Maig's Hand

by Phillip Henderson

  “That’s impossible,” Faith said angrily. She immediately stalked off towards the inn. Lord Baryon was coming the other way, and fearing an altercation between his niece and the arrogant young Druid, Leefton ordered two of his men after her. Michael was already in pursuit with James and Bastion only a few steps behind.

  “You could have been a little more discreet,” Leefton said quietly to the captain, before brushing past the man to see what Baryon had to say for himself. The altercation he feared did break out, but was short lived as Michael and James and then two of his knights grabbed his niece before she could do much more than name the young Druid an abysmal coward through bared teeth. Baryon strode past her as if she didn’t exist as he made his way down the beach to where Leefton was waiting.

  “What the devil are you lot up to now?” Leefton demanded.

  Baryon looked somewhat chastised, even harrowed. “Not what we’re up to, I’m afraid. We need to talk. Alone, if you will, Milord. And it would be wise if you did not let anyone inside the inn until you have heard what I have to say. Relations within are already strained enough as it is.”

  Leefton wasn’t sure what that meant, but he nodded at his guards all the same. “See that it is so.”

  Baryon said nothing until they’d walked down to the edge of the water where they could converse in private. “Just so you know, we didn’t create this mess. She summoned us, not the other way round.”

  “Who?”

  “De Brie.”

  “Danielle?”

  “Yes, who else would act with such impunity?”

  “That’s not possible, my niece saw her die.”

  “Apparently not. She managed to transform and escape the wreck. How that was possible with her barely a month into her change, we are not exactly sure.”

  “Are you sure it is her, not some conjuring? I mean, how could you not know that she was still alive?”

  “It is her. As for not knowing that she had survived, it is enough to say that we have not had dealings with a Child of Light possessed of the purple aura in many centuries. And for most of us, that was before we were even born, myself included.”

  Leefton felt unimaginable relief. He laughed out loud, amazed. “This is an unexpected blessing and I guess that we can at least be pleased that the incident confirms that the Aquitius symbol she bears is of the lower or higher tongue or whatever it was. Seems she will be able to secure the Book of Minion after all. And sooner than we thought.”

  “Indeed. Though there is concern about the latter part.”

  “Why?”

  “Not for me to say.”

  “You seem less than pleased. Why the long face?”

  “Your princess, I’m afraid.”

  Leefton suddenly feared he’d missed something.

  “Let’s just say, she is less than manageable. While in the form of a dolphin she retrieved the Seer’s bones from the lake. She could hear them singing as we can, you understand—again, how that is possible so soon, we do not know. Then like the little fool she is, she pursued the enemy with the bones on her. When she found the vessel, she used her mind to communicate with a nest of scorpions in the hold, which under her instructions attacked and we think might have killed the priestess as she rested in her cabin.”

  “And that should have us worried?” This sounded very much like the Danielle they all knew and loved.

  “More than worried. The girl knows nothing of wards, and what folly to take those bones back into the reach of the enemy. The only reason she was not noticed and captured was because Keira would not have been expecting an attack from the water so her wards did not cover the bottom of the ship.”

  “But surely this means the Twenty Three can be dealt with?”

  “Yes, well, that is already done.”

  “So what can we expect from Lord Allius and his brothers?”

  Baryon hesitated. “We expect they’ll run for the moment. But that is not the point.”

  Leefton still was not sure why this man was so concerned. “So what is?”

  “After your lady summoned us to a blood village, begging us to help change her back into human form, she has made it clear she intends to retrieve the Book of Minion at once and, with equal impatience, she intends to use it to seek out and kill Lord Kane.”

  Leefton saw what was worrying Naratha and his colleagues. He grimaced saying, “And she is not ready.”

  “That would be somewhat of an understatement. She won’t be ready to handle the book for months, despite her ability to retrieve it. And that puts her and the book at risk. Considerable risk. You and your brethren are well aware of the curse associated with that book, correct?”

  Leefton nodded grimly.

  “Then you’ll know that until she has completed her path, she will not be immune to its effects and I do not have to tell you what sort of abomination one with her power could become if she was allowed to continue as she wishes.”

  “You want me to talk to her?”

  “More than that, Milord. We want you to convince her to go into hiding. Naratha is trying to convince her of such as we speak. But she won’t hear a bone of it. She is blinded utterly by the want of revenge. She needs someone to speak sense to her, our High Elder thinks that should be you.”

  A little more subdued than he had been a few moments before, Leefton nodded and said, “I see your point. I’ll do my best.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  Leefton crossed the dirt road outside the shore-side tavern and approached his knights who were standing at the front door. The tall, dignified figure of Lord Baryon followed at his side. The crowd had dissipated, though a blacksmith nearby had stopped work at his anvil and straightened up to watch them. Several fishermen were doing the same as they mended their nets on the beach. None of them smiled at this intrusion on their small humble village.

  Leefton caught the sound of his niece laughing from inside and cast an enquiring look at his Lord Commander. He had wondered where Faith, James, Michael and Bastion had got to, and now he had his answer.

  Sir Colita dismissed several soldiers and then offered an apologetic nod. “Sorry, Milord, they managed to find a back entrance …”

  “Well, at least they not arguing with the Druids or worse. Come with me. Time to settle on a way forward.”

  Sir Colita opened the door and followed Leefton inside, leaving the cool foggy morning and entering the tavern’s warm though poorly lit timber beamed common room.

  Danielle was over by the soot blackened stone hearth being warmly greeted by her relieved brother, fiancé and friends, and quickly explaining what had happened to her as the ship went down and how she had managed to secure the Seer’s bones and kill the priestess. There was astonishment all round as she talked. Except from the Kathiusian Druids who were seated at a table in the centre of the room. It looked as if she had excused herself from their company with some haste on the other’s arrival for a chair was lying on its back and they were looking on in silence and with some impatience.

  Leefton nodded a polite if stiff greeting to Naratha and his brethren and went forward to meet Danielle.

  “Ale, that’s what we need,” Faith said excitedly. “I want to know how it felt to be a fish. And if you can transform into a fish, why not a bird. Oh, gods, think of the fun you could have…” She was in the process of hurrying over to the bar, her head turned looking at her friends, and she almost ran into her uncle. She smiled and kissed his cheek in celebration and quickly went on to the bar. Her relief at having her friend back was palpable and Leefton couldn’t exactly begrudge her that. Though he was not sure she would be quite so magnanimous once she knew why he was here. Nor did he think that ale was exactly appropriate given the circumstances.

  He smiled as Danielle turned to greet him, his eyes misting. He had not thought he’d see her face again, yet here she was, as large as life. “You gave us all quite a scare; Milady.” She came forward and embraced him, sensing the depth of his emotion.

 
“I am sorry for that. But I’m fine, really I am. I suspect you have been told what happened?”

  “Enough for the moment at least,” Leefton said.

  Danielle frowned at him. “What’s wrong?”

  “Lord Baryon was good enough to tell me what you intend. I think we all need to talk.”

  “I take it you agree with them?” Danielle seemed surprised and a little put out that he would.

  “What do you intend?” Michael asked his jovial mood moderating somewhat. James and Bastion looked just as interested. It seemed Danielle had not yet enlightened them.

  “Danielle wants to find and secure the Book of Minion and then move to kill your brother as soon as possible. Unfortunately there are some significant complications that make such a plan wholly unwise and extremely dangerous for all involved.”

  ”I disagree,” Danielle said, adamantly.

  “Dee, I understand your sense of urgency but there is wisdom in what Naratha is suggesting.”

  “How is going into hiding when the advantage is ours, wisdom?”

  “Because the advantage isn’t ours,” Naratha said. “Whatever you might think, you are not ready to secure the Book of Minion and you are certainly not ready to face your brother. And despite the victory we have secured over Fren and her ilk today, you can be absolutely certain that if there is opportunity for them to get their hands on the Lady Galloway and yourself they will seize it—whatever the cost to them. Danielle, you are still very vulnerable.”

  Danielle shook her head dismissively, and ignoring the Druid lord, she said, “Leefton, please, Kane and his horde are seriously weakened. We have the Seer’s bones. Fren’s sister is dead …”

  “We don’t know that for sure,” Lord Baryon interjected from across the room.

  “I do!” Danielle retorted, turning and shooting the man a withering glare.

  Leefton raised a hand for calm. “Please. We need to discuss this with cool heads and settle on a way forward. Danielle, could we sit and talk this through, please?” He gestured her back to where the Druids had come to their feet around the table they’d been sitting at when he came in.

  She frowned at him, but did as she was asked. “I think it’s clear how we should proceed,” she said pointedly to all at the table as she swung her legs over a bench seat. She began to count off on her fingers, glancing between Leefton and Naratha. “The Twenty Three have been sent back to Vellum’s forge and cannot be summoned again without you knowing as much, and being able to counter the summons, correct?”

  “Yes … but”

  “… Kane’s power has been reduced by half—at least for the time being, and whatever repulsive potential he has will take longer to emerge, right?”

  Naratha opened his mouth to reply but Danielle was already talking again, her blue eyes ablaze with determination.

  “We must strike now while the advantage is ours.”

  “I’m with Dee,” Faith said, putting two jugs of ale on the table and beginning to pour her friend a mug of the frothing yeasty drink. Michael, Bastion and James had drawn up chairs around Danielle and were listening with interest.

  Leefton was now convinced this was certainly not the time for strong drink. “And what about the curse the book carries? Naratha has told you of it, I understand?”

  “Curse? What is this?” Michael asked. Every eye settled on Dee, who was slightly taken back.

  “I know the cost to me, and I will pay it willingly.”

  “For the goddess’s sake, the girl knows nothing. This is idiocy,” Lord Baryon said snidely. “The last thing we need now is a bloody lone wolf.”

  “I thought you were asked to leave,” Faith said, glaring at Baryon. “Or would you have me remove you?”

  The young Druid looked like he would relish the opportunity to teach her a lesson, but Naratha bellowed at him in a show of uncharacteristic impatience. “Lord Baryon! Return to the sanctuary. I have no further need for you here.”

  “Milord, your safety …”

  “Lord Chambers will see to it. Now go. And whatever you do, make sure none of the villagers see you leave.”

  When the door closed behind Lord Baryon, Danielle said to Leefton, “I’m going to assume you haven’t been told the entire truth.”

  “Hold up a minute,” Michael said, “What is this about a curse?”

  “I would like to know the same,” James said, giving his fiancée a telling look.

  Danielle ignored them, her attention on Leefton. “Have they told you why I am so adamant about this?”

  Leefton looked to Naratha and realised that perhaps he hadn’t been told everything.

  “Do you know that my father has been poisoned and that the Archbishop has been arrested? Leefton, the prophecy hangs on a thread. We have an opportunity to cut it once and for all. There is also a matter of trust.” Her cutting glance at Naratha was telling.

  Michael was about to interrupt, again, but he stopped in his tracks at Danielle’s question, his frown deepening.

  Leefton frowned too; this was all news to him. His last secret communiqué from Joseph had been four days ago, and there had been no specific mention of either King Paul de Brie or the head of the Orthodox Church in Arkaelyon, let alone that the king had been poisoned.

  “I don’t have to tell you who was behind the poisoning. More importantly I can heal him …”

  “Yes, and so can we,” Naratha replied not unkindly.

  “True, but you didn’t, did you? You were going to let him die…”

  “We have already explained to you why that was so and offered to remedy it.”

  “I am sorry, sir, but I have to be able to trust you, and I cannot. Not as things stand. And certainly not with the Archbishop now arrested on the charge of slavery and waiting royal judgment in the palace tower.”

  “So I assume the slaves have been found?” Leefton said. Joseph had been keeping him in the loop, but this was a new development albeit one they had been hoping for. Why he hadn’t received word of it yet, he did not know.

  “Yes. James brought news last night. I am sorry, with everything that has happened since. We forgot to mention it. But you know well enough how dangerous such an arrest is for my father, particularly with the Archbishop part of this prophecy and what devilry he’s been up to of late. His loyal supporters will not let him die without a fight, and certainly Fren will look to protect him; you know that Leefton. You said yourself last night; you expect war is almost unavoidable in the coming months. But if we act now, we can end this.”

  “I see what you are saying, but the book cannot be recovered until you are ready, and you are far from it, and as things stand you are no match for your brother even with what has transpired today. I also know that your Lord Protector and every man on your father’s Inner Council will have considered the risk to your realm before they issued the warrant for the Archbishop’s arrest. They will have made arrangements for your father’s protection. And you know that Corenbald, Noren and Lunwraith stand ready to come to Arkaelyon’s aid if your Archbishop’s friends, including Abien and Themia force war upon us. Besides, Dee, I’m not convinced that you killing Kane will prevent this other crisis. So it is better to be patient. When we strike at that thread… when you strike at that thread, you have to strike true. And you cannot do that yet. And I think deep down you know that. I am sorry, I agree with Naratha.”

  Danielle sighed wearily in defeat and shook her head. “If you say so. But either way, I want, nay need to return to Illandia.”

  “Milord, excuse the interruption, but what is this about a curse?” Michael persisted.

  Danielle hesitated and it was Naratha who replied, saying, “Anyone who touches or comes into close contact to the Book of Minion other than Maig’s Hand or priestess, in this case your brother and Fren, three of our number, myself included, and a fully anointed Child of Light—which your sister is not—are condemned to madness, sickness and finally death. It was one of the reasons the brotherhood of Aquarius dec
ided to hide it rather than use it. The brothers, who secured it from Brutarius, suffered a most horrible fate, as did some of the Aquarius elders who examined it. And I am sure you understand how dangerous your sister could be with the power she possesses if madness was to seize her. We would all be at terrible risk”

  “I think you exaggerate …”

  “I am afraid he doesn’t, Dee,” Leefton said. “I know what destruction this curse brought to the Aquarius brotherhood all those years ago. You talk to Joseph about it and he will confirm what Lord Naratha is saying.”

  Danielle stared at them begrudgingly for a moment and then looked at Faith. “Fine then, how long must we hide? How long before I will be able to touch it safely?” Her attention returned to Naratha, who shrugged. “I honestly cannot say. You clearly have great talent … perhaps it will not be as long as you fear.”

  “I don’t want to be away from my father and I have duties.”

  “As do I,” Faith added.

  “Then perhaps there is a compromise after all,” Naratha said. “At least for you, Danielle. There is no reason why we cannot hide you near at hand to your father’s court, or that you should not speak and see your father as you have need, as long as it is done in secret.”

  Danielle looked remotely interested, though curious as to why Faith had been left out. “Go on.”

  “There would be a condition. Word would need to be circulated that you and the Lady Galloway did not survive this night.”

  “To what purpose? Those we seek to hide from will know it is a lie.” Danielle’s stubborn frown was back again and Faith didn’t look any bit more pleased.

  “They will. But they won’t know where you are, either of you, and at the same time, you will have access to your father as you wish.”

  “And our respective duties to our father’s court?” Faith asked.

  Naratha considered them both gravely. “We understand how this must sound to you both, but this sacrifice is necessary. For given what you are, it would be just as easy for me and my brethren to kill you where you stand than let you walk out that door and potentially fall into Fren’s hands. Do you understand my predicament?”