MOONDOCK (18 page)

“To my astonishment the great Selam found me!”

The ohhhs and ahhs spread through the elamies and Wylan smiled wondering what she would tell them next.

“This Selam that found me was no ordinary Selam, but a king! The King of Moondock and the Selams!”

Melane looked at Wylan and motioned for him to join her.

He’d faced a thousand warriors and never flinched, but a hall full of Nemows scared him silly.

Her arm came through his as she smiled up at him before continuing. “This is Wylan, the Selam that found me in those mountains and he is King Wylan of Moondock and the great Selams!”

The hall filled with noise as they clapped and stomped their feet, it took Melane many minutes to calm them down enough to talk again.

“He is the bravest of all Selams and there are many more warriors that are just as brave that have come to help us.” She held up her hands to stop their cheers. “I want you all to know, that the armies of Wylan and Gallen, another brave and courageous Selam from Windland are coming here, this morning, to Cibrac. They should be arriving very soon. This army, with the Lamar Guards, will destroy the Kibras!”

Shemon took over for Melane and with her orders for everyone to go and ready the city for the army, the hall began to clear out. The bravest of the Nemows came up to meet Wylan and his warriors. Melane and Shemon stood by them to show their support and answer the questions.

One little elamie tugged on Wylan’s tunic, he bent down to hear what the child wanted to say. “Yes, my pretty elamie, what do you wish to ask?”

She leaned closer to him and cupped her little hand to whisper in his ear. Melane watched in fascination as Wylan listened, looking up at her and smiling. He proceeded to whisper back to the little girl child. Before she left she reached up, hugging Wylan, kissing his cheek, and then ran off to join her friends. Melane looked and saw that the girl stood with Amelia the Weaver, and Melane smiled at her and nodded.

“You seem to have won over the little one’s heart.”

Wylan pulled her to his side as they followed Shemon to the council room. “She asked me quite nicely if I loved you.”

“Really? And what did you tell her?”

“I told her I most certainly did and that I hoped someday soon to have a beautiful little elamie just like her.”

Before Melane could say anything Shemon called the council to order. “Council, our quest has been answered and Melane has brought the ancient Selams to Cibrac.” She introduced Wylan to them. “She also has other news that comes with the army, news that we have all waited to hear.”

Melane looked at the council and wondered how they would take her announcement, did they even understand what she would tell them. She did look at the empty chair that Narmar usually occupied, glancing at Shemon for answers, receiving only a shake of her mother’s head.

“I come before the great council to tell you more than just the wonderful news that we do have an army of Selams that are willing to fight with us to rid this city of the Kibras.”

The council members stared back at her.

“But with the army, I will also tell you that I have made agreements with the main council of Selams concerning their help. I have agreed for the Nemows that we will accept the Selams back into our lives, our society and on mutual agreement any Nemow and Selam may become Lifemates.”

As she expected, pandemonium erupted following her announcement. Wylan stood beside her in support and Boller smiled in understanding.

“This promise will stand. As a civilization, the Nemows are weak from the constant killing and kidnapping of our citizens by the Kibras. Without the Selams we will perish, with their support, we will become a new society. Yes, a strong society. Our children will be protected as will their mothers.”

Their shock was calming but she could see that a few, especially the Begonés and Lamars were not accepting the terms and Melane needed them more the any of the other sects.

“We will stand by these terms and we will change with the influx of Selams. I myself am now Wylan’s lifemate.” She waited for her announcement to run through them before she silenced them once again. “I am a Lamar, but I am also a wife and soon to be mother of his children!”

Wylan helped her remove the cloak that kept Melane’s secret even from Shemon. Melane walked out in front of the council. “I am pregnant with twins and I came back to Cibrac, not only save my people, but to have my children in my home. I want my children to know Cibrac, not the ruins of a society that fell before the Kibra beasts!”

She sensed the darkness that entered the room before she saw the woman. Her head turned sharply to the right and looked at “Narmar!”

Wylan’s hand closed over his sword and Boller and Ponter came forward to stand behind Melane and Wylan. He saw the old woman half bent over with age staring at Melane.

“Whore! Spawn of your mother! I should have killed you with them for the abomination that you are!” Narmar turned, but a flower stand toppled blocking her way, she moved back the other way and doors slammed shut in front of her. Slowly she turned back to face who she knew did the acts. “Melane!”

“I no longer fear you, witch! I have learned how to use my mother’s powers in more ways than she ever thought possible! My children will have my powers as well, even now I can feel their young powers in my womb. Wylan and I will have a son and a daughter! You, no dark evil, will ever harm them. Neither their father nor I will allow it. Do you hear me Narmar?”

“You can’t stop me! Not even a Lamar Guard can stop me.”

The old woman’s laughter sent a chill over Wylan, but it seemed to empower Melane, he knew she was protecting her children and these elamies were going to see how strong Melane could be when it came to those she loved.

“I will not stop you Narmar, I will kill you.”

The woman’s crazy laughter rolled off the walls as she advanced on Melane.

“I will finish what I started and take your babes with you!”

Suddenly a lightning bolt came at them. Melane stood there and raised her hand, stopping the bolt in midair then making it crumble into a thousand shards of stardust.

“Your magic is as old as you are, Narmar. Quit now and I will let the council deal with your treachery and murder. If you continue, I will kill you.”

Melane stepped towards the old woman that began to fidget and look around for an exit. Every direction she moved, Melane moved or threw something in her path. “Will you stop now, Narmar?”

“Never!” Without another word the old woman mumbled something and snakes began to appear around them. Wylan and the men chopped off the heads of the serpents, but Melane gathered them up with the swish of her arm and threw them all back at the old witch’s feet.

One after another of the snakes struck the old witch and after delivering their venom they vanished, completing the cycle of her wicked spell on herself. They all watched as the convulsions wracked her body. No one moved to her aid and the woman died an agonizing death before them.

Melane ordered two of her Lamar guards to take the body of Narmar away, before she returned her attention to the council.

One of the Syron’s was the first to stand and speak. “Melane, we have seen your powers. We can understand that these must have come from Sabrina. But how did you become capable of getting pregnant?”

It was the one question that Melane knew would come and that would destroy all the others. She looked at Shemon and with the woman’s nod of approval, Melane went forward. She walked before the Syron, reached for her hand and placed it on her stomach.

Wylan watch as the woman felt his wife’s womb and then more of them came down to touch Melane, seeing that what she said was real. He didn’t understand this part and would ask her later.

“You can see I am pregnant and I was not cast as a Syron, but I can still bear children. Just as any of you can, Weavers, Begonés, Lamar and Syron, we can all bear children. We can become lifemates, partners with the Selams and create life together. Raise your children in your homes as a family as they do in Windland.”

“What of Moondock?”

One of elamies called out and pointed to Wylan.

“We too have families with lifemates as I will with Melane. But we also have other customs in our society concerning elamies, or Nemows. There are nearly five Selams for every Nemow in Moondock and Windland. We would welcome the Nemows in our land…” He looked at Melane and smiled. “…as lifemates.”

Together they answered questions from all the sect council members. When their curiosity was satisfied Shemon sent them to speak to their sects and promised that the Selams would come and speak with them. She offered Boller and Ponter to start, by sending them with the Begonés. Wylan and Melane went to speak with the Lamars about the pact and the war against the Kibra.

By the time the army appeared, Cibrac was a flurry of excitement and ready for the Selams. Though there were still questions to be asked and answered, curiosity ruled and Melane felt extremely proud of how the Selams, even the ones from Moondock handled the Nemows.

“You didn’t really think I would not speak to them about the difference of these elamies, Melane?”

She looked up at him in wonderment. “I didn’t expect you to.”

“Ahh, but I have first knowledge of what my Selams will face here and with so many unclaimed elamies, well, I did promise them first try at finding their lifemates.”

Melane’s laughter was silenced by his kiss. They both heard Gallen coming towards them.

“Can’t the two of you find a room? You know, we still have a war to fight.” Gallen looked around at all the elamies on each arm of every Selam in the plaza and wondered how they would get them to fight anything.

“Let them enjoy the day, Gallen.” Wylan slapped his uncle on the back. “This is what you have always wanted, lifemates for all Selams.” Wylan’s arm waved before them. “And, dear uncle, it is happening right before your eyes.”

“So it is…so it is.” Before they could leave, Gallen asked. “But what about the beasts, Wylan?”

“We are going to meet with the commanders and the Lamar guard right now, would you like to join us?”

“Why didn’t you say so?”

Melane’s laughter over the older man running to catch up with them warmed Wylan’s heart. She looked much better and now that Narmar was gone, maybe she could relax and enjoy her pregnancy.

The Beasts!

“Boller, take control of that group and follow Shemon! Ponter, you and those twenty go with Jenna!” He issued orders to all the commanders to follow each Lamar Captain assigned to them. The Lamar were great in battle and they knew the terrain and hiding places of the Kibra, but none of them had the skills he admired in Melane.

Wylan searched until he found her with Gallen, digging in his heels of his own Kaymog, he was beside her in a flash.

“You will wear him out, Wylan.”

“Nay,
she
loves me and the work out.” Wylan reached over and shut his little warrior’s open mouth. “Yes, my Kaymog is of the elamie gender. I remembered what you said about the bonding…and it makes sense that an elamie Kaymog would like a Selam master much better than a male Kaymog would.”

How could she argue with him? The way they moved together, anyone would think they had been a team for many years. Of course, Wylan did have Rolley before his new Kaymog. “What did you name her?”

“What?”

“A name Wylan, you need a name for her and you should know that you can talk to her like you and I speak sometimes.” It was Melane’s turn to shut his mouth.

She was glad he had his Kaymog, now they could move together through the lines. She wondered if Wylan’s Kaymog would fight for him as Rolley did her. She leaned forward and spoke to Rolley. “Teach her for me Rolley, I want him around a long time.” His great snort earned her smile and she ruffled the fur over his large eyes.

The special saddle that Wylan asked one of the Begonés to make for her was confining, but she could still move within the high side wall of steel that covered her legs and her precious cargo. Wylan actually had to help her up on Rolley this morning. The twins were getting very large and she knew he worried about her. She didn’t tell him, but she decided that today would be her last day out here. It was time she rested for the birthing. Even promising not to engage in any battles and help only with the strategy and command end of the war against the Kibras was taking its toll on her.

They’d been fighting for over two months now with very little casualties and no deaths of Selams or Lamars. The Kibras took to the hills. They went into hiding after facing the Selams in battle and finding that brute force didn’t work any longer. At the last meeting, all the Selam and Lamar commanders felt they should be able to finish off the Kibras within another month. They all realized they couldn’t annihilate them all, but they could destroy the numbers and it should make the beasts think twice about attacking the farms and outlaying homesteads.

Gallen and Wylan both agreed that half of each force should remain and help the Lamar guards for the next couple of months, be sure the threat is over and will stay gone.

Ponter already volunteered to stay with Jenna. Melane noticed how they often stayed together and she hoped her commander found her lifemate with her friend. Even Shemon seemed taken by Boller, and thoughts of their union pleased her so much. Regardless, Boller was part of Melane’s family now. She refused to let Wylan interfere with the budding romance and she promised to stay out of it as well. If they found love, they would need to work it out for themselves. But, for Shemon, Boller was the only Selam, Melane felt could accept the Commander of the Lamars as an equal.

Her thoughts went back to Shemon and their talk after things calmed down a bit. Her mother was thrilled over the news of the babies and promised to be at the birthing. Melane told her of the dreams and even though Narmar was dead there was still Dragon. Even here, in Cibrac that evil could reach her. Melane didn’t argue when Shemon added extra guards about the halls and her and Wylan’s quarters.

A rider came racing towards them. “There are about twenty Kibra attacking Jenna’s group!”

Wylan sent out twenty more warriors to join the other force. He wasn’t taking any chances. Melane knew he didn’t need her here any longer. Wylan was a born leader and everyone looked to him as the chief commander.

She waved to Gallen as he approached. “It seems the beasts are active today.”

“Two battles in progress and another just started. They must be planning to group attack.”

“I have a surprise for you back at Cibrac. Edwina and Bella have arrived with the supplies.”

“Oh Gallen, I can’t wait to see them!”

“If things settle down here in a while, I’ll be glad to ride back with you.”

Another rider came racing in to reach Wylan. This time the attack was against Shemon and Boller’s troops. After sending out another thirty warriors, Wylan came over to her.

“Something is going on with them. Any ideas Melane?”

“They could have called in others.”

“Other Kibras?”

She nodded, “It was always hard to get a count on them. They moved about too much and always came from different directions.”

They looked at each other as the same thought went through their minds. “Cibrac!”

Both of them turned and raced off to pull in the commanders and troops. They spoke to each other through thought, coordinating their efforts. They deployed enough troops to stay to keep the Kibra here with Shemon and Boller in command, while they took the rest back to Cibrac.

All the Lamars and Selams with Kaymogs raced to Cibrac.

Wylan couldn’t yell loud enough to speak to her so he hoped she was still listening.
Melane, please my love let us fight, you go and make sure the people are safe.

I will Wylan, but please speak to me once I leave you, so that I know you are alright.

I promise I will.

They didn’t have time to speak to each other after that. Lilli left with Melane to reach the gates, while Wylan and his army fought through the Kibras trying to scale the walls of Cibrac.

Melane held her breath until the gates closed and she and Lilli were inside. Everyone raced out to them.
I’m inside Wylan, things look alright, no breaches that I can see.

Stay safe Melane and be careful, they planned this one carefully.

She ordered Rolley to patrol, as did Lilli with her mount. Together they checked with the guards and Selams that were left to guard Cibrac, they were relieved to know they had reinforcements. The attack on Cibrac started about the same time as the ones in outlands began. Wylan was right, they planned this and planned well.

Melane took over and ordered the guards to double up and sent more Selams to the towers to be sure none of the Kibra scaled the wall. She remembered Gallen’s news and wondered where Edwina and Bella could be, sure they would have heard of her arrival. She stopped one of the Weavers and asked, but no one recalled seeing them. She found that very odd, especially knowing Bella’s exuberance in making friends, certain that Cibrac would fascinate the girl.

She set out to find the Selam in charge of Cibrac, a Commander Heath. Everyone said they were sure he was here someplace, but Melane failed to find him.

Wylan? Can you hear me?
She realized that if he were in battle he wouldn’t be open to her thoughts. She decided she would try later to reach him and headed toward her quarters.

She saw Lilli and told her she wanted to find her friends and then she would be back. Lilli assured her everything was under control. Melane asked where the children were and Lilli explained that the Weavers took them all down to the wine cellars for classes to keep them away from the danger.

Before leaving Melane scanned the walls one last time and found no evidence that any beast had made it over and into the city. The guards in the towers waved to her that all was fine. She could still hear the fighting outside the walls, her promise kept her from moving towards it and she turned away under her promise to Wylan.

The halls were near empty as everyone was either hiding or in defensive positions. She did ask a few Nemows about Gallen’s wife, but still no one had seen her or Bella. She wondered if maybe she misunderstood him and they were still coming here and hadn’t arrived. But, Gallen did say they came with the supplies. Melane stopped and turn about, unable to let it go, she needed to go to the stables and see for herself if the wagons were inside the walls and safe.

She could feel the exhaustion weighing down her steps. “How could any mother survive this weight.” Answers didn’t come, but she did slow down. She looked down and realized she couldn’t see her feet any longer. “My seventh moon shadow.” Bella said anytime after the seventh to the ninth the children could come. “I don’t think we will make it to nine.” Her hands rubbed the achy feeling moving over her stomach, the tightness seemed to roll over her and settle right at the base of her spine.

“But, let’s try for eight, eight shadows sounds good, little ones.” She hoped they were at least listening to her.

The smells of the stables penetrated her nose as she came closer. Even from her distance she could see the wagons. She recognized one of Gallen’s Selams and hailed him. He told her that Edwina and Bella were met by one of Wylan’s commanders and taken to their quarters. She asked if it were Commander Heath, but he said he wasn’t sure.

Thanking him, she turned back, relieved that Gallen’s family was inside the walls and safe. She decided to go and change and then go to Gallen’s compound and see if they were there.

The calls from the tower announced that the rest of the troops were arriving. It wouldn’t be long before the battle ended.