34
There was a knock on Breyind’s door.
It was Stella. “You asked for me to call on you this morning.”
“Yes, I did,” Rachel said grabbing a paper bag and joining her outside. “I found these herbs for you yesterday. I didn’t remember you having these.”
“Thank you!” Stella exclaimed with a hug. “I haven’t seen these in many years. I guess you were there in the autumn then? I can’t get these ones to grow in Velantia.”
“Have you tried them in a greenhouse?” Rachel asked.
“Not since we sorted out the heating,” Stella admitted.
“Maybe something like that would help you.”
“Come show Marie! She’s going to oversee growing my herbs for me. Maybe we can work out something together. Ewan, of course, is going to be trained as a herdsman.” Stella led Rachel to the little cottage near the barns. She knocked.
The woman let them in. “Good morning, m’lady,” she greeted Rachel. “Stella learned me the propa way to address you. I’m ‘appy that you and Lady Katja brung me an’ Ewan ‘ere. Stella’s going to learn me how to grow ‘erbs! I like gettin’ me ‘ands dirty!”
“I was just asking Stella about building another greenhouse. What do you think, Marie?”
“That would be great! You lot ‘ave glass ‘ere – it shouldn’t be that hard should it, m’lady?”
“We will get right on it!” Breyind said as he took Rachel’s hand. “Are you feeling better, my love?”
“I’m fine now, thanks,” Rachel said to him.
“Were you unwell?” Stella asked.
“Just a little queasy first thing. I’m better for having eaten.”
Stella pulled out her crystal wand and waved it slowly around the young woman. “Can you feel it? As I go across your sacral chakra, the crystal gets excited. It wants to let you know that you have a little one on the way.”
Rachel turned around and excitedly kissed Breyind. “You hear that?!” she asked him.
He kissed her back. “Means I have to take even better care of you now, but I’m absolutely delighted!”
“No working on greenhouses for you though. I don’t care who you are!” Stella replied. “Even he understands that!”
“Yes,” Breyind said. “Stella gets to tell everyone what to do! Even the King himself!”
“M’lady?”Marie said, looking at Stella. “May I learn your trade?”
“We will see. Let’s start you with the herbs and a little of the magick to go with it. If you master that, we can try something more after,” Stella replied. “And no more of this ‘m’lady’ stuff with me. I’m just Stella. Where’s your lad?”
“He’s with the piglets. He loves those creatures!” Marie replied.
“Maybe we’ll have to find him some more. That’s not something we’ve had in Velantia before,” Breyind said.
“The Guardians may assist you in choosing the correct time,” Stella advised.
They were watching little Ewan play with the piglets.
“Stella,” Rachel began. “I know you’ve seen pigs before. Why didn’t you ever bring any back to Velantia? You know how good bacon is!”
“Terrenden has its own version of bacon, you know… Jelip make a good substitute,” Stella excused.
“Breyind showed me your jelip, cute creatures. But surely nothing quite compares to pork for that!”
“Truthfully? Between you and me… I’ve always been a little wary of them. They have such sharp teeth you know! And once you’ve had the misfortune of confronting a wild boar in the Forest of Dean, it kind of puts you off pork chops!” Stella said quietly to Rachel.
Rachel laughed. “Well, maybe these ones won’t try to gore you!”
“Stella!” Adrick’s voice came as he joined them.
“What can I do for you?” Stella asked him.
“Can we have a portal installed in the castle somewhere? One that connects Katja with her homeland in… Where was it, Rachel?”
“California.”
“Yes… one that can let her visit her parents when she so desires?” Adrick added.
“I will ask the Guardians. It will be a slightly unusual portal in that its timekeeping needs to remain more connected with the Other World,” Stella agreed. “Is there a mule I can borrow?”
“You could keep a horse if you wanted!” Adrick reminded her.
“All I want is a mule. I will bring it back when I’m done. I don’t have the energy to look after one all the time any more.”
“Whatever you want,” Adrick agreed and went to find her a mule.
Stella had just started riding away from the castle when she heard her name.
“Stella!” the voice came again as another horse caught up.
“What can I do for you, Your Majesty?” she asked the Queen.
“You know you can just call me Ellan, like you always have,” the Queen replied.
“Of course, Ellan. I have to get back in practice though – to properly address your new daughter-in-law,” Stella excused.
“That’s just why I came to see you. I wanted to know more about the prophesy,” the Queen said. “What can you tell me?”
“What do you want to know, precisely?” Stella asked politely.
“Are these two young women…?” she started, unsure what to ask. “Are these two young women… the Ones?”
“The prophesies aren’t ever that precise, I’m sure you understand that.”
“So, what do they actually say?” the Queen persisted.
“There are two which may pertain to Katja and Rachel. One says: ‘When two descendants of Brighid enter together, prepare for things to change for better.’ That one, I’m pretty sure has been fulfilled. These two ladies are both descendants of Brighid – same as myself.”
“And the other?”
“The other says: ‘When the lines of Wirn, Fenja and Tharn meet the line of Brighid, something new will emerge.’”
“Is that one being fulfilled?” the Queen asked.
“If the Lady Katja conceives by your son, then yes. It would be fulfilled with the child’s birth.”
“What is this ‘something new?’”
“I’m afraid that only the gods know the answer to that one, Ellan.”
“I’ve only just met the ladies, Stella. Are they as wonderful as my son and nephew tell me?” the Queen asked.
“Katja has the same temperament as your Aurelia,” Stella replied.
“My poor Adrick!” she exclaimed with a laugh. “Serves him right, I guess!”
“Katja will keep him busy, but I dare say he will enjoy the challenge,” Stella continued with a smile. “Rachel is the kindest, gentlest soul I’ve met in a long time. Breyind is in good hands, I assure you. It is my hope that the kingdom itself has been restored.”
“I feel reassured, Stella. Thank you,” the Queen replied.
“I am honoured to continue to serve you, Your Majesty,” Stella replied, bowing her head in respect.
Supplemental Materials
Prologue, map, character list
The Legend of the Sacred Trio
Links to Buy the ebooks
(Note: If anyone knows how to make this table look better in markdown, please comment!)
| Please catch up! | Links to buy |
|---|---|
 |  |
| Birth of the Neví – 829 T.C.E. It is a tumultuous period of Terrenden history. As is all too common, there are those who wish to profit from the misfortune of others. Some of these come together in a new "charitable organization" and step on the toes of the notorious Uugli. Combine this with draconian new measures to combat pollution and Terrenden has a situation ripe for a power struggle. | Rebound of Power: 850 T.C.E. Collection of Romance Terrenden is being terrorized by a previously underestimated Neví who through the mysterious “Curator” have been controlling elections all over the planet. In this collection, we meet some interesting women. Iyva, a homeless teenager in Irola whose untrained power leaves her close to death; Marc’la, a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past; Zukie, an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness; Jenna, an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara; and Kami, a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara. |
| Coming | Soon! |
| Rise of the Neví - 830 T.C.E. The Neví begin their rise in power with the completion of several large housing projects that seem totally charitable, but also hide a great evil within. The draconian measures brought in the previous year has caused major distress throughout the world, perfect for giving the Neví a further foothold on the Terrenden stage. Will the A’mara, now removed from the Council of Peers, be able to shut down the Neví? | Acting the Part - 851 T.C.E. Collection of Romance - The Neví continue to make a nuisance of themselves, infiltrating the Terrenden Freedom Party who have been winning most elections around the world. Dr. Jarly is still on the run and the Curator still dominates a larger part of the Terrenden stage than most would like to know. What’s more, famous actor, Derick Aiden has decided to release his Neví expose film, causing them to issue a Death Edict on him, forcing him into hiding. In this collection, we meet more interesting women (and revisit some we’ve already got to know.) Kauri, a simple receptionist who doesn’t realize one of her wildest dreams has come true; Tirry, an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; Zara, a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; Dzani, who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; Soala, the daughter and heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; and Moxara, one whose past griefs have locked away her heart. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously. |
Don’t forget!
I’m still offering 1 Steem Basic Income share for any minnow who asks me a question which prompts an “Ask the Author” post! I’m thinking about putting these into a Dbooks ebook all its own, actually.
Image Credits:
Brighid's Blood cover art based on:
- Mountain background shot (on the border of Slovakia and Poland) – PublicDomainPictures.
All three images were under the creative commons licensing, (no attribution required.)
- Shaze picture developed from PXhere
Shaze divider based on:
- Sword image from Wikipedia Commons
All maps/editing by myself on GIMP and Photoscape, both free programs.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Although the penalty of knowing me in real life is that you will influence the creation of my characters; any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2018 – all rights reserved.
If you are interested in helping me publish these works, please contact me on Facebook or Discord, viking-ventures#2883.
Lori Svensen – A'mara Books & Viking Visual
