Morrigan's Bidding

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Pulling his gaze away from her face as she shifted her eyes to him, Sean sipped at his tea. “How you came to be here, maybe?”

  Fiona cocked her head to the side as she studied him again. She could see the faint reddening of his cheeks, which she hadn’t seen a man do in years, not since... Shaking her head to stop that thought, she took a deep breath.

  “That isn’t much of a story either, but I will tell it,” Fiona said, her eyes again going to Sean’s face and catching him watching her before he looked away again. “I don’t mind, just not my Shame, please,” Fiona said softly. “Now for my tale.”

  At her words, he met her gaze and she began to talk. Sean felt himself drawn to her words almost as much as he was to her beauty. He marveled at how closely she resembled his idea of the perfect Celtic girl. Well, aside from the metal limbs, but those held an equal fascination for him. Pulling himself from his own thoughts, he focused on her story.

  “It’s been a little over two years since I met Darragh,” Fiona said, refilling her own cup. “I was approached by him as he was adjusting to his new life. He wanted to speak to me about how to better adjust to being Shamed. Four months after our meeting, he was ordered by the Summer Queen to create a new village to extend the reach of the Courts, and she sent him this way.”

  Sean sipped his tea, watching her and listening to her soft voice. She wasn’t looking at him, or anything, her eyes focused on the past as she told the story. He closed his eyes, trying to visualize her story as she told it.

  “Knowing he had little time before he had to set out, he began the preparations to start a village, gathering those he could trust who would accept Misa being his eyes for him. He gave up all he was before to fund the beginning of this village, keeping only his axe as a memory.”

  Pausing, she took a drink and smiled at Sean, who kept his eyes closed. Watching his face, she continued, “It was during those preparations that he came to me and told me that he would be leaving, and why. He knew this place would have use for my talents and asked me, quite humbly, if I would accompany the clan he was assembling. I asked for time to consider it, and he acquiesced to my request.”

  “He seems the kind to listen to those he values,” Sean said, opening his eyes.

  “He wasn’t always so easy to speak with, but that is not this tale,” Fiona said with a smile, their eyes meeting again.

  “I’m sorry for interrupting. Please, continue,” Sean said, closing his eyes again and returning her smile.

  “I waffled on whether to join him or not for nearly a month, as I had set aside my Talent when I was Shamed,” her voice dropped, the sadness palpable to Sean. “I meditated on it, and on the night before he came for my answer, I felt a faint call in this direction, something I had not felt for years. When I woke, I began packing my belongings and arranged to accompany them on this journey. By the time Darragh came to ask for my answer, he found me readying myself for the journey and thanked me.”

  Pausing to sip her tea again, she wondered if he was enjoying the story as he sat there with his eyes closed. Shaking her head, she pushed on with the tale. “Meeting the others was… unpleasant. I will not go into details. My name and Shame were known well in the Quadital and all nearby cities and towns. Darragh even sent two couples away, as they made him choose between them and me. I don’t know why he did that, I would have stepped aside from his group if he had wanted.”

  “Maybe he values you more than you think,” Sean suggested.

  “Possible, but he is Darragh Axehand. He rarely needed help before…” Fiona tapered off as she realized she was going to say more than she wanted.

  “We digress. Please, go on with the story,” Sean said, giving her an easy way back to her story.

  “Of course, but it is almost over,” Fiona said. “The trip took us some time. The mayor of Oaklake was welcoming enough, but when he saw me, he was just as glad when we left. Once we reached this spot, Darragh called a halt. Taking only Misa with him, he went into the forest. A day later, he came back and told us he had an Agreement in place with the local wild fey for us to build the village, and a list of rules relating to the Agreement. We have been here for the last season now.”

  Opening his eyes, Sean gave her a broad smile, “Thank you, Fiona.”

  Fiona seemed to steel herself before blurting out her next few words. “Do you really not know me?”

  “I don’t,” Sean said.

  “I used to be Fiona Treeshaper; now, they call me Fiona Silvershame,” Fiona said and stared at him, obviously waiting for a reaction.

  “I’ll just call you Fiona, if that’s okay?” Sean said as he set the empty cup on the table.

  Brow furrowed, she shook her head, her eyes searching his face with disbelief, “You really have no idea.”

  “I don’t,” Sean said. “Maybe one day we can exchange more personal stories, but I think dinner is soon. Might I accompany you?”

  Jaw dropping an inch, she looked at him like he had grown a second head. “You really don’t mind being seen with me?”

  “Fiona, I truly don’t know anything about this world, but I would like to, including being able to call you a friend,” Sean said as he stood and extended a hand to her.

  Without thought, she took his hand and let him guide her to her feet. “You are truly odd, Sean.”

  “I’ve been told that by my friend for years. I hope that bastard is doing alright,” Sean said, his smile faltering for a second as he wondered what James would think of where he was now, and how he had dealt with Sean’s death.

  Seeing the sudden shift in his mood, Fiona squeezed his hand before letting go of it. “Let me grab something, please wait for me outside.”

  “Alright,” Sean said absently as he left the house, his mind still on James.

  Fiona watched him go, then gathered what she needed. A few minutes later, she came out, closing the door behind her. Her short top and shorts had been replaced with a long-sleeved shirt and pants. “Thank you for waiting,” she said.

  Shaking off the thoughts of his old friend, who might very well have been jealous of Sean for being in a new world, he turned to Fiona. His brow furrowed as he took in the change of clothes. “I take it the others aren’t comfortable with your metallic limbs?” As soon as the words left his mouth, he silently cursed himself as an idiot for asking the question.

  “No one is,” Fiona said simply as she started towards Darragh’s house.

  “I am,” Sean said softly, hurrying to catch up to her.

  Face turned away, her cheeks heated as her sharp hearing had caught his words. Biting her lip, she wondered if he was real, or if he had been sent by a noble of the courts to hurt her. Once her blush faded she glanced at him as they approached Darragh’s house.

  Catching each other trying to covertly look at the other, they chuckled. “The door is open,” Sean said, trying to get past the moment of embarrassment for both of them.

  “It always is when dinner is served,” Fiona said as she paused outside the door. “I think it would be best if I went in a bit before you.”

  Studying her for a second, Sean shook his head. “No. I’ve never stepped away from a friend just to be viewed well by others. I won’t start doing it now.”

  Fiona sighed but nodded, “Alright, but remember-I tried to spare you.”

  Just as they were about to step into the room, Sean picked up a fragment of the conversation from inside. “He is different, but I’ll find out how and why during his st—” Darragh said.

  The conversation cut off as the two stepped into the room. “We’re not late, are we? Fiona was kind enough to keep me company and I lost track of the time,” Sean said into the silence, as all eyes focused on him and Fiona. He noted the appraising looks at him and the small frowns that briefly crossed the faces of many as they looked at Fiona.

  Six people he hadn’t met were in the room, as well as everyone he had met, minus Byrne. One of the people new to him spoke up, “So, you’re Sean MacDoug
al? I don’t see what all the fuss is about.” The resonant tenor of the speaker went with the broad chest of the heavily muscled man.

  “I surprise people,” Sean said with a shrug. “So, dinner hasn’t been served yet? Good.” Ignoring the fellow who’d spoken, Sean found a spot where he could sit with Fiona, “There’s room here, Fiona, if you don’t mind.”

  Fiona paused as she took in the feeling of the room, including the obvious hostility from the hunters. “I think it would be best if I sat over here, Sean, but thank you.”

  A micro-frown fluttered across Sean’s lips for a moment, “Alright. We need to talk more later, though. I still have stories to tell.”

  Looking away from him she agreed, “Of course, but later.”

  “What stories could you possibly have?” the same guy spoke up, a sneer in his voice.

  “Whelan,” Darragh said calmly, “he is my guest.”

  The big man shut up instantly, “Of course. My apologies, Darragh.”

  “You’ve met most of the people here, but not all of them,” Darragh said to Sean, then turned to the rest of the room. “If you have not yet met my guest, please introduce yourself.”

  The one lumberjack he had worked with, but didn’t know the name of, spoke first. “I’m Ward. My wife,” he put his hand on the shoulder of the woman seated next to him, “is Leena.”

  Sean greeted them, and the man who had accompanied the women to pick up the limbs spoke up. “I’m Eagon. This is my wife, Riana.”

  Greeting them in kind with a smile, he was about to turn his attention to the ones he hadn’t met when a woman spoke up. “I’m Byrne’s wife, Rylee,” she said.

  Taavi spoke up quickly when his wife nudged him, “Oh, ah, this is my wife, Enna.”

  Sean gave her a small wave and a chuckle. “Nice to meet you, Enna.”

  “These others are my hunters,” Whelan said, his lip curling in a sneer. “Aiden, Duggan, Kalen, Zaire, and Myna.”

  Sean nodded to each as they were named. The hunters gave him flat, uninterested stares, except for Myna, who accorded him a short bob of her head.

  “I can see we will all be fast friends,” Sean said with a sardonic smile. It struck him as he looked around that Myna was the only person in the room wearing a hat.

  “Food,” Misa called from the kitchen as she brought a tray out and set it before Darragh. “Fiona, help?”

  “Of course,” Fiona told Misa as she went to assist the Naga.

  “Both the freaks should stay together,” Whelan muttered under his breath.

  Sean frowned as he caught the words, even though no one else seemed to. He bit back a retort, but filed away Whelan’s comment for later. He turned his attention to the seared meat on the platter before Darragh as his stomach rumbled loudly.

  “Already wanting to live off our toil,” Whelan snorted.

  “He brought down that tree we carted in, and helped us with another,” Cian said evenly. “He has earned his fill for today, and possibly even tomorrow. Who failed to bring us food yesterday?”

  Whelan’s nostrils flared, “What was that, Cian? Do you care to challenge me?”

  “Enough,” Darragh said softly, his words carrying a physical weight that pressed on everyone. “Not on the first day we have a guest. The next one who shames our new clan will be having words with me.”

  Cian bowed, “I’m sorry, grandfather.”

  “I apologize,” Whelan said, still eyeing Cian with twisted lips.

  “Good,” Darragh said as Fiona and Misa came back into the room with more trays.

  “One thing, Misa,” Cian chuckled as Misa began handing out food, “I won a bet with my friends. I get their bread tonight.”

  Everyone seemed surprised. Sean just looked lost. “Truly?” Misa asked.

  The trio of guys who’d lost the bet all agreed that it was true. “We didn’t think he would fell the tree without a pause,” Walden said with a shrug, getting an elbow from Aoife.

  “Fine,” Misa replied, shifting the bread from three of the plates onto the one she set before Cian.

  Sean thanked her when she handed him his portion on a thin wooden plate—a few ounces of seared meat, two green plant husks, and a sliver of rye bread. Once everyone was served, Darragh spoke again. “We give thanks to the forest for providing for us.”

  “We give thanks,” everyone said in unison, trailed by Sean, earning him another look of contempt from Whelan.

  Conversation was nonexistent while they ate. The meat tasted of deer, but was tougher than he was used to. The husks brought to mind a cross of broccoli and asparagus; he choked it down, knowing he needed the calories, even though he hated the taste. The bread was rye, but it was crunchy, as if going stale.

  Sean finished before the others, as the meal was smaller than he was used to. Sitting silently, he closed his eyes and relaxed, since no one was talking.

  Chapter Seven

  When everyone had finished eating, they started leaving. Whelan contrived to stumble against Sean as he made his way to the door, and was surprised when Sean didn’t stagger aside from the contact. Sean had seen the hunter’s intention, and was braced for it. With an annoyed grunt, Whelan kept walking, trailed by the other hunters.

  Cian gave him an apologetic smile as the lumberjacks and their wives filed out. That left Darragh, Fiona, Misa, and Sean as the only four in the home.

  Getting to her feet, Fiona curtsied to Darragh. “Thank you again for allowing me into your home.”

  “You will always be welcome here, and in the clan, despite what some think,” Darragh replied.

  “Sean, I will see you again at some point. Thank you for your company earlier,” Fiona said as she again brushed her hair back behind her ears.

  “It was my pleasure, Fiona. Maybe I’ll be able to stop by again tomorrow,” Sean said as he got to his feet.

  “Are you not staying?” Fiona asked, confused.

  “My father taught me to walk friends out,” Sean said with a grin. “So, I’m obligated to do so for you.”

  “Ah. I accept, then,” Fiona said as she walked past Sean on her way to the door, a small, but bright, smile on her lips.

  Watching her walk down the road, Sean caught Whelan watching Fiona from the small window of one of the homes with a twisted expression. Pursing his lips, he re-entered the home and closed the door, coming to sit before Darragh.

  “Whelan seems to really hate Fiona,” Sean said.

  “I still hope he will learn to overcome his prejudices, but so far he has not,” Darragh replied. “But for now, we will try to educate you on the world, as per our Agreement. Were there any questions you had? We can start there.”

  “Shame. The word seems to carry a weight to it. What is the Shame Fiona has mentioned—not hers, specifically, but the overall meaning to the way she was saying it?”

  “Shame is handed down by the Queens, in one of two ways,” Darragh said, pausing as Misa brought a kettle and cups out of the kitchen. Once she’d poured the tea and handed it out, she went to wait behind Darragh. Darragh took a moment gathering his thoughts to make the explanation easier.

  “Is Misa not going to join us?” Sean asked, disrupting the moment.

  The two seemed a little taken aback at his question. “Misa, would you care to join us?” Darragh asked.

  “It isss not for a Life Bonded to join her Holder when guessstsss are presssent,” Misa hissed softly.

  “I’m fairly certain Darragh considers you more than just a Life Bonded, and I would feel bad for disrupting your life by being here. Please don’t let me stop you. If you would normally join him for tea, then please, join us now,” Sean said.

  “You are decidedly odd,” Misa said before she went to the kitchen and returned with another cup. Sitting to Darragh’s right, she poured herself a cup. “I will sssee how much you truly mean your wordsss.”

  “Sorry for the interruption, Darragh. Please, continue,” Sean requested.

  “If you did this with almost an
y other Life Bonded and Holder you would be asking for a lot of trouble, but you are correct that Misa and I are unusual in that regard.” Darragh paused, his hand gently stroking Misa’s tail before he withdrew it and continued with the explanation. “If a person breaks an Agreement, then the other party can level a Punishment on the one who broke it. The problem is that if the Punishment is too harsh, the Queens get involved. It is normal for a Punishment to be half as severe as one would think, to be sure they don’t over Punish and draw the Queens’ ire.”

  “Can you give me an example?” Sean asked.

  “If we made an Agreement to deliver a log to the mill in the next town every two days, and we failed, the person who held the Agreement might demand the next five logs we cut in payment. That would be going too far and draw the Queens’ ire, but if he asked for the next three, it wouldn’t. It would also mean we would have to re-enter an Agreement with him, which would place us at a disadvantage in the negotiations, due to us having broken the last one.”

  “Okay, so if he asked for five, then what?” Sean asked, seeing that the idea of Punishment was nebulous, which could cause all sorts of issues.

  “If the Punishment is too harsh, the Queens know. The Queen in power can call the offending party before her, then lay a Shame on them. Shames are severe,” Darragh paused, one of his hands twitching as his sightless eyes blinked rapidly for a second. “To have a Shame is to be known as an outcast, for you have brought the Queens’ ire upon you.”

  “So, Fiona’s left side and your eyes are Shames, then?” Sean asked to make sure he understood.

  Misa flared up, “How dare you!” With a hiss she opened her mouth, two fangs suddenly growing. “You would dare bring his Ssshame up so casssually, after he invitesss you into hisss home?”

  “Misa!” Darragh snapped, though quietly. “He is learning, and doesn’t understand the insult he is offering. That is why we are teaching him.”

  Misa settled down, her fangs vanishing as suddenly as they’d appeared. “Asss you wissshhh, massster,” she said, but she stared at Sean with angry eyes.