The First Spell Weaver of Airendell: Book Two of the Airendell Chronicles (38 page)

“Did you now?  How did that come about?”  Luca asks with a smile.

“Rinda let something slip today and it all came flooding back.  How come you didn’t tell me before now?”

“Because I didn’t want you to feel bad for coming to me when you were married to Myles and Erik.”  Luca admits.  “If you had remembered me consciously while married to them, it would have been a real moral dilemma for you.  It was better to let you think that your nights with me were just dreams.  Even that caused you a lot of guilt.”

“You gave up too much for me.”  Morna says firmly.  “I am relieved that there is no reason for it to ever happen again.”

“Me too,” Admits Luca and kisses his mate passionately.  “I don’t like sharing you.”

“I am sorry my darling.  Truly I am.”  Morna says.

“I know.  Let it go, baby.  I have, long ago.”  Luca assures her.  Morna snuggles into her mate and thanks God for him.  She also breathes a silent prayer that she will turn out to be good enough to deserve a mate such as Lucian Michaels.

Collingwood clears his throat, “Morna, your telepathy was a little unfocused a few times.  I couldn’t hear what you said, but I could detect that you were communicating with Luca.  Just mind your focus and you will do fine.”

Morna blushes and nods at Collingwood.  She is grateful he couldn’t understand what they were saying to each other.  She hears Ingrid leading a group of people to their quarters and stands nervously.  Her heart is racing madly and she wants to run away and hide. 

“Morna, please sit down my love.  It is fine.”  Luca assures his wife.  “I am eager to meet someone who was protecting you when I could not.”

Just then Ingrid’s knock sounds on the door.  Morna takes a deep breath and goes to open the door.  She can’t help it, she smiles brightly as soon as she sees Lou and he says, “Hi Mo.”

“Hi Lou.  It’s been a while.”  Morna says softly.  “You look well.”  Then she laughs almost uncontrollably.  “Come in.”  She says in between spurts of giggles.  “I finally realize why you called me Mo.  It wasn’t because Tracy, Cindy and me reminded you of the three stooges, it was because you knew who I really was.”

Lou laughs and says, “That’s right.  But you three girls did remind me of the three stooges when you were drinking.”  He laughs heartily. 

Morna goes to stand by Luca and puts her arm possessively around his waist.  “Lou, this is my mate, Lucian Invictus Bellona Michaels.”

Luca extends his hand to shake the hand of the half Norse god and half giant.  “Looveig of Utgard, welcome.”

Lou takes the offered hand and shakes it as he watches the other man carefully.  “You really cool with me being here?  I only came to help when I heard Mom invaded Asgard today.  But I don’t want to get into your business.  I know I am not a match for a demigod turned vampire.  So if you have a problem with me being here, just let me know and I will split.”

Luca quickly sizes the man up before him.  He‘s taller than Luca and probably has fifty pounds on him.  He is very powerfully built and handsome.  He has long, wavy, golden hair and a neatly trimmed beard and mustache.  He has an intelligent face with bright emerald eyes, so like Morna’s and Valliant’s.  “Nonsense Lou.  You have done me a great service that I was not aware of.  You protected my Morna when I wasn’t able to.”  Luca says sincerely.

“You cool with the other part?  I wouldn’t have taken Deidra for lover if I had known she had a mate who was searching for her.  Collingwood didn‘t tell me that part until after the crash.”  Lou admits uncomfortably.

Luca chuckles, “Yes, I am cool with that.  May I ask who the lovely young lady with you might be?”

“Sorry man.  This is my sister, Anveig.  She goes by Ann.”  He turns to take his sister’s hand and lead her to stand in front of Luca and Morna.  “Annie, this is Morna Glynn Michaels.  True leader of the Spell Weavers of Airendell, daughter of Valliant, First Warrior of Airendell, Ireland, Wales and the New World.  First Protector of the 52 gateways for Ari’s and Almeda’s offspring.  When I met her, she was just Deidra.  College student and barmaid in a biker joint I liked to hang out at in El Paso, Texas.  Eeehh, and our Aunt.”  Lou covers his mouth for a moment, and then says, “Wow, I just realized that.  How weird is that Mo?”  Lou looks very uncomfortable with that realization.

“Yeah Lou.  I figured that out before you got here.  Let’s not dwell on it, okay?”  Morna says with a crimson face.

Annie steps forward and hugs Morna.  “You guys didn’t know at the time.  No real harm done.  But I am not surprised genius boy here didn’t think of it until now.  He works very hard to separate himself from our mother.  He prefers Middle-world.  But I am very happy to meet you.  Anyone that pisses our mom off by just existing must be pretty amazing.  Everything I have heard about you over the years confirms that.”

Morna is instantly drawn to Annie.  The young woman is undeniably beautiful.  She is the same height as Morna, and has a very similar build.  She has her mother’s and brother’s coloring.  She has the bearing of a warrior and her emerald green eyes are warmly lit with humor and good grace.  “I am glad to meet you too Annie.  May I ask who handled your warrior training?”

“My father, Lootz.  As well as others at Utgard.”  Annie says with a chuckle.  “Daddy raised us.  He ran Mom off when dumb ass and I were young.  We are twins.”

“I know your father.  We fought side by side a few times when I was defending the gateways.  Some of his people tried to break into Middle-world a few times.  I also helped his garrison repel an attack of Trolls one time.  He’s a good warrior and a good man.  He spoke proudly of his twins.  I am pleased to meet you.”  Morna says sincerely. 

Lou has been shuffling his feet and finally speaks up; “Morna don’t take this the wrong way, but can we keep our history in this room?  I feel like an idiot over it.  I wish there was some way I could just forget about that part of all this.”  Lou admits uncomfortably.

Collingwood clears his throat and says, “I am sorry about that Lou.  Elves don’t pay as much attention to those matters as other races.  It never occurred to me that Morna being Valgullveig’s half-sister or her having a mate would be a barrier to you…”

“Okay Collingwood, thank you, we get the idea.  No need to say any more on the subject.”  Morna says quietly and then turns her attention to her former lover, “Lou, I would be heartily relieved if our history didn’t leave this room.”  Morna looks around at the room’s occupants, “Everyone okay with that?  Please?”  Everyone nods.  Morna and Lou look greatly reassured.  “Now, let’s sit down and find out what brings Lou and Annie to Asgard.”

Annie sits beside Morna and says, “Well, we heard Mom had led a force into Asgard, targeting you, so we came to help.  Dad says a confrontation is being planned for the Assylian Plain but it might take a few months or even years to set it up.  But I don’t think that will work.  She has surely gotten word of the plan, she won’t go anywhere near it.  But I don’t believe she will leave you alone either.  I see that you are having another child, this one by your true mate?”  When Morna nods and rubs her belly lovingly.  “Mother won’t stand for that.  Her attacks will get more vicious.  I suspect that she is jealous because Valliant is proud of you, but mostly she can’t stand the fact that Lucian chose you.”

“Why would my choosing Morna as my mate make any difference to Valgullveig?  I have never met the woman?”  Luca ask incredulously.

“Mom went to Italy almost eight hundred years ago and became very cozy with Mars.  She wanted an alliance with other magical beings.  All the other light magical orders shunned her advances but Mars finally agreed to a betrothal between our mom and Lucian.  But Lucian left the orphanage before he reached adulthood and found you.  I believe that Mom feels like you have stolen everything from her.  It’s ridiculous, but I think that is why she hates you so badly.”

“I had no knowledge of any betrothal!” asserts Luca angrily.  “How dare she go after my mate for something she has no fault in?”

“Lord Lucian, my mother is mad as a loon.  Nothing she does makes any sense.  She needs no valid reasons to be angry with anyone.”  Lou says quietly.  “Sorry bro, it’s not reasonable, it just is.”

“Okay, okay!  Forget about that stuff.  Why is Valgullveig seeking an alliance with other magical orders?  What does she have planned?”  Morna says.

“I don’t know Morna, but I know it’s not good, whatever it is.”  Annie says quietly.  “There is a prophesy about a mother and daughter team destroying a wicked witch and seeking her master to destroy her dark magic at the root.  I think that prophesy is about you Morna and your daughter, Aideen.  There‘s more to the prophesy and it ties into another prophesy about the confrontation on the Assylian Plain.  Father has his scribes working to decipher all the related prophesies but it will take time.  Right now, we need to get your magic up to par and train your daughter to go into battle with you.  We also need to heal your son, the one with cerebral palsy.  The prophesies speak of him too.  A former cripple who is a mental giant, will join forces with his brothers and deliver the final blow to stop the dark master.  Morna, to me it is obvious these prophesies refer to your sons, that is why Mom had Magdrid send Kyera to attack them.”

“What of our daughter Nora?” Luca asks.

“Is she a seer?”  Annie asks.

“She is.”  Says Morna fearfully.  “Why?”

“I think my mom will try to kidnap her then.  The prophesy speaks of a golden haired seer that warns the demigoddess when her destruction is imminent and saves the day.  I think that is why Kyera kidnapped Ganessa.  They thought she was the seer the prophesy mentioned, but I suspect it is actually your own daughter.”

Morna groans and buries her face in her mate’s chest.  He strokes her back gently as he absorbs this new information.  Suddenly Morna raises up to face Annie again and asks, “Please tell me the prophesy doesn’t talk about our son that I am carrying now.”

“It does Morna.  I believe that he will unite all of the light magical orders and races for the benefit of humanity.  Mother or whoever she is working with won’t like that, at all.  I am afraid he is a target too.”  Annie says quietly.

“Well, this doesn’t change our plans much love.  We still need to see about healing Aiden tomorrow, settle the Guild leadership business, train Aideen to become a Warrior of Airendell, prepare you for a second ascension, and deliver a healthy baby.  Easy as cake.”  Luca says lightly.

“PIE!” snaps Morna in frustration.  “The saying is easy as pie, not cake.”  Morna rakes her fingers roughly through her hair and sighs loudly.  “Luca, sorry, I didn’t mean to be hateful.  Anything else Annie?”  When Annie shakes her head no, Morna turns to Luca, “Well, let’s get everyone fed and settled for the night and then hit it bright and early in the morning.”  Morna takes a deep breath and sighs.  “Ingrid will be here in a moment.  I hope we still have quarters for you two.”  She says with a chuckle.  There’s a knock on the door.  Morna smiles at the group as she opens the door to reveal her assistant standing there.  “Spooky isn’t she?  Ingrid do we have quarters for Lou and Annie?”

“Yes Morna.  I can find a nice couple of rooms for them.  Anything else?” she asks looking at Morna meaningfully.

Morna chuckles, “Dear Ingrid, you know there is, that’s why you asked.  Please send Breena and Rinda to join us as soon as possible.”  Ingrid nods and turns to show the new arrivals to rooms.  “Lou, can you wait here please?”  Lou nods and sits back down.  Collingwood excuses himself to rest before supper and Heimdall leaves to return to the gate.  He will be extra vigilant after the attack today.  Annie wonders what Morna is up to but decides to let her dumb ass brother fend for himself.

After everyone leaves Morna sits down and tugs Luca down to sit beside her on the sofa.  “What do you want Morna?” asks Lou cautiously.

“Were you serious about wishing you didn’t remember our time together in El Paso?” Morna asks.

“Yes Morna.  No offense, but I didn’t know you were my aunt then and it makes me feel really weird.  And I really feel freaked out talking about this around your husband,” Lou admits obviously uncomfortable.

“Lou, calm down.  I am not very comfortable with it either.  But I know you were a brilliant physicist and philosopher back then, so I suspect you have very powerful magic.  You will be an asset but only if you can be comfortable around me.  Plus, my sons are both empathic.  I don’t want you remembering anything awkward around them.  My oldest son is very wise and quite worldly for a fifteen year old.  He will figure it out very quickly,” Morna says in all seriousness.

“So, do you want me to leave?”  Lou asks.

“No, of course not.  But I think the two ladies coming down the hall right now can help us.”  Morna says with a small smile on her face.  She gets up and opens the door for Breena and Rinda.  “Come in ladies.  I have someone I want you to meet.  Breena, put up one of those no one gets through buffer spells.”

Breena and Rinda looks confused.  Breena complies with her sister’s request, but continues looking at Lou and wondering why he is afraid of Luca, and Rinda is just enjoying the view.  “Breena Glynn, my sister, meet my nephew; he is Valgullveig’s son, his name is Looveig.  Rinda Fine, my best friend and closest non-spouse confidant, meet Lou.  Now girls, here’s the kicker and the reason I asked you both to come here.  This is Deidra’s ‘friend’ from my college days in El Paso,” Says Morna with a nervous snort.

“No joke?”  Says Breena.  “No wonder he is so leery of Luca.”