Freyja's Fire - Chapter 39 - A'mara Books

39

(Muranaday, cont.)

Erion Sands

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Camp was stowed in many wagons. Most of the entourage rode horses, but those with children rode in carriages.

Gemina could hardly believe it as she ahd Kolt flew low over the shipwreck location with Jerem. So much had happened since they had come to Erion! And it had all started with this shipwreck.

“Jerem doesn’t like the smoke smell,” Kolt shouted over the wind in their ears.

The wind was the only thing Gemina didn’t like about flying on Jerem. She couldn’t hear Kolt unless he shouted. She had trouble shouting loudly enough, so she mostly kept her thoughts to herself.

That minor discomfort was a small price to pay for being able to fly on the great white stallion who had borne them bravely into the Fire Swamps a few days before. Feeling the warm, muscular body of Kolt against her was even better.

As they flew back over the entourage, she saw Melodia, the other nuwa, flying with Aurelia and Garrick. Apparently, after much arguing, Rachel had convinced the beast that carrying Aurelia and Garrick was an acceptable task.

Unable to spend much time in conversation, Gemina spent the flying time just thinking about everything again.

She had to realize again that their lives really had been changed since Rachel and Katja stumbled into their world over two years ago. The two women had instantly gained the affections of Gemina’s brother Breyind and her cousin Adrick. According to Stella, several prophesies were fulfilled when they conceived the children of Velantia, preserving the kingdom for another generation.

Shortly thereafter, others had been brought in from the Other World. Marie and Astra and their children, then Doctor Rodney and the midwife, Deby – who fell in love over the next year. Gemina guessed she would become better acquainted with Deby in the coming seasons. She rubbed her abdomen again, sending waves of love to the new life growing within.

“Are you feeling okay?” Kolt shouted.

“Yes!” she shouted back. How could she convey all her feelings when they were up in the air, the wind blasting past their ears? How she longed for a mental communication with Kolt the way he communicated with Jerem!

Ríosín hadn’t stayed to tell them much about the nuwa and Stella didn’t seem to know anything at all. It was a new mystery over which she would ponder, she had told them as she sent them away from the Fire Swamps the other day.

“I need a quick break!” Kolt said as they flew lower.

Gemina recognized the yard they landed in as the one in Thulia where they had picked up Jerem in the first place.

Ruby hurried to meet them, several of her children outpacing her in excitement.

“Of all the…!” she started to say, turning white.

Gemina ran to support her as she fell, the children surrounding the stallion with excitement.

When the woman came to, she looked at them. “Sorry, I thought for a moment that you were bringing me a changed horse!”

“If you are referring to his...”

“Young man, would you put some clothes on?!” Ruby demanded matronly.

“He prefers to feel the air on his flesh,” Gemina defended. “He is my Naked Prince and I love him dearly – just the way he is!”

“Jerem has been given wings – and Adrick has promised to replace him with two of our colts,” Kolt said.

“Wings!” Ruby repeated. “How?!”

“When dealing with the gods, we don’t ask such questions,” Kolt replied. “We learn to accept what is. Jerem has wings and has become a nuwa, the first of his kind. He has bonded to me and will work with me as long as we both live.”

The woman nodded, still looking pale. “Jerem? We always called him Dasher because he’s so fast… and difficult to manage.”

“Apparently, he was difficult to manage because he needed more freedom,” Kolt shared.

“Do his wings have anything to do with our other missing animals? Several horses went missing the night before last!”

“Maybe,” Gemina said. “We do not know how many horses were changed.”

Ruby nodded, seemingly contemplating what had happened. “Anyway, if your family will replace him as promised, then I will be happy. We needed new blood anyway, but didn’t want to give Dasher… I mean, Jerem up.”

“Then we have your permission?” Kolt asked.

“My blessing,” she replied.

“We will see about replacing your other missing horses as well,” Gemina promised.

“Thank you,” Ruby replied.

“I just need to go use your bush over there for a minute,” Kolt excused.

“Go right ahead, though we do have an outhouse behind the house.” She called after him. Then she turned back to Gemina. “You’re marrying him, huh? I sort of had a feeling when you were here last. He’s a good one, that’s for sure. Don’t let him go!”

“I don’t plan to.”

“Though you might get him back in that loincloth – he’s far too good looking!”

“I agree, but he prefers his natural skin and I’m okay with that. I envy him sometimes.”

“You will spend the rest of your prime pregnant, I’ll wager.”

Gemina blushed. “Maybe. I would risk much more for that man though – I’ve saved his life once and he’s saved mine in return. We were meant for each other.”

“Then I’m happy for you!” she said.

Kolt returned. “If we get moving, we might be home by sundown.”

Gemina looked at him hungrily. She couldn’t wait to get him all to herself again.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he muttered, moving closer to her so that only she could feel what had happened.

She giggled, feeling his hardness against her. “Maybe there’s one reason for clothing,” she whispered, kissing him.

“Go take half an hour in the barn,” Ruby suggested with a laugh. “I’ll look after Jerem for you.”

Gemina grabbed Kolt’s arm and led him into the nearest barn.