invaders no matter what. That pride had already cost them a number of their women, who unfortunately had been kidnapped by the others. Now it would be up to the three of them to ensure that the plans to unite were carried out and not waylaid in the confusion during the aftermath of such a heinous death. Someone had betrayed and killed the prince. And that someone would be made to pay.
“What of our other father? What of Godar ?” Finn questioned.
Bram just shook his head sadly. “You know that he would not want the job of prince. He has stated often enough that he would never choose the path that our father Micah walked. No, it will be up to us to take over from this point on. We are the legacy that the prince left.”
Both Finn and Tanner closed their eyes and Bram knew exactly what they were trying to block out. Just as he knew that it would do no good. None of them would ever forget the sight of their father being carried back into camp, his body riddled with primitive arrows. But what would haunt them even longer was the vision of their mother as she had raced to him and, ignoring the arrows, had embraced him, her tears mixing with the blood. Asme had bent over him and whispered something to him, though all present knew that he was beyond hearing her words. Then she had reached down, jerked a small ritualistic dagger from the band of her skirt, and cut the palm of her hand, letting the blood drip onto her husband’s broken and lifeless body. She had thrown her head back and fire had blazed from her eyes as she spoke.
Marked with blood, I’ve sealed your fate,
What you should’ve loved, you chose to hate.
Our day of reckoning has come at last,
Love’s first sacrifice to atone for the past.
Earth, fire, water and air,
Each shall heed the call with care.
A Mystic’s blood, for a mystic call,
The goddess’s protection over them all.
Asme looked up at those around her though she seemed to see none of them. “Time is short. It has begun and there is nothing to do but follow where it leads us.” Finally she noticed her sons and focused her attention on them. “You must see to their protection. For if one shall die, all will be lost.” Her eyes were sharp and focused and there was no looking away from her. “Promise me!” She commanded and though many were there it was her sons whom she spoke to and they knew exactly what she was asking of them.
They knew all about the coming of the Island Guardians. Though their fathers had never truly believed, the boys had seen what power lay within their mother’s body and had no doubts that it would be as she said. She had even told them of their cousin Alea and why she must be guarded and protected at all times until her mates arrived to take over.
“I promise,” Bram had knelt beside her and, taking his own dagger, had slit his palm and joined it with hers over the body of his father. Finn and Tanner had soon joined them. Asme had nodded, her eyes showing pleasure at her sons joining her in her blood pledge.
“ Alea does not need you anymore. They will see to her. Your mate is coming. You will know her when you meet her. Watch over her. Protect her at all costs, even unto your own lives. When the time is right, she will know what to do. Trust in her and help her to trust in you. Love her as only you can.” With that Asme had stood and spoke in the ancient tongue of the goddess before glancing down at Micah one more time, her eyes misty with more tears that she refused to shed. But when she looked back up there was no sign of grief. There was only the icy, controlled rage of someone set on a course of vengeance.
Tanner had tried to stop her, but it was Bram who shook his head and said to give her some space. Their mother was grieving and he felt it only right that she be allowed a few moments of solitude to do just that. Even a princess deserved the right to grieve in private. Now with Tanner’s next words he regretted that decision.
“Who did you
“What of our other father? What of Godar ?” Finn questioned.
Bram just shook his head sadly. “You know that he would not want the job of prince. He has stated often enough that he would never choose the path that our father Micah walked. No, it will be up to us to take over from this point on. We are the legacy that the prince left.”
Both Finn and Tanner closed their eyes and Bram knew exactly what they were trying to block out. Just as he knew that it would do no good. None of them would ever forget the sight of their father being carried back into camp, his body riddled with primitive arrows. But what would haunt them even longer was the vision of their mother as she had raced to him and, ignoring the arrows, had embraced him, her tears mixing with the blood. Asme had bent over him and whispered something to him, though all present knew that he was beyond hearing her words. Then she had reached down, jerked a small ritualistic dagger from the band of her skirt, and cut the palm of her hand, letting the blood drip onto her husband’s broken and lifeless body. She had thrown her head back and fire had blazed from her eyes as she spoke.
Marked with blood, I’ve sealed your fate,
What you should’ve loved, you chose to hate.
Our day of reckoning has come at last,
Love’s first sacrifice to atone for the past.
Earth, fire, water and air,
Each shall heed the call with care.
A Mystic’s blood, for a mystic call,
The goddess’s protection over them all.
Asme looked up at those around her though she seemed to see none of them. “Time is short. It has begun and there is nothing to do but follow where it leads us.” Finally she noticed her sons and focused her attention on them. “You must see to their protection. For if one shall die, all will be lost.” Her eyes were sharp and focused and there was no looking away from her. “Promise me!” She commanded and though many were there it was her sons whom she spoke to and they knew exactly what she was asking of them.
They knew all about the coming of the Island Guardians. Though their fathers had never truly believed, the boys had seen what power lay within their mother’s body and had no doubts that it would be as she said. She had even told them of their cousin Alea and why she must be guarded and protected at all times until her mates arrived to take over.
“I promise,” Bram had knelt beside her and, taking his own dagger, had slit his palm and joined it with hers over the body of his father. Finn and Tanner had soon joined them. Asme had nodded, her eyes showing pleasure at her sons joining her in her blood pledge.
“ Alea does not need you anymore. They will see to her. Your mate is coming. You will know her when you meet her. Watch over her. Protect her at all costs, even unto your own lives. When the time is right, she will know what to do. Trust in her and help her to trust in you. Love her as only you can.” With that Asme had stood and spoke in the ancient tongue of the goddess before glancing down at Micah one more time, her eyes misty with more tears that she refused to shed. But when she looked back up there was no sign of grief. There was only the icy, controlled rage of someone set on a course of vengeance.
Tanner had tried to stop her, but it was Bram who shook his head and said to give her some space. Their mother was grieving and he felt it only right that she be allowed a few moments of solitude to do just that. Even a princess deserved the right to grieve in private. Now with Tanner’s next words he regretted that decision.
“Who did you
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