Nick of Time

by Julianne Q Johnson

  Thirty minutes later, Daphne and I are back on the hill and I've just finished laying out a small array of ale, baked goods, honey, clotted cream, and cigars. Back in the truck is another bag of ale and cigars for Hugh. From what Molly has told us, Hugh's visits to his friend at the garage are a thinly veiled excuse to sit around drinking beer and smoking cigars-- which Molly won't allow at the house.

  Again I repeat the reason for my visit aloud. Even after the first dream-thing where I visited the Sidhe, I still feel like a complete idiot talking to a hill. It seems unreal and ridiculous. I continue to feel stupid right up to the point where I sit down by Daphne on the damp grass and then slump over in the grass as I plummet into sleep.

  The room under the hill seems exactly as I saw it last. The tall beings with the glowing blue eyes don't seem any less fierce or any happier to see me, despite how I did what they had asked me to.

  Gold Chain stood towering over where I sat on the floor. "Its manners have not improved. I don't know why we are wasting our time on this buffoon."

  Another tall figure I did not remember from my last visit quickly agreed with Gold Chain. "The wild pigs of the woods offer us more deference. There's an idea. Let us tie him up and leave him for the pigs."

  I did not like having the Sidhe standing around, glowering down at me while they speak so casually of leaving me to be eaten alive by wild pigs. I hastily scrambled to my feet. It didn't help much. They remained two heads taller than me, even the females.

  "How do you do?" I wasn't any more eloquent this time around. I should have taken the time to memorize a few things to say that didn't make me sound like the biggest idiot this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

  The lady with the heather tattoo on one side of her face walks toward me and the tall men part to let her approach. The airy robes she is wrapped in match the color of her tattoo and again she is smoking one of the cigars I left in the picnic arrangement on top of the hill.

  "The boy's bones have joined our hill." Heather Lady blew a smoke ring which changed into the color of her dress and then floated down to circle her brow like a crown. "That was well done. However, you then destroyed any liking we had for you by addressing us before the proper niceties were seen to. Some of the Sidhe are greatly offended and concerned someone such as you could not possibly have discharged the debt."

  "Why should we waste out time with a reckoning when the human petitioning us is so great an oaf?" Gold Chain toyed idly with his wrapped jewelry. "Tell it to return in a few decades."

  Twenty more years before they would even see if I've discharged the debt? I don't think I'd make it. The curse was already causing me trouble on a daily basis, sometimes more than once a day. If it continued to happen more and more often, I doubt I could even hold my job at Riderz. More importantly, I'm not certain I could hold on to my sanity.

  "Please," I said, trying my best not to sound like an oaf, "I come from a land across the ocean. I am unfamiliar with your ways and the proper way to show respect, but it stems from simple ignorance. It is not born out of any disrespect. I have done my best for many years to discharge the debt you placed on my family. I beg you forgive my ignorance and consider weighing the deeds I have done against my debt."

  It was the best I could do. They would either listen or not, it was out of my hands.

  "Throw it to the pigs," the tallest Sidhe said with a sneer.

  Gold Chain began to step around Heather Lady. His hand was on the hilt of the curved blade hanging from the sash at his waist and his eyes flashed with sparks of blue fire. For the first time since I met these beings, I was truly afraid.

  "Hold, ronisar fuete." Heather Lady threw one stern look at Gold Chain and he stopped in his tracks.

  "You would take the side of this impertinent dog?"

  "I would take time to consider before we make rash decisions. How many years have passed since any of the humans have left us a gift or asked for our guidance? Is it any wonder a human might be ignorant of the proper forms of deference, especially one born so far from our land?"

  "Why should I concern myself with the fate of humans?"

  "Why be so quick to attack and not to consider? We had good reason to distance ourselves from the surface dwellers, but I also admit it has had its effects on the Sidhe, and not all of those effects have been good."

  "What would you have us do? Would you have us call a reckoning for every mongrel who disturbs us?"

  "I would not." The Heather Lady regarded me closely, bending down to peer into my eyes. "I would have us take the time to consider the request."

  "What is there to consider?" Gold Chain's hand remained on his sword. "I have considered his manners and found them sorely lacking. What else is there?"

  "His companion. She has the look of the Fae about her. Let him have a witness to speak on his behalf."

  A murmured roar of argument broke out at this decree. I am not positive, but I think it was fairly evenly split between those fair folk who wished me thrown to the pigs and those who wanted to hear the witness. For my part, I'm not certain what to hope for. I want this debt discharged, but I do not want Daphne dragged into this dangerous mess. I feel as if I am a hair's breadth from death and I wish I could protect her. Unfortunately, it isn't up to me.

  "The witness will be called!" Heather Lady shouted with a voice that rolled through the domed room like thunder.

  Gold Chain bowed his head in acceptance but did not seem happy about it.

  Heather Lady closed her eyes, waved her hands lightly through the air like a hula dancer, and hummed a short song. I say she hummed but I'm not certain what to call the sound. It wasn't like human singing; it was almost electronic sounding. I couldn't reproduce it if I tried for twenty years.

  In one moment the area near my feet was bare and the next Daphne was sitting at my feet. I offered her a hand and helped her to stand as she gazed around with widened eyes.

  "Nick?"

  "You've been called as a witness on my behalf," I murmured. "They are upset about my bad manners."

  "What? Because of this morning? That's not--"

  "Take it easy," I interrupt before her voice goes from loud to shouting. "They have swords and there's too many of them. Best not to offend them further."

  Daphne scowled at me briefly and then nodded her head. It was clear she didn't like the situation, but she realized we were in a tight spot.

  "Human female who has the look of the Sidhe about her." Heather Lady waved vaguely at Daphne's red hair with one hand. "The Sidhe are divided on this issue. Some of us agree to draw a reckoning against the debt, others say the human male is too loutish to have discharged the debt and they do not want the Sidhe to waste any more time on him. You are well acquainted with this man?"

  "I am."

  "Then speak of him. Tell us if this human is worthy of the Sidhe's time."

  "All right." Daphne took a step away from me, stood very straight, and looked at the blue-eyed beings surrounding her. "From the day I met Nick, I have seen him do amazing things. Day after day, he met situation after situation head on. I have seen him save lives…he's saved my own life and the lives of my parents. He's done this duty to exhaustion, yet he continues to leap into every situation without hesitation. So well has he worked on paying this debt, it has negatively affected his life. He cannot work the job he trained for, he cannot make future plans. He has difficulty attending the important gatherings of his family and friends. Despite all of this, despite jumping into dangerous situations…being shot at even…he continues his life of service without hesitation and without complaint."

  She speaks well. Her voice is calm and determined. The way she talks about me makes me both pleased and embarrassed. I've never had anyone speak for my defense before.

  I think I'm going to marry that girl, curse or no curse.

  Daphne takes a few steps around the small clearing in the midst of the tall, blue-eyed beings who stare at her. Their faces show no emotion and it's impossible to tell if her
words are reaching them or not. She used one hand to gesture as she speaks and her right hand is in her front pants pocket, fiddling with something. I expect she's as nervous as I am.

  "While I have known him, Nick has saved the life of an elderly woman, a man who was having a heart attack…just the other day, he saved a calf who had its head stuck in a gate. No situation is too dangerous or considered beneath him. In all cases, he is ready and willing to help."

  Daphne stops in front of the Sidhe with the heather tattooed on her face and addresses her directly.

  "I do not know your ways. I do not understand how a blameless child can be held responsible for a debt of his great-grandfather. However, this debt has practically ruined Nick's life and I simply cannot believe this was your intent."

  Around us, a flurry of muttering arises. The Sidhe speak in a language I cannot understand, but I try to figure it out based on the tone of voice. Some voices seem calm and some seem angry.

  Gold Chain is among the angry voices. In a rush, he pushes through the crowd, steps toward Daphne, and draws his sword.

  "You have insulted the Sidhe and you have insulted our Queen. I will not stand by while a child of the surface dwellers brays like an ignorant ass."

  One moment Daphne's right hand is in her pocket, the next she has pulled something out and thrust it toward Gold Chain. Gold Chain hisses like an animal and takes a step away from Daphne before flourishing his sword again.

  "How dare you!" he thunders. "How dare you bring that here!"

  Twenty-Six

  "Bastaraille!" If Gold Chain's voice is thunder, Heather Lady's is a hurricane. "Dolcentarail vaquarta sincol, Buestra."

  I have no idea what she has said, but there is no doubt in my mind she's the queen. The Sidhe surrounding us drop to their knees and bow their heads. After sheathing his sword, Gold Chain follows suit.

  Heather Lady then approaches Daphne, though she does not go too close. "You may put that away, my dear. Buestra is too hot blooded, but he will not harm you. You have been called as a witness and by the laws of my kind you shall not be harmed."

  Instead of putting the object back in her pocket, Daphne hands it to me. It's one of the small metal dogs she bought at one of the garage sales we visited. Iron. The heavy little statues must be made of iron and Teagan told us the fair folk couldn't abide the substance. I slip the iron dog into my pocket and keep my hand on it. Daphne's right hand has returned to her own pocket, and I know she has the dog's twin hidden there.

  Clever girl. I'm definitely going to marry her, that is, if I can convince her that a weird guy who drives for Riderz is worth having.

  "We will draw a reckoning for the debt." Heather Lady gestures at a nearby Sidhe woman and the woman gets up off of the floor and scurries off.

  "But these heathens--"

  "Bastaraille!" Heather Lady interrupts Gold Chain before he can finish his thought and he again bows his head.

  Turning to where Daphne and I stand, she says, "I am the leader of the Sidhe. Though I listen to my people, the decision is mine alone. Your companion spoke well of your deeds. I will weigh your debt."

  "Thank you, Lady," I manage, and bow slightly to her for good measure.

  "I think what your companion said is true. You are ignorant of our ways but not without manners."

  A snort came from Gold Chain's direction, but he did not interrupt again.

  The woman who scurried away came back and handed an object to Heather Lady. The queen of the Sidhe held it up for all to see. It was the size and shape of a crystal ball, but closer inspection showed it was carved from natural stone. It looked to be clear quartz with something within its fissures shining like mica. It had within it a criss-cross of black lines. When the lady held it towards me, I saw it was shards of a darker stone running through the clear crystal.

  "Take it in your hands," the lady instructed. "It will not harm you, but it will measure your debt."

  I accepted the round crystal and was surprised by how heavy an object it was. For only being about five inches in diameter, it felt like I was holding a bowling ball. I grasped it firmly in both hands. The last thing I wanted to do was drop an object which might have some sacred significance to these beings. If I did, I doubt even iron would save Daphne and me.

  "Now, close your eyes and calm your mind. I will sing the spell."

  I closed my eyes, but quieting my mind seemed a bit beyond my abilities at the moment. I did the best I could by mentally reciting the lyrics to Lumineers' song, Ho Hey.

  The song worked fine until Heather Lady began to sing in the strange, almost electronic voice of hers. It was beautiful to listen to, and it distracted my mind enough to get by. There were no words I could detect, just a lilting melody which made me feel sad one moment and joyous the next. I don't know how long she sang. Time seemed to have no meaning under the hill.

  "You may open your eyes," the lady said when she finished singing.

  I open my eyes then, but I close them almost as quickly. The round crystal in my hand shines so brightly it hurts my eyes. After only a quick glance, I can see the after-image burned into my eyelids.

  "Hold the crystal aloft," the lady commands.

  I hold the heavy thing high and then dare to slit my eyes open. This is much better. While the light brightens the entire domed room, it's not as blinding if you aren't looking directly at it.

  Heather Lady turns to her people. "Look well, members of the Rhianaileigh Sidhe Clan. Gaze upon the proof of this human's service. See what you would have ignored…and be ashamed."

  Gold Chain gets up from his knees and approaches me, which makes me nervous.

  "My apologies, human," he says simply and then gives me a small bow from the waist before returning to the crowd ringed around us and kneeling again.

  Heather Lady plucks the crystal from my hand and looks down at me with a fond expression.

  "My Lady, I do not understand." I'm guessing the crystal has had some positive effect on the Sidhe, but I can't for the life of me figure out what's going on.

  "Never has the globe of weighing shone so brightly." The tall lady with the heather tattoo on her face puts one hand briefly against my cheek.

  "Is that good?"

  "It is indeed. You are a treasure among humans, Man."

  "I…er…thank you."

  "You have more than paid the debt of your ancestor. My apologies for how my Clan has treated you. Go in peace, your debt is paid, and know you have the admiration of the Sidhe."

  I wasn't certain what to do, so I took her hand and kissed it. "Thank you, Lady."

  She laughed then, a sound of singing bells. "You are most welcome, Man."

  A wave of her hand and I awoke on a grassy hill with Daphne by my side.

  "Did that really happen?" she asked sleepily.

  "You know, I think it did."

  We stayed a few more days with my Irish family before we headed back to the States. During that time, and during the weeks following, I didn't have a single rescue to make. My so-called curse seemed to truly be over.

  Epilogue

  I'm driving a vintage Rolls Royce limousine with a big chicken statue on the roof on interstate 465 when it happens. Time seems to slow and I become hyper-aware of everything around me. There's an old boat of a Chevrolet in the lane to my left, and it begins drifting into my lane. I honk the horn but the Chevy keeps coming and it forces me into the far right lane which exits onto Rockville Road.

  I try to get out of the exit lane, but when I speed up so does the damned Chevy and when I slow down, he does too. Looks like I'm taking Rockville Road whether I like it or not.

  It is an inconvenience, but not a big one. I just dropped off some cute teens who went to Prom in the chicken limo, and I'm taking the car back to the office in Speedway. I can circle around on the surface streets and get to where I'm going.

  As I drive through a residential district, I see the smoke.

  A small house has black smoke seeping from its roof. I p
ull over and dial 911. When I've given the dispatcher all the pertinent information, I get out of the car and jog over to knock on the house's front door. When no one answers, I pound on the door as hard as I can.

  An elderly woman opens the door. She looks quite cross.

  "What do you mean…banging on my door like that? I was taking a nap. Who are you? What do you want?"

  "Ma'am, I'm very sorry to wake you but I'm afraid your house is on fire."

  "What? The house is on fire?"

  The poor old dear looks frightened now.

  "It is. I've called the fire department and they are on their way. Are you alone in the house?"

  "It's just me and my cat, Scamper."

  "Why don't you come out and go down by the street and I'll go find your cat."

  "Shouldn't I help?"

  "No, you go out and flag down the fire truck when it comes. I'll find the cat."

  The old lady disappears inside briefly and reappears with her walker and purse. I help her down the step and onto the sidewalk and then go in to find Scamper.

  "Scamper? Here kitty kitty kitty."

  Luckily for me, the cat comes out immediately. It's a friendly little tabby that trots right up to me and lets me pick it up. The little thing purrs as I have a brief look for a cat carrier, which I find in the front closet. Once the cat is in the carrier, I take it out to the sidewalk where the old lady is sitting on the seat of her walker, wringing her hands and staring at the smoke seeping out of the roof.

  "Oh, did you find her? Did you get my sweet little kitty?"

  "I've got her. She's safe."

  "What am I going to do if my house burns down? I just love my house."

  "There's no smoke downstairs and only a little coming out at the top. Maybe it won't be too bad."

  I wait with her, keeping her calm as we wait for the fire department. While we wait, I send a quick text to Daphne so she knows I will be a little late. The fire trucks arrive and in due time put out a small fire caused by some electrical wiring in the attic. The damage is minimal and the lady gives me a big hug before she trundles back into her house.