The tension broke like a taut wire popping beneath a vast strain. Power washed outward along those tethers then back. Nayena’s new nose ring glowed like a tiny sun, and a moment later, everything snuffed out, leaving all in darkness.
It didn’t last. Yibal lit several witchlights and let them float just above the ritual circles.
“The Moon Clan is formed. Nayena has been ordained first virdana of Moon Clan. We offer her welcome and blessings.”
The other virdanas and the collected giants murmured. Not a very friendly welcome, Mal thought.
“The second offering to seal the alliance must now be made. The blood of Coorsel and Nayena have mixed, and their marriage has sealed a union of two beings and two races. Nayena has stepped into the role of virdana, guardian of the clan, leader, healer, mother, heart, soul. Every soul in the clan is bound to hers, and she, to every soul. She is the first virdana of Moon Clan, but she will not be the last. She will serve and when she dies, she will freely relinquish those ties that bind her so that another may take up the mantle. She will give her soul to sustaining the binding until a new virdana can shoulder the load. She will offer her blood, her life, her soul, her entire essence, to the clan, to bind it, to protect it, to keep it whole. To mark this vow, she offers blood, flesh, and bone.”
The virdana extended her hand to take one of Nayena’s. She splayed the pixie’s hand then drew a wicked little knife with a hook at the end and sliced through the pixie’s middle finger. It fell to the ground, and bright light flashed. A column of orange light rose up into the air around the pixie. Mal had the feeling it also went down into the ground.
Yibal stepped back, sheathing the ceremonial blade in a hidden pocket.
“And so it is done. A new clan. A new virdana. A new alliance. You have done a great service, a wondrous service, for both the cursed giants and your own people. You are to be lauded and thanked, and we do. All of us do. I am sorry that it cannot last. Your marriage, your term as virdana, your life—they begin and end tonight.”
Nayena visibly started at that, her wings flaring. She didn’t back away, though. Nor did she try to escape. Given her new powers—in addition to whatever pixie power she had—she might have succeeded. Who knew? But nobody was going to find out because the little pixie stood her ground.
“Think she’ll do the evil overlord thing and explain what the hell is going on?” Mal murmured to Law.
It appeared giants had great hearing, or maybe just Yibal, because her gaze snapped to where Mal and Law stood.
“The new clan is necessary to protect the smalls,” she said. “But much has been taken from our small women. The two virdanas who were cursed were killed by their own clans. The men now will have children and families, though one of their kind is responsible for the curse. My sister is angry.”
At Mal’s obvious surprise, the virdana nodded.
“Yes, my sister is among the smalls. She has become nothing.” She gestured toward the gathered group of small giants. “They have all become nothing. Even their own husbands have abandoned them. Coorsel was meant to marry another, but she is now barren and useless to him. The search for a cure has been abandoned. The alliance satisfies the males, and leaves the women betrayed.
“We will not allow this to stand. Ilee will be made virdana of Moon Clan. The pixies and the giants of the clan will obey her. They have no choice. It is the law. The search to break the curse will continue, and the males will learn their clan roles are changing.Theywill raise the littles.Theywill guard the creches.Theywill forage for food.”
“I don’t suppose you could just do the same with Nayena in charge,” Mal said. “I mean, did you even ask her?”
“No. A small must be virdana.” She said it with finality and no little regret. “You must witness.”
“Any particular reason why?” Law asked.
He sounded reasonable enough, but every muscle in his body was tense and blue sparks snapped around the ends of his hair. Mal had never seen that happen before. He was like a shaken-up bottle of champagne about to explode. Or maybe a corked-up bottle of Coke someone had just dumped Mentos into. Whichever, the pressure of magic was building inside him fast, and it was going to come out soon, one way or another.
“When a virdana dies and a new one is anointed, a witness is necessary. We believe you or the housekeeper would be best.”
“You’ll excuse me for repeating myself, I’m sure, but why?”
“No one will doubt you when you tell them how it was done.”
“Do you think I will lie for you? Tell them some story to cover the fact that you will have murdered Nayena?”
She shook her head. “There is no need. It is only important to say what you see. That we work together this night in service to giants and not to our enemies. That we serve the larger Moon Clan and believe Nayena’s death will now benefit the clan more than her life.”
“And if I say otherwise?”
Yibal gave him a rebuking look. “It would be a lie.”
She had him there. Mal could tell Law believed her. So did she, for that matter. It was sick and twisted, but the gathered giants still thought they were doing the right thing. Or maybe the righter thing. Or less wrong thing? At any rate, they thought they were doing the just thing, at least for the shrunken females. To be fair, Mal agreed that they did deserve better than they were getting. She’d thought so from the first she’d heard of the story of the curse.
“Ilee, stand within the candles. It will be easier to make the transition of power if you are near Nayena when she dies.”
Law swore under his breath.
Mal shot a glance at him, startled.
