Unification Part Deux

The trip to Shintel was uneventful and slow. They stopped on Alameen first and picked up the twenty warriors that Anakin had deemed necessary for their protection. The ship was a bit crowded and Liza was glad to finally see the green and white ball of Shintel out the forward view screen.

Shintel was a world steeped in old traditions. The towering trees had never been razed and the settnts nts were nestled protectively in and around the towering pines. The capital city of Vinita was on the far side of the planet, near the large ocean. They stopped there first, renting speeders for the trip further north towards where the Great Castle of Chatham lay, and the King, Fergal Noble.

The speeder rose delicately over the towering tree line and Liza smiled as Goran and Micail pressed their faces against the plasteel window. Joss was piloting and he dipped and swerved gently, making the boys laugh in delight. Liza gasped and reached out a hand to steady herself. Joss ged aed and winked and she swatted at him. * Do that when I am not with you please, otherwise you will be wearing my lunch. * She pathed to him archly. Joss flushed and ducked his head guiltily. He leveled out and the rest of the short trip passed quickly, the speeder settling down in front of a large castle tucked back into the massive trees.

As they touched down, several warriors in forest green felt tunics and pants materialized around the speeder, clutching their oaken staffs tightly. Joss opened the door and a collective gasp was heard, all the men dropping to one knee, tugging at their forelock and keeping their eyes to the ground. Joss looked back at Liza and she smiled, Joss was the mirror image ld Fld Fergal and the warriors had known it. Joss grabbed the nearest one, pulling him up and setting him on his feet. The man stared at him and bowed before speaking. “I know not your name sir, but related to King Fergal, you surely are.”

Joss nodded and then turned to help Liza out of the speeder, the boys clamoring to be first as he turned back towards them. The ranks before them parted and the man that had spoken earlier gestured for them to move down the path that had opened.

The Fiona fanned out to protect the rear. Joss moving to help Liza, the elevation was getting to her and she was having difficulty breathing. He finally picked her up and carried her the rest of the way to the house, followed by his sons, enclosed within the human shield the Fiona had created.

An old man was standing on the flagstone pathway, leaning on two brawny warriors. He looked up and tears filled his eyes as he saw Joss. “Sheelagh’s son!” He cried joyfully, standing up straighter and going forward to look at his grandson. Joss set Liza down and embraced him, his own tears falling freely. As they stood there hugging, Goran and Micail came up next to their mother, crowding close to her, watching with wide eyes as their father and the stranger embraced.

Fergal pulled away and cupped Joss’ face in his hands. “Blood of my Blood, I accept you into the Clan Chatham.” He pulled Joss’ head down and kissed his forehead. The green clad warriors dropped again to their knees, bowing low to the ground around Joss.

“I am Jossiah Kadeen and this is my wife, Elizara, King Fergal,” Joss said softly. Tears gathered in his eyes as he looked down at the boys, Goran and Micail trying to hide behind their mother’s legs, peeking out at the large grizzled man

Fergal released him, going over to stand in front of Liza and embracing her as well. He kissed the top of her head and smiled at her. “A Dombrak, good choice!” he shouted, laughing and waving his hands in the air. Shouts and whistles filled the air as the warriors rose and pumped their fists in the air.

“Goran and Micail” Joss pro proudly, patting each on the head as he spoke their names. Liza reached for his hand and he clasped it warmly, pulling her against his side, watching his only living relative bond with his children. King Fergal knelt down, reaching out a hand to Micail who took it and was enfolded in a tight hug. Goran moved forward then and received his own hug, feeling the still strong arms enclose his small body in a tight hug.

Fergal rose unsteadily and two warriors leapt to assist him. He waved them off, muttering under his breath before sweeping his hand toward the house. “Please, accept the hospitality of my home, what’s mine is yours,” he said formally, bowing before the Kadeen’s.

Joss smiled and moved to help his grandfather walk into the house, Goran and Micail each taking one of their mother’s hands. “My granddad’s a king!” Goran said proudly to the Ravenas warrior who offered his arm to Liza and helped her up the stairs. The man nodded and smiled, family was important.

Fergal settled them in the large parlor, a cheery fire burning in the fireplace, taking the chill from the air. Micail and Goran sprawled at his feet and he kept glancing at them, as if he couldn’t believe that he had great grandchildren. Joss sat on the couch across from him, Liza tucked up against him, his large hand resting on her protruding stomach. The Fiona had stationed themselves around the doorways and windows, guarding their charges.

“How did you know my clan is Dombrak? I just found that out myself a couple of days ago,” Liza said softly, her small fingers tracing a delicate pattern over the top of Joss’ hand.

“You've the look of them girl, reddish blond hair and blue or violet eyes are the hallmarks of our traditional bond mates. Clan Dombrak always marries Clan Chatham, which is how it has always been, up until the last thirty or so years, now they pretty much marry whoever is left over from the other clans, as do our own Chatham girls. We are slowly rebuilding our strength, decimated by the bastard that stole my Sheelagh from us!” Fergal said, his tone becoming harsh as he spat the last sentence.

Joss nodded and looked around, they were in a large castle, well appointed and comfortable. Despite his age, which Joss placed at close to seventy, Fergal still ruled with an iron fist. “Tell me about her,” he asked softly, his eyes returning to his grandfather who watched him steadily.

“Ahh, Sheelagh was the most beautiful lass that ever graced this house. Long raven hair, deep silver eyes and a wit so sparkling that you were entranced immediately by her, never wanting to leave her side.” Fergal said, his voice thick with emotion.

“We know some of the history, not much. Can you tell us what happened?” Liza asked him, sitting forward slightly and smiling.

Fergal nodded and stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I was hoping that you could tell me more of what happened. After she was taken, we searched for months for some clue to her whereabouts. I sent warriors all over the galaxy to search for her, most never returned. Then the bastards from Peltar declared war on our House and that took the rest of the skilled warriors. We are just now starting to recover and try to hold onto the throne that was nearly stolen from us thirty-two years ago.”

“I thought you said that Dombrak was your traonalonal bond mates?” Liza asked softly.

Fergal nodded again and sighed. “Sheelagh was betrothed to a Dombrak, Marshall Amberton, since I had no male heir, he was going to be regent until Sheelagh had a son. Gelfren Mitchar killed him in a tournament and assumed his obligations, although I would never have given the crown to him. I was against the match from the start; Gelfren was a weasel that wanted our lands and title, he had little love for Sheelagh, who had been deeply in love with Marshall and was devastated by his untimely passing.”

“So then the civil war began?” Liza prompted softly.

Fergal sighed and nodded. “We have been fighting them ever since. I will never relinquish my crown to those cheating bastards. The contest where Marshall lost his life was rigged. We never did find out who was behind it. The man who kidnapped Sheelagh had help from someone, that is another secret that died with her.” Joss sighed and stood, going over to pace in front of the fire.

Fergal watched him and smiled. He was the spitting image of himself at that age. “Do you carry the mark?” Fergal asked craftily.

Joss spun and looked Fergal in the eye. “What mark?”

“The mark of your clan ye daft man! The Phoenix. Only the true heir to my throne will carry the mark.” Joss nodded slowly, unbuttoning his shirt and slipping it from his shoulders. He turned and presented his back to Fergal. A swift inhalation followed by a hoarse shout made Joss spin around again. Fergal was leaning back against the couch, holding his hand to his heart. Joss moved over to sit next to him and Fergal reached out to cup his face. “You are the designee, the next King of Shintel.” Fergal said softly.

Joss shook his head and smiled sadly. “I cannot, I have other obligations, Fergal.”

Fergal sat up and glared. "You are and nothing changes that! I am ready to move on, but if I must wait, I will. I will announce you as the rightful heir. That ought to pull the traitors out of hiding. Darius Mitchar has been chomping at the bit for me to die without designating my heir; he's going to be sorry now!"

"How did you know that Liza was the one for you? The mate of the King is always known by the Mark of the Dombrak." Fergal said, looking at Joss.

Joss stood and walked over to Liza, pulling her up and turning her around, lifting up her shirt and tracing the three symbols on her back, sitting right below her spine. Fergal cackled with glee and rose, dancing around the room. "One of your children will carry the phoenix, destined to become the next heir."

He reached for the boys and Liza shook her head as she pulled her shirt back down and turned around. “None of them have it yet,” she said softly, her hand going to her stomach. One of the twins had leapt within her at Fergal’s words and she sat back down again swiftly.

Joss was at her side instantly, rubbing her back and pulling her against his chest, his large hands massaging her trembling stomach. Liza looked up at him and smiled. “I think the future king is happy.” Fergal shouted again in delight as Joss kissed his wife tenderly, his hand lying protectively atop her bulging stomach.