Summoner 20, p.30
Summoner 20, page 30
“Mur doesn’t even have ties to Moose Clan,” Vahla interjected, and her emerald eyes narrowed into slits. “He has lived here in Mistral since the fight against them, and he even told me himself he doesn’t ever wish to return to Moose Clan.”
“A hawk and a moose cannot mate,” Freya scoffed. “It would be ridiculous to fool yourself otherwise.”
“Whatever happened to your speech about unity?” Vahla rolled her eyes. “I thought you wanted the clans to get along with one another, and yet, when I befriend someone from another clan, you throw a tantrum--”
“A tantrum?” Freya repeated back. “Don’t you make allusions to my maturity, Vahla. You’re not thinking about the serious trouble this could create in the future, you’re only thinking of the present. If you think you’re going to rule Hawk Clan--”
“I am going to rule Hawk Clan,” Vahla interrupted. “So, don’t take your frustrations out on me, Freya. I did nothing other than make a friend. What’s so wrong with that?”
The sisters launched into a fast-paced argument I could hardly keep up with, despite my understanding of their native tongue, and the rest of my women sat back and watched the pair with curious but alarmed expressions. Arwyn seemed to be observing them from an academic standpoint as usual, and I watched her mouth move as she tried to decipher the hawk shifters’ words.
“Gryff--” Nia whispered, but I cut her off with a shake of my head.
This wasn’t a conversation they wanted to be involved with. Maker, I didn’t even want to be involved, but I needed to make sure the sisters remained at peace. Vahla was going to be with us for an indefinite amount of time, and I didn’t want us to spend it with tension in the air.
“How about we all take a deep breath?” I suggested, and I was met with narrowed eyes from both of the hawk shifters.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to go upstairs to the guest room,” Vahla declared, and she abruptly rose from her seat. Then the hawk shifter raised her chin at her sister defiantly. “I do not wish to sit here and be spoken down to like I’m a child.”
“Vahla, this conversation is not over,” Freya snapped.
“You’re more than welcome to continue it with yourself,” Vahla retorted, and then the younger hawk-princess addressed me with a solemn face. “Please thank your family for me for the lovely meal. I will see you all in the morning.”
Before anyone could get another word in, Vahla turned on her heels and disappeared down the corridor. The room fell silent, but the air was so thick with the unresolved tension, I felt as if I couldn’t breathe.
“I’m going to my room as well,” Freya grumbled, and before I could stop the hawk-princess, she leaped up from her chair and walked briskly down the corridor.
“What just happened?” Ashla asked once we were alone.
“Something intense, that’s for sure.” Layla shook her head. “I may not speak Clan, but I’ve fought with my siblings enough to know that whatever just happened between them wasn’t good.”
“From what I gathered, Freya doesn’t want her sister to get to know Mur,” Arwyn stated, and then she looked to me for confirmation. “Did I translate that correctly, Gryff?”
“Basically,” I sighed. “Only in Vahla’s case, there’s more to it than just getting to know. It seems like she’s got a crush on Mur, and Freya is displeased by the development.”
“Oh, boy.” Cyra whistled, and the dark-skinned summoner shook her head back and forth. “I wouldn’t want to be Vahla right now. No wonder Freya was so angry when she left.”
“I can see why she’d get so upset about it,” Erin said as she tapped her long nails against the table. “Especially after the whole mess in Eyrie--”
“Mess in Eyrie?” Nia interrupted the orange-haired mimic in a surprised tone. “Are you referring to whatever happened that made you bring Vahla here?”
“Wait, has Gryff not told you yet?” Erin’s amber eyes flashed over to me apologetically. “Maker, I’m sorry--”
“I didn’t intend to keep it a secret,” I said. “There just hasn’t been a good time to tell the story yet.”
“So, what happened?” Arwyn pressed gently, and the rest of my lovers leaned in to listen.
“It was a whole ordeal, but I’ll try to simplify it as best as possible,” I began. “Our first night on Eyrie Island, a group of Moose Clan warriors showed up and tried to attack Vahla and Freya.”
“Oh, Maker,” Ashla gasped.
“They’re perfectly fine, as you can see,” I insisted with raised palms. “We managed to take out all of the assailants, except for one Fenrir locked up for interrogation.”
“Wait, wasn’t Moose Clan defeated?” Layla frowned, and the auburn-haired mage tilted her head to the side. “I thought you took out their island, how are they still around?”
“We took out Skara, their capital, but some moose shifters managed to get away,” I answered. “They’ve been hiding away in the different Clan territories planning their revenge and decided to set the plan in motion when Freya returned to Hawk Clan. They wanted to hurt Chief Fenrir as payback for destroying their Clan and making peace with the other shifters.”
“Maker,” Ashla sighed. “That explains why Freya had such a bad reaction about Mur.”
“She didn’t like him even before the attack, but I’m sure that incident didn’t do anything to relieve any of that tension.” Cyra frowned.
“This isn’t ideal by any means.” Arwyn leaned forward and rested her chin in her hands. “I hope they’ll be able to work this out between them before too much time passes.”
“If not, it’s going to be a big problem for the rest of us,” Nia replied. “I love Freya to pieces, but I don’t want her to get absorbed in this anger toward Vahla. It’s only going to make her feel worse.”
“I’m going to go and speak with Freya before it becomes a larger issue,” I answered the silver-haired mage. “I know she means well, and she’s just being protective, but forbidding her sister to speak to our friend is only going to cause chaos and unease in the household, and no one needs that.”
“Good luck, Gryffie,” Layla snorted. “I definitely don’t envy you.”
“Thanks, Layla,” I sighed. “I’m going to need all the luck I can get.”
“Would you like backup?” Nia suggested. “Maybe having another woman involved would help calm Freya down.”
“If this were any other situation, I’d take you up on the offer,” I replied. “Unfortunately, with Freya’s temper… I should probably try to quell it on my own.”
“Absolutely.” The elementalist nodded, and she flashed me a lovely smile. “If you think that’s the better call, I trust your judgment. Should that change, though, we’re all here for you.”
“Thank you,” I replied. “I’m going to head up there now before she has too long to stew on the matter.”
“Trust us, Gryff, we know how the female mind operates,” Cyra laughed, and then the dark-skinned summoner gestured toward the doorway. “Go ahead and try to get her to see some reason. We’ll be here when you’re done.”
“I’ll keep a plate warm for you,” Nia added with a dazzling smile. “We made all of your favorites to celebrate your return to us.”
“I really appreciate you all.” I smiled. “Thank you.”
After I took a long, deep breath, I stood from my seat and headed up to Freya’s room. As I ran up the spiral staircase to the third floor, I practiced the speech I was going to give to Freya. I didn’t want to say the wrong thing and escalate the problem beyond the level it was at, especially when it came to sibling matters.
On the way there, I passed by the guest room we’d prepared for Vahla, and to my surprise, the door was wide open. The younger hawk shifter was spread out on the bed, and when I walked by the doorway, I heard her call out my name.
I backtracked and then peered into the room. “Did you call for me?”
“Yeah.” Vahla nodded, and then she motioned for me to come in.
My eyes darted back out into the hallway, and Vahla let out a soft sigh.
“I only need a moment of your time,” she said.
While I wasn’t sure speaking to Vahla before my wife was the best plan, I’d made a promise to Fenrir that I’d keep his youngest daughter safe and care for her to the best of my abilities. If she needed me, I had to be there for her.
“What’s up?” I asked as I stepped into the room. The walls had been painted a soft lilac, and the soothing shade comforted me as I prepared for Vahla to unleash some built-up aggression. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to remain unbiased in this situation between my wife and her sister-in-law, and I prayed Vahla wasn’t going to expect me to choose a side.
“I’m sorry for the embarrassment before,” Vahla apologized. “I didn’t mean to lose my temper. Is everyone mad at me?
“No one’s mad at you,” I assured the hawk shifter.
“I’m glad no one’s upset,” the russet-haired princess said. “I was worried I’d made a bad impression on your family.”
“We’re all happy to have you here, Vahla,” I promised her. “Especially Freya. I know it may not seem like it after the argument you just had, but I know Freya’s glad you’re here with us. She’s really missed you.”
“I’ve missed her, too,” Vahla admitted with a small smile. “I know I need to make things right with her, but before I do, can I ask you a question?”
“Of course,” I said.
“Is Mur actually a good man?” she asked. “My sister makes him out to be a monster, and usually I trust her judgment when it comes to character, but he seemed genuinely kind to me today. I was just wondering if it was all for show, or if he’s actually nice.”
“It wasn’t just a show,” I replied. “Mur’s a good friend of mine, and I don’t tend to make friends with villains.”
“Good,” Vahla said softly, and a blush spread across her cheeks. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”
I offered the younger hawk shifter a smile and then stepped out of the room and closed the door behind me. Vahla was a good kid, and I just needed to remind Freya that her sister hadn’t meant any harm in showing Mur some kindness.
I walked to the end of the hallway and gently knocked on Freya’s door. When I didn’t get an answer, I turned the knob and opened up the door.
“Freya?” I poked my head in the doorway.
The hawk-princess was curled up underneath her comforter and facing the wall. Part of me wondered if it would be best to leave her be, but the other part knew it would be best for me to try to smooth things over. I didn’t like the idea of my wife going to sleep angry.
“If it’s alright, my husband, I’d rather be alone with my thoughts,” Freya said in a muffled voice. “I don’t have anything to say right now, so I will not be good company if you’re hoping for conversation.”
“I came to make sure you were alright,” I said in my most gentle tone, and then I crossed over to her wrought-iron canopy bed. Then I sat down on the mattress and took care not to accidentally snag the golden-blonde waves that spilled behind the blanket cocoon that enveloped my wife.
“I’m not,” the hawk-princess replied. “Though it isn’t any fault of yours, at least not directly.”
“What’s going on?” I asked her. “Talk me through whatever’s going on in your head.”
“What’s going on?” Freya repeated back as if it were obvious, and she swiftly sat up in bed to face me. “What’s going on is that after only a single day in Varle, my sister has convinced herself she has feelings of affection for a moose boy! I promised my parents I would keep her safe, and what does she do? Run straight for the first traitor she can find and cling to him like he’s worthy of being her mate.”
“Freya, they hardly know each other,” I pointed out to her in a gentle tone. “No one’s saying they’re eloping--”
“Yet,” Freya countered. “I’ve tried to remain at least somewhat civil, since he is just a boy, but I can’t sit back any longer. Should my sister grow fonder with the moose, and they end up married… Mur would have a role in the leadership of Hawk Clan. Not only would Vahla disgrace the Clan, but a moose would have power in my clan.”
“You’re worried he’ll double-cross you.”
“They stole my mother.” My blonde wife gritted her teeth. “They threatened the livelihood of my family not too long ago. I don’t trust them, and I have no reason to ever trust them. They’ve taken too much from me.”
“I know Mur was born of Moose Clan, but that’s not something he has any control over,” I insisted. “What he does have control over, though, is his allegiance. When Veopa changed him back into his human form, I gave him the choice to either remain in Mistral or return to the territories. He told me himself there was nothing left for him in Moose Clan, and that he wanted to remain here and train to be a warrior. He pledged himself for our side, my love, all of his own accord. “
“Forgive me if I don’t wish to get close to someone who was once involved with my enemies,” Freya countered. “I appreciate the fact he chose to come here, but I don’t see the situation in the same light as you. Have you considered he chose to stay in Mistral because he didn’t have another option? With Skara gone, Moose Clan doesn’t have a primary residence, but if they did, do you think Mur would have stayed here, or would he have returned?”
“We can sit here and consider the ‘what ifs’ for days on end,” I sighed. “But that isn’t going to get us anywhere helpful. I can’t answer whether or not Mur would’ve chosen to return if Skara still existed, but from what he’s demonstrated to me so far, I believe he would’ve stayed anyway. Not only did he choose Mistral over his home clan, but he also played a role in helping me take down Carth. I know you don’t trust him, but after everything we went through in the Shadowscape, I know Mur is not the same as those Moose Clan assassins.”
The hawk-princess stared at me as she considered my statement, and I wasn’t certain if she was angry or sad, but finally, her face relaxed, and she nodded her head slowly.
“Perhaps you’re right,” she muttered, and she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I am sorry, my mate. I did not mean to cause an argument. I only want what’s best for Vahla, and I don’t want her to get hurt in any way. She’s the only sibling I have, and in the years my mother was gone, I had to act as her maternal figure. I suppose some of those feelings have lingered.”
“You’re a wonderful sister,” I assured her, and I took her hands in mine. “I know how much Vahla means to you, and she does, too. You had a lot of responsibility thrust upon you at a young age, and I know you still feel responsible for her well-being, but Vahla is eventually going to have to figure things out for herself and learn how to navigate her own relationships and mistakes.”
“Yes.” Freya nodded. “Thank you for reminding me of this.”
“I have an idea,” I proposed. “Yesterday, we discussed tracking down the mistwolf pack. We hadn’t decided on a team to go, but perhaps you, me, your sister, and Mur should be a part of that crew. Maybe seeing Mur work with us will help you learn more about him, and help ease some of the mistrust between the pair of you.”
“I don’t know if Vahla should come.” Freya’s gold-flecked brown eyes widened, and she pulled her hands away from mine. “I promised my mother and father I would keep her safe, and throwing her into the fray with Hunnah’s monsters sounds like the opposite of safety.”
“She’d have us to protect her if something goes amiss,” I reminded her. “Besides, I was going to ask Nia, Gawain, Orenn, and maybe Braden to come with us, too. That’s plenty of people to keep an eye out for Vahla.”
“That is quite a few,” Freya admitted with a thoughtful expression. “And my sister-wife’s magic is quite powerful. She’d definitely be able to keep Vahla protected if something went wrong.”
“So, is that a yes?” I wondered in a hopeful tone.
“Alright,” the warrior shapeshifter agreed with me. “I shall have to ask Vahla if she is comfortable with joining us, and if she is, then we’ll proceed. I’ll attempt to get along with the moose, but I cannot promise we will become friends.”
“I don’t expect a dynamic shift right away,” I said. “All I ask is that you give Mur a chance.”
“I will try,” Freya decided, and then she ran her hands through her hair.
“Before we worry about all of that, shall we head downstairs and get some dinner?” I suggested.
“You go ahead, my mate.” My blonde wife smiled at me. “I think before I rejoin my sister-wives, I should take some time to speak with my sister. I want to apologize for losing my temper and assure her there are no ill feelings between us.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” I replied, and I leaned forward and planted a kiss on her temple. “We’ll be downstairs when you’re ready. Take all the time you need.”
“Thank you.” Freya smiled, and then she leaned in and gave me a long, tender kiss.
Shortly after that, I returned downstairs and was surprised to see the rest of my family was still seated at the table.
They halted whatever conversation they’d been engrossed in and gave me impatient stares as they waited for news.
“Soooooo, how did it go?” Layla finally drawled. “Did everyone kiss and make up, or do I need to get up there and force them?”
“They’re working it all out right now,” I replied as I took the seat beside her. “No force necessary.”
“Oh, thank the Maker,” Nia let out a sigh of relief.
“It’s going to take some time to mend the tension, but I convinced Freya to at least give Mur a chance,” I continued as I rested my elbows on the table. “I think spending time with him would really help her get to know him better, and we can finally put that struggle behind us.”
“A mission would be the perfect way to do that,” Cyra pointed out.
“That’s exactly what I thought.” I winked at the curly-haired summoner. “Sometimes, I swear we share a brain, Cyra.”
“Ugh, that’s enough, you two.” Layla rolled her hazel eyes, and Cyra stuck her tongue out at the petite mage.
