Lost Wanderer Awakened - Book One of the Airendell Chronicles (38 page)

“I will do whatever I can for Morna,” he
declares strongly, with deep feeling. “I regard her as my mother,”
he confesses.

“Excellent!” says Almeda and Ari in
unison.

Then Almeda speaks, “Ari will bestow the
moonlight blessing on you, like Luca has. That way you will draw
extra strength from the moonlight, and you will be able to go out
in the sunlight, just as Luca does.”

Ari stands before Damian, splays his fingers
in front of his face and whispers a few words so quietly that even
the vampires could not hear them. When he moves his hands Damian’s
eyes are now the same luminescent blue as Luca’s. Ari steps away
and smiles at the young vampire, turned bonded protector. “It is
done. You and Morna are forever linked.”

Morna walks over to Damian and puts her hands
on both sides of his face and draws him down to her face, where she
kisses his forehead. “Damian, it’s a grave undertaking you have
agreed to and I am grateful for your devotion.” Morna then takes
him into her arms for a long embrace. Her aura shines even brighter
as the love in her heart for this young blood drinker intensifies.
Almeda and Ari smile indulgently at them.

“Awesome!” says Samantha enthusiastically
because she can see the aura, but doesn‘t understand what it is
that she is seeing.

Almeda turns to Samantha and says, “As for
you young seer. Morna has already figured out your role in all
this. You are indeed to be her seer. Ari will put a spell on you to
help you gain greater clarity and accuracy in your visions of her,
and he will add other people to your second sight. You will have to
actively seek visions of these new additions and it will take a
toll on your physical strength every time you chose to do so. Do
you consent to this? Are you willing to take on more visions? We
know it’s a burden, but you can be very, very helpful to Morna if
you agree to this.”

“Well yeah, I’m the girl for the job! Damian
isn’t the only one who has adopted Morna. I am not real crazy about
the idea of seeing more visions and having to keep up with other
people, but if it will help her, I’ll do it.”

“You will be of great service to Morna. You
will probably not have to face as much danger as Damian, but you
will be at risk. Are you still willing to take on the role?” asks
Ari solemnly.

“Yes, I am willing,” Samantha agrees
solemnly. Morna is looking at the young girl thoughtfully thinking
that there is truly much more to Sammy than meets the eye.

Ari nods and says, “There is an added
benefit, through Morna, you will be reunited with your true family
and heritage.” Samantha looks hopeful and then fearful by turns.
Almeda pats her hand, and says, “But that is all that I can say
about that for now.” Morna gives Sammy’s hand a reassuring
squeeze.

Almeda speaks again, “Samantha, you need to
model yourself after Morna. Her passion is actually stronger than
yours is and yet she keeps it under check, well most of the time
anyway,” she chuckles. “But learn from her, let her be your mentor.
Do I make myself clear?” Sammy nods. “Luca can teach you a chant
that will help you to achieve greater focus. Learn the chant and
practice it regularly.”

“Yes ma’am,” whispers Sammy. “I understand.
What do I have to do now?”

Ari comes to stand before her and says, “Just
stand still young one.” Then he splays his fingers before her face
as he did the others. He speaks a few silent words, then says four
names loud enough for all to hear: “Lucian, Aideen, Breena, and
Damian.” It is clear to all that these are the names of the extra
people that Samantha will see visions of.

Morna looks at Ari in surprise and asks, “Who
is this Aideen? I have heard that name before.”

Luca steps up quickly, “Please do not tell
her yet. She will figure it out quickly, I am sure of it. I will
tell her if she doesn’t come to it on her own. I just don’t want
this knowledge to cause her physical pain on top of everything
else,” he begs earnestly. “Please.”

Almeda and Ari look at each other for a brief
moment, then concede. “Do not take too long Man of Light. We know
how much you love her and hate to see her suffer, but time is very
short. Do you understand?” questions Ari.

“Yes my lord,” Luca bows his head to Ari.

“Morna, you do need to know one thing about
Aideen though, we think she should be your lore mother and
ascension guide. She is the second highest, right below where you
will be. She is a very skilled spell weaver and healer. Do you
understand?” Morna nods uncertainly, a lore mother is usually a
close relative or dear friend. Morna doesn’t even know this
Aideen.

“Now Luca, your role is much, much greater in
this than you understand. We don’t have time to cover that tonight,
but the important part you are to play will unfold over time. Rest
assured, you are the right man for the duties ahead of you. You are
much more important and have a much greater heritage than you
realize. We are going to bind you to us so that you may communicate
with us and receive guidance from us when you feel you need it. Do
you consent to this?” asks Almeda.

“Yes my lady, you both have my consent,” Luca
agrees as he bows his head to Almeda. Almeda then reaches up and
splays her fingers before Lucas face and speaks the silent spell
that will bind him to her. She steps away and Ari steps up and
repeats her actions.

The elves step away from Luca and look at
each other. “Tangy,” says Almeda, “but not nearly as distasteful as
I expected it to be.” She looks at Luca and says, “Your heart is
truly much more pure than I ever expected a vampire’s heart could
be. Amazing!”

Morna smiles, and says, “I could have told
you that.”

Everyone laughs quietly, but Luca is moved by
her absolute confidence in his goodness. He take her into his arms
from behind and whispers in her ear, “Thank you my love.” He
nuzzles her neck lovingly before looking at the Elves.

“Luca, all you need do when you need to
communicate with us is weave the finding spell, and speak our
names. It will not bring you to us, as finding spells usually do,
but it will open up communications between us so that we can answer
questions and offer counsel, as the need arises. We are the only
two Elves that you will be able to contact that way, but now you
have an open avenue to contact us, when necessary.”

Almeda’s face again becomes very serious and
she says, “Morna, we will come to you in one week’s time in Chicago
to check your progress. If you have not progressed enough, we will
have to force the rest of your memories onto you. I am sorry, I
know this course of action will cause you a great deal of pain. But
your body, mind and your magic are already much stronger already
than you realize, so take heart. Remember, we don’t have a lot of
time, our seers back in Alfheim believe the confrontation will take
place very soon. Your enemies are closing in on you and you need
your memories to be truly prepared. Your Guild and it‘s true
mission to protect mankind is depending on you.”

Morna looks the elf envoy in the face and
says clearly, “I understand my responsibilities Almeda. I will
endeavor to regain all of my memories and achieve ascension again
as soon as possible.”

Almeda nods her approval of Morna’s promise.
Then the elf woman says, “What have you been able to figure out on
your own so far?”

“I suspect that my mother was behind the
attack on Luca and she sent Kyera to curse me. Am I right?”

Almeda says, “I am sorry, but yes we are
quite certain that is correct.”

“I was supposed to take over for Magdrid
wasn’t I?” Almeda nods, and Morna closes her eyes for a second to
truly absorb this information before continuing. “She was behind
all the problems the Elders gave me about marrying Luca in the
first place wasn’t she? And she was behind the Elders wanting to
exile Luca after the vampire attacked him.” Almeda nods again.

“So I am thinking that she has probably
gathered a force of dark magical beings, vampires and who knows
what else to stop me from ascending back into immortality. She must
be keeping tabs on me and knows that my power is returning. Am I
right?” Morna asks, dreading the answer.

“Sorry child, yes we believe that you are
right in all of your suppositions. Except we suspect there may be
someone behind your mother… Someone corrupted her. She wasn’t
always an impure seeker of power. We just don’t know who it is, or
why they are doing it.” Ari looks to Luca, “I think you might be
correct. She may very well be able to put all of this together
without any external force from us. She is already getting a good
grasp on things, and I suspect that she is already what your kind
calls an Immortal. Ascension may just be a formality. But she does
need to relearn the lore and the history of your Guild.”

Morna looks at the two elves and says, “I am
so afraid to ask this next question, but I need to know… Did
Magdrid send Kyera to kill my children?” Morna sees the truth in
their eyes before either one of them can speak. Morna silently
resolves to make her mother pay for killing her children.

Luca watches the cold, hard look come over
Morna’s face. He shudders as he recognizes the hatred and the
determination to make Magdrid pay for her crimes that he sees in
his mate’s eyes. He knows the feeling all too well, for he too
experienced it firsthand nearly 600 years ago when Morna died, the
first time.

Ari gives Morna a moment to collect herself
and then says, “Child, I want to apologize for meeting you earlier
in that form. That is my true form, but I know it caused you pain.
It must be obvious to you that your children were destined to be
Immortals, and I am thinking you probably think that Magdrid and
Kyera stole this away from them.” Morna nods and Ari continues,
“Take heart, child, your babies’ reside in Alfheim. We were able to
dispatch sprites in the nick of time to snatch each of them away
before death came upon them, even your little Aiden. His premature
death was brought on by another of the witch’s spells. But when you
are successful we will be able to safely restore them to you. Right
now there is just too much danger for them, so we are keeping them
in our care at Alfheim.”

Morna collapses under a wave of relief and
gratitude. The tears overtake her and she sobs openly. These are
not the hopeless tears she has shed for her ’babies’ in the past,
but tears that cleanse the pain away and make her stronger, purer
and whole again. Luca kneels with her and holds her in his arms as
she weeps openly for several minutes.

Almeda says with a smile, “Morna, you have a
plane to catch.”

Morna arises and wipes the last of the tears
from her eyes. She faces the elves and asks, “Would it be permitted
for me to embrace you? You have given me the greatest gift
imaginable, the knowledge that my children live. I want to express
my gratitude, but I do not want to offend.” Morna knows that most
elves consider themselves far above other magical Immortals, even
their descendants, the spell weavers.

Ari says, “Child, we would be honored to be
embraced by one such as you.”

Morna quickly embraces them both in turn,
then looks at Luca and asks, “Do we have enough time for me to run
back to car with you, or should I ride?”

Luca laughs out loud, takes her up into his
arms and spins around with her. Then he says, “We have time my
love, we have time. Let’s go enjoy a run together. It’s been far
too long since we last ran through the woods together.”

Morna looks over at Samantha and says,
“Little Girl, get on Damian’s back, it’s time for us to run like
the wind!” Then she turns to Almeda and Ari and says, “See you in a
week’s time, I will try not to disappoint you.” She nods
confidently and then turns and takes off so fast Samantha wonders
what happened to her.

Damian says, “Hurry up Sammy, she has gotten
a head start!” Luca laughs happily and takes off after Morna and
Damian as soon as Sammy is on his back. Once they are on their way
back to the car Damian’s says to Samantha, “Do you have any idea
who Aideen is?”

“No, but Lucian does and he‘s keeping it from
her,” says Sammy, “But I think that when they mentioned that name
Aideen, it really did something to her. That name, Aideen, is very
significant I think. I will have to keep a close eye on that
individual to see if I can figure out who she is. All I have right
now is a vague impression of her. Morna’s son’s name was Aiden, do
you think there might be a connection?”

“I don’t know Sammy,” but something up there,
that’s for sure. I saw her face too. And did you see Luca begging
them not to tell her. It must be huge part of her past that she
hasn’t been able to piece together yet. That‘s why he wants to
protect her from being told about it. He told me that if she can
remember on her own it isn‘t nearly as painful for her.”

Morna is about five miles from the car when
she hears Ari’s voice in her head, “Child, I almost forgot to tell
you how to severe the connections with your sister and with Aideen.
Just say the person’s name and then say sever (in ancient light
Elvish). The connection will be immediately suspended. Anytime you
need to establish a connection like that again, simply say the
person’s name and then say link (in ancient light Elvish). You can
connect with anyone who has been touched by magic, but I warn you
don’t try to connect with your children until Magdrid and Kyera
have been dealt with. We don’t want to weaken the protection that
is around them right now keeping them safe. Do you understand
child?”

“Yes Ari, I understand. Again, thank you,”
Morna says aloud as she runs.

Morna says, “Goodnight Breena, goodnight
Aideen. It’s time for me to take my life back. Be sure to share all
you have learned tonight, and we will see everyone at 10:00
am.”