Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
LAITHOG
It is late and the moon is high in the sky. The fire I built earlier is naught but glowing coals within the depths of the hearth. I need to hurry if I am to charge the box of crystals still tucked away in the library. My Paisley is fast asleep, safe in the warm embrace of her bed. Thankfully she took both dogs (the proper name of the disfigured beings she keeps as pets) to bed with her. It would take far longer than one evening for me to become accustomed to creatures such as those.
The remainder of our evening passed without any more excitement. Paisley read to me from a book entitled The Hobbit by a human male from decades ago by the name of J . R . R . Tolkien . My attention was ensnared from the first sentence. I’ve added this evening’s activities to the growing list of happy moments I’ve experienced since waking fully.
After Paisley retired for the night, I set about warding her home. It took precedence over charging the crystals. She is under more of a threat than I previously thought, so it is paramount that her home be protected against all that would do her harm, be it mental, emotional, or physical.
I am not taking any chances.
I am out of practice. Warding both entrances and all the windows took me longer than it should have, but my magick is strong. I could find no weak links in any of the wards. As long as I lived, these wards would hold since they were tied to my magick and thus my lifeforce.
Satisfied with my wards, I silently stride to the back of the house. Entering the library, I go directly to the cabinet, open the door, grab the wooden box, and walk back out of the library, passing a closed door to my left on my way back through the house. Just as my body is parallel to the closed door, the box in my hands pulsates.
That’s odd.
Pausing , I move the box closer to the door and am rewarded with another pulsation from the box I hold. Interesting , there must be something in the hidden room that resonates with the crystals I hold. Reaching out with my tail, I test the lever.
Locked .
Looking back over my shoulder, I check to make sure Paisley is not watching my invasion of her privacy as I use my magick to pick the lock on the door, pushing it open with my tail after I hear the soft snick of the lock mechanism releasing. Inside I find a flat work table set against the far wall, and multiple glass top boxes full of trinkets. Ones similar to the pieces Paisley wear. The gleam of silver and black catch my eye in the case to my right.
Striding over the case, I’m filled with disbelief at what I find.
Surely the gods meant for me to find this!
There , in a bed of soft looking purple material lies a heavy silver cuff with large pieces of obsidian and turquoise embedded into the silver. Bold etchings cover the silver complimenting the stones set within the cool, gleaming ore.
This is a protection amulet.
One , that if the gods permit it, can be charged under the light of a full moon, such as tonight, thus granting the wearer protection from its greatest weakness. Mine is the fiery ball suspended in the sky during the day walker’s dominion.
The sun.
Silver is the ore of the moon, and is revered by my people.
Gold is that of the sun.
Turquoise offers protection from negative energies, such as the negative effect the sun has on my moon kissed hide. Obsidian absorbs, blocks, and transforms negative energies.
Excitement races through me as I pop the latch on this case with a claw, grab the cuff with my tail, close the lid, and retreat from the room. Taking care to ensure I leave it as I found it, save for the cuff, as I make my exit and return to the front of the house taking extreme care to move soundlessly, lest I wake the dogs.
Digging through the crystals, I’m happy to see that all the stones I’ll need are present. If this isn’t the work of the gods, I know not what is. I position the black tourmaline, turquoise, obsidian, and selenite where they will catch plenty of moonlight, as I noiselessly open the front door while ducking to avoid hitting my horns and step out on to the porch, catching the glass door with my tail lest it bang shut.
Carefully , I set the box on the edge of the porch in a pool of moonlight. Those will charge without further ado.
The cuff however…
Only the gods can permit that type of talisman to be charged and used. The wearer must be pure of heart or the cuff will remain nothing but a pretty trinket to be worn. I place the cuff on my left wrist, quietly citing my request to the gods as I do. The left is for receipt whilst the right is to offer. I most definitely need to receive this blessing.
“ Please bless this amulet by the light of the full moon, bless it with the energy to protect me from my greatest weakness the sun. Bless it that I may protect my precious Paisley from those that would do her harm. I ask this not for myself, I ask this not with greed in my heart. I ask this humbly so that I may uphold the way of the Light , and defend those that cannot defend themselves. This is I beseech of the night gods. Blessed be.”
Seconds go by.
Just as my shoulders begin to sag, thinking my request has gone unheard, the metal on my wrist warms, and the stones begin to glow with an otherworldly glow.
A faint multitoned voice on the wind whispers.
“ Worry not, warrior of Light . Long have we watched. Long have we heard your grief. You , who has only ever served faithfully, even at great personal expense, will be granted your selfless request. You need only recharge this cuff with the light of a full moon henceforth. We bless this amulet for your use, and only your use from this day forth, until you no longer have any purpose for it. This is our will, so mote it be.”
With the departure of the voice, the glow from the cuff dissipates. Cautiously , I test the cuff with my magick only to be dumbfounded at the sheer power held within the cuff. The night gods… they blessed this cuff to the point that it is almost a god’s relic.
“ From the bottom of my hearts, I humbly thank you.” Bowing low, I give my thanks for the gift granted to me.
So .
She thinks to deter me with another male?
Inhaling deeply, I take in the scent of my rival.
A Garagyre !
The scent seems…familiar and I wrack my mind trying to place it.
Crafty little human, I didn’t think there were any of those left on this plane.
It matters not.
He will die…just like all the rest who have stood in the way of what is mine.
Deserting my vantage point, I turn to walk way.
I’ve plans to make…