Legacy of Luck

by Christy Nicholas

  “No, wait… I think I know what it is.” Ruari’s astonishing comment halted her in her tracks.

  “What… what is that?”

  “It’s something Da does. At old stones. I don’t know what, but it has to do with the faeries.”

  “Are you serious? Actual faeries, Fae folk like the Dagda and the Morrigan?” Katie thought Ruari beyond such guile, but he must be having her on. She couldn’t keep the disdainful tone out of her words.

  “Yes, like that.” Said so simply, the fire went out of her sarcasm and cynicism. Certainly, nothing natural made such lights. They were flashing in blues, purples and greens now, swirling in a sort of stately dance in spirals and circles. A low hum thrummed from the very earth under her feet. She touched the grass and it trembled ever so slightly. And then the glowing things were gone, and all went pitch dark again. Just the faint hint of light in the western sky betrayed the dying day.

  Sitting again on the wall, she contemplated this. Éamonn was faery-touched? And his father before him? Shuddering, she recalled all the horrible stories she had heard as a child of Fae exacting revenge on those who crossed them. Men afflicted with horrible humpbacks, women made blind, babies stolen from their cribs and replaced with sickly faery children who died, generations of descendants cursed throughout the ages. Éamonn was messing with a dangerous thing.

  It didn’t take too long for Éamonn to return down the hill.

  “What in Brid’s name were you doing up there, Éamonn? We saw the lights.”

  She couldn’t make out his face well, but she could well imagine his sheepish expression.

  “It’s… as I said, it’s a thing Da taught me.”

  “Was it the faeries, Éamonn?” Ruari asked.

  “Faeries? What do you know of the faeries, Ruari?” Éamonn’s voice sounded cautious.

  “I know Da knew them. He would call them many times, at the stones. They were his friends.”

  Friends with the faeries. No one made friends with faeries. They were creatures to be feared, honored, and left alone for the good of your body and your soul. Everyone knew that. Leave out a saucer of milk, so they would take it and pass on by. Pin iron to a baby to keep them from stealing the child. Never tread on a ring of mushrooms or cut a lone hazel tree. Plant a rowan tree outside your house. There were all sorts of spells, charms, and ways to keep the faeries from paying attention to you, and for good reason.

  Éamonn took a while to answer Ruari, but finally he said, “Perhaps not friends, but at least, kind to him. Kind to me, too, evidently. They gave my strength back.”

  “How do you mean?” Katie asked, nervous.

  “Come to me, and I’ll show you.”

  It sounded more like a sexual invitation than anything else, but she walked toward his voice. She found herself lifted into the air with strong arms, and twirled around until she laughed in delight.

  “You are stronger. You were so weak from the fever… how could this be, Éamonn? You were skin and bones when you climbed that hill.”

  “Da told me I could use the stones to… rest, get my energy back. He wasn’t kidding around. I’ve gone a couple times to gain perspective or peace, but this time they came in force. They gave me another wondrous gift, before you… just before you were married.” He put her down finally, and she stumbled, dizzy from the spin.

  “Another gift?”

  “My gambling, a chroi. It’s why I’m so lucky in gambling. I can sort of push the players, convince them to hold or to place bets. I can make people believe something, convince them of a course, at least for a little while.”

  “So… so you are a witch, then?” What had she gotten herself into here? She stepped back a couple times. She backed into the wall that was Ruari.

  “Not a witch. A Druid, Da said.” Ruari said.

  “Druid. There haven’t been Druids for hundreds of years, Ruari. They died out long ago.”

  “Not all of them, evidently. Or they did, but the faeries made more.”

  “How do you ‘make’ a Druid? Druids studied for twenty years or more.” She demanded, frustrated now. This talk of magic and faeries and Druids—had she somehow fallen asleep, and started dreaming faery tales?

  “Apparently, by introducing them to the faeries.” She heard the silly grin in Éamonn’s voice.

  “It doesn’t matter just now. Let’s just get back to the inn and talk about it later, when we’re not standing in the pitch dark, aye?”

  “Hmph. Very well. But we’re not finished by any means, Éamonn Doherty. Druids, indeed.”

  The market stalls closed as they passed and people went to their evening meal amid farewells and waves. While they were visitors to the place, many of the locals had come to know the odd trio and some waved as they went to their own homes.

  They ate their supper at the inn, the rabbit stew doing little but staving their appetites.

  As the night crept to darkness, Éamonn insisted he needed to walk about in the town. Katie didn’t like it, but she could say little to stop him. After he had left, she finished her ale and glanced pensively at the door.

  “Do you want me to go after him?” Ruari asked after several long moments.

  “I don’t know. He’s not a child. He can take care of himself. But I’ve this feeling I can’t shake that something’s not right.”

  “I’ll go catch up. Together we’re a match for anyone.” He grinned toothily and she smiled at the big man.

  “Thank you, Ruari. You’re a good man and a better friend.” She laid one hand on his thick forearm. He covered it with his own hand, easily twice the size of hers, and patted it a few times before lumbering out the door.

  And now, all she could do was wait and worry.

  Wasn’t that the way of women. They waited for men to come back from the day’s trade, or from war, or from fishing in a tiny boat on a storm-swept sea as if lives were just for the waiting, rather than the doing. Somehow this was wrong. Women waited to earn enough money to travel, or to buy something nice, or to have children, or to marry. In reality, they should savor the moments which made life a wonder, the moments which astounded you. Sure and they may come few and far between, but it just made them more precious, to be cherished and dreamt of.

  She stared at the peat burning in the large, stone hearth of the main room. It glowed in curls and random patterns, like waves in the sea.

  She didn’t really want to think of the sea. Katie pushed the idea of a return trip to the back of her mind, ignoring the quivering fear which gibbered and panicked. And this trip would be even longer than the first. At least she would be in a larger boat. Perhaps it would help. And she would have Éamonn and Ruari to keep her safe. Much good it would do if the thing capsized and dumped them all into a watery grave. She shivered.

  “Are ye cold, mistress? Here, scoot closer to the fire, there’s a lamb.” The landlady brought her a cup of hot mulled wine. Katie sipped on it and flashed the matron a grateful smile.

  “Have your lads gone out for the evening, then? You’ll be wanting something to keep your mind occupied, then. Care to spin with me? I’ve no one else to care for tonight, and wouldn’t mind the company.”

  The woman proceeded to hand her a spindle. It contained flax, not wool, so her hands wouldn’t itch. The rhythmic motion of the task kept her mind away from the frightening prospect of the morrow’s travel.

  With the soothing rhythm of the work, her thoughts wandered. Katie thought about the child growing within her. Would Éamonn be willing to raise the child as his own? Could he love someone else’s child? What would she do if he couldn’t?

  Hours later, Éamonn and Ruari returned. They each sported a few cuts and bruises, and Éamonn had an impressive new black eye.

  “What in Brid’s name happened to you two?” Katie asked, arms crossed. She just couldn’t trust them to stay out of trouble.

  Ruari looked down and shuffled his toe in the dirt. “We got jumped.”

  “Jumped? Someone mugged you?”
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  “The only way the cowards would have gotten a drop on Ruari. I think it must have been someone who had lost money to me a couple nights ago,” Éamonn explained, touching his swelling cheek.

  “What happened?”

  “There were three of them. They came from behind, hit us over the heads, and expected us to go down without a fight. We disappointed them.” Éamonn grinned at their success, but Katie just shook her head in disgust.

  “Well, at least you’re safe home now.”

  “Let’s get a leech for yon eye, young man,” The landlady came to them with a bowl of water and a couple of dark, slimy forms. She sat him on a stool so she could reach his eye. “A couple of these handy creatures will take the blood right out of the eye. It’ll keep it from swelling too badly, you see.” She proceeded to place three of the creatures under his eye like an exaggerated drawing of a lower eyelash. Katie stifled a giggle. Ruari had no such restraint.

  “Ah, yes, that will do nicely. Give it about ten minutes or so. They’ll fall off when they’re done.”

  “What does it feel like, Éamonn?” Ruari stopped laughing and poked one tentatively.

  “It tickles, especially when you poke them.” He tried not to move his face when he talked, eliciting more laughs from his companions.

  The conversation degraded into stories of past brawls, both won and lost. As dawn would come early, Katie wearily climbed the stairs to bed and left them to their bragging.

  It was pitch dark when Éamonn shook her awake, and they prepared to leave. He lit a single candle, but they had packed their meager store of items the day before, and they just had to get to the docks.

  As they left the inn, about ten men were waiting outside carrying torches. They were muttering and grumbling when they saw Katie emerge. Ruari came next, and finally Éamonn. That’s when the cry went up. Katie couldn’t make out much among the rabble, but a couple words stood out clearly.

  “Cheater!” “Sorcerer!” “Devil’s Man!”

  By Brigid’s Veil. Éamonn’s uncommon luck at dicing had caught up with him after all.

  “Quick, Éamonn, around the back!” Their landlady stuck her head out of the door, clad in her shift and an enormous white mob cap, and beckoned for them to go through to the stables.

  The three scrambled back through the narrow gap and into the stable yard, following the landlady’s directions. They found an alleyway which should lead to near where the docks were.

  Ruari led the way, pushing aside several obstacles. A clatter of objects fell in their wake, but Katie didn’t care. She’d had enough of adventure for a time, thank you very much, and wanted to be gone from this troubled land once and for all.

  When they reached the end of the alley, they saw the men had anticipated them. The only thing they could do is go back the other way.

  “Should we split up?” Ruari asked.

  “No, better we stay together. There aren’t many of them. Come on, back to the other end!” He said this loudly. Only about half the men followed them. The others must be going to cut them off.

  Instead of going all the way down the alley, Éamonn cut through the inn again, emerging into a mob-free street. With the others in tow, he cut quickly across to another street and ducked into another alley. Finding a small, abandoned shop, they climbed through the broken door. It smelled dank and dusty, but the darkness hid them. Finding a place behind stairs, they waited.

  Katie wasn’t certain if they had made it before the first group came out of the inn. She tried to keep her panting breath quiet, but she was terrified. What would they do if they were caught? Witches were burned or hanged. She gripped Éamonn’s arm, and he patted her hand absently.

  She heard a clamor outside, shouting and cries of frustration. She saw the glow of torches pass by several times, but no one came into this shop. The front had been boarded up. Perhaps their pursuers didn’t realize the back door had shattered.

  If they came around back, there would be no escape. The panic seized her, and she needed to run, escape from this tiny space. She shook, and Ruari put his arm around her shoulders. The big man’s warmth comforted her and helped to quell the fear.

  They waited until they heard no more shouting. Surely the men would give up a useless fight? Then they waited longer, to be certain it wasn’t a ruse.

  When they did emerge, the sky had just begun to brighten with false dawn. A few stars still twinkled in the clear sky. Taking their bearings, they saw the ship they needed and ran straight for it.

  “There they are!”

  More shouts came from behind them. Katie ran as fast as she could, not even caring she fell behind Éamonn and Ruari.. Men shouted in triumph.

  Someone grabbed her arm, making her fall painfully on her back.

  “Éamonn!” She managed to gasp his name out. She could barely breathe.

  Ruari and Éamonn stopped their running to glance back. Éamonn was the first to react. He ran headlong into the man who had grabbed her, knocking him into two of the others. Ruari waded in, his fist connecting first to one man’s jaw and to another’s stomach. A third man waved a torch in Ruari’s face, forcing him to back up, but he leaned over and tackled the torchbearer.

  Katie finally caught her breath again, and rolled over, coughing. The torch fell from the tackled man’s hand, landing close to Katie’s head. She rolled away before it caught her hair, and tried to stand.

  She managed to get to her knees and look up in time to see Éamonn punched in the lower back by a man almost as tall as he. Éamonn cried out in pain and fell to his knees, as another tried to loop a rope around him.

  Ruari faced three men, taunting them, goading them to come at him. None of them wanted to take on the giant. Éamonn just had two opponents left, including the man with the rope. He tried to get to where Ruari stood so they could fight back to back, but was cut off.

  Katie stood shakily and grabbed the torch. It sputtered, but still had life left. She circled around and set the rope-man’s shirt on fire.

  He didn’t notice at first, but he bellowed and jumped around, yelling at his friend to put it out. Free from his two opponents, Éamonn joined Ruari, with Katie brandishing her torch like a sword. Faced with poorer odds, the three remaining men ran off. Éamonn hugged Katie fiercely and sobbed.

  “I thought I had lost you.”

  “Not tonight. But we’d best get on the boat right away.”

  Éamonn handed Katie from the dock to the ship, while Ruari stood at the entrance to the dock. He whispered a couple words to the captain, who stood beside Ruari, forming an impenetrable defensive wall. If the mob returned, they should be halted by this fortification.

  Éamonn said, “The captain said he’s just waiting for two more passengers, and then we can sail. Hopefully, they’ll arrive soon. Come, let’s get below. The less they see of me, the better.”

  The hold looked filled with various boxes and trade goods but remained safer than the deck. She just hoped none of them had the bright idea of tossing any of those torches onto the boat.

  Sounds of scrambling and boots on the deck made her tense in fear, but the sailors shouted, and she figured the last of the passengers must have arrived. They’d be off, for good or ill. She heaved a sigh of relief and glanced at Éamonn.

  “Now will you realize you must be careful with your gambling, gift or no?”

  He had the sense to look abashed. “Truly, I usually am. We just needed the funds so quickly, I wasn’t as careful as I should be. My talent is not always easy to control, I guess.”

  “Hmph. You have a special talent for getting into trouble, that’s a certainty. You’re just lucky Ruari saved your bacon again. What are you going to do when he’s not around any longer?”

  “Not around? Where would he go?”

  “Well, if we are to get married, won’t he go out on his own somewhere?”

  Éamonn pondered that as the ship rocked on the water. They began moving, Katie could tell. Certainly, her stomach noticed the m
otion.

  “Probably not, in truth. Ruari is a solid man, and a true brother, but he’s not so great on his own. People take advantage of his good nature and modest wit. I’d rather be around to keep an eye on him.” He peered at her. “Is it going to be a problem?”

  Katie hadn’t thought about it like that. Ruari was a powerful man, but Éamonn was right—he wasn’t clever, and people would take advantage of the man. She enjoyed talking to him. He was simple, in the best sense of the word, without guile or deception.

  “I like him fine, Éamonn. I don’t mind if he stays with us, wherever we may go.”

  “Oh, good. For a moment there, I thought I would have to choose between you two, and I don’t know if I could do that!” He took her hand and kissed it. Her heat rose.

  “Well, if it isn’t the two lovebirds. Aren’t you just the coziest thing.” A female voice dripping with sarcasm cut through their tender moment.

  Katie turned to find Ciaran and Deirdre.

  PART V

  Chapter Seventeen

  It didn’t take much convincing. A few discreet coins to the captain and Éamonn, Katie, and Ruari were back on shore and handed to the angry men. Éamonn glared at Ciaran for his betrayal. What had brought his own cousin to such a pass?

  Fortunately for them, some cooler heads argued for a true trial, rather than mob justice. They were placed in a dark room for the few hours left until dawn.

  Katie’s eyes grew wide. “What the bloody hell do we do now, Éamonn?”

  “I don’t know, a chailín rua. I truly don’t know. We can only hope to have a sane and responsible judge on the morrow.”

  “In this rough place? I’m not holding my breath.” She crossed her arms over her belly and glowered while he tried frantically to think of another way out.

  Ruari had already tested the walls and the door, but they were solidly built and wouldn’t give in even to his prodigious strength. Despite his renewed strength, Éamonn didn’t even bother trying.

  A sound in the hallway alerted him, and he stood, unwilling to face his fate sitting down. When the door opened to reveal Ciaran, he scowled.