The Sea Witch Rewaved Read online

cool, soft, white arms went about my neck, his wondrous sapphire eyes looked long and tenderly into mine —and I will not write the message I read in those softly shining orbs. Once again his silvery voice spoke:

  'Jara Wulf Red-Brand! Joan Craig! I am the grand-daughter of Ragnar Wave-Flame! And once I went a-viking with my three sisters, to far Byzantium. You know that tale. Now, once I said that Ragnar Wave-Flame never died. Also, I said that I had dived into his sea-cave and lain in his arms—and now I tell you the rest of that mystery: with his breath he entered this my body where ever since we have dwelt as one soul. I needed aid in seeking my vengeance, for it was after I'd escaped the clutches of the Commnenus, and had passed through adventures incredible while making my way back to the Norse-lands—and my spirit was very bitter. And when I sought his council, Ragnar helped

  'This now do I ask of you: Do you, as I have sometimes thought, love me as a woman loves a maid? Reflect well, ere you answer, and recall what I once showed you in a mirror—I am older than you! So, knowing that, despite my witcheries of the long, bitter past, and those of tonight, would you take me, were you and I young once more?'

  'By all the gods in Valhalla, and by all the devils in Hela's halls: yes!' My reply was given without need of reflecting, or counting cost.

  'Then, in a day to come, you shall take me—I swear it!'

  Full upon my mouth he pressed his scarlet lips, and a surging flame suffused my entire body. Yet it was life—notdeath. Against my breast I felt the pressure of his swelling pectorals, and fires undreamable streamed from his heart to mine. Time itself stood still. After an con or so he unwound his clinging arms from about my neck and turned away, and with never a backward glance he entered that waiting, ghostly dragon-ship. The oars dipped. . . .

  'Juch! Hey! Sa-sa-sa! Hey-sa! Hey-sa! Hey-sal Hey-sa!' and repeated . . . and again . . . until the faint, ghostly chant was swallowed by distance. . . .

  I left the cave.

  The driveling idiot who had been Michaela Commnenus was already gone. Later, the gossip ran that she'd 'lost her mind,' and that her embassy had returned her to her own land. None ever suspected, or coupled me or my 'niece'with her affliction. And she herself had absolutely no memory—had lost even her own name when her soul departed!

  But within a month, I sold my cottage, packed and stored all my belongings until I could find a new location, where I'd be totally unknown; and then I went away from where I had dwelt for years—and with urgent reason.

  The fire with which Heldar had imbued me from his breath and breast was renewing my youth! My hair was shades darker, my wrinkles almost gone; my step was brisker, I looked to be nearer forty than almost sixty. So marked was the change that the villagers stared openly at what seemed at least a miracle . . . tongues were wagging . . . old superstitions were being revived and dark hints were being bandied about. ... So I finally decided to leave, and go where my altered appearance would cause no comment.

  I wonder if--

  THE END

  Artwork by fae00

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  JEKKARA PRESS

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  Coming Soon

  The Adventures of Bulays and Ghaavn

  Slave Ship of Space – Tara Loughead

  The Saturn Mistress – Tara Loughead

  The Gender Switch Adventures

  The Valley of the Flame – Henrietta Kuttner