Author's Note: This story is meant as a companion piece to The Exponent of Breath; readers should be familiar with that piece before reading this story -- otherwise the surprises in that one will be spoiled. ;) My thanks to my sis, Deb Taylor, for introducing the Goddess Pelagia (see her own BM stories, starting with Birthright) and for allowing me to "borrow" her for this series.
Additional Note: The song that inspired me for this piece was Stay by Shakespear's Sister (especially for the ending). If you have access to this song, it would be my suggestion for reading music. :-)
Disclaimers: BeastMaster characters and concept are property of their creators. No copyright infringement intended. Original characters and story are property of the author.
Preceding Stories: The Exponent of Breath.
Episode Spoilers: None. Fic Spoilers: The Exponent of Breath.
Rating: G.
We never know how high we are
Till we are called to rise;
And then, if we are true to plan,
Our statures touch the skies.
The heroism we recite
Would be a daily thing,
Did not ourselves the cubits warp
For fear to be a king.
-- Emily Dickinson
Till We Are Called to Rise
© 2000, Grace Macy
Ricenne knelt in the center of a meadow. The flat rock in front of her held three white candles, a large piece of clear quartz, and a bowl filled with incense. Ricenne touched her fingertip to the bowl, summoning flame to light the fragrant herbs, then sat back on her heels and centered herself. She cast her awareness outward, drawing in breaths filled with the scent of the incense and the power that was inherent in the space around her.
"Goddess Pelagia," she called. "Protector of Mothers, Guide of Healers, I humbly request your presence and your aid."
Pelagia appeared a few feet before her, seated on a storm-broken tree stump. She had actually felt the summons even before the words were spoken, but there was protocol even for a goddess. She smiled at the top of Ricenne's bowed head and released the dampening effect she had placed on her presence. Sensing her, Ricenne looked up and smiled. Pelagia chuckled. "You know a simple I need to talk to you would work equally well," the goddess teased.
Ricenne laughed. "And if any other deities were happening by," she returned lightly, "I would ruin your reputation."
Pelagia grinned at her. "You don't know my reputation." She waited while Ricenne stood and approached her. "How may I aid you, child?"
Ricenne's eyes were somber. "Have you noticed the number of creatures in the Wood over the centuries since I arrived here?"
Pelagia had indeed noticed. It bothered her that the Ancient One's protégés kept producing so many spells and curses. "The curiosity of my brother's followers seems endless."
"As does the curiosity and greed of humans," Ricenne added. "Not all of the creatures seeking refuge here were created by my once-kin, or are hunted for that reason. Some are the children of your own kin. Dragons, nymphs. . ." Pelagia nodded in agreement. "It used to be that I would see such arrivals only every once in a while. Perhaps once a year. Then it became twice, then three times. Now it is almost monthly."
Pelagia nodded, smiling slightly. "Your reputation seems to be spreading."
Ricenne, however, did not look so pleased. "So are humankind. My scrying bowl showed people coming to the edge of the Wood. They seem to be setting up a village." Her eyes were dark with worry. "A village means forestry, hunting -- and trade."
Pelagia nodded, catching on. "More humans."
"And more curiosity about the strange creatures glimpsed within the Wood. Already I have had to create illusions to protect creatures whom scouts have wandered upon. The more humans arrive -- and the more creatures -- the harder it will be to keep them out of sight."
Pelagia watched her carefully as she acknowledged the point. The girl had a plan, she could see it in her eyes, but Pelagia was limited in what she could do to protect even those of magickal heritage and Ricenne was well aware of that. "What can I do to aid you?"
Ricenne took a breath and said, "Help me cast a spell." Pelagia frowned, and the Witch amended, "Actually a number of spells. I've been thinking, working out what could help and . . . I think I know a way."
Pelagia nodded. "Go on."
"No one enchantment will be enough. A shield can hide the forest from view, but that is no good to those who seek shelter here. A different spell can make it a shield that cannot be passed by those of ill intent, but again -- that calls attention to the very presence of the spell so it draws curiosity from the humans of the village. And even such shields are no good to those denizens who were not simply created but cursed to their forms. . ."
Pelagia smiled. "Ah."
Ricenne blinked at her interruption, then caught the knowing amusement in the goddess' eyes and blushed. "Not as 'ah' as you think," she protested, chuckling. Her eyes grew somber again quickly. "It is not only Sharak of whom I think. There are others . . . People whose curses come from the pettiness of my once-kin, or extend to their families, their children. . . I am Healer to the denizens of the Wood, but for these creatures, all I can do is offer a place to hide. And even that -- if any sorcerer was to find them here, I would not be strong enough to stop them from taking action."
Pelagia nodded. "And your solution?"
"A weaving of spells," Ricenne answered. "A webwork of enchantments, interconnected, working together. Four shields: two interwoven to lead those of ill-intent around the Wood without ever realizing it, and at the same time nullify the strongest or worst aspect of any curse that is in effect. A second, a short distance from that one, to fold the Wood in space -- make it larger within than it looks from without. And a third to hide Wood's Heart."
"The village the more human of your denizens have created." Ricenne nodded. Pelagia frowned, considering. "Such a working would be . . . well, unlike anything ever attempted. The sheer amount of energy -- and then how to maintain it --"
"Is why I need your help, Goddess Pelagia. I can fashion the enchantment, and maintain it, but I would not have the power to even attempt it if I tried on my own."
"So I contribute my own power. Doable, though it would weaken me for a time if it is to be as strong as I assume you wish it . . ." Pelagia stood, paced for a bit, then turned back to the Witch. "But how would you ever maintain it?"
Ricenne's features showed a soft smile, but Pelagia suddenly had the feeling she didn't want to hear this answer. "By tying it to myself." Pelagia's mind, experienced in magick for far longer, skipped ahead to what that would mean. She shook her head, but Ricenne overrode her automatic protest. "A magick as complex as this needs a living energy to guide it, give it stability. A mind, an intelligence. It is only right that it be that of the spell-caster."
"The price is too high!" Pelagia snapped. "Child, you do not know what you ask."
"I do," Ricenne told her quietly. "I've thought this through a thousand times over."
"The stability you speak of could not be shared by both person and magick," Pelagia warned desperately. "To insure the stability of the magick --"
"The stability of the mind would be sacrificed. It would mean my sanity. I know the trade and the price, Goddess Pelagia."
"Then how can you ask to do this?!" Pelagia demanded, anguished. She had watched this girl for over ten thousand years. She considered her a friend, a student, and almost a daughter. But more, as a goddess of healing the very idea of this went against everything she was.
"Because it is the only way!" Ricenne cried. "If I were mortal, or even a Sorceress whose immortality was limited, then anything that happened to me would destroy the magick upon my death. But I am immortal -- the Ancient One saw to that. Why not turn my curse into a blessing for the denizens of the Wood?"
Pelagia shook her head fiercely. "It is too much. Too high a cost. I am not my brother to do such a thing to any creature!"
She started to vanish, the perfect way to end such a discussion. Ricenne sensed the build-up of power and said fiercely, "Then I will do it myself!"
Pelagia stopped and stared at her. "If you try to cast this enchantment -- this complexity of enchantments -- the power necessary would be too great. The very effort might well destroy you as well as the magick."
Ricenne nodded. "It might at that," she agreed. Her eyes met Pelagia's, green to soft brown, and their gazes locked. "What guardian would the Wood and the creatures within it have then?"
Pelagia stared at her. She knew she was losing but she wanted to delay it as long as possible. "Is this blackmail, Witch?"
Ricenne shook her head, smiling sadly. "It is logic, Goddess. And the only way to protect those in the Wood who depend on me, and all those who are yet to come."
Pelagia advanced towards her until she stood barely a few inches away. Ricenne's eyes never wavered, nor did the determination Pelagia could sense in her mind. The goddess swallowed against unexpected tears and whispered, "You may not even know me, after."
Ricenne's eyes flooded with answering tears. "I would always know you, my dear friend."
Pelagia reached out and pulled the smaller woman into a hug. "How can I do this to you?" she whispered into her hair.
Ricenne hugged her back and whispered, "Because you know it must be done."
Pelagia nodded, then pulled back and looked deep into the other woman's eyes. "Tonight," she said after a moment, her voice still rough with tears. "I must gather my power."
Ricenne nodded and took a step back. "And I must gather my spells."
Pelagia stared at her for a long moment, then nodded again and vanished. Ricenne let out a long, shaky breath as she felt the goddess' presence disappear. She turned slowly, looking around the meadow as if seeking answers, or memories. She went back to the stone and put out the candles and incense, then gathered them to carry them back to the small house she had made five hundred years ago.
Tonight she would sacrifice her Self to protect those inside this Wood. Until that time, she would go see each of them, to ingrain in her mind and soul the things she would never truly see again. Unbidden as she stood again, the image came to her mind of a young man with golden feathers mixed into his black hair.
Sharak.
Even if she ever saw him again, if he came to the Wood and was returned to his human form, she would not recognize him. There might be moments of lucidity interspersed with her "madness," but none of them would last long. And not nearly long enough to say and do the things she would wish otherwise. Ricenne created the image in the air before her, using her power of illusion, so that he seemed to be standing before her.
She reached out to brush her fingers by "his" cheek. His eyes smiled down at her, as she remembered so clearly even after more than ten thousand years. As she would have remembered after a hundred thousand. He was the first person she had ever loved, and the only man with whom she had ever been in love. She still loved him, even after all this time, with that same exquisite, painful, intensity and passion. And she would love him like that, she knew, until the day she died.
Ricenne smiled, tears gathering in her eyes, and brushed her fingertips against "his" lips. "Goodbye, Sharak," she whispered.
The image vanished and the Witch of the Wood turned homeward, to await her choice and her destiny, with no regrets.
finis
The Other Side of the Coin (Next Story in the Series)
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