“It is the one we spoke of, Meryn,” said the gold-haired Sunna goddess.
Nyria.I stood there, tongue-tied. I had no words to say to either of them. I had hoped to call on Gaia herself, but it was clear that I would have to pass Nyria and Meryn, her daughters, first.
“It is time,” Nyria said solemnly, “is it not, little one?”
“Time?” I blurted out, even as the fur on my ears and tail rose in fright. “Is it? I-I wanted to speak with Gaia—“
“I know.” Nyria rose.
Within the blink of an eye, she stood before me, her gaze fixed on mine. I froze, unable to move away even as her fingers rose to graze my chin and brush against my cheek, much as a mother might caress her child.
“Did I not tell you to have faith and bide the hour?”
Tears sprang up in my eyes, and my gaze fell to glare at my feet.
“He’s dying. I can’t—“
“His love is deep, sister mine,” Meryn said softly, “and he is as much my child as he is yours.”
In a twinkling, Meryn stood at my side. Her hand rested in comfort on my shoulder and then traveled down to take my hand in hers.
“You ought not tease him so, especially with such cryptic words.”
Nyria sighed.
“The little one would understand if he but listened.”
“Sometimes words lose meaning when the heart is at stake,” Meryn reminded her. “Their lives are short… and passions cloud the vision.”
“I tried to be patient,” I whispered. My tail sagged with dejection. “Please punish me… and not him!”
“Punish?” Nyria shook her head. “Nay, I cannot crush the spirit of one so gallant and passionate. When the time comes, your beloved will find freedom from the curse.” Nyria nudged at my chin, forcing me to meet her gentle gaze. “He will find freedom in the bonds of love that he has woven for you. Those words will come to him, and that will set him free.”
“Or Gaia could just—“
Meryn now also stood before me. Her finger rose to tap my lips, silencing me.
“Listen to her, little one. Close your eyes… and listen.”
Following her encouragement, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The third presence was there in the garden. I inhaled sharply as I realized. The presence was the garden itself, the entire earth, the cosmos. It was Gaia—warm and mothering. That which faltered, that which faded, that which passed only returned to her arms. Nothing was ever truly gone.
I sank further and further into her arms. Within me, without me, there was no difference. As I sank deeper and deeper into the heart of the earth, I could feel myself becoming nothing andeverything all at once. I could hear a voice calling out to me faintly.
“There!” Nyria’s voice resounded.
“He comes, little one,” Meryn’s voice faded as the garden receded into white.
The darkness eased to gray as I chased the voice calling my name.
“Alaaan! Gods! Alan!”
Chapter 19
Hugh
“Icome bearing gifts, Aileen,” I said as I burst into the medic’s hut.
Behind me, the oak door slammed shut with another bout of tempestuous chilly wind. Aileen set down her knitting and glared up at me, refusing to move from her rocking chair by the cozy hearth. At the sight of the small leather bag in my hands, her brow knitted into a frown.
