married him to save her
child. She died later, nobody was sure why. From a broken heart, I
suppose.”
“But how was she able to hide the fact that
the child wasn’t Seth’s? Wouldn’t he have known?”
“Well, to a certain point, Seth’s mind is
easy to manipulate. Besides, Aida was barely pregnant a few weeks,
the baby was half-human and human scents are more difficult to
detect. In any case, Seth’s never doubted Darius was his. Darius
was supposedly born a couple of weeks early, and that was it.”
“But it’s unfair that Darius doesn’t know
that.”
“That’s been keeping him alive, Astrid. He’ll
know when the time comes.”
“Do James and Jack know?”
Morgaine nodded. “I told them before they
left.” She paused and smiled. “Back to your role. See, Astrid,
people come to us with their problems, big and small. And you’ll
help them with your inner sense of wisdom and justice, and your
understanding of human nature. They’ll share their happy moments
with you. You’ll have a whole bunch of godchildren, and you’ll be
an honorable member of many local clubs and charities.”
“Oh, I see. A confidant, a marriage
counselor, a confessor, a psychologist, all in one person.”
“That would sum up your duties, yes. But
don’t forget, you have a few privileges as well. You are outside
the pack hierarchy. You have the power of veto, and you’re the
clan’s highest authority. It’s a lot of power, Astrid, and that’s
why it’s never given randomly.” Morgane paused and then carried on
in the same light voice, “You’re also the clan’s military leader.
We lead our people in time of war—”
“What!?”
“But that’s natural. We are the strongest,
and usually the smartest members of our clans, and being women, not
so bloodthirsty.”
Now I needed some time to process that
information. Astrid the Commander-in-Chief? From all the concepts
thrown at me recently, this one was the weirdest.
“Whoa, whoa, hold on for a second!” I said in
a high-pitched voice. “I’m a pacifist. I don’t believe in fighting.
We’re supposed to bring harmony and prosperity. We are make-love
not-war sort of people, aren’t we?”
“Now, I know it sounds a bit contradictory,
but imagine, for example, that Seth’s clan decides to take over
your land and destroy your people. What would you do?”
“Fight them,” I said quietly.
“Precisely.”
“But what if Copper Ridge had an Ellida?”
“The clans that have Ellidas never fight
among themselves. Knowing that, you can probably better understand
why Ellidas are so precious. They’re an embodiment of a higher,
spiritual concept of goodness and love, and as long as Seth’s in
power, no Ellida will be conceived in Copper Ridge. Once he’s gone,
they may get their chance. Red Cliffs waited for three
centuries.”
WE WALKED back to town. I wanted to go home,
but I also understood I had to give my fellow Red Cliffers every
chance to get to know me better.
“I wouldn’t mind a cup of coffee. How about
you?” I said to Morgaine and gestured toward a coffee shop that
sported a big, neon-blue sign above the door: Café Insomnia.
My mentor instantly understood. “That’s a
good idea. Let them see you, Astrid. Let them talk to you. You are
a good natured, uncomplicated person. You’ll be a part of their
life in no time.”
Morgaine knew I was also a bit of a starchy
person, not comfortable in a crowd, but I was grateful she hadn’t
mentioned it.
“Too bad the Ellida job doesn’t come with a
manual,” I said and let out a nervous chuckle.
We found a small round table for two. The
guests came to introduce themselves or to say hello. Their
curiosity wasn’t aggressive, though, and the knot in my stomach
eased off.
WHEN PEYTON Kincaid walked in a little bit
later, I asked her if she wanted to join us. As we talked, I
attacked the green-eyed monster gnawing inside my stomach with
logic and reason. Peyton was in love with Jack,
child. She died later, nobody was sure why. From a broken heart, I
suppose.”
“But how was she able to hide the fact that
the child wasn’t Seth’s? Wouldn’t he have known?”
“Well, to a certain point, Seth’s mind is
easy to manipulate. Besides, Aida was barely pregnant a few weeks,
the baby was half-human and human scents are more difficult to
detect. In any case, Seth’s never doubted Darius was his. Darius
was supposedly born a couple of weeks early, and that was it.”
“But it’s unfair that Darius doesn’t know
that.”
“That’s been keeping him alive, Astrid. He’ll
know when the time comes.”
“Do James and Jack know?”
Morgaine nodded. “I told them before they
left.” She paused and smiled. “Back to your role. See, Astrid,
people come to us with their problems, big and small. And you’ll
help them with your inner sense of wisdom and justice, and your
understanding of human nature. They’ll share their happy moments
with you. You’ll have a whole bunch of godchildren, and you’ll be
an honorable member of many local clubs and charities.”
“Oh, I see. A confidant, a marriage
counselor, a confessor, a psychologist, all in one person.”
“That would sum up your duties, yes. But
don’t forget, you have a few privileges as well. You are outside
the pack hierarchy. You have the power of veto, and you’re the
clan’s highest authority. It’s a lot of power, Astrid, and that’s
why it’s never given randomly.” Morgane paused and then carried on
in the same light voice, “You’re also the clan’s military leader.
We lead our people in time of war—”
“What!?”
“But that’s natural. We are the strongest,
and usually the smartest members of our clans, and being women, not
so bloodthirsty.”
Now I needed some time to process that
information. Astrid the Commander-in-Chief? From all the concepts
thrown at me recently, this one was the weirdest.
“Whoa, whoa, hold on for a second!” I said in
a high-pitched voice. “I’m a pacifist. I don’t believe in fighting.
We’re supposed to bring harmony and prosperity. We are make-love
not-war sort of people, aren’t we?”
“Now, I know it sounds a bit contradictory,
but imagine, for example, that Seth’s clan decides to take over
your land and destroy your people. What would you do?”
“Fight them,” I said quietly.
“Precisely.”
“But what if Copper Ridge had an Ellida?”
“The clans that have Ellidas never fight
among themselves. Knowing that, you can probably better understand
why Ellidas are so precious. They’re an embodiment of a higher,
spiritual concept of goodness and love, and as long as Seth’s in
power, no Ellida will be conceived in Copper Ridge. Once he’s gone,
they may get their chance. Red Cliffs waited for three
centuries.”
WE WALKED back to town. I wanted to go home,
but I also understood I had to give my fellow Red Cliffers every
chance to get to know me better.
“I wouldn’t mind a cup of coffee. How about
you?” I said to Morgaine and gestured toward a coffee shop that
sported a big, neon-blue sign above the door: Café Insomnia.
My mentor instantly understood. “That’s a
good idea. Let them see you, Astrid. Let them talk to you. You are
a good natured, uncomplicated person. You’ll be a part of their
life in no time.”
Morgaine knew I was also a bit of a starchy
person, not comfortable in a crowd, but I was grateful she hadn’t
mentioned it.
“Too bad the Ellida job doesn’t come with a
manual,” I said and let out a nervous chuckle.
We found a small round table for two. The
guests came to introduce themselves or to say hello. Their
curiosity wasn’t aggressive, though, and the knot in my stomach
eased off.
WHEN PEYTON Kincaid walked in a little bit
later, I asked her if she wanted to join us. As we talked, I
attacked the green-eyed monster gnawing inside my stomach with
logic and reason. Peyton was in love with Jack,
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