Tailtiu pouted. “Then I am in your debt. What would you like in return? A kiss?” She looked hopeful.
Judging by his reaction to what she had just done, he doubted his reason would survive a kiss. For a moment, his mind pondered scenarios. Perhaps if she was tied and bound it would be safe. He shook his head to clear it. “Show me the way back.” He regretted the words as soon as he uttered them. He really wanted the kiss.
“So stubborn,” she replied. “Very well. Follow me.” Turning away, she started walking at a leisurely pace, her slim hips swaying hypnotically.
To hell and back, thought Will, falling into step. Every part of her movement was entrancing, from her graceful stride to the way her hair shifted from side to side, giving him glimpses of her shoulders that made him want to take hold of her.
The candle flame was burning fiercely, twice as large as normal. It rose and fell to a slow, deep rhythm that matched his heartbeat. Seeing its odd behavior distracted him for a moment and he felt his lustful urge fade slightly. He focused on her feet after that, afraid he might lose his mind if he let his eyes drift upward again.
Damn, even her heels are beautiful.
Logically, he knew that the way back should be the same as the way he had come, but nothing seemed familiar. They walked for nearly half an hour, and when asked, Tailtiu assured him that they were taking the shortest path back to his world. She wouldn’t lie, would she? he wondered. She shouldn’t have any reason to.
The wind picked up suddenly, changing from a pleasant breeze to harsh gale, picking up the leaves and whipping them violently through the air. The trees bent under its strength, and Will was forced to lift his arm in order to shield his eyes. Tailtiu looked back at him, alarm written on her face.
“He comes!” she cried.
“Who?” asked Will, confused and suddenly anxious.
“Elthas, lord of this place,” she explained.
“We should run,” suggested Will.
Tailtiu shook her head. “It is too late. Forgive me. This is the fault of my greed, hoping to keep you for myself.” Without warning, she leapt toward him.
Will struggled to avoid her, but the fae woman was fast, and once her hands were on him he discovered she was far stronger as well. Grabbing his head, she pulled it forward and planted her lips atop his.
Fire burned through him, sending waves of pleasure from his head to his toes. Her tongue danced between his lips, and the intensity of the sensation was so great that it became painful. It was ecstasy, a pleasure unlike anything he had ever experienced in his not-quite fourteen years.
And it was killing him.
From the corner of his eye, he saw the candle where it had fallen. Its flame dimmed and grew gradually smaller. He wondered how long it would take before it vanished entirely. Somewhere deep down, he wanted it to stop, wanted to push her away, but his arms had lost their strength.
Then she released him. Will fell to his knees, washed out and feeble. The air felt colder now and he shivered. Staring up at Tailtiu, he accused her, “I didn’t give you permission.”
“I owe you a debt then, manling,” she replied, a strange light in her eyes.
“Who is this?” said a deep and frighteningly masculine voice behind him.
Weary to his bones, Will turned his head to see the man who had appeared behind him. The figure who stood there was tall, taller than Eric’s dad, and he was also mostly nude. The newcomer had some clothing, if it could be called that—a leafy mantle that covered his shoulders and ran down his back. But it failed to obscure the more pertinent details of his manhood.
Will held up one hand briefly. “Hello.”
The stranger stared down a long, arrogant nose at Will, and one corner of his mouth quirked up into a devious smirk. It was then that Will noticed his hair was green, and the multitude of leaves around his shoulders were growing from him, rather than being a separate article of clothing.
Glancing back, he could see that Tailtiu was kneeling, her eyes on the ground. “My lord, I found a manling within your demesne.”
“Yet you didn’t see fit to bring him before me, did you, child?” responded the fae lord.
“I owe him a debt,” responded Tailtiu. “I was forced to lead him home.”
“Nothing is owed to the dead,” said the man looming over them. “Trespassers belong to me.”
“I’ve done you no wrong, Lord Elthas,” said Will abruptly. “I didn’t know where I was.”
“Silence,” barked Elthas. “Do not taint my name with your tongue.” Moving around him, the fae lord examined him, taking note of his candle and the axe in his hand. “A mageling, I see. It has been a while since one has been foolish enough to tempt my wrath, and you come bearing iron as well. Did you think that would protect you from me?”
“I meant no disrespect, sir,” said Will. “I came here by accident.” Following Tailtiu’s example, he kept his face to the ground, but in his peripheral vision he could see more feet around him. Elthas had brought a host of servants with him.
Elthas laughed. “The hunter has no need of excuses. You are prey to me, manling. All I require of you is your life.” The fae lord looked at the candle. “What’s left of it, at least. Tailtiu has stolen some of my reward already.”
A new voice called out from the trees. “The only reward you’ll be getting is my foot up your ass, Elthas.” Will recognized it at once. It was his grandfather.
Chapter 12
“You dare show your face here, Arrogan?” said the fae lord, his voice deepening with anger. He hadn’t bothered turning around yet, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on Will.
The fae circling them opened up, and Will saw his grandfather walking forward, his face smooth and confident. He had to admit that the old man seemed sure of himself. He almost looked heroic, except for the ridiculous deer horns strapped to his head. “I’ll make an ass of myself wherever I please,” announced his grandfather. “My face is just tagging along for the show.”
Elthas turned then, and his face darkened when he saw the horns. “You’ve gone too far this time, old man.”
Will’s grandfather winked and lifted his hand to touch one of the antlers. “You mean these? I’m the sentimental sort. I keep them around to scratch my backside. They really help to get to those hard to reach places. I’m sure you understand.”
Will could see the turyn gathering around Elthas, streamers of power so intense they almost blinded him. The fae lord’s power wove in and out, and then shot toward the earth at his grandfather’s feet. Vines sprouted from the soil, but they didn’t touch his grandfather; instead they snaked away from him, racing across the ground to bind the ankles and legs of the observers.
“Want to try again?” asked the old man. “Maybe this time I’ll take the only horn you have left.” His eyes traveled downward to stop on Elthas’ disturbingly tumescent manhood.
“You’re bluffing,” said Elthas, but he didn’t attack again. “You’re long past your prime. Your flame is dying, just like the boy’s.”
“Think so?” asked his grandfather calmly. “You’re welcome to test me. But I promise you, I only need a spark to whip your ass. I’ll kick your teeth so far down your throat you’ll be shitting them out for a week.” He looked past Elthas. “Get up, Will. We’re going home.”
Will struggled to his feet, gathering up the candle and axe. He shuffled forward. “Yes, Grandfather.”
The fae lord’s hand shot out, circling his neck. Will could feel the man’s sharp nails against his throat. “Grandfather?” said the fae lord, a wicked smile crawling across his face. “This child is of your line, Arrogan?”
His grandfather’s eyes shot daggers of hate at him. “Didn’t I fucking tell you to call me ‘Master’ when others were around?”
“Does the child displease you, Arrogan?” asked Elthas, his grip tightening. “Perhaps I should punish him for you.”
The old man’s gaze locked with that of the fae lord. “You spill one drop of his bl
ood, and I’ll spread pieces of you far and wide across the Glenwood. They’ll need a hundred years to piece your carcass together.”
“Always rude, always crass,” said Elthas. “Has time given you no taste for diplomacy? Let us make a bargain, Arrogan, like the old days.”
“Bargain?” said Will’s grandfather derisively. Then he spat on the ground, and Will was surprised to see smoke rising from where the spittle struck. “I’m not making any bargains with you. If you’re going to kill him, do it, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Will felt the nails dig into his neck painfully for a moment, but then Tailtiu ran forward. “Stop!” she cried.
Arrogan’s face changed when he saw the fae girl, and Will saw his stance shift. The old man stared at the girl with an intensity he hadn’t even shown to his opponent. “Tailtiu,” said the hermit, the name almost catching in his throat.
And just like that we’ve lost, thought Will. All because he turns out to be just another horny old goat. He knew he was doomed. His despair only lasted a second, however, replaced almost immediately by shock when Tailtiu replied, “Father.”
“She’s your daughter?” exclaimed Will, disgusted. “What the hell is going on? She kissed me!” His eyes rolled sideways to glare at the fae woman. “That’s incest!” Even as he said it, though, he couldn’t help but note her erotic charm.
Both Elthas and his grandfather responded at the same time, “Shut up.”
Will closed his eyes, wanting to block everything out, most especially the sight of his cousin’s naked form. Or is she my aunt? He couldn’t be sure. Either way, I’m going to hell.
His grandfather was the first to speak. “Did you say you kissed her, boy? Did you make a bargain?”
Will tried to shake his head, but Elthas’ grip was too tight. “No. She did it without asking.” Then he felt a need to add some clarification. “I didn’t like it, either,” he lied.
Arrogan looked back at Elthas, a wicked grin on his face. “That changes things, doesn’t it?”
The fae lord scowled. “Not in the least. His life is still in my hands.”
“It’s obvious you just want to kill him so you can negate Tailtiu’s debt,” said his grandfather.
“This is my forest,” insisted Elthas. “I do as I please. Your daughter’s obligations are not mine.”
Arrogan glanced around, letting his eyes linger on the other fae trapped around them. Then he faced Elthas again. “Do you think they’ll believe that? Or do you think they’ll realize that the oh-so-honorable Lord Elthas is nothing more than bog scum? Why don’t we test it out? You kill the boy, I’ll tear you into tiny pieces, and they can go tell the other fae what happened while you put yourself back together. I’m sure your reputation will still be just fine when you are eventually whole enough to tell your side of the story.”
The fae lord simmered with rage. “All this rests on one faulty assumption, old man. I can kill both of you. Your threats are meaningless. This is my demesne. I hold power here.”
“Is that right?” challenged his grandfather. Then the old man stepped closer, until he and Elthas were standing almost nose to nose. “Show me. I’ve been itching for this fight for a long time.”
The moment stretched out, until Will began to grow impatient. Opening one eye, he saw Tailtiu and felt an immediate response. This is so wrong, he thought desperately. I’m about to be choked to death and all I can do is fantasize about my faery aunt. Where did I go wrong?
Without warning, the pressure around his throat vanished, and Elthas stepped away. “Go!” ordered the fae lord. “If I see either of you again, your lives are forfeit.”
Will’s grandfather grabbed his hand, pulling him away. “Empty words from an empty pus bag, Elthas.” Arrogan cast one regretful look at his daughter, and then he turned Will around and marched him out of the clearing.
They hadn’t gone more than twenty feet before Will asked, “Grandfather, was she really your—”
“Shut the hell up!” barked the old man. “Not one more word from you until we get home.”
Will managed to keep his questions to himself the rest of the way back, even though they seemed to be multiplying by the minute. When they reached the place of entry, his grandfather grabbed his hand again and twisted them both sideways in that same strange way that Will had before, and they were back in the normal world again.
But the normal world was still slightly strange. Will’s vision hadn’t returned to normal. He still saw lots of things that hadn’t been present before. His grandfather had an aura around him, the trees still thrummed with hidden power, and faint streamers of light flowed about them in the air.
His candle flame wasn’t the same either. It was small and feeble, less than half the size it had once been. Considering his fatigue, that seemed to match up, but it had never done that before, not even when he had worked himself into complete exhaustion.
When they had finally gotten inside the house, Will couldn’t keep it in any longer. “Am I dying?”
His grandfather was busy untying the thongs that held his bizarre antler cap on. He glanced Will’s direction. “Huh? Why the hell would you think that?”
He held up the candle.
“Just when I thought you couldn’t get any more fucking stupid. You never fail to impress. Don’t you remember the day I brought you here?”
Will nodded.
“Well, if I had done the candle spell for you then, your flame would have been even smaller. Much smaller, in fact. You aren’t dying. You just had some of your turyn sucked out.” Then he cuffed the top of his grandson’s head, hard. “Idiot.”
“Was that really your daughter?” asked Will, rubbing the sore spot on his skull.
The old man passed one hand over his face. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“Does that mean she’s my aunt?” prodded Will. “Or am I not really your grandson?”
“I’ll answer one stupid question,” growled the hermit, “then you’re going to explain to me what happened. So choose wisely.”
He thought about it for a moment. He was pretty sure the fae wouldn’t have lied about Tailtiu being the old man’s daughter, and besides, he was more worried about his own status. “Are you my grandfather?”
“I’m your great-great-great-great-grandfather, plus or minus ten or twelve greats. I don’t know exactly anymore. I stopped keeping count of the generations a couple hundred years ago,” admitted the old man.
Will was stunned, then he had a flashback of Tailtiu kissing him. “Was she your great-great-however-many-times-over granddaughter?”
His grandfather laughed sourly. “No, she was my youngest child. The fae are all but immortal. She’ll still look like that long after you’re dust in your grave.”
“So who was her mother?” blurted out Will.
Arrogan’s face blanched at that, an expression reminiscent of an old pain come back to haunt him. “Enough. I told you one question, yet I’ve answered two. How in the hell did you wind up over there?”
Will tried to describe what he had done. “I just sort of moved sideways. Just like you did when we came back.”
“I’m well aware of how it’s done, turnip-brain,” shot back his grandfather. “But to do that, you have to be able to see things you shouldn’t be able to see.”
“I found this plant I didn’t recognize,” began Will.
The old man didn’t wait for him to finish. “Do you always stick strange plants in your mouth?”
“Well, no, not usually. But I can tell if a plant is edible, and I thought it was some variety of sage I hadn’t seen before…”
His grandfather’s eyes narrowed. “How can you tell if a plant is edible? I haven’t taught you that.”
“You haven’t taught me anything!” said Will in exasperation. “You said you’d train me to be an herbalist, but you haven’t said one word about plants since I came here!”
Instead of reacting to Will’s outburst with anger, his
grandfather leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “I’ve taught you to read, along with basic mathematics…”
“What does that have to do with plants?” broke in Will.
Getting to his feet, Arrogan left the room. He returned a few moments later with two books in his arms. He placed them on the table and opened them up for Will to peruse. “What does this look like to you?”
The first was filled with colorful drawings that showed leaves, flowers and stems. Each was accompanied by a description. Will could read some of them, but many of the words were too long and unfamiliar for him to figure out. The second had lists of ingredients, along with instructions and numbers. Again, he couldn’t understand all of it, but he got the sense that they were recipes of some sort. He looked at the hermit questioningly.
“There is more information in these two books than you could ever memorize,” said his grandfather flatly. “This one, Winton’s Herbal, describes hundreds of useful plants, showing their leaves, flowers, and recording their life cycles and growing needs. The other, Gidding’s Apothecary, gives instructions for tinctures, potions, extracts, as well as specialized preparations that can be made with various plants and herbs. Does any of that strike you as useful?”
Bewildered, Will flipped through the pages. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
“Why should I?” barked Arrogan. “Can you read them?”
“A little,” said Will hesitantly.
“What’s this word here?” asked his grandfather, stabbing his finger at one of the pages.
“Minim,” answered Will immediately. It was one of many seemingly useless names for measurements he had been forced to learn.
“And here?”
“Dram.”
“Here?”
“Two scruples,” said Will, beginning to feel foolish.
“I’ve been teaching you the names, so eventually you will be able to follow the instructions in these books to prepare whatever you need. To do that, you will have to be able to read these books, along with others. Your mother has already taught you how to identify many plants. Why should I waste my time repeating her lessons when you clearly need to learn the basics to progress any further?”
The Choice of Magic Page 9