His skin grew warm again, and Tomnat laughed.
The Queen clapped again, and the dance ended with a graceful flourish. Another aisle formed as every being watched for the next command.
The Queen’s escort whispered in her ear, pointing at Fingin. She glanced at him, still standing next to Tomnat, and smiled.
The smile chilled his bones.
“Come forward, human.”
Fingin could no more disobey her command than he could take wing and fly across the countryside. He stepped forward, his eyes glued to the floor. He daren’t meet her gaze.
“You came to my land seeking something. You elicited help from my subjects. You have incurred a debt due to me. I will now name my price for the help you’ve received.”
He wanted to scream he hadn’t asked for help, Grimnaugh and Adhna had offered it freely. That he hadn’t gotten what he came for, and his quest was a failure. His mouth refused to form any words. His muscles would not obey his commands.
Instead, his knees buckled, and an unseen force pushed him to the floor. He knelt, sweat dripping down his neck.
“In days past, I might send you back to your world with some ghastly disfigurement. Perhaps a hump upon your back, or blindness. However, there is one here who has begged me to spare you this punishment, and I have conceded to their wishes.”
Someone spoke on his behalf? Had it been Adhna? Airiu? Perhaps Grimnaugh had put in a good word for him.
“Tomnat, step forward.”
The tall Fae girl flashed him a sly smile and bowed before her Queen. She stood again, while Fingin remained kneeling.
“Tomnat, you have asked to marry this human?”
She lowered her head once in agreement. “I have, Your Grace .”
The Queen glanced at Fingin, an expression of disdain plain on her face. “Why would you ask such a thing?”
“I crave children, Your Grace. I’ve had none so far.”
“You think this…this pitiful creature will grant you fecundity?”
“I do. I see great potential in him. Humans are often more fertile than our kind.”
The Queen made a sound that, in a less graceful creature, may have been termed as rude. “Very well. You shall be contracted this night.”
* * *
Fingin’s panic took over his mind. He froze, unable to process what the Queen had said. Marry? Tonight? To Tomnat? No, no, that was all wrong. Airiu, yes, please, let me marry Airiu. If he must marry a stranger, let it be someone who showed him kindness, not sarcasm and disdain.
A flurry of activity whirled around them as various Fae rushed to make the hall ready for the ceremony. Tomnat disappeared into this bustle. Fingin sought Airiu, but she had disappeared. Adhna’s firm grip on his shoulders moved him from his position, kneeling before the Queen, to a room off the side of the main hall.
Once the door shut upon the madness, the screaming in his mind calmed.
Adhna gave Grimnaugh a few urgent commands, and the shorter Fae exited on his mission. The tall Fae turned to Fingin. “Your present clothing will do, but I must teach you the ceremony. You must perform without error, do you understand?”
He nodded once, still numb with shock.
“Now, Grimnaugh thought something strange was afoot, but he didn’t expect this. I suspect Bodach saw you eying Airiu. He’s the Queen’s companion tonight, and he seems to have developed a distinct dislike for you. That’s not a good thing. However, Tomnat must have made her request after our dancing lesson.”
Fingin pushed some words through his lips. “Why? I don’t understand why. She doesn’t even like me.”
“She dislikes everyone, young man. You are no different. However, she’s wanted children for an age. Fae don’t reproduce easily, you see. Perhaps one, two children at most in all their long lifetimes. They live much longer than humans, but their lives are much less eventful, on the whole. We often seek humans for such stud duties, as your kind are much more fertile. We visit women in the dark of the night, or spirit men away under the full moon. You had the singular misfortune of being the first human to come to our realm in a long time. Had I suspected… but I did not. I thought Airiu and you might enjoy each other’s company. I am sorry. My own meddling might have made this happen.”
Fingin hung his head. “I have no way to refuse this, do I?”
“I’m afraid not. Oh, I could lead you back through to your own realm, but you’d forever be on the run from the Queen, and Tomnat besides. Neither one appreciates rejection, and both are powerful in the mortal world.”
“Have you lived in the mortal world?”
“Many times, Fingin. Many times. In fact, I get the itch to return on a fairly regular basis. Your world provides many lovely luxuries we find it difficult to get here in Faerie. Cheese is my particular favorite. Cows don’t care for Faerie, and we have difficulty convincing them to produce milk if we bring them here. Also, most Fae are rather reluctant to put in the work required for creating things like cheese. They’d rather either do without or obtain it from elsewhere.”
“Which are you?”
“The latter. Though I prepare my own when I live there. I find it satisfying to eat the product of my own hands. A pleasure, alas, many of my kind don’t understand.” Adhna let out a deep sigh and stared into space for a moment. “Now, back to the matter at hand. We must prepare you for your wedding.”
“Can I speak to Airiu? I want to make sure she knows… that she knows I’d much rather have…”
“She knows, young man. She knows. I saw her face when the Queen made her proclamation. She left shortly thereafter.”
Pain clenched at Fingin’s heart. He’d received his reward for hoping to be happy, for grasping that glimmer of possibility. When would he remember not to wish for things outside his grasp? He should have learned from his past that happiness remained forever out of reach. Now he must get through the coming days.
Adhna drilled him on where he must stand, what he must say, what he must not do, under any circumstances. He made Fingin practice his moves and his words. The Queen might send for them to attend the ceremony at any moment, so they had no luxury to rest or relax.
Bran watched all these preparations with a mixture of interest and boredom. When he grew bored, he chased the almost-butterflies or romped in the pond, startling several aquatic creatures to the point they complained loudly, at least to Fingin’s mind. He called the hound to task and chastised him for chasing the wildlife. Then he dove back into his own lessons.
After what seemed like an interminable time and still not enough, a messenger Fae arrived.
Fingin crouched in front of Bran. “You must remain here again, understand? Will you leave the fish alone?”
“They’re not like other fish. Do they taste different?”
“I don’t know, and you shouldn’t find out. They are in Adhna’s pond, and they’ve asked you not to chase them. You need to be a courteous guest.”
Bran pouted but didn’t argue.
Adhna gave him a final examination on his duties, and they were about to leave for the palace when a laugh behind them made them turn.
The bark-skinned Fae stood next to Bran, who growled and snarled at the sudden visitor.
“So, you are off to your wedding. What a felicitous day. I shall watch after your lovely hound, shall I?”
Fingin clenched his fists until his knuckles ached, wanting to punch the smug smile from the Fae’s face. “Bran can watch after himself.”
Adhna stepped forward, his hands out. “Now, now, no need for all that. Bodach, we don’t need your assistance here. Thank you for the offer, but we’re prepared. Will you accompany us to the ceremony? I assume the Queen expects you to attend as Consort.”
Bodach frowned, the bark around his mouth crinkling and creaking. He glanced down at Bran, whose hackles remained high, and then at Fingin, whose fists ached.
“Very well. I shall escort you to your sentence. I mean, your nuptials.” With a nasty grin, he pat
ted Bran’s head with condescending care. “The hound might want to visit later when you’re tending to your bride. He might grow lonely for lack of attention.”
Fingin didn’t want to leave Bran alone any longer. He turned to Adhna. “Can Grimnaugh remain with Bran during this?”
The older Fae shook his head and crossed his arms. “I’m afraid not. He must attend. The hound should be safe enough until we’re done.”
* * *
As a child, Fingin had imagined he would someday grow up, find a wife, raise a family, and work a farm. Everyone else he knew had done this, except the neighbor’s eldest son, who’d gone off to study with the druí.
When his grandmother had left and stolen his voice, he changed that dream, shifting it to a more solitary life. However, he still thought if he convinced a girl to marry him anyhow, their wedding would be a joyful occasion attended by friends and family. Good food, some dancing, some singing, perhaps a few stories.
The reality of his union bore a poor resemblance to the fantasy. Marriage didn’t apply, as this was more of a contract, a business arrangement, rather than any pledge of undying love and loyalty. No romance or passion accompanied either participant.
Fingin stood in the grove, holding both of his bride’s hands, trying his best to avoid her eyes. Colorful bunting floating around him and the trees sang an ethereal descant. He fought the urge to run away, screaming. Every second, his legs and heart begged him to escape, to fight, to protest this marriage. At the same time, his entire body remained rooted in place, unable to move a muscle.
Other than the bunting and the singing trees, little resembled a human wedding ceremony. While a few Fae courtiers attended as witnesses, no grand ball or procession marked the celebrants.
Adhna stood stiffly by his side, exchanging a curious, intimate glance with the Queen.
Fingin remained in his sunset-colored draped clothing while Tomnat wore the shifting green and blue outfit she wore at the ball. The moving colors made him nauseous if he watched it too long. Her hair hadn’t changed from its dark curls tipped with green. She had worn a pendant, something swirling and silver, but he couldn’t focus on it. His mind whirled as they stood before the Faerie Queen, his own grandmother, who didn’t even recognize him.
Queen Cliodhna wore her sparkling, snow-white dress, and chanted in words he couldn’t quite understand. Some ancient language, old words he almost recognized, a lyrical speech from another age. Under his breath, Adhna translated for him. “This union is to last for the length of two live births. Until that time, the participants shall live together as the humans do in marriage, avowing all others, and care for any progeny that results from the union.”
Nothing about loving, cherishing, or honoring the other. Nothing about being bound for the rest of their lives. Nothing about vows or promises before any god. A business contract and nothing more.
Queen Cliodhna performed the ceremony with Bodach by her side. Adhna and Grimnaugh stood in for Fingin’s family, while Airiu and Uasal stood with Tomnat. The patent misery in Airiu’s eyes mirrored his own, but the ceremony didn’t permit them to speak to each other.
Since he couldn’t catch Tomnat’s gaze, he gave up trying to connect with his bride and instead stared into Airiu’s eyes. He fell into the blue sky of her wish. The world around him swirled into gray nothing. The wedding, the Faerie Queen, his bride-to-be, vanished. Airiu returned the regard, but moisture glistened in the corners of her eyes in sad surrender. He blinked to stem his own, and the surrounding world returned.
The Faerie Queen told each of them to agree to their contract. When Tomnat said, “I so vow,” he repeated the words. Bodach clapped his hands twice, and the brief, brutal ceremony was complete.
The floating bunting disappeared. The trees silenced. Adhna hovered near his shoulder, but the Faerie Queen hadn’t finished with them.
She leaned in to hug Tomnat, holding her in a brief embrace. Then, to his intense surprise, she did the same to Fingin.
With a furious whisper, she said, “Be careful and quiet for now, my grandson. I am not free to act as I wish. I will work to get you out of Faerie. Bide your time.”
Chapter Thirteen
The small pavilion remained open on all sides, except for translucent fabric draped on the edge. A soft, round cushion lay inside, big enough to have filled his entire roundhouse back in the mortal realm.
Tomnat took his hand with cold detachment and led him to the cushion. She still hadn’t spoken with him apart from the exchange of vows or even glanced at him. He got the impression this entire arrangement would be nothing but a chore to complete to achieve her desire for children. No clue existed that their forced union would be anything but that.
She pushed aside one edge of the fabric, and they both entered the pavilion. Once the fabric fell again, the outside became awash with pale mystery. Their entire world narrowed to this space.
Tomnat undressed, folding each item and placing them on the floor of the pavilion near the edge of the cushion. He followed her actions, embarrassed at his nakedness in front of his new avowed mate.
He wouldn’t call her wife. The ceremony had been nothing he’d known from the human realm, but more of an exchange of contract terms. Any romance and beauty of a human marriage had been stripped down to the bare bones of the vow.
The entire day had been odd and somehow unreal. The bare-bones ceremony, the contract, the words his grandmother had whispered in his ear. The impact of his grandmother’s parting words echoed in his mind, but he had no luxury of considering them yet.
His Fae mate sat cross-legged and naked across from him. They stared at each other, meeting eyes for the first time since they’d danced together at Adhna’s home. She let out a sigh. “Very well. I don’t imagine you have the needed experience. Here, lie on your back.” She took him by the shoulders and pushed him back. He stretched out his legs so he lay prone. Exposed and vulnerable, he swallowed. The imagined protection of their veiled bed meant nothing.
She climbed atop him and rubbed herself against his groin. His body reacted, despite his own love for another. He hadn’t expected this betrayal but remained powerless to stop. She continued her gyrations until she judged the time right, shifted, and inserted him into her warmth. He closed his eyes, unable to resist enjoying the incredible sensation.
His enjoyment didn’t last long. His reaction came quick and violent. When he’d finished, she dismounted and dressed. “You may return to Adhna’s for now. If required, we will try again. I will find you.”
Tomnat left.
Fingin lay in his own mess, aghast at both her methodical actions and his unintended reaction.
What had he expected from such an encounter? Sexual congress between his parents had been no mystery. Few mysteries remained long in a small roundhouse. He’d witnessed animals mating all their life. However, even animals had more complex courting than he’d just had with Tomnat. He remained a means to an end and nothing else. She had never even called him by his name.
After wiping his mess with some leaves from the surrounding glade, he dressed and walked back down the path. Fingin remembered Adhna’s roundhouse stood near the palace, the soaring towers edging the horizon. It would be nice to see Bran again. Since Bran hadn’t bounded through the brush to find him, he assumed Adhna had reassured the hound that Fingin would return.
The colorful trees seemed muted now. Without day or night, without weather or seasons, this land made him uneasy and off-balance. Time became difficult to measure by any familiar means.
He walked toward his new home, the place he must live until Tomnat conceived his child. He felt like a prize bull, set out to stud against his own will. Were women so helpless when their fathers married them to a wealthy farmer? Most women he’d met at least had some say in their eventual husbands, but arranged marriages happened all the time, especially for those with a great wealth of land and kine.
The roundhouse came into view. He glanced around for Bran but didn’
t see him. The hound might be inside sleeping the day away. Rest sounded wonderful. He hoped Sean rested safely in the mortal world, and that he’d given up on them returning.
Adhna walked out his door just as Fingin arrived. “Ah, there you are, young man. I would ask if you enjoyed your nuptial bliss, but I can tell by your face it was less than you’d hoped.”
He nodded, peering inside. Nothing seemed to stir. “I never imagined such a wedding. Is Bran sleeping inside? Did he eat?”
Adhna glanced inside and turned back to Fingin. “About that. Bran has… found a temporary home. Just for a little while, mind you, until the first portion of your contract is complete.”
“What?” His heart beat faster, and he shoved the Fae aside. Fingin ran into the roundhouse, searching for any trace of his friend. “Bran? Bran, where are you? Bran!”
“Settle down, young man, settle down. He’ll be well-cared for. Grimnaugh promised to keep an eye on him.”
“He’s with Grimnaugh? Where? I must see him. Is he…is he safe?”
Adhna put his hands up. “He’s not with Grimnaugh. He’s with Bodach. However, Grimnaugh promised me, a solemn vow, mind you, that he’d check on the hound daily. The Queen has commanded you’re not to see him yet.”
“Permitted? Permitted?” His voice pitched higher with each word, touched with an edge of hysteria and a good dose of anger. “Who is permitting this? Who allowed Bodach to steal away my friend, my companion? This is not right! I made the vow already. That vow should be enough to keep me here until my contract is complete.”
Adhna’s eyes had turned sad, but he didn’t relent. “Bodach insisted. Since you are a human unknown to us, he wanted surety of your obedience. This isn’t an unusual demand. He wouldn’t dare hurt Bran.”
Fingin took a deep breath and tried to calm his heart. If he hadn’t brought Bran to this place, he’d be free and happy in the mortal world, rather than a hostage to a cruel Fae lord. Why did he have to destroy everything he loved with his horrible decisions? Why did he act so selfishly?
Age of Secrets: Druid's Brooch Series: #8 Page 19
