Elements of Change

Their Story

"I don't want to do this," Ezo complained as Kammon walked to the other side of the clearing. Burrow nudged his knee and pushed him away from the entrance of their makeshift shelter. Ezo's effigy trotted over to stand at Kammon's side.

"You too?" Ezo demanded.

Kammon gave him a cocky half-smile. "He knows what's best for you, even if you're too stubborn to admit it."

"It's not stubborn. I just don't want to get attacked again."

Kammon lost his grin at the reminder. "Let her attack. We showed her last night that she can't destroy our bond. If she tries anything today, we'll defend ourselves just the same. But we need Maggie." Kammon pointed to the bubbling fountain at the center of the clearing. "Now more than ever."

Ezo couldn't argue against that. Kammon was right, but that didn't mean Ezo wanted to deal with Alvrey. "Fine."

Burrow ran to him and nearly tripped Ezo in his excitement. "Yeah, yeah, I can tell you want to explore. Go on."

Burrow took off, running down the trail that led back to Maggie's home. To Ezo's surprise, Ember flew through the sky and down into the tree-lined path to catch up to the fox.

"If I were to guess, last night Maggie gave Alvrey a tongue lashing she won't likely forget. We don't have to worry about Alvrey today."

"How can you be so calm about this?" Ezo demanded.

"Because I know she can't get between us. I don't think there is a way to destroy the bond, but even if there were, she doesn't have the strength for it. She showed that yesterday. We need to focus on the Vow, and why we both have it now."

Ezo walked down the path toward his effigy instead of answering. He was in wonder of Burrow. He had so many questions he wanted to ask Kammon, but his lover was right. They had plenty of time to speak about effigies. Today, they needed answers from Maggie. Since they arrived at her island on the lake, they'd just added more mysteries.

As they approached, Maggie was sitting on the grass in front of the house. She had her eyes closed, but Ezo could see the healing magic moving around her. They approached quietly so as not to disturb her.

"I sent Alvrey to collect herbs. She won't be back for a while." She opened her eyes and spoke without preamble. "I won't try to apologize for my acolyte's actions. She's a grown woman and a master in her own right, so you'll have to ask her for those, but know that I don't agree with what she did."

Kammon nodded. "I know. And I thank you for that."

Ezo dropped onto the grass beside her. He didn't want to talk about Alvrey, and he was grateful Maggie had sent her away. "So, we came here to find out why I have the Vow, but you surprised us by saying that Kammon had it, instead. Where do we even begin with the questions?"

"Kammon, why don't you sit?" Maggie patted the grass as she smiled at him.

Kammon gracefully took his place beside Ezo, reclining back and resting on his arms with his legs stretched out in front of him. He was relaxed here, with Maggie on this island. His wariness was gone, as was the tension he usually carried in his shoulders.

Maggie shifted her skirts and settled her hands in her lap. "Before we talk about anything else, we need to discuss the fountain."

"Do you understand what happened? What was that power?" Kammon asked.

"As I told you before, the Goddess Malikana had a temple on this island ages ago. After the gods left our world in the wake of the God Wars, their magic slowly faded. In some places, it was more concentrated and lingered longer, like the temples. Malikana was the Mailan goddess of healing springs and the fiery sun. During the God Wars she moved along the front lines of the battles and healed what no one else could heal, but she refused to kill."

"I thought all the gods fought in those wars?" Kammon asked.

"I said she refused to kill," Maggie said with a smile. "I didn't say she refused to fight."

Ezo's education about the God Wars was limited, but Malikana was a central figure in the war. "So what was she doing? Wasn't she the general in opposition to the Nameless One?"

Maggie nodded. "Yes. But she believed that he drew his strength from death, and killing went against her beliefs as a healer. She was pushed into a corner at the start of the war, and had no choice. If she did fight, the Nameless One would gain control of the world, and darkness would become the rule of the land."

"That's a history lesson," Kammon said softly. "That doesn't explain what happened at the fountain."

"I am not a historian, nor was I raised in Mailan with their ways and beliefs, but Malikana was the central goddess figure in their religion. She is still worshipped to this day. Her followers are some of the most powerful healers in the world. I tell you that so you can understand that she still has influence, even when it seems the gods have left for good."

"So what does that have to do with the fountain?" Ezo asked.

"I believe that whatever caused the Vow to return to Kammon ignited something in that well. Not because it welcomed the Vow, but because it recognized a man fighting the darkness in his soul."

"Why would the goddess's fountain react to my Vow?" Kammon asked.

Maggie looked at Kammon and held a hand out to him. "May I look at your Vow again?"

Kammon didn't answer, but put his hand in hers. Ezo tensed, prepared to defend his lover if anyone came for them while he was focused on Maggie.

There was nothing visible as she delved into Kammon's magic, but Ezo felt movement through the bond. It wasn't strong, and it didn't feel dangerous. It hadn't been there when she'd checked the bond the day before. Had something changed when Kammon brought the fountain back to life? Or could it be because of the way Ember had buried herself in his chest as Burrow took form?

Again, there were more questions than answers on this island.

He felt it a moment before Kammon pulled his hand back from Maggie. They both opened their eyes.

Maggie took a deep breath and looked between Kammon and Ezo. She settled her gaze on Kammon. "Will you share with me what happened between the two of you?"

"Why do you want that?" Ezo demanded. He hated that she wouldn't just answer them. Why did the rest of it matter right now?

"The two of you are bound so tightly that it's almost impossible to probe one of you without reading the other as well. I don't want to make assumptions about what's happening, but I believe it will help me understand what might have caused not just the fountain's awakening, but also the Vow."

Kammon looked at Ezo for approval, and he gave a quick nod. Everything was so much more complicated than he wanted it to be, but he wouldn't begrudge the healer just because his life had gone topsy-turvy since that night so long ago at Mason Creek.

Kammon gave him a small smile, then turned to Maggie and began to tell the healer their story.

Author's Note: Do you think Maggie can really help Ezo and Kammon? And just what are we going to do about Alvrey???