She came to a halt and listened. The water around her was flowing steadily, a rhythm that she could focus on. Now if there was to be a disturbance to the rhythm... yes, there it was! She shot towards her target and almost crashed into the ceasg.
The woman was swimming close to the surface, a few metres downstream from Amber. If you ignored her sharp teeth and strange colour, she could almost be called beautiful. No wonder there were stories of human men falling in love with these river mermaids. She smiled toothily at Macey, who wasn't quite sure what to do. Could she communicate with this other species?
Kelpies used language that to humans sounded like whinnies and dolphin-like clicks. So far, she'd not met anyone other than kelpies who could understand it. And most other supernaturals made fun of it because it sounded so unsophisticated. They just didn't understand the nuances of a well-executed click.
"Who are you?" she asked in her own language, not really expecting a response.
I am Mhara.
Ah, she was one of those mind-talkers. Not everybody could talk in the pretty sounds of the kelpie.
"What do you want from my friend, Mhara?"
I was curious. I've not come across someone like her before.
"So, you entranced her to walk into the water just to satisfy your curiosity?"
Pretty much, yes. But why are you here, kelpie? I've only ever met one of you before. He was quite a bore.
"We were just passing through," Macey said noncommittally. She still didn't know if this Mhara was friend or foe.
"Now that you've seen her, could you let Amber go, please, so we can move on?"
Tell me first, what is she?
Macey wasn't sure if she should divulge Amber's identity, but at the same time, what could it hurt?
"She's a shifter. A beithir."
Oh, I've not met one of those before. Do they taste good?
Macey immediately shifted her position, making herself big and threatening. The ceasg was getting nowhere near her new friend.
Stop it, that was a joke! Seems you've heard the same rumours as everybody else has. She scratched her chin. I'm sure it's the selkies who've been spreading that nonsense.
"Yes, I suppose they may have," Macey said weakly, a bit embarrassed that she'd reacted the same way to the ceasg as everybody else reacted to kelpies.
We're not bad people. We're actually quite useful, if one asks us nicely.
"Why, what can you do?"
You've not heard of the maidens of the water granting wishes to all who capture us? Now, I'd like you not to imprison me, please, but I am able to grant you one wish.
"Ehm, that's nice of you," Macey spluttered. This woman was weird. "We never really planned to be here... Can you bring us back to Earth?"
Earth is a big place, my dear. Where exactly would you like to be?
Macey thought back to a vision the Voice gave her long ago. Maybe it was time to turn it into reality.
It was time to visit Aunt Nessie.
Chapter 5
A kelpie, a mouse and a beithir walked into a bar. There was almost nobody in the pub, only a tired looking landlord leaning against a large cask of ale, and a few older customers playing chess in a corner. They ignored the three young women, probably mistaking them for tourists.
Macey headed straight to the pub owner. She'd seen him once before, but that was ages ago and she doubted he'd remember her.
"I'm looking for Nessie, have you seen her?"
He stared at her before breaking into roaring laughter. "Dearie, aren't ye a bit too old to believe in Nessie?"
Macey crossed her arms in front of her chest. "She's my aunt." She lowered her voice. "And I know she's a kelpie and comes here several times a week. So, tell me, do you know if she'll be here today?"
The man looked at her for a moment, then nodded.
"There's a pub quiz tonight that she usually comes to. It's still a few hours to go until then, though. Want some scran?"
"Scran?"
Macey could hear the disgust in Luch's voice but ignored it. It was almost unfortunate that she was in human form, that way people could actually hear her. Then again, she was certain the pub landlord wasn't human. There was no other way he'd have been so unconcerned with her mention of kelpies.
As always, Macey's mind started racing a mile a minute trying to work out what he was.
"Ignore her. Three of whatever's on offer," she said with a smile. "But I'm vegetarian."
"Just like your Aunt."
Macey smiled at him a little uneasily. Maybe this wasn't quite the best of ideas. But the ceasg hadn't been able to transport her to her men. Apparently, people were harder to find than places, and without even a general idea, there'd been nowhere to send the three women.
"Yes," she said weakly.
"I'll serve you in the backroom. There's someone in there who'll want to see you."
Dread filled her. Those weren't the kind of words she ever wanted to hear from anyone. Especially when they were effectively on the run from their captor.
"Don't look so worried, Malan sent them to you."
"How did he-"
"If you've forgotten his powers already, then we have bigger problems than if you'll go into the backroom now," the Landlord answered, chuckling away to himself.
Macey wouldn't admit to being happy. She didn't think she'd be happy if she was sat at a banquet table with all three of her men and a mountain of waffles with all the trimmings. After the adventure she'd been having, she deserved all the whipped cream, strawberries and chocolate sauce she could get her hands on.
"Who is Malan?" Amber whispered, but Macey just shook her head.
The conversation of exactly who, and what, the headless prophet was, would take far too long.
"Very well," Macey replied, ignoring the small squeak of protest from Luch. She had no say here either. Macey wasn't even sure why the mouse was still with them, or what her agenda was. While she wanted to believe she had decent motives, and she certainly did seem to be good friends with Amber, nothing was ever certain in this world.
For all Macey knew, Luch was just the Voice playing with them in a different form. Though something deep in her gut had her sure that wasn't the case. And if there was one thing she needed to trust more, it was her own instincts. Ignoring them seemed to constantly get her into trouble.
The landlord waved them towards a dim doorway to the side of the bar, and Macey sighed. She'd really been looking forward to having some downtime. And a pub quiz had sounded kind of perfect, even if she would struggle without someone who'd lived on earth longer than she had.
Pushing through the door, a dimly lit room was revealed. Almost like the kind she'd expect to find in a fantasy film. A heavy wooden table dominated the centre of the room, with uncomfortable looking chairs around the edge of it.
None of them were filled.
So much for someone wanting to see them.
"Welcome, kelpie, beithir, Luch," an ethereal voice said.
Macey looked around frantically, trying to work out where it had come from. Oddly, she found nothing.
"Hi?" she called out into the room.
A shriek sounded from Amber, and Macey turned on her heels to see what the matter was. To her surprise, a woman's form was floating in front of her. Only, she wasn't completely a woman. She was translucent, much like Malan had been. Though at least this person had a body. It was far less disconcerting than chatting with a floating head.
"Hello, Macey," the woman replied.
"How do you know my name?" she asked, already filled with a little trepidation.
"Malan sent me. But I knew it anyway. You are part of a prophecy after all." The woman's voice echoed around the room, with a breathy quality that made it all the more otherworldly.
"Ah, yes. How is Malan?" she asked, trying to be polite. While the situation might be unorthodox, she refused to forget her manners.
"Bodiless, as always." The spirit laughed, and Macey really didn't know h
ow to take that. She wasn't used to dead people being so amusing.
"Do you have a name?" Macey walked further into a room and sat herself on one of the uncomfortable looking chairs. They had high backs at least, and she slumped into it, enjoying the rest for the first time since before being captured by the Voice.
It took Luch and Amber another moment, but they soon followed, taking seats either side of her, and leaving the other side for the spirit woman.
"Of course. How rude of me. I'm Fedelm."
"And you're human?" Amber asked, not taking her eyes off the woman.
"No, I'm dead."
"Sorry, were you a human?" Amber rephrased.
The beithir didn't seem in the least bit concerned that they were talking to a ghost. Macey made a note to ask her about that later. There must be something more to the acceptance than just an open mind.
"Of a kind. I believe there's some sìth blood in my family line. But I was born human. I'm more known for my predictions for Queen Medb."
"It's a long way from Ireland," Luch said, studying her nails with an amused glint in her eye.
"Isn't it a long way from where you truly live, little mouse?"
Luch looked up sharply. Macey had no idea what that was about, but let it lie for now. She didn't want to cause any tension between her and her new ally.
"The Staran and the Wardens are hardly just confined to Scotland. People the world over are at risk if they're destroyed. Ireland really isn't that far to come. Plus, they're not exactly my biggest fans over there."
"What did you do?" Macey asked, intrigued.
"Predicted blood and destruction. People always like to know the warnings, but when they don't listen, and you're right, they hate you for it."
"I'm sorry," Macey responded.
"That can't have been easy," Amber added, her tail twitching where she'd placed it over her lap. Macey had an odd urge to reach out and touch it, but only so she could see how it felt. She wondered if it'd be the same as Amber's scales in shifted form, or if it'd be softer, like skin.
"Crimson-red from blood they are; I behold them bathed in red, " Luch recited softly. "Did you really say that or is that just the legend?"
Fedelm laughed. "I can't even remember. It's a long time ago. And it's not why I'm here now. Malan knew you'd come here, but he didn't know when." She sighs. "He's never been good at predicting times. I've been waiting here for week, and-"
"Wait, I've been gone for weeks?" Macey interrupted, her voice shrill. "That can't be right, it's not been that long. Maybe two weeks at most, right?"
She looked questioningly at Amber, but the beithir only shrugged. "I could have been there for years and I wouldn't know. He twists your mind and memories until you can no longer tell apart present, past and future."
Fedelm nodded sagely. "Time passes differently in different places. I believe it's been two months since you were taken. It's been incredibly boring, there's nothing to do in this village. Your aunt and the pub quizzes are the only entertainment, and those are not even every evening. I'll be glad to get away from here." She huffed. "I wish Malan would have done this himself, but he doesn't blend in as nicely as I do."
Amber snickered and even Luch laughed loudly, much louder than a mouse should be able to.
Fedelm pointed down at her translucent body. "This is much better than being a floating head, right?"
Macey nodded quickly, hoping the woman would get to the point. Knowing she'd been away for so long, she was beginning to panic a little, and was hoping Fedelm would be able to distract her. Give them some good news, even.
"Anyway, Malan would like you to know that it's no longer safe to travel on the Staran without a wraith or ghost. Even the na fir ghorma no longer have access to them. If you'd try to travel on them, it would likely tear you apart. Which means you'll have to wait for your men to come to you. How do you feel about several weeks of pub quizzes?"
Macey stared at her in shock. "Wait, we're stuck here?"
"Yup," the prophet said simply. "Maybe use the time to figure out how to save the world? You better hurry up, the Staran are getting worse by the day. And I believe you still have your seventh Warden to find."
Anger bubbled up in Macey. Fedelm made it sound so easy, as if all Macey had to do was put in a bit more effort. By the waves, she'd been held prisoner for several weeks, of course she hadn't had the time to do anything about the situation. Besides, all she had to go on was a vague prophecy. This really seemed hopeless. How can you fix something without knowing what's wrong?
"We're working on it," Amber said diplomatically, a lot calmer than Macey felt. "I don't suppose you know where our men... ehm, friends are?"
"I do, actually. They're my next stop... I just have to decide how quickly to start looking for them."
Macey frowned. "What's stopping you?"
A silver sheen crept over Fedelm's cheeks. Was the ghost blushing?
"Well, I've always wanted to meet the famous Nessie, but so far, she's been ignoring me. If you could introduce me, I'm sure I could find your men a lot quicker."
"That's blackmail!"
The woman chuckled. "No, it's curiosity. Come on, it's only a few extra hours. I promise I'll bring your men to you straight after. Deal?"
Macey looked at Amber, who shrugged in bewilderment.
The kelpie sighed. "Let's hope my aunt arrives soon."
Luckily, they only needed to wait for an hour before Nessie arrived. They used the time to have some food and warm themselves by the fire. Somehow, Macey could still feel the cold of their long flight in her bones.
Fedelm had taken on an even more translucent shape and had reassured them that none of the humans would be able to see them. Not everyone here knew about Nessie and the supernatural world, and they wanted to keep it that way.
The ghost seemed to be enjoying their company immensely and was quizzing them about their love lives. Somehow, Macey felt as if she was back at school among gossiping teenage girls.
"So how did you meet your boy?" Fedelm asked Amber and the beithir smiled in embarrassment.
"He was a teacher, no, he pretended to be a teacher at my school."
"To woo you? Oh, how romantic!" The ghost clapped her hands excitedly.
Amber laughed. "No, he was actually on a mission to find some items that were hidden at the school. I ended up helping him find them and then... well, we kind of destroyed them."
Fedelm looked just as confused as Macey felt. "Wait, you found something and then destroyed it? That doesn't make sense."
"It's a long story," the beithir sighed. "It turned out that Izban's grandfather wanted them to make himself immortal. We didn't think that was a good idea, so we decided to stop him."
"Did it work?"
"I was taken by Mahoun before I could find out. I hope so, although I'm sure an immortal mage is the least of our worries."
"Damn right," a deep, sultry voice said behind them and Macey turned around in delight.
"Auntie Nessie!"
She hugged her aunt before the old kelpie took a seat between Macey and Amber.
Fedelm seemed frozen in awe, her eyes fixed on Nessie, her silver blush darkening her face.
"I've not seen you in a while, Macey dear," Aunt Nessie said while absentmindedly motioning for the bartender to bring her a drink. She was well known in here, they all knew what the old lady liked.
Macey had to stop herself from blurting out that it didn't feel all that long to her, having had a strange vision sent by a megalomaniac Voice. She didn't want to scare her aunt.
"How are you?" she asked instead, but her aunt tsked.
"Stop the small talk, that's not your style. Why are you here?"
Macey grinned. Her aunt's frankness was refreshing.
"Have you noticed anything strange recently? Like... ehm... wrongness?"
"Macey, just tell me what's going on."
The younger kelpie grimaced. "Basically, the world is ending and I'm part of a prophecy to
prevent it from happening. But I'm not quite sure what to do and nobody is telling me and my men aren't here and I was a prisoner and..."
Her voice broke and a lone tear forced its way down Macey's cheek.
"Oh, my darling," Nessie huffed and took her niece into her arms. "Are you sure you're not overreacting?"
Amber cleared her throat. "No, she isn't. And I'm Amber, by the way, and this is Fedelm."
"Goodness me, where are my manners," Nessie exclaimed, before smirking. "Oh, that's right, I don't have any. Lovely to meet you nonetheless."
"And this is Luch," Macey added, lifting her head up slightly as the sobs calmed.
The look on her Aunt's face was hard to define, all Macey knew was that she didn't like it. Aunt Nessie's face verged on distaste, and even if Macey was wary of the mouse, she'd proved herself to be more of a friend than a foe, and she didn't want to chase her away, particularly after her trick with the barrier. If they got into any other tight spots, then Luch was likely to be able to get them out.
"I am Nessie," her Aunt said, somewhat stiffly.
"And I am Luch," the mouse replied, a lot more jovially, as if making fun of the older woman. Macey would say it was a bad idea, but she really wasn't sure which of the two women was the most powerful. But she wasn't going to bring that up. Even if she had been able to get it out through the now drying tears.
"Pleasure." Aunt Nessie's voice dripped with sarcasm. If it had been one of her men being that way, then Macey would have told them off for being so rude. But when it came to Aunt Nessie, she was a little more hesitant. The woman was formidable, and in the Loch, she technically outranked her still. While the kelpies had a monarchy, there was some preference given towards power. One that meant Macey was well aware of the faction that wanted her on the throne over her brothers. She chose to ignore them. Causing dissent within the royal family was never the answer.
"I'll go get your men now," Fedelm said, floating nervously from side to side.
"Thank you," Macey replied, pushing herself away from the comfort of her Aunt's embrace. The emotion of the moment had been too much for her. But if she was going to lead the Wardens in their quest to save the world, then she needed to be strong. Which meant acting like the Princess she wanted to be, not the scared woman she really was at that moment.
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