Storm Born Book One

Chapter 13

The elderly shaman was sitting on a bench in the great hall her back rigid and her hands resting on the elk head of her staff.  A  look of serenity bathing her aged face gave her features a softness whereas they had previously been stern and harsh. anyone looking at her would think her a harmless if eccentric old woman.  Edwards having experienced her power first hand did not avail himself of any such delusions. She was a dangerous woman with a great deal of power, and his dealings with her should be cautious. He did not quite understand Rosalinds' attitude towards the woman Her seeming lack of concern bothered him but he judged it wise to follow her lead in this matter.

Rosalind, though she was not as cautious as Edmund did not approach the woman without any caution, she masked her emotions keeping her face neutral, so as not to give away the inner turmoil she was feeling. The reality belied her calm features, she was seething. ''How dare this woman use magic on her mate, disrupt her home, and disturb her people. What made her think she could appear before her after all she had done? Stealing her childhood memories, destroying her childhood,''  her thoughts ran riot and she was barely controlling the rage that she wished to unleash on the woman she could feel her powers tingling in her fingers ready to unleash should she wish it. Anyone looking at her would think her calm as she approached the Shamen, her turmoil was barely perceptible to any but the woman in front of her.

''Peace Priestess,'' the elderly woman smirked she could feel the barely held-back power, the anger, the raw emotions. ''I haven't come for a fight with you child, calm your anger.''

Edward glanced at Rosalind, to him her face seemed devoid of emotion he could sense no anger through the mate bond. He should be able to feel her emotions almost as if they were his own, but right at that moment he realized he could get nothing from her, was she blocking him? Holding his peace he reigned in Arnoux who was alert to the threat and wanted him to shift so he could better protect their mate.

''I have been informed of your testimony at my grandfather's hearing. Tell me Shaman why should I hold my peace? you are not welcomed here, state your business and leave'' she spat

Edmund raised an eyebrow in surprise Rosalind seldom raised her voice. She also had never told him of the conversation she had had with Adlina and Bran after her grandfather's trial every attempt he had made to get her to talk about it had resulted in her shutting him down, so he had stopped pushing her. She would tell him when and if she was ready to. Even if he did believe that talking would help her he would not force the issue.

''Priestess...''

''I am not a high priestess any longer you may address me as Luna''.

The old woman sighed frowning the first crack in the armor of indifference that she had surrounded herself in ''Child you may have forsaken your birthright and title but the power of a priestess still runs through your veins. You are what you were born to be a priestess of Yueh-o the moon goddess, are you so vain as to believe that the right to refuse the Goddess is in your power? child, you think that the goddess makes mistakes in her choices?'' her calm juxtaposed with the tension in the air, power crackled all around them like an imminent storm waiting to unleash its rage '' Your power left unchecked and untrained is dangerous Priestess you would have received that training once you reached adolescence, well I do not need to explain to you why you did not, I come to offer my help''.

''I need no help from you Shaman''  Rosalind spat out seething through gritted teeth, as she tightened her fists her nails digging into the soft flesh of her palm she was vaguely conscious of a warm wetness there.

''Do you not priestess? her eyes moved from Rosalind's face to her hands Edward followed the movement his eyes widened with surprise as lightning-blue electricity danced around Rosalind's clenched fists. He had known that as priestess she had a great deal of power that had been un-sealed When they had first arrived in the capitol and the spell had lifted.