Wicked Rage of the Moon: Book Three of the Airendell Chronicles (33 page)

“Because they are mine!  I have rights!  I want them!”  Rolan says petulantly.  Morna notices that he looks at Nyx nervously, almost fearfully and then looks back quickly to Athena.  “I have rights,” He mutters quietly.

Morna speaks to Rolan via telepathy, “Is she forcing you to do this?  Did she force you to do other things against me?”  When he doesn’t even look at her she becomes frustrated and says, “Dammit Rolan, I can help if she has threatened you.”

Rolan looks at her and nods nearly imperceptivity.  “When you leave this hearing, make your way to Asgard.  We will give you sanctuary.”  Morna quickly relays this information to Luca, who only sighs but agrees with his mate.

Athena nods and looks at Morna, “Morna Michaels, formerly known as Deidra Montfort, and many, many other names…”  Everyone in the hall chuckles at that.  Morna stiffens, she hates to think that the hell that she and Luca have endured over the past six centuries has become some kind of joke among the magical realms.

Arete looks at Morna and says, “Athena, forgive my interruption but Morna just had a thought that I feel must be cleared up immediately, before we progress any further.”  Morna cringes… “Morna wonders if the trials and tribulations that she and Lucian have faced have become some source of amusement among the magical realms… Madam, let me assure you that they have not.  Most of us shudder to think what we would have done in your place.  I suspect that most of us admire you and your mate greatly.”  There is a rousing cheer among the witnesses filling the hall.

Morna blinks rapidly and mumbles, “Thank you.”

Athena chuckles and says, “Arete, may I continue?”  At Arete’s nod she says, “Morna, tell us why you don’t want Rolan Montfort to raise your children.”

“He has behaved as a dishonest man, a selfish man, and an uncaring man,” Morna says calmly.  “I do not think he can keep them safe.  The threat against me and the ones I love still exists.”

“How do you know he is dishonest?” Athena asks.

“He knew that Lucian was my mate.  He knew all about the curse and wed me anyway.  That’s dishonest.”  Morna says in a stone cold voice that sends shivers up the back of Rolan and others.

“And why do you say he is selfish and uncaring?”  Athena asks.

“My children have already articulated those plain truths much more eloquently than I ever could,” Morna says as she looks at her children proudly.

The assembled witnesses break out in spontaneous cheering and clapping.  When the cheering dies down an icy voice from the hall says, “But the First Spell Weaver of Airendell is far from perfect… she is at this very moment creating a new race of magical beings.  I suspect she’s doing so to increase her power, perhaps she has some dark plan…” Nyx purrs from her seat beside Ares.

“How is she creating a new race of beings?” Athena demands of Nyx.

“She is infecting them with what she is.  She has infected her sister, a Stone Breaker, even her own mate.  I suspect she is planning to infect many others.  Soon the nine realms and various dimensions will be swarming with her spawn,” Nyx says venomously.  Some of the assembled witnesses gasp at those accusations.

Morna smiles, she had been hoping for a move like this.  The First Spell Weaver stands slowly and strolls over in front of Nyx… “You would know all about creating a new race that would infect innocents all over the nine realms, don’t you Nyx?”

Nyx sputters and rants, as Ares and several others in the hall laugh at her discomfort.  “Nyx… it’s not a secret.  We all know that you created the Stone Cold vampire race.  We all know that you don’t care that most of them cannot stop themselves when they see or smell human blood, they go into a killing frenzy.  I think you are angry because the way I ‘infect’ them seems to make them more human like.  As to those I have already ‘infected’, all but Breena was an accident.  And she was dying and I would do whatever it takes to keep that good woman alive,” Morna says calmly.

“And what about your mate?” Nyx demands.

Morna smiles and looks around the hall.  “Very well, Agnar, Thor and George… brothers please escort all of my children from this hall and keep them safe?  I will not speak of mature and private matters in front of my own offspring.” 

Morna and everyone in the hall watches patiently as Morna’s thirteen children file out of the hall, escorted by her three chosen protectors.  Morna knows that Bronwyn has also assembled a detachment of Airendell warriors to watch them.  She also notices that Ingrid and Annie have positioned themselves so that they could leap to Morna’s defense if needed.

Morna smiles satisfied and walks back up to the platform.  “Nyx has accused me of creating a new race.  Perhaps that is true.  I know there has been some talk of that being in prophesy, but honestly, I became what I am by accident… and the changes in my mate were not deliberate either.  Both occurred because I am a very passionate woman who loves her mate, shall we say… enthusiastically.”  There are several chuckles at that remark.

“And just what does that mean?” sneers Nyx.

Morna smiles and says, “Nyx, if you are hoping I will shy away from answering out of embarrassment, you are sadly mistaken.  I don’t relish the idea of openly discussing my sex life before the nine realms, but I will if necessary.  I am certainly not ashamed of loving my husband.”

Nyx snorts and says, “You can’t bravado your way out of answering Morna!”

“Fine,” Morna says quietly.  “I was exposed to Lucian’s venom during sex.”

“The fiend attacked his own mate?” Nyx says, feigning disgust at the thought.

Morna chuckles and says, “Jeez Nyx, we all know you aren’t that thick headed.  Shall I draw you a diagram?  He was pleasuring me with his mouth.”  Morna smiles when Nyx seems to choke on her former smug satisfaction.  Titters and chuckles sound throughout the hall. 

Ares laughs outright and says, “Nyx you idiot, you opened this can of worms.  But I must admit that I am rather glad you did.  This little Spell Weaver is much more interesting than I ever imagined she might be.” 

More chuckles follow Nyx’s tirade directed at her lover.  Morna turns to walk back to the platform.  Nyx can tell she is losing her audience completely, she strikes out with one last hope… “Morna, how did you infect your mate with what you have become?”

Morna turns and smiles a very satisfied smile.  “Nyx, I am a woman of strong magic, strong warrior skills, I have a very strong body and my desires for my mate are very strong as well.  I encouraged him to bite and drink my blood during our loving.”

“Actually,” Mordir says as he stands to speak from the back row, “I advised Lord Lucian to bite his mate as a way to encourage her body to heal and strengthen after a very taxing healing rite that the First Spell Weaver performed.”  Mordir chuckles, “However, I suspect the drinking part was all Lady Morna’s idea.  She is a very giving woman and I am sure she wanted to give her mate pleasure in the process.”

Athena laughs and says, “Morna you are a very candid and unpretentious woman, but unless Nyx has any further accusations she wants answers to or wants to provide answers for…” Athena says looking at Nyx with clear disdain in her countenance.  When Nyx will not meet her Greek sister’s eyes, Athena snorts derisively; “No?  I rather thought not.  The can of worms just wasn’t what you hoped it would be, was it, darling?”  Athena purrs sarcastically. 

When Nyx scoffs and looks away, Athena turns her attention back to the panel of judges.  “Honored panel members, I am afraid we got very much off track here.  Are your ready to vote on the matter of Rolan Montfort’s Paternal Bond petition?”  When they all nod, Athena turns and says, “Morna do you still stand by your position?”

“I do,” says Morna.

Athena turns to Rolan and asks, “Do your still stand by your position Montfort?”

“Sure why not?  Not that it’s gonna do me a damned bit of good,” he grouses.  He looks up angrily at a few chuckles that comment elicits.  He steals a look at Morna that is packed with emotion.  For fleeting second Morna sees a glimpse of the man she married.

Just then Bronwyn comes from outside the hall and goes straight to Tarvish, she leans down and whispers something into his ear.  He nods and looks back to Athena with a slight smile on his face.  Athena looks quizzically at him, “May I ask what that was about?”

“Nothing of any import to this panel.  Bronwyn just told me that my extended family was settled in comfortably at Odin’s palace in Asgard.  He invited us for a visit to discuss a problem we have been experiencing with the fertility of our woman.  Asgardian healers are very skilled and innovative, as we all heard from Mordir,” Tarvish says with a sly smile.  His smile gets even broader when Nyx growls her displeasure and storms out of the Guild hall.

Athena wonders what exactly just transpired, but she shrugs and says, “I wish you luck solving that problem.  Now back to the matter that brought us here today, Tarvish, how do you vote?”

“I vote to honor the wishes of the children and sever Montfort’s paternal rights.” Tarvish says solemnly.

Athena nods and turns to the next member on the panel, “Taranis, how do you vote?”

“I too vote to sever paternal rights,” Taranis says solemnly.

Athena nods and looks to Hector, “How do you vote Hector?”

“I too vote to sever paternal rights,” Hector says solemnly.

Athena nods and looks at Silvanus, “Your vote is not needed Silvanus, the motion to sever paternal rights will carry with three votes, but I am curious… how do you vote?”

Silvanus has been looking at Montfort with a mystified look on his face.  He looks to Athena and says, “May I address the petitioner?”  When Athena nods Silvanus continues, “Montfort, I think you should be imprisoned, not just kept away from your children.  You married this fine woman under false pretenses, you raped her, you ignored and neglected your children… why did you even bother to claim your Parental Bond rights?”

Rolan shrugs and says, “It’s my right.”  Rolan shrugs again.

The hall fills with laughter and Rolan’s face turns red with rage and he gets up and starts to stalk out of the hall. 

Ingrid stops him before he has gone ten feet, she looks at Morna waiting for instructions.  Morna carelessly flicks her wrist at Rolan and says, “Let him go Ingrid, he’s no threat to my children as long as he obeys the findings of this panel and stays away from them.  If he chooses to ignore the ruling of this panel he will have me and my mate to deal with.  I won’t be forgiving when it comes to protecting my children.” 

Morna watches Rolan shrug carelessly and then reconsiders, “Just a minute.”  Morna rises and casually walks over to Rolan.  “Rolan, you are the biological father of three of my babies, and as such I truly hate to see you cut off from them.  If you should decide to try to do something with yourself, to make a decision once in a while for the good of someone other than yourself, I would consider letting you visit the children, if they don’t object.”  Rolan looks at her with his shock plain on his face.  “Rolan, I knew you at a time when you were a good teacher who genuinely seemed to care about the children that you taught.  That’s why I married you in the first place.  Now, I have no idea if that was an act or that was a peek into the man that is buried deep inside of you, but if you ever find that man again, I would love for him to meet his children.”

Rolan looks at Morna incredulously and begins to form a sharp retort when he reconsiders.  He continues to look Morna in the eyes for several long moments and finally says very quietly, “Morna, if I ever come across that man again, I will give him the message.  Sorry.”  He reaches out and strokes her face, “I didn’t start out meaning to be such a bastard to you.  You were simply a means to end in the beginning.  But something inside of me changed.  I just knew you really didn’t want me, you really didn’t want anyone besides your damned vampire.  I guess I let pride twist me up into something really ugly.”

“Then I am sorry for that,” Morna says softly.  “I wouldn’t intentionally hurt you or any other man.  You know that, right?”

“I do Morna.  I think that’s part of why I was so twisted up inside.  Maybe someday I can find my way back.  Thanks for not slamming that door in my face.  It’s much more than I deserve,” Rolan says and walks away without another word.  As he walks away he whispers so quietly that none but the vampires and the Shape Shifter in the back can hear, “Protect them… Nyx is after them.  Keep my children safe!”

Morna sighs and looks over to her mate and he smiles approvingly at her words and actions.  Rolan’s parting warning proved Morna was right that a good man truly dwells inside Rolan Montfort.

She looks back at the panel and the moderators.  She bows and thanks them all by name and titles.  “Now if you don’t mind, I would like to get back to Asgard.  My children are at home waiting for their parents to come home.” By now Luca has taken her hand and they turn as one to walk out of the Guild hall.

“Morna,” Athena calls out.  Morna turns to see what the goddess has to say, “Thank you for showing all of us what true kindness and true forgiveness look like.  Your trials and tribulations have been hell on you, but they have added to your already impressive depth of character.” 

Morna blushes and turns to walk away.  But Luca whispers in her ear, urging her to acknowledge the compliment.  Finally Morna says, “Thank you, Lady Athena.”  And then she turns to stride quickly out of her Guild’s hall.  She knows that Heimdall must have been watching closely because the Bi-frost appears instantly and they are quickly transported to Asgard.