Eogain laughed lightly. “Perhaps a lesson on decorum will be in order as well, child. Once you’ve succeeded in your quest, we will have much to go over.”
“Um, right, yes,” the witch answered, feeling her ears begin to burn with embarrassment.
Fjell squeezed her hand again in reassurance as Eogain turned to the Lady of Autumn and her husband. The sorceress waited until the couple broke from their private conversation before approaching and speaking quietly with them. With their hosts distracted, Fjell turned his gaze back down to her.
“Are ye really alright?” he whispered, brow furrowed once more in concern.
“I don’t know,” she whispered, back, looking up at him. “I’m excited, but I’m scared. This whole thing is suddenly moving so fast and—”
Fjell raised a hand, putting a finger over her lips as he darted a glance back to the two elves and the Lady. “We’ll talk tonight, as soon as we can. I promise ye. Let’s just get this wrapped up first, aye?”
Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, she nodded in answer. He lowered his hand, his fingers touching momentarily on her cheek before he turned his gaze back to the three on the other side of the room. Eogain curtseyed before the Lady and lord, then turned and glided out of the room as the couple turned their attention once more to the witch and dwarf.
“My husband has agreed to shift you back to the Mortal Realm when we are ready,” Lady Isabel said with a warm smile. “There is a connection to your woods only a few hours travel from my Keep. He will not, however, be lingering in your world. If the dark witch was to find him and be able to tap his magic, it would make her nearly impossible for you to defeat. Is this arrangement agreeable to you?”
Marsilia hesitated, reluctant to too quickly agree to anything at the moment, and looked up to Fjell. He caught her movement and looked back down at her with those glowing eyes once more. Frowning at her uncertainty, he glanced back at the couple before looking at her once more.
“Do ye need a moment to think on things, seidkona?” he asked.
Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly. “No,” she said. “No, we need what advantages we can get.” Turning her gaze back to the Lady and lord, she inclined her head politely. “Thank you, your grace, my lord. We would be most appreciative of the assistance.”
The Lady of Autumn inclined her head in acknowledgement before the elf lord leaned over, muttering something in her ear. Isabel glanced towards him before nodding her agreement.
“This has been a trying evening for you, I’m sure,” Isabel said. “Please, take your time in this room to talk things through as you need. When you are ready, one of our staff will be waiting outside the door to show you to your rooms. You have my word that your conversation here will be private and none will intrude or listen in upon it.”
“Thank you,” Marsilia said with genuine gratitude and relief.
Ailbhe turned his head towards a door at the back of the hall. “Another bottle of mead for our friends,” he called. Turning his gaze back to Fjell, he inclined his head respectfully, then offered his hand to his Lady.
Isabel laid her hand in his once more and the couple departed the room, but Marsilia was already turning her attention to Fjell. She didn’t even wait for the door to close behind them before leaning in and clutching herself against his chest once more. His arm wrapped protectively around her and they both remained silent as another servant entered, replacing the bottle on the table before departing.
When finally they were the only two left in the hall, Fjell pulled back and took her by the shoulders, holding her out at arm’s length.
“Marsilia, what’s happened?” he asked, concern creasing his brow. “I thought ye were joyful then ye flipped on a coin to being afraid. Have they done something to ye?”
The witch hesitated, her gaze moving fretfully around the room. “Do you think Lady Isabel meant it? That we won’t be listened in on?”
Frowning, Fjell cupped her face in his hands, looking down at her intently. “Fuck them if she lied,” he said earnestly. “Tell me what is going on.”
“It’s…” Marsilia sighed, reaching up to take his hands and lower them from her face. She cast her gaze aside as she continued. “I’m probably just over reacting. Everything is happening so quickly. I’m excited to learn more about magic, I really am, but… I think I just unintentionally made myself an apprentice to Sorceress Eogain, and in doing so involved myself in… well… everything.”
Fjell frowned back down at her as she looked up to once more meet his gaze, his hands held in hers before them. He gently freed his hands from hers and turned back to the table, pouring them each a glass of mead. Turning back, he handed one to her.
“If ye don’t want to be her apprentice, tell her so,” he said evenly.
“But I need to learn from her, here and now,” Marsilia said, her brow furrowing as she accepted the glass. “They’re right, Fjell. I bring nothing to our coming fight with what I currently know. If you fall, the dark witch will strike me down before I can even heal you. If there isn’t a storm in the vicinity, what can I do? Shoot arrows at her?”
“Did they say this to ye?” he asked, his frown diminishing the glow of his eyes.
“Well… no,” she sighed. Setting the glass on the table, she pulled out a chair and sat down. “They didn’t have to. There were glances, and suggestions, and joy when I was able to summon the spirits from the gardens… and I figured that much out myself.”
Fjell pulled out a chair, taking a seat beside her, facing her, and putting his glass aside as well. Reaching out, he took her hands in his as she continued.
“This is so much more than anything I’ve done before,” she said, feeling a lump grow in her throat. “I know you keep saying we can do this, but I think you mean you can do this - and… I’m sorry. I’m just… I believe in you, and I trust you, but we barely escaped her the last two times. Even with a blessed blade, how can we do this if I don’t learn and become more than I am now?”
“Do ye know what the Blessing of Equinox does?” Fjell asked quietly. When she shook her head, he continued. “Each time it is bestowed, it gives something different - whatever is needed for the quest at hand. A blade of healing, or of purification, or any number of things… including the ability to counter dark magic.
“Add to that yer knowledge of yer woods, of healing and countering curses, and aye, I think we can do it without ye learning more,” he said, his thumbs rubbing over the back of her hands. “I didn’t lie to ye, but I also didn’t say it would be easy. If ye can learn more, it gives us a better chance, but if ye cannot conscience what is happening, say the word and we end it here and now.”
A tear slid down Marsilia’s cheek and she lowered her gaze to their hands. “I don’t know,” she answered quietly. “I really do want to learn more… but I feel like I’m betraying Pa. I only learned tonight that he’s taught me all the components of these magics, but never showed me how to put them together. When Sorceress Eogain began showing me how to do it, she… When I got it right, she said she would be happy to call me her apprentice. And Lady Isabel approved of it, and they just… they just started going on as if that was the case now.”
Raising her gaze to his again, she felt more tears trace down her cheeks. “But I’m Pa’s apprentice. And I can’t even tell them his name for worry of what it may bring. I just… I don’t know what to do, Fjell. I need to learn more. I do. I want to help in the coming fight but I feel like I’m getting sucked into things beyond that. I’m scared. They talked of politics, and practitioners hiding their abilities and different sorts of power plays and… I’m just… me. I’m not cut out for any of this.”
Fjell freed his hands from her grasp once more and reached up, his thumbs brushing her tears away from her cheeks. “Ye don’t have to do any of this if ye do not want,” he said slowly. “Whatever ye choose, I’m staying with ye. But… ye remember our conversation this morning? Of Lady Ylva asking me to protect ye? I did
n’t agree to that just to be some steward. This was some of what she meant. It’s alright to be scared; this is all new to ye. If ye need to release tears or stress, then let it out.”
Marsilia's lip trembled and her throat constricted as she met his glowing golden eyes. Without further word, she leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as she burrowed her face against his neck. He hesitated for only a moment before wrapping his arms around her in return, pulling her out of her chair and into his lap. She curled up on herself there, cradled against him as she gave over to letting herself cry out her fears and frustrations on his shoulder. He held her in silence, his arms steady around her. When her tears finally began to ebb, his hand came up to stroke her hair, the strength of his embrace easing.
“Ye aren’t facing any of this on yer own,” he said, cradling her. “If ye want to learn, I will go with ye; help ye navigate politics and decorum and choosing mentors. Ye aren’t alone, Marsilia. Say the word and I will be at yer side in every meeting ye have with others from here forward.”
Sniffling, Marsilia pulled her face from the crook of his neck to lay against his chest instead, listening to the drum of his heart. “I don’t know what I want,” she murmured. “I’m just… I want to finish this quest, defeat the dark witch, save my pa and my dog and my woods. I don’t want to have to think about any of this until that’s done.”
“Then that’s what we tell Eogain,” he said, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. “And I’ll be at yer side. Always.”
Chapter 31
The morning sun was shrouded behind a thin layer of grey clouds and the interior of the keep was darker for it. Marsilia checked over her bags, taking stock of the herbs and prepared potions in each. She wasn’t sure what the day’s training would bring, but she wanted to know what she had to work with if she needed it.
The room she had been provided in the Keep was easily as fine as the one she’d been given at Spring’s Keep. The bed was so tall there was a short set of stairs to get onto it and the rest of the room was filled out with a desk, chairs before the grand fireplace, and wardrobe.
Flipping open the last of her bags, Marsilia froze. A neatly folded parchment was tucked in between the rows of vials, and the witch felt her stomach drop. She had forgotten the letter Lady Ylva asked her to give Lady Isabel.
Snatching up her bags and arranging them upon herself as she walked, she quickly exited the room, letter in hand. Fjell stepped out of another doorway just down from her and she paused, looking him over. He had dressed once more in his full armor, his sword hanging from his belt, his shield in hand and his helm tucked under his arm.
“Morning,” he said with a small smile. “How are ye feeling today?”
“Better,” she answered with a single nod. “Determined, resolved. Thank you for talking with me last night. It really did help.”
“Good,” he said, stepping forward to rest a hand on her shoulder. “Do ye want me with ye when ye talk to them?”
Taking a deep breath, Marsilia shook her head, looking up to meet his brown eyes. “No. I think I need to do this myself.” She gave him a nervous smile. “But maybe don’t be too far away?”
Fjell chuckled, raising his free hand to tap an armored knuckle lightly under her chin. “Aye, I’ll be nearby.”
Her smile eased at the gesture before fading into a frown again as she looked him over once more. “Why are you dressed in your armor?”
“Lord Ailbhe wants to put me through my paces this morning,” he answered, turning to begin heading towards the stairs. “Come on, ye can watch me either get full of myself or get my ego bruised.”
Marsilia followed Fjell down the stairs into the long hall on the first floor. Ailbhe, Isabel and Eogain were already awaiting them near the front doors. While the two ladies were dressed once more in fine gowns - Lady Isabel in burgundy velvet and Eogain in a deep orange silk - Ailbhe was dressed for war.
His armor was akin that she’d seen on the Fields of Reversal, brilliant silver etched with blue lines. Unlike Fjell’s chainmail, the elf lord wore solid plate armor, the joints so neatly fitted that Marsilia could hardly tell what was decorative and what was functional.
Ailbhe glanced at their approach, but continued speaking as they drew near. “I would ask you three not to go to the woods without us,” he was saying frowning at his wife. “Give us an hour or so, and we can accompany you.”
“I was going to stay behind, Ailbhe. I’m not so dense as to risk myself with all that is going on,” Isabel retorted.
“I would still feel better, even if you remain, for Eogain and Marsilia to have escort,” he answered, glancing aside to the sorceress before continuing to address the Lady. “We have not heard of any Wild Hunt encroachments in the past few days, but that does not mean there is no longer any risk.”
Isabel considered for a moment, her hands folded at her waist as she tapped a finger in thought. “Very well. We will all go together, if Eogain doesn’t think that will be too many people and make the training more difficult?”
“It will make it only marginally more difficult,” the sorceress said. “But that may well serve to advance the training.”
“What’s all this now?” Fjell asked, stopping behind them.
The two women glanced back at him, but Ailbhe answered before they could say anything. “We will be escorting the ladies into the woods after our sparring, for Eogain to further Marsilia’s training,” he said. “The woods have been more dangerous of late.”
Fjell nodded his agreement. “Alright,” he said, then tilted his head to the doors beside them. “Ye ready?”
“Indeed,” the elf lord said with a faint smile.
As the two warriors headed outside, Marsilia turned to Isabel.
“Your grace,” she said and Isabel paused from turning to follow, looking back at her with a raised eyebrow. “I’m so sorry. With all that was going on last night, I forgot that Lady Ylva asked me to bring this to you.”
Isabel turned back to her as she held out the sealed letter. “That’s alright, child,” the Lady said, accepting the letter. “Go on outside. I’ll be along in a moment.”
Dipping into a quick curtsy, Marsilia followed the others outside as Lady Isabel lingered behind. An area of the front courtyard had been cleared of leaves, revealing bare stone and the two warriors were unbuckling their swords beside it. A small wild elf, dressed in Autumn livery, waited nearby holding two blunted swords.
Marsilia descended the steps into the courtyard and stood beside where Eogain waited to watch. The small sorceress glanced over at her with a pleasant smile before returning her gaze to the two warriors. Taking a steadying breath, the began to reach up to toy with a lock of hair, but stilled her hands instead.
“I need to talk to you,” Marsilia said quietly. “About my training, and where I’m going with it all.”
Eogain looked up at her, tilting her head in curiosity. “Very well.”
Swallowing back her nerves, the witch forced herself to press on. “I have too much already before me in the immediate to decide on any sort of apprenticeships or future training or… Well. Right now, all I want is to be able to save my pa and my woods. I don’t think I am in a place where I can commit to anything beyond that.”
Furrowing her brow, Eogain stared at her for a moment. “Nor would I expect you to. What has brought all this on?”
Chewing on her lip for a moment, Marsilia watched as Fjell donned his helmet and began strapping his shield into place. “Last night you said I would make a fine apprentice,” she said. “And I really appreciate your teachings, I do, but I’m already apprenticed to my pa and—”
The sorceress cut her off by laying a hand on her arm. “I meant it as a compliment, nothing more,” she said. “Though I can see how it might have been misinterpreted. I am not trying to steal you away from your mentor, but I am happy to teach you in his stead as you fight to recover him.”
Removing her hand from the witch’s arm, Eogai
n turned her gaze back to the two warriors as they readied to face off. “But, if you wish to learn from me after your quest is completed, you will be welcome here. Learning from more than one mentor can be highly beneficial.” She cast a glance aside at Marsilia. “And knowing how to handle oneself in court and around figures of power would also be a boon for you, no matter the path you choose to take.”
Breathing in relief, Marsilia gave the small elf a genuine smile of gratitude. “Thank you. And thank you for understanding.”
* * *
Fjell stood at the edge of the cleared stones, facing Ailbhe across the way. The elf lord inclined his head politely to his opponent and Fjell returned the gesture, raising his shield and practice sword as he spread his feet and grounded himself.
“Do not hold back,” Ailbhe instructed, moving with casual grace to raise his shield as well. “For I will not.”
“Understood,” Fjell answered.
Nodding, the elf’s eyes flashed with a pale blue glow and a few snowflakes began to drift down around them. Fjell shifted his grip on the blunted sword and charged forward. Ailbhe did not move. A flicker of doubt fluttered through the back of the dwarf’s mind, but he was already committed to the attack.
Closing that last step, he brought his sword down for a high strike. The elf moved with impossible speed, deflecting the blow with his shield as he brought his blade around. Fjell barely got his shield up in time to block the strike to his side. Baring his teeth, he pushed the elf off, forcing the lord to take a step back by sheer strength.
Ailbhe’s glowing eyes watched him with utter calm from the slit in his helm, waiting again for him to attack. Fjell felt his frustration begin to rise and pushed it back down. The elf lord was baiting him.
Taking a step away as well, the dwarf only had time to widen his eyes in confusion at the elf’s sudden smile before he felt the spike of ice against his back and went stock still.
Ailbhe lowered his shield and nodded past Fjell, eyes still a-glow. “The dark witch will not hit you where you expect,” he said dryly.
The Blessing of Equinox Page 17