ALL NOVEL 30. Cursed
I was still feeling pretty weird about my 'fae mother' ordering an execution. I wasn't comfortable with it, but wasn't sure it was something I should try and interfere with. So instead, I decided I needed to try and understand it.
I looked at Maeve and asked, "Can you tell us what happened? What did that guy do to me, to us?"
She sighed, and took up her glass. She drained it of the dark alcoholic liquid, then her expression took on a slightly distant look. Finally she started talking. Her voice was soft as she described the events of that day over twenty-two years ago.
"You were born at the break of dawn on Imbolc morning. As I held you in my arms, the early morning light came through the windows and your father and I were both struck by your beauty, so we named you Tegan. Your name means fair and beautiful."
She had a wistful smile on her face as she recounted the happy memories, but that gradually faded as she continued.
"The castle was busy with Imbolc celebrations. Connor and I stayed in our private chambers with you, until it was time for the evening feast. We left you asleep in your crib, with nurses to attend you. The feast was begun, and all were happy..."
Her expression fell to a frown as she got to the bad part.
"Midway through the meal, your father was stricken. A curse settled upon him and he was transformed from the caring, gentle man I loved, to a violent, vicious, untameable beast. It was chaos. Over a dozen were killed, and still more were injured. He could not be contained or controlled, and I could not bring myself to destroy him. The best I and captain Siobhan and the other guards could manage was to clear a path to the gates then chase him out."
There was pain in her voice now, and in her expression.
"While that horror was unfolding in the dining hall, I sent Siobhan's second-in-command, lieutenant Liam, to our private chambers to guard you with his life. After I'd seen my own husband banished from the castle, I had the gates shut tight then I rushed to check that you were safe. Instead, I found the bodies of your nurses scattered about the floor. One still lived, and in her dying breath she told me Liam had betrayed us. He killed them and took you."
She sighed deeply then finished the story, "I and a dozen soldiers mounted horses and started searching. We located you and he at dawn, in the woods to the south. Liam stood in a meadow and held you in his arms. Before I could apprehend him, he pushed through the veil between worlds and was gone. There was no way to know where he had taken you. You were lost, but I never stopped searching, never gave up hope."
After a few moments Maeve added, "I had everyone present at the castle that night, staff, guards, everyone, pledge an oath of secrecy. If others knew my child was lost, there would have been an endless stream of opportunists looking for you, for any number of terrible reasons."
Kelly and I were silent through the whole story. I finally picked up my glass and had a sip of juice as it all slowly sank in. After a minute or two, I asked "How did you catch him?"
Our junior-butler hadn't returned, but Maeve got up and got the decanter herself then returned to her seat. She topped up her glass and set the decanter on the table.
"I posted men to guard the meadow. I knew there was a chance that when he returned to Otherworld, he might arrive at the same place where he'd departed. As the days passed, the guards set up a camp, then the camp became a small garrison. Two years after he left, Liam re-appeared in that meadow. He was apprehended, and my soldiers brought him here. He has been in my dungeon ever since."
By now Kelly had finished her own drink. She leaned over and grabbed the decanter and refilled her glass, then asked "What happened to Connor?"
Maeve sighed deeply once again. "He's still out there. The great forest to the west is his domain. It is somewhat safe during the day, but he hunts at night. He has resisted all efforts to capture or contain him, and I will not order him killed. So notices are posted, people are warned to avoid those woods. Still, there are several deaths every year."
We were all quiet again for a few minutes, till I came up with another question. "Why'd that guy betray you? Why curse your husband, why kidnap me?"
That led to another deep sigh from my fae mother. She finally replied, "I do not know why Liam betrayed us, but I do know who he betrayed us to. Her name is Eileen Ceallaigh, and she was once meant to be Connor's bride."
My eyes widened as that sank in.
Maeve explained, "Connor's and Eileen's families arranged the marriage while both were young. It was purely for political gain, a union of two lesser houses that would be beneficial to both. Eileen was the fourth child in line of her family and an arranged marriage was her best option. Connor was a second son, and had slightly better prospects should some tragedy befall his older brother. Connor had no feelings for Eileen, though the pair had met numerous times. It would have been more like a business partnership than anything else."
She drained her glass again then continued, "A decade before the marriage was to take place, Connor and I happened to meet. As they say, it was love at first sight. We were smitten with each other. Clann Brádaigh has been wealthy, powerful, and popular for fifteen-hundred years. As its heir I was considered a prize catch for the parents of every unwed noble son in the realm. My parents didn't need to worry about making arrangements, they didn't need to worry about political gain, so I was in the unusual position of being free to follow my heart."
There was a faint smile on her face now as she reminisced, "Connor and I had a whirlwind romance. Of course I knew his hand was already pledged to another, but there was no love in that direction, and he determined to break his family's agreement and marry me instead. In normal circumstances that would be cause for his family to disown him. In this case, they publicly denounced his decision but privately supported it. After all, he'd be marrying into the Brádaigh family, that was a much higher status than he'd ever dream of on his own or with the Ceallaigh house."
She sighed once more, "Unfortunately, we all overlooked one critical detail. While Connor had no feelings for Eileen, apparently she loved him. And when he broke their marriage agreement to wed me instead, she vowed revenge upon us both."
Maeve poured herself another drink, then said "Connor and I were married a little over a century ago. I was two hundred and fifty, he was two hundred and sixty-five. We lived here happily, and eventually forgot about Eileen and her threats. Twenty-five years ago, my mother passed away and I took her place as head of Clann Brádaigh and Countess of Cathasaigh. Three years later you were born, and Eileen finally took her revenge upon our family."
"Damn," I shook my head slowly.
Kelly asked, "So that Liam guy, you don't know why he did it? It couldn't be for money, it sounds like you could pay him way more than Eileen. And you've had him in a dungeon for twenty years, and he's still loyal to her after all that time? What kind of hold does she have over him?"
Maeve frowned, "He's never told me why. He's held his secrets fast, despite some very enthusiastic 'questioning' through the years."
"Can't you just use magic or something?" I asked. "Like I don't know, I assumed there'd be some spells or something for reading minds, or getting the truth out of people, something like that?"
The fae woman's cheeks blushed slightly, "Such spells exist, of course." She gestured to the wall behind me, with bookcases covered in row after row of books. "We have hundred of books, describing thousands of spells. The sort of magic you refer to is dark, dangerous, and difficult to control. And alas, I am not the mage that my grandmother was."
After a moment she realized neither Kelly or I would know that tale, so she elaborated.
"Taralynn Brádaigh was my grandmother, your great-grandmother. She built this place." Maeve gestured, meaning the castle around us. "She was both an expert swordswoman, and a mage of remarkable talent. It's said she could learn spells after a single reading, and cast even the most challenging spell without tiring. She's the one who brought fortune, power, and fame to Clann Brádaigh."
Maeve sighed, "My mother inherited Taralynn's talent with the sword, but her command of magic was not so exceptional. And like my mother, I too am an expert swordswoman, and quite skilled with the bow as well. But with magic, my abilities are merely average."
After a moment she added, "This is something I share with you both in confidence. My mother was always disappointed that neither herself nor I inherited Taralynn's gift for magic."
Kelly and I glanced at each other, and I asked, "You said she could learn a spell just by looking at it once. How long does it normally take, for someone to learn a new spell?"
"It varies of course," Maeve replied. "Magical talent is not universal among fae. Those of us who do have it, will typically take a few days to a week of study to learn the basic spells. More complicated spells will take weeks or months to learn."
Kelly kept her voice level, as she asked "So for example, a glamour spell. How long would it take someone to learn that? And once learned, how long would someone be able to hold a glamour in place?"
"That one took me a few days to learn," Maeve replied with a shrug. "It was a few years before I'd mastered it though. According to my mother, being able to hold a glamour in place for three or four hours was about the best anyone could hope to achieve. Of course Taralynn could hold a glamour twice that long, if my mother's stories were to be believed."
Kelly glanced at me once more and I knew what she was thinking. She didn't want me to say anything about my own magic experiences, at least not yet.
Instead I asked Maeve "I know that Liam guy's caused you a whole lot of grief, me as well, but maybe we should try again to get some more information out of him before you have him killed? If he's been holding on to his secrets for twenty years, there must be more going on. Maybe there's some different angle, something you've overlooked?"
I added, "I don't mean to sound disrespectful, it's just, sometimes another set of eyes on a problem can see different solutions."
She watched me for a few moments, then finally nodded slightly. "Very well, Tegan. I will speak with captain Siobhan and stay the execution, for now."
She stood and added, "We'll continue our conversations another time. If you'll both wait here a few moments, a servant will come to guide you to your quarters. If there is anything else you need or desire, ask the servant and they will accommodate you. Good night Tegan, good night Kelly."
With that, she walked out of the room and left the two of us alone.
As soon as she was gone I was on my feet and checking out the bookcase she'd gestured at earlier.
Kelly stood up and moved to join me. I'd already pulled out three books and was holding them in my arm as I searched for more.
"What are you doing?" she asked quietly.
I grinned, "Reading material. I'm sure she won't mind."
Kelly still seemed anxious, she whispered "I don't think it's a good idea to be stealing books, Tegan."
"Not stealing," I replied. "Borrowing."
I had a half dozen of them in my arms by the time the servant arrived. She looked a little older than Kelly, and was wearing a maid outfit.
She sort of eyed the books in my arm but didn't comment. She curtsied and said, "Lady Tegan, miss Kelly? I'm to escort you to your chambers, and take care of any needs you may have."
"Thanks," Kelly said, and the two of us followed her out.
We were taken to an entirely different room this time. Rather than a room in the tower, this was more like a suite or an apartment. The room was big and luxurious, and it had an attached bath room. In addition to a table and chairs by the windows there was also desk in one corner with pen, ink pot, and stationery. Finally there was a wardrobe against the wall, full of clothes sized to fit Kelly and I.
On the table was a pitcher of water and another of that juice, I guess word got around that I liked it. There were also a couple glasses.
Before she left, the girl indicated the bell cord next to the huge bed. "If you require anything during the night, just ring and I will attend."
After that she left, and closed the door behind her. It wasn't locked, we weren't sealed in this time. Kelly sighed and sat on the bed, while I rooted around till I found some candles in the desk.
I wound up at the table with some juice, a candle, and the six books I'd grabbed.
