Druid Fox Chapter 30
Javier
The women all wore dresses, and the men wore jeans with no shirts. They all walked with their staves, and the men carried swords in scabbards on their backs.
They reached the hill above the lake. In the middle of the clearing, a stone circle stood. It looked as if Luke had built it after all.
They stepped inside the circle, and Luke stood in the center of the back of the circle. Eli stood to his left.
Javier with Isabell stood to his right and Fox stood next to Artie to the right of Isabell. They all placed their staves on the ground behind them, except Luke.
Luke held the white staff out in front of him and addressed them. The ritual began.
“I, Lucas Mendez, the alpha male of the Druid pack, humbly accept the position of Ri ruirech of the immortal Kingdom of Draoithe. I swear to serve and protect the realm and my people with my strength and magic. Who among you would stand as Guardians with me?”
Javier stepped forward and spoke the words that would alter the pack into something more. “I, Javier MacGuire, would stand as Guardian with you.”
Luke handed him the dagger, and Javier slashed first his left, then a little awkwardly into his right palm. Javier handed the dagger back to Luke, who sheathed it, still stained and wet.
“Then kneel and swear fealty,” Luke spoke.
Javier dropped to one knee and drew the sword, lifting it in front of him on both raised palms. He looked up at his friend and spoke the required words.
“I swear my loyalty, my sword arm, my magic, and my fealty to Lucas Mendez. I name you Ri ruirech of Draoithe.”
Luke cut his palm with the dagger and took the sword from Javier’s hands. He laid it on Javier’s right shoulder and placed his bleeding palm on the other.
“Rise as Ruiri of Draoithe, Beta to the Druid pack, and take your rightful place on the Druid Council as a Guardian of the Realm.”
Luke placed a ring on the middle finger of Javier’s left hand, and when Javier stood up, Luke handed him his bloody sword.
Luke caught his breath, and both men looked at one another with wide eyes. Javier could feel the magic. It traced around him. It sat on him, yet binding him to his oath. He knew Luke felt it, too.
Fox stepped up to repeat the process as Javier went back to stand by Isabell.
“Duncan O’Sullivan would stand with you.”
Luke handed Fox the dagger, and he sliced both his palms as if it were a practiced behavior, handing the blade back to Luke.
“Kneel and swear fealty,” Luke commanded.
Fox dropped to one knee and drew the sword, lifting it in front of him on both raised palms. He looked up at his friend and spoke the required words.
“I swear my loyalty, my sword arm, my magic, and my fealty to Lucas Mendez. I name you Ri ruirech of Draoithe.”
Luke cut his palm with the dagger and took the sword from Fox’s hands. He laid it on Fox’s right shoulder and placed his still bleeding palm on the other.
“Rise as Ruiri of Draoithe, Head of Intelligence to the Druid pack, and take your rightful place on the Druid Council as a Guardian of the Realm.”
Luke placed Fox’s ring on the middle finger of Fox’s left hand, and when Fox stood up, Luke handed him his bloody sword.
Luke turned to Eli.
“Elizabeth Miller, Alpha female to the Druid pack, lifemate to Lucas Mendez. Will you be Ri bannach to the Ri ruirech and take your rightful place on the Druid Council?”
Eli bowed her head as Luke took her left hand. “I will be your queen. I will take my place on the Druid council.” Luke slipped the ring onto her finger and then turned to Javier.
“Javier, Ruiri, Beta, will you claim your queen?”
Javier turned to Isabell.
“Isabell Drakos, lifemate to Javier MacGuire, will you be Ri bannach to your Ruiri and take your rightful place on the Druid Council?”
Isabell bowed her head as Javier took her left hand.
“I will be your queen. I will take my place on the Druid Council.”
Javier slipped the ring on her finger as he smiled at her. Isabell was smiling back. Luke turned to Fox.
“Duncan, Ruiri, Head of Intelligence, will you claim your queen?”
Fox turned to Artie.
“Arturista Jonsdottir, lifemate to Duncan O’Sullivan, will you be Ri bannach to your Ruiri and take your rightful place on the Druid Council?”
Artie trembled as she bowed her head.
“I will be your queen. I will take my place on the Druid Council.”
Fox slipped the ring onto her finger. Artie tiptoed up to Fox and kissed him. The magic settled.
“Shall we Run?”
Luke smiled at them. The ladies slipped away into the trees to disrobe and shift. The men stepped outside of the circle of stones, laid their clothes to the side, and shifted. An old Druid Fox was, once more, a true king…
Thank you for your support! Welcome to the dream… Sincerely, -OK
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