See Chapter One (A) for Disclaimers

Chapter Two

Curupira hated when her mother was right . . . which was entirely too often for Curupira's peace of mind.  As demon/spirits went, Curupira was relatively young . . . only ten thousand years old.  And as the daughter of the Mother Goddess herself, she had a great deal to prove.

It was so easy to fool humans most of the time.  Except Dar.  She had never been able to fool him, except when she had pretended to be Kyra.  And Curupira was more than a little upset with him for that.  He hadn't been a BeastMaster that long.  He should have never been able to see through to the very heart of her.

And yet, he did.  Just as Carrin could see through to Curupira's heart.  It was so disconcerting, because so many other humans assumed that Curupira had no heart, no soul.  Carrin knew far more than she should have, but Curupira had never been able to bring herself to kill the queen.

In part because Curupira knew that if Carrin was dead, the Varoni would begin killing the animals indiscriminately once more.  And . . . Curupira liked Carrin.  She liked the queen's laughter, liked the queen's warmth.  And she could even forgive the queen for sometimes treating Curupira like a younger sister.  But the demon-spirit knew she would never forgive Carrin if the queen couldn't heal Dar of his wounds.

~*~*~*~

Once they returned to the village, Gereon took the prisoner to the pit in the center of the village.  Meanwhile, Carrin led Tao to the ancient temple which her foster family used as a palace.  There, she introduced him to her daughter Arduinna.  It was Ari's responsibility to lead Tao to his quarters.  Carrin had every confidence that her young daughter would keep Tao occupied, at least until she could ascertain the BeastMaster's injuries.

Within moments, she had realized that herbs would only provide half of the solution.  That meant she would need to use her Gifts.  Carrin sighed and swore under her breath, but there was no help for it.  This boy's life was in her hands, and Carrin was wise enough to know what would happen to her and those whom she loved if the BeastMaster died.

Carrin closed her eyes and put her hands on the young man's chest.  She concentrated . . . focused . . . until she could see the internal damage with her mind's eye.  And despite her preparations, despite her mental girding, the pain almost knocked her backwards.  Healing him would not be an easy matter, but she had to start somewhere.

Time and rest would burn away the infections that were setting in from old wounds, along with the medicines which Carrin had hoped to use.  Time and rest would heal the slashes and cuts on his body.  But it would take her Gifts to heal the bleeding inside his body, and the damage to his lungs from the fracture of his ribs.

The process was time-consuming and painful . . . the bleeding inside, along with the fever and old wounds, had strained his heart.  Her first order of business was to heal the bleeding, to ease the strain on his heart, valiant as it was.  Carrin could feel it under her palms, could feel the way it was beginning to falter.

She, however, would not falter.  The queen located the sources of the bleeding and stopped it.  With a gentle touch, Carrin also 'cleaned' the blood already spilled.  Next, she concentrated on repairing his lungs, which had been punctured from a broken rib.  There was nothing she could do to knit broken bones . . . more conventional medicine would have to do in that case.  And she would get to that later.

For as her hands were her mind's tool to heal, her mind was her tool for everything else.  She had learned at an early age what herbs to use, how medicines were made, and the best way to treat various illnesses and wounds.

With every touch, Carrin healed a wound.  At last, she rocked back onto her heels, staring at the young BeastMaster.  She was shivering from a combination of cold and pain, and as always, she was exhausted.  So exhausted, that she didn't notice a second figure in the dark with her, until Gereon asked softly, "How is he?"

"It's still . . . it's hard to say.  I healed the damage I could by touch.  I still have medicines and herbs to combat the infections and lower his fever.  But . . . part of it will depend on him.  He's exhausted, Gereon, and there were old wounds which have caused infection.  He may have the desire to live, but the infections have weakened him.  As have the old wounds," Carrin admitted.

"But you did the best you could," Gereon pointed out, "and before you can finish healing him, you need to rest as well.  No, Carrin.  It's true.  You told Tao that he would need to rest.  His friend would need his strength, and the same is true of you.  You must rest . . . otherwise, you will be of no help to the BeastMaster."

Carrin managed a weak smile, and Gereon continued, "Arduinna has told me that Tao is asleep in his new quarters.  She is quite happy to have the responsibility of looking out for him.  Carrin . . . love, there is something I must ask you.  When Tao told us the name of the BeastMaster, I saw your face.  You were shocked.  Why?"

"Just a name from my past, that's all," Carrin said softly.  Gereon put his arms around her, and the queen continued, "He was a boy I knew.  But my old tribe is gone, and there were no survivors.  The boy I knew is dead.  It's just strange that another man has his name."

"Carrin . . . are you sure that it's not the same? Maybe there were survivors.  Zad is a liar, you know that . . . he's lied before.  Maybe your tribe still exists, if only in the memory of any survivors who are left," Gereon said compassionately.  Carrin leaned back into his arms.

"My tribe is the Varoni now.  I've been part of this family for twenty years, and I am the queen.  My old life is gone.  My old family is gone.  There is nothing left, but the Varoni, you, and Ari.  Besides, if anyone from my old tribe had survived Zad's attack, don't you think our goddesses would have told us?" Carrin asked.

"Maybe not.  If Pelagia and Curupira were forbidden, or if they believed that knowledge would cause you pain, I doubt they would have told you.  And Curupira is the guardian of the animals, but Pelagia is our guardian.  Do you really believe Curupira would go against the wishes of her mother?" Gereon asked.

"I don't know," Carrin admitted with a sigh.  She leaned her head back, and Gereon tightened his arms around her.  They were silent for several moments, then Carrin said softly, "The Varoni are my tribe now.  They are my people.  There is nothing else."

"If you say so, my love.  You are the only one who can make that decision," Gereon told her.  However, Carrin could hear the skepticism in his voice.  She didn't blame him.  Even after so many years with the Varoni, there were still nights when Gereon awoke screaming from nightmares.  He hadn't forgotten how he was brought to the Varoni.

He would never forget.  And for all her words, nor would Carrin.  She said softly, "I have never forgiven the hunters who took me.  I have never forgiven myself for allowing myself to be taken.  But I have forgiven my second father for taking me into his home and treating me as a daughter.  For not wanting to give me up."

"And that is the difference between us, my love.  You were given to a family who adored you, who would have moved heaven and earth for you.  Yes, they would have even returned you to your tribe, if they had believed it was the best thing to do," Gereon answered.  Carrin winced, remembering her consort's adoptive family.

He kissed the side of her head, then murmured, "Rest.  You can finish healing him later.  I'll stand watch over him.  Rest." Carrin nodded.  She didn't have the energy to argue with her mate, especially not when she knew he was right.  She turned in his arms to kiss him, then rose painfully to her feet.  She would finish this later.

~*~*~*~

He had been fifteen years old the first time he saw her, squirming in the arms of the hunter who had captured her.  The man had roared with laughter and slapped her backside, which led to more squirming and screams.  Gereon had taken a step forward, wanting to protect the little girl, but his adoptive father had stopped him.

And it wasn't necessary for him to help the child.  Their chieftain, Rudianus, had stepped forward and demanded that the hunter release the youngster.  She was unceremoniously dumped on the ground and then Gereon had run forward to rescue the child, as the chieftain began dickering for custody of the girl.  She was to be his daughter, his heir.  The queen.

The Varoni renamed her, as they had re-named all of the children they took from other villages.  Gereon's home village had been destroyed and all of the children were captured.  Gereon had been five years old, and barely remembered his parents.  He could only remember his mother singing to him and his father tossing him into the air.

His new father wasn't so loving.  By the time he was ten years old, Gereon had learned to hate the Varoni . . . except for the chieftain, who treated him with respect.  And by the time he was fifteen, he had earned the respect of everyone else.

The new child was re-named 'Carrin,' a Varoni corruption of 'Curupira,' and it was how Rudianus had announced his new daughter's ascension to the throne after his death.  A girl with the name of a goddess could only be a queen, and it was a queen which Carrin became six years later.

Six months after that, she became his wife and the boy who had once hated the Varoni for robbing him of his family became the consort of the queen.  But he never really thought of her as the queen.  She was his wife, and he was her protector.  It had always been so, since their first meeting.  And Gereon would kill to protect his wife and their daughter.

That was why Gereon was so concerned about the appearance of the two strangers.  He had the sense that his beloved wasn't telling him everything about the boy from her old tribe, Dar.  Not that she was lying . . . but she hadn't told him everything.  Perhaps she couldn't.

Gereon stared at the unconscious BeastMaster.  He had heard of the BeastMasters, of course.  Who hadn't? But he never really believed they existed.  And Gereon wondered how long this boy had been a BeastMaster.  He seemed very young, barely past twenty.  And yet, Curupira had chosen him as a guardian for her animals, a link between humans and animals.  Was it possible that this was the Dar from Carrin's past?

~*~*~*~

When she wished, Curupira could made herself invisible to the humans.  Right now, as Gereon stood guard over Dar, she wished to be invisible.  She could hear Gereon's thoughts even more easily, especially since he talked to himself when no one else was around.

And at the moment, she was scowling at Gereon.  She saw she would have to step up the psychic link that was created when Carrin Healed with a touch.  The stupid humans were being even more slow than usual.  However, Curupira then thought of the possible danger to Carrin . . . no, she couldn't enhance Carrin's Gifts.

She would have to find another way.  Carrin's memories had already been awakened, as had Dar's.  But Curupira had something else in mind.  Using Ari's Gifts was out of the question.  Pelagia had decreed that, and Gereon had no Gifts to speak of, aside from his skills as a warrior.  Carrin's Gifts would allow her to tap into Dar's memories, it wouldn't be necessary for Curupira to enhance or strengthen her Gifts.  Besides, she knew this wasn't what her mother had in mind when she had urged Curupira to aid Dar and Carrin.

But there was still Dar's useless companion, Tao.  Curupira begrudgingly admitted that he wasn't as useless as she first thought he was, but the scholar had a long way to go before she had much respect for him.  On the other hand, he did care about Dar, and about Curupira's animals.  The young demon-spirit decided that Tao would work quite well.

~*~*~*~

So much for the rules, Pelagia thought as she watched her daughter scheme, but she gets that from her uncle.  The Mother Goddess shook her head with a sigh.  Pelagia's younger brother had a distinct contempt for the rules if they pertained to him . . . but everyone else had to follow them.

And actually, Curupira was more willing to play by the rules, as long as she could bend them from time to time.  Pelagia knew she had spoiled her daughter, but Curi was the youngest of her children.

But what truly concerned Pelagia was her daughter's lack of understanding.  Curi didn't realize what she was stirring up by forcing Dar and Carrin to remember the most traumatic times of their young lives.   At least, Pelagia tried to console herself,  at least Curi decided not to enhance Carrin's Gifts.  She's going to Tao instead.

Pelagia bit back a smile, remembering Tao's last encounter with her daughter.  The boy was learning quickly.  While he lacked Dar's experience and skill, Pelagia had come to realize that Tao was every bit as formidable as the BeastMaster.  No bungling sidekick was he.

And during the last few weeks, Pelagia had also come to see how very protective of Dar he was.  Curi didn't understand that . . . how could Tao protect Dar? But Pelagia did understand.  She understood very well, and she had silently vowed to protect Tao in any way she could.

There was one more person needed to complete the puzzle.  Kyra.  Pelagia could do nothing for her at the moment.  That problem was for her father to work out, since her younger brother was holding Kyra's essence.  And Pelagia openly admitted that their father had always favored her brother, but she also knew that a time would come when he pushed their father too far.  Pelagia was patient.  She would wait.

(continued)

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