by A. S. Koutso
“With one condition.”
“Name it.”
“I wish to live in peace with my human, I do not have much time left and I’d like to spend it with him. Do not involve us in your war. Once its over I will be able to die happy with him at my side.”
“On my honor you have my word.”
She picked a mushroom from the base of a tall white tree.
“Feed her this, she will shrink to the size of an acorn. The spell will only last three hours. I suggest you fly fast fairy.”
I took it from her hands and took the fabric out of Orlas mouth.
“You can’t make me swallow it.” She struggled
I rolled my eyes and punched her in the head, hard enough to knock her out. The druid laughed.
“Oh I do like you fairy. Now leave.” She said agitated with my presence.
I shoved the mushroom down Orla’s throat and within seconds her body began to shrink.
Before taking off I sent the doctors horse back home. With no time to waste I rushed back to the castle.
Cillian was waiting for me at the front entrance of the castle. I landed in front of him.
“Where is she? Did she escape?”
I opened my hand to show a tiny blonde shouting and kicking in my palm.
“How did you manage that?” He asked
“The doctor’s wife is a druid.”
“Smart.”
“Quickly, we need to get her in a cell before the spell wears off.” I explained rushing into the castle.
Chapter 22
Once Orla grew to her proper size, we sent the king word of her return. We thought it would be best for him not to see her like that.
“Get me out of this place Cillian, it smells terrible and I want out.” Orla shouted as we waited for the king.
“Shut up traitor.” He replied unable to look at her.
“You can go, I’ll watch her until your father arrives.”
“Father.” She said laughing
“You don’t have a father.”
“Shows how much you know.” Cillian replied
“The king? Slept with your whore of a mother? I doubt that very much.”
“Shut the fuck up Orla before I rip your tongue out.” Cillian shouted enraged.
“Now now my children, don’t fight.” The king said walking down the stairs
“Father! Get me out of here. These peasants won’t listen to me.”
“Your father is dead Orla, no one told you?”
“Don’t be silly, your standing right here.” She said in a cute voice.
“Enough child. If it weren’t for Cillian, you would be dead by now so cut the act.”
She crossed her arms and turned to the wall.
“Why are you being so mean.”
“Enough Orla. Odhran confessed. Continue this charade and your head will be posted on a stick between Laois and Offaly for your grandfather to witness.”
“My grandfather?” She said turning in curiosity
“That’s right, your evil malicious grandfather.”
“McDormott?” She asked
“Don’t play stupid with me child.”
“No. I’m serious. I didn’t know.”
“Doesn’t matter, his end is drawing near.”
“You? Your going to kill the high priest. I doubt that very much.”
“I’m a little to old to go to war now. I will send my heir in my place.”
“Your joking. That low life? Lead Laois to war. Your better off digging their graves and throwing them in.”
“Should we start with yours?” Cillian asked
The king slammed his fist against the steel bars
“That’s enough I said. I will not stand by and listen to all this useless banter.”
Cillian lowered his head to the king, in an act of apology.
“As for you.” He said looking to Orla
“I have yet to decide if I have a use for a rat. For now, you will be locked up in this cell like the Fae you and your pathetic excuse for a father locked in here.” He shouted heading to the stairs.
“My king, please wait.” I shouted
He stopped with one foot on the stair and turned to me.
“Yes my dear?”
“I believe I may have a solution to your rat problem.”
“Go on?”
“Clearly McDormott values Orla, as we saw in that letter.”
“I’m listening fairy.” He responded, growing impatient
“What if we used her as bate. Fuck the decree, we will smoke them out and use Orla to our advantage.”
“That’s playing dirty.” He responded with disgust
“Playing dirty my king, was attacking the heir to your thrown with no notice.”
“What’s that now?” He asked turning to Cillian
“Who attacked you my boy?”
“Some knights ambushed me while I was on my way to get Orla.”
“And what became of these knights?”
“Charred bodies left for the crows.” I replied
The king bowed his head to me and looked over to Orla.
“My dear it seems you’re not as useless as your father was. Gather the men and meet me in the thrown room.”
“Yes my king.” We said in unison
“Oh and Aisling, send word to Cara. I believe it would be best if she came to the castle during this war. If she should be discovered I fear what the church would do to her and her boy.”
“Understood my king.”
We waited for the king to climb the last step in respect, but once Orla heard him leave she started again.
“Please Cillian, you can’t sacrifice me like this. I don’t even know what the high priest is capable of. What if he slaughters me on sight? Cillian please I don’t want to die.” She begged
“Enough Orla. Don’t stress him, can you not see he’s done so much for you already.” I said shaking my head
“Let’s go Ash. We have to prepare for the war.” Cillian said ignoring her.
He went off to warn the guards there was to be a meeting in the thrown room, as I went to the back of the castle to call on a bird. I sent word to Cara warning her of the dangers and instructing her to meet me at Dunamase castle, also to tell any Fae that she knows to do the same. Then I went to meet the king and his army.
The room was filling up when I got there, the doors were open, and the guards stood at attention.
“Its time.” The king whispered to his squire.
“Silence in the thrown room. The king will now address his army.” The man shouted.
The crowd silenced and all eyes were on the king. Cillian and I made our way to the front row waiting for him to start his speech.
“Men, women, human and Fae alike. War is among us.” He stopped and looked around.
“We must fight for the freedom of our citizens and the freedom of our families. The church will not go down without a fight, but I believe it will be a worthy one. We can not wait for them to come to us, we must hit them fast and hit them hard. For many years I was betrayed by a man I once thought was my best friend and a child I thought was my daughter. I will not force anyone here to fight along side me if they are not willing. If you do not believe in the equality between humans and Fae please leave. There will be no punishment.” He paused to see if anyone would leave. The crowd stood still.
“However be warned.” He continued
“Should I learn of any other traitors in my castle. No. In my kingdom, they will be slaughtered, their heads will be steaked at the border of Laois and Offaly, for the church to see. I am not afraid of McDormott and neither should you be. He may have an army much larger in size, but I promise you I will do everything I can to raise our numbers, and that which we lack in size we will have in strength.” He stopped and waved me to his side.
“For those of you who don’t know what or who the Fae are, meet Aisling, fairy warrior.” He pointed
I activated my warrior script to sho
w the people who they will be fighting with.
Some of the guards grew unsteady.
“I ask again. Is there anyone here who wishes to leave?”
One guard walked out of the crowd and knelt to the king.
“My king, I will fight by your side but first I must know. Will my family be safe around these people?” He asked
“Have they not been safe all these years?”
“Yes, my king.”
“Then nothing will change. You see there have been Fae living among you all this time. They do not wish to harm us, they simply want a peaceful life. Some have extraordinary powers such as the fairies. Others are just like you and I my child. They may look different, but they are still men and women who want to live a safe life with their families.”
The guard stood
“I understand my king. Thank you. I will serve under you for as long as you’ll have me.” He said with his hand to his heart.
“Thank you, and I do understand some will have questions about the Fae and they will be addressed, at a proper time. Today we stand before you.” The king paused again calling Cillian to his side.
“All three of us, A Fae warrior, a king, and a half blood. Asking for you to fight along side us. Do not fight for me, do not fight for Cillian or for Aisling. Fight for the future of this land. For your children, and their children to come. What say you?”
The crowd roared; adrenaline coursed through the air.
“Go my brothers and sisters, spread the news to your neighbors and family. Tonight, we celebrate!” He shouted
“And as for you two.” He said pulling us together
“We will conquer this world and break your curse. You will live freely together ruling over my kingdom and all of the Éire in peace.” He turned to me and whispered
“We will save the Fae.”
