Maig's Hand

by Phillip Henderson

  The gravity of the situation seemed to have dawned on the two young women for they both glanced at each other and then silently nodded. Leefton guessed that Faith had told her friend that the Larniusian Druids had named her Abbagay.

  Michael snorted in disbelief, “You dare threaten my sister and fiancée in our hearing,”

  Naratha sat back in his chair and settled a sympathetic gaze on the irate prince. “I’m afraid I do, your highness, not because I want to, but because I have no choice. Abbagay cannot be allowed to fall into your brother’s hands any more than your sister.”

  “She is not Abbagay!”

  Michael stood, his temper threatening to get the better of him. Faith took his arm to calm him. “Michael, it’s alright. Lord Naratha is right.”

  “No, it’s not bloody all right. They are using you. Both of you.” Michael leaned across the table and pointed at the aged, white haired Druid. “You have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can’t protect them, and with Lord Cargius dead, how is my sister supposed to learn to master what is in her blood, let alone save us from this evil. We’d be better served marshalling our arms and seeing to my brother ourselves.”

  “That would not be wise.”

  “Michael, please,” Danielle said, a note of irritation in her tone and look.

  “No, Milady, it is a fair question,” Naratha said, kindly. “And if it puts your brother at ease I am happy to answer it.”

  Michael sat back down to listen, but only begrudgingly.

  “As I have already explained to your sister, sir, without Cargius, her power will be somewhat less potent and develop slower, but her dreams will guide her if she is open to them and willing to work hard to understand their meaning. And after today, it is clear she has considerable talent. Your brother Kane is in a similar situation. With only one set of bones left to guide him, his metamorphosis will be somewhat dwarfed so time is on our side. But your sister needs safe and secure surroundings so she can commit herself to this task completely. Conversely, if she tries to recover the Book of Minion as she plans, the curse, at best, will kill her in a few months, or worse, it will twist her into something as evil and as deadly as your brother, either way we will lose this war.”

  The plainness of the Druid’s words left a heavy silence in the room.

  Finally Danielle nodded tentatively and said, “Fine. If Faith agrees, then we’ll do it as you say. But there are conditions. You can propagate the mistruth that we are missing, presumed dead; not that we are dead. I don’t want Arkaelyon thinking I’m a ghost when this is done and fearing me more than they already will. The second condition is that you must promise to send one of your brethren to my father at once and heal him. And I want your word that I will be able to see him whenever I have need, and he will be able to contact and see me in turn as he wishes.”

  Naratha looked greatly relieved to hear this. He held out his aged hand to Danielle and they shook firmly in accord. “Then we have an alliance if the Lady Galloway agrees?”

  “I agree,” Faith said, rather subdued. She shook his hand as well. “My father will need to be informed.”

  “I’ll see to that,” Leefton said. “I’ll draft a letter regarding this meeting to the elders of the reformist church as soon as I get back to the palace.” Everyone knew King Richard was a reformist King, and would get the letter as a result. To Naratha, Leefton said, “I suspect you have a place in mind to hide these two?”

  “I do. Lord Oxley’s wooded estate in the eastern shadow of the Arkaelyon Mountains. It is remote yet no more than a few hours ride from Illandia. It is also close to the Aquarius Abbey and the Arile Lake which should work well.”

  Danielle looked appalled. “The man is a friend to the Archbishop. He was party to my brother’s slavery bill. He has voted against every bill I have presented to our General Council.”

  Naratha smiled wryly. “We are sorry for that, Milady, but Oxley isn’t exactly what he appears.”

  “He’s a spy?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you have spies in my father’s ranks as well?”

  “We have ears and eyes where there is need, just as you and your father do.”

  “Even if Danielle and Faith agree to this, what about the fact most of the residents of this village have seen our Madam General and were witness to this … this summoning? They know Lady Galloway is not missing, and some think it was my sister that was summoned this morning,” Michael said.

  “They wrapped me up in a knight’s long coat before the villagers got near. One boy saw my face in passing,” Danielle said.

  “As that might be, we all know it only takes a spark to start a fire,” Bastion added.

  “So we put it out before it takes,” Leefton said reassuringly.

  “How? Everyone in the village saw Faith enter this inn,” Michael said.

  “Perhaps it could be said that I have since ailed and died of the injuries I sustained during the battle and being too long in the cold water of the lake,” Faith suggested. “It is probably best if the world thinks I am dead. Can Fren and her ilk sense my presence?”

  “They would have to be very near for it to be so,” Naratha said. “And I agree, it would be wise if the world thought you were dead. For our part in this morning’s mess, I wonder if you, Lord Leefton, might convince the local priest and villagers that what they saw on the lake shore was in fact a group of reformist clergy performing a taboo-lifting ceremony after the battle, and the conjuring some of the villagers think they saw, was in fact one of our female members?”

  Leefton saw how that could be managed and agreed, before turning to Colita. “Commander, make it so. And fetch a closed wagon. I want Danielle and Faith secreted out of the village. Then have Pullman and a small detachment of men accompany them on horseback around the lake to the mouth of the Amthenium tributary. I’ll send Father Vinasta word of our arrangement and have him meet you there this afternoon. His ship the Goodwill is sailing for Illandia today, as I understand. He can get you two safely to the Illandian wharves in three or four days.” Leefton turned to Naratha adding, “I’m sure you, sir, will see that they are met and transferred to Lord Oxley’s residence?”

  “I will indeed.”

  “Milord, may I accompany them?” James was sitting at Danielle’s shoulder. The princess had reached up and taken his hand in hers and she looked eager that it would be so.

  “Of course.”

  “I guess I must play the grieving fiancé,” Michael said, none too pleased. Faith gave him an apologetic look, but they all knew that was for the best.

  “If all is settled then we should get underway, before this situation gets beyond our control. I also have a city to calm and an assembly to address,” Leefton said, with little enthusiasm. He was not looking forward to surveying the destruction and death that Keira and her Twenty Three had brought to holy Amthenium and her people.

  “It would perhaps not be wise to say too much about what really happened this night, and why, Lord Leefton.”

  Leefton waved Naratha’s concerns aside. “You need not fear, I’ll be saying nothing of why and not much more regarding what; only that the Lady de Brie was abducted and is feared lost. That the Lady Galloway in attempting to rescue Arkaelyon’s ambassador was grievously wounded and has since died of her injuries. Who perpetuated this heinous crime, we are not sure, except to say they had the use of ancient magic and we are doing everything to get to the truth.”

  “Then I think we can proceed as we have all agreed,” Naratha said, his perceptive blue eyes found Danielle across the table as everyone nodded and confirmed his sentiment. “If we might have a word alone, Milady, before you leave?”

  Danielle nodded and got up from the table. Everyone else moved too, preparing to depart.

  ***

  Danielle began to follow Naratha across the tavern’s common room to the back hallway. Her thoughts were racing. There was so much to consider. She stopped suddenly and waved Bastion over to her. She
took his hands, but he shushed her before she could speak.

  “I know. Be your eyes and ears and hands and feet. Don’t worry. I’ll keep your pet projects progressing. Including the Vafusolum proposal.”

  “That grain has to get through.”

  “I know.”

  “And the slaves on Lord Helidon’s estate, I want them given the best possible care while decisions are made on what to do with those poor folk. I’ll be talking to father when I get back to Illandia. But you are going to be my eyes and ears, and likely my hands as well in the coming months.”

  “Dee, I know.”

  She embraced him. “What would I do without you? I keep you from Jenny and Justin far more than is fair.”

  “Don’t you worry about us. You just stay safe. I’ll see you back in Illandia,” He kissed her cheek and then returned to where Michael, Leefton and James were talking.

  Danielle closed the door so Naratha and she were alone in a small foyer at the bottom of the staircase that went to the top storey of the inn. There was no one to overhear them, since the building was cleared before they entered—much to the chagrin of the innkeeper who had complained bitterly that the gold they had given him for his inconvenience was insufficient to cover the cost in bad luck that this devilry on his premises would most certainly incur.

  Naratha was leaning on his staff considering her with the sympathy one would expect from a kind aged uncle. “I am sorry that we failed you today, Milady.”

  “It wasn’t your failure. Cargius warned me not to go to Amthenium, and I should have listened. I am the one who needs to apologise.”

  Naratha acknowledged her kindness. “Then I suggest we share the failure and look to work more harmoniously and I dare say more openly with each other from here on in.”

  “I would prefer that. And thank you for protecting Faith. I know you speak the truth when you say there are those among you who think the best way forward would not involve keeping my friend among the living.”

  “You need not worry about Lord Baryon. He’ll do as he is told.” Naratha paused and grimaced a little as if looking for the words to share something of grave importance. “I’m not sure how to tell you this, so I will not curry my words. You are with child. Cargius’ child to be exact.”

  Danielle blinked dumbly at him and instinctively touched her stomach.

  “In truth it is because of that child in your womb that you can continue to develop as Druid’s Bane. Part of Cargius is still with you, you see.”

  Danielle sat down on the steps and stared at the man. She knew that this was always a likelihood, but with the enlightenment ritual only just begun, and with Cargius’ death she had thought she might have escaped that fate.

  “You understand what I am saying?”

  Danielle nodded hesitantly. Words were beyond her right now and she couldn’t explain the aching grief she felt or the tears that were threatening.

  “In truth it has surprised us all. Usually, a Child of Light does not come with child until she is near the completion of her journey.”

  “I should be pleased. Cargius’ gift may very well save us all,” Danielle said, forcing a brave smile.

  Naratha sat down beside her. “Yes, Cargius’ gift, but equally your sacrifice. I know this is a shock and will take a little time to get used to. I also know the world will not be kind to you if it were to know. As a consequence this façade of your abduction will have to be prolonged, and when all this is done, the girl can be adopted out to conceal her existence and protect your reputation when you come to wed your protector.

  “What?” Danielle was appalled. “Absolutely not. She is my child as much as Cargius’.”

  “A child conceived out of wedlock …”

  “I don’t care. She is my blood. I’ll protect her. It must have almost killed my mother having to give up Bianca. I won’t make that mistake.”

  He considered her for a moment and then nodded. “It is your decision to make. Though you do understand the importance of keeping this secret?”

  “Of course. I take it this means I’m not going to be able to face Kane for eight months?”

  “I am afraid so. You would risk the child and our future if you do. There is something else. It is extremely important to the survival of your child that you and your fiancé do not lie together as man and woman until the girl is born.”

  “They raped me, is that not the same thing?”

  “They did, and your child managed to survive. A second time and we may not be so lucky.”

  Danielle nodded her understanding. She suddenly felt very alone. Naratha gave her a moment before saying, “And this Bianca. It would be helpful if we knew who she is.”

  Danielle glanced up at him. “I am sorry, but I’m not ready to share that information.”

  Naratha nodded. “I understand. Think on it, and we’ll talk again when you get back to Illandia. You should go. James is coming for you.”

  Danielle got up as James knocked on the door to the hallway and called her name. She still couldn’t believe she was with child, though the complications of a pregnancy were beginning to assail her.

  “I’m coming.”

  She turned back to Naratha. “Thank you for rescuing me for from the water earlier and I am sorry for the loss this day has brought you and your brethren. Truly I am.”

  “You have nothing to apologise for, but thank you. And thank you for securing the bones for us from the bottom of the lake. I will be waiting when you arrive at Oxley. And all those questions I see you have, I promise I will answer them for you once you arrive.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  Where are you, Keira?

  Fren was worried. Dawn had come and gone some hours ago, and still her sister had not made contact. There was supposed to be a message every day at dawn, letting her know how the preparations for Danielle de Brie and Lord Cargius’ abduction were proceeding and with what Fren had felt during the night—and this night of all nights; the night of Kane’s anointing—she was particularly eager to hear something this morning. And doubly so with what she saw in the dregs that had been poured out on the ground in front of her.

  Lord Henry Cameron and the Duke of Highwood winged their way into the forest clearing behind her and returned to human form. Fren didn’t move to greet them, so absorbed was she in her study of the contents of the cauldron. She gave a curt nod to the lanky servant with the silver-braided cuffs before taking up her wooden tablet and a charred stick to scratch down her findings.

  The high steward gestured to the two apprentices, who stepped forward into the circle scratched into the ground in front of the Maig’s Altar, and upended the blackened vessel, which swung by its bale on a branch between them. The remainder of its stinking contents slopped amongst the rocks and weeds to lie there steaming, the surface reflecting the morning sun under a clear blue Arkaelyon sky and the shadows of the tower servants, who stood in a circle around their priestess waiting in silence for her verdict.

  Though she didn’t show it, Fren considered the last of the dregs with growing ambivalence. She should have been pleased. The promise that lay before her far exceeded all expectations. Kane it seemed was more than just any Hand! He was the Perfect One, a true gift. But that was also a two-edged sword and somewhat unexpected.

  She heard the soft tread of sandals, and her two colleagues of the Druid Council knelt beside her.

  Lord Henry gave the dregs a cursory glance. “All is done, then?” Both elders had returned to Illandia after Kane’s anointing last evening to see to the records and pass on the news to the covens.

  Fren scratched down the last of what she had read. After watching over Kane all night she was exhausted. “He fought the darkening as we thought he would, but he made the crossing to Vellum’s Forge and returned safely enough it seems.”

  “So everything is as we hoped?” Lord Galloway asked. Neither Henry nor Lord Galloway could read the dregs. Neither possessed the gift.

  Fren sat back on her hee
ls. “He’s yet to awake, and until then we can’t be absolutely sure, but what is written here in the dregs is nothing short of the prophecy fulfilled.” She lifted her voice so everyone could hear. “Our lord, the new Hand of Maig, is as powerful as Larnius of old.” Her words brought a murmur of excitement. She knew that her two council colleagues would understand why that caused her some concern, even if the men and women who served at Maig’s Altar did not. To anyone outside the Druid Council, this was an honour unequalled in a thousand years, proof of Maig’s blessing on her obedient servants. Lord Kane was an equal to the first and greatest of Maig’s Hands. Surely nothing could stop the prophecy now. Many of the servants were saying as much, some even laughing and dancing in their great joy, their celebration ringing out and mingling with the morning birdsong that filled the forest around the tower.

  Fren stood stiffly, taking Henry’s hand for support, and beckoned over her chief steward. “You can proceed with breakfast. The ritual is complete.”

  The man bowed and began to issue orders, his voice carrying over the joy of his colleagues. Fren headed towards the watchtower’s lower level where they might have some privacy. Both lords accompanied her, leaving the revelry behind.

  “He’s a wonder, then,” Henry said as they stepped inside. The same ambivalence Fren felt was etched on Henry’s face.

  Fren handed her wooden tablet to the council scribe, issuing instructions that he should return to Illandia at once and enter the details into the writings and send another message to the covens telling them that the new Hand is born. And he is the Perfect One—the incarnation of Larnius. To the other three attendants, who were packing away the instruments and garments of the altar in their cupboards, she gave permission to leave and take a well-earned meal and join in the celebrations. No one except their new Hand had slept this night. The ceremony demanded continual prayers until the sun rose, and Fren had seen to it that they had followed the ritual to the letter of the law, even opening the throat of a new lamb every half-hour and sloshing its blood over the altar on the roof of the tower.