The First Spell Weaver of Airendell: Book Two of the Airendell Chronicles (52 page)

“I doubt he is looking.  He thinks we are beneath his notice.  He only came today because Odin invited him.  But if word got back to him that we deceived him, it would not be good.”  Kylor admits with a chuckle.  “He can truly be a mean son of a bitch.”

“Well our main enemy may have already overheard and be on her way to give him the news,” says Luca stonily.

“Dammit!” Says Morna.  “I should have thought of that already.  Let’s shut up and go to check on the kids.  We can wait on introductions until it is safe.”  Something, a presence draws her attention, and she looks up into the rafters of the Elder’s hall and sees a hawk perched there.  It’s overly intelligent eyes are trained right on the group.  Luca follows his mate’s gaze and nonchalantly pulls a rock out of the pocket of his slacks.  He throws the rock with lightning speed and deadly accuracy.  The hawk falls to the ground.  The group goes over to it and Luca picks it up.  He wraps the bird’s corpse in a table cloth and puts it under his arm.

Morna looks at her mate in amazement.  “Why did you have that stone in your pocket?”

Luca laughs happily and says, “Nora!  Before we left Asgard, she picks up several rocks in the front yard and finds one she likes and hands it to me.  She says, ‘Keep it in your pocket Daddy.  You will protect my brother with it.’  Needless to say, I did as she told me.”  Luca looks around for the stone and puts it back into his pocket.  “Just in case this isn’t the brother she meant.”  He says with a shrug.

Kylor looks at them in confusion.  “Do you think that bird was magical?”

“Beyond a doubt.” says Morna.  “I could feel its magic and its malice for us.  That is what made me look up.  I just don’t know who he reports to.”

“That’s why I am keeping the body.  I want to find out if anyone recognizes him.  Okay, no one uses Kylor’s real name again until we are safely back in Asgard.  We can have Heimdall erect his version of a buffer spell. I am sure Valgullveig can’t get through that.  But in the meantime, we don’t take any more chances.  Sorry son, but this rather puts a damper on our reunion.”  Luca says sadly.  “I really wanted to introduce you to your younger siblings.” 

Kylor smiles and says, “We have waited this long, we can wait a little longer.  But I have watched Aideen before.  At her hospital in Chicago where she is a surgeon.  She’s really amazing.  And Mother I came to watch you at times over the centuries.  It always amazed me that I could tell it was you, despite the differences in your appearance.  I could always sense you, your psychic energy and your eyes have always been the same.  I also came into your bar a few times too, in this most recent incarnation.  You look really different than you did then, and I don’t just mean the pregnancy.”

Morna hugs her son and kisses his cheek.  “It’s a very, very long story.  We will fill you in when we get to Asgard.”  Morna rubs her belly and says, “I am truly blessed.”

“When is the baby due?” Asks Kylor.

“Around mid-April,” says Morna.

“So soon?  You don’t look that far along.”  He says in surprise.

“This baby grows much faster than other babies.  He grows as much in one day as a typical child would grow in a week.”  Luca looks at his son and says, “You know what I am, right?”

“Yes Father.  You are a vampire.  So the baby is yours?” Kylor asks.

Morna ducks her head, Luca wraps his arms protectively around her.  “Who do you think might be the father if not me?” Luca demands coldly.

“Sorry Mother.  I handled that badly.  Last time I checked on you in Oklahoma, you still thought you were Deidra Montfort.  You were nearly crippled and badly scarred when I saw you last. You look to be four or five months along, and I know that you have not been with Father again that long.  It is obvious that a great deal has occurred since I last checked on you two months ago.  We can cover it in Asgard.”  Kylor hugs her and says, “I am so sorry if I hurt your feelings.  I didn’t mean to imply anything unsavory about you, Mother.  I certainly don’t believe anything sordid about you.  I handled that badly.  Please forgive me.”

“There is nothing for me to forgive you for Ky… Verona.  I am just overly sensitive about some things.”  She takes his face into her hands and kisses his cheek gently and stares lovingly at him for a few moments.  “Forgive me Verona, but when we drop these spells I have to walk out of here and act as though I just met you.  I would skip the banquet if it wouldn’t arouse so much suspicion.  If Nora reacts to you, convince her to keep it to herself.  I will try to warn her first.”

“How is that my younger siblings are alive?  I thought they all perished in the crash.” Kylor asks confused.

“The elves rescued them.  Again, a long story.  I am sorry to keep putting you off son, but it can’t be helped.”  Morna kisses him and hugs him again.  “Later, I promise, beloved boy.  But we have been here hiding behind a buffer spell too long.  Plus we need to know more about that damned bird.”  Morna turns her attention to Bellona.  “Bellona, I cannot thank you enough.  I am forever indebted to you.  You kept my first born alive!”

Bellona nods and smiles gently.  She is uncomfortable with all of Morna’s acceptance and outpouring of love.  Verona, and one other special man, are the only ones who have ever treated her with love and respect, and Bellona simply doesn‘t know how to respond.

“Let’s go join this party.  I suspect I have a lot of work to do.  Luca my love, I am thirsty too.  I don’t want to have to leave the party to hunt.”  Morna says as they walk out of the hall.

“Don’t worry love.  I have laid in supplies at the cottage.  Or rather I asked Ingrid to see to it.  I am surprised that she hasn’t come to deliver it personally.  It is passed time,” Luca says with a chuckle.

Morna and Luca both laugh riotously when they turn the corner to leave the square and nearly run into Ingrid carrying a travel mug.  “I know, I know,” Says Ingrid.  “I am not reading your thoughts exactly, but I got the gist of what you two were talking about.”  Ingrid hands the cup to Morna and falls into step with them.  She is reading all of the emotions from the group and looks at Morna with deep confusion on her face. Morna pats her and says, “It’s okay, don’t try to make sense of it.  I can explain when we get back to Asgard.”

Luca looks at Ingrid thoughtfully, she seems to know a great deal about a great many things for a serving girl.  He unwraps the bird and shows it to Ingrid.  “Do you know this animal?”

Ingrid gasps, “That is Valgullveig’s hawk.  He spies on people for her.”

“Does he have to fly to her to report in or can he do it some other way?”  Luca asks.

“I am not sure.” Ingrid admits.  “Heimdall just showed me an image of the bird and told me to watch out for him while I was with you.  I guess you have figured out that I am not just here as Morna’s assistant or maid or whatever.  Odin assigned me to protect you Morna, I am one of his Valkyries.  Odin took mercy on me centuries ago.  Because of my empathic nature, serving in battle for him was very painful for me.  So I serve him in other ways.  He is releasing me from his service soon to marry Reagan and move to Midgard.” Ingrid’s face lights up when she mentions Reagan.  She smiles at Morna and asks, “So, are we expanding the banquet tonight to celebrate the return of your…”  Morna puts her finger over her mouth to indicate Ingrid should not continue.  She tells Ingrid telepathically that Kylor’s identity must remain a secret for the time being.

Ingrid sighs and nods.  Morna smiles and says, “Ingrid please meet my mate’s mother, Bellona.  And her companion, Verona.”

“Nice to meet you.” Ingrid says politely.  “Is this your first visit to Airendell?”

“No, I have been here a few times before.”  Bellona says with a faraway look.

The group walks in silence until they reach the glen.  There are huge tents everywhere, rows of festive tables and glowing party lanterns light the glen. Morna is overwhelmed by the transformation that her little glen has undergone.  “Morna, please tell me I didn’t go overboard?” 

Morna takes her hand and says, “It is lovely.  It is just so different than I remember it. I haven’t been here since the battle with the Trolls, and that was only for a few hours.  Before that it had been nearly six hundred years.  I taught Luca about Spell Weaver lore in this glen.  We declared our love for the first time here.  We were married here, we conceived two of our children here.  I birthed one of them here.  I died here.  This glen is as much a part of us as any place can be.  I don’t object to it looking different, it’s just big adjustment,” Morna says honestly.

Luca takes his mate into his arms and holds her.  Verona starts to reach for his mother, wanting to comfort her.  But remembers that they may not be alone.  He meets his father’s eyes over his mother’s head and they silently agree to do whatever it takes to take care of the woman they both adore.  This commitment forms a bond between the men that all the centuries apart cannot weaken.  Luca smiles at his son when Morna straightens up and says, “I am being an overly emotional, hormone driven ninny.”

Bellona pats her arm and says, “I remember that, and I only went through it once.  But it was so worth every second of it.  I managed to keep us hidden from Mars for a few years.  Lucian you were a wonderful child.  I was afraid he would kill you, but I guess even Mars wouldn‘t stoop that low.  You were four years old when Mars forced me to leave you at the orphanage.  I kept in touch with Father Michael as he watched over you.  I was proud when you took the surname Michaels in his honor.  I am sorry I wasn‘t able to be a real mother to you.”

Luca strokes his mother’s cheek and says, “I know you did what you could.  Please, don’t blame yourself, Mother.”

“I have never loved you more than I do right now.”  Morna whispers so quietly that Verona and Bellona cannot make out what she says.

“Why do you do that Moth.. Morna?”  Verona asks.  “You did it earlier.  Can he hear you when you speak that softly?”

“Yes, and I can hear him.  I can hear your heart beat, I can hear your blood push through your body.  I can smell the sausages and flatbread you had for breakfast.  I can see your pupils dilate to let more light in as the sunlight fades.  I am much like Luca.  We are not typical Spell Weavers,” Morna says softly.

“I can’t wait to learn more about you mother.”  Kylor whispers inaudibly. 

Morna nods and smiles.  She mouths “Me too.”

Morna turns suddenly and takes off running at an unbelievable speed towards the gathering in the glen.  Verona looks at Luca for an answer; “She’s going to meet our youngest children.”

Verona nods and strains to get a glimpse of his siblings.  Suddenly Morna is standing several feet before him.  She is holding a lovely and tiny young girl in her arms and has a rather frail looking young boy riding on her back.  Beside her is a teenager, who amazingly ran as fast as Morna did.  He helps the boy off his mother’s back and smiles at the people with his Dad.  Morna sets the tiny girl down and they all walk towards Luca, Bellona and Verona. 

Kyle walks up to the trio and smiles.  “Dad, Mom said your mother is here!  Ma’am are you our grandmother?”

Bellona smiles happily and looks at her son proudly, “Yes, young man I certainly am.  And you are Kyle.  Am I right?” 

Kyle steps forward and embraces Bellona.  “Yes, I am Kyle.  Welcome Ma’am.  I am pleased to meet you.”

Kyle motions his siblings forward, “Ma’am this is Aiden and Nora, the Tyrant.  Guys this is Dad’s mother, Bellona.”

Nora barely acknowledges Bellona, she has eyes only for Verona.  He feels like he jumps out of his skin when he hears a tiny girl’s voice in his head.  “I know who you really are.  Welcome back big brother.”  Nora smiles at him happily, and he smiles back.

“Kids, this is Verona.  He is Bellona’s companion.”  Luca says quietly. 

Kyle steps forward with a huge smile on his face, and shakes Verona’s hand.  “Welcome Kylor.” Verona hears the teen’s voice in his head. “Nice to meet you, Lord Verona,” Kyle says out loud. 

Verona hears another voice in his head.  “Sorry about all the telepathy.  Mom says we have to keep who you are a secret.  But we are really, really happy to meet you.”  And then Aiden steps forward and says, “Welcome,” in a difficult to understand voice.

Ingrid excuses herself from the group and goes to find Breena and Rinda.  Luca excuses himself and goes to find Gullveig.  “I will catch up with you in a few minutes Mother.” He tells Bellona before he leaves.

“Aiden underwent a massive healing yesterday.  He tires easily.”  Morna turns her attention from Verona to Aiden.  “Hop on little man, and don’t argue.  Soon you will be strong enough to cart me around, but for now, indulge the old lady.”

Verona and Kyle both laugh at Morna calling herself an old lady.  Verona helps Aiden get on their mother’s back.  The group walks toward the celebration.  They haven’t gone far when Breena and Rinda join them.  “Ingrid said that Luca’s mom is here.” Breena says excitedly, but she is looking at Verona.  She tears her eyes away from his face and looks at Bellona.  Rinda too is staring at Verona.  She looks like she is on the verge of tears.  She tears her eyes away from him and looks at Bellona.  They struggle through the introductions, but their eyes keep straying back to Verona and then to Morna.  Kylor suspects there is some more telepathy going on, but he’s not sure who is doing it.

Morna sighs and says, “Bellona, Verona this is my sister Breena and my best friend Rinda.”  Now Kylor understands why these girls are looking at him like he is a miracle.  To them, he is just that.  They have thought him dead for centuries.  He extends his hand to his Aunt Breena.  “I am honored to meet you, dear Breena.”  He places his right hand over hers and smiles happily at her face.  She smiles back and her voice breaks when she tries to speak.  She squeezes his hand and reluctantly lets go when it would look awkward to anyone watching.  Kylor turns his attention to Rinda.  She is smiling from ear to ear and keeps looking at Morna like it was their child that had been recovered.  “Verona, I am happy to meet you.  I look forward to getting to know you.”  Rinda strokes his hand and looks at him lovingly.  Kylor knows that he would have been one of the most well-loved children in history had he not been the target of a murderous aunt.