Discovered (The Shalean Moon) (16 page)

Now she was getting scared. What was with the ‘yet’ thing, and why was everyone looking so fierce all of a sudden? She held on tight to Brios’s hand, and stretched over to grab hold of her dad’s with the other one.

Gregor spoke up. “It is up to
my
Chapter of the Sept to shape her talents. It is
my
right! She will be all-powerful, and a future Matriarch—of
my
Chapter—of us. I demand it in recompense for what her mother did to me … to us.”

If mum had really loved that miserable old wrinkly she wouldn’t have fallen in love with dad; and nobody, but nobody shaped her; or ruled her; or anything like that—especially not someone like him!
Rach was about to point this out to him when Leira’s voice echoed in her mind.

‘Wait!’

She waited, and it was Brios who spoke again. She watched as he looked at his dad before continuing.

“This is for Rach to decide. She may choose to deny her gifts. Gregor Grier, what are you asking of her, that she become a Rogue?”

Oh cheers; whatever my gifts are. If they make me like grumpy Grier, thanks—but, no thanks!

“No, she will become a Damerian; I do not recognize the name Rogue. We are people who do not agree with your ways; we merely wish to go back to the old ways, the ways of our forbears. We will vote.” The man wouldn’t give up. He was like a dog with a bone.

Right that’s it. What the hell are the old ways, wars and stuff? Well, stuff him! Who on earth is
he
to decide on
my
life?

She began to stand up, but felt her dad hold her down in her chair.

“Wait to see what Brios has to say,” he muttered, “there’s no way he’ll let anyone else decide your life for you.”

Anyone else—as in Brios thinks he can? Not a chance! Well, not decide exactly … maybe—it depends …

“Who is Patriarch?” Brios demanded. “You may have your own Chapter; you may wish to return to ways no longer wanted by all other Shaleans; ways which were voted against; but overall, who is Patriarch?”

Gregor Grier muttered something. Rach watched as Brios’s eyes turned amber.

“Speak up!”

“Marok Parde,” was the sullen answer.

“Who has been chosen to follow him?”

The man was definitely agitated now. Rach hoped Brios would chew him up and spit him out in little pieces. The man turned white.

‘Be careful what you wish for.’

Rach was frustrated that Brios picked that up. Couldn’t she even think to herself anymore?

‘Rach, you projected that so loudly that everyone would have picked it up. We’ll have to show you how to block your thoughts.’

‘Oops!’

“I ask again …”

“Brios Parde; you, but …”

“Exactly, me! I stand now in front of all of you.”

Wow, he’s magnificent; and oh shoot, did he get that?

She saw his lips twitch.

Oh well Rach
, she told herself,
at least you haven’t mentioned his … argh, stop it
!

Brios took a deep breath. He might be amused by Rach’s thoughts; but, for now he had to concentrate.

“I, Brios Parde, say in front of you my Patriarch, Matriarch, and those elders here present—if you choose
not
to let Rachael plan her own life and follow the path she wants then I renounce all things Shalean.”

If ever a silence was deafening, it was now. Rach looked at her dad anxiously.

“Dad,” she whispered, “he can’t do that.”

Brios heard her clearly.

‘Oh, can’t I? You watch me Rach. They’re not going to mess with your life; I won’t allow it. I would rather leave the Sept than to be told someone is messing with your life and your thoughts of your mum. Your future is just that—your future—for you to live as you wish; not at the desires of others.’

Except perhaps min
e, he thought; but he didn’t project that bit of information to her, or anyone else either. He wasn’t daft enough to think that it would just happen. He knew if he was going to be part of Rach’s life he’d have to earn his place, and remember it!

He waited to see what would happen.

Leira stood. “I support my brother, he’s right. Rach’s life is her life, no one else’s. Apart from that don’t we believe the children are not responsible for the sins of the parents? Not that it was a sin or anything. I plight my support to my future Patriarch.”

‘Thank you Leira.’

He knew his mum and dad couldn’t join in, and he knew Donny wouldn’t; for it would show he wasn’t sympathetic to Gregor Grier’s Chapter, and it was important for them to think he was; so he waited.

Slowly one by one, his fellow Shaleans, all powerful men and women in their own right, stood and repeated their allegiance until only Donny and Gregor Grier were left. Even Struan’s dad had stood, albeit he thought, somewhat reluctantly. He wondered if the man had his fingers crossed when he spoke.

“Do it,” Gregor said to Donny, “there’s no option now.”

‘The bastard; he’s supposed to be your friend.’ Leira was nearly spitting fire again.

‘He is … just be quiet.’

‘Huh, that’s no friendship.’

He could foresee strife between Leira and Donny. She was fiercely supportive and loyal; and he couldn’t tell her why Donny was behaving as he was.

Finally Gregor spoke.

“I plight my support to my future Patriarch,” he said stiffly; damn you his tone implied.

“Accepted.” Damn yourself.

“Rach, do you wish to learn about your heritage from me?”

He held his breath.

‘Tell him no; tell him he’s a loser; tell him I will rule. Tell him!’

‘No!’

‘What? Please no—not that.’

‘Shoot, not you Bri. It’s that shit-stirrer Struan. I think I’ll call him triple ‘S’ from now on. Hold on.’

“I do.” Rach said clearly. He saw his mum and dad relax, and her dad smile. “What happens now then? Do I say some magic words?”

He shook his head; glad she was still in a good mood after all that had happened.

“First I will tell you a little of our history, and then explain about our gifts. Only then will you learn how to use and shape your heritage.” He took a deep breath. He felt this was probably one of the most important things he would ever do.

“The easiest way is to tell you the history of our Sept, and try to explain what we are. Shalea is an ancient Sept. Many, many centuries ago Shalea helped the Gods to vanquish evil. He protected the Matriarch by shielding her with his body when she was threatened. She gave him special powers while he was doing this; senses to know when evil was happening; and the ability to shift into a leopard that could protect her. The Gods granted those powers to him, and his own, forever. Shalea and the Matriarch became as one; and the Shalean Sept was created. The Gods saw this and rewarded them with everlasting love. When a Shalean meets the one who will make him whole he mates for life. There is a special scent; a …” he hesitated, “life force whereby we sense this person.”

Rach leaned forward. “Who senses? Do both of them sense? What if they sense different people?”

“The male has the ability to sense. If he so chooses he will pass this information to his chosen one. It is then up to her to accept or deny it; and her word is law.”

“So, like when dad said mum went against the Sept, it was accepted?”

“Accepted, but not liked.” Her dad put in. “Her parents wouldn’t have anything to do with us after that. They said she had let them down.”

“And so she had,” said Gregor. The spite was sharp in his voice.

“That is so not fair!” Rach burst out. “Is it always like that?” she asked Brios.

He shook his head. “No, that’s unusual; but if I remember my history correctly your mum was a junior Matriarch, and the one who chose her, Gregor Grier, was a junior Patriarch. They would have strengthened their Chapter of the Sept as a couple. Your mum was Dorias Parde Amiss, daughter of Dorias Parde?”

He watched them as they both nodded. “The name Parde is given to the direct and close descendants of Shalea. She was a relative of my father. You, if you choose, will be all powerful; and an equal at least to me, if not higher. We are equals in Shalea, except as in all things, we need a leader. Our leader is chosen for their strengths, and their ability to keep the Sept and its ideals safe; not solely because of their heritage.”

A higher, as in head of the thing? Nah, no thanks; I’m all for equality, but I know what I want out of life and it isn’t that. You can keep it.

“We would have been powerful,” Gregor burst out. “She was my hopes; my dreams.”

“But you weren’t hers,” Rach’s face softened as she spoke, “because if you had been she wouldn’t have gone with my dad.”

“She speaks the truth Gregor. It’s time to move on,” Mr. Parde said.

“Now, Rach, let’s go home; you, me and your dad.” Brios turned and took her hand. As they left the room she heard the insidious voice of Struan taunting and stirring inside her head.

‘It was murder. They murdered her. Ask them, I dare you! Ask and hear; and I’ll laugh.’

C
HAPTER
F
IFTEEN

Rach stopped dead in her tracks. She’d had enough. If he didn’t butt out she would kick him when she saw him—to Mars and back again. She turned back into the room.

“Who killed my mother?” she asked. Her voice was icy.

No one spoke.

“I said who killed my mother?”

“Rach,” her dad’s voice was anguished, “not now, it’s over.”

But it wasn’t; not if what she had been projected was true.

“Was she murdered? Tell me if you dare; or are you cowards? Not prepared to own up that your pathetic ideals killed someone and left my dad without a wife and me without a mum?”

Gregor wiped his face. She saw he was crying.

“My grandfather did it. He said it was necessary.”

‘It was necessary. She should have married my uncle. Then I would be Patriarch; not Brios.’

Now, things were finally being revealed.

‘Shut the hell up Struan, you would never have been Patriarch. You’re spineless and weak, and your uncle isn’t much better—cowards! Go figure.’

‘Ayeeee!’

The room was filled with noise; Rach put her hands over her ears, and her dad did the same. The others just stood impassive watching Brios and his father as they stood tall, with their arms in the air, until the noise died away. Rach didn’t know if it was only her dad and her who could hear it, or whether the others were just able to block it out.

‘We blocked it. I can sense you wondering about that without you projecting.’
Brios answered her unspoken question.

“Gregor, learn to control your fellow Chapter members or you will be banished from Shalea.” Brios’s dad was magnificent. “The decision is yours to make; you have until Shalean Moon to make your choice.”

‘What is Shalean moon?’ She had to know.

‘Wait until we’re back at your home.’

‘Hurry up then, I want to know. Can I say something?’

‘Why?’

‘I need to.’ She saw his brief nod, and turned to the man still wiping his eyes.

“Look, what he did was wrong—dead wrong; but, as my dad said it’s over now. If you truly loved her then move on. I’m going to, but no way am I going to be powerful for you; not now, not ever. Get that?” She didn’t wait to hear his answer; she just turned and nearly ran out of the room. She wanted to get back to her home with all its familiar furnishing, before she had any more revelations thrown at her.

Brios and her dad were with her.

It seemed they were only a few miles from home; and it was no time at all before her gateposts flashed by. Melinde had accompanied them—she didn’t know why—but, her dad seemed happy about it so she wasn’t going to complain.

“Your father is Patriarch?” Rach asked Brios once they were all sitting in the lounge. “So what does that make you?”

“The next one,” he said briefly. “However, you have the power to supersede that if you choose to use it. These days, the role of our leader whether Patriarch or Matriarch has to be earned; but you have the bloodlines to learn and seek as much as I will. Your mum was from such a strong line; even though your dad isn’t Shalean.”

‘No thanks, not now, not ever. I’m good as I am. Just get on with it.’

“So, to continue, we all have certain abilities that we develop as we mature. As children we begin to sense. We learn how to use this gift wisely; learn what is and is not acceptable.”

“Like, not using it at school?”

“Just like that.” Now it was going to get tricky. “While we’re still children we can neither sense our mate, nor shift. Once we become … adult these gifts are given to us to use by degrees, and we’re taught to use them wisely.”