Peran had lived, Daina would have married him, no matter what her father had dictated. Then Leilas would never have been born and they'd still be waiting for the Chidra. Still, Daina had never forgiven him for letting her lover be hurt after he'd given his word that he'd watch over him. It didn't matter that he'd come to the edge of death himself by giving so much of his energy to Peran. It also didn't matter to her how much Peran's death had affected him as well. She didn't want to know. She needed to blame someone for her lover's death and he'd been elected.
Slowly beginning to chant, Daina drew the edge of the knife against the first puncture, applying enough pressure to open the wound. Leilas moaned and tensed under Joshuas' hands, but otherwise showed no outward sign of pain. Joshuas had to admire her strength. He’d seen stronger men give in to the pain during this procedure.
Crushing a bit of the willowwick in her hand, Queen Daina rubbed the sticky substance in the wound while she continued to chant. Now, she was only cleansing the body. Cleansing the soul would be much harder.
Leilas flinched with the second cut. The queen continued her chanting and cleansing. With the third cut, Leilas went limp. Joshuas caught her as her body slumped back against him. It would be better this way. From within the circle Brenth had traced with his talc, Brenth began to chant as well. Joshuas recognized the words. It was a prayer. As he held his new ward close, he began to chant the words as well, "Creator give me strength to do what I must do, to fight against the pull of my own desires and give me the wisdom to use the power you gave me to do your will." It was a very old prayer, one he'd learned in his childhood, one that seemed especially appropriate. He'd been having trouble with his desires since he'd met Leilas.
It seemed to take forever for the queen to cleanse all the wounds. Joshuas had no idea how long it had really taken. There was no time in this darkened cave. When the queen finished placing the willowwick on the last puncture, she closed her eyes and sank to the ground. Brenth was instantly at her side with water, jerky, and hard tack. "It's the best we have," he apologized as he handed it to her.
"And it tastes wonderful right now," his mother assured him. "I haven't had to do that in thirty seasons. I can tell I'm not as young as I used to be."
"Are you strong enough to go on?" asked Joshuas, moving Leilas to a reclining position against the rock. She groaned a little as he relinquished his hold on her and then fell silent. She hadn't regained consciousness, nor was it likely she would until after the ritual. Between the willowwick and the spell that Daina had been chanting, she'd ensured her daughter wouldn't suffer too much.
"I'll go on, even if I'm not strong enough."
"I can help, if you wish."
"Save your energy until I really need it, Joshuas. We don't know how badly she's been affected. Let's see how much the food helps. When I need your help, you'll know."
"You'll let me help."
Daina's weary smiled echoed the one her daughter had given him earlier. "I've forgiven you Joshuas. I've had thirty seasons to think about what happened and to see the events of that day in a much clearer light. I'll do whatever I can to save my daughter. It's ironic that in this instant, our roles are almost reversed. Peran was your adopted son and my lover. Leilas is my daughter and if you let your emotions rule, she'll be your lover."
"Sometimes that gift of yours is decidedly uncomfortable, Daina." Joshuas came and sat by her side. "But you know in this instance I can't allow my emotions to rule. Please don't complicate matters by saying such things to Leilas."
"If that's what you wish. But sometimes, the future isn't as clear as you believe it to be from your romps through the mists. Perhaps your feelings will affect Leilas' choices and the fate of the world, not just your will."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"That's
Slowly beginning to chant, Daina drew the edge of the knife against the first puncture, applying enough pressure to open the wound. Leilas moaned and tensed under Joshuas' hands, but otherwise showed no outward sign of pain. Joshuas had to admire her strength. He’d seen stronger men give in to the pain during this procedure.
Crushing a bit of the willowwick in her hand, Queen Daina rubbed the sticky substance in the wound while she continued to chant. Now, she was only cleansing the body. Cleansing the soul would be much harder.
Leilas flinched with the second cut. The queen continued her chanting and cleansing. With the third cut, Leilas went limp. Joshuas caught her as her body slumped back against him. It would be better this way. From within the circle Brenth had traced with his talc, Brenth began to chant as well. Joshuas recognized the words. It was a prayer. As he held his new ward close, he began to chant the words as well, "Creator give me strength to do what I must do, to fight against the pull of my own desires and give me the wisdom to use the power you gave me to do your will." It was a very old prayer, one he'd learned in his childhood, one that seemed especially appropriate. He'd been having trouble with his desires since he'd met Leilas.
It seemed to take forever for the queen to cleanse all the wounds. Joshuas had no idea how long it had really taken. There was no time in this darkened cave. When the queen finished placing the willowwick on the last puncture, she closed her eyes and sank to the ground. Brenth was instantly at her side with water, jerky, and hard tack. "It's the best we have," he apologized as he handed it to her.
"And it tastes wonderful right now," his mother assured him. "I haven't had to do that in thirty seasons. I can tell I'm not as young as I used to be."
"Are you strong enough to go on?" asked Joshuas, moving Leilas to a reclining position against the rock. She groaned a little as he relinquished his hold on her and then fell silent. She hadn't regained consciousness, nor was it likely she would until after the ritual. Between the willowwick and the spell that Daina had been chanting, she'd ensured her daughter wouldn't suffer too much.
"I'll go on, even if I'm not strong enough."
"I can help, if you wish."
"Save your energy until I really need it, Joshuas. We don't know how badly she's been affected. Let's see how much the food helps. When I need your help, you'll know."
"You'll let me help."
Daina's weary smiled echoed the one her daughter had given him earlier. "I've forgiven you Joshuas. I've had thirty seasons to think about what happened and to see the events of that day in a much clearer light. I'll do whatever I can to save my daughter. It's ironic that in this instant, our roles are almost reversed. Peran was your adopted son and my lover. Leilas is my daughter and if you let your emotions rule, she'll be your lover."
"Sometimes that gift of yours is decidedly uncomfortable, Daina." Joshuas came and sat by her side. "But you know in this instance I can't allow my emotions to rule. Please don't complicate matters by saying such things to Leilas."
"If that's what you wish. But sometimes, the future isn't as clear as you believe it to be from your romps through the mists. Perhaps your feelings will affect Leilas' choices and the fate of the world, not just your will."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"That's
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