Myths and Legends

Chapter Fourteen

''I knew you would,'' the chief said taking my hand in his. He completely ignored the growl that left Solar's lips. ''Did you have the dream I told you about?''

''I did,'' I said answering his question.

''Then you know now what your name is.''

I nodded. ''Yes.'' I could see out of the corner of my eye that Solar was staring at me. ''Yes I know the name my mother gave me.'' I looked down at my hand. ''I also know that you were there.''

''Yes I was there,'' the chief said sadly. ''That was in our southern kingdom. Your mother came to me bringing along her most trusted maid, Kathryn and her most trusted guard, Xian.''

''What happened?'' I asked. I knew nothing of before or after that short dream. And Xian. No where in the dream did he appear.

The chief looked at me sadly. His eyes traveled to where Solar was now standing. His arms were crossed listening. A couple times I heard him speaking to me. Telling me that it didn't matter if my name was different or not, that he'd love me all the same. That I was his mate and that wouldn't change.

''Your mother came to my kingdom in hope to give you the best start to your life. She had just gone into labor when both Kathryn and Xian helped her through our doors.'' He stopped to look down at the water. ''I couldn't turn her away. She is our goddess. So I couldn't abandon her to an awful fate that would've happened if I had turned her away.''

I was trying to keep up. ''Her fate?'' Solar had moved closer to sit down behind me. I felt his arms wrap around me.

''The gods were angered that your mother was pregnant. That she had fallen in love with a wizard and from their love came you. If your mother had fallen in love with one of the others gods then they would've had no reason to interfere with the pregnancy. But because of who your father was, they were angered that she was fall in love and have a baby with someone seen lesser than them. The gods tried everything to get your mother to abort or even cancel out the pregnancy, but she wouldn't. So the gods started sending people and monsters to lie and wait for her to go into labor so they could kill you.''

He stopped when he saw a tear roll down my face. Solar held me close to his chest. ''I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.''

''No it's fine. I have the right to know,'' I said wiping the tears from my face. ''So that's why my mother gave me to Kathryn?''

''Yes,'' the chief said. His mood hadn't changed a bit since starting. ''But there is more to the story.'' More. There was even more I didn't know about. How much more could there be.

''Dune that's enough.'' I heard Solar's voice come from behind me. I quickly turned to look at him as his eyes met mine. I couldn't believe he actually spoke. I didn't think he could. But slowly I turned my attention back to Dune.

Dune looked at me. His eyes held so much sadness. He was saddened for me and what happened to get me here. I leaned back against Solar as his arms wrapped tighter around me. ''No I can handle it.'' I really hoped that was true.

''Moriah what I have to tell you is even sadder than what you've see or what I've told you. Are you sure that's what you want to hear?''

I nodded my head. ''It's my past. I have the right to know what happened.''

Dune shared a look with Solar. I could only guess that he nodded behind me because Dune gave me a small smile. ''Moriah the night you were born.... It was the same night that your father was killed.'' That pained my heart. ''It's what caused your mother to go into labor with you. The pain of losing your father was so much for her that she fled her palace to come to me. The gods didn't think she would run like she did. But your mother wasn't going to lose you too. So when you were born your mother held you for a few moments before handing you off to Kathryn to take care of. Xian and Kathryn raised you amongst their two older boys that were still young but old enough to know that you were their younger sister. It worked as the gods couldn't pin point where you had gone because you were placed in a home of mortals. The goddess's scent would fade after a few months so from then on you were safe to be outside with others.''