Angels of Mercy

by Laura J Underwood

  Katie took a deep breath. “I’m Katie MacLeod, and I’ve come to ask for your help,” she said.

  “My help?” he said, sounding amused. “And why would you need my help, Katie of the Macleods.”

  “Because the Erl-King has escaped, and if you don’t come now, he’s going to make hash out of Mercyville and the rest of the mortal world.”

  Murmurs surrounded her. Micheil rose, offering her a hand. She took it, feeling a strange tickling on her skin as he drew her off the ground. The heady scents of honeysuckle and cinnamon seemed to surround him. His smile had a strange attraction, and yet... The green eyes glittered with a faint hint of faery mischief, just enough to put Katie on edge.

  “Who opened the Dark Gate and set him free?” Micheil asked, cocking his head.

  Katie swallowed. She had hoped that question wouldn’t be raised, but there was no way she could deny her part in this.

  “I did,” she said. “And I’m sorry. It was an accident. I found the Dark Gate and I had cut my hand. I didn’t know touching the roots of that old tree with my bleeding hand would set him free.”

  “Which old tree?” His voice held a teasing quality, as nerve wracking as his gaze.

  “The one in the middle of Mercyville. According to local legend, you guys saved the first settlers in this area from a hostile band of Overhill Cherokees, so they built a town around this old oak tree because they thought angels from God had come down to rescue them. Of course, lightning got the tree a long time ago, and its covered with concrete, and the local bible biddies put up these stupid statues of angels up around the stump and a sign calling Native Americans heathen red men and...”

  Micheil’s brows rose even more as he continued to smile. “This is all quite interesting, I am sure, Katie of the Macleods, but if by your blood, you set him free, then only by your blood can you put him back.”

  “What?” Katie felt her face heating in anger. “But Tom said...”

  “Tom?” Now Micheil frowned as though caught at some mischief.

  “Thomas the Rhymer!” Katie said “True Thomas! He said you would help, and that all I had to do was wave the flag, shout my name and call my need.”

  “And so it could be,” Micheil said, waving a hand to cut short her tirade. The teasing air was replaced by a more serious manner she found just as irritating. “But the flag can only be waved in times of war. I see no battle here.”

  “That’s because it’s in the middle of Mercyville!” she said.

  “But you are not,” Micheil said, shaking his head.

  “Okay, if you want to be picky about it, I’ll go back to Mercyville and wave the flag,” Katie said, giving the material a shake. “Just show me where the Gate is.”

  “It’s not so simple,” Micheil said, his gaze narrowing. “You have entered our realm, and you may not leave without the permission of our gracious Queen. And any mortal who breaches our realm, becomes our prisoner and must serve us seven years to gain that freedom.”

  “That is not true!” Katie said. “All I have to do is not eat or drink or take anything you offer while I’m here, and I can go back to my own world if I want to.”

  “Oh, and just who are you that you think you know our ways so well?” Micheil challenged in that still-water voice.

  “I’m Katie MacLeod of the MacLeods of Dunvegan,” she said in anger, “and I am a writer and librarian with a bachelors in Literature and working towards a Masters in folklore! So don’t think you can pull the wool over my eyes with all this faery glamour. I have read every book and dissertation ever written on Scottish faery lore, and I have had it up to here with goblins and faeries and hags and kelpies!” She cut a hand across her own throat in an angry gesture, and even Micheil hitched back a step. “Now either you help me by coming back to Mercyville and dealing with the Erl-King, or I will find my own way back, and I will give him this stupid flag and let him take over your realm!”

  The fire in her words set up a startled murmur among the Seelie folk. They gathered into one lump behind Micheil, looking uncertain as Katie crossed her arms and glowered at them.

  “That would be a foolish act,” Micheil said, his voice turning cold. “The goblins would overrun our fair kingdom and destroy all that remains.”

  “That’s the idea,” Katie said.

  “We cannot allow that,” Micheil said, and his sword suddenly whipped towards her, the flaming tip aimed at her heart. “I am sworn to protect this realm from the Dark One and his Unseelie Host, and I will not hesitate to fulfill that vow with your death, mortal.”

  Katie gasped, stepping back as the blade came at her. Automatically, she brought up the flag. Idiot! she thought. Like the silk will really protect me... Micheil lunged with precision, the tip of his sword touching the flag.

  “HOLD!” a woman’s voice declared, and Micheil drew back with equal speed. At once, all the Seelie were kneeling, bowing their heads. A tinkling filled the air, glass wind chimes in a light breeze. Katie took a deep breath and turned towards the source of the sound.

  The woman sat on a milk white steed whose mane and tail were embellished with tiny silver bells. The lady wore a gown of green silk, not unlike that of the flag. It winked with tiny lights and fluttered like gossamer on the wind. Her hair was the color of gold, and her green eyes carried flecks like mica as they stared from her beautiful face. Around her were a host of benevolent faery folk of every sort, and all of them stared at Katie as though she were some sort of freak.

  “Welcome to my kingdom, Katie of the MacLeods,” the lady said.

  “Are you the Faery Queen?” Katie said.

  The creature smiled. “I am, indeed,” she said. Her gaze flickered briefly at Micheil, who quickly rose from the ground. He stepped towards the Queen to assist her from her mount. On the ground, the faery woman stood nearly as tall as he, much taller than Katie whom the Queen approached. Micheil went back to his respectful posture, and Katie was sure she saw a flush in his cheeks.

  “Is there a Faery King by some chance?” Katie asked.

  “Yes,” the Queen said, smiling, “but he’s off having a lark elsewhere, and I am left to run matters as I please. How is my True Thomas?”

  “Oh, he’s doing okay,” Katie said. “Provided the Host haven’t killed him for hurting the Erl-King like he did.”

  “Oh, dear,” the Queen said, her brows drawing into just a hint of a frown. “My poor Thomas.”

  “Which is why I need your help,” Katie insisted. “Thomas told me that all I had to do was wave the flag, and your army would come and assist me to defeat the Erl-King, but Micheil here seems intent on trying to trick me into becoming a slave of faery, and telling me that only my blood can close the Dark Gate.”

  “Micheil longs for the old days, I fear,” the Queen said, casting the Captain of her Seelie army an amused smile. “The days when more mortals believed in us and respected us.”

  “Progress and reality have a way of destroying our faith,” Katie said.

  “True,” the Queen agreed. “Yet, you still believe, Lady Katie of the MacLeods. Else wise, you would not hold the Dunvegan flag nor ask for our help.”

  “Can you help me?” Katie insisted. “Can your army stop the Erl-King and his minions before its too late?”

  The Queen drew herself tall. “I fear we cannot just enter your realm and fight him as you wish, Lady Katie,” she said. “We are bound by rules of order and can do nothing without demanding a bargain be made and a price be paid.”

  “What price?” Katie insisted. “My blood?”

  “Nay,” the Queen said. “Though ’tis true, your blood has the power to seal the Dark Gate, just as it opened it, but that would mean your death as well, and I would not wish that on any mortal so brave as to challenge my Captain and his guards with words of steel. Instead, seven years of service would be due in exchange for such a favor.”

  “I can’t stay here seven years,” Katie said. “I have a life over there, such as it is. I have a young man
who loves me, and friends, and I have a cause to carry out. To battle ignorance by standing up to book banners and writing stories that challenge the imagination. I can’t sacrifice myself that way.”

  “Is there another who would willingly take your place?” the Queen asked.

  “I can’t ask anyone to do that,” Katie said.

  “Oh, but you can,” the Queen insisted. She slipped an arm across Katie’s shoulder, walking her away from the others and into a garden that seemed to materialize out of nowhere. “You see, I do miss my beloved True Thomas.”

  Katie pulled back. “Sacrifice Tom? No way!”

  “You could ask him if he would be willing to take your place. I am sure he would accept.”

  “No,” Katie said. “I can’t ask someone else to take my place. There has to be another way. I thought waving the Dunvegan faery flag obligated your people to help.”

  The Queen sighed. “Yes, if the flag is waved in the midst of battle, then we are bound to come to aid the one who bears it for no price at all.”

  “So all I need to do is return to my world and wave the flag,” Katie said.

  The Queen nodded.

  “Where’s the Gate?” Katie insisted.

  For a moment, the Queen remained unmoved, and Katie feared there would be a price to pay for that information as well. Instead, the Queen sighed and waved her hand. Katie realized there was a stone wall close by covered with thick green ivy. Those vines parted to reveal an opening full of light.

  “Go now, Lady Katie,” the Queen said. “You are a brave mortal, and we have no hold on you. But we would ask that you do us one small favor in exchange for our help.”

  “What?” Katie asked.

  “Will you at least ask True Thomas to consider coming back?” the Queen said in a wistful manner. “I do miss my beautiful man.”

  “Your majesty, Tom is no longer young. Time has made him an old man, and quite frankly, he looks like he’s seen better days.”

  The Queen smiled, lighting her beautiful face. “Here in the Summer Land, he would always be young for we can see beyond the veil of years and look at the heart within,” she said. “Will you but ask him, for me? Please?”

  “You won’t make him come if he doesn’t want to?” Katie said.

  “He has his own will,” the Queen said.

  “Then I’ll ask,” Katie said. “But I won’t make any promises that he’ll say yes.”

  The Queen nodded. “That is all I ask. Now, go, Katie MacLeod. The sun is almost gone in your world, and the Erl-King’s mischief on midsummer’s eve is never a pleasant experience. And I must prepare my army for war.”

  “Thank you,” Katie said. She bowed to the Faery Queen and moved towards the Gate, stepping into the light.

  For a moment, the brightness blinded her then it was gone from her eyes and a darkness spread. What the... Katie stumbled forward, coughing when dirt assailed her lungs and blinking when a feeble gold glim of light swelled in the gloom before her. She saw Tom, kneeling at Dan’s side, pressing a bit of cloth to the deputy’s forehead. All around them, a smothering cloud of grit was settling.

  “Tom? Dan? What happened?” she insisted.

  “Katie!” Dan said, smiling wanly. “You made it back!”

  “Yeah, what happened here?”

  “The Erl-King’s minions tried to bring the cavern down on our heads,” Tom said. “Fortunately, there was still enough magic in my harp to stop the place from caving in on us, but I fear we’re sealed in now.”

  “But we can’t be sealed in!” Katie insisted. “I have to get out there and wave the flag so the Queen can send her army.”

  Tom paused. “You saw the Faery Queen?” he said warily.

  “Yes, and she asked me to ask you to come back to her,” Katie said. “I told her I would ask, but I didn’t make any promises that you would agree. Do you know that Micheil tried to trick me into seven years of service!”

  “A faery is a faery,” Tom said with a faint smile. “The only difference between the Seelie and the Unseelie are their intentions. Did the Queen really ask for me?”

  Katie nodded. “Come on, we’ve got to find a way out of here. Dan, are you all right?”

  Dan nodded. “Just got a lump the size of a hen’s egg on my head,” he said. “That ogre would make a great linebacker for the University of Tennessee Vols.”

  Katie rolled her eyes, looking around. In the settling dust, she saw that the entrances were now sealed under dirt and stone. It was a wonder they hadn’t been buried alive, or the tree hadn’t tumbled as well.

  Her gaze shot up the tree. Towards the top in the faint flickers of Tom’s magical light, she could barely make out a hint of what looked like a chunk of concrete.

  “Tom, when they put the concrete on the old stump, did they dig down around it to any depths?” she asked.

  Tom shook his head. “Nay,” he said. They just smeared it over the surface. ’Twas no digging involved.”

  “Then I think I see our way out,” Katie said, pointing towards the top of the cavern.

  “Are you suggesting I turn us into monkeys, lass?”

  “You’ve obviously never seen Katie MacLeod climb a tree,” Dan said with a smirk. “She puts Tarzan to shame.”

  Katie sneered at him as she wrapped the flag around her, and reaching out, she began to test the roots for handholds and foot holds. Dan stumbled to his feet, assisted by Tom.

  “I don’t know that you’re going to be able to follow her,” Tom said.

  “I can make it,” Dan insisted. “Just get me to the tree.”

  Tom sighed, helping Dan over to the roots. Katie continued her upward progress. There were gaps and roots aplenty to haul herself up by. Granted, the stairs would have been easier to negotiate, but she wasn’t about to give up now. Laboriously, she worked her way up the ladder work of roots, glancing back down now and again to check Dan and Tom’s progress. Tom had thrown his harp over one shoulder, unwilling to desert it now, and stuck close to Dan who seemed to have a harder time of the climb. Katie just hoped that blow to the head hadn’t given him a concussion.

  She continued to climb until the cavern ceiling was close in on her. Here and there, smaller roots had to be snapped to allow her to pass. The tree is dead, she assured herself. It shouldn’t matter if I break a few of these taproots. Yet, she couldn’t help feeling there was some life left in the old oak, and that if the MacGreeley’s just hadn’t covered it, the tree might have grown back on its own. She had seen trees struck by lightning that still managed to produce new shoots and grow back. When this was over, she would petition the town to remove the concrete and give the old oak another chance.

  Her hand touched the concrete. Above her, muffled sounds barely penetrated the loam. Screams, shouts, laughter, crashes, the breaking of glass. All could be heard. Sure sounded like a war to her.

  She reached up, pulling at the clods of loam in her way. They practically fell in when she clawed at them, making her wonder just how secure the ground under the statues was now. She pushed more loam aside and was rewarded with a clot of moss and grass, and a pale hint of fading daylight filled with sounds of terror.

  Katie pulled and dug until the hole was large enough to let her through. Then she crawled up the face of the concrete trunk, holding onto roots as she found herself in the middle of chaos.

  TWENTY TWO

  Mercyville’s town square was definitely a war zone in Katie’s opinion. She pulled herself out of the hole and crouched beside the giant concrete encased trunk, hoping the ground didn’t give way as she glanced around at the madness. A black fog swirled in patches and blotted the last rays of the sun.

  Everywhere, the Host of Unseelie created quite a stir. Folks were running and screaming, trying to escape the bane of faerydom. Small fires had been started around benches on the square. There were mothers and fathers who had come to town to shop at the small grocery store who were now throwing aside their sacks to seize up their children and run. But it
looked like there was no place they could go that was not the center of faery mischief. Katie saw Reverend Williams grappling with a hag who seemed determined to drag pews out of the church and use them to fuel the small conflagrations. Baptist hymnals were scattered like leaves across the steps. Trolls and ogres were inside the Mountain Laurel diner, feasting on everything in sight, including the tables and chairs. In their midst Maggie Sue wielded a mop like a jousting stick, bowling several smaller goblins off the counter who threw crockery into the air and laughed maniacally when it shattered on the floor.

  A Highway patrol car lay upside down, the officer still belted in as he batted at the teasing pinches of faeries reaching through the broken windows to get at him. Other cars were under siege too. Goblins threw rocks, flowerpots and whatever else came to hand at the exasperated townsfolk who were trying to get their vehicles started so they could flee Mercyville. A streamer of laundry from the town cleaners was being spread around the building, while pickles became projectile weapons, spat from the mouths of gooney looking goblins with fleshy lips. Sheriff Cannon was lying on the street, wrapped in some of the laundry and shouting for mercy, and several hideous hags smeared stolen lipstick across their lips and fought for turns to kiss him.

  Katie continued to move around the stump, staying low. In front of the library, she saw the MacGreeley sisters inside their car. They whimpered and screeched as a multitude of hairy little goblins leaped over the ’45 Ford while defecating in midair. Some livestock ran wild in the streets, chased by goblins and ridden by faery. If Katie hadn’t known better, she would have thought she was sitting in the middle of a crazy movie. None of the special effects she had seen on screen could even come close to all this madness.

  In the midst of it, hovering over the library, she spied the Erl-King. He was using one of the dormers to shade himself from the last rays of the sun that his fog could not eliminate. Durgan was hanging by the coattails over the gutters, flailing his arms and begging to be set free.

  “Katie, give me a hand!” Dan hissed.