see, Lera. When they return if he comes straight to you, or he could be being respectful, for the both of you to conclude what must be concluded, it matches his honourable nature.”

Lia watched on in surprise, the acceptance in Annetta’s voice and the hint of pride, “But, she did not get to choose. What if she…” she stopped as Annetta’s eyes met hers.

“It is the way of our people, Lia.”

Annetta stood, “Come Lera, a dark room and we will see the truth of it.”

Lia followed them into the house and quickly into a bedroom to the side of the entrance. Annetta drew the curtains and swept back around, seating Lera down on the bed before helping her daughter with her clothing. Sliding Selera’s blouse back she stopped.

“By the old gods, it has started. Come Lia, do you see it, the shimmer under the skin? It is faint but it is there. She is branded by the seal of destiny.” Annetta said, tracing the sigil with her fingertips.

“He was looking right at us. From the back of the ship.” Lia said as she looked at the light golden shimmer under Selera’s skin.

Selera winced, “Mama, I can’t…”

“Lera, rest. Stay here and lay down, you will be feeling better in a few hours.” Annetta glanced at Lia, “Lia, you can come with me while she calms. Last thing Lera will need is to be clambered all over by the twins, luckily they are sleeping at the moment.”

Annetta led her out and closed the door gently, before gesturing Lia to follow.

“I am sorry I did not get to greet you properly, but my husband is away at the moment and the twins are a handful at the best of times. I hope you were not alarmed by Hendosphyre; I try not to have him enter the village.”

Lia shook her head, “No, no. Hendosphyre is beautiful. I have never seen a gryphon before.”

Annetta nodded, her eyes shimmering in the light of the dining room, “I have heard so much about you from Lera last time she was home. I hear that Harks is your father? Is he doing well?” she smiled warmly as Lia nodded, “Has he found another?”

Lia smiled, “Yes, Jaina.”

“Jaina?” Annetta frowned slightly, “Lera has mentioned her too, are she and him…”

“They are married, they belong to each other.” said Lia.

Annetta’s eyes widened, “Is he not worried about the…”

Lia’s smile grew, “Not any more, he has no need to be.”

“He has no need to be?” Annetta echoed softly, her lips turning slightly, “I do not know if that could be made possible, but I wish them the best. He is a good man and he did not deserve what happened to him.”

“You know?”

Annetta nodded slowly, “I know the one that was his partner, their daughter too. She did not have a choice, none of our kind do. It broke her and I can not imagine what it did to him. A few years back, I received a letter from an old friend mentioning that he spent much of his time alone in the wilds. Is this true?”

Lia nodded.

“I am so sorry what happened to your family Lia. But I am thankful that he found you.”

“Did you know Odessia?”

Annetta smiled, “Your grand-aunt. I never met your birth parents. But Odessia, she was like those heroes of old that we would sing songs about. You have her bearing, that same fire and strength, I can see it with just a look.”

She stared at Lia, reaching across the table and grasping her hand, “Thank you for befriending my Selera. She was so withdrawn and silent. Afraid even. Her father is terrified of her power, after she almost killed him as a child everything turned into such a battle between them. I am thankful that you, Harks, Jaina and the Chancellor have become like a second family to her.”

“I know I have only just met you, Lia. But I wish to offer you the same, our home is yours, you are as much a part of our family as Selera is to yours. After you have graduated, please stay with us for a while.”

Lia nodded, “It would be an…” she stopped, her attention broken by movement.

“Mama?” said a small voice.

A small face framed by disheveled black hair and timid blue eyes that matched their mother’s peered up at them shyly from the doorframe.

“Tiff, I hope we didn’t wake you, what is wrong?” Annetta asked with a smile, holding out her arms as the girl ran to her.

“Ven is sick again.” Tiff said as she buried her face into her mother’s leg, hiding from the stranger.