The decision was unanimous. What is more, the Skyfolk had chosen not to make it alone. Bha'mak and Cha'rai had asked the Sessailaine who were helping them to share their voice as well. "You will be the ones babysitting us, helping us as we regain skills lost for more than a thousand years. You must have a voice!" Bha'mak insisted.
The entire population of Skyfolk was standing in a circle around Aeronwyn and Keri. Keri, at Aeronwyn's request, was holding her hands to Aeronwyn's hands and willing her power, her strength into the spell of the Althene. Standing closest to Aeronwyn were the eldest, Bha'mak and Cha'rai among them. Everyone was touching someone who was touching Aeronwyn. Cha'rai was holding Aeronwyn's golden hair in her hands.
Aeronwyn began by seeking the magic she carried. Then she allowed the magic from Keri to flow into it. As she did, she began the only way she knew how, by building up the patterns of healing mage craft in her mind. Uncertain, but trusting the understanding she had gained with the help of the Eldest, she reached with her mind into the spell woven in red and gold in her hair. As she sought out the patterns of the God magic, the healing spell that Althene had woven, she began to sing a wordless song. It came from deep inside her and beyond her at the same time.
The song spoke of grief and longing, of bodies broken by choice yet longing for healing. It's music was the music of the sky; the wind whistling beneath the wings of a hawk, the mists of clouds washing past the skin, the cry of an eagle leaving its nest to seek prey. It was a song of ascents, lifting the spell beyond what any mortal, even the immortal Queen Rhiannon, could aspire to create. It was a prayer, a hope, a wish.
The song reached a moment where it no longer needed Aeronwyn's voice to carry it. More than two hundred voices lifted the song in perfect harmony. Louder, stronger, more intense it grew until Aeronwyn grew deafened by its power and even the nearby trees began to shake in sympathy to its magic. Then, as it reached the apex of its intentions, the song exploded outward in a burst of soundless power that picked up those at its centre and threw them across the open field.
Keri reached out to Aeronwyn as they both struggled to regain their feet. They looked around them and began to cry, not for sorrow, but for joy. The two mages were surrounded by over two hundred winged Skyfolk, each one clumsily discovering what it meant to have wings. Keri looked at Cha'rai and reached a hand out to her. "Let me help." Keri offered.
Cha'rai accepted her hand and gained her feet. She felt off balance and tried to turn around to look at her wings. Failure ended with her tripping over a body still on the ground. Finding herself lying atop Bha'mak, Cha'rai began to laugh. Within moments the field was littered with laughing and crying Skyfolk, each one joyfully trying to get their wings to behave. Aeronwyn, exhausted, reached out to Cha'rai, but Cha'rai waved her help away. "You must be exhausted. Great Lady, friend, we will be awhile before any of us settle down. Leave us. We are in good hands." Cha'rai motioned towards Afi and the other Sessailaine that were now helping the youngest to their feet.
Aeronwyn nodded and with Keri helping support her and steering her around those still on the ground, made her way back to the Nereus for a much needed rest. Cha'rai was right. Now the gift had been delivered, it was up the Skyfolk and their teachers to do the rest. One promised gift down. One more to deliver.
Behind them the sounds of laughter and children faded as the two exhausted mages walked towards the port. It's time to return to Sessailaine and see what more we learn about the patterns of magic. Then I have one more gift to distribute. In spite of what the Eldest said I am not certain of how to deliver that one. Aeronwyn kept that to herself. By the time they reached the docks enough strength had returned for her to walk side by side with Keri.
As they mounted the gangplank to board the ship, Thugard was waiting. "So? How did the spell work?" he asked. "I wanted to watch but I figured the audience was big enough."
"It was....amazing!" said Keri. "Aeronwyn was amazing. Thugard, they have wings!"
Thugard looked at the mages and shook his head in wonder. "If I were hearing about these things in stories I would never believe them. To live them! I wonder if this is how my ancestors felt during the great sagas of our people? Come, let me get cook to rustle up some food. You must be hungry."
Aeronwyn was about to protest when she realized that Thugard's words had made her stomach growl in response. "Starving!" she said. Keri laughed. "Me too"
Thugard and Bron joined them once the food was ready. As they ate, Thugard mentioned that now this task was complete, he intended to sail for Sessailaine as soon as the ship was ready. Aeronwyn used some hot tea to wash down some toast and said, "Perfect. I was hoping to ask you if we could. I really want to see the other mages and try to determine what I need to do next. Besides, I would like them to see what Keri can do with fire as well. Perhaps one of the others may have some insight into the patterns she uses that I don't!"
Keri helped the steward clear off the table, then followed the others on deck. She looked at Aeronwyn's now brown hair blowing in the wind and took in the saltiness of the air. A voice behind her started her. "Could you have believed, even when you first met Aeronwyn, that you would be where you are now or anyplace like it?" Keri turned. Thugard, for all his size, moved too quietly for her liking, she decided.
"No," Keri replied. "Although I guess you knew that."
"I did," said Thugard. "The world is changing, young Mage. Over the past few years, magic has been reborn. Old Gods are speaking again. A lost people have been born anew to the skies. Yet for all of that, for all we have already done, I sense the biggest changes are ahead. I don't know what part I will have in those changes, nor do any of us I suppose."
Looking at Aeronwyn walking the deck with Bron, speaking to him animatedly about something, a look of concern came over his face. "Too much depends on her. For all her strengths, all her powers, all her royal blood, she is still so vulnerable." Seeing the look of concern on Keri's face, Thugard softened his words, "Don't get me wrong, young Mage. She is damn near impossible to hurt and may be impossible to kill. But she is alone. There are none of her kind in the world, no one like her. Who could earn her love and what man would be strong enough to deserve it? Her family is dead ages past, her friends worship her and she has no peers. Hell, I worship her! We all do. Yet in the end, she is more like you than anyone else."
"Like me? How is she like me?" Keri looked at Aeronwyn, then at Thugard. "You mean the magic?"
"No. Like you, all those years when she should have been growing up in a loving home, with parents and friends, learning to flirt and be with boys, all those things were taken from her. Just as they were taken from you. She emerged from her sleeping death a woman, just as you emerged from your prison life. No, Keri, I think that is why she keeps you so close. You are the first person she has met since waking that she shares so much in common with. I think," Thugard mused, "she is hoping you might be her first friend that doesn't put her on a pedestal or see her only as a teacher. Keep that in mind, remember that you and she are more the same than any of us."
Thugard touched the young woman on the shoulder gently then turned to start issuing orders to the crew. Keri looked at him as he walked away and then at Aeronwyn, who, noticing her glance, smiled broadly at her. Keri smiled back. I will keep that in mind, Thugard. She needs at least one friend and you are right. I love her but I don't worship her. I have another to worship. Keri considered for a moment. Althene, Goddess of Mercy and Healing, perhaps that is one of the reasons you chose me? Not just to show me mercy but to show Aeronwyn some as well?
