Storm Born Book One

Chapter Three

"Elder Arion you will stop this. I cannot stand by and let you do this you have no right to intervene between your granddaughter and Alpha Thorne...". Nelda was aghast.

"Do you seriously believe Elf that they will accept her as High priestess if they find out she is not only mated to vermin but carrying his brat as well? No Elf you will not intervene in this, when the healer gets here they will see to the abomination she carries".

The other Elders gasped shocked they had never seen the Elder behave this way. Bad enough that he had imposed separation of the girl from her mate for the concentration ceremony, but this? The Fey held all life as sacred, removing a healthy child from its mother against her wishes was unheard of. 

"Elder I suggest we all take a moment to calm down the priestess is unwell, this cannot be good for her health" Elder Adlina made to step towards him just as the door to the chamber was flung open and a rather frail-looking woman was pushed non to gently into the room by the guard 

 "The Healer Elders"  he barked before turning and leaving.

She was a small woman with long grey hair, her face lined with age which by Nelda's reckoning had to be very great indeed as the Fey aged slowly. She was dressed in a pale blue robe denoting her position as a healer and she had a bag probably filled with the tools of her trade slung across her chest that her long thin fingers clutched nervously as she peered about the room taking in the people present. 

 ''I summoned you, woman The priestess is unwell she is also with child" he sneered disgust dripping from his words "See to it that the abomination is removed".

"NO! You cannot do this you have no right to do this" Nelda shouted all pretense at diplomacy leaving her.

"The High Lady is correct Arion, you have no right to decide. She is not a child she is a grown woman Elder''. Adlina spoke placatingly ''You are right that the Fey do have an uneasy history with Werewolves, but we had a great deal of respect for Alpha Edward's father. He is here as our guest and he's the priestess's mate. child of a wolf or not we have no right to intervene in this". Adlina was shaken despite the calm outer demeanor she was projecting she had never seen the Head Elder so enraged. She had no liking for the man he was her biggest rival and she had long suspected him of corruption but had failed every attempt to prove it, he was far too Wiley an opponent to be caught easily despite all her investigations into the man, But this, this was a level of out of control she had never seen, he was near apoplectic with rage.

"If you persist Elder we shall have to call the guard'' She stated bluntly. Under his gaze, a lesser being would have cowed but despite her shock at his actions she refused to be intimidated.

 ''I believe this matter best resolved before the council of elders". Elder Bran spoke softly. he was a shy nervous sort of man. Adlina had always felt he would have made for a better priest than an elder, but he was a good friend and an ally.

"I told you to leave, this is a private family matter." he spun round to face the healer "Do as I have instructed you, Woman, the abomination is killing your high priestess remove it".

The elderly woman shook her head vehemently shocked at the order "I am Sorry Elder it is not my place to do such a thing, two elders have overruled you. Even if I possessed the skill to do as you have requested I would not, however, I will look at her, and see if I can ease her sickness and make her more comfortable but I suspect from all you have said the best thing for her would not to be separated from her mate". She bobbed her head and backed away She seemed shocked that she had even said as much to an Elder.

All eyes turned to the door a scuffling and shouting could be heard outside, then a thunderous roar that echoed through the corridor before the door to the chamber was kicked off its hinges Alpha Edward, or rather his wolf stood large in the doorway his breathing heavy. His eyes glowing golden in a face filled with outrage. "Where is my mate" he growled.