by Ava McArthur
“A wee bit better than ye, it seems,” Moira said, moving closer to him. She took his hand. “I’m sae glad tae see ye with yer eyes open again. Everyone was sae worried.”
“I was tae. It’s been nice, hearing how everyone was sad for me.”
“We all care about ye, especially yer brother and sister. As soon as Isobel heard that something was wrong with ye, she rushed tae yer side and wouldnae leave—well, until she had tae.” Moira’s face fell as she thought of how Isobel was still a victim of the sickness, but at least if Jamie had survived, then there was hope for others.
Jamie smiled again. “It is touching,” he said. “And thank ye for coming as well.”
“Ye are welcome. We are family now,” Moira said weakly, although she didn’t know how much longer that would hold true. “Haes Niall spoken tae ye about what he thinks haes caused this?” Moira ventured. Given how Jamie had reacted positively to her appearance, she didn’t think that Niall had shared his suspicions with the sick man, but Moira still wanted to check.
Jamie shook his head. “We didnae hae a good chance tae speak. My mind haes nae been as sharp as it once was.” He chuckled a little; it was good to hear him laugh.
“Aye, well, there are a few theories going around. I was speaking tae a healer yesterday and he thinks that it’s because everyone drank from the same well. Of course, Grizel thinks it’s the work of spirits…”
“She would,” Jamie laughed again, although it turned into a violent cough and his entire body shook. Moira reached out to steady him, afraid that something was wrong, but after a few moments, Jamie settled back into a comfortable position. “Then again, she may well be right. After all these years…aye…old Grizel always knew more than she was telling.”
Moira’s ears pricked up at this. “What dae ye mean?”
Jamie’s eyes widened as he lay his hands in his lap and wrung them together. “I wasnae sure how tae tell this tae Niall. I’m sure he’ll think I’m lying.”
“Aye, well, that seems tae be the way he reacts tae everything,” Moira said bluntly. Jamie tilted his head and gave her an inquiring look, but Moira didn’t particularly want to speak about her marital problems with Jamie, so she shook her head and asked him to continue.
“Well…it’s just that I was out on patrol the other night by the loch.” Moira nodded as he spoke. The loch was the clan’s other main source of water, other than the well. “And I saw the strangest thing: a huge black horse on the other side. It was bigger than anything I hae ever seen before and it reminded me of something that Grizel used tae tell us about in her stories, although I cannae remember now…” He scowled and clamped his eyes shut, pinching the sides of his forehead. “I’m sorry Moira, I get these blinding headaches, and it makes it impossible tae think.”
“Dinnae worry, Jamie. I dinnae want ye tae hurt yerself. Is there anything else ye can tell me?”
Jamie shook his head. “In truth, I’m probably just making this up. It was foggy, that much I remember for sure. Will ye dae me a favor and keep this from Niall? I dinnae want him tae think I hae lost my mind,” he said with a chuckle, but Moira knew that he wasn’t joking.
“It’ll be our wee secret.” She patted him on the chest and smiled. Jamie’s head lolled back onto the pillow. It was incongruous to see such a powerful warrior in this position, having been brought crashing down to Earth not by a mighty blow of some enemy, but by something invisible. His eyes closed and he breathed heavily, his words turning into a tapestry woven by his dreams.
“Grizel was…she was always right…the only reason I became this strong was sae that I could fight the monsters she warned us about…”
Moira wondered if Niall had ever confided this in his siblings, or if this was something that only she knew. It felt as though she was close to him, as though she was actually a part of the family, but that feeling only lasted for a moment. It didn’t matter how well she was treated by anyone in the clan but her husband. He was the key, and if he couldn’t forgive her, then she would never be at peace in this place.
Moira left Jamie with much on her mind. While she wasn’t entirely sure what he meant by this huge horse, she didn’t want to leave any lead unturned. Her trip to the well hadn’t shown anything, but perhaps there was something to the loch. It did worry her that Jamie had described something from one of Grizel’s stories, though. Had she been too hasty to dismiss the work of spirits? She decided to go back to the library and consult Grizel’s notes in case there was something similar to what Jamie had described, for there was always the chance that he was still suffering from some delusion of the sickness and his words were the product of a fractured mind.
Before this, however, she stopped in to see Isobel, as the girl’s chambers were on the way to the library. Moira peeked her head around the corner just in case Niall was there. Frankly, she wasn’t sure whether she wanted to see him or not, but for the moment, she decided to err on the side of caution, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Isobel sleeping alone. After last night, Moira wasn’t sure she had the energy for another battle.
Isobel was flat on the bed, with a thin blanket draped over her. Isobel’s forehead prickled with sweat, and her face was pale, as though all the life was being sapped away by something ethereal. A lump formed in Moira’s throat as she thought about her own mother, and how the woman had become but a shadow of herself. Isobel’s chest rose and fell, and occasionally her hands twitched, but other than that, she was motionless. The fact that Jamie had recovered was a good sign, but Moira couldn’t be certain this would hold true for everyone else. Jamie was stronger than most, and here Isobel looked so weak, with her waif-like features and her slender frame. Would she have the fortitude to fight against this illness? And what of the children in the clan? What of the elderly? No, she could not afford to assume that everyone would be able to wait this out.
Moira took Isobel’s hand gently. It had only been a short time since they had begun to make friends, and yet so much had happened that it seemed an eternity ago.
“I dinnae know if ye can hear me, Isobel, but if there’s any chance then there’s something I want tae say tae ye…I dinnae know what’s gaeing tae happen with me and yer brother. I thought that it was all gaeing tae work out here, but I cannae guarantee it. This marriage…it is more difficult than I first thought. But ye…ye hae made me truly welcome, and I was glad tae be yer friend and yer sister…even if only for a short time. I know it may nae be possible given what the future might hold, but I hope that we can be friends for a long time. Ye are a kind soul, and it was a joy getting tae know ye. I hope that I can find a way tae make ye well again.”
Moira set Isobel’s hand back down and left for the library.
As she made her way to the musty old room filled with all manner of books, Moira wondered where Niall was if he wasn’t with either of his siblings. Sadly, she thought it likely that he was somewhere with his generals preparing for war, to strike at the Monroes and end this short period of peace. Moira hastened her pace, unsure of how many lives depended on what she was doing.
She found Grizel’s notes and opened them on the table, leafing through them wildly in the hope of finding something that was similar to what Jamie had described. Grizel was an eloquent person and had illustrated her notes with depictions of the creatures she described. Many of these pictures made Moira wince as they appeared to have been born from the bowels of horror itself. Just looking at them was almost enough to make Moira lose her mind, but it meant that she did not have to pore through Grizel’s notes for mention of a horse. When she came upon the right page, she clenched her fist in triumph, but then a ripple of fear surged through her.
The illustration was of a huge horse with a coat as dark as night, and eyes like pitted obsidian. As Moira read Grizel’s notes, her skin prickled with fear.
The Kelpie is a dangerous spirit, and one that many have seen by rivers, streams, and even lochs. It looks like a beautiful stallion, and many are the men that have tried to tame it.
It can change its shape too, even into a beautiful woman, and many men have tried to tame this as well. By the time they see its feet are hooves, it is too late. Sometimes the mane is made of serpents as well. I believe that the Kelpie saw how men treated animals, especially horses; working them until they dropped, and took the form of one to punish men. Many bodies have been found in these bodies of water, drowned and drenched. The Kelpie takes them and throws them down into the water until they stop struggling. It might look beautiful, but like the other spirits, it has no love for us. It should be avoided at all costs.
Moira gasped. Her hands trembled, and she wondered if magic could really exist. Had Grizel been right all this time?
17
Moira got up from the desk and rushed through the castle, moving so swiftly that she barreled into a number of servants and maids. Most of them had the agility to react to her, but some didn’t, and she called out an apology. By the time she reached Grizel’s chambers, she was panting for breath and her dress was damp with sweat. Wild thoughts swirled around her mind, not the least that Grizel was right! But she had to know more before she took any further action. There was still much to be discussed, but she had to talk with Grizel before anyone else. She was the one person in this clan who might know how to stop this thing before it went any further.
Grizel was awake rearranging some of the flowers in the guest chamber. She turned and smiled as Moira entered.
“Ah, child, a good morning tae ye. Ye look troubled,” Grizel said, her beady eyes twinkling as she cocked her head in much the same manner as a bird.
“Aye, but there’s no time tae tell ye about all my troubles,” Moira said in one breath. Grizel clucked her tongue and shook her head. She pulled Moira down and told her to calm down because she was going to be no good to anyone when she was in such a state.
“I learned a long time ago that there’s no harm in moving at a slow pace,” Grizel said as she leaned forward. “Now, tell me what is on yer mind.”
“I fear ye were right all along,” Moira said. She was relieved her aching legs had some respite. She wiped her brow and gathered herself, although her heart still raced with worry. “I went tae see Jamie this morning and he told me that he saw a huge horse by the loch, and then when I looked at yer notes, I saw a—”
“Kelpie,” Grizel said softly, finishing Moira’s thought. “Aye, terrible beasts they are. I cannae say how many souls hae been lost because they hae been intrigued, either by the majesty of a stallion or the beauty of a woman. Awful, awful things they are, and they hae been in this area for years. Aye, slippery creatures as well. It’s hard tae capture one. They’re like water: ye try tae grab one and it slips out of yer fingers.” She shook her head and clenched her tiny, withered fist as if to demonstrate.”
Moira groaned. “What are we gaeing tae dae? How can we possibly stop a Kelpie?”
Grizel furrowed her brow. “What makes ye think a Kelpie haes done this, lass? Haes anyone been drowned?”
“Well, no, at least, I dinnae think sae, but it all fits, dinnae ye see! Jamie haes seen one and then he got ill, followed soon after by all the others! The Kelpie must be responsible. It’s the only thing that makes sense!” Moira cried, her voice filled with a variety of emotions.
Grizel remained unconvinced.
“I hae never known a Kelpie tae influence things like this, though. Usually, men die because they drown, nae because of a sickness. If this is the work of a Kelpie, then they’ve learned some new tricks.”
“It cannae be a coincidence,” Moira said.
“Aye, on that we can agree, lass. But there is something strange afoot. I would be careful if I were ye. Perhaps the Kelpie is working with another spirit, but I wouldnae get tae close. The Kelpie will take a wee thing like ye just as well as it would any man. Yes, I must think on this.”
Moira nodded and rose to leave. Before she did so, Grizel got up and waddled to the far side of the room, using her cane to support her weight. She picked up a few flowers of differing shades and tied them together in a bracelet, which she then placed on Moira’s wrist. The soft petals tickled her skin.
“It’s nae much, but this will help protect ye. If I were ye, I’d take someone with ye. I cannae think of anything worse than facing a Kelpie alone,” she said as her last words of warning. Moira nodded, but knew that she could take nobody. Grizel was the only ally she had in this place, and given Niall’s reaction when she had suggested that spirits could be the cause, Moira knew that he certainly wouldn’t agree to go with her. The way his mood was now, he would probably think that she was luring him into a trap. She exhaled deeply as she left the room and made her way to the stables, where she took a horse and rode to the loch.
Moira’s heart ached as she rode away from the main building. Part of her thought she should tell someone where she was going in case she fell foul of the Kelpie, but then she also knew that nobody cared. If she could find out the truth, no matter how grim or unbelievable, then Niall would have no choice but to believe her. She wasn’t sure what this meant for the alliance or her marriage, but at least Niall would have to admit that he was wrong. She only hoped that she was there to hear it. Given what she had learned about the Kelpie, she might well be heading into danger, and a Kelpie didn’t seem the type of creature to show mercy.
She alighted from her horse when the forest became too thick to ride through. She weaved from side to side through tall trees and tried not to let the fear get the better of her. The day was a bleak one, with a fine mist lingering in the air. As the wind whistled through the trees, it sounded like whispers. Grizel had described how the spirits often cloaked their words in the wind, and Moira wondered if they were speaking about her. She clasped her wrist and the band of flowers that Grizel had given her, hoping that it was enough to protect her from the spirits. Her eyes darted in all directions for fear of landing on anything, but she could see nothing but fog. How she wished that she had stayed at home and never ventured on this path. How she wished that she had been more adamant with Marcas. If she had just protested that little bit more, she never would have had to come here, but she had wanted to be the dutiful girl, the brave girl, and look where it had led her—in the midst of a forest with nobody by her side. Was this truly what was meant for her life?
It wasn’t long before she reached the edge of the loch. She gulped as she passed through the thinning trees, using a trunk to hide. She peered around the tree and gazed out at the loch. The fog was thicker over the water, hanging like a cloud. As she stepped forward, she wondered if this was what it was like to walk through the sky. The loch was clear and still, wide and expansive. She thought about all the souls who might have been dragged down into the depths and left for dead by the Kelpie. Her gaze drifted across to the other side. The lightness of the day was enough for her to peer through the mist if she strained her eyes hard enough, and then fear clutched at her heart and her throat ran dry.
Across the shore, on the other side of the loch was a stallion whose coat was the color of midnight. The ghostly fog swirled and made the air shimmer, giving the horse an ethereal quality. Its mane seemed to flow like serpents. Moira backed away in fear. Her first instinct was to return to the castle and confirm that Jamie had not been delirious, but she knew that by then the Kelpie might disappear. She was here now, and she had to learn what the Kelpie wanted, and if there was any way to stop what it was doing.
18
Moira had to summon all the courage she could muster to move her feet one in front of the other and make her way around the loch. She remembered what her father used to tell her about being brave—that she could only be brave if she was scared because bravery was about overcoming fear, and that just because she was afraid didn’t mean that she was useless or could do nothing. No, these were the moments that would truly define a person’s life, and Moira was never going to be known as a coward. The Monroes were not cowards. The fierce blood of warriors surged through her heart, and she was not going to forsake her a
ncestors. She whispered to herself reassuring words that she hoped would convince her mind that she was not in any danger while her body wreaked havoc with the sensation of panic.
She gripped the tough bark of trees, reminding herself that she was on firm ground even as the mist drifted around her, enveloping her. She wasn’t sure she had ever felt this alone or felt farther from home than she did in this moment. She spoke a prayer for Marcas and the rest of her family, for Jamie and Isobel, for Grizel too…even for Niall. Yes, even though he had treated her horribly, he was still her husband, and she wished that he could have found it in his heart to give her the trust that she thought she had earned.
If this was to be her last day on Earth, then she was going to make sure that she did something noteworthy. If she could find the Kelpie and prevent it from continuing this punishment, then at least she would have done something notable with her life, something that would live on in stories and that might go some way to bolstering the peace between the clans. Her sacrifice might well be the only way to ensure a lasting alliance, bonding the two clans together in grief rather than war. She had set out to the Calbraiths to do her duty and bring about peace. If this was the way to ensure it, then so be it. She would meet her end as bravely as her father had, with her head held high and her heart filled with pride.
As Moira made her way around the loch, she began to see and hear different things as her perspective changed. She heard deep, gruff voices travel across the loch, and she saw more figures moving. At first, she saw more horses, which made her even more scared because she was convinced that there was a whole army of Kelpies, but then she noticed something larger behind them. Eventually, she came to realize that they were pulling a carriage, and that the townsfolk were around them, speaking in their rough tones. Suddenly it dawned on Moira that she had been wrong to think that this was a Kelpie at all, and she shook her head, enjoying a laugh at thinking that a beast like that could exist. She shouldn’t have been so foolish or so prone to believing the first thing that came to mind. But just because a Kelpie wasn’t by the loch did not mean that she was not in danger. She kept low and quiet in case anyone was looking out for an intruder, but it seemed as though all the people were busy with what they were doing.
