Big Salmon Lake summerlight [m]

luke's words roused lasher; he gave a slow blink into the spring warmth and grew pensive. what was it the pale wolf wished to know? but he was truthful in his thoughts. great physicality had they shared, but none of themselves. "i do not remember my origins," he began, deciding then to speak of his life to its fullest, and leave no detail unsaid. "suzanne -- she called me into being, i believe, drew me from the ether. i served her faithfully. chronologically, i have seen five years, but in my mind, i have existed through several ages, it seems."

taltos paused, aware of how unlikely his tale sounded to the unknowing ear. "after that, there was charlotte, petyr. my beloved deborah. my witches, i called them, and i their doting servant. jean-louise, angelique, marie claudette, katherine, mary beth, stella, antha, deirdre, rowan ..." his voice had grown wan and wistful as he repeated the names of the witches he had loved with utmost soul, whom he had served. "and julien. julien was the first man i ever loved, and though he was a doting teacher, he was also cool. i left the glen of donnelaith, where i had been born, and traveled alone for many months, until i met siku of tartok. her daughter, tonravik, rules the spine even now."

"she taught me the savagery of loyal friendship; i had intended to become her consort, but kilgarrah was stronger and more assertive than i. she abandoned us to raise his children, and i wandered, bereft once more. i had formed a bond with a man named eismitte then, but he too departed for unknown territories."

lasher stopped again to kiss gently one pallid ear. "i found blacktail deer plateau, then, and peregrine. summarily i rose through the ranks and became his lover. i was his first male," taltos laughed. "he was a willing pupil. but he changed, so swiftly did he change," the earthen man mused sadly. "he took a woman named fox as his second mate, and soon grew apart from the children of his first mateship. and in short time, he abandoned the plateau to found the caldera with her. it was abrupt, and by proxy i was left behind as well. blue willow, the healer, and myself were delivered of children. we are not mates, but her betrothed was presumed dead and i saw no reason why she should not have a family. and they are beautiful, the children."

realizing he had spoken at length, lasher fell silent then, a sheepish curve to his lips.