Aoife found herself in Tamlin’s iron grip. Literal iron. His gauntleted hand burned Aoife’s skin, sapping her strength. She gawked at where he held her gently but firm, and then looked into his green gaze. How could a fae wear iron?
“Turns out I don’t suffer the same weaknesses as trueborn fae,” Tamlin explained, as if reading her thoughts. His face showed no emotion except for the eyes. In the depths of his green eyes, she saw...remorse? Regret? Pity? Why would a knight of Mab trouble himself over a kelpie? “Will ye come of yer own accord, or must I force ye?”
Aoife fixed her angry gaze on Roi. This was his fault. “I’d rather suffer the burn of iron than endure the touch of that man.”
“There was a time that wasn’t true,” Roi said, smiling lecherously. “There’ll be a time when it won’t be true again.”
If it wouldn’t insult Mab, Aoife would spit in disgust.
“There has been a misunderstanding,” Roi continued. “It was yer own father who demanded I wed ye, and it was he that rigged that match, Aoife. I swear it on my life.”
“Manannan told me if his daughter were to appear in my court that I should hold her for her betrothed,” the queen agreed.
Aoife hung her head, the pain of the betrayal gutting her. She’d thought her father was in on it, but the fact that he’d not sent anyone after her gave her hope. He had though. Her father had sent Cu Roi mac Daire.
There would be nowhere in the mortal realm or the Otherworld she could run. She turned her tearful gaze to Tamlin.
In a quiet murmur, so that only he could hear she said, “The lad. Black of hair, eyes like cobalt, and fair of face. He’d make a good warrior.”
The copper haired knight nodded that he understood what she was asking.
Numb with defeat, she let Roi lead her out of the castle.
(To Be Continued...)
Epilogue
It took several years in the Otherworld and over twenty in the mortal realm before Fergus and his wife could leave the court. The Queen was always restless when a reincarnation of Tamlin died. The wait to see where the next incarnation would show up was always the worst. One had appeared and was now of an age where he could be beguiled by the fae couple.
Once the queen bid they may return to the mortal realm to find her wayward lover, the couple traveled to the Isle of Skye instead. The isle where Aoife had taken Niamh twenty years ago instead of returning her to Emain Ablach as Mab had ordered. They found Niamh on a beach sunning herself in human form.
The sisters ran toward each other, embracing. Aoife’s sister looked nothing like her. Each beautiful in their own manner: Aoife was short, freckled and pale, and scarlet haired; Niamh was dark and leggy. It was like peering at the fiery sun and velvet night embracing.
They turned to Fergus, who squeezed Niamh on the shoulder and gave her a smile.
“I’ve learned the secret is not Mab’s necklace or crown. Only a child of her blood can inherit the land.”
Aoife’s smooth brow furrowed. “She’s never borne a child.”
“Because she knows this secret. We have to have a man willing to seduce her into wanting one.”
The sisters both eyed him.
Fergus held his hands up in surrender. “The queen had but one man she wanted a child from. Besides, Mab would grow suspicious if I suddenly fancied her.”
“It wouldn’t have to be all of the sudden. When we bring her the reincarnation, we pretend to be at odds. She will seek you out. I know it,” Aoife pleaded, her pretty green eyes wide with excitement. “Mab loves ye more than Tamlin. It is yer heart that was always set on another. That’s why she spared us when we helped Tamlin escape.”
Fergus scoffed. But deep down he knew it was true. He would rather keep the nights he’d warmed Mab’s bed and the days he trained with Tamlin, the times the three of them had while Aoife was in that foul Roi’s hands. He had once loved them both, but it was always Aoife he loved the most.
He sighed, knowing he would do anything she asked. Freeing Aoife from her indenture and Tamlin from his curse might be worth the treachery it would take. It was a long time since he’d been involved in a court conspiracy. He hoped he still had the will to carry it off.
“Let us find the lad then.”
Coming May 2021 Vow Unbroken, the next novella in the episodic series Faerie Tales.
Warrior Tithe: Faerie Tales Page 7
