Changing Fate [Fate series] (29 page)

Rias fell, howling and thrashing about, Ranulf launched himself from the sill after him, changing to bird shape, and Akila dropped after Rias, extending one wing out just enough to warn Ranulf off. After about a fifty-foot drop, Rias started to sprout wings from his shoulders, running the length of his back on both sides of his spine. Aside from the wings, he was still a wolf, but he did manage to get his wingspan large enough to hold his body, and catch the updraft. A few minutes later he managed to beat his wings enough to get himself back to the windowsill. He jumped from there to the floor, twisting his head in an effort to see what had happened to his body.

Akila landed on the windowsill, dropped to the floor, and changed back to human. “Congratulations, Rias. You can fly."

Lord Ranulf landed on the sill behind them, still in bird form, with the most surprised look that Akila had ever seen on an avian face. The expression didn't change much as his form changed to human. “Akila,
why
did you do that? You could have killed him!"

Akila shook her head. “No, both of us were in range to catch him before he hit the ground; it's a very long way down. As for why—I was keeping my promise to teach him to fly."

"But I've been trying to teach him for years!"

"The same way you learned?” Akila asked.
I'll bet it wasn't
.

"No, of course not!” Lord Ranulf replied. “I learned by accident when I fell off a cliff as a child, but I'm certainly not going to shove my own son off a cliff!"

"I fell off a shed roof,” Akila said, “but I was only three and it seemed an awfully long way down. I think you really
need
the feeling of absolute terror to start the change—at least the first time.” She looked at Rias, who was still bemusedly regarding his wings, which were a beautiful silvery-grey color that blended in nicely with the wolf's body.

"Rias?” she waved a hand in front of his face. “Speak to me.” She snapped her fingers to get his attention.

A shudder ran through Rias's body, then it blurred and reformed in human shape. “I did it!” Rias said in surprise. “I really flew, didn't I?"

"Yes, you certainly did,” Akila agreed. “You need more practice, but we can work on that tomorrow.” She smiled at him. “Why don't you go get dressed now; it's almost time for the evening ritual."

Rias leaned over and hugged her hard. “Thank you,” he said, “for everything.” He stood up and headed for the door. “Galin and Marfa are sure going to be surprised when you show up for the ritual—shall we tell them it's magic?” He grinned at her and left without waiting for an answer, his bare feet padding down the stairs to the second floor.

Ranulf jumped lightly down from the windowsill, took the quilt from the bed and wrapped it around Akila as he cradled her in his arms. “Welcome home, my dear,” he said, dropping a light kiss on her forehead. “Dare I hope that this means you are willing to marry me?"

"Yes,” Akila said, looking up at him shyly, “if you're really sure you want to marry me."

Ranulf's arms tightened about her. “I'm positive,” he said, “even though I did just watch you push my firstborn child out the window.” He shook his head. “It wouldn't have occurred to me as a teaching method, but I won't quarrel with success. And nobody can claim that you don't keep your promises."

Akila tilted her head up and kissed him lightly on the jaw. “Marfa will be claiming exactly that if I don't get down to the sanctuary for the evening ritual. Please let me go so that I can dress."

Ranulf released her reluctantly. “Very well, I yield to the claims of the Gods. But after the ritual, I want you back."

Akila laughed, happier than she'd ever been in her life. “I'll sit beside you at dinner—and probably steal half the food from your plate. I'm still starving!"

Ranulf laughed. “I'll order a large dinner.” He changed to wolf form and left the room, doubtless to return to his own room and clothing.

Akila dressed and went downstairs to join the ritual. They were waiting for her, and Rias had told the others of her return. Galin and Marfa both fell on her neck, thanking the Gods for her safe return.

Akila embraced them in turn, then moved to her place at the south side of the altar. “It's good to be back. Shall we begin?” Galin, Rias, and Marfa moved to their places at west, east, and north. Marfa picked up the basin at the center of the altar and moved it to the Earth Mother's side.

"In the beginning was Earth, mother of all life.” Marfa took a bit of a mixture of rich brown earth, green leaves, and dry twigs from the small bowl on the Earth section of the altar and placed it into one of the shallow divisions of the basin. “From Her body all are born and to Her all return at the proper season. Honor the Mother, thank Her for Her blessings, and remember that our roots are in Her body.” Marfa passed the basin to Rias.

"The partner of Earth is the Sky, Father and Observer of life.” He picked up a small cone of incense from the bowl on his section of the altar, touched its tip to the flame from the lamp on the Fire section to light it, and placed it in the next division of the basin. “Under His gaze we live our lives, and under His inspiration we dream. Honor the Sky Father, and thank Him for the dreams, by which our souls are fed.” He passed the basin to Akila.

"Fire is the daughter of Earth and Sky, Lightning, the first-born of the children which link them.” She took a twig from the earth part of the basin and lit it from the small lamp that burned perpetually on the Fire section of the altar. She wondered who had kept it filled with oil and burning while she was gone. But it still burned, and now she was home where she belonged; that was what was important. Placing the twig into the Fire division of the basin to burn, she continued, “All life is changed by contact with Her, yet Her essence never changes. In all the changes of our lives, remember that, though the form may change, the reality is eternal.”
And, Lady know, my life has certainly been through changes
. As the form of the twig converted itself to a line of ash, Akila passed the basin to Galin.

"Water is the son of Earth and Sky, Rain, the second-born of the children which link them.” Galin picked up the vial of water and slowly poured some of it into the Water division. “Water flows through all that lives, yet Water never changes, however far He may travel. The reality is eternal.” Galin placed the basin carefully back in the bare center of the altar, between the carved portions allotted to each of the Elements. He reached out to Akila and Marfa as they reached out to Rias, and the four of them stood silently holding hands until the last rays of the sun passed below the sanctuary windows.

When they left the sanctuary, Lord Ranulf waited just outside the door. “Is all well, my lady?” he asked, smiling as he took Akila's hand.

"Yes, my lord,” Akila replied smiling in return. She was back where she belonged; she could feel it through every nerve in her body. “Very well indeed."

Hand in hand, they went in to dinner.