The Blessing of Equinox

by Kathryn Reynolds

  Releasing her grip on Marsilia’s arm, Eogain stepped back warily. “I told you to summon with intent, child. Asking into the Spirit Realm can bring things beyond your control.”

  And yet so few are willing to try, a voice rang through all of their heads, deep and resonant with absolute calm, as the stag turned its head towards Eogain. An honest request met with an honest answer. You mages and sorcerers only accept what you can control, when greater power lies beyond that.

  “What are you?” Marsilia whispered in awe.

  Looking back to the witch, the beast’s voice rang through her mind once again. I am the Guardian of these woods, of Autumn.

  “He is a friend,” Lady Isabel said, stepping forward and laying a hand on the beast’s leg. “Hello, Herne. It’s been a while.” Glancing back at Marsilia, the Lady smiled faintly. “As I am the steward of Autumn in the Fae and Mortal Realms, so Herne is in the Spirit Realm.”

  The beast turned its great head and leaned down, snuffling Isabel’s head for a moment. The raven flew off with a caw of irritation to circle overhead.

  Who is this girl you bring to our woods, Lady? The beast finally asked. She calls for aid, but I see no danger to be found.

  “She is practicing, for soon she fights a dark witch,” Isabel answered, then motioned to Marsilia. “Come closer child, let Herne get a sense of you.”

  Swallowing back her trepidation, Marsilia bent to pick up the rabbit still clinging to her leg and stepped hesitantly closer. The great beast’s head turned to sniff at her, and she closed her eyes as its muzzle passed over her face. Letting out a snort that blew her hair back, Herne lifted his head and she opened her eyes to stare up at him.

  It is spring in the mortal realm; I cannot help you. The great stag said before looking up to the sky as the raven continued to circle. But this one wanted to see you, the girl who asked for help instead of demanding obedience. Perhaps it can help.

  “What is its name?” Marsilia asked, watching the raven.

  Astud, and while it cannot speak to you as I can, if it chooses to aid you it can understand you. Herne answered as the raven dove from the sky to alight on Marsilia’s shoulder. For now, I must return to my own Realm, child of Eudon. Be safe in your journey and give your father my greetings.

  The witch felt her stomach drop as her eyes widened and the blood drained from her face. The beast bowed its head to Isabel, who curtsied in return, and then faded back to the Spirit Realm. Marsilia stood paralyzed with the spirit raven upon her shoulder and the spirit rabbit still in her arms.

  Eogain and Ailbhe were staring at her. Fjell took a deep breath and let it out slowly as Isabel looked at her companions in confusion.

  “Your mentor is Eudon?” Ailbhe finally asked. “I thought him dead.”

  Averting her gaze, Marsilia lowered the rabbit back to the ground, careful not to jostle the large raven on her shoulder. “Yes,” she answered quietly, unsure what else to say.

  “Well this certainly explains a few things,” Eogain sighed.

  Standing again, Marsilia found Fjell at her side - she hadn’t even noticed his quick approach. Looking up at him, she swallowed and gave him a weak, strained smile.

  “I’m sorry to be the ignorant one here,” Isabel said, a hint of irritation edging into her voice. “But who is Eudon?”

  Chapter 34

  Fjell glanced to the side as Ailbhe drew Isabel away, he could only assume to fill her in on who Eudon was. Returning his gaze to Marsilia he started to reach down to take her hand but the raven upon her shoulder snapped at him and he jerked back, looking at the spirit creature askance.

  “What was that for?” he muttered at the creature.

  Furrowing her brow, Marsilia raised her hand and coaxed the raven onto her arm. “Astud, is it? Are you trying to guard me? It’s alright; Fjell won’t hurt me.”

  The raven tilted its head to the side, the hackles on its neck puffing out. “Fjell won’t hurt me,” it repeated in a near perfect mimic of the witch’s voice. A few flaps of its wide wings and it lighted onto Fjell’s shoulder, hopped across his back to his other shoulder as he began to tense, then flitted back down to Marsilia’s shoulder, its feet vanishing in the fur of her stole.

  “Fjell won’t hurt me,” it repeated again.

  Reaching over slowly, Fjell attempted to take Marsilia’s hand again, watching as the raven tilted its head from side to side - yet, it didn’t attack him this time, and his hand closed around the witch’s. Satisfied that the raven was not going to peck him to death, he returned his gaze to Marsilia, only to find her looking over at Eogain.

  The sorceress regarded the witch with a thoughtful frown, her arms crossed loosely. “We will have to rethink our approach,” she finally said. “Eudon and I have very different ways of accessing and utilizing magic.”

  Marsilia’s hand tightened momentarily on Fjell’s as she spoke. “That’s… it? You aren’t going to… I don’t know. Just, that’s it?”

  “Why wouldn’t it be?” Eogain asked, raising an eyebrow. “Eudon and I have very different philosophies and practices, but we respect each other. He is a great sorcerer. If you’ve spent your life training under him, I can now understand why attempting to summon specific beasts from the Spirit Realm was so difficult for you. I would just warn caution in asking blindly; if you must ask instead of summon, focus on what sort of help you want and be prepared to block any darker beings that may come forward.”

  “But how do I do that? How do I block them?” the witch asked.

  “By sheer force of will,” the sorceress answered. “The spirits use those of us tapping into their realm to come over and materialize in our realms. If you feel a dark being coming, you must set your will against them and then close the veil before they can manifest. Herne was correct in that asking can bring greater help than summoning; but what he failed to mention is that it is also a great deal more dangerous.”

  Fjell took a breath and let it out slowly, standing silently beside Marsilia still. This was all far beyond his realm of knowledge, but he refused to leave her side while she still gripped his hand in worry. He glanced down at her again, at how she was standing tall despite how she held onto him.

  “Alright,” Marsilia said evenly, nodding in thought. Giving his hand a squeeze, she finally released it and squared her shoulders. “So what’s next? You mentioned Fae magic.”

  A small smile played across Eogain’s face as she nodded. Resting his hand on Marsilia’s elbow for just a moment, Fjell stepped back a couple of paces before turning and giving them some room to work. Making his way back across the field to where Ailbhe and Isabel were now watching the two magic wielders, the dwarf fought to keep a frown from his face.

  “Lord Ailbhe, a word if ye would?” he asked, coming up beside the elf.

  “What is said to me can be said in front of my wife,” the elf answered with a small frown.

  Fjell reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose. Lowering his hand, he sighed softly. “Aye, fine. We were trying to keep who Marsilia’s pa is quiet because she doesn’t want to deal with the politics Eudon left behind.”

  Arching an eyebrow, Ailbhe cast a glance aside at him. “She will not stay from it long if she continues to learn and grow in her powers.”

  “But we will not tell others of these matters,” Isabel said, raising her eyebrows as she looked over at Ailbhe. “Not even your brother.”

  “We cannot protect her forever, Isabel,” the elf said with a frown.

  “Not even your brother,” Isabel repeated with a small frown and Ailbhe inclined his head in acquiescence. Turning her gaze to Fjell, she raised her chin. “I will instruct Eogain to do the same. Ailbhe is correct that we cannot protect her forever, but we can allow her peace for a short time.”

  “Thank ye, yer grace,” Fjell said, bowing to her.

  * * *

  The midafternoon sun had burned through the grey overcast by the time they returned to the Keep. Lady Isabel called up baths for the two wa
rriors and ordered an early dinner to be prepared before she and Eogain retreated to private conference in another room.

  Marsilia sat in the gardens, Astud still perched upon her shoulder as she admired the beauty of the grounds. The training had been more exhausting than she had realized. For as well as Eudon’s teachings had helped her in reaching into the Spirit Realm, Eogain had helped her in tapping into the magic of the Fae Realm.

  Raising her hand, Marsilia summoned a faint light over her fingertips again. She hadn’t been able to learn any new spells that would directly help her in her coming battle, but she could feel the magic of the world around her as she hadn’t been able to before. Lowering her hand back to her lap, she sighed and looked over at the raven.

  “And what am I to do with you, Astud?” she asked. The raven tilted its head at her in reply. “Why are you sticking around? I haven’t held you to this realm… Do you think you can help me tomorrow?”

  The hackles on Astud’s neck puffed out. “Help,” it said in the witch’s voice. “Help.”

  “Marsilia, ye alright?” Fjell asked, worry creasing his brow as he came around a bend in the hedge lined garden path.

  The witch couldn’t help but laugh softly. “I’m fine. That was Astud.”

  Scratching at his chin and smoothing down his beard, the dwarf gave the bird a look of mild irritation. “That could get problematic.”

  The blue tunic she was accustomed to seeing him wear had been replaced by a gold one, along with brown pants. It seemed that the staff of the Autumn Keep had dwarven clothing on hand, and Marsilia paused, looking him over. The colors suited him well, and with his red hair, made him seem more a part of this magical world in the Autumn gardens.

  Biting her lip, she pulled her gaze from him and glanced at the raven on her shoulder. “Can you give us a moment, Astud?”

  The raven ruffled its feathers, preened a lock of her hair, then flew up into a nearby tree. Swallowing back a sudden wave of nerves, Marsilia returned her gaze to Fjell. He watched her in return, brow furrowing in confusion.

  “I’ll ask again,” he said, his voice laced with concern. “Ye alright?”

  “I’m not sure how to ask Lady Isabel to keep my relation to Eudon quiet; she didn’t even seem to know who he was,” Marsilia said, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.

  The dwarf waved the matter off, his shoulders uncoiling as he came over to sit beside her on the bench. “I already handled that. I talked with Lady Isabel and Lord Ailbhe while ye were still training; they’ve agreed and Lady Isabel is instructing Eogain to do the same.”

  Marsilia remained quiet for a moment, staring at the ground. “Thank you, Fjell. I don't know how I could have managed all of this without you.”

  Fjell’s hand closed on hers with a gentle squeeze and she turned her hand over in his, holding it in return. Swallowing back her nerves once more, she looked back up at him as he stared across the garden, lost in some thought. After a moment, he looked back over at her and smiled tenderly.

  “I’m glad I’ve been able to be here for ye, Marsilia,” he answered, lacing his fingers through hers.

  Her heart began to pound in her chest as she glanced down at their hands, heat rising in her cheeks again. “Um…” she began, then trailed off, fighting with herself over how to broach the subject lingering in the air between them.

  “Sorry,” he said, clearing his throat and beginning to unwind his hand from hers.

  She laid her free hand atop his, holding their hands together. Certain that her face was as red as the leaves overhead, she looked up to meet his gaze again. He stared back at her for a long moment.

  “We should probably talk when this is all done, aye?” he asked quietly.

  “Why not now?” she asked.

  “I thought it’d be pretty selfish and rude of me, with all ye have on yer mind already,” he said, his fingers tightening on her hand. “But I leave that for ye to decide.”

  Astud cawed from its perch and took off, circling over a nearby section of the garden. Marsilia frowned, looking up at the ruckus. A moment later, a wild elf in Autumn livery rounded the hedges and gave the couple a short bow.

  “Forgive my intrusion,” he said, averting his gaze when he noticed their entwined hands. “Dinner will be served shortly.”

  Astud landed in a nearby hedge and cawed directly into the elf’s ear. Wincing, the servant gave the bird an irritated glance before stilling his expression again.

  “Aye, thank ye,” Fjell answered. “We’ll be along in a moment. Sorry about the bird.”

  Offering another short bow, the elf turned and departed, and the raven resumed its perch in the tree.

  Marsilia chewed on her lower lip for a moment as Fjell returned his gaze to her. Finally, she raised halfway up from her seat, cupped his face with her free hand, and kissed his cheek just above his beard. He swallowed audibly in reply, watching her, seeming unable to find words.

  Standing fully with her hand still embraced in his, she smiled down at him with no small bit of nerves. “We could talk after dinner,” she offered.

  “Aye,” he answered, following her lead to stand. Raising her hand to his lips, he kissed it, his gaze locked upon her. “After dinner then.”

  Chapter 35

  Fjell and Marsilia entered the dining hall still with their hands intertwined, Astud once more perched upon her shoulder. Five place settings were laid out - the two at the head of the table, one to the left, and two more to the right. At the far end of the hall, Isabel, Ailbhe and Eogain stood before the fireplace, glasses of wine in hand as they conversed.

  Glancing down at Marsilia, Fjell couldn’t help a small smile. She moved with confidence at his side, the silver fur and trim on her black dress flashing in the afternoon light that pooled through the windows, the raven steady upon her shoulder. She looked every inch the seidkona she was becoming.

  “Ah good, you’re here,” Isabel said as they approached. “Dinner will be out momentarily. Wine?”

  “No, thank you,” Marsilia answered politely. “I’d like to ensure I keep my wits about me for our discussions tonight.”

  “Aye, I’m good for now,” Fjell agreed. “Maybe after dinner.”

  The Lady inclined her head in acceptance, an amused smile touching upon her lips as she pointedly glanced at their entwined hands. Fjell furrowed his brow as the lady then raised her gaze to Marsilia, quirking an eyebrow. He glanced aside to her, but Marsilia met the Lady’s gaze placidly, save for a hint of pink that began to creep into her cheeks.

  Lady Isabel chuckled and gestured to the table. “Let’s have a seat, then.”

  Turning back to the table, Fjell released Marsilia’s hand and pulled out the chair closest to the head of the table for her. His seidkona gave him a quick, small smile as she moved past him to sit down. Astud flitted off her shoulder to perch on the back of the chair and the dwarf pushed her seat in before claiming his own beside her.

  As soon as they were all settled at the table, staff entered with the meal, placing bowls of stew before each of them and loaves of bread in the center of the table. Isabel murmured something to one of the staff and a moment later they returned with goblets of water as well.

  Isabel picked up her spoon and took the first bite, giving signal that everyone else could also eat, before laying her spoon aside and looking to the dwarf and seidkona. Folding her hands on the edge of the table, she considered them for a moment.

  “So,” the Lady said, “do you think you have gained enough skill to improve your chances against the dark witch?”

  “Oh, most certainly,” Marsilia answered without hesitation. “I for one have many more tools at my disposal, and allies to potentially call upon should they be needed.”

  Fjell picked up his spoon, stirring his stew as he thought. “Do ye know yet what blessing will be imbued when we complete the ritual?” he asked, looking back up at the Lady.

  Lady Isabel finished her bite of stew and frowned, waving for one of
the staff to come over. “Bring the blade, please,” she said and the elf bowed, departing.

  Looking back at Fjell, the Lady shook her head. “I cannot say for certain until the Blessing of Equinox is completed, but I can take a look at what Lady Ylva already imbued. That may give us an idea of what will come.”

  “And when do you think that will be completed?” Marsilia asked frowning.

  Isabel raised an eyebrow and glanced at Eogain. The sorceress inclined her head to the Lady and Isabel returned her gaze to the seidkona. “Tomorrow morning.”

  A smile of relief lit Marsilia’s face as she turned to look up at Fjell, eyes bright for one brief moment before realization set in and she sobered. Reaching over, the dwarf took her hand in his, winding his fingers with hers once more. The battle they had been driving towards was nearly upon them.

  Looking back at their hosts, the dwarf kept an even expression.

  “Thank ye, yer grace. And thank ye for all of yer help in preparing us. All of ye.”

  Ailbhe smiled faintly, inclining his head in reply before pausing, his brow furrowing. Following his gaze, Fjell looked back to the entrance where a servant was returning with the Unseelie blade that Lady Ylva had blessed for them.

  “How did you come by such a blade?” the highborn elf asked as the servant brought it forward for Lady Isabel.

  “It was given to me by a hedge-witch in my woods, for this purpose,” Marsilia answered.

  “I would have her name,” Ailbhe insisted, turning a frown to the seidkona.

  “Ailbhe,” Isabel sighed, accepting the blade, but the elf lord laid a hand on his wife’s arm and she tilted her head to the side considering him.

  His gaze never left Marsilia, silently demanding the answer.

  “Elder Rohesia,” she finally answered, her fingers tightening on Fjell’s hand.

  “Thank you,” Ailbhe said, inclining his head to her before turning his attention to his wife. “We will speak later, my heart.”

  Glancing up at Fjell, Marsilia gave him a puzzled look. He shook his head and shrugged in reply before turning his attention back to Lady Isabel as she drew the blade from its scabbard and laid it on the corner of the table between herself and Eogain. As the two of them took a moment to examine the sword, Fjell took the chance to eat more and Marsilia quickly followed suit, releasing his hand.