Maig's Hand

by Phillip Henderson

  Danielle recoiled slightly. “You read my thoughts?” She felt very much as though she’d been violated.

  “I’m a thousand year old druid.”

  “Yes, and you aren’t supposed to intervene without request, which one would think would also extend to entering another’s mind.”

  “I’m trying to make this as easy as possible for you,” he snapped impatiently.

  He wasn’t the real source of her agitation so she let her anger go. “Fine, so how is this to be done? This ceremony?”

  He tossed her a water skin from a small pack and gesture that she should drink. “Once we are finished here, you will send word to your father that your brother is to be seized immediately and secretly. I’m sure he’ll understand why the boy must die once you have explained all that I have told you and with all that has happened. Then, upon your return, you should despatch him as quickly as possible. The ceremony only requires that you anoint him with this.” Cargius was searching in his rucksack, and now he produced an earthen vial and tossed it to her. “Several drops to his forehead and eyes. Four drops over his heart and several on his feet. The anointing should take place as soon as you return to the palace, as it will prevent Fren and her ilk from knowing Kane’s whereabouts and thus, preventing any attempt at a rescue. For we can be damned sure they will not let you do this if they can prevent it. And this is for you, I want you to wear it at all times.” He stood and hung a fine silver chain bearing a small emerald around her neck. It looked odd beside the small amber amulet she already wore. “That piece of amber will protect you from the Sight. This emerald will ward off any curses they conjure against you, and any attack from the undead or creatures of the dark realm they may try to summons against you.”

  Danielle baulked at the thought. “Like what?”

  “With that about your neck they cannot touch you, so it is not important. And by the end of autumn you will not need that emerald to keep them at bay anyway, they’ll flee from your presence like darkness before the sun. Now, once the anointing has been done, simply do as I have already shown you in the writings; take his head from his shoulders in a single stroke and make sure the axe blade has been touched by the first rays of the new sun. Once that is done his body will dissolve in flame and ash. Don’t be alarmed; it is natural enough given what he is. These ashes are to be gathered up and scattered upon the waters of the river. His head, however, will not burn. It must be buried in ice that is beyond the reach of the summer thaw, and all this must be done before the following sunset. Do you understand?”

  Danielle’s hands were shaking. She discreetly hid them inside her robes. “I do, but would it not be better that you were present?”

  “I’m afraid not, my dear. There is nothing in what must be done that is not within your power. Besides, this is to be done discreetly, and we would prefer that the less people involved the better. My presence will only create unwanted attention. And, in truth, I have no desire to listen to the prattle of kings and priests. I’ve had my fill of such men across the centuries.”

  “I thought you meant to protect me?”

  “If you are put in danger, then you need only call my name, and I will be there to aid you. I’m not sure there is much else to say. But if you have any other questions or need time to think on it?”

  Danielle shook her head. “No. Thinking will only make it worse. Can we just get this over with so I can go?”

  The thought that she was about to have sex with this man made her feel horribly awkward.

  The druid offered her an understanding smile as he knelt down. “Would you help me with this stone, please?”

  “Of course.”

  The slab of granite moved with remarkable ease, revealing a narrow tunnel and stairs going below. There was natural light coming in from somewhere so there was no need for a torch, but a handkerchief to hold to one’s nose would have been helpful for the smell of sulphur and warm steam rose lazily from below and into the air around them. There was nothing to see beyond the stone stairs but the sound of running water echoed from somewhere below.

  Cargius picked up his small rucksack and gestured her towards the stairs.

  “Where are you taking me?” Danielle asked. She screwed up her nose at the sulphur, not sure she actually wanted to know.

  “A place that should make this first time easier for you.”

  She remembered her first time with James, and hoped it would not be as painful, now her maidenhead had been restored.

  A thought occurred to her. “Have you been the husband of all the children?” He certainly gave the impression that he was long familiar with this role.

  “I have.”

  “Did you bring my mother here?”

  “I did,” Cargius said kindly.

  “I wish she had told me.”

  “You were too young to understand or to be burdened with such things.”

  That was probably true. How her mother had born this secret for so many years and how terrible it must have been, knowing what she had brought into the world when she gave birth to Kane and herself, and what was to come, Danielle could only imagine. Yet mother always loved us equally, that she couldn’t deny.

  As they reached the bottom of the stairs they entered a rock cavern with a low jagged ceiling. A stream of warm water bubbled out of a fissure in the rock wall on their left and cascaded a dozen feet to a tepid pond below. Steam rose from the crystalline water, catching the sunlight as it streamed in through the three arched openings that had been chiselled into the opposite wall. The view of the lake and forest beyond, all bathed in the morning light was quite breathtaking. Even so, Danielle was somewhat distracted by what they must now do to take any joy from the scene. She just wanted this to be over so she could get back to the ship and James. Cargius gently took her elbow and drew her up. Danielle couldn’t look him in the eye and she was sweating, and not from the steam.

  Cargius knelt and rummaged in his pack.

  Danielle stole a look at him, and as she had a number of times across the morning, she felt a rush of guilt. He was fair in colour and look, and the thought that she might actually enjoy this, almost panicked her.

  He pulled another water skin from his pack and uncorked it, before handing it to her. “Take a good drink of that. It’ll numb your mind a bit. Then undress and step into the pool, if you will.”

  She took two good pulls of the sweet strong drink, and then a third for good measure, before undressing as quickly as her fumbling fingers would allow her. The liquor worked as he said it would and her head was already numb by the time she stepped into the tepid water, an arm across her breasts and a hand at her crotch. She ducked down low in the warm water for modesty’s sake and kept her back turned as the druid undressed on the ledge behind her. She refused to look. I’ll think of James, I’ll think of James, she thought to herself.

  “These dreams you will have, Danielle, you need to know that some will alarm you. It goes easier if you do not fight them.”

  She didn’t need to hear that right now. He was stepping into the water behind her.

  “There’s also something else you should know.” She could feel him behind her. “This ritual we begin to day … it will likely leave you with child.”

  Danielle’s breath caught in her throat and a deep grief knifed through her. “There are herbs that can be taken …” she stuttered. It was James’ children she wanted to bear, not his, not some thousand-year-old druid who was merely doing his duty. “And I cannot come to be with child out of wedlock or I forfeit my membership on Arkaelyon’s councils …”

  “You will wed your finance to hide the truth and no one will be the wiser for it. As for terminating the birth, it cannot be done. This union is willed by the Goddess herself, only she can say what will come of it.”

  Danielle smiled bitterly at that for what choice did she have. Then a horrible thought occurred to her and she quickly turned to face him. “My mother?” Her heart raced with panic. “Did she come to be with
child? Is Eden …?”

  “Eden will be the next king of Arkaelyon, that is all that matters.”

  He reached for her hands. “Now, you need to calm yourself.”

  Danielle quickly stepped back, her breasts covered with her arms. “That doesn’t answer my question, sir.”

  His mouth twitched, and he looked off at the view beyond the archway for a moment. “There was a girl child before him.”

  Danielle swallowed hard. The ramifications … oh my god. “A girl child? But Eden is Father’s first born? The rightful heir …” The thought that he was not … that Kane was the male heir to the Arkaelyon throne, wasn’t something she could bear right now.

  “He is of Kathius’ blood line, as is your father, but no, he is not your father’s first born son.”

  Danielle felt bile rise in her throat and her head spin a little. “My mother had two children out of wedlock?” How that was possible she couldn’t honestly imagine.

  Cargius gently touched her face and made her look at him. “I am sorry. But it was necessary to preserve the bloodline of the Kathiusian Druids and all the power we possess. Your mother understood how important her first son would be to your success as Druid’s Bane, and agreed to the deceit even though by then she was married to your father. Eden will become a Druid elder. He will protect you, and once this is done, he will stand guard as our legacy and see to it that Maig cannot taint the world again.”

  Danielle swallowed back tears, not sure what to say. “What about her first born, this girl. My sister? Does she carry this curse as well?”

  “It is not a curse. And yes, she is a Child of Light. But she is of no consequence. And of Eden, it is best if you keep this to yourself. He will come to know his role in this in his own time.” Cargius gently turned her back around and began to undo the tie in her hair. “You are a very beautiful woman.”

  “I would prefer that you did not say so, nor that we linger longer than we must.” She wiped at her tears working to sure up her courage. “You should not forget that I am betrothed.” She hesitated, still reeling from what she had just been told. “If I come to be with child, will she carry this curse also?”

  “You need not concern yourself with that.” Cargius lay a kiss on her shoulder and she had to fight the urge to pull away. “When you have killed your twin brother and destroyed Maig’s gifts there will be no need for Children of Light and the way of enlightenment will be no more.”

  That at least was a comfort. She braced herself as he made her face him again. “And what about you and your kind when this is done? Why could you not stand guard? She bit back disgust and looked away as one of his hands moved to arouse her.

  “It cannot be that way. My kind died out a long time ago, Danielle. The few of us that still live are here by the power of the Goddess alone. When your work is done, and this is ended once and for all, we’ll be able to go home to those we love and have been separated from for far too long. Eden will carry the Mother’s torch and guard Maig’s eternal prison, just as his children will after him.”

  Tears blurred her vision as he gently hoisted her up. She obligingly curled her legs around his waist, and winced a little as he slipped inside her.

  “Think of your protector, Danielle, and this will go easier for you.”

  So she did, she closed her eyes and thought of her rock in the raging gale. She thought of James. And she thought of Arkaelyon’s future and why this was necessary.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  “That’s him there,” Kane said, pointing at Mr Maland beyond the carriage window.

  It was barely dawn and already Illandia’s grand square was crowded with merchants, traders, tinkers and stall owners, all preparing for another day’s commerce. Mr Maland, or the Duke as the servants in the palace kitchen called him, was on his usual rounds, moving from stall to stall inspecting the produce and placing orders for the palace kitchen. A scribe accompanied him with a ledger and purse of silver in hand. Several palace guards shadowed them, their blue cloaks catching the early morning breeze. Then there was the small army of palace servants who were loading the fresh produce into five wagons standing nearby.

  “Are you sure we should take him here?” Lord Cameron asked.

  “Have one of your men slip a gold sovereign into his hand and say that a Mr. Hamilson would like a private word with him in that alley over there when he has finished his daily purchasing. He’ll oblige, I’m sure. We can pick him up from the other side.”

  Lord Cameron tapped the window with a gilded lord’s stick. The door opened slightly and one of his men poked his head in.

  “Milord?”

  “That’s the fellow there. Red hair and beard, green hat and blue long coat.” Lord Henry explained how it was to be done and handed his man a gold sovereign.

  “And watch him,” Kane added. “He has a knife slipped in the top of his right boot, and a temper when provoked.”

  When the door closed Henry tapped the roof with his stick and a small door slid open behind the driver’s bench. “Milord?”

  “Take us to Weaver’s Lane. And get us as close to the other end of that alley yonder as you can.”

  “As you wish, Milord.”

  The window ground closed as it slid along its runner. As the carriage pulled away from the curb Kane watched Henry’s men make their approach through the market place, at least until a building took them from his view. He knew Maland would make up some excuse and come at once.

  “Who’s this Mr Hamilson?” Henry enquired.

  “He runs a gambling den in the south western quarter of the city. The Duke owes him almost as much in coin as he owes me, only Hamilson is happy to be paid in barrels of wine pilfered from the palace winery.”

  Henry smiled at that. “Seems you’ll be needing to do a little housecleaning after your ascension.”

  “A little would be putting it lightly,” Kane said casually. “The commoners might love my father and sister, but they rob them blind all the same.”

  After a few minutes the carriage turned into Weaver’s Lane, named for the occupation of its tenants, and drew up at the mouth of the alley Henry had pointed to. The Duke was already face down on the cobbles and a sack had been tied over his head. Two of Henry’s men held him still while a third tied his ankles and wrists. Two more men stood guard at the mouth of the alley, concealing what was going on from those passing by.

  Kane was impressed. “Efficient men.”

  “Dedicated men, and brothers all,” Henry corrected. “The sort you are going to need to surround yourself with in the months to come, I think.”

  Kane grinned at that. “Yes, Fren was hinting this morning that I could do a great deal worse than appoint yourself and the other elders as my Inner Council.”

  A knowing smile grew on Henry’s genial face. “I’m sure you’ll make your own decision when you are ready, Milord.”

  “You mean you don’t have a set of bones to give you fair warning?”

  Henry chuckled at that. “I wish. Only the priestess and her line have the gift of the sight.”

  “And the Hand?”

  “No. It’s one of the reasons every Hand required a high priestess at his side. Originally there were five … unfortunately we have been reduced to two.”

  Mr Maland was being dragged out of the alley. The carriage door opened and the man was tossed onto the floor at their feet.

  “Thank you Mr Gladly.”

  “You won’t get away with this, you filthy scoundrels. The king will have your heads. Do you know who I am?”

  Henry tapped the roof, and the carriage got under way, its iron rimmed wheels clattering over the cobbles.

  “What I know, old boy, is that you owe me a considerable amount of coin.”

  There was a moment’s silence then Mr Maland chuckled nastily. “Lord Kane. Or should I say Mr Kane. You have a bloody nerve. Do you know what they do to commoners that abduct servants of the king? Best you do the smart thing and forget about the debt I owe you
and let me go. Maybe I won’t tell your father, I saw you?”

  Kane laughed the insult off and drew his sword. He rested the point between the Duke’s shoulder blades and then put his boot on the man’s thick neck, forcing his face against the floor. “It’s not gold I want, old boy.”

  “If you want my help, you can go fuck yourself. Your father has made it clear what’ll happen to any that do and I’m not going to a giblet on your account.”

  “Then I’ll just have to convince you otherwise, won’t I?” Kane lifted his sword and stabbed the point into the Duke’s left buttock. The cook tensed and screamed.

  “Are you ready to be reasonable, Mr Maland? Hmmm? Or do I ram my sword up your arse?”

  “What do you want?” The man’s breath was coming in rapid gasps. It was the fear Kane heard in his voice that made him smile across at Lord Henry.

  “I want you to kill my father.”

  The Duke’s laugh was slightly unhinged. “You’re mad. You’re fucking mad.”

  “Not the answer I was looking for.” Kane rested the point of his sword on the man’s other buttock.

  “No please, wait. I’m dead if I do as you ask.”

  “What if I told you that it could be done without threatening your precious neck? And if you agree to assist me, I’d be happy to cancel your debt and pay you the same sum in gold? I’ll even promote you to Master of the Palace kitchen.”

  Maland sniggered, “You think me a fool?”

  “I know how it sounds old boy, but humour me.”

  “I’m listening?”

  Kane eased back the sword. “All I need you to do is place a dose of poison in his cup twice a day for seven days.”

  There was panic in the Duke’s voice as he said, “It can’t be done. He has a bloody taster, you know that.”

  “This particular poison will not affect the taster, nor is it detectable by our esteemed alchemists and physicians.”