Shasta Summer

by Teresa Geering

  As all these thoughts passed through her mind, she suddenly felt very weak and tired and unable to think clearly any more. Seth was making her another infusion and, as she watched him, she felt a great wave of pain rush through her which made her cry out again in anguish. Instantly he was at her side.

  “What ails thee, mistress. is there anything I can do?”

  Shaking her head she turned her back to him and sobbed silently for her lost love.

  Chapter 39

  “I can’t find her anywhere, Abelia,” May said, having taken comfort in Faery Cove. She couldn’t believe that Merlin was gone, and whilst she had been relating all that had happened in the village, Abelia had allowed the faeries to sit with them and listen. She had been unable to see anything outside her kingdom, therefore Erasmus had been up to his tricks. Even so, he still hadn’t appeared to her in order to gloat, as he had done in the past.

  What was he up to?

  The faeries sat around in stunned silence. Some were crying quietly. They were all very fond of Merlin and his jocular ways, and now they would never see him again. Why hadn’t Abelia shown her feelings some, wondered. She had sat in silence, her face unchanged, since May had first told them.

  Abelia, of course, would grieve in the privacy of her toadstool later on when it was quiet. There were many things to do and, first, Shasta had to be found. Curse Erasmus for the spell he had put over her. She was still unable to see outside the kingdom and had to rely on May for information. With Shasta here, the three of them could work on breaking the spell together. Three heads were better than one any day.

  Fate predicted that she would take her own life to be joined again with Merlin, but Abelia's instinct told her that she was still alive and somewhere near the forest.

  She voiced her opinion to May who suddenly put her hand to her mouth. Of course that was where she would be found. Why hadn’t she gone to the far edge of the woods? As this thought occurred to her, she suddenly thought of something else; Seth lived in a cottage on the other side of the forest. Could Shasta possibly be there? He made no secret of the fact that he wanted her, if the gossips were to be believed. Unintentionally reading May's mind, Abelia agreed with her line of thought.

  “I must get back to the village,” May said, her mind made up as to what to do. “I will return when I have news, Abelia,” and, with that, she was gone.

  In her haste she had once again forgotten her promise to herself and transported herself directly to the village, much to the surprise of some of the locals standing around talking over recent events. This was to her advantage, though. May explained that she needed their help in searching for Shasta. Yes, she knew that they had already looked for her, but this time they needed to go deeper into the forest as she felt that maybe Seth had something to do with her disappearance. This was the incentive she knew that they needed, as they perhaps would not only find the mistress but Seth into the bargain.

  Spreading out to search, and calling out to others on the way, it wasn’t long before most of the villagers had joined in. This hadn’t really been May's intention but there was safety in numbers, she thought. They covered the forest from beginning to end and eventually, by nightfall, had reached the outer edge leading to Seth’s cottage. Instinct told May that she was there and, instructing the crowd to wait where they were, she walked up the path to the door, noting the neat and orderly flowers with not a weed to be seen. Even the front of the cottage looked well-maintained. This was not what she had heard in the past, only that it was all run down and the garden was weed-infested. So what had brought about the change, she wondered. With some trepidation she knocked on the door.

  It was some time before it was opened by Seth looking very haggard and drawn.

  “I have been expecting you, May, and as you can see she is here. I have been looking after her.”

  Very briefly he filled her in on what had happened and invited her in, noting with some concern the crowd at the end of his path. May wasted no time in going to her mistress, seeing that she was very pale and thin. Shasta tried to raise her head and May supported it with her arm. She told May what had happened to her and that Seth had saved her life.

  “So I understand, mistress, but let’s not forget that he also killed Merlin.”

  Seeing the distress and sudden tears in Shasta’s eyes, she instantly regretted having said it. “I’m sorry to have upset you, mistress. I miss him too.”

  “Seth has explained to me what happened, May, and I believe him,” Shasta said. “Seth, please tell May what happened.”

  So, once again, Seth told the story of how he had tried to stop it happening. May, thinking back to what the locals had said in the tavern about it being Seth but his face was different, reluctantly began to believe him. She didn’t want to, because she didn’t particularly like him, but it did make sense, she supposed.

  “It seems I may have misjudged you, Seth, but that doesn’t mean I like you. I thank you, though, for saving the mistress' life.”

  “I admit I wanted mistress Shasta for myself and would have done anything to make her my wife, but I would never kill anyone in cold blood. Erasmus somehow forced my hand. It was as if he was in my head and I couldn’t get rid of him. He be evil that man, if he be a man that is.”

  No sooner than the words had left his mouth, Seth suddenly grabbed his head, rocking it back and forth, screaming with pain. May shrunk back towards Shasta in fear as his face contorted and changed into Erasmus. Oblivious of the women, Erasmus spoke through Seth.

  “You are a weakling and a coward, you lowly worm. I had to force you to put the dagger in Merlin. I have taken a human life and therefore have to pay the consequences for all eternity because of you.”

  The words boomed out of his mouth and, in a final act of revenge, he inflicted even more pain on Seth. Holding his head and unable to take any more, Seth fell to the floor screaming, his face changing back to his own as he did so. The door flew open as the villagers all tried to get in at once to see what was happening. They had heard Erasmus from outside. The nearest man checked Seth for any signs of breathing and declared that he was obviously dead.

  “Mayhap we misjudged him after all,” said one and the others agreed in unison, including May.

  Two men had died because of her, thought Shasta, and both of them in love with her. She tried to feel some emotion for Seth but just felt sadness in the way that he had died. Merlin had been her only love. She still felt shock at seeing Erasmus’ face, it was pure evil and she didn’t want to see it again. To think that he had kissed her mouth, albeit through Seth. She rubbed at her mouth viciously and shuddered. Fortunately no-one noticed.

  “Looks like we have another body to bury, then,” said one of the men to no-one in particular. Someone found some sheeting and gently wrapped Seth’s body in it. They loaded it onto his cart, which was nearby, and two men began to pull it back through the forest to the village. On reaching the village, they were aware of a fire in the distance. One of the men asked a spectator where the fire was.

  “It be that weird ‘uns place at the far end of the village green. No one knows how it started, though. Let it burn to the ground, I say,” he said vehemently.

  * * *

  “Oh, May, I tried so hard to make things right and I got everything wrong,” Shasta said now that they were alone.

  “Hush, child, no-one could change what has happened here. It was meant to be. Now we must get you better. If we bring the cart back, do you think you could travel on it back to my cottage? We can’t leave you here.”

  “I think so, May,” she said quietly.

  Having made the arrangements, May went back to sit with Shasta. For something to do she began to reheat the infusion that Seth had made to give to Shasta. Although she couldn’t eat anything, her mistress could at least have a warm drink inside her. Once back in the village she could look after her properly with her own potions and herbs, although she had to admit that Seth had done a good job. She silently admitted
to herself that she had quite probably misjudged him in many ways. For that she felt some guilt.

  Once again propping up Shasta’s head, she helped her to sip the drink. Slowly the colour began to come back to her face.

  Shasta was transferred back to May’s cottage and she took over Merlin’s bed from which she took some comfort. Slowly her health began to improve. May had been to see Abelia and reported all that had happened, including the fire at Erasmus’ cottage, although there was no sign of him anywhere. Once Shasta was back to her full strength they would both visit Abelia and decide what to do about Erasmus. By his own admission, albeit through Seth, he had been instrumental in killing a mortal and for that he would pay the consequences.

  Shasta’s health improved thanks to May’s expertise, although she still held an air of desolation about her. No-one ever expected her to get over the death of Merlin - that became obvious on talking to her.

  Sitting in May’s garden one evening a couple of weeks later, they decided to visit Abelia.

  Going down to the wishing well they went through the usual procedure to meet Evening Primrose who guided her along with the other faeries to Abelia.

  “Welcome, Shasta. It’s good to see you are recovered,” Abelia said.

  “Thank you, Abelia, I do feel better, although I wish I had succeeded in joining Merlin. I miss him so much,” She said with unashamed tears starting to fall again.

  “Day Lily, will you get Shasta a drink from my toadstool, please.”

  For a moment Day Lily was taken aback; no faeries were usually allowed in Abelia’s toadstool for any reason.

  “Which drink would you like me to get, your majesty?” she asked.

  “The blue container in the first cupboard has a transparent phial in it. Please pour the liquid into a cup and bring it to me,” She said patiently.

  “Very well, your majesty.”

  Returning with the drink she gave it to Abelia.

  Abelia gave it to Shasta and told her to sip it slowly. As Shasta did so, she saw visions of Merlin appear. He seemed to be sitting quite alone with his elbow resting on his knee and his face leaning on his fist.

  “Oh, Merlin,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

  He looked up at this and smiled at her. She desperately wanted to touch him and hold him once again, but somehow she knew this was impossible. He was dressed in the blue doublet she had first seen him in after he had transformed from a cat. She remembered how handsome she had thought him then. That was when she had made her decision to come back to this life to ensure that he would always remain human.

  “Oh, Merlin” she said again. “It all went so wrong for us.”

  His face seemed to tell her differently. He was still smiling as the vision faded. Shasta had the feeling that she would see him again, but how that was possible she had no idea. She looked at Abelia and thanked her.

  “Trust me, Shasta, you will meet again. You were destined to be together for all time. First we have to deal with Erasmus. I know he is still in the village but his power is getting weaker because the haze has lifted from our kingdom and I can see outside again. I intend to summon him here in a vision but I need help from both of you. We will go to my toadstool, I think, and then the other faeries will not be frightened unnecessarily.”

  Having settled themselves, May and Shasta sat facing Abelia. With combined concentration they called on Erasmus to appear.

  Nothing happened.

  “Erasmus, I call on you to face the consequences of your actions. Accept that we are stronger than you and appear now.” Almost at once, they began to notice a sweet sickly smell and Erasmus appeared in front of them.

  From Shasta there was a sharp intake of breath.

  “Fear not, my dear. he cannot hurt us. He is resigned to his fate.”

  Although she relaxed a bit, Shasta was still wary and moved a bit closer to May for reassurance.

  “Erasmus, you were determined for Merlin to be slain by a human hand to exonerate you from blame. When Seth fought against it, you entered his body in anger and took over. In effect, therefore, you killed Merlin yourself. This is the second time in five hundred years that you have had to be punished. You also know that you will lose your powers until we consider that you have served your punishment. Therefore, as this is the second time, I have cast the following spell, which you will be unable to revoke. From this day forth you will become a book known as ‘The Eye of Erasmus’ and May will be the keeper. No longer will you have any incentive to be evil and will only wish to do good deeds.”

  “I agree to everything you say, Abelia, if you will grant me the power of speech”.

  Abelia thought about this and said, “Very well, Erasmus, I will grant you speech but at Mays’ discretion only. If she wishes to talk to you, then you may answer her. The book, to be known as ‘The Eye of Erasmus’, will be as follows. The querent will approach the book with a question. You will then allow the book to fall open on a rhyme which the querent will read. This will give them the understanding on how to achieve the answer. You will ensure that the rhyme is easy to understand. At no time will you try and confuse them, and you will never let the book tell a lie. This I charge you with.”

  “Very well, Abelia, I agree.”

  “You have no choice, Erasmus,” and with that the vision disappeared and a very large dusty book appeared in front of May. Both Shasta and May jumped in surprise and, as May put out her hand towards the book, an eye opened lazily and then closed again.

  “So, Erasmus, it appears that I am in charge of you. Take heed of all that Abelia has said and all will be well.”

  May picked up the book, which was lighter than she expected, and placed it in front of herself again. Satisfied with what had taken place, Abelia said, “You will be the keeper of the book for many years to come, May. Use it to your advantage. Erasmus has accepted his fate and he will be no further trouble, I promise you.”

  “Very well, Abelia. Now let’s go back to the cottage, Shasta,” May said, retrieving the book as she stood up.

  Shasta was unsure of her feelings now. It was lovely to see the vision of Merlin and know that some day they would meet again. Pondering on this thought, she followed May to the familiar back door of the cottage.

  May, on entering, went straight to where she kept her herbs and placed the book on the shelf. As she turned her back, Erasmus once again lazily opened his eye and looked around.

  “Oh well”, he thought, “it could have been worse, May was an attractive woman and he could always watch her unobtrusively, and Shasta would be his eventually. His work here was finished now, but he could wait indefinitely if need be. He had tasted her mouth and she was worth waiting for.”

  Smiling he closed his eye again. He would be a book for at least two hundred years, so he may as well get used to it.

  I just hope May keeps me dusted, he thought as he dozed off again.

  Chapter 40

  The present

  “Erasmus hasn’t been to visit you lately, May. Is everything alright?” Iris asked.

  They had been stocking up on food in the village and were now enjoying a cooling drink. George had opted to stay at the cottage. He had been lazing in the garden and was reluctant to move.

  “It does seem strange that he hasn’t been around,” said May, hiding her disappointment from her sister. “Perhaps he’s been busy,” she said, making excuses on his behalf.

  Having finished their drink they made there way back to the cottage with the shopping, sharing it evenly between them. They took a slow walk which didn’t take them very long. On days that they did the shopping, they had fallen into the pattern of cooking their evening meal by magic. It was not only quicker but it was worth it for May to watch Iris’ face which still appeared childlike whenever she witnessed it. Iris would find life very hard when she returned to her own home.

  As they neared the cottage May noticed a small, thin, black cat sitting by the gate.

  “Surely not” she th
ought…….. “It can’t be………… Oh no……….”

  Dropping the shopping bags much to the surprise of Iris, she rushed forward, ready to scoop him up in her arms, having no doubt in her mind that it was Merlin. As she got closer the cat stood up and began to walk towards her, meowing piteously. She scooped him up and out of earshot said, “Merlin is it really you? Are you all right? You look so thin?”

  She was desperate for news of Shasta but reluctant to worry her sister too much.

  “Yes, but who’s that?” he asked whilst they were still out of Iris’ hearing.

  “That’s my sister, Iris. She and her husband are staying with me. Tell me everything tonight when they have gone to bed. In the meanwhile, you are a normal cat who has been lost and returned.”

  Iris had picked up the extra bags and was struggling to catch up with May.

  “Whose cat is that, May, and why all the fuss?”

  “This is Snoops, Iris. I thought I had lost him. He wandered off a long time ago. I’m so happy to have him back; he’s company for me. To celebrate him coming back he can have a big, fat, juicy piece of fish tonight for his tea. He needs fattening up again by the look of things.”