Chapter 20: Transmogrification

KERRIENNE

Scota trotted up to me, looked from me to Emrick and back again. “You have started the bonding ritual.” She said in a surprised voice in our heads.

“The what…?” I stammered.

She looked from me to Emrick and continued “You have shared energy, sometimes even blood. It’s a gift that can only be shared between true soul mates.”

“Yessss…” I said, still unsure of what that meant.

“The mating ritual is different for every couple but there is always a sharing of energy. You can now share energy without touching, if one of you is weak, the other can send strength through the mate bond. As well as share each other’s gifts. Whatever they may be.”

Emrick and I looked at each other, surprise evident on our faces. I shook my head trying to take in what she’d just said. “Ok, we’ll talk about it later. Now we need to make you invisible.” I said out loud.

She galloped towards the ship’s railing then jumped over as if diving into the ocean, then transformed in midair.

I heard the men’s gasps behind me as she flew closer to me, bringing her head within easy reach. I touched her face, willing her to become invisible. Nothing happened. I bit my lip and was about to pull my hand away, when I remembered Conmael’s advice and the words spilled out of me.

“On this sacred hour, I call upon the Goddess. Bend the light and warp the air to keep her out of sight.”

I heard the men’s gasps once again but I didn’t know why, I could still see Scota. “Damn. I don’t think it worked, I can still see you.” I said.

“You think?” Scota replied as she took flight.

Emrick and I watched her fly around the ship. My father chose that moment to walk onto the deck.

“Where’d she go?” My father asked.

I realized that the men were still looking at the spot where she’d been. “Why can Emrick and I still see you?” I asked Scota.

“You can see me because I’m your familiar and we have a bond. And I guess Emrick can see me cause he’s your bonded mate.”

“Now what?” I asked.

“Keep the link between us open.” She said as she flew towards the speck of land in the distance.

As Scota flew across the water, I could feel her joy at being in her true shape after being stuck in horse form for so long. She opened her wings to their full span, picking up speed. A large shape swam just under the water’s surface and she dove for it. I felt her catch the shark and fly back to the surface. She threw it into the air and breathed fire onto it. When she caught it again, it was flaky and tender. Delicious.

We flew faster after that, reaching the shore in seconds. Then past that and over a small forest. Minutes later, we were flapping our wings to keep aloft as we looked down into a courtyard full of men in battle gear, preparing for war. Preparing for us. We flew over to the looming keep in the center, and peered into one of its many windows.

There was a tall, slim guy in bed with a woman. He would be considered handsome if not for the permanent scowl on his face. The woman was crying and begging him to stop. He backhanded her so hard, her eyes rolled in the back of her head. He took his pleasure then tossed her onto the floor.

“Stop your blubbering before I throw you to my men and let them have you too.” He hissed at her.

He got dressed and left her on the floor. But as he left, she looked at his retreating back with such hatred, it took our breaths away.

Come back Scota, I’ve seen enough.

KERRIENNE

Emrick and I watched as Scota flew back towards us. She flew over our heads and landed right in front of us in horse form. The men, still unaware that she was back, went about their duties. I walked up to her and draped my arm around her neck. I could only imagine what I looked like hugging the air.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. My head touching Scota’s, I whispered “Reveal what was under a veil. Show me everything from head to tail so the unseen can now be seen.”

The men barely gasped this time, I guess they were already getting used to my weirdness. My father, however, jumped back a little.

“Hey Scota, wanna stay on deck with us?” I asked out loud.

She bobbed her head up and down. The men all stopped what they were doing to stare at us, damn no pressure. I took three deep breaths, taking care to let each one out slowly.

“Ok. Fly into the air.” She did as I instructed. There was a silver light encasing her body. When it cleared, she was a dragon again with beautiful scales that seemed to shimmer iridescently every time the light of the sun hit her body.

She sat on the deck, taking care to tuck her wings close to her body and waited patiently. I walked up to her. Standing in front of her, I placed my palms on her chest and she laid her head on my shoulder. I felt a tingling under my hands and I saw the words clearly in my mind, so I spoke them out loud.

“Bend her bones, shrink her stature, make her smaller than she’s ever been to keep her hidden from prying eyes.”

A red-orange glow seeped out of my hands and surrounded her body then she was the size of a house cat. She flew towards me then perched on my left shoulder. She turned her head away from me and breathed a small spray of fire.

‘Oh goody I can still burn things’ she said happily in my head.

“Since you’re in the zone, how about some wind to reach shore faster?” Emrick said.

The words came flying out of my mouth. “Winds of change heed my call, give wind to our sails and speed our journey from sea to shore.”

The wind picked up and the ships sliced through the water, bringing us closer to land. What should’ve taken us hours took mere minutes. After landing on the beach, I pulled Emrick aside. “You are their laird and they will follow you where you command. Yes?”

“Aye?” He answered, looking a bit puzzled.

“I have an idea to inspire the men to victory.” I said.

He nodded his agreement, not even knowing what I had planned. I watched as the men and equipment were loaded off the long boats. I held a hand out towards our ships and whispered Incendio. The ships were soon engulfed in flames.

All the men started shouting in protest. “What is wrong with you?"

“What are ye doing?”

“Are ye insane lassie?”

“Quiet.” Emrick roared. The men fell quiet but I could still feel their resentment as I addressed them.

“These bastards had the audacity to come into our homes and try to kill us. Now we bring the fight to them. We are on these shores with no escape.”

I looked from one worried face to the other, “You wanna go home? Win. As the fires behind you will attest,” I pointed behind them. “We cannot leave here unless we win.

There is no choice, we win or we perish. I for one intend to survive. I have too much to live for.” I said, looking at Emrick.

He reached out and touched my cheek as his eyes took on their now familiar red hue. “And I aim to show you exactly how much we have to live for when we get back.” He said through our newly formed mate bond.

‘Really! How?’ I asked him silently.

“I’m gonna lock you in our rooms and make love to you until neither one of us can walk straight.” He answered silently. I could feel the pull of his words as well as the power behind the man saying them, and they resonated deep inside me.

As we made our way to Alastair’s castle, I rode with a purpose. My husband to my right, my father to my left, and a small army at my back, what more could a girl ask for?