Songs of the Earth (10 page)

"That will help since we don't have enough people to effectively guard this much territory," Ushna said encouragingly. He too had picked up on Gregori's need to be useful.
"I'll think of a way to protect you if there is a confrontation. I don't want to worry about you getting hurt." I wondered if Ushna had any ideas but before I could ask him, Gregori launched into his idea.
"I think I've already figured it out," he said excitedly. "It hasn't been done in a long time but I came across a spell for a golem in my 'grandfather's book. If I can get all the materials, it will take about a week for the golem to be created."
The more Gregori talked, the more excited he became, though I couldn't tell what it was about. I had no idea what a golem was.
"Isn't Golem a character in the Lord of the Rings?" Ushna asked.
Gregori frowned at him. I thought it was a perfectly good question. Obviously, it offended Gregori. I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling.
"The last known golem was created by Rabbi Yedudah Leow of Prague in the mid-sixteenth century. It was made out of clay. The spell that completes the golem and activates it ends with the Hebrew word
emet
, meaning ‘truth', which is inscribed on the golem's forehead. If I need to deactivate it all I need to do is remove the letter
e
and the word becomes
met
, meaning ‘death'.
"The golem isn't a thinking, feeling being. It will follow my commands but that's it. If I tell it to protect me, I'll have protection."
"It sounds easy." Too much so.
"Golems are very simple. Their only purpose is to do what I say," Gregori responded.
"Take what money you need to get supplies for your golem," I said leaning back into Ushna, inhaling his scent.
I pulled the manila envelope out of Ushna's hands and opened it. I retrieved a single piece of parchment. A wax impression of a lion sat at the top of the page.
"What is that?" Gregori asked.
"It's a purification ritual Ushna and I need to perform before dusk tomorrow." I scowled at the page. "The Goddess will meet with us to perform the fertility rite."
Ah, shit! Not going to panic. Nothing to panic about… who the hell am I kidding?

"Hey… hey!" Ushna grabbed my face and made me look at him. "It will be okay. We don't have to do this now." He gently brushed his lips against mine and I pushed into him, taking the kiss deeper as I opened my mouth and tasted him, drawing his bottom lip into my mouth. Ushna didn't hold back and kissed me just as hungrily.

I made myself pull away. Breathing hard, Ushna's green-brown eyes searched my face. "You're going to have to wait a little while," I said. "The note says we have to abstain from sex until tomorrow."

"So we're going to do this?" Ushna's face didn't betray how much he really wanted it. Earlier he'd shown me all his hopes and desires, but he'd wait if I wasn't ready. He wouldn't press me but I couldn't find it in myself to deny him.

I thought of having someone in the world after I was gone who would be a blend of Ushna and me, someone who would be testament of my love for Ushna and live on after I died. Someone who would pass that love to the next generation. Although I couldn't have Ushna for all time, I could have this.

"Yes, we're going to do this. We'll go through with your plan and start the ball rolling. Besides, it takes time to get pregnant. What are the chances it'll happen on the first try?"

The ritual required the sacrifice of my best prizewinning breeding bull, who had cost us over three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I expected a fight from Randy, but interestingly enough, he didn't argue with me. He had a couple of the hands bring in Georgie's Crash Box from the pasture while the others dug a fire pit. Ushna and I gathered wood for the fire.

Wearing only jeans, Ushna and I slaughtered the bull according to the instructions, butchered him, and placed everything required in the fire for the offering.

After a cleansing shower, I knelt naked at the altar in my room. I placed a chalice of water on top. The chalice represented healing and the water, fertility. I lit the candle so I'd have a flame for knowledge and placed it in the middle of a pile of sand representing our home land, to remind me where we came from. I put a small set of scales to one side. I wanted to be always just and fair in my judgment. Gregori was able to give me a small crook for authority, faith, mercy, jurisdiction, and guidance. Finally, I placed a knife on the altar for vengeance, death, severance, freedom, and sacrifice.

Throughout the night I kneeled there, hands palm up on my thighs. I meditated on all the things I wanted to be, wished to be, and needed to be. I did not move. The first rays of the sun broke over the eastern horizon and blinded me with their brilliance, bringing with it hope for a new dawn, a new beginning. I thirsted, but did not drink. I hungered, but did not eat. I pushed mortal needs from my mind and concentrated on the spirit. I remained there until two hours before dusk, when I rose on stiff legs, relieved myself, and climbed into the shower. With meticulous care I washed and shaved every inch of my body with the exception of my brows and head.

When I stepped out of the shower, a bottle of myrrh oil was on the counter. After drying off, I rubbed the sacred oil all over my body, my face, in my hair. Everything everywhere was covered in the oil. Nude, I walked out of the house to the fire pit.

Ushna was already there waiting for me. I paused for a moment and looked at him. He was magnificent, long, lean, and hard. I didn't try to hide his effect on me as I approached him. Together we stepped into the pit and coated our bodies with the ash, each helping the other make sure no part was missed, until we were totally enveloped.

Naked, thirsty, hungry, tired, sore, oiled, and covered from head to foot in the ashes of the sacrifice, Ushna and I walked the path that led to the river. The sun was behind the trees as we went to the water's edge. Dusk fell.

The Goddess Ki stood in a circle of torch light. Beside her was a tall man with lean muscles, his ebony hair in long thin plaited braids that went to his waist. A closecropped beard framed large lips under a flat nose below warm brown eyes. His almond skin glowed and he was … stunning. He wore only a black loin cloth but it didn't look out of place on him. I had absolutely no idea who he was.

"Welcome Tristan and Ushna!" The Goddess greeted us as we approached the edge of the lighted circle. "Who will be the Sire?" she intoned, hands clasped before her. Her dress was made up of interlinking copper medallions, kohl lined her eyes, and her dark hair was piled in intricate twists on her head. The fire from the torches glinted off the medallions of her dress. A light tinkle met our ears as she moved toward us.

Ushna.
"The Sire is the protector. If this is who you are to
be, you must prove yourself worthy. Do you accept the
challenge?"
"I do," Ushna said, twirling the staff in his hand
until it came to rest under his arm. Ushna moved into a
pose of readiness.
As soon as the Goddess stepped out of the circle,
the man attacked Ushna. What the hell? I started to go to
Ushna's defense but a hand grabbed my arm, holding me
back in a strong grip.
"He must prove himself, Tristan." The Goddess
remained at my side, still holding my arm. I'd seen Ushna
in the training circle and knew he was an excellent fighter,
but I couldn't help cringing internally. Everything in me
was screaming to go to his aid.
"Why? Is it because he wasn't born my Twin
Flame?" I couldn't keep the sarcasm out of my voice. "If you were the Sire, then you would be in the
circle," she replied ignoring my tone.
The evening air filled with the sound of whirling
wood staffs, the crack of their collision, and low grunts of
exertion. Without warning, the man put on a burst of speed,
the staff becoming a blur as he pressed his attack and
Ushna fell back step by step, blocking the blows, but
unable to counter the assault.
On one step, Ushna lost his balance on the uneven
ground, going down on one knee. A light of glee flickered in the man's eyes as he stared down at Ushna over crossed
staffs, "He will be mine tonight!" the man goaded. Ushna roared in rage, changing into his Lupe form.
I felt the magic as the Lupe too control. It anchored itself
through me to the Earth. His battle form called to my alpha
side, to my own alternate form, like calling to like. I didn't submit and answer the call to change. I was
afraid if I did, I wouldn't be able to stop myself from going
to him. I knew Ushna had to win this battle by himself. If I
intervened, he would fail the test.
The man swung his staff and knocked Ushna in the
head with the blunt tip. Ushna crumpled to the ground.
With a shout of victory, the man swung his rod again to
inflict the final blow but Ushna rolled away, coming up on
his knees with a whistle of wood and striking the man in
the side of the knee.
Quickly, Ushna was on his feet with such speed and
aggression, I could've howled with pride. He swept the feet
out from under the man. Ushna continued the attack as the
man defended himself from the ground, and then Ushna
knocked the staff out of the man's hand and jammed his
own under the man's chin.
"You'll not lay a finger on him!" Ushna growled. The man laughed and gave a toothy smile. "You are
a fine warrior and a worthy consort to the heir." The man held up his hand to Ushna. After brief consideration, Ushna grasped the hand and lifted the man to his feet, the Lupe
melting away.
I restrained myself enough to walk calmly to Ushna.
I wanted to run my hands over his body and look at his
injuries. I wanted to pull his head down so I could look at
the lumps he'd surely gotten from that bastard. Goddess, I
was so turned on I wanted to kiss the breath from him. I
wanted…
The Goddess laughed. "Enki! How long has it been
since a warrior bested you in fair combat?"
The God Enki pulled the Goddess into his arms. "It
wouldn't have been fair to use anything more than strength
equal to his for this test. They will have strong children." I went ice cold. I pulled Ushna into my arms,
placing myself between him and the Gods. My lover had
fought the God Enki, our creator, in armed combat. What
would've happened to Ushna if he'd lost? A shiver moved
through me and Ushna drew me closer. I looked into
Ushna's sweat-streaked face and saw no fear. His
expression was composed of serene confidence. I felt a
fierce respect for this man at my side.
"Tristan, Ushna." The Goddess Ki and the God Enki
stood before us, each holding a wide carved wooden bowl filled with liquid. The bowl Enki held for Ushna had milky
water while Ki's bowl for me held clear water.
"Drink it all and then rinse off in the river. You
know what to do after that." Ki gave us a mischievous
smile.
I took the bowl and looked into the water. "I'm not
going to swell up in all of my joints, am I?" I looked at
Enki remembering my history lesson.
A dusting of pink suffused the God's face. "No, you
won't. We have asked Uttu to instruct you on what to
expect as bearer of the children."
Out of the corner of my eye I watched Ushna bring
the bowl to his lips and drink. I mimicked him, pushing
down my panic. The liquid wasn't the water it had appeared
to be. It was cool, thick, sweet, and slightly tart in flavor. It
wasn't until my head was tilted all the way back and
nothing more was coming out of the bowl that I realized I'd
drunk all of it.
The Goddess took it from my hands and kissed me
on the lips. "Blessings to this union, fertility to your
household, and may you have a long and prosperous life
together."
Enki took Ushna's bowl from him and kissed him
on the lips. "Blessings to this union, strength to your arm, let wisdom and compassion infuse this union, and may you
have a long and prosperous life together."
They placed my hand in Ushna's and stepped back.
Heat swirled in my stomach and flowed outward into my
limbs. I felt invigorated, awake, and when I looked at
Ushna, I couldn't imagine any other place I'd ever want to
be.
There was fierceness in his gaze and possessiveness
in his hands as we walked to the cool water. There was
tenderness as he washed the oil and ash from my hair and
body. His hands gliding over my skin incited a burning heat
in me, raising my desire, making my body hum to his touch
and when he finally kissed me I thought I'd combust with
need.
Laid out for us in the middle of the circle of light
was a makeshift bed made up with luxurious pillows and
blankets in a riot of color. I didn't care how it had gotten
there as we lay down in the middle of our oasis.
Everywhere he touched me, he stoked the flames, causing
them to burn hotter. I moaned as he sucked up marks on my
torso, past my belly button, on his way down to my
throbbing erection.
I spread my legs and opened for him, groaning in
pleasure as he swallowed me down. The press of his tongue
and the suction of his mouth caused me to grip his hair and buck under him. Ushna pulled off of me with a pop. He pushed my knees to my chest as his tongue traced a path over and around my balls, sucking each into his mouth, sliding his tongue back up my shaft to suckle the flared head. Long, hard pulls, tongue swirling around and around, his hand gripped and stroked up and down… oh Gods, help
me.
I cried out for him. "Please…" I begged, though I
didn't know what for. Fire raced under my skin, mixing
with the magic that rolled through me in electrifying waves
as power reached for me from the Earth. All three
combined within me and I swore I was going to burn up
from the inside out.
Ushna helped me turn over, placed a pillow under
my hips and licked a line down my back. I thought he'd
stop but he continued going down the cleft and holy fuck!
I've never… no one had ever… I moaned and writhed
under Ushna and he kept licking, pressing his tongue at
exactly the right spot that had me moaning his name in an
increasingly loud voice.
Ushna rose up and covered me, touching me
everywhere, his breath hot on my neck. "I can't hold back
anymore. Moan for me, Tristan," he commanded as he
pressed two oiled fingers inside me. I relished the burn. I
pushed back, needing to be filled by my lover.
"Now, Ushna, oh Goddess, now," I breathed
raggedly. Sweat slicked my skin. I was lit up, burning like a
beacon in the dark of night.
Ushna pulled his fingers out and I felt him push into
me, splitting me wide as he slowly slid all the way in. That
only made the internal fire burn hotter. I couldn't stay still
any longer and I shoved back against him. I couldn't
withhold the whimper. "Please, Ushna."
"Gods, I love how you say my name. Say it again." "Ushna."
"Again!"
"Ushna! Oh, Gods, Ushna, please move!" His breathing was sharp and ragged in my ears. He
started pulling out in a slow agonizing glide. He
intertwined our fingers, moving so fucking slowly I thought
I was going to lose my mind.
"Fuck! More," I begged, trying to push back on
him.
"I want this to be good for you," he whispered in
my ear.
"Ushna, please… being with you… it's always…
more."
Ushna growled in my ear and all it did was dial the
heat in me higher. Swiftly, he sat up, pulling me up with
him. My legs were spread on the outside of his and he impaled me, my back to his chest, his arms tight around me
as he held me in place and began to pound into me. I threw my head back. The feel of him moving so
deeply in me, oh Gods yes! I reached around and grabbed
his ass, coaxing and encouraging him as I tried to meet him
thrust for thrust. His teeth painfully gripped my shoulder in
warning and made me stop, telling me he was in control. I
let go and surrendered to him. The moment I submitted, he
went wild, hands gripped tighter, hips fiercely pistoning
into me, and groaning as he sucked up marks on the back of
my neck. I fucking loved it.
Sweat dripped off me, the inferno in me blazed,
consuming me. Ushna grabbed my shaft and stroked me in
time with his powerful thrusts. His teeth grazed my
shoulder. I wanted him to bite me, to break the skin and
mark me, to drink me in. The thought of it ripped the
orgasm from me and I screamed Ushna's name into the
night as he made a mark on my shoulder. Ushna followed
me with his own release, lifting his head and howling at the
stars.