Lost Heart: A Celta Novella (Celta HeartMate Series) (14 page)

T
he next morning
, they awoke naturally with the sunlight coming through their windows, had a leisurely breakfast in their rooms and played with the kitten.

Barton had been tagged by the head of the island's guard force — a native — to talk about security matters and running a Family like the chosen on the island. The woman Guarda Chief had figured Clover Compound would be comparable to the island and its population.

So Enata took her first solitary walk around the island. Not precisely
around
, but atop another ridge angled inland, then dropping down a path in the direction of the big lake that she hoped she might see in person.

The thick forest of the island resounded with birdsong and the movement of animals, a gorgeous melody. Celta taking care of her special creatures.

Of which Enata's brother was one. That both pleased and hurt. It would truly rip at her when she left. Lady and Lord, she prayed Reglis was right and she would not lose her memory again. She'd figure out how to bargain with the planet if she needed to make that happen.

A tuneful warbling lilted into her mind.
I have a beautiful tail, look at my beautiful tail. I have a beautiful wings, how wondrous is the color of shading on my beautiful wings. I am happy I am beautiful. I am happy I am alive. I am happy I can SING!

The complete good cheer of the bird stopped Enata, had her rerunning her thoughts, flipping them to positive instead of negative. Concentrate on the positive.

She had a fabulous husband, one who loved her and whom she loved. A man she'd build a life with and who would help her heal any wounds given to her by this whole mess — wait, that was negative again.

Take it down to absolute simplicity.

The sun on her face, the scent of luxuriant forest and hint of sea, the colorful flowers around her, gave her pleasure. She felt good and glad to be alive.

She loved her husband and he loved her. Wondrous.

She enjoyed being with her brother again, and this unique experience intrigued her.

The sex with Barton was fantastic.

Yes, now she smiled.

Chirp. Chirp. Chirp. The bowing of a branchlet attracted her and she looked up, stunned at the beauty of the bird. The front of its head, above its beak to the backs of its eyes showed a deep pink, with a slash of yellow curving over amber eyes. The rest of its head was a pale gray. It had a bib of short gray-green feathers, then color again below that — yellow shading to rich orange, pink in the center, orange and yellow. The bird lifted her deep green wings and flicked the same color tail.

Hello, woman.

Hello, beautiful bird!

I AM beautiful. You are very beautiful, too. I like your hair.

It certainly waved more here than back in Druida City, especially since she didn't confine it but wore it down, and her hair began lightening again.

The lady wound her song with mine and told me that I am to be a companion with you. Does that please you? It pleases me!

Enata answered,
Yes! It does please me! Many people back where I come from have a special bond with a feathered or furred companion.

The bird flew to her shoulder, plucked at Enata's hair with her beak as if considering the thickness and consistency.
I DO like your hair.

Enata raised a hand and brushed the back of it over the short green-gray feathers of the bird's side.
I like your feathers.

Soft!
they both said together. Enata smiled and the bird clicked her beak as if in satisfaction.

Chirping, then nuzzling her head against Enata's chin, the bird whispered into her mind,
The lady said I would like the patterns of your thoughts, and I do!

Enata choked, but replied mentally,
Thank you. I like the song of your thoughts, too.

A tiny peck.
I am to make sure the rhythm of your thoughts always stays beautiful.

"A mobile Healer," Enata murmured.

I am called rose crowned fruit dove
, the bird lilted.
But many are called that.
She looked expectantly at Enata.
So I get a PERSONAL name from you.

With the lightest touch, Enata said aloud, "I will call you, Glabra."

It has nice sounds. Thank you.

"Let's walk back to the castle. We can bond during this lovely morning. And I want to introduce you to my mate and
his
Fam."

Glabra warbled in pleasure.

That Enata had found a Fam pleased Barton and he bowed to her and welcomed her into the Clover Family. The situation did
not
please Resup who hissed, and pouted, and only came around to acceptance after Barton had let the kitten sit on his head again.

A
fter lunch
, restlessness pervaded Enata. "I can't sit still," she grumbled when they inspected the herb gardens. Glabra sang her joy at bathing in a fountain as Resup watched with disdain.

Tilting his head, Barton stopped in front of her and took both her hands. His knees dipped a little in what he called sinking into his balance. Enata had barely recalled that from her grovestudy self-defense days. More fighting training lay ahead of her. Not something she'd ever contemplated.

He closed his eyes and she understood that he checked their bond, then his lips thinned as his eyelids opened. "I understand that feeling. Obsession."

"Oh. So Celta is calling me."

"Sounds right."

She drew a hand away from his, lifted it, "Come along, Glabra, we go to hear the lady." Enata's voice sounded a little ragged to herself.

Glabra flew, but Resup teleported to Barton's shoulder in a showy move.

Ah!
Glabra sang.
We go to the glade in the grove, the glade in the grove for the lady!

"You can show us," Enata said.

Yes, follow me!

I will show you a lot of Druida City,
Resup said.

Barton snorted, muttered, "I don't think he
knows
a lot of Druida City."

The kitten ignored him.

Since Barton seemed calmer about this than she, Enata matched his pace, and regulated her breathing to his. Within half a septhour they stood in the center of a grassy clearing dotted with wildflowers.

Greetings to you, lady!
Glabra warbled.

And to you, Glabra
,
responded a voice so melodious it brought tears of awe to Enata's eyes. She glanced at Barton, who'd stiffened. Resup's eyes looked wide and wild.

"Greetyou," Enata said to the being who materialized before her, a woman with long, deep green and blue streaked hair, voluptuous and gorgeous, wearing pale green draperies. Her skin was golden, her features symmetrical and fine, her eyes midnight blue with an oblong pupil. About her the atmosphere coalesced like the center of a storm, and all the scents of the island sharpened, inundating Enata.

Greetyou, City Librarian
, said Celta.
We have much to discuss.

W
hat would
you ask of me first, PublicLibrarian of the City of Druida, Celta, Enata Losa Licorice? I have found that you Licorices are curious, and you demonstrate that.

Enata blurted the first question that surfaced. "This amazing place has birds and animals I've never seen or even imagined."

Gesturing gracefully, Celta explained,
The island has several ecosystems. I have a selection of beings from all of my continents, including some of the most fragile. I know the history of your original planet, that which you call Earth, and how you humans destroyed some beings. That will not be allowed here.

Enata swallowed her protest. Before she formed her next question, Barton pulled her over to flat slab of rock, perfect for them to sit side by side and study the female avatar.

Ask something more personal. "How do you know so much about me?"

When you are here on the island, I can sift through your memories while you sleep. I know all that any of my folk know, or have learned. I know what sent your ancestors running from that ancient Earth.

Enata's stomach clutched and Barton swore. She put a hand on his thigh to soothe them both. Resup had deserted them to chase flutterbys — that the planet provided for his amusement? — in the glade.

A notion occurred to Enata. Celta now knew everything she did of
Lugh's Spear
.

She heard the laughter of a frolicking breeze through wind chimes, the woman’s smile broke like the most exquisite dawn.
As if I didn't know where any of those three space vehicles of you humans landed! As if I didn't take Lugh's Spear into myself to study it.

Enata valiantly suppressed a surge of anger. Celta had claimed lives when the ground had collapsed under the starship so long ago. Words spurted from her mouth, anyway.
Is all of our history shaped by you?

But no! I have little to do with any of the sicknesses or diseases that sweep through my atmosphere and affect you.
A thoughtful hum as she tapped lush lips with an elegant finger.
Though I suppose I could study them and modify them.

Please, don't interfere with us!
Enata exclaimed.

The ground shifted under their rock, and only there, extremely localized. Barton steadied her. His darkened expression included a clenched jaw.

Not even if I interfere for good?
asked Celta.

Some tone warned Enata to treat this being as if she were . . . well, she
was
a goddess.

I have modified weather and winters for you puny humans.

And we thank you. But we wish to—
ah, 'make our mark on this world' certainly wasn't the right phrasing —
determine our own destiny.

Now the planet's voice came cool and crackling, like that icy winter, her eyes deepened to the blackness of space.
I have interfered minimally. I will not change my jetstreams or any weather if it might devastate those of my own, the beasts and birds and plants I shelter and love.
A thoughtful pause.
I will not say that you humans wouldn't have survived without my help, but there would only be small colonies of you at the original sites of the places you call Druida City and Chinju. You would not have had the numbers to expand from them. And I would not have begun to collect and shelter my own humans here on Cyfrinach if I did not want you human animals to thrive.

Enata let out a breath and walked to the middle of the glen and curtseyed deeply to the planet — the woman's voice in her head and the vision before her who
wasn't
the Lady whom Enata worshipped. She had to remember that. This one had no equal spouse and partner. A huge shaft of pain at the thought of such loneliness speared her. The remembrance of such loneliness.

Barton joined her.

Celta sighed like a massive stream of wind, her clothing fluttering.
It is good to have other minds to speak with . . . not EQUAL minds, but intelligent beings with other perspectives.

Barton brushed his fingers against Enata’s hand, but didn't take it. She felt the wariness of the fight in him.

Barton wanted his say. He glanced around and flourished a bow as if to the highest in all of Celta, definitely not meeting those strange eyes. "Lady, I would speak to you about taking the memories of the Chosen from their Family members."

The more who remember, the more chance it is that my people on my island will be interfered with. That I, myself, might be discovered and I am not one who wishes to be worshipped or prayed to or expected to grant trivial boons.

"Let Enata be a judge of who can know and who can't," Barton persuaded. "You have observed generations of Licorice Librarians. Have any betrayed you, even bent their word to you, their vows?"

I will consider. I have a very good and gentle link with your waking minds now. You may leave this place.

So he and Enata walked in silence — punctuated by Resup's squeals as he chased leaves and twigs rolled by the breeze and pounced, Glabra's ever cheerful melody. They'd reached the point on the cliffs to look out over the bay and the
Lady of Celta
that readied for the next voyage to Druida City, and watched that for some minutes, before Celta spoke again. This time she didn’t materialize.

I will allow the current Librarian embedded in the human culture, Enata Losa Licorice, to call upon me to lift the mists of ignorance from certain human brains. But there will be a price, always, to those who demand to remember bonds to the Chosen or wish to know of my presence.

"A price," Barton said warily.

Much like the one you and the Librarian have paid. If I have not met the person, that individual must come to this island to make herself or himself known to me that I might observe him and her and judge them worthy of their knowledge.

"The headaches and sickness," Enata murmured. "The disruption of our natural rhythms as experienced by others."

"The bad vibrations," Barton added.

"
But,
" Enata said in tones of steel, “
you must not take away Balansa's memories of her brother when she leaves with us.”

Unacceptable,
Celta said.
She is a sub-adult and cannot be trusted to be quiet.

"Yes, she can." Enata set her feet in the rock, ready to take a stand and fight. Barton had never admired her more.

"You cannot rip the entire memory of her brother away from her. You will break her." Enata's chin set. "And no matter how many people,
sentient beings
you've hurt and broken in the past—"

"Including Enata," Barton added. "Including Reglis who even now is upset because none of his Family remembers his existence."

"—I believe you are a compassionate person, and will not deliberately hurt people in the future. It's not what a decent being does."

Barton heard Enata inhale, then watched as she gracefully slid down to sit, and placed her hands on the ground. "Hear me, Lady Celta. Listen. I give you permission to deeply review my emotions and see how your tampering with my memories and the memories of my Family, removing Reglis from our recollections, harmed us!"

Horrified, Barton surged forward, slammed into an invisible spellshield and bounced back hard, landing on his ass. There he could only wait and watch, and pant with fear.

FamMan needs me!
Resup darted out of the bushes and onto his lap. Barton picked his Fam up in both hands, liking the softness of the baby fur, the couple of licks Resup gave him.

FamWoman needs me!
The bird succeeded where Barton couldn't and flew to Enata.
I will sit on her head! I will keep her head good!

Barton fervently hoped so. In fact, he prayed to the Lady and Lord of his religion. And he sat and petted his Fam and watched as his beloved turned pale and trembled as an unimaginable entity played with her mind. He breathed and counted his breaths in and out to a hundred. Stopped and counted again. A third time, a fourth, and he lost track after that, except he knew the sun changed its angle and Resup fell asleep purring.

Finally Enata slumped.

Barton carefully tipped Resup from his shaking hands, leapt to his feet, went over to Enata and yanked her upright against him. And began to spew his fear. "You damn well should not have done that, Enata, and especially not by yourself, and not without consulting me."

"So-rry," she whispered.

"You should be," he said. His throat hurt. As if he'd been yelling all the while out loud instead of screaming silently.

You should be
, echoed Resup.
You scared us bad!
The kitten clawed up Barton's trous leg and then his sleeve to anchor himself on Barton's shoulder.

"Sorry."

"You damn well talk to me before you do anything that might drive you mad or kill you. I mean it, Enata."

"I apologize," she said, her voice muffled against his chest. Then she cleared her throat. "I will ask the same of you."

"I agree," he said. "But you're indebted to me for one fliggering heart-stopping scare. You damn well remember that."

"All right."

"And I'm still angry with you."

"All right." She paused, and he realized he wasn't the only one shaking, she did, too. They just sort of shook in unison.

After about a quarter septhour, they'd settled, their hearts now beating together and in a regular, steady rhythm.

Before they left the ridge, Celta spoke,

I state my conclusions as follows: First: I see that removing all knowledge of her brother Savi will permanently maim the sub-adult Balansa, so I have allowed her to keep her memories. I have placed a silence spell upon Balansa so that she cannot speak of her brother to anyone except the City Librarian. Balansa's recollections of other Chosen and the island will fade. Second: The City Librarian's mate's memories will also fade. Third: All of the City Librarian's memories will remain intact. I have given the City Librarian the means to allow remembrance of me and any Chosen I have already taken to individuals she believes should be informed. I emphasize that there will be a price to be paid for such knowledge. Fourth and finally, I am reconsidering my policies of removing all memories of my Chosen from their Family members after understanding the ramifications of such distress upon the Licorice, Hazel, Heather, Mor, and Vine Families from facts I found in the City Librarian's memories of these Families. I will also consider modifying my qualifications of Chosen to include affect on Families if memories were excised, but I will decide who retains memories and who does not upon a case by case basis. Those are my conclusions. You may leave the island at your convenience.

"We thank you," Barton forced himself to say, yanked the
feeling
of gratitude from his depths and projected it to the great being of Celta. He bowed in the four directions.

"We thank you," Enata said, curtseying in each direction.

Thanks, Celta!
Resup said.
I want to go back to Druida City that's more interesting!

Thank you, lady,
sang Glabra.
I know you will be with me as we sing together, but I am pleased to go with my FamWoman.