Children of the Moon 04 - Dragon's Moon

Eirik asked.
    “Aye, warriors dedicated to rooting out the Fearghall among the packs and either convincing them the error of their ways or destroying them.”
    “You are Cahir?” Mairi asked, sounding like she knew the answer.
    “I was once. I passed that mantle to my son and he has trained his sons to follow.”
    “But there are no Fearghall in the Balmoral clan,” Ciara said with confusion.
    “Why do you think that is, lass?” Boisin shook his head. “The Balmoral clan has Cahir, but some packs did not train the next generation of Cahir and take their vow of protection in belief the cancer no longer existed among them, but without the Cahir, ’twould always return.”
    “Like in my father’s clan,” Mairi said, looking up at the eagle with a sad frown.
    “Aye, the MacLeod has a like spirit to Fearghall,” Boisin said. “Though he does not share such a direct bloodline as our Faol princess.”
    “I am not a princess,” Ciara could not help muttering.
    “ Kelle then.”
    “I am not kelle .”
    “I will teach you to be a warrior,” Eirik promised. “And Anya-Gra will teach you to care for the spiritual welfare of our people. The stone has chosen you as high kelle . You have too much courage and honor not to heed the calling.”
    He was correct that she would not deny her call, but it wasn’t because she was courageous. It was because she had no choice.
    “ Our people?” she asked.
    “The Chrechte.”
    “Both Faol and Éan?” she pressed, though she knew the answer.
    “Aye.”
    Boisin nodded. “The races must join to win against the Black Death coming.”
    L ais got more water for the horses, his thoughts and heart in conflict. He owed his allegiance to Eirik and could not abandon his prince to pursuit of the quest without him, but the thought of leaving Mairi here on Balmoral Island made his eagle claw to get out.
    “Boisin has agreed to lead us to the caves the Balmoral use for their sacred Chrechte rites,” Eirik said from behind Lais. “Though he is fairly certain the Faolchú Chridhe is not there, he wants to show Ciara how to draw on the power of the stone and seek it out.”
    Lais turned and met his friend and prince’s gaze. “Do you think he has truly foreseen the future and this Black Death he mentioned?”
    “His gift is true. You have only to look at the goblet he served your wine in to see that.”
    The images on the goblet had burned inside Lais with hope ever since his first glimpse of them. “Aye.”
    “The Black Death is coming.”
    “But not for many years.”
    “That is what he said.”
    “So, why find the stone now?”
    Eirik frowned and looked off to the distance. “Because the stone needs Ciara to touch and heal the Faol and she needs the stone to prolong her life.”
    “For centuries…” Lais could barely believe such a thing possible.
    “That is what the old man said.”
    “Do you think it is true?”
    “I do. Since transforming into my dragon for the first time, I have felt invulnerable.”
    “Because none could best you in battle.”
    “I do not get sick. Cuts, wounds…they heal far too quickly for even a Chrechte.”
    “You are going to outlive me.”
    “Aye.” Eirik’s grief at the thought lived in his eyes. “My grandmother always warned me my calling would not be an easy one. I thought the hardest thing had already been faced.”
    “Giving up your right to rule as king.”
    “Aye.”
    But worse was yet to come, not that it needed saying. Lais was just as certain that Eirik would learn to take the centuries in stride so long as his mate was by his side.
    “I want a mate,” Lais blurted out.
    Eirik raised a single brow. “I thought you’d already chosen one.”
    “She deserves better.”
    “Than my most trusted and closest friend?” Eirik asked with disbelief. “There is no better man.”
    Lais felt an unmanly prick at his eyes and blinked the sensation away. “You know that is not true.”
    “Do not be a fool, Lais.”
    “I am not.”
    “No.” Eirik slapped his shoulder. “You were deceivedonce, but you were not a fool then and you are not one now. Do not act the part.”
    “I betrayed my alpha and the princess of our people.”
    “They forgave you. The Clach Gealach Gra healed you.”
    “What if it didn’t? What if I cannot give Mairi bairns?”
    “What if you can?”
    “You make it sound simple.”
    “’Tis because it is. Would you dismiss the gift to heal that you have been given because you are unworthy of