Page 54 of Sun Warrior

Greatly gifted, I bare myself to thee.

Earth Mother, aid me with your magick sight.

Lend me strength on this Beltane night.

Come, silver light—fill me to overflow

So those in my care your healing will know.”

As Sora spoke the invocation, she concentrated on the Great Goddess, finding the connection she’d felt with the Earth Mother since she’d been a small child. Through that sacred connection Sora sought the moon, still invisible in the twilight sky. And it was there! She felt it! It was a silver illumination that was nothing like the sickly gray that spread over an Earth Walker’s skin, bringing Night Fever to the Clan. This silver light was sublime and pure—the cool, soothing power that healed by Washing depression and darkness from the Clan.

Filled with the strength of moon magick, Sora completed the invocation:

“By right of blood and birth channel through me

the Goddess gift that is my destiny!”

As she spoke the final words, Jaxom’s bowed head lifted—and he glared at her with a malicious red gaze. Without hesitation Sora swept her arms downward, cupping his fever-hot face in her hands. “I Wash you free of all pain and madness and Night Fever, and gift you with the love of our Great Earth Mother.”

Jaxom’s body jerked while his Moon Woman channeled moonlight through herself and into him. She watched his body begin to glow bright, brilliant silver. It seemed to take a long time. Sora had to grither teeth against the desire to let loose his face as her hands began to grow numb with cold. And then Jaxom blinked several times. His gaze met hers,and his eyes were brown and kind again.

Jaxom smiled wearily up at her. Inhisvoice—the voice that had always laughed at her jokes and told her how special and beautiful she was—he said, “Goddess bless you, my Moon Woman!” Then he sighed in relief and relaxed back against the log, grateful tears flowing down his cheeks.

Emboldened by that victory, Sora began to move through the Clanswomen in a clockwise fashion. The women took to their knees as she approached, lifting their faces to her. Sora rested her hand on one forehead, then another, murmuring the traditional blessing of “I Wash you free of all pain and madness and Night Fever, and gift you with the love of our Great Earth Mother.”

Sora felt an incredible rush of love for them as she moved among her Clan. Though she had only known eighteen winters, Sora was consumed by maternal emotions, and as those feelings grew, her skin took on the brilliant silver sheen that had transformed Leda each Third Night.

As more and more of the Clanswomen were Washed, they returned to the drums and flutes, only this time the music they began weaving together was joined by sweetly harmonizing voices, singing wordless melodies of celebration. Some women even began dancing—twirling around with their arms flung wide, faces turned up to the darkening sky as if waiting with joyous expectation for the first glimpse of the moon.

After she Washed Isabel, Sora pulled the young woman aside briefly. “Please move Jaxom inside the birthing burrow. Tell him to wash. And then give him a mug of the poppy tea and a bowl of stew, and have him take the pallet nearest the hearth fire. Now that he’s himself again I need to recheck his wounds and he needs rest and quiet. A lot of it.”

“It will be as you say, Moon Woman.” Isabel bowed to her and then hurried to untie Jaxom and guide him to the burrow.

Sora continued to wield moon magick, joyfully Washing the rest ofthe Clan. She forgot about the nagging sickness that had been causing her to feel feverish and irritable and to cough annoyingly. She forgot about her fear of whether Clansmen would find the Gathering, attack it, disrupt it, ruin it. Filled with love for her Clan and appreciation for her Goddess, Sora moved among her people, secure in the knowledge that they needed her, they revered her, and they would never, ever leave her.

CHAPTER 13

“Are you sure this is a good idea?”

Mari rearranged the basket filled with salves, tinctures, and every herb she thought might be of help, so that she could slip her hand into Nik’s and squeeze. “Stop worrying. I told you, I’m better after eating. Almost good as new!” It felt great to be walking beside Nik, her arm looped through his, even if he was frowning at her with worry. Rigel rushed past them, chasing Cammy, who was chasing a squirrel. “Hey, stay close, you two! It’s too dark to wander off,” she called.

Beside Nik, Laru sneezed and gave a growling grumble. “I know. Pups can be so annoying,” Nik said, patting the adult Shepherd on his head. He glanced around, holding the lit torch he was carrying higher. “I don’t like being out here after dark.”

Mari thought Nik sounded as grumbly as Laru. “We already talked about this. The birthing burrow isn’t far, and it’s logical that the swarm, and any other nasty things that crawl in the night, will be drawn to the dead left by the fire.” Through their linked arms she felt Nik shiver. “I’m sorry,” she added quickly. “I don’t mean to be callous about it. I know many of your friends died in that fire. But we’re alive, Nik. And for one night at least the forest doesn’t hold as many dangers for us as it usually does.”

“It still feels creepy out here at night,” Davis said. He glanced up atthe sky, which was open and unobscured by the giant pines of the Tribe and the city that lived in the trees. “I didn’t think I’d ever say this, but I’ll be glad to get back inside Mari’s burrow.”

“One convert down—and only a whole Tribe to go,” Nik whispered to Mari, who stifled her laugh with a cough.

“Danita, how are you feeling?” Mari called to the girl who was walking behind them, the Lynx on one side of her and Antreas, holding another torch, on the other. Mari had been surprised when Danita had insisted on coming with them to the birthing burrow. As far as Mari knew, since she’d been attacked Danita had only left their burrow to relieve herself and bathe, but the Lynx’s protection seemed to have given the girl new life. Mari had known Danita’s body would heal from the rape and brutalization, but she and Sora had discussed that it was her spirit that most worried them, and though Danita’s body still needed to heal, it was becoming more and more apparent that Bast had somehow mended the girl’s spirit.

“I’m okay,” Danita said. Like Mari and Jenna, she was carrying a basket laden with food and medical supplies, but her free hand often reached down to touch Bast’s head, as if she wanted to be sure the feline remained beside her. She needn’t have worried. From what Mari could see, the Lynx had no intention of leaving the girl’s side. “Maybe a little, um, stiff and sore. But it feels good to be out walking, even if it is at night.” Danita sent the dark forest suspicious looks, and Mari saw her shiver.

“Hey, you don’t need to worry about anything out there,” Antreas said. “They’d have to get through Bast to get you, and that’s just not going to happen.”

Bast made the coughing sound that Mari had decided was the equivalent of one of Rigel’s yips of agreement.

“Good, but don’t push yourself. Once we’re at the birthing burrow I want you to rest. Whatever tea Sora has concocted for the women, be sure you get a big mug of it.”