The Vulpirans' Honor: The Soul-Linked Saga Read online

  The Vulpirans’ Honor

  A Soul-Linked Saga Story

  Book 6

  by

  Laura Jo Phillips

  Copyright © 2012 by Kathleen Honsinger

  Cover art/design Copyright © 2012 by Kathleen Honsinger

  All rights reserved.

  DEDICATION

  For my family. Thank you for putting up with my long hours, the cancelled family movie nights, shopping trips, get togethers and occasional melt downs.

  For my husband. Thank you for your constant support, your hours of knocking your head against a wall as you struggled to master the website, the blog and the oh so incomprehensible facebook page. Not to mention the frequent brain-storming sessions, research requests, and hefty editing tasks.

  For Mom. My best friend, biggest fan, constant supporter, and the best listener ever, not to mention the best Mom anyone could ever ask for.

  I love all of you, and appreciate each of you every single day.

  And, as always, for Mom, Grandma, and Great-Grandma---Thank you all for the creativity you passed along to me, as well as the heart to do something with it. There is a little bit of each of you in these books, just as there is a little bit of each of you in me

  Look for previews and coming release announcements at:

  Website:

  www.laurajophillips.com

  Blog:

  arimaslove.blogspot.com

  Facebook:

  facebook.com/laurajophillipsauthor

  Other Books by Laura Jo Phillips

  The Dracons’ Woman

  Book One of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Lobos’ HeartSong

  Book Two of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Katres’ Summer

  Book Three of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Bearens’ Hope

  Book Four of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Gryphon’s Dream

  Book Five of the Soul-Linked Saga

  Berta’s Choice

  Book 5.5 of the Soul-Linked Saga

  Quest for the Moon Orb

  The Orbs of Rathira, Book One

  Visit the home of the Soul-Linked Saga online at:

  www.laurajophillips.com

  or email Laura Jo at:

  [email protected]

  CONTENTS

  Day One

  Day Two

  Day Three

  Day Four

  Day Five

  Day Six

  Day Seven

  Day Ten

  Day Eleven

  Day Fourteen

  Day Twenty

  Day Twenty-Six

  Day Thirty

  The Prophecy of Semat Katre

  (Includes lost portion)

  In the fullness of manhood, the patience of the royal sons of the third generation beyond this day, shall be met with their soul’s fulfillment in a daughter of a distant sun.

  Have they faith in the three, by the three shall all be blessed.

  Radiant with the glory of lau-lotu shall they descend from the sky in flame before the people, and the people shall be renewed.

  Shall faith be denied, so the people shall be lost, forevermore.

  Shall the people have faith, so shall the people be blessed with a chance for renewal.

  The renewal of the people shall begin with the Soul,

  Who shall call to the soil of her distant home for she who shall be the Heart, and she who shall be the Mind.

  And these shall be the Three.

  Have they faith in the Three, by the Three shall all be blessed.

  By the Three shall be found new knowledge

  Of shadowed truths,

  Of enemies born to be brothers,

  Of Black Deceivers

  Of schemes from beyond the Veil of Stars to cast the peoples of the suns numbering a hundred times ten into the eternal deep.

  Have they faith in the Three, by the Three shall all be blessed.

  Shall the Three endure, the people and their brothers shall banish the Black Deceivers from the Veil of Stars forever.

  Shall the Three perish, so shall the people be lost, forevermore.

  ***

  The Gathering of The Nine

  Behold, Clans of the Jasani, the Lehen Triad of Jasan is formed.

  Through them, we, the Nine First Arimas of the Nine Clans of Ugaztun, shall speak to the people. A truth that should not have been forgotten, was forgotten. Before the future can be formed, this lost truth of the past must now be remembered.”

  “Hear us now, Clan Dracon, Clan Lobo, Clan Katre, Clan Bearen.”

  “Hear us now, Clan Gryphon, Clan Falcoran, Clan Vulpiran.”

  “Hear us now, as we are not bound by the Covenant of Silence that should never have been made.”

  “So shall we speak of the Lost Clans, of the Owlfen, and the Tigrenca.”

  “Once, long and long and long ago, the Clans were Nine as they were meant to be. But they were not brothers, the Clans, one to another as they are now.

  In that time, the Clans fought among themselves, squabbling over land and air and sea as young races often do.

  In that time, females had the Right of Choice and fought as they wished, or not, as they wished.

  In that time, Enclave was a gathering of females, led by the First Nine Arimas, in part for those women whose time it was to consider the finding of their Rami. All but a few of the women of all the Clans attended.

  “The Owlfen and the Tigrenca were at war, each with the other. The heat of their battle ran through the Enclave. In the depths of their blood rages, they noticed not where they were, nor what they did.

  “By day’s end, all of the Nine were dead, as were all but a few of the other females. Such was the blood rage of the men of the other Clans that the Owlfen and the Tigrenca were both annihilated in retribution.

  “Only when the last of the two Clans was destroyed, did the blood rages cool and the males understand what they had done. The Clans were now seven, out of communion with the world and nature. The power of the Clans was broken. There were few women left, and the people were lost.

  “In despair, the male-sets of the remaining Clans gathered together in the first male Enclave. They worked together in peace to find a way to save the race of the Ugaztun.

  “So it was decided that the women would not go to war, nor would they be taught the ways of war, that the men would guard and protect them.

  “So it was decided that the Clans would not war, but become brothers in all things and never again raise hand or claw or fang or talon one to the other.

  “So it was decided that the Shame of Ugaztun would remain in the past, and not be spoken of again under the Covenant of Silence.

  “And so it came to be, and the Clans kept their covenant and warred no more. In time, the Shame of Ugaztun was forgotten, as were the Lost Clans, as though they had never been.

  “Then came the time of the Narrasti. The women were sheltered, coddled, hidden away. The Seven First Arimas tried to come together, to raise the strength they knew should be their own, to warn the Clans of the future which lay ahead on the chosen path. But they did not know they were supposed to be Nine. They did not know the past. Thus they could not raise that which they needed, and it came to pass as they had feared, and all of the women of Ugaztun were lost.

  So ends Ugaztun.

  So begins Jasan.

  Time is not measured by the cup; it is a river that is endlessly renewed. So the remnants of the women of Ugaztun did as they could to keep the blood of the Clans alive among the people of the world they found. Now is the time for those women, the descendents of the remains of the women of
Ugaztun, to fulfill their destinies.

  So comes the chance to renew the Lost Clans. If the Clans are not restored to number nine as they are meant, so shall the people be lost, forevermore.

  “By the energy and the power of the Heart, Soul and Mind are the Jasani now truly joined with the Earth, Air, Fire and Water of this new world. If the Clans heed not the Triad, if they do not abide by their words and warnings, the Clans of Jasan will no more be. If the Clans honor the wisdom of the Triad, there is hope.

  So speak the Nine.

  So is our task done.

  ***

  The Oraculum of the Arkandu

  Oh Black Deceivers, you have come, on the day and hour foreseen and appointed.

  We have seen our death, and accept with grim sadness our passing into the realm which lies beyond.

  Before you do the evil deed you have come to carry out, know this;

  You are allotted a span of time for your webs of evil to endure, and when that span is done, so are you.

  Across the Wide Deep, the eggs of your destruction are already hatched.

  In the fullness of time, you and all your broods shall be devoured.

  In the Veil of Stars, nestled in the crook of the Great Hunter's Arm, lie the peoples of a Thousand Worlds, all woven from the same Fabric of Life, and thus connected one to the other in spite of the differences they perceive of themselves.

  Beware, oh, Black Deceivers,

  For when the shifters who emerge singly from eggs, and the shifters who emerge in threes covered with the blood of their mothers, discover that they are brothers, they will bind the Thousand Worlds with eternal bonds of blood.

  Thus shall they destroy you.

  Utterly.

  And none shall mourn your passing.

  Day One

  Honey Davis stared out the transport window as it slowly descended to a field of blue grass. She had an odd feeling of déjà vu, though she’d never seen either blue grass or lavender skies before.

  “Mana, look, the grass is blue, just like in my dreams,” Nica said, surprising Honey.

  She turned toward the petite five year old beside her who was stretching against her safety harness in an effort to see out the transport window, her dark blue eyes shining with excitement. “You dreamed of a place with blue grass, Nica?” she asked, suddenly reminded of her own childhood dreams.

  “Yes, and with purple skies too,” Nica replied, “And big dragons with dots on their fur, but they were nice dragons. Harriety Gess said dragons can’t have fur and they can’t be nice, but I told her they were my dreams and I could make them nice and furry if I want to. That’s right, isn’t it Mana?”

  “Yes, that’s just exactly right, Sweetie,” Honey replied. Nica was so much like she’d been as a child that it often amazed her. But to the point where they shared the same dreams? “When I was a little girl, I dreamed of a place with lavender skies and blue grass too,” she said.

  “You did?” Nica asked in wonder. “Did you dream of dotted dragons, too, Mana?”

  “No, I didn’t dream of dotted dragons,” Honey admitted. “Those are all yours.” She glanced over at Michael, who was smiling at both of them.

  “Is your aunt out there?” he asked.

  Honey turned back to the window and saw a group of people standing near the edge of the field beside a ground-car. They were still too far away for her to see their faces, but one was a woman with long dark hair, and the others were men.

  “If that woman with the dark hair is Berta, then yes, she’s there,” Honey said. “I don’t see any other women.”

  “Those three men on the right with the bushy hair are the Vulpirans,” Michael said, leaning over Nica to see out the window. “How nice of them to come and meet our transport.”

  Honey looked at the three men Michael pointed out, her heart beginning to race at the sight of them though she had no idea why. She could barely see them, but she was positive she’d never met them. She frowned. She didn’t like things that were out of the ordinary. Her life had enough of that sort of thing as it was.

  She tore her eyes from the Vulpirans, resolving not to look at them again, and focused on the other people standing with them. Three men, all with long dark hair and the young woman. The transport touched down with a barely discernable bump, and Honey released her safety belt before turning to release Nica’s.

  “I’ll get the imp,” Michael said. “You go on ahead. That’s probably your aunt out there.”

  “Thanks,” Honey said with a smile as she left her seat and began walking up the aisle toward the exit. As she waited for the stairs to unfold and the door to open, she realized that her hands were shaking and her palms were damp. She wiped them on her jeans and tried to tell herself there was no reason to get nervous. She didn’t even know for sure if that was her Aunt Berta standing out there or not.

  Finally the door opened and she stepped out, her eyes going at once to the woman with the dark curly hair who, she now saw, looked so much like Nica it was almost scary. Yes, that had to be Berta. If it wasn’t, then she had more than one long lost relative. She started down the metal stairs, realizing that the other woman looked very much like herself, as well. The same petite, but curvy build, red lips that were a bit too full, eyes a touch too large. The main differences between them was coloring.

  Where Honey had straight golden brown hair and light blue eyes, Berta’s eyes were dark blue and her hair black and curly. Nica’s coloring was the same as Berta’s, though her hair was straight, rather than curly. In spite of these small differences, the three of them looked so similar to one another that there could be no doubt that they were related. Honey couldn’t wait to see what Berta and Nica looked like side by side.

  “Honey, you forgot your bag,” Michael called down to her.

  She turned around and hurried back up, took her bag with a quick thanks, then went back down the stairs to meet her aunt, who was now crossing the grassy airfield toward her. When Honey reached the bottom of the stairs Berta threw her arms around her and hugged her tightly, which brought sudden tears to Honey’s eyes. Until this moment, she’d hadn’t let herself completely believe that she was no longer alone in the galaxy in terms of blood relatives. Except for Nica, of course.

  “I know we’re related just by looking at you,” Berta said. “I’m so happy to meet you, Honey. So happy to have real family.”

  “I’m happy to meet you as well, Aunt Berta,” Honey said, swallowing around the lump in her throat. “I didn’t think I had any family left. I could hardly believe it when Aisling mentioned your name. When she told me a little about you, I just knew you had to be the Berta Simms I’d learned about as a child.”

  “So I am,” Berta said. “But let’s discuss all of that later. Come and meet my Rami.”

  Honey was glad that she’d learned about Clan Jasani from Aisling during their journey from Earth, so she was neither confused nor surprised to learn that her great aunt was mated to three nearly identical Jasani brothers. Berta’s arm went around her waist as she began to lead her toward the group of men still standing near the ground-car. Honey glanced back to check on Michael and Nica, relieved to see that they were just behind her, then faced forward again as she walked side by side with Berta. When she glanced up at the men they were walking toward, a hot shiver ran through her at her first good look at the three bushy haired men.

  They were not as tall as the dark haired men they were standing with, but they were slightly broader in the shoulders and chests. Their faces were narrow and almost pointed, with high cheekbones, sharp, angular brows, and long noses. Their hair was long, very full and bushy. One had black hair, one red, and one white. The most disconcerting thing about them was the intensity with which their pale yellow eyes were fixed unwaveringly on her.

  “Hello Vikter, Lance, Hunt,” Michael called from behind them. Honey was relieved when the men staring at her shifted their gazes to her husband. She didn’t like the way they’d been staring at her, but sin
ce they were the scientists who’d invited Michael here, she would have to be nice to them. This was a once in a life-time opportunity for Michael, and he deserved her full support, no matter what.

  In the brief moments it took for those thoughts to run through her mind, Berta stopped in front of the three men standing beside the Vulpirans. Honey expected her aunt to begin introducing them since they were obviously her Rami, but they were all watching Michael and the Vulpirans with wide eyes instead.

  “Hello Michael,” the red haired Vulpiran said, reaching out to shake Michael’s hand as he approached. “This must be your daughter that you told us so much about.”

  “Yes, this is my little angel, Monica,” Michael said. “And this lovely lady is my wife, Honor,” he added, taking one step forward and placing his arm around her shoulders. “Everyone calls her Honey.”

  Honey’s breath caught in her throat as she actually felt shock explode within all three of the Vulpirans. She looked straight at them before she could stop herself and saw the stunned expressions in their eyes for just a second before a veil came down, hiding their feelings.

  “Honey,” Michael said, not noticing the Vulpiran’s reactions, “please meet the Vulpiran brothers. This is Consul Vikter, Lancer, and Hunter.”

  Each of the men bowed briefly as Michael spoke his name, and Honey nodded in return. She noted that Vikter was the one with red hair, Lance had white hair, and Hunt had black hair.

  “We are pleased to meet you, Mrs. Davis,” Vikter said politely, though his expression was stiff and his smile forced. He turned to Michael. “We must apologize for our intrusion,” he said. “We did not realize that your wife, and Arima Berta’s niece, were one and the same. We shall leave you to your reunion and contact you later, if that is acceptable.” Without waiting for a response from Michael, Vikter turned to face Merrick Falcoran. “I trust you have already arranged accommodations for your niece and her family,” he said.