See Chapter One (A) for Disclaimers
By the time Pelagia reached the dwelling of her father, he was fuming. Pacing back and forth like a caged animal, and muttering imprecations against her brother, his student, and anyone else who had annoyed him in the last few centuries. Her father was slow to anger . . . but it also took him forever to forgive.
Pelagia flinched at the reminder, for it had taken her father several millennia before he forgave her brother for the accidental death of their mother, the queen-goddess. It had been an accident, Pelagia knew that. There had been a time when her brother understood love and compassion. But he had killed their mother, when he cast a spell he knew to be dangerous. And just when that rift had been repaired, their father had fallen in love with a mortal woman.
Enraged at this 'insult' to his mother, that his father would seek to replace her with a mortal woman, Math had struck out at the poor woman. Which created another rift, one which had consequences none of them foresaw. But wasn't that the way of it always?
"Do you think she will listen to you, Father?" Pelagia asked once her father's grumblings ceased enough for her to speak. The god-king looked at her, blinking in astonishment at the interruption, and Pelagia reminded him, "You summoned me here after your meeting with the Sorceress, remember? Do you think she'll listen?"
"Doubtful . . . she's headstrong, and until she gets the answers, she will continue on her current path. Beglory, Pelagia . . . whatever possessed me to do something so foolish! I should have never given your brother the powers I did!" her father exclaimed in frustration.
Pelagia kept silent, for she knew he wasn't ready to take those powers back yet. It would take something far worse before he could bring himself to take his powers from Math. Something so terrible, not even her all-forgiving father could forgive. Because to one such as her brother, the loss of one's powers was worse than death.
At last, Zeuran sighed and said, "I am sorry, daughter. I did not request your presence to discuss this. I actually was puzzled by something, and hoped you could clarify it for me. I was reading through your sister's Book of the Sula, and discovered that Mira's name was changed to Carrin, which is a variation of Curupira."
Pelagia nodded in acknowledgment, and her father continued, "However, what I don't understand is how Rudianus knew the name of my granddaughter, if he did not know her rules of the forest? How could he name his new child after my granddaughter, and not know whom he invoked?"
"Father, when Mira was taken by the Varoni, she was renamed 'Carrin,' as Dukha says in her Book of the Sula. However, while Rudianus did not know my daughter, he had heard of the great forest goddess Curupira. In his arrogance, he claimed the ancient variation of 'Carrin' for his new daughter. He didn't realize the repercussions of that choice," Pelagia explained.
"By invoking my granddaughter's name for the name of his new daughter, Rudianus attracted Curupira's attention. According to what I've learned, Rudianus and his warriors killed for sport . . . which further enraged my granddaughter," Zeuran murmured and Pelagia nodded. The god-king muttered a few more imprecations under his breath, adding, "Foolish human. He should be grateful Mira stepped in."
"As I recall," Pelagia answered dryly, "He was. Very grateful. But not grateful enough to realize what had happened when she was twelve . . . not grateful enough to realize the bruises on her body were from being beaten by Gereon's adoptive father."
Zeuran's face twisted into a terrible parody of a smile as he replied, "Ahh, but that one has since received a fitting punishment. First from Sula, at the time of his death, then when he was sent to the Burning Forest. He has greatly regretted what he did that day." Pelagia watched as her father's eyes burned with fury from the memory of Viorion beating the twelve year old Mira.
"I should hope so . . . Mira is Sula's direct descendent, even if she doesn't know it," Pelagia answered, referring to her nephew. He had been the progenitor of the Sula tribe, thousands of years earlier, and the offspring of a sorceress and a shape-shifter. As a result, he had also been a beastmaster, though he wasn't called as such.
Zeuran said, returning the conversation to the problem of the Sorceress and Math, "I am not ready to strip your brother of his powers, Pelagia. That is even more harsh than what he did to Sharak and Amerys. But I will be keeping an eye on him. Meanwhile, I want you to watch over your children. As you always do."
Pelagia bowed her head and started to leave her father's dwelling, but Zeuran added, "And Pelagia?" She turned back and her father continued, "The next time you visit your brother . . . feel free to strike him. It might knock some sense into him. As well as free young Kyra." Pelagia laughed, and nodded, then disappeared again. She had work to do yet, especially if she was to protect the children.
~*~*~*~
It had taken Dar only a few minutes to discover the source of trouble. Trappers. He grimaced as he gently approached the frightened young she-wolf who had been caught in one such trap, and tried to soothe the animal. At first, she resisted . . . then began relaxing.
With patience and care, Dar at last freed the animal. The young wolf licked his wrist as he carefully lifted her into his arms. Her foreleg had been injured when she was trapped, and Dar would take her back to Tao and Aveta. At least, that was the plan, until Dar heard a man shout. A trapper. The young BeastMaster grimaced and murmured to the wolf, "It would seem we should lead them away from my friends. We have a baby with us." The wolf whined softly in acknowledgment as Dar began heading away from the trappers, and away from Tao and Aveta.
His luck had grown worse in the last few minutes, however . . . he heard Tao cry out, "Dar! Is everything all right?" Dar swore under his breath, but he couldn't blame Tao. He knew his friend, knew Tao had gotten worried when Dar hadn't returned in a reasonable amount of time. But the scholar had the worst possible timing.
Which left Dar with very few options. There was no way he could abandon this wolf . . . and there was no way he could abandon Tao and Aveta. He was sure Curupira would have something to say about that, however . . . To buy himself time, Dar dropped to his knees and placed the wolf under a bush. It wasn't a good hiding place, but it was the best he could do under the circumstances.
Once the wolf was safe, Dar turned to face the fuming trapper. As a precaution, Dar removed both sections of his staff from his harness. The trapper blurted out, "You took my wolf, damn you! Give it back!" Dar winced . . . they were in Curupira's forest, and he also knew she would hear him.
Dar answered quietly, "I rescued a wolf in a trap, yes. I didn't realize she was your pet, however." He was willing to bet the wolf wasn't a pet at all . . . in fact, as Dar's gaze swept over the other man, the BeastMaster had the uneasy sense that he was a hunter-trader. A man who trapped wild animals, and then sold them. Perhaps to men like Baha?
"It's mine, now give her back," the trapper snarled. Dar just stared at him, and the man repeated, "I told you to give her back to me, boy! There are five of us, only one of you. Are you going to give up your life for a stupid animal?" The wind began blowing, and Dar sighed. Curupira.
"A better question might be, are you willing to give up your life?" a sweet voice asked from behind the man. Dar didn't have to look over the man's shoulder. He knew it was Curupira, even before he heard her voice. The trapper paled and turned very slowly.
It was obvious that he knew the identity of the newcomer. The trapper dropped to his knees, babbling, "I meant no disrespect, Lady Curupira! But the wolf . . . " He got no further, for the guardian spirit reached down and grasped him by the collar of his tunic. Curupira scowled into the trapper's face, her bright blue eyes blazing with anger and contempt.
"You know the rules, trapper . . . food, shelter, medicine. Only what's necessary to survive, for you and your family. But I know you . . . you would have sold my wolf," Curupira answered in a low, deadly voice. A smile which Dar knew and feared crossed her face.
Before she could kiss the man, however, Dar said softly, "The wolf is alive, Curupira. You've frightened him . . . give him a chance to learn his lesson." Curupira frowned, and anticipating her question, Dar added, "The other villagers will never learn, if no one is there to teach them." Dar had his doubts about the man learning his lesson, but . . .
Curupira looked from Dar to the man, then back again. She asked, "You believe that?" Dar nodded, and Curupira continued, returning her gaze to the hunter-trader, "My BeastMaster has saved your worthless life twice within the last few moments. See to it that he hasn't spoken for you in vain, trapper. Now go!"
She released the man, who fell to his knees again, and turned her attention to Dar. She said, "Your clumsy friend is coming with the little one. I was very impressed, BeastMaster. He has not stumbled at all while carrying her. Where is the wolf? I can heal her wounds myself."
Dar smiled and indicated the bush. He dropped to one knee and gently coaxed the wolf out from under the bush. It was then, while Dar's back was to him, the trader struck again. With an inarticulate cry of rage, he withdrew a knife from his sheath and lunged at Dar and the wolf, as Dar was turning back around to hand the wolf to Curupira.
Dar turned away from the trader, shielding the wolf with his back. Curupira responded with a shrill scream of rage. The guardian spirit seized the hunter once more and hissed, "Attack my animal and my BeastMaster within my sight? He was wrong about you . . . but you'll be the one who pays the price for that mistake!"
The man never tried to scream . . . but he never had the chance, either, as Curupira's mouth fastened over his. There was only time for his eyes to widen in fear before the life-taking kiss was initiated. And within seconds, the only thing left of the trader was his skin. Curupira released his hide contemptuously and looked at Dar, her expression changing. She asked, "Are you all right?"
It took Dar a few seconds to catch his breath, then he replied, "I'm fine. We're both fine. Thank you." Curupira regarded him with a worried look, and Dar managed a faint smile. He rose to his feet and gently placed the injured wolf in Curupira's arms. She held the cub protectively against her body, still looking worried.
When she spoke, her voice contained none of its usual mockery. She said softly, "Another selfish, greedy human. One who doesn't understand the gift of life. You spoke up for him, BeastMaster, and he would have killed you. How can you speak up for men such as him?" She seemed almost . . . in pain. The BeastMaster was unaccustomed to seeing her so vulnerable. Almost . . . fragile.
Dar closed his eyes, in part to shut out that worried look, and in part to find the words. He finally opened his eyes once more and answered, "Because not all humans are like him, Curupira, or the Terrons. And not all of your people are like Ketzwayo." The divine guardian nodded, though she still looked puzzled.
Dar added, "I didn't know if he would be like a Terron, or like Tao. But to make sure that I wasn't like the Terrons, I had take a chance on him. I was wrong. And if you hadn't been here, he would have killed me." Curupira stared at him, her blue eyes searching his face, as if seeking answers to a riddle only she knew.
"I will never understand humans," she said softly. "I could never understand your father, either. But he served me well and faithfully, as you have." With an abruptness that almost knocked Dar over, Curupira rose to her feet and said, "I will take this little one back, and heal her. I hear the clumsy one coming with the babe."
And then she was gone. It was the strangest encounter he ever had with Curupira. No sarcasm, no mockery. He wondered uneasily if she was all right, but had no time to think on it further, for Tao was heading for him. The animals were with him, and Dar pushed himself to his feet.
"Are you all right? What did Curupira want? Is she alright? Usually, she makes some remark about how clumsy I am, but this time . . ." Tao began. His voice trailed off, and shook his head. He looked at Dar, and added, "Never mind, that can wait . . . we should get you cleaned up!"
~*~*~*~
"Oh my . . . she does love him," an eerily familiar voice said, peering into the scrying fire of the goddess. Pelagia looked at the elder of her twin daughters, smiling. Maya, guardian of children, human and animal, had Curupira's face, hair and eyes . . . but there, the resemblance ended.
Maya had been born five mortal minutes before her twin. And as destiny sometimes had it, she was the more carefree of the pair. Destiny . . . or personality. Pelagia asked her daughter, "And what, my love, makes you say that, precisely?" Maya giggled, her bright blue eyes lighting up with laughter.
"The way she screamed when that foolish trader went after that lovely boy. Curupira only gets that angry when something . . . or someone . . . she cares for is endangered. And . . . she is approaching. I do not believe she'll be in
the mood for my teasing, so I'll go bother my uncle," Maya answered, smiling impishly.
The goddess of mothers didn't bother asking which one. She knew, and she said, "Be careful, my love. He is as dangerous as your sister . . . more so." Maya just smiled brightly, and Pelagia sighed. In some ways, Maya was the light to Curi's dark, the laughter to her sister's anger. Pelagia loved both of her twins, but there were times when she wished Curi had some of her sister's laughter, when she wished Maya had more of her twin's seriousness.
But she pushed that from her mind, instead concentrating on the drama which had just enfolded before her and Maya only a few minutes earlier. The younger twin materialized in Pelagia's dwelling, with the wolf in her arms, and the goddess said, "Now. That wasn't so hard, was it?"
Curupira rolled her eyes, gently placing the wolf on a rug. Pelagia smiled to herself and waved her hand once more over the scrying fire. Dar and Tao were walking back toward the path. She would have to say something to Sharak, about Dar letting down his guard. But at the same time, she was pleased, though not with the trader. That had been a very, very foolish thing he had done, and he had paid for it.
However, he was not her problem at the moment. Dar seemed to be in good hands, as was Aveta, so Pelagia waved her hand over the scrying fire one more time. The images disappeared, and Pelagia went over to sit beside her daughter, who was carefully, tenderly healing the damage done to the wolf.
"It was too easy, Mother. That's what frightens me. What if I start behaving like that all the time, and he realizes . . . ?" Curi began as the wolf whined softly and settled her head on Curi's leg. Her daughter couldn't continue, and Pelagia put her hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Dar is a bright boy, most of the time. But where love is concerned, men can be terribly dense. He is very focused on Kyra, little one. If you started behaving like that toward him all the time, he would be worried about you. But he would never suspect how you feel about him," she replied.
"Kyra," Curi said bitterly. "She's a ninny, Mother, why can't Dar see that! She's not even close to being good enough for him!" Pelagia said nothing, though the corners of her mouth were quirking. Oh, the jealousy bug had bitten her daughter hard! Curi added, her bright blue eyes narrowing as she guessed what her mother was thinking, "I'm not jealous of her. The clumsy one, yes . . . but not Kyra."
"No, you're not jealous of the woman who fills the dreams of your beloved," Pelagia replied knowingly, teasingly. Her daughter turned pain-stricken eyes to her, and Pelagia was quickly contrite, murmuring, "I'm sorry, little one. I know this hurts."
"I hate love," Curi muttered and Pelagia bit back her smile, wrapping her arm around her daughter's shoulders and drawing her close. The trouble was, despite the passage of time, Pelagia could still remember feeling as her daughter did. And she had no words of comfort for her child. Instead, she just held Curupira and mentally blessed Maya for her consideration. She just hoped the elder twin wasn't getting herself into trouble . . . for once.
Next Chapter
Main BeastMaster Fanfic Index General Rating BeastMaster Index
Main Library Index Main FanFiction Index
Email the author!
[email protected]
If you see anything out of place or non-functioning, please let the Keeper of the Library know. Thank you and enjoy your stay!