The Change

By Loretta Laird

It is a time of peace in the land of Fellnesia. Greenflack has been defeated, and the freegans returned to their fiery dwelling. The Conference of Barveyn readies themselves to welcome their new prince. Yet there is still a threat to the very fabric of the land; a presence that seeks to halt the very Change that has been foretold.

Are Jadara and her Passer mate prepared to sacrifice the love that they have found to unite Fellnesia once and for all? What will happen when duty and love collide?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Luminosity Publishing LLP
• Release date: Jan 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9781910397961

Loretta Laird

My name is Loretta Laird, and I am a romance-aholic! My passion is to write books that I like to read. I love to get lost in a book though seldom get the opportunity being a busy mum. I enjoy cooking, mostly cakes as that’s what I love to eat. My ambition is to buy a cabin by a lake and sit and write all day, creating worlds and stories that are enjoyed by many.

Book preview

THE CHANGE

The Passers, Book Two

Loretta Laird

It is a time of peace in the land of Fellnesia. Greenflack has been defeated, and the freegans returned to their fiery dwelling. The Conference of Barveyn readies themselves to welcome their new prince. Yet there is still a threat to the very fabric of the land; a presence that seeks to halt the very Change that has been foretold.

Are Jadara and her Passer mate prepared to sacrifice the love that they have found to unite Fellnesia once and for all? What will happen when duty and love collide?

THE CHANGE

The Passers, Book Two

LORETTA LAIRD

WWW.LUMINOSITYPUBLISHING.COM

LUMINOSITY PUBLISHING LLP

THE CHANGE

The Passers, Book Two

Copyright © June 2015 Loretta Laird

ISBN: 978-1-910397-96-1

Cover Art by Poppy Designs

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this literary work may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without the written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

New Life

As the hearty cry broke through the stillness of the dawn’s early light, Adamen paused in his pacing and gave a deep sigh; a sigh mixed with both pride and relief. The well-worn path of his anxious strides had provided little relief for the giant man, so strong and yet so powerless against the force of nature that had been present behind the flimsy veil, separating him from his mate and the pain she had endured for the last few hours.

A small woman, with a bosom as ample as her smile, peered gingerly around the door frame.

You’ll be coming in? she asked. There’s a young ‘un wants to meet his sire.

Adamen did not need a second invitation. He blazed past the startled healer with an unbounded leap and found himself brought to a stillness by the sight that greeted him. Lain demurely upon the bed was his own beloved Jadara, with a parcel cradled in the crook of her arm.

Come and meet him, she cooed softly, encouraging him with her radiant smile.

Jadara gazed up at the man who had become her constant companion, as well as her primary and exclusive mate. She knew the joy he could evoke in her and the power of their bond, yet now he appeared like a shy and timid youth, unclear as to his next move. His hesitation made her heart skip, and she beheld the tenderness of his gaze. She reached out to take his hand and urge him forward. Pulling herself up with his strength, she offered the blanketed bundle towards his surplus limb.

Take him, Jadara coaxed. Meet your son.

Son? echoed the warrior so reluctant to damage this perfect parcel.

His muscled arm encircled the infant whilst his free hand held fast to the small, pale hand of Jadara. Somehow her strength ebbed through his uncertain body and his eyes, at last, rested on the round and peachy face that looked back at him with unveiled interest. Pure green eyes with just a hint of chestnut gazed into rich brown ones as father and son beheld one another.

He is perfect, Adamen breathed with a throaty gasp. Unashamed tears wet his chiselled cheeks, and his gaze so full of love rested on Jadara. My son, he continued. My son Erix.

Erix, repeated Jadara thoughtfully. I like it. He is so named.

They exchanged a smile as Adamen released Jadara’s hand and made his way to the door.

Time to meet the family, he grinned.

A moment, Adamen, Jadara spoke quietly.

Hearing the concern in her voice, Adamen turned and faced his love.

Sit here, she patted the bed close to her and pulled herself further forward.

As the warrior’s weight sank onto the down covering, Jadara reached carefully towards the woollen fleece that swaddled the child and pulled it back to reveal the tender skin of her infant.

Look! she gestured towards a golden swirl that coiled from his life tube around his tiny rotund abdomen.

The delicate mark had the appearance of spun gold and meandered out in an ever-increasing circle. Sharp shards gave the pattern an intricate design. Allowing Adamen to absorb the detail, she adjusted her own gown to reveal a twin pattern identically placed on her own stomach. Hers seemed to pulse with an internal energy as if it would, at any minute, erupt from its human host.

What do you make of it? she asked with a worried frown.

Adamen shook his head bemused. I know not, he admitted.  It looks to be the mark of a Passer yet the colour is like none I have seen before. You two did inhabit the same body as is the way with a passing. Mayhap, this is why women are not permitted to be Passers, yet you have experienced the souls of the freegan within your frame. That must have left a permanent scar. Does it hurt? he added with concern.

At the shake of Jadara’s head, Adamen breathed a sigh of relief.

Then let us assume that it does not hurt my son either. At the first opportunity, I will consult with Lambord. He may have the answer we seek.

Jadara smiled gratefully at her strong protector and he offered her hand a reassuring squeeze. Cradling his small charge, he moved towards the door and pushed his way through the obstructing viol that hung there.

Outside, quite a crowd had gathered. Passer warriors mingled with the Air folk of Jadehollow. The birth of a son and heir to the kingdom was no small occurrence in their daily lives, let alone the grandson of the Passer king himself.

* * *

Lambord, the Passer king, stood a little apart from the crowd, reflecting on the journey that had brought them here. His daughter was now mother to the future Passer King and possibly the king of the whole of Fellnesia. The Change was certainly upon them, as had been foretold by the Dolchie at the start of the time of the kins. Yet Lambord was tired. It was not the world he had known and the Passers were not as he knew them to be. Mated and with families was not the way of them. It had never been so, yet here, in front of him, stood his best warrior holding a child he had sired. In the hut was the Primary Mate of this fearsome warrior. Interrupted in his musings by a familiar clasp on his shoulder, Lambord turned towards Roughier, his oldest friend and mentor.

Pebbles for you trouble? he greeted his king in the familiar way of one who has known and loved for more years than either cared to recall. You are an ancient sire today, lad. No room for maudlin thoughts.

Ah, Roughier! Lambord turned to greet the senior warrior with a clap on the back. Times have indeed become such that we greet a Passer child with such joy.

Time to embrace The Change! Roughier roared with passion.

I journey back to the abandoned fortress of Zergain this day, old friend, said Lambord. I will greet the young one then return. Much still needs the attention of the Passers and folk still need to be laid to rest. Where birth is abound, death will soon follow and cast its shadowy net. I will re-establish a base there where warriors can begin their training. There is still a need of Passers and I will devote my grey years to their survival.

Then I will remain here to train the young one. He will be the future for the Passers and the kins alike and I will bring him to you when he is ready.

We will meet in the Awakening at the second Conference of Barveyn. There is much unrest among the kin-folk, and it should prove a fiery meet, chuckled Lambord, relishing the thought of some free flowing mead and the chance for a healthy debate.

Good speed and a healthy horse, Roughier spoke the formal words of departure.

The two comrades exchanged nods of alliance as they left to fulfil their separate duties. Roughier had bragged of his need to return to the warm hearth of his latest mate, a kind Air dweller with a large heart, a pleasant knack of combing the flavours of food, and an ample bosom to lay his head at the close of each day. Life was sweet in the cosy hamlet of Jadehollow and Roughier often claimed that his weary bones appreciated the comfort.

* * *

Surveying the scene before her, two green eyes gazed from person to person taking in the detail of the bustling crowd and the excitement of the birth. Verdily screwed up her pretty nose and poked out her tongue at each passing figure.

I want to see the baby! she muttered to herself. Why have they forgotten about me? It’s always, Jadara this and Jadara that. What about me? What about Verdily? I have as much right to be the queen as she does. I have the same blood in my veins.

Catching sight of her mother, the girl’s frown vanished, replaced by the look of innocence.

Can we see the baby now, mama? she asked respectfully. I will love him so.

Laughing, her mother caught her up in a warm embrace.

You’re the sweetest thing, she praised. Let’s go!

As the two walked hand in hand across the hamlet, kin-folk began to return to their duties. Meals still needed to be prepared, babies still needed nursing and clothing mended. The peaceful settlement slowly returned to its daily routines and the cries of one small infant, just minutes old, subsided as he was nourished with his mother’s milk—already gaining the precious strength that would later be called upon for his very survival.

The Second Conference of Barveyn

Strapped tightly to the chest of his sire, Erix bounced sleepily along, soothed by the rhythmic sound of hooves on the hard, dry ground. Nine moons had passed since his birth, and he was already becoming a heavy burden for his mother to bear. Adamen, relishing the contact of his own kin, rode with satisfaction. Each glance down at the curly mop of soft downy hair made his chest swell just a little more with pride.

The decision to remain silent concerning the unusual markings on the torso of his young son, and his mate, had been the right choice Adamen mused, as he trotted along contentedly. Lambord had been very adamant about it. He had insisted on journeying to find more information about its origin, suspecting that Adamen’s initial opinion had been correct. A woman Passer had never been heard of yet Jadara had hosted the essence of the freegan before their disappearance back into the Fire Hills of Dargoon. Their power, combined with her encounter with the Dolchie, had given Jadara a metallic aura that could be seen by those with the gift of perceivement. Greenflack had craved that power and the freegan had ultimately harnessed it to gain their freedom, and defeat the evil force of Greenflack’s reign.

Such encounters would leave a trace. However, power was a dangerous thing. It had the control be the start of wars and herald the end of civilisations. The fewer people that knew of it, the better for Fellnesia; at least for now.

Despite all this, his she-mate and queen of Jadehollow, who had bred him a bonny son, now rode beside him to meet with representatives from each kin at the second Conference of Barveyn.

Glancing at Jadara’s slight form rising and falling on the mount beside him caused the familiar stirring in Adamen’s loins. Just the sight of her still had the power to arouse him. Despite the presence of their child, they had managed to couple with pleasant regularity since the birth. As if aware of his very thoughts, Jadara’s cheeks darkened with a crimson glow as she lowered her eyes beguilingly. Adamen’s low chuckle did nothing to dispel the hue on her soft cheeks.

Be patient until our arrival, she-mate, he teased gently. My, but you are an insatiable wench.

In response, Jadara rode closer and allowed her hand to travel seductively over his taut thigh. With an animal-like snarl, Adamen leaned over and grasped her unruly curls, forcing her head towards his waiting lips. Thrusting his tongue deep within her mouth, he probed hungrily, growling in satisfaction at her gasp of surprise and delight. With a reluctant sigh of resignation of what