Chapter Sawyer
Sawyer
The grass was cold and damp against Sawyer’s bare feet. He huffed and tried to tuck his toes back beneath the blanket, but… grass. With a sleepy grumble, he opened his eyes and found himself standing in the front yard with Pearl by his side.
“Did I sleep walk you again?” Sawyer asked with a sleepy yawn.
She looked at him like he was an idiot. She’d been looking at him like that a lot lately.
Sawyer reached down and gave her head a fond scratch before noticing that her attention had become focused somewhere else. He looked, expecting to see a rabbit or something, but instead saw an old woman walking slowly up the driveway.
“What the hell?” Sawyer darted forward, but froze just inside the first ward line.
If Andvari’s sermons since his injury had taught him anything, it was to never, ever leave the ward lines without one of the guardians.
He’d promised, and even though it went against everything his foster mother had ever taught him to let an old woman struggle alone, he waited inside the wards and watched her make her way up the hill.
“Ma’am? Do you need help?”
She looked up at him and smiled. Her teeth were slightly crooked and she had deep groove lines in her face. The cane she used was old and crooked, too, like she’d just picked up a rickety old branch from the ground in the woods to support her while she walked.
“Well, now, that depends.”
Even her voice was old. Sawyer had always found grandma voices comforting and he had no idea why. Hers was the epitome of that, a bit croaky but smoky sweet. He couldn’t stop smiling at her.
“Depends on what?”
“On whether or not you’re gonna be upset with me when I cross this first ward line.”
Sawyer paled and took a step back. Pearl leaned against his side. He opened his mouth to scream for the guys and she chuckled. It wasn’t a scary chuckle. No evil laugh here. More like he amused her to no end.
“Well, I’m not going to lie. I’m kinda upset,” Sawyer said.
“As you should be. These wards are impressive,” she said.
“Excellent work. They’ll only get stronger you know.
Once more of the guardians arrive, your seer will need to add more layers.
There can be more than two ward lines. Should be more than two, spread further out from the house.
It’ll take a good bit of energy, but he can do it. ”
Sawyer found himself nodding his agreement, even as she passed through the first ward without any trouble. He should probably be scared, terrified even. He really should yell for help. Definitely should. He was going to be in so much trouble.
The old woman grinned again. “You’ll be denied sex for sure, young Sawyer. And you’ve become quite addicted to your men, haven’t you?”
“Okay now, that’s just creepy. Who are you?”
She grinned and stopped just inside the second ward line. “I’ve been called a lot of things. But you can call me Mother.”
Sawyer scowled at her. “I don’t call anyone that.”
“Yes, dear. I know. Now come help an old woman.” She moved the final steps and crossed the inner ward.
Sawyer hesitated, but Pearl ran forward and sat quickly by the woman’s feet. She received a nice pat on the head and ear scratch for her trouble.
“Your baby girl is delightful. Such a wonderful friend, Sawyer.”
“She is.” Anyone who thought Pearl was great couldn’t be all bad. Could she?
“Come along, Sawyer. You’re dawdling. I can’t abide dawdling.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sawyer walked slowly forward until he reached her side. His heart was pounding in his chest and his palms were a bit sweaty. Was this it? Had he just walked to his doom?
“So dramatic,” she huffed before reaching out to hook her hand into the crook of his elbow. “Walk with me.”
They walked along the inner ward with Pearl racing ahead, sniffing the ground for any possible problems in their path. Of course, there weren’t any but she made an excellent scout.
“I’m pleased you figured out your truth so quickly, young Sawyer. I’d expected it to take longer. Then again, I hadn’t expected the dark ones to make a move on you directly, either. I don’t like it when the way is blurred.”
Sawyer nearly stumbled, but was able to retain his footing without tripping them both up. “So… it really is me.”
She grinned at him and gave his arm a squeeze. “Of course it is.”
“Oh, wow. Just… wow. Really?”
“Sweet boy, who else could it be?”
Sawyer could think of about a thousand guys more qualified, and he didn’t even know a thousand guys. Pretty much anyone would be more able than him, right? He didn’t even have super powers or lots of money or experience or… “Ow!”
She’d pinched the inside of his arm, right on the tender spot. “Stop that. You’re exactly what you need to be.”
“You’re sure?”
“I don’t make mistakes.” Her eyes twinkled and she grinned that crooked smile at him.
Sawyer sputtered. “You… wait… you? You? You!”
“And he’s got it. You’re a bit slow sometimes, aren’t you? Well, in your defense it is the middle of the night. I do love this time, though. It’s so peaceful when the world around me is taking its rest. Leaves me time to just listen and learn.”
Sawyer thought he might be hyperventilating. If she was… then that meant… “Goddess?”
“I told you I prefer Mother.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And you still don’t like that word.”
Sawyer laid his hand over hers where it rested on his arm. “No, I like that word a lot. It’s special. And… so are you.” He gulped. “Mother.”
“Oh, sweet boy. You are just the heart this world needs. So full of love. That’s the key. You’ll need that love to do what must be done. You’ll find your loves and it’ll make you so strong. Trust in it, Sawyer. Trust in them. With your whole heart.”
Sawyer glanced toward the house and the upstairs window where the men in his life were sleeping. “I do.”
She gave his hand a gentle pat. “It won’t be easy, what you must do. Nothing easy is ever worthwhile. But you can fix the tears, Sawyer, mend the things that have gone unaided for too long.”
“How? I can’t work magic so how can I fix it? I don’t understand.”
She huffed and gave the ground a whack with her cane.
“I’m not allowed to say more. Why do we impose these silly rules on ourselves?
But all of the old ones agreed that free will was important.
We can encourage and guide, but not direct.
And this, this requires an even more delicate hand.
I’ve moved the pieces around on the board for you, sent you the most powerful guardians.
The rest are coming. Open your heart to them and you’ll find the way is easier. ”
“I think the rules are silly, too. It’s so annoying when you can’t just say.”
“Isn’t it, though? But then, where’s the adventure, Sawyer? You have so much to learn and explore. Even a few mistakes to make along the way. But they’ll be yours to make and own, not mine. Love is the key. Trust in it.”
Sawyer groaned. “It’s so cheesy.”
She cackled and tapped the ground again with her cane. “Oh, you are so precious. I’m so glad it’s you. I—” She paused, turning toward the woods that ran behind the back of the house. “Sawyer, run. Inside. Now.”
“What? But what about—” Before he could finish, she’d dropped her cane and transformed into a huge white stag. The rack of horns on her head stretched wider than he could reach and were deadly sharp. “And you can take care of yourself. Got it. Pearl, come!”
Sawyer turned and bolted for the house, circling for the front door even as her heard her crash through the trees at the back. He flung himself inside, shutting the door once Pearl was safely in as well, then bolted for the stairs.
“Draco!”
Draco was out of the bed in a flash of movement, his naked body fierce even in its vulnerability. “Sawyer?”
“Dragon form. Outside. Go. Protect the stag.”
He didn’t hesitate, but ran for the turret stairs and moments later Sawyer heard his answering roar. Andvari appeared at his side next. “What is happening?”
“Outside. Don’t hurt the stag.”
Andvari ran for the stairs as Eduard burst into the room.
“I’m fine,” Sawyer said. “Stay with Henry.”
He ran for the turret stairs, going up to the tower. The sky was just bright enough for him to make out the shadow of Draco’s form flying high above the trees. Andvari had his sword out and paced just outside the outermost ward.
“Anything?” Sawyer called down to him.
“Something was here,” Andvari answered. “But not now. Do you want me to follow?”
“No.” Sawyer glanced up at the sky again. Draco shot a burst of fire through the air, but not down at anything. It was more a frustrated snarl than anything else. Sawyer understood completely. He returned his attention to Andvari. “Come back inside. We’ll be down in a few minutes.”
Andvari nodded, then disappeared around the side of the house. Sawyer watched Draco soaring through the night sky, his dark wings spread out wide around him. Sawyer couldn’t imagine anything more beautiful. “Draco, come on back!”
The dragon twirled through the air and shot like a bullet toward the turret.
Sawyer couldn’t hold back his grin. What a show-off.
Draco landed against the ledge with a thump of clawed feet, then pranced further into the open area.
His eyes were huge, the flames he’d seen several times now in Draco’s eyes as a man repeated in his dragon form on a larger scale.
His body was larger than one of the Clydesdale horses Sawyer had seen at a parade a few years ago.
Part of him had been expecting Draco’s dragon to be huge, and he was…
but not on a giant scale. No, he was about seven feet tall and maybe double that from his nose to the tip of his tail.
His wings, which he’d folded against him as he landed, we’re larger still.
Sawyer certainly wouldn’t want to mess with him, especially considering the size of the claws on his feet.