Free Claiming His Human Wife by Sue Lyndon Page B

across.”
    They were both silent for a while, Edwin seemingly as lost in contemplation as Rhiannon was.
    “What was your wife’s name?” she suddenly asked. She had always treaded lightly around this subject, but curiosity was getting the better of her.
    “I do not know,” answered Edwin with a tinge of sadness in his voice.
    “What do you mean? How can you not know?”
    “When an immortal Crigon loses a mate, all memory of that mate is erased.”
    “But, why?”
    Edwin gazed into the fire. “By Stretta’s decree, memories of a lost mate are erased from the living mate’s mind upon death. It is done so that an immortal Crigon may find a new mate without sorrow hindering the rest of their days.”
    “So, you don’t remember anything about your wife?” asked Rhiannon.
    “I remember leaving the walls of Strellia with someone by my side. And after that, I remember seeing a dead Crigon woman on the floor below your grandmother.”
    “Why did you not kill my grandmother on the spot?”
    “Because I considered taking your grandmother as my mate, forcing her into the walls of Strellia with me. But she disappeared from her village while I buried my mate in the Whispering Forest, covering her scent with a medicine spell so I could not follow.”
    “But you knew the moment she died? You could detect her then?”
    “Yes, her spell was broken the moment she died. My dream spirits were no longer blocked and I ran into the men that brought you to the Cold Top on my way to your village.” Edwin kissed the top of her head and pulled her closer.
    “I was terrified of you that first day,” Rhiannon confessed. “I had never been more frightened in my life.”
    “Ah wife, but you love me now, don’t you?” he teased.
    “Yes, I love you with all my mortal human heart.” They laughed and Edwin gently patted her ever stinging bottom. She imagined it would hurt to sit down for a week, possibly longer. She melted against him and they both fell fast asleep, her heart filled with contentment.
     
    * * * * *
     
    “We’ll reach the secret passage off the Cold Top by nightfall. As the stars shine down, the path will be illuminated and carry us down to the outskirts of the Land of Zertrin,” said Edwin.
    “Sounds perfect. I can’t wait to see the Palace of Lights in a few days,” said Rhiannon as she wiped sweat from her brow. The air was much warmer as they neared the edge of the Cold Top, and the walk wasn’t so bad, even with her sore bottom.
    They held hands as they traveled through the thinning forest, each of them carrying a light pack. It hadn’t been necessary to bring a lot of supplies, since the forest provided plenty of food in between the animals Edwin hunted and the fruiting trees.
    When twilight gathered and the stars were still invisible but the forest dark, Edwin lit a lantern to light the way. Rhiannon gasped when she saw a wide stream of sparkling white light up ahead. It curved down from the Cold Top in a glittering arc.
    “We’ll step on together and the light will carry us to the land below. Hold my hand and do not be afraid,” Edwin instructed when they reached the edge of the Cold Top and the illuminated path rested at their feet.
    Rhiannon nodded and clung to Edwin for dear life, though she trusted him to keep her safe. They stepped onto the light in unison and immediately felt their bodies moving, slowly down and away from the imprisonment of the Cold Top. When they reached solid land, Rhiannon let out a sigh of relief. The Whispering Forest would be safe and they would reach it in two days, finally she could experience freedom at its fullest.
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 5
     
     
    “Time to set up camp,” Edwin announced.
    “But I’m not tired and you have the lantern. Can’t we travel a bit through the night?”  asked Rhiannon.
    “No. We’ve been walking all day, much later than we normally do. You must get your rest, lass.”
    “Just a little further, Edwin,” she whined.