“I can see you are wondering about something, but you can’t quite figure it out,” she noticed.
“How do you do that? It’s well, yes there is something, but what is it?”
“Look closely at their faces, Maddie. Who do they remind you of?”
Maddie examined their features, inspected them, and it struck her like a bolt of lightning. The profound resemblance between them and her mother was astonishing. What initially threw Maddie off was their coloring. Her mother was blond, and they were dark. However, their features were nearly identical.
“Yes, I can see you’ve noticed the resemblance. Maddie, the younger of the women is my mother, your grandmother, and the older is her mother, your great-grandmother.”
“Oh, my! How? Why didn’t you tell me before now?” Maddie screeched.
“Please, let’s walk outside, and I will explain beneath the stars.”
She hooked her arm through Maddie’s, and they left the interior of the caves. When they got outside, Maddie was steered over to an outcropping of rock, and they both sat down.
“Your father and I always intended to tell you the whole story, but our lives were cut short. We never had the chance. So now, it is absolutely imperative that you know the truth as it holds the key to your future, Maddie,” she began.
Maddie’s mother explained that her mother’s lineage was that of the Nunne’hi, and her father had been a Vesturion Guardian. By the time his duties ended here, they had a young daughter. They tried to live apart with his frequent visits back to Earth, but they found that they were miserable without each other.
Lysandra, Maddie’s grandmother, had a sister who was unable to conceive, so with heavy hearts, they left their child with her, and they both returned to Vesturon. Lysandra knew she would not be able to see her daughter again because once she traveled to Vesturon, she would be forbidden to return to Earth.
My aunt did not live among the Nunne’hi. She had married a white male and left the caves. They lived in Spartanburg, which is how I ended up in South Carolina.”
“How could your mother have done that? Left you, never to see you again?” It was incomprehensible to her.
“Maddie, don’t make judgments of anyone until you walk in their shoes. Could you ever live, by choice, without your Rayn? No? I didn’t think so. Lysandra and Taruk, your grandfather, felt the same way. It pained them deeply to leave me behind, but they knew I would be well cared for and loved. My grandmother was near, and I would have the best of everything. For me, well, I have always thought of it as a blessing. I was blessed with having wonderful, beautiful parents, along with a set of adoring, wonderful adoptive parents. I never missed out on anything by this decision. Truthfully, it allowed me to grow up with a father that was present.”
“I guess I wouldn’t have looked at it that way. So then what happened?” Her mother’s attitude impressed her.
“Well, my parents are still both living on Vesturon. And here’s the next crucial part: my father, your grandfather, Taruk Cyrden Ballistarius, is an Elder on the Council on Vesturon. After they returned to Vesturon, he served with the Guardians in many different roles, and then, he was elected to the Council as an Elder. My mother, your grandmother, Lysandra also ended up serving in the Democracy of Vesturon in many different capacities, and she wields a great deal of influence as well. Since she was not Vesturon born, she was not able to become an Elder, but she is powerful, nonetheless. Maddie, I hope you understand the meaning of all of this and what it can mean for you and your Rayn. There is one other thing I must share with you: Vesturion blood also runs in your father’s veins. His ancestors were part of the Guardians that patrolled Ireland and England. He is descended from the ancient Celts. That is where you inherited your fiery red hair.”
Amazed...astounded...completely flabbergasted...couldn’t come near to how Maddie felt at that moment. This was monumental—no, more like miraculous!
“Come, Maddie. I need to get you back home to bed. You are going to need your sleep in the days to come. You still face a fight ahead, but I know you will come out the victor. Maddie, just remember what I’ve always said, you are destined for great things, my child.”
Maddie’s mother linked her arm in Maddie’s, and Maddie felt herself spinning through a vortex. She wondered how on God’s green Earth she would ever be able to go back to sleep.
Maddie slowly came awake to dappled sunlight dotting the floor. She languorously stretched, not ready to get up just yet. She lay there a moment, letting her mind drift, mostly to Rayn and what they faced ahead. The plans they’ve made to go to Vesturon were in place, and Maddie was aware of the role she would play.
Without warning, a vision slammed into Maddie’s mind, knocking her off kilter. Images and scenes started flooding her mind, rapidly, one right after another. Holy moly! The dream! Ohmigosh! My parents! My grandparents!
She leaped off the bed in a single bound and flew into the bathroom. She grabbed a hand mirror and ripped off her nightshirt. She was desperately trying to get a solid look at her birthmark. She flipped the mirror over to the magnified side, but she still couldn’t see it well enough to make anything out of it. This needed a second, third, who knows, maybe even a fourth opinion. She threw her nightshirt back on and tore out of her room, screaming at the top of her lungs, “
Sharra
!
Therron
!
Rykerian
!
Anyone
! Where is everyone?”
There was no response. Maddie’s first guess would be the kitchen. She burst into the kitchen, out of breath, hair flying, screaming, “
Someone has to look at this
!
I can’t tell what it is!
”
Every eye in that room was glued to her, and they all held expressions that conveyed they thought she had gone completely bonkers.
“Calm down!”
“What in the world?”
“What is going on?”
“Have you gone crazy, female?”
The barrage of questions went on and on.
“Wait a minute!
Wait
!
Let me explain
!” Maddie screamed.
She didn’t ordinarily raise her voice, but she needed a way to get their attention. She succeeded!
Now, they totally thought she’d lost it.
“Sorry, sorry. I had to get your attention. Will one of you please get a magnifying glass and check out my birthmark for me, please? HURRY!”
Therron and Rykerian had both risen to their feet and were moving toward her.
“Maddie, dear, we don’t know what a ‘magnifying glass’ is?”
“Are you okay?” The two men looked at each other warily.
“I’m fine. I just need one of you, heck, all of you, to check out my birthmark for me!”
She was definitely agitated and excited.
“Sweetheart, we’d be happy to, but we don’t know what your birthmark is.”
Therron and Rykerian kept exchanging glances, thinking, “Surely the pressure of the last few months has seriously taken its toll on her.”
“Here. Here. I’ll show you,” she exclaimed as she started to pull her shirt over her head.
“Maddie, please do not disrobe in front of us. It is simply not proper!” they shouted.
“Oh, for the love of God! I’m not undressing, but my birthmark is on my back. I need to get my shirt out of the way so that you can see it. Here. In the middle of my back, below my neck, can you see it?” Her excitement was finally getting through to them.
Both men came close to examine the birthmark she was pointing out. They bent low, and she exclaimed, “Can you see it? Don’t you need a magnifying glass or something?”
“Dear Divine Being from above!” Therron shouted. “It’s the Mark of Vesturon; the triangle with the crescent. Maddie, did you get that tattooed on you?”
“No! It’s my birthmark. I was born with it. I swear by all that’s holy on Vesturon!” She crossed her hand over her heart and imitated the motion Rayn always made when he pledged an oath. She was starting to sound like one of them now.
“But how can that be?” Rykerian asked.
“I had a dream last night that my mother came to me, but now I’m not so sure it was a dream. I think it really did happen. She took me to the caves of the Nunne’hi, but it wasn’t now. It was in the past. Are you following me?”
When they nodded, she continued, “She told me I was descended from both the Nunne’hi and Vesturions. My grandmother was a Nunne’hi and my grandfather was, or is, Vesturion. We have to go to Talasi
now
! I mean like right this very moment. I need to ask her about this...to make sure the dream was real. Can we go now?”
“Should you put on different clothes?”
“Nooo
! There’s time for that later. Please! Take me
now
!”
Neither of the men dared to disagree. She was frantic with her need to get there, and they wanted to know the truth too.
They took form right outside the caves, and Rykerian led the way through the labyrinthine dwelling. Maddie was nearly hyperventilating with excitement by the time they found Talasi.
“Talasi! Talasi, tell me! Do I have the blood of the Nunne’hi and Vesturions running through my veins?”
Rykerian looked at Talasi, and they exchanged glances. Maddie knew they were communicating...his fears of her behavior toward Talasi... and her acknowledgement and reassurances to him. Minutes later, Sharra, Therron, Tesslar, and Xarrid arrived. Xarrid’s presence caught her off guard; Maddie never expected it.
“Well, do you know anything about my ancestry, Talasi?” She so wanted to hear the words, the right words that would free her from this state of uncertainty that she had been so mired in.
“Maddie, when you first arrived here, I told my Lord Rayn that I had seen the mark upon you. I must admit, we were both so involved with your injuries though, both of us must have forgotten all about it. I have had quite a few visits from your mother though, and I know your grandmother communicates with her people here quite frequently. So, yes, you do have our blood and the blood of Vesturon running deep within you.”
Maddie was a tornado of arms, legs and red hair as she rushed Rykerian and flung herself in his arms, nearly knocking him down.
“Yes
!
Yes
!
Yes
!” she repeatedly shouted.
The noise in the caves was deafening, causing a flurry of activity. The brothers, Sharra, and Maddie ended up in a big group hug, talking spontaneously about their upcoming trip to Vesturon. Even Xarrid joined in.
Eventually, they calmed down, and Xarrid turned to Maddie and said, “I am so relieved of this burden I have carried. I am sorry for not accepting you, but I am so glad you will truly be my sister.”
Sharra entered Maddie’s room with the biggest grin on her face.
“I have a surprise for you.” In her arms was a huge pile of clothing. “Wait until you see. You are going to love this.”
Bless her heart. She still didn’t get that clothes just weren’t Maddie’s thing.
She went to the sitting area and started unfolding the pile. “Oh, my! Those are the most beautiful things I have ever seen,” Maddie declared.
“This is what you will wear to Vesturon. We need to present you in these. These are the formal ceremonial garments of the Firstborn’s mate, except we are going to throw in a side ball,” Sharra said excitedly.
“Huh? A side…? Sharra, it’s a curve ball, not a side ball,” Maddie laughed. “Dear Lord above, will my job never be finished with this woman?” she asked, her eyes lifted skyward.
“Okay, well…what so ever,” she hit back.
“It’s
whatever
, Sharra.”
“Yes, well that too! Anyway, let me tell you about these clothes. This is sooo hot! You’re going to love it.”
I rolled my eyes at her and said, “It’s so cool Shar, not hot!”
“Why is your language so difficult? There are just too many, well, I don’t know what you call them, but they are very confusing to me,” frustration radiating from her. “Anyway, can you please quit interrupting me so that I can explain all of this,” she motioned to the clothing.
“I’m all ears, girlfriend!”
“What do you mean you are all ears? How can that be?”
“Never mind. It’s just more jargon. I’m going to have to quit that because it confuses you. Go ahead. I’m listening.”
“Okay, these are the formal ceremonial clothes the mate of the Firstborn would wear. However, we are also going to give you these,” she indicated to another pile of accessories. “That will show them Rayn has pledged his protection to you. For instance, these armbands are of our family’s crest. My mother and I are the only ones that have these right now. Eventually, the mates of all my brothers will wear them as well. But, do you see where this is headed?”
Maddie was overcome with emotion. Sharra handed her the beautiful armbands. They were made of solid hammered gold and bore the intricate engravings of the Yarrister family crest, much like the markings of Rayn’s wrists.
As the Firstborn son of the Great Leader of Vesturon, Rayn was born with symbols emblazoned upon his wrists. They were swirling scroll-like icons that were entwined with geometric-like figures.
“Oh, Sharra, I don’t know if I can wear these. They are so beautiful. I’ve never worn anything so, gosh, I don’t know; these look really valuable,” Maddie said in awe.
She cradled the jewelry in her cupped hands. They were lovely swirling bands with geometric figures hammered in. In the middle of each band was beautiful filigreed work with tiny diamonds embedded in gold forming a triangle with a crescent centered within. They were stunning and the most beautiful things Maddie had ever seen, much less worn.
“Maddie, the value of these is meaningless compared to you and my brother’s happiness. You will wear these with pride, my sister! Now,
this
is something else that I must explain to you,” she said, handing Maddie a gold belt. “This is the belt a female wears when she has been pledged to someone and is waiting for her unification ceremony.”