Children of the Moon 04 - Dragon's Moon

the other.
    The wall by the table had actual cabinets with doors, rather than the open shelves most would have made do with. But the most amazing element to the furniture was the intricate pictures carved into nearly every surface. Chrechte symbols, wolves, and conriocht were the most predominantart. The cabinet doors depicted a wolf curled into the body of a dragon though, the dragon’s tail curved over her as if in protection.
    Chills went up and down Ciara’s arms at the sight. It was her and Eirik, she knew it was. Though she could not imagine how that could be.
    “Your furniture is lovely,” Mairi said into the silence that had fallen over the group inside the cottage.
    “I’ve spent my life carving and working with wood.” Boisin grunted. “Most of the furniture you saw at the castle was made by me, or mine.”
    “You put your visions into your work,” Eirik said, his gaze fixed on the cabinet that had so entranced Ciara.
    “Sometimes, I do at that. Important visions anyway.”
    “You are a seer?” Mairi asked with awe.
    “Aye, lass. With a few more years’ experience than you, but no greater a gift.” He shuffled to one of the chairs and sat down. “Join me. I’ve no mind to get a crick in my neck talking to you all.”
    Eirik and Ciara sat, but Mairi went to the cabinet and opened it without saying anything. She stood for a moment inspecting the contents before pulling five intricately carved goblets out. She brought them to the table.
    Boisin gave her an approving nod, and then poured wine into each goblet before placing it in front of one of them, leaving Lais’s near Mairi’s.
    Ciara’s goblet had a wolf carved into one side and a woman holding a stone on the other. The carved lines that radiated out from the stone made it seem like the stone glowed near as bright at the sun.
    She looked over to Eirik’s goblet and saw that it had a dragon carved all the way around it, but a raven was etched into its base. Mairi’s goblet also had a wolf, but the other side had a woman surrounded by the small animals of the forest.
    She met Ciara’s eyes, her own filled with wonder. Then Mairi cast her glance toward Boisin. “How did you know?”
    “About your affinity with the small creatures of the earth? I saw it, just as you saw me in dream after dream.I’ve been calling you to come and learn, lass, for years now.” He sighed. “But you could not come before this. It has all happened as it must.”
    “What do you mean?” Ciara asked, feeling like she was in the presence of true wisdom.
    “The little one’s journey ends here for now. I’ve much to teach her and not many years left to do it in.”
    “She said she had to join the quest,” Lais said from the doorway. “The Faolchú Chridhe has not been found yet.”
    Boisin took a sip of his wine and gave it an approving nod. “The quest brought her here, where she needs to be. ’Tis all.”
    “But—”
    “You’d best decide if you want a mate, or not, young eagle.” Boisin narrowed his eyes at Lais, his expression turning crafty. “I’ve got a grandson who would find this little girl lovely indeed.”
    “Want is not the problem,” Mairi said softly when Lais looked ready for an apoplectic attack.
    Boisin shook his head. “Ah, the boy does not feel worthy.”
    “I am no boy.” Lais had finally found his voice.
    Boisin did not appear impressed. “Son, when you’ve lived the years I have, you can call boy those you like.”
    Lais opened his mouth to argue, but Mairi shoved a goblet of wine into his hands. “You must be thirsty after seeing to the horses. Take a drink.”
    Looking bewildered, the eagle obeyed, but as he lowered the goblet, his eyes focused on the carving.
    Lais’s goblet had a wolf with an eagle perched on its back. The other side had the Chrechte symbol for love and mating entwined as it often was in the markings used to signify a mating.
    He studied the carving for several seconds in silence and then frowned at Boisin. “What does this mean?”
    “It means that if you are man enough, your future can be brighter than you think you deserve.”
    Lais shook his head, but did not reply. He moved to his usual spot…sentinel behind Mairi. Ciara noted that forthe first time since she’d met the other woman, the young seer looked unworried by anything.
    Boisin pointed a gnarled finger toward Ciara. “I’ve waited long enough for your arrival as well, child. I was beginning to think I would die before you