[Phantom Islanders 02.0] Storm Revealed Page 14

  “Una?” I asked.

  “Oh no.” She laughed. “She’s daddy’s girl. Rigs and swords. She gets as starry-eyed as Carrick when their father talks about his adventures. Maybe this one”—she rubbed her stomach—“will be a healer like me.”

  “Healer? Like with magic?”

  She chuckled. “No, what a thought. Only the original islanders have magic. I churn medicinal gel from seaweed. How are you liking it here?”

  “It’s going to take some time. Were you once human?”

  “A Tuh’ren, yes.” She patted my hand. “You’ll get used to the pace of things. I did.”

  “How long have you been here?”

  “Thirty years.” She didn’t look a day over twenty. Grinning at my expression, she rubbed her distended stomach. “As to how, where do I start? I was a freshman in college dating an older student when his friends invited us to a weekend at their house in Catalina. We were headed to the Mexican Riviera when we drifted, hit something, and capsized. When I came to, I was on a pirate ship. They brought me to the island. Then I met Calder during Selection. He’s infuriating and stubborn, but loving.” The tiny smile on her face said she was happy. “It’s been thirty years, but I feel like we are still on our honeymoon.”

  Ah, so all was well and dandy in the mating bed. So much for Tuh’rens were for making babies. They’d been mated for thirty years and her oldest was nine.

  “Do you miss home?”

  “Not anymore. I did at first, but the pain lessened with time. Calder helped.”

  “And you can shift?”

  “Oh yes. Our ritual is different from Kelpies. It involves giving up their fur to their mates and growing a new one. Only the male can grow new ones. Kind of like Kelpies and their bridle.”

  “Do they do the same with their pure Selkie mates?”

  She smiled. “No. Things are much easier with them. They just exchange furs. The men go the extra mile for us Tuh’rens. Growing a new fur is painful, but then again, blending with his fur for the first time is just as bad.”

  A group of mothers with their little ones joined us. The children stripped and jumped into the canal, and some of the mothers followed. Like Storm, nudity didn’t seem to bother them. Whether Selkie or Kelpie, they stripped and slid into the water to change. The Selkie mothers draped their fur on their shoulders, and only once did I see the fur shift and blend with skin.

  At first I wasn’t sure what the gorgeous tattoos on the backs of some of the women were. Flowers, intricate designs, or just a simple name with hearts shooting from it, they had them on different parts of their bodies, but most favored their backs. Then I realized what they were.

  “Are those bridles?” I asked Darya.

  She nodded. “Kelpie men give them to their women, when they mate, as part of their ritual. Once they blend with it, they can coil it into any design. I’ve seen some amazing ones. There’s a woman in the village who designs bridle tattoos. She’s the one to see when you have yours.”

  “And you can change the designs and placement whenever you want,” one said from the water. She was in her furs, treading the water.

  It was surreal talking to them. Hearing the very human-like voices come out of muzzles. They all spoke with a lilt that was unique to the islanders, a blend of wherever they originally came from with Irish thrown in. I envied the way they were comfortable with nudity. When they stepped out of the water, they shed their furs and pulled on their chemises while others didn’t bother at all. They dropped beside us and sunbathed, like Storm had by the lake.

  The mothers took turns, working with the children on their shifting and sitting with me to share their stories. Most were married to swordsmen and were either once shieldmaidens or Tuh’ren. None of the turned ever cared about sailing. Instead, they chose trade and stayed at home. But the former shieldmaidens had amazing anecdotes, and the more I listened, the more I knew what I wanted.

  “Join us, Lexi,” the women called from the water, and I laughed.

  Yeah, like that would ever happen. No skinny-dipping for me, this side of the Veil, for years.

  “No, thanks,” I said. “I, uh, maybe next time.”

  “Maybe Storm will convince you to join once he returns,” one woman said.

  Yeah, right. “He doesn’t have that kind of influence over me,” I protested, and they laughed. “What?”

  “Once an islander gives you his bridle or fur, you become surrounded by his scent,” a woman said.

  “He will be in your head and heart in ways you can’t imagine,” another piped in.

  A woman on her stomach a few feet from me laughed. Her naked tattooed butt was soaking up the sun. “Head and heart? Ha! He’ll be under your skin. Our scents might drive them insane before we mate, but once we do, we get the same fever. I’ve been mated for a century, and I still can’t keep my hands off Rory.”

  “My children knew, when they were young, to stay away from the house when their da returned from the sea,” another one said while floating on her back, flippers gently skimming the surface of the water. “He’d tell them we belonged together before they came along and we would be together after they left home. They’ve left, and I have my Selkie back.”

  “My children know he nestles on my right and often scoot to give him room, then crawl on top of him.”

  The others had more outrageous stories to add. I’d thought Storm had no filter. He was nothing compared to these women.

  “You won’t be able to resist the tug once you mate, Lexi,” Darya said. “I slept with Calder’s fur and went everywhere with it. I swam often just to meld with it.”

  “You still do,” a friend teased. “The tug starts at the claim and grows stronger.”

  I wasn’t sure whether it was their openness or the air, but I loved these women.

  “So have you claimed Storm yet?” one asked, and all eyes focused on me. Even the ones who’d been sunbathing sat up to hear my answer. Their exceptional hearing brought the ones in the water to the surface. Lucky for me, the children followed. Didn’t stop their nosy mothers.

  I was rescued from answering when Meda floated to the surface with a large conch shell and waved a flipper at me.

  “Lexi. For your room.”

  The adorable toothless redhead made an even cuter Selkie, her lisp becoming more pronounced. She reminded me so much of Sienna.

  “Thank you. How did you know I always wanted a shell?”

  She giggled. “You’re silly. They are inside.”

  I turned the shell, and colorful gems fell out.

  “Wow,” I whispered.

  “Do you like them?” the imp asked, floating on her back.

  “Yes, honey. I do. Thank you.”

  She giggled and disappeared below. There was a mass exodus of the mothers, leaving Darya and me behind.

  “What’s going on?”

  “The children must have gone into one of the crystal caves. It can get dangerous down there, especially if the cave has been overmined. The children know they are only supposed to pick up what’s fallen on the bottom of the canal and not enter caves, but at times they don’t listen.”

  Oh no. First, two women lost their mates because of me. If one of the children got hurt, I’d never forgive myself. But as if Meda had started a trend, the other children returned with gifts.

  “Thank you, guys, but this is enough. Come sit beside me and help me sort them out.”

  Some just laughed and disappeared into the water. A few shifted and climbed out. I gave each of them a color and had them sorting through the pile to find similar gems. More joined them.

  “I can’t accept these. They must be valuable.”

  Darya shrugged. “Some are, and some aren’t.”

  “And you can’t turn down a gift from them.” A mother nodded at the children.

  One little boy wanted to know how I broke Tullius’s nose, and I vowed to pinch the ears of two ten-year-olds. I repeated my story all over again to a captive audience of Sel
kies and Kelpies while their mothers grinned with approval. The sorted gems were forgotten.

  Someone blew the horn just as the questions began, and everyone’s attention shifted. The ones in the water got out with their children, shifting effortlessly from fur to skin, then slipped on clothes, but their heads were cocked toward the first bridge. The horn blew again twice.

  The women took off, leaving me with Darya and her kids. I helped her to her feet while the children hopped around impatiently. Even Meda was excited.

  “Come on, Ma,” Una whined. “We want to get the best spot.”

  “We have three hours before they get here, children,” she said.

  “How do you know they’ll be here in three hours?”

  “The horns. Each warning means an hour. Sometimes we only get the warning when they are an hour away. Other times, the lightning and thunder is our first warning.” She smiled. “We’ll see you in the Great Hall.”

  She waddled off with her children and Meda, who were already on the road. Storm would be home in three hours. I couldn’t contain my excitement. Then I looked at the ground around me and sighed. I had to find a way to carry these gems.

  * * *

  ~*~

  * * *

  “Need help with those?” Ryun called out from the road running along the river. He was with his students.

  “Maybe.” I was contemplating using my outer skirt.

  Ryun chuckled. “Lads and lasses, show her we are not uncivilized.”

  Eight students, including Max and Glyn, ran down the steps. Each chose a pile of gems and carried them in the dangling parts of the scarves around their waists.

  “As for the rest of you”—he pointed toward the market—“one more lap around the village, then meet at my gate.” The remaining students took off.

  “Are you letting them off early?” I asked.

  “Yep. They won’t concentrate when they know their parents are coming home, and I have a date with a notorious captain at Port Vaarda, and I can’t miss it. She doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

  “You’re going out there?” I asked, intrigued.

  He chuckled. “Why are you surprised, lass? I do have a life, despite what the cold-hearted hags did. Keep going, pups,” he told the students carrying the gems. “Pile them nicely on the table. I have the perfect box for them.”

  “How are you getting there?”

  “I have my ways.” He dropped an arm around my shoulder. “I’ll have time for a quickie and be back before the ships arrive home.” The glance he threw me said he was deliberately being outrageous. “So you’ve claimed my brother.”

  I was not discussing Storm with him. “Can I come with you?”

  “Don’t you want to know how I know about you and our illustrious leader?”

  “No.” I was sure it was the bond he shared with Storm. Just like I knew he probably used the path through the maze. “Can I come? I won’t be a bother.”

  “You’re not thinking of fleeing anymore,” he said as though I hadn’t spoken. “That’s how I know. I can feel your contentment. And your heartbeat spiked when I mentioned claiming him. Oh, and your scent just became stronger. The need to mate does that.”

  Stupid bond. “You said you’d be back before the ships arrive,” I continued, determined not to discuss Storm or my personal life. “If I stay, I’ll just stare at the canal the entire time or be underfoot. Delia won’t let me help prepare the hall because Gráinne doesn’t like me very much.”

  “Gráinne doesn’t like anyone.”

  We entered his farm. The kids with the gems were already at the porch, pouring their piles on the table.

  “I just want to see the port, Ryun. I promise I won’t do anything to draw attention.”

  He gave me a sweeping glance and laughed. “Lass, you draw attention whether you want it or not. Everything about you is designed to please a man’s senses.”

  “Then, I’ll wear a hat and cover myself with a large coat or something.”

  “What will you do next week or the week after when he is at sea and you’re bored? You must find something safe to keep you busy, lass. I visit the port at least once a week, and I can’t take you with me every time. The tavern is full of randy swordsmen, and the last thing I need is your Kelpie threatening to disembowel me for putting your life in danger or having him threaten some poor lad because he is besotted by you.”

  “This is a one-time thing. I plan to train with Kai, so I won’t ever bother you again.”

  He stopped and cocked his eyebrows, spring-green eyes narrowed. “Who says you can join Kai’s shieldmaidens?”

  “I do.” I narrowed my eyes too, daring him to say I couldn’t.

  He laughed. “I don’t think so, lass.”

  “Why not? If you say a Tuh’ren can’t become a shieldmaiden, I will disembowel you.”

  “You are a bloodthirsty wench. Every time I’m with you, you threaten me with bodily harm. Of course, a Tuh’ren can, but most often, they choose not to. Your case is different. You have a certain evil prince after your head for reasons we still don’t know.” He started walking again. “Storm would never allow anything to happen to you, but sailing and venturing out there is foolhardy. I’m sure he’ll agree with me. Besides, a lass’s decision to become a shieldmaiden depends on her mate. He’ll have to agree.”

  “You mean he must give his permission?”

  “If you must be so literal, yes.”

  It was a good thing Storm was okay with me becoming one. “So if you finally have a mate, you’ll want her to stay at home while you disappear for days?”

  “No, my mate’s place is with me. If I’m home, she’s at home, not swashbuckling all over the oceans. If I sail, she comes with me. Not to be a shieldmaiden, but to take care of my needs.”

  “You are a hundred years behind the times, Ryun.”

  “No, my naïve Tuh’ren. If you knew the kind of unsavory characters hanging around ports, you wouldn’t want to be a shieldmaiden either.”

  Laughter came from his porch. We were close enough for his students to hear us.

  “This is not a laughing matter, pups. Count yourselves lucky I’m teaching you how to survive. You have to think…”

  “Fast and act fast in unfamiliar territory,” the eight students chorused.

  “Good. Wait here.” He disappeared inside, leaving me with his students, who stared at me curiously.

  “Did you really break Tully’s nose?” a girl asked, and I gave Max and Glyn the evil eye. I was still going to pinch their ears.

  “You two owe me extra lessons,” I said. They had the decency to look apologetic. I focused on the girl who had spoken. “I didn’t know he was evil,” I said. “If I had, I would have…”

  “Gutted him,” a boy said with such glee I laughed.

  “No. Run away while screaming,” I said, and they laughed. “It’s easier to be confident when you don’t know what your enemy can do.”

  “She’s right about that, pups,” Ryun said, stepping out of his house. He had a medium-sized wooden box with gilded hinges and lock, but the surfaces were decorated with tiny seashells. “Always study your enemy and know his weaknesses before you strike. What are Tully’s weaknesses?”

  “He is a sore loser,” the students chorused.

  “And?”

  “He doesn’t like to be embarrassed,” they added.

  “He strikes without proper planning,” a girl added.

  “Exactly. Men like that like their egos stroked. Do it, and he will let you get away with anything. Embarrass him and he’ll strike again and again, hoping to win yet he’ll keep losing. Put the gems in here.” He opened the lid of the box. The inside was partitioned into a dozen parts. Once the kids put their piles inside the box, Ryun gave Max and Glyn the task of carrying it back to the castle.

  “It’s okay, guys,” I said. “I’ll take it.”

  “Are you planning on bringing it with you to the port?” Ryun asked, then talked to the boys
while I celebrated. “Take it to the tower. Then find Delia and tell her we’ll be back in an hour.” He nodded at one of the girls. “Kelby, wait by the gate and dismiss the class for me.”

  “Aye, Captain Blackwell,” the student said.

  I followed him inside and looked around with interest. Unlike Storm’s nicely furnished quarters, Ryun’s looked like he was just moving in. Huge chests lined the living room, and the walls were bare. Even the coffee table was just another chest. He rummaged through it and moved to the next one. I caught glimpses of gorgeous vases, gilded candelabra, swords, and knickknacks. One chest held tapestries that belonged on the walls, not in boxes gathering dust.

  “You haven’t unpacked since you moved here?”

  “Nope, and I don’t plan to. I have a chair and a table. Ah, here it is.” He pulled out a dagger and removed it from its sheath. “Perfect, isn’t it?”

  It had a bejeweled handle and a thin blade. “What is it for?”

  “You.” He placed it in my hand. “You don’t think I’d allow you to follow me into a den of thieves and debauchers without a weapon. Unless you’d rather tell them how you broke Tully’s nose.”

  The dagger was light, the handle small and perfect for my hand. I touched the blade. It was sharp. I hefted it, then tossed it back and forth before assuming a fighting position.

  “High guard—feint cut down to the left, dodge, grapple attacking hand, and cut across the stomach,” I said, imitating Kai’s moves.

  “Whoa, take it easy.” Ryun took the blade from my hand. “Where did you learn to do that?”

  “Did I do it correctly?”

  “Yes. You’ve taken lessons before?”

  I shook my head. “No, but I’ve watched Kai train. She’s always calling out various attacks. Guard positions high, shielded, or wide. Speed and agility. In and out and dance out of reach. Parry. Thrust.”

  Ryun nodded. “Maybe you’ll make a fine shieldmaiden someday.” He glanced out his window. His students were arriving already. “Do you want something to drink before we leave? Ale or water again?”