Sons of Ironstorm - Book 4: Griffon's Stand

Covenants and Visions

After the initial rush of hunger, which saw the powerful human nearly empty his bowl in a single inhalation, Shawn eased his eating to sit back and let the food settle. Having less to eat and, thereby finishing before the muscular man she was more than pleased and honored to call her husband, Shawn found Moira smiling up at him as he paused.

<<Enough?>> she asked in a low voice, her eyes carefully tracing every line of his strong face.

<<For now. You?>> At Moira's nod, he leaned down and kissed her, the lovely Merisin raising a hand to catch his face and hold him close for a long moment as she stretched the kiss as long as she dared in front of three Aeshin'laur kings. Their lips parted and she swallowed against the fire that now roared once more unchecked through her body, as her mind turned to other appetites with Shawn so close. With duty satisfied, guilt no longer held her passion back and, trembling, she carefully ran her tongue over her lips to catch her husband's taste.

<<I am sated,>> she husked for his ears alone, eyes wide as they gazed up at him, <<but I still hunger, husband.>> Moira caught her lower lip between her teeth and gently bit in an effort to restrain a passion that demanded her complete attention and immediate satisfaction.

With the petite Merisin's expression leaving no doubt as to what was on her mind, Shawn threw a hasty look in Ciradaan, Fenoran and Najthin's direction, the three having looked up from their discussion at the sound of their voices. Then he was bowing even as Moira's hands urged him to stand.

<<Forgive my haste, your Majesties, but Moira has reminded me of my intention to check the walls for damage. If you'll excuse us, I'll tend to that before the Shadow regroups and launches a new attack.>> A second bow and a respectful curtsey from Moira and the two quickly stepped out of the mess and into the steady rain, making their way across the courtyard from there, hands intertwined and apparently heading for the nearest primary wall.

<<Checking on the walls,>> Fenoran repeated with a grin, looking over at his friends with a wink. <<I'll give the lad marks for thinking on the spot. That was frostin' clever.>>

<<At least he gave us an excuse,>> Ciradaan replied, his smile just as merry. <<If she's half as strong-willed as her father, Captain Steelstream, I think little Moira would've been just as satisfied putting the boy over her shoulder and carrying him off to some private corner without a word of explanation.>> He shook his head in amazement. <<To tell you the truth, I'm not sure how he does it; keeping all eleven separate in his mind. And how they, themselves keep out of each other's way. They must've all sat down in a Covenant's council and figured out a schedule. I've never seen two Covenant wives finding Shawn at the same time.>>

Interestingly it was Najthin who offered the most logical answer, the thoughtful Hawk clansman not joining his friends in merriment.

<<Perhaps some sort of bond has been made between Shawn and the Covenant,>> he mused out loud, garnering curious looks from Fenoran and Ciradaan.

<<Bond? Are you suggesting, my friend, that there's actually something physically binding the Covenant wives to Shawn outside of the legalities we used in the ceremony to wed them?>> Fenoran asked, his eyebrow raised.

Najthin looked first at Fenoran, then over at Ciradaan before slowing nodding.

<<I think so, Fenoran,>> he replied, the thoughtful expression deepening on his face. <<We were all at the selection ceremony and we all saw Shawn use the Star Sword to assist him in making his choices. Perhaps it was more than mere assistance. Perhaps the Star was actually bonding those women to Shawn via its own connection to him; women that the Weapon of Power somehow determined would benefit him the greatest in his upcoming trials.>>