Glen had Tormod pushed up against one of the rocks and they were kissing enthusiastically.
An embarrassingly loud gasp escaped me before I could stop it, which made Tormod flinch and begin to push Glen away. Glen simply grinned and gently placed his hands to either side of Tormod’s hips.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to gasp so loud.” I apologised, probably bright red with embarrassment.
It wasn’t like I’d never seen two people kiss before.
“It’s understandable. I imagine we are quite the sight,” Glen said with a weird look on his face that I assumed was supposed to be flirty.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I demanded, surprised by my own anger.
“This is only our second kiss Morven.”
“You still should have told me,” I complained. The thought of us keeping secrets from each other made my stomach ache.
We were on this adventure together, so far away from home. We were supposed to be a team.
Glen must have heard the hurt in my voice as his expression lost its smug flirty look.
“I promise to tell you about everyone I kiss from now on,” he said seriously, to which Tormod laughed. “Although it might just be Tormod for a while.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, now angry at myself for not noticing this blossoming romance before. “I’ll leave you to it then.”
I clambered back over the rocks and headed back to the main camp. Queen Aelwen was sitting beside one of the fires and called me over with a wave the moment she spotted me, stomping through the damp grass.
I hurried over and sat myself down beside her on the blanket, the warmth of the fire making me feel cosier instantly. Another reason I could not wait to pass through the valley and reach Culhuinn was that it was much warmer.
They kept talking about it being summer, but it was nothing like the summers we had down in the village. Summer didn’t usually involve so much frost. I would take a few days of rain over this icy summer any day.
“I take it you spotted Tormod and Glen?” She teased which made me sigh.
Why was I the only person who didn’t know?
“So, everyone knows?” I complained, to which she gave a soft laugh.
“Tormod has only ever shown romantic interest in a handful of men since the day I met him, and he began working for us when he was young. Much too young. I noticed his feelings towards Glen the moment they blossomed.”
“Glen didn’t even bother to tell me,” I found myself complaining.
Something about Queen Aelwen made me want to share my problems, like I had with Eithrig in Tirwood.
“New love is exciting, especially when it is a secret. I am sure he would have told you soon enough. The friendship the two of you share is a rare gift, and I think you know that.”
“I can’t help but feel annoyed anyway,” I grumbled.
“They are a good pair, though it will be short-lived. Let them have their romance whilst they can. I know only too well how quickly it can be ripped away,” her gaze drifted over to Queen Euna, watching as she approached us.
“Lovely evening, is it not?” She asked, to which Queen Euna nodded.
Her expression making it clear that she thought this evening was anything but lovely.
Although I still hated her for locking Glen and I away, I could not help but feel sorry for her. Her sobs the day we heard that King Ferchar was dead, and her obvious fear of travelling south, made me pity her. I also knew we were partially to blame.
It had only taken one meal for the King to convince us that Norbroch was responsible for the changelings.
Perhaps if Glen and I had thought more about the humans we saw in Culhuinn, or paid attention the King and his amusement, we could have saved the Queen, and ourselves, a whole world of grief.
We made it through the valley without a problem. With so much company to distract me I worried less about the stone walls toppling in and crushing us.
I did not spot Glen and Tormod kissing again, perhaps because in the valley there were no places to find privacy.
As Glen and I had huddled together by a fire, finding a rare moment alone, I admitted a thought that was plaguing me the longer we went without spotting Swift.
“I think I killed him,” I whispered as quietly as I could. As if admitting it would make it more real.
“Well he bloody deserved it if you did.,” Glen said, to which I frowned.
I wasn’t sure anyone deserved to die, and it certainly wasn’t for us to decide who lived and who didn’t.
“Do you think the Others will punish me for it?”
He frowned at me for a moment, before hauling me up into his lap and hugging me close.
I buried my face in his neck and let myself relax into his hold, safe in his arms.
“If you hadn’t hit him with that rock we would both be dead. Swift chose to try and kill me that day, unlike you. You chose to save me and the Others know it as well as I do,” he murmured, ignoring the tears he must have felt on his neck.
After the valley, it was a short ride south to the town and the castle. It was warm enough that we could finally take off our thick cloaks and scarves.
All around us wildflowers blossomed in the warmer weather and to the south I could see the forest where we were enchanted.
As I rode beside Glen, the two of us content to stay silent and watch the sun sink lower in the sky, I let myself feel optimistic.
We were so close to finding the answers we’d been searching for. So close to saving me from an early death. Each step the horse beneath me took brought us closer and closer to home.
N ow that the majority of the humans had left Culhuinn, travelling south to build their own kingdom and live a life of freedom, things were very different in the castle.
Drummond and I had discussed at length how many human servants we had and how much work they did for us, but still, we were unprepared for the sudden workload thrust upon us all.
I was busy sending messengers back and forth to the Lairds and Ladies, informing them of the humans’ freedom and their new kingdom. Some responded with anger and others with indifference. I could easily tell which households the King had been close to as they were the ones infuriated by the news.
Laird Brochan’s son, Tomas, had sent many messengers, each more demanding than the last. Urging me to make him Laird now that his father was imprisoned. My reply was always the same, William’s brother Urraig was the new Laird.
As Laird Brochan had never chosen an heir, Tomas had no claim to the land. He had been persistent in the past, urging me to visit him. Having something to complain about had, unfortunately, only increased that persistence.
William, Adair and Drummond had been lifesavers after the departure of the humans. I was sore for a few days after the struggle in the courtyard, as my body healed my cuts, bruises and broken nose, but soon the physical wounds were gone. All that was left were the emotional wounds.
King Ferchar’s death had been liberating and, now that I was not being waited on hand and foot by humans, my days were much busier. Being busy helped me to keep my mind off my pain.
Whenever I felt dark thoughts, like the ones I had in the stable, creeping in I made excuses to spend more time with William. Me remaining alive was important, not only for Culhuinn but for Nieve’s new kingdom as well.
The castle did not remain empty for long. Adair suggested that we send messengers to some of the poorest known villages in the kingdom, telling the people that we needed new workers.
This saw many poor families leaving behind their failing farms, and lives of poverty, to work in the castle where they would be fed, clothed, have a roof over their heads and receive coin.
King Ferchar was no doubt rolling in his grave as I slowly but surely tried to heal Culhuinn and right his wrongs.
The arrival of a messenger from Norbroch put a dampener on my new-found contentment. He brought news that the two Queens were heading down to Culhuinn and would be arriving at the castle
the next evening.
He could not say why they suddenly wanted to travel south. Though he took great care to ensure that we understood they were not coming to attack.
They simply wanted to speak with the new Queen.
The next evening, I stood out on the stone steps and watched as they rode into the courtyard, which held no traces of the bloodshed, thanks to heavy rain.
Queen Aelwen rode in first, her striking white blonde hair making her instantly recognisable.
I’d once visited Norbroch as a child, and could vaguely remember the Queens. Queen Euna had soot black hair and unlike her sister, who looked cheerful and full of life, she looked gaunt and unhappy.
It was clear that she felt as uneasy about this meeting as I did.
The King had complained loudly and often about the fairies in the north, but without ever explaining why he hated them so much. I hoped to the Others that I wouldn’t find out he was right about them.
In amongst the guards I saw two humans, the changeling who looked identical to Nieve and her ginger friend. I backed away a step, bumping into William before I could stop myself.
I distantly remembered a meal with the two humans, that night the King knocked me unconscious and I dreamt of the Queen’s Dark festival. King Ferchar had sent them north with lies about the creation of the changelings.
I hoped they weren’t here for revenge.
“Welcome to Culhuinn.” I called, once they dismounted, and felt William stiffen beside me as I foolishly forgot to address them by their titles.
“Thank you, Queen Freya, it is our pleasure to finally return,” Queen Aelwen said, her sister remained silent and stony faced beside her.
“I am afraid you will find us rather understaffed currently. Please forgive any problems you encounter during your stay, your majesties.” I made sure to correct my earlier mistake.
“Understaffed?” Queen Aelwen looked apprehensive.
“The human servants of Culhuinn have been released from their roles here. They have been given land in the south, close to the border with the human kingdoms,” I explained, amused to watch their expressions of shock. “So, we are currently working to bring in replacements from some of our poorer outlying villages.”
“Well, that is a wonderful change,” Queen Aelwen exclaimed happily.
The changeling and the human made no moves to hide their frantic whispering, but I let it go. News about their fellow humans would interest them greatly.
I wondered how the changeling girl would react, if she knew that it was the human she replaced who was now ruling the new human kingdom, but I pushed the thought away.
“Indeed, one that will take a lot of getting used to,” I smiled before we made our way into the castle.
Queen Aelwen made pleasant conversation as I showed them to their chambers. Her sister followed silently, sticking close to their guard.
It seemed that I was not the only one with a shadow to rely on.
After they had time to settle into their chambers, we met in the hall for a meal. We had no time to prepare a feast, but even without human help we managed to cook up enough food.
The King had only ever trusted fairies to oversee the kitchen and so we still had enough servants left to prepare bread, chicken and chunky vegetable soup for us. There was not a drop of wine in sight, even the thought of it made my stomach cramp. I was avoiding it like the plague.
I took my seat at the head of the table, where the King dropped dead, and William sat to my left. Queen Aelwen had looked delighted about this idea and invited their personal guard, Tormod, to eat with us as well. Though rather than sit beside her, he sat further down the table with the human, Glen.
“It has been years since we last saw you Queen Freya, you have grown into a beautiful young fairy,” Queen Aelwen beamed. “We were saddened to hear the news of your mother and father.”
“No one in this kingdom was saddened by the death of the King,” I said bluntly, to which Glen not so subtly choked on his mouthful of food.
“Well, it seems things have certainly changed for the better since his death,” Queen Aelwen replied, not bothered by my bluntness.
“They have.” I agreed, spooning some of the soup into my mouth and hoping that the subject would be dropped.
When it became clear that I was not planning to add anything, the Queen finally explained their reasons for visiting Culhuinn. As I predicted, they were not simply here to congratulate me on ascending to the throne.
“King Ferchar sent Morven and Glen up north into Norbroch after filling their heads with lies about us and the creation of the changelings. We are here to learn what you know of this practise.”
“The King tricked many people,” I said, wanting to put Morven and Glen at ease as the two of them were flushed red with embarrassment.
Seeing Morven sitting there, eating food and attempting to avoid eye contact made my heart stutter.
I could not bear to see her look so embarrassed and uncomfortable in my presence. I had to remind myself constantly that it was not my love sitting at the table.
Nieve was free.
“I assume that, as the human servants have been freed, Culhuinn will no longer be creating changelings?” Queen Euna asked hesitantly, and I realised that I had stopped before I explained.
“Never again.” I replied sharply, somewhat offended that she thought I might allow such a thing to happen. “The gifted fairy, who has the power to create the changelings, currently resides in the prison beneath this castle.”
A clatter at the bottom of the table made me flinch and when I looked, it was Morven.
She had dropped her spoon and was now attempting to cry quietly into her hands. I panicked, wondering what I could have had said to upset her so much. It was difficult not to see her as Nieve the more upset she became. Glen hurried to comfort her but I could not understand what she was saying.
I wanted to rush down to the bottom of the table and comfort her myself. I wondered if holding her close would feel the same as embracing Nieve.
I looked at William for assistance, but he seemed to be equally as bemused by her crying. Queen Aelwen was the only one watching her fondly.
“I would not worry. It has been a long journey for the two of them,” she explained gently.
“Perhaps we should retire to our chambers for the night. We can meet again tomorrow,” I suggested, eager to retire back to Mae’s care and gather my wits.
Tormod and Glen must have been waiting for me to say that. Mere moments after I finished speaking, they hurried from their seats, whisking Morven off to their chambers.
“Thank you for the meal. It was wonderful,” Queen Aelwen thanked us earnestly, as if she had just eaten the best meal of her life.
I wondered if she was genuinely as nice as she seemed, or if it was all an act. How two sisters could be so different, I had no idea.
We left our seats and were making our way to the door when Queen Euna spoke, making me jump in surprise once again. Having new people in the castle made me more anxious than I’d expected.
“Do you know what became of a human called Alasdair? The last I saw him he wore his hair in blonde plaits,” she enquired and I felt myself sway on the spot.
For weeks, I had been so busy that I fell into my bed exhausted and slept soundly each night. It had been weeks since I last felt his warm blood pooling around my toes, saw it dripping from my fingertips.
I heard his head hit the ground with a dull thud, and watched it roll towards me in my mind.
“Alasdair was executed by King Ferchar many months ago, your majesty,” William explained.
He knew I could not calmly tell the Queen that her acquaintance had been beheaded at my feet.
“I am sad to hear that,” Queen Euna said, and the way her voice cracked as she spoke made me believe she truly was.
“He was very dear to us,” Queen Aelwen added, reaching out to grip her sister’s hand.
“I am sorry,” I choked out.<
br />
I felt as if someone had thrown open the doors which had been keeping the guilt out. Now the storm was back and I once again found myself caught up in it.
“Oh, it’s not your fault,” Queen Aelwen hurried to reassure me, taking my hand in her free hand.
“You don’t understand. He killed him because of me,” I whispered.
How could I sit and share meals with them when I was the one who got their friend executed?
Beside me, William began to object to my confession until Queen Euna who cut him off.
“It is not your fault,” she said with more conviction than I had ever heard from her. “One day, you will be able to accept that.”
U nlike the last time we stayed in this castle, Glen and I slept until nearly midday. Last night had been emotional for us both. Our journey north, which had led to us being enchanted, tricked by the King, almost murdered and then imprisoned, was almost over. Now we were exhausted.
Not the good kind of exhaustion, that comes from a hard day’s work, but a bone deep tiredness that permeated throughout my whole body and mind.
After learning that Queen Freya had the fairy responsible for creating changelings locked away in her prison, I broke down. I cried out of happiness and sorrow and relief. I was an exhausted, emotional shell of the Morven who left her village just as spring was beginning.
As most of the humans had left Culhuinn and moved south to build their own kingdom, we didn’t have to put up with servants waking us and hurrying us out of bed. The servants that remained were far too busy trying to run the castle to bother us, so we were left alone to sleep.
It felt good to relax for a while. To bask in our new-found knowledge that we were no longer racing against time. No longer hurrying north to try and stop any more changelings from being created.
It wasn’t until the burden was lifted, that I realised how heavily it had weighed on both of us.
Although Glen joked that it would ruin his stories, it was nice knowing that neither of us were responsible for stopping the fairy that created the changelings. We had simply wandered into the castle and been told about it.
The Changeling's Journey Page 27
