Free Maliuth: The Reborn by Stormy McKnight Page B

Lisil looked are her with genuine interest. She tried
to answer him and listen to the argument around her at the same time.
    “Kissing is when you touch mouths.” She supplied. Her head was swinging
back and forth between the still arguing council members and Maliuth.
      “The newly Reborn female will have
to go to the Oracles.” Valav yelled.
    “She will not.” Maliuth stood firm.
    “I will not.” Alea argued at the same time.
    “When a newly Reborn female is shown to be a healer, you know that female
belongs with me in the Oracle Temple.” The Elder yelled even louder, “I do not
know why we are here to arbitrate this issue. It is the law.”
    There was so much yelling Alea couldn’t take it anymore. With her fingers
in her mouth, she let out a shrill whistle. All of the males shuddered to a
stop in their yells and turned astonished gazes on her.
    “I have a name.” She spoke softly in the silence. “You all have my
permission to call me Alea.” She hid her smile at the look of astonishment on the
council members faces. It seems that they either weren’t used to being
interrupted, or they were shocked by the fact that a female had dared to do it.
She wasn’t sure which. Whereas the others just sat astonished, Valav was
turning a nice shade of red. Then his eyes narrowed on her.
    “There are protocol’s…” he huffed. “When in the council chambers you will
use proper respect when addressing a member of this court. Further, you will
not speak unless asked a direct question.”
    “I am standing right here and you are not showing me any respect by
refusing to use my given name. I am entirely sure that you knew what it was
before I walked through the door.” Alea remembered Sartya telling her not to
let them bully her. “Furthermore, the very first thing you should have asked was what I wanted.”
She felt Maliuth squeeze her fingers. In warning or as a show of support she
wasn’t sure.
    “You are newly Reborn and couldn’t possibly know what you want.” The
Elder spoke before the council members could regain their voices. “That is why
I tried to stop the mating ritual. To be trained as a healer in the Oracle Temple
is a high honor. One that you should be happy to accept.”
    “I want to know more about this kissing.” The one male who had been listening
to her asked, but no one paid any attention to him.
    Alea leaned into Maliuth, “I didn’t come through the shadows to be a
healer in your temple. I came through to be with Maliuth.” She looked at the
council members and ignored The Elder since she had to convince these men to
let her stay mated. “How is a male’s name decided on for a mate? Is it a secret
process or can The Elder explain it to me?”
    The council members all looked to The Elder and it was Lairial who said,
“Explain how you choose males to Alea.” He had a small smile on his face and
she gave a sigh of relief. One person might be on their side.
    The Elder bristled at having to answer then blurted, “On the sacred day
of the fullest moons I go into the deepest part of the temple to meditate. When
I am sufficiently open to the spirits, two names will come to me. The first
name is the male chosen for a mate. The second is the name of the female to be Reborn.”
    “So I was chosen for Maliuth by a higher power than even yours?” Alea
asked. Her eyes going over the other council member and two of them smiled
slightly at her words. The only one not impressed with her was Valav.
    “I would not say that exactly. It is through me that the names are heard
at all.” The Elder insisted.
    “So this is a new process that no other Oracle has done before you?” Alea
prodded, “No other Oracle before you had this ability and no Oracle after you
will have the ability?”
    “Well no. There is a hierarchy to the Oracle and when you reach the
position of The Elder then you learn the process of meditation that allows for hearing
the names.” He glowered at her, “We are not