Hael Butcher
Chapter 9
Ran spent the day with a heavy heart as she missed Valdr so much already.
Upon further thought, Catharina and Ran felt it might upset Valdr for the dyed beads to be sown to his clothes, setting him apart from the warriors. Ran made the walk to visit her father, he told her of the back room full of things he had traded for and welcomed her to go look for whatever she desired. Her father had been born a Viking not Native American although the two had met and formed many bonds of friendship over his many years.
On the way to the storage room she passed her mother’s room; there was a nurse for her that sat in a nearby chair, reading a book. Ran’s steps faltered as she saw her mother sitting in a chair with wheels, no doubt it was easier to move her about but it was a strange looking chair. Ran looked over at the nurse that pulled her eyes from her book with a small smile, “Hello Princess. Come to see your mother?” She asked with a soft voice, Ran shook her head but found her feet carrying her inside the room. She hadn’t given her mother much thought since meeting Valdr it seemed he filled an empty spot she wasn’t aware of until that moment. Walking slowly around her mother’s chair, Ran looked at her still so beautiful. Her pale skin not yet wrinkled, her long blond hair cut short to hang under her ears, it must have made it easier to wash. Ran squatted down at her mother’s feet, clasping her hands and resting them on her bent thighs as she looked up into her face. Soulless eyes stared out of the open window as if taken by some frighten scene that held her captive. There wasn’t any sign of emotion on her face at all, her legs and arms thin sticks that had long ago lost muscle from lack of movement. Her green eyes so much like Ran’s had lost their luster, instead they were dull gems laying as motionless as the in rest of her. If not for the rise and fall of her mother’s chest she would have thought her a statue sitting there frozen in time.
“Hello Mother.” Ran said in a low voice, “I have come home.” Tears sprang to her eyes as not one muscle so much as twitched in response. Shaking her head, she stood and looked over to the nurse, “It is like this day in and day out Princess, and it is like she is already died.” The woman spoke sadly shaking her own head. Ran nodded and quietly walked back out of the room. Her heart ached for the loss of a perfect human life, it was quickly replaced with anger for her selfishness, were she to have a child with Valdr and loose him for some reason, she would live on for that child. Yes there was the difference of love for her and her mother but to make a child suffer was all the same.
Wiping angry tears now she turned the corner to the room she had been looking for. She found red and turquoise beads that would suit perfectly for the wall hanging, eying a knife case gave her a new idea, she took a few more small pieces of hide for decorate and with things in hand went back to find her father.
“She is a hopeless case father I don’t know how you deal with her like that. That woman has wasted away to nothing, I can’t judge how it must have hurt her to lose her love but I can stand now and say if I had a child to consider it makes all the difference in the world.”
Ran fumed and vented her anger Rulf simply smiled and nodded, “I know child and you have every right to be angry.”
She looked over at her father and smiled sadly, “It still bothers me a little. Anyway these are the things I took from storage.
Rulf held up his hand after looking over the things she held. “I do not keep and inventory nor do I care what you take child. You just don’t tell anyone I said that.” He chuckled, “Was there anything else you need for your home?” He asked as he went back to his paperwork.
Ran shook her head with a fond pleasant look on her face. “No father not today.”
He nodded his head and looked up at her, “Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you dear. For now I need to finish this log book on what we exchanged with the town this last time, which I do have to inventory.” Ran giggled as she kissed his cheek and made her way back home where Catharina waited.
She smiled and waved to the women planting digging up the earth to start planting, Knowing she had plenty of time for her projects she wanted to at least start. Ran laid her new treasures on the table inside the cabin and returned joined the women in the garden they were creating. Many of them smiled, pleasantly surprised to see her. She simply smiled and replied, “Is it not the garden that feeds us all?” The women nodded and she went back to digging the lines in the earth for planting with her small rock head shovel. They sifted through the dirt pulling out the grass and roots that the unturned, is was hard work and tiring. Ran felt her arms ache from the digging but refused to stop until the others did.
When the women broke up for the day going home to their families, Ran and Catharina took a walk out into the nearby woods, gathering some more wood for their evening.
When it was done they latched the door back and sat around the fire, Ran started cutting the skin for the knife sheath she wanted to make Valdr. When it was cut and the pieces lined up, Ran pulled out her needle and threads as she and started stitching it together. It was close to dinner when Ran was pulled from her task, rubbing her eyes as she blinked and looked up at Catharina. “You have been quiet for the past few hours working on that case I was starting to think you wouldn’t stop until that man walked in the door. Ran laughed and shook her head, “I am sorry Auntie you should have thrown a log and hit me or something.”
Catharina simply laughed, “Girl you know me better by now, I don’t mind working in silence with you I just don’t get that much anymore.” Ran nodded her understanding as they both laid their work aside. They both started to eat the dinner that Catharina had prepared when Ran noticed her Aunts own sewing equipment, “What are you making over there Auntie?” She asked with her brows drawn down as she tried to see. “Well I decided to make your father a cloth much like the one we discussed with Valdr’s family, I am sowing a picture into it.” Ran’s eyes lit up, “Really, what is the picture.” She was excited now to know what kind of picture Catharina could make with thread, with a smile on her face a mysterious expression, “You will see.” Was all she said as she sipped her tea.
Ran stepped outside with Catharina her eyes following the streaks left by the the sun as it moved on to brighten some other human's day. Blessing them with mother nature's beauty.
Catharina interrupted her thoughts, “You know the people of Mištūnai, from a place called Lithuania. They have a saying about a beautiful evening such as this. They say the beautiful colors that weave lines across the darkening blue sky, the rays of the Sun going down, would be called Sun's braids. They believe it means rain will come. They say the Sun is letting her braids down.”
“That is so incredible Auntie, where do you learn these things?”
Catharina blushed, “I lived in this village before you came, my sweet girl. My husband passed away in a raid. I was here as a very young widow. Your father met many people from different walks of life and brought back much knowledge. You just have to dig inside that head filled with more knowledge than many of us would learn in a lifetime.”
Ran smirked not so nieve as to not notice the tone of Catharina'sa voice as she spoke of her father. She simply turned her eyes back to the sky and chose to ignore what she had just discovered.
Looking up to see bright silver lining the leaves in the last rays of light as they danced in the breeze. Ran thought the light looked as if someone left the doors to heaven open and it’s light shown through. The deepest blue lay above them as if a vivid, bright blanket covered them, some of the most beautiful clouds she had ever seen moved and danced painting a breathtaking picture across the blue canvas. Her brain could hardly take in the gorgeous sight above her that made her breath catch and she wished she could lie on her back and watch it until it faded. The creator must have some wonderful paintbrushes to create such pictures in the sky.
With a smile at Catharina, they strolled over to visit with her father. They stayed and shared the evening meal with him, he even pulled out a bottle of wine he had held back for Ran’s return home. Ran drank a few more than she normally would as her heart ached for Valdr. She worried how things were going for them, as this trip was a real raid against a very dangerous man.
She and Catharina slowly strolled home enjoying the night breeze that blew her hair back from her face as it caressed her cheeks like a lover, looking up into the sky millions of stars glittered like jewels around the big full moon.
“Valdr should be home tonight then you can go back to your own bed, Catharina.” The woman smiled as she wrapped an arm around Ran’s waist and pulled her closer.
Leaning her head against Ran’s she laughed.
“In truth I miss being with you, even if you are not my little girl. You have always felt as if you were, I miss taking care of you.”
Ran smiled as she laid her hand over Catharina’s, “You have always been the closest thing to a mother for me also. If I hadn’t felt it would betray my own mother I would have called you by the name long ago.” They both laughed and Ran noticed her companion wipe her eyes.
“Come let’s make some jerky in case that man of yours is hungry when he returns.” Catharina said lightening the mood.
They spent the next few hours that they waited smiling and laughing as Ran shared some of the details of Valdr’s personality he kept hid from everyone else. Her hands busy finishing up the knife case she wanted to have finished for Valdr.
They both looked up surprised when they heard the women and children shouting outside, the men had returned.
With a smile, they rose and rushed to the door and opening it saw many women greeting the men with smiles and hugs. It was a very happy night for the village, Catharina smiled as she turned to go back in the house, gathering her things and kissing Ran’s cheek as she headed back to her own home. “Valdr will be here soon child, I am sure he is filling your father in on the details of the trip as is his duty.” Ran smiled and closed the door, not bolting it this time as she waited.
Sitting beside the fire with her heart beating her to death in her chest she waited her head looking towards the door at every sound. The wind was pressing at the door causing it to bump open and closed, as it grew stronger. On the last big wind that pushed the door open quite far before slamming closed as the wind passed through the open windows on the opposite side of the wall Ran stood and bolted the door knowing Valdr would speak when he realized it was locked.
Just as Ran sat back at the fire and picked up the knife case she was attaching the last beads to, she felt invisible hands wrap around her throat as a weight pressed her to the floor. She gasped for air as it was denied her as she tried to pull at her throat only to feel a cool mist as if walking through a heavy fog but nothing else. “I told you that you would regret mating and ruining the clear path that lead to the Chief’s throne.” Ran was afraid, she heard the voice, felt the hands choking her but could see nothing, didn’t know how to fight this invisible thing trying to steal the life from her body. Tears streamed down her face as in her mind she saw Valdr’s loving face as it had loomed over her on the nights he had loved her body. The expression of need and devotion he wore when he had claimed her for his own and the love in his face even if he hadn’t spoken the words the day he took her to the canyon. She would miss her lover most of all but it was worth dying to be held in his arms this past week.
“You will now die and once more the opportunity to take over this clan for myself will be before me.” She heard the voice growl as her sight grew dim. “Poor Princess, don’t you understand that your death will be all for greed, this I will admit to you. Valdr will grieve for his mate and leave this place in misery and then the way will once more be cleared for the best warrior to claim the throne. That is of course, after your father’s untimely demise.”
Ran barely heard the words as her mind was slowly fading, she couldn’t fight a shadow, a mist she didn’t have those abilities. The last thing that registered in her mind was a hand beating against the door to the home she shared with Valdr. The now raised voice of her life mate as he called out for her, then everything went black.
Valdr slammed his body into the door breaking the leather that locked him out. His eyes frantically searched the living space as they landed on Ran’s lifeless body slumped on the furs that lay beside the fire. Dropping everything in his hands he rushed over to her side, the first thing he noticed were the bright red angry marks around her throat.
The angry wind that rushed through the room escaped his notice in his moment of panic. Pushing her hair back, he called her name before pressing his lips to hers. “Ran..Ran wake up.” He pleaded as he laid his ear to her chest, a sigh of relief escaping him as he heard her heart still beating, faintly but there.
Running across dark night to Catharina’s home just a few houses down, he beat on her door until she opened with a worried expression. “Go for the doctor, Ran has been attacked.” He growled out the order before running back to his own home and to Ran’s side.
Wetting a cloth he wiped her face with the cool rag as he watched her face, she lay so peacefully still. The marks are on her neck already turning darker and he felt his mood darken with it into an unreasonable rage. Who could have gotten inside to hurt her when she had the door bolted, the windows were too small to admit a grown man. It had to be the same person that threatened her but he just didn’t understand how he got inside.
The doctor rushed inside dropping to his knees beside Ran, as he looked her over, a small crowd was gathering at his door. He looked up to see a very concerned Catharina and Ran’s father with his arm around the small woman. His face drawn into a scowl of anger and worry as he watched and waited like everyone else. “She has been strangled until she lost consciousness, they must have been interrupted or she would be dead. This kind of force was meant to kill her. Was there no sign of anyone when you came in?” He asked Valdr who simply shook his head. “She will be fine she simply passed out from lack of air. Let’s see if we can awaken her and get some answers shall we?”
Valdr nodded but looked towards the door, and then to Rulf. The silent command understood, surprisingly enough both men were feeding off each other in the silent understanding and to anyone paying attention the two men were sharing the role as Chieftain.
Rulf turned his head behind him as he spoke to the worried faces, “Ran will be fine, everyone let’s go back to our homes before we wake her so as not to scare her more. We much appreciate the concern for her, you are a great family but she needs privacy for what is to come now.” The people nodded their heads and quietly made their way back home.
Rulf pulled Catharina inside, as they sat on their knees by the door, silently watching as Valdr pulled Ran into his arms. He stroked her cheek as he called her name, then lightly tapped her cheek.
Finally, the doctor pulled out a foul smelling vial of liquid and held it under her nose. Her face scrunched up at the smell and she turned her face into Valdr’s chest. “Come love, awaken for us and tell me your okay now.” He murmured in her ear as her eyes fluttered open, she gasped as she remembered, her hand going to her sore throat. Tears streamed down her face, “Oh Valdr.” She cried as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, buried her face into his neck and cried.
His heart broke into pieces at the sound of her sobs, the feel of her tears as they splashed against his hot skin. His hands absorbed the ragged sounds of her cries as they vibrated through her back.
“I thought I was dead. I heard you call out, just before I lost the battle to fight the dark nothing that pulled me under. He came back Valdr, he was here inside our home, but I couldn’t fight because he had no body.”
Catharina gasped and looked up at Rulf who listened, his face very concerned now as he glanced over at the doctor. “I think it is time you give us privacy doctor,” he nodded and looking at Valdr spoke before walking out the door. “I know something evil is going on in this village warrior, they are working against your new family. Have faith in the great maker that he will always bring help in time to save you and know that the evil soul will come to light. If she feels any ill effects, come and get me I will come back.” Valdr nodded respectfully and thankful for the doctors care of him life mate.
As soon as he left, the house Valdr heard his new father speak as Ran finally calmed but remained on his lap. Her hands clutching his shirt, her face still on his shoulder buried in his neck as if her life depended on him.
“There is a story passed down from Viking folklore. There once was a village such as ours, filled with mixed bloodlines alike. It existed for many years. There were tales of men who had found ways to use their abilities as a shadow walker in ways no one could explain nor figure out. They could leave their physical bodies as their spirit roamed among men, giving new meaning to Shadow walking. These men grew proud that they could best any man, since no one knew how to fight the shadows. They began using the abilities for their own gain, stealing and playing nasty tricks on the people around them.
In truth I believe this is how Vikings got their nasty reputation as pillagers and killers. Not all Viking men were like this. Yes, they did steal riches but killing and raping were not practiced among those sins. Only those with these abilities grew evil with greed and lost all consideration for human's and with that lost sight of the precious gift of life.
The Chiefs of those times grew uneasy and began the search for the answers to how men could develop into this creature of night that reeked havoc on innocent people with no means of defense. Legend has it, one Chieftain found the answer. He supposedly made a written account of the events. He was able to achieve this, in secret, with his own Shadow walker side. It is said he used the abilities to fight back against the ones who used it for evil. There are many different accounts of how the man ruled his clan with great victory over his people’s enemies after that time. Hoping to be a guide to all that reached that level of power to use it wisely. It would seem someone among us has learned of such things and is again using it with dark intentions.”
“The man plans to kill me…he thinks Valdr will leave the village when I die and he is filled with unimaginable grief. The man wants to take over the clan for him own..His words were after father’s death. He didn’t say if he planned….” All eyes were on Ran as she cut into the conversation, her voice rough and scratchy from the harm done to her throat. She had moved to sit in front of Valdr as she had listened to her father tell of the legend. “I felt a cool mist above me like a great fog, I could feel his body pressing me into the floor, feel his hands on my throat but when I tried to pry them off me…I only grasped at air. I could see the air shimmer as it was disturbed. As he grew angrier when he told me of why I was to die it was if a gray looking cloud had formed but there was no shape or form to it.” Ran shook her head not knowing how to explain what she had seen because at that point her mind was fighting to stay alert as she accepted her death. Silent tears streamed down her face as she looked up at Valdr, “He said nothing to give me any clue who he was. In coming tonight, he could have been a warrior that knew you were with father telling him of your trip, seeing Catharine leave since we knew you would be here very soon. Just the same it could have been one of the men left behind in the village since this was the only time since you left, I have been alone. He could have also waited a picked the time so as to confuse us so as we had no idea which of the men could do such a thing. The door wasn’t bolted originally but the wind kept blowing the door as it passed through as I also left the window open. There was one time it opened wide before slamming shut, it was then that I bolted it knowing you would expect it and speak through the door when you came. It was then that when I returned to the fire he attacked me.”
Ran shook her head in confusion, “Maybe it was then that he came inside and I thought it no more than the wind, if he has these abilities. He told me, he reminded me of the time he warned me not to take Valdr as a life mate and that was when I felt his hands wrap around my throat cutting my air.” Ran stopped speaking rubbing her throat as it hurt.
Catharina moved to get her a cup of water and handing it to Valdr as she sat back beside Rulf, silently watching as he held it to her lips hoping it would sooth her pain. Ran drank it all until the cup was empty and then laid down. Her head on Valdr’s folded leg as she stared towards the window, her back towards everyone as she lost herself in the memories of tonight and how certain her life had been over.
A shiver of dread rose up Valdr’s back at these words, he stroked her arm as he watched her but spoke to Rulf. “Do you know where we can find this written account of details? How do we learn the details of man that has gained this power over our people?” He asked his Chieftain.
Rulf shook his head as he watched his daughter, “I am not sure but there is others like us. I will send one of my most trusted men tomorrow out on the ship to the other villages, to see if anyone can give us some answers. There are not many of us so it should be simple enough, if needed I will travel myself. Valdr shook his head, “You are needed here and I would advise you to double the security around you. Just in case he comes as a human man, this is a man of our village, a man we all know. Who do we even suspect? Fiak, he doesn’t have the balls to pull something like this off alone, nor the brains to learn of the ability. He is the only man I know that convents your seat this much, no one has ever spoken out against you. It could be a warrior but it could also be a man that has denied his warrior side. Hides himself in the shadows appearing to have no more ability than the others.”
Rulf nodded we will leave you for tonight, fix the lock on the door behind us and if you have need send someone for me.”
Valdr nodded and watched as they left. Pulling one of the pillows under Ran’s head Valdr moved to fix the leather to bind the door. Reaching for his bags he pulled out the gift he had gotten for Ran while he was away and sat back under her as he pulled her hair from its braid and run a silver brush through her long silky locks.
It took Ran some time before she realized Valdr was brushing her hair and sitting up she looked at him before looking down at the brush in his hand. “It’s so beautiful, where did you get it?” Truly taken with the beauty of the brush. It was a shiny silver with designs covering the back and handle, Valdr smiled as he turned it over and handed held it out for her to take. Ran slowly took the brush as she looked at the rose design that climbed up the handle, the head of the brush held a design of a deer leaping over grass, the sun above it. It was beautifully crafted and had long, tan bristles that combed through her hair.
He reached inside his bag and pulled out a matching hand mirror that held the same design on the back of it. Ran looked up at him surprised, “I saw these when we were trading and thought you might like them since your own was simply made of wood.” His mouth slightly quirked in his held back a smile that made him so charming.
Ran’s face transformed from shock to beauty as a giant smile broke free, rising up she laid her hands on his stubble cheeks as she kissed his lips. “Thank you for such a beautiful gift but you really shouldn’t have. I know there are so many other things we probably needed.” Valdr shook his head, “What we got from the raid was much more than we needed for our trading. I wanted to bring you home something special.” He smiled this time as he reached for his bag, once more pulling out a pair of deerskin pants that had tassels running down each leg. Folded inside the pants was a tan colored cotton gown too short to be a dress.
When she looked up at him he smiled mischievously, “Women wear these to bed when married for their husbands as they are not as confining as the ones you wear.” Ran blushed but nodded realizing he wanted her to wear this for him at night. Judging by the length it would fall just mid thigh and had a lowered neckline to accent her breast. He reached for his bag once more.
Ran’s eyes grew wider, surely he didn’t have more, She thought. He did, he pulled out a white shirt that had three small buttons at the neck with long billowing sleeves like he had seen some of the women wear under a dress in the towns. It would go well with her tan hide pants and last he pulled out a wooden box she gasped as she opened it and looked up at him in awe. It was filled with colored beads, threads and buttons. So many things she could use for sewing and making or repairing clothes.
“You are a Princess, my Princess and you should have many beautiful things.” He said softly, Ran again felt tears slide down her face as she crawled back in his lap. Valdr wrapped his arms around her and held her as she again cried, he closed his eyes and gently pushed at her mind, wanting to share everything with her that had happened. Ran felt his silent urging to share with him and knew it would be so much easier to let him see than to have to speak it all out loud.
Ran felt his body tense and shake in anger as he saw the nights events and then she felt him hold her tighter as he felt her fear that she would have lost this life they shared. Quietly and softly Valdr picked her up and carried her to their bed.
With soft kisses to each inch of skin he unveiled, he undressed her until she stood bare before him. He quickly shed his own clothing and then followed Ran to bed, laying beside her looking down into her face. The back of his fingers stroking feather light over her cheeks as he looked over her, when he eyes landed on the ugly bruises that cover her beautifully lightly tanned skin, he leaned down to lay kisses along every inch of her abused skin. “I want you to have no more questions of my feelings for you.” After he had erased the bad with his lip,s he pulled back to look into her eyes once more, his lips brushing over hers before pulling back, only a breath away. “I do love you Ran. You are my heart and these two days away from you made me see just how much with the ache that filled me at your absence from my side.” He whispered before kissing her deeply, pouring all his heart into it. Ran’s eyes filled again as he spoke the words to her, “I love you too Valdr so much it hurts.” She whispered back, her words dragging a tormented groan from Valdr as he kissed her again. The night was spent exchanging sweet words and caresses before Valdr pulled her tightly into his arms and the slept. He didn’t dare make love to her tonight as he wanted to, he was afraid after the harm that came to her she was yet to fragile for him to pour his own feelings into her head this night.
Chapter 10
Ran walked into the big room of the house blinking the sleep from her eyes. Valdr sat by the fire in a state of undress resting himself on one knee. The other bent as he rested his arm over it, his head turned at her entrance.
“Morning” he murmured, Ran took in the sight before her she had never seen Valdr so undressed when he was actually dressed. The glow from the fire the only light in the room making him look like something magical from a painting.
“Valdr?” She asked lightly not wanting to upset him with the wrong words so the only words she could find was his name spoken in soft question.
Needing to understand her mate and what was transpiring. She hated that she was still so uncertain.
The corner of his mouth kicked up as he spoke again, “You don’t have to
be afraid to ask Princess.” She slowly approached him and knelt beside him. The fire dancing across her beautiful features caught Valdr's attention, making her seem almost mystical in that moment to him. “I am leaving for what my people call a vision quest. I might be gone for a few days Ran
I want you to go stay with your father.”
Ran dropped her head and shook it, “No Valdr, I was trained to fight beside my warrior mate. This man may be scaring me, I admit, but I am tired of cowering.”
He locked eyes with her, “Many believe during a vision quest the warrior is dead and welcomed back as a new man when he returns, this was not meant for you mate.” Ran dropped her head.“I am going out by the canyon and I can take nothing with me, no weapons, food or clothing. It is a time of prayer to the maker; I have to seek the answer to this problem for us. I have to know how to protect you and our people because I will admit I don’t have any idea. I am a warrior Ran, I was born and have spent my life protecting, and I can’t do this blind.”
She silently nodded, “Please do not make me go back to that house Valdr. Take me with you, teach me.” Valdr stared into the fire as
if he held the answer before he looked back at her and nodded. “Get a blanket and some water only, put on the doeskin dress you have, I will ask one of the men to follow and watch over us.” Ran nodded and leaned up to kiss his cheek, scrambling to change clothes. Valdr smiled and shook his head as he stood to go talk to Agmundr, he would take up the duties over the men and he would ask Gild to go with them. He knew the man would keep Ran safe while he was under.
A short time later Gild and Valdr came back for Ran, grabbing the
blankets and tossing them over his shoulder, Valdr slid his hand into Ran’s and they started their journey. “You must clear your mind. A warrior can sit
anywhere from a couple days to several waiting. It is much easier when you are seeking an answer for a certain question. To go and be at peace with yourself and the earth, it has helped to find the answers to many questions. This is normally something people of the clan would do but considering you have been trained as a warrior and are my mate, I don’t think the maker will mind.” Ran saw his smile as she quietly walked beside him the sounds of their feet lightly falling to the ground. The fresh smell of spring surrounding them as they walked deeper away from their home.
When they reached the cliff that he had brought her too before he laid
their blankets on the ground a distance apart, looking back he saw no sign of Gild but knew he was close by. Valdr nodded his head in approval the man might not have understood the quest but he respected it enough to keep back.
Valdr looked over to Ran. “Sit on the blanket, drink if you need to, and cover yourself if you feel cold. This is a time of silence and prayer, don’t be afraid no matter what you may see or feel. It can be a powerful thing you experience and I will have no way to help you through this as I may be lost in much the same.” Ran nodded, leaning over Valdr kissed her softly, “That is the last I will get until this is over.” His mouth quirked as he
arranged flat rocks, covered with pine and cedar branches. He gathered enough he hoped to last as he set the rock between him and Ran, lighting it.
Valdr then sat back up on his knees, hands on his thighs his eyes slid closed and
the only sounds were the ones that came from around them.
Over the day, Ran was more aware of the breeze that blew across her
face the sun that warmed everything and the sounds of the bees buzzing over the
flowers nearby. She could hear the waterfall in the distance still she waited,
she knew not what for. Valdr was here to seek the answer for his questions, Ran
was here to see what her message was as his mate. So closing her eyes she tipped her face towards the slowly dimming skyline and spoke her first foreign words.
Great Maker? I know not who you are but I am assuming you know me. I am here with my mate to seek you and your guidance this day. As Valdr's mate I am supposed to follow his belief's although right now I am ignorant of you, I trust my mate......
So Ran went on until she knew not what else to say but she silently waited. Her ears and eyes shut off from her surroundings as she strained to hear some sort of answer she was confident would come.
Night came and with it came a chill, Ran quietly wrapped herself in her thick blanket and lay on the cool ground. She was surprised when she felt Valdr’s presence close to her back but she closed her eyes without a word, if they needed to break the silence
it would be by him. She woke to the sun warming her face, she could feel the
emptiness at her back, knew that Valdr was awake already.
Going to take care of personal matters, she walked back to spread her
blanket once more and sat waiting. As night fell once more Ran
jumped when lighting cracked loudly across the sky, rain began to fall but still
Valdr did not move so she held her ground. Ran opened her eyes on another loud crack of lightning, to see Valdr eyes locked on her, it gave her chills, as it was as if he was seeing through her. Ran watched as lightning streaked long and powerful behind Valdr his eyes glazing over as his mouth moved in silent prayer. Ran’s body felt the charge of electricity in the air as every hair on her body felt as if it stood on end.
The storm raged higher as Valdr tilted back his head to raise his eyes towards the dark sky. Thunder rolled long and loud, sounding like giant rocks rolling down miles of road. She bit her lip until she tasted blood holding back a rugged cry that wanted to escape her tight, suddenly dry throat.
Lightning as she had never seen it seemed to reached down to strike
again this time it seem to consume Valdr, an unearthly and amazing blue light
surrounded him it appeared his body pulsed. She saw bright colors of blue and
yellow dancing over his head like colored party streamers in the sky only the
lights were dancing on a mist. Ran was very afraid of the scene before her, she
didn’t know if it was reality or part of the vision quest Valdr had warned her
about. Valdr raised one knee, his arms extending out as if to receive the gift
and stood, he was never a more beautiful sight, Ran breathed deeper. The light
grew brighter so that she had to turn her eyes away from him.
When she looked down, she saw small doeskin covered feet through a mist, a young woman walked from around her life mate and towards her. It wasn’t long before Ran realized the woman was a vision as her clothes were different, she wore the clothes much the same as she and Valdr had worn for the occasion. The woman walked past Ran with a wide smile, Ran turned to see a white mystical horse behind her. The woman run her hands over the beast’s sides, over his back and down through his tail. The horse
blew a deep sneeze through his nose but continued eating at the grass.
Valdr in that moment was lost in his own vision; he saw a golden eagle,
wings blazing as if blue liquid fire dripped from his wings as the majestic bird left streaks across the sky. The streaks melted as if it were paint that dripped from the sky
and like lightning struck his body. He felt his whole body heat at the contact;
he felt an indescribable power pulse through every vein in his body causing him
to sway under the weight of it.
You seek the strength to fight the evil that threatens what I, your true Father
have given you; you are looking for the answers on how to protect this unseen
force. I have heard your prayers son; I will bless your selfless need to protect
your people and your wife. You were meant to be a leader for them, show them the way
warrior.
The voice was so powerful Valdr trembled; he stood up on one knee
trying to rise, to reach for the powerful mercy of the great maker. The stories
of hearing his voice was rare in Valdr experience but his voice was so crystal clear
there was no mistaking it and the power that made him weak as he felt the
presence surround him brought tears to his eyes. “I am humbled by your presences
Great Holy Spirit.” Valdr cried out as he finally stood on trembling legs, the
blue streak of lightning hit him again this time stronger.
I give you the ability to call the thunder and lightning with the
rise of your hands. No man can fight the earth’s storms when they rage. I give you the power to command the winds or freeze the tall grass until everything living and diseased has died. I give to you also the power to call to your brother, the sun. To fight off the power of the mists that attack you. Use this wisely warrior as you could destroy many with this ability to call to the elements of my creation.
This night I will also give you gifts that to human men are impossible.
Valdr was again drove to his knees with tears streaming down his face
as once more a great burning power drove through his body like fire. Looking
across his outspread arms, he saw his arms engulfed in the blue liquid fire that
had clung to the eagle he saw before. Looking around him everything was bathed
in colors so vibrant that it was as if the maker had painted everything with
colors not of the earth. Every green thing seemed to glow with a brighter green
as he had never seen, the water from the falls pulsed with a blinding crystal
blue so beautiful tears clouded Valdr’s eyes once more. As the beauty of
everything stole his breath the wind picked up and blew strongly across his
face. It was then he felt something emerge from his shoulder blades. Valdr's breath was locked in his chest as he saw two giant black and grey wings. They were identical to the eagles proud and impressive spread, he had witnessed moments ago, only a different color not of any bird he had seen.
This is not a gift I have ever thought to give man; You are created as I would have you. Yet keep in mind son, there are many creations not everyone is aware of or understands on this world and on others.
I give you the wings of my sacred creations, your brother, the eagle. So you may watch over this great land, with it comes the ability to see and smell things that no other holds the ability to. You will now see everything under my creations and those not of my creation because with this gift comes the curse of seeing things our enemies has also created. Spirits as well as flesh; good and evil. Beware my son, walk softly and wisely with these gifts lest you forget your strength and use these gifts selfishly.
Everything before Valdr changed, everything went dark. He looked around him trying to descern if he was still lost in his vision or if everything around him was indeed dark and still.
Out of the dark came great teeth of a drooling, man eating wolf. It growled and made lunging motions as if ready to attack. Valdr jumped to his feet in a fighting crouch ready for battle. He froze and listened as he once more heard the makers voice but never let his guard down.
I now give you the ability to shape-shift into your brother, the wolf. Your bones will break and reshape and with it comes pain. Only the worthy warrior men of the village will be blessed with this same gift, if they follow you, seek and believe.
Only when the time is right.
Brother wolf will live inside you like a second being. You will tower over your brother wolves, majestic as a king of your people should.
You must learn to control everything given you this night, my son. You could destroy everything and everyone around you if you misuse it. If ever you abuse these powers, I will strip you of everything and everyone around you.
I am always here if you should need me Warrior.
Everything stopped as suddenly as it had started, the storm rapidly moved out as everything for Valdr grew silent.
Quickly to be replaced by bright sunshine that matched his amazing soaring spirits. Even though The Maker's presence had left him but his body still danced with an electrical charge from the encounter.
Looking behind him he silently commanded the wings to go away out of sight and with the mental command and a quick snap of electricity in the air, his human skin returned.
Looking over in concern for his mate, he saw Ran sitting cross-legged on her hide, her eyes locked on the valley below. He knew she was lost in a vision of her own in that moment, he sensed the spirits of the lost tribe below beckoning her. The power left to him falling under his control as unexplainable knowledge of these things flooded his thoughts. Valdr finally relaxed and collapsed weak, and shaking, pulling his blanket around him he fell into the black void of rest as the last of his energy left him.
Ran saw the woman turn her head as she finally saw Ran, she waved her
hand from left to right in front of her and everything before her changed. Ran
now stood at the base of the canyon, the waterfall raging around them as she
stood impossibly under the great waterfall. The sight stole her breath as she
looked up at the commanding waterfall, pounding harmlessly down on her she felt
the cool mist of the water across her face but when she looked down her feet
literally was floating over the white churning waters. Ran was too mesmerized to
look back up the hill to confirm that she was indeed inside the canyon as she
was watching as many warriors came out from the rocks surrounding them like
ghosts, women came from the earth and the water all in a circle around her.
Ran looked around at all the faces of the people that lived in this
place before them; they all greeted her with warm smiling faces. She looked up
to see a man that seemed older than the others with colorful decorations on his
deerskin clothes. He approached with a small vibrant blue bowl in one hand a florescent green glowing smoke rippling up from it. In his other hand was a feather that seemed to have been dipped in a sparkling gold paint at the tip; he fanned the feather over the
bowl, the smoke floating up into her face and over her body. She felt a floating
sensation as the smoke wafted over her; she felt something inside her body rise
as if to meet the mystical glowing smoke. Looking down and around her the smoke
seemed to come to life, as if it was stroking every curve of her body like a
lover’s hand discovering every inch. It has started to sparkle as if turning to
silver diamonds as it floated down her body. The warrior stood fanning the
mysterious magical smoke over her until her whole body felt like a thousand pins
pricked her everywhere.
She turned her head as she felt a weight on her shoulders to see a
woman with long blond hair kissed with silver place a buffalo robe around her
shoulders with a smile. She wondered how this woman’s hair could sparkle with
silver it wasn’t natural. Her thoughts were interrupted as the deep voice of the
man before her surrounded her. She didn’t see him lips move but she heard the
voice around her.
You have come seeking your vision from the maker with a great
leader. You are not of his bloodline but are instead his life mate. There were
warriors among us that held the same powers that flow through his body. They
learned to use them to help our people but were taken from this world just as we
were. In the end, the powers did not matter. We come to tell you that your union
has been blessed and we help watch over your people. Your mate is changed this
night in ways that are not of this world but blessings that were given him to
better protect you and your people. Powers that could harm far more than it
could help if he isn’t careful; use your pure heart to help guide him in the
right ways. Your pure heart was what pulled him from the dark; the evil one
would have sucked him under without you. You helped to guide his feet on the
path of his people to seek out the maker for divine intervention as he has never
before sought out. It was you that led him back to the light and together you
and he can lead the whole clan to the same light.
The smoke that covers you, the needles that prick your skin all over
is your own blessing from The Maker. You too have been changed this night; you now have the ability to control someone’s emotions with your own. You can pour calm into a
tortured soul and the soul will feel this as you intend, calming a raging mad beast
intent on evil. This is your gift from the maker, it will give you the ability
to help your mate so that you complete him even more than before your vision
quest.
The maker thought to gift you with something a little extra just to help keep your heart light and pure. After this day you will be able to nurture all things that grow with life. Plants and animals will be drawn to you, grow and bloom for you. You will witness life that no other human can see with his eyes. It's your secret, your blessing to witness all the beautiful life that surrounds you. These things that have been given you and your mate this night can only be shared between you. You must not share these things outside your union.
The warrior approached Ran and waved the smoke over her once more
again engulfing her with the sparkling smoke, the wind caressing over her this time,
blowing her hair across her face. Ran gasped as she realized her hair was now
too kissed with silver much like the woman who gave her warmth except the silver kissed the ends of every hair creating an overall sparkle. She felt a warm touch on her upper arm and looked down to witness an earth colored tattoo that seemed to wrap around her bare flesh. It looked like a vine that ended in a flower shape on top of her shoulder. She felt the same warmth under her right eye, on her cheek bone and knew something similar now took place to decorate her face. Instead of giving a moments worry to how it might look she felt deeply touched by these blessings.
Her eyes lifted and were caught by the sight of Valdr on the hill, his eyes looking down into the canyon at the waterfall that raged over her. She saw a sparkling crystal tear make a track down his tanned cheek but saw the awe and joy across his face before he collapsed in exhaustion. She was not worried as she felt his simple lack of strength.
You have been blessed tonight by the maker as your chief has also. His vision was different, he did not see us as you are now. Although with his new gifts he knew we are here with you. The maker thought sending us for this task would be better for you Princess.
She heard the man speak again, without movement of his lips, answering her thoughts. Her eyes were drawn away once more as Ran heard the cry of a bird ring in her ears. She looked up to find that instead of the storm that had loosened its fury above them moments ago, had cleared. She felt the soft suede of her blanket under her legs as well as the buffalo robe that the maiden had placed upon her, still rested around her shoulders as she felt herself back where she started.
The sky a breathtaking blue, held an eagle that flown overhead crying out, his
wings looked as if on fire as he blazed across the crystal clear open space. Ran
felt a nudge to her arm and turned her head to see the white stallion of her
vision there in the flesh having lost his glow, seeking her touch. In awe, she
lifted her hand to feel the softness on his nose. He rubbed his head against her
shoulder once more and stepped away to find food once more.
Ran turned her head to see a sleeping Valdr, his blanket wrapped around
him; his hair had come loose from its braid and lay over his shoulder, across
his brow. Ran gasped when she reached over to push his hair from his face, the
side of his brow now bore a black mark. A tattoo of sorts it seemed like her own. The mark very close to the shape of the lightning she had saw strike him before. His breathing was even and he looked in one piece. Ran’s eyes grew heavy as she too finally relaxed; Valdr’s opened in that moment.
His now pale, ice blue eyes stabbing into hers, “Come mate, I know you are tired
but I want to take you home to rest.” Ran nodded weakly, too tired to comment on all the changes she saw. Ran held onto Valdr's arm after he picked up their blankets, she carried the water and they made their way back home as fast as Ran’s tired body would carry her.
At one point Gild caught up with them, taking the furs from Valdr. “Can
you carry her, the rest of the way?” He spoke softly, a new sound in his voice
that Valdr couldn’t place and was too tired to try. With a nod, he swept Ran
into his arms and again they walked towards home.
Gild dropped the blankets inside the door as Ran slid down Valdr’s
body. Ran was shaking as if cold so after bolting the door, he walked to the
fire, building it back up, as he looked at Ran beckoning her to him. Pulling her
down on the furs that lay around the fire he placed a pillow close to his leg
and pressed her down into it. Throwing one of the blankets over her he rubbed
her back as she lost consciousness and her exhausted body finally rested.
To all my readers, ya'll have been an awesome. I love the feedback and loyalty you constantly share and it's what keeps these crazy off the wall stories coming Lol. I will strive to keep it coming for your entertainment.