Redeeming Vows

“The Ancients said it would take all our powers to bring down Grainna. This newfound gift will aid our fight more than any I think. The ability to heal our wounds inflicted by her is a godsend,” Ian boasted.

A slow smile inched over the youngest MacCoinnich son.

“Looks like my injury wasn’t so bad after all.”

“We still need to be careful, Elizabeth. Cian will need time to learn his power.”

Leave it to Fin to be a killjoy. Without acknowledging his words, Liz thrust her palm at Cian once again.

****

They stood in a line, shoulder to shoulder, while Grainna paced. One of them held power, enough to keep her from knowing instantly who it was. Her eyes met the leader of the caravan. For one brief moment, the man dared to lift his chin in defiance. Grainna narrowed her eyes at his and filled his brain with the image of his limbs ripping from his body. His hands reached to his head before he fell to his knees in pain. Blood dripped from the tear ducts of his eyes.

Grainna moved to the next gypsy in line. “You learn fast,” she said to the man whose eyes and head dipped in respect to her power. As she moved, heads bowed, children clung to the legs of their parents whimpering. She slid into the mind of every adult as she passed and found nothing.

She pivoted and stalked several feet before facing them again. “Show yourself to me.”

The gypsies’ nervous glances spread among them, most unknowing of what she wanted. Grainna raised her hand, intent on destroying them all before a small voice called out. “’Tis I ye search for, m’lady.”

From behind one of the boys stood a girl no more than fifteen, her ripped clothing and matted hair evidence of her poverty even among her people. As she stepped forward, the boot of the man at her side kicked out and she sprawled to the ground. The girl turned on him and spit at his feet. “I give myself up for me, Uncle. Not for ye.”

The child’s defiance sparked interest.

“Devil spawn,” he cursed.

“Which devil do ye speak of?” The girl scrambled to her feet and walked toward Grainna with confidence.

Grainna attempted to search the girl’s mind but wasn’t able to penetrate her will. Interesting.

Her uncle, however, was a different story altogether. He despised his niece for her mere existence. Grainna dug deeper and realized why.

The man had used the girl to ease his lust and in return, the child professed to know how he would die and when. His fear penetrated his thoughts as he looked upon the child now.

The girl stopped a few feet from Grainna, her chin high.

“You do not fear me. Why?”

“Because ye will not kill me.”

“How do you know this?”

She glanced to her people; most didn’t meet her gaze. “I see the future. In it, I am here, as are ye.”

A true seer. No crystal needed to yield the power. “What is your name?”

“They call me Tatiana.” Her words sounded much older than her years. Then again, growing up under the hand of her uncle, she had little choice.

“May I call ye Grainna?”

A slow smile spread over her lips. “For now,” she replied. “Tell me, seer? When will your uncle die?”

The question brought a gasp from those who stood in line.

Tatiana leveled her eyes to Grainna’s. “Before the sun sets.”

****

Liz sat beside her sister in the small cottage by the stream. Outside, Fin, Duncan, and Simon worked together with balls of fire. The only evidence of her brush with a burned palm was a faint red mark. Cian hovered over her palm daily, healing the wound. Within a week, he accepted and used his gift whenever he could without notice.

“Wouldn’t it be great if he could help some of those in the village? Mrs. Claunch is constantly doubled over in pain with her arthritis.”

“Mrs. Claunch wouldn’t mind, but my guess is the reaction of the others would result in something resembling the Salem witch trials.” Liz pulled her dress from her shoulders. Under it, she wore shorts and a light camisole.

“I’m jealous.”

“Don’t be, next time you come remember to wear something under the dress to strip down to.”

“I will.”

The clothing proved more comfortable, but more than that, Liz didn’t want the extra material of long skirts to catch fire a second time.

“Are you ready for this?”

“Is anyone?” The time had come to work with Simon and his gifts.

“He’ll be fine.”

“God, I hope so. What if he changes and can’t figure a way back to himself?”

Tara gave a half smile. “Then it’s better we are with him when it happens. Come on, Lizzy, have a little faith in your son.”

They stepped out of the cottage together in time to see Duncan clasp a ball of fire into his palm and extinguish the flames. Unlike the rest of them, Duncan’s body didn’t burn when the flame touched him. Fin caught sight of her. His eyes swept her frame before they returned to Simon. Does he approve of my choice of clothing?

“Ready?”

“I think so.”

Duncan and Fin stood on each side of her son.

Although it would be a while before Simon measured up to these men physically, Liz couldn’t complain about their mentoring of her son. Simon’s respect for them was unparalleled with any man from their time. She owed them both, Fin especially, though she hated to admit it.

Sensing her worry, Simon turned to her and said, “Are you ready, Mom?”

“Born ready.”

You’re a terrible liar, Simon spoke in his head.

I know. “ I’m fine, really.”

“What will you try first?” Tara diverted Lizzy’s unease.

“A falcon. I think that would be easiest.”

“Is there anything you’d like us to do?” Fin asked.

Simon shook his head and glanced at the sky.

Liz stared on and watched her son close his eyes and steady his breath. Inside his head, he started talking to himself, then aloud for all of them to here.

“I hear the wind calling. Calling me to be a part of it. I stretch my arms…” As he called out the small command for his limbs, Liz concentrated on his fingers. He spread them wide and turned his wrists.

“In order to fly, I need to push off with my legs until the wind gathers under my wings…”

Simons face grew strained but nothing happened. He lowered his arms, frustrated.

“It’s okay, we can try again later.”

“No.” Simon tugged his shirt off and over his head and tossed it to the side.