Renegade of Two Realms

by Phil Parker

  Pressure on my hand made me look into my grandmother’s eyes.

  ‘You will cope, my dear. My blood runs in your veins remember. Problems are only answers that haven’t been discovered yet, they are not permanent features like a piece of rock.’ She waved a thin arm at the blossom around us. ‘They are like these petals, soon they will fade away and be forgotten.’

  I smiled at her and nodded.

  ‘Now.’ Her voice adopted the business-like tone we all knew so well. ‘Before the others arrive, we have matters to discuss.’

  I sat upright and took a deep breath, cleared my head of all my misgivings, I still had so many questions.

  ‘As far as Taranis is concerned, I still don’t know how I’m going to avoid marrying him. What is your plan?’

  She coughed and placed her lace handkerchief over her mouth for a second.

  ‘Oh, I don’t have one, dear. You’ll think of something.’

  The anxiety I’d shrugged off returned with renewed vigour.

  ‘What? But you said…’

  She gave a lop-sided shrug.

  ‘I know, dear. I needed you to agree and time was against me. You’ll discover sometimes you need to get others’ agreement before you’ve got a complete plan. It’s best never to get into any detail, keep things vague.’

  ‘But what am I going to do? I can’t marry that bastard.’

  She patted my hand again.

  ‘And you won’t. Things will have come to a head before that happens. You begin by delaying things, a woman must always make a man wait for everything, it reminds them who is in charge. Oisin’s activities are subtly diminishing Taranis’s standing in the eyes of key people.’

  ‘Subtle? That document he published last week borders upon the libellous, it may appear a work of fiction but everyone knows its protagonist is Taranis.’

  ‘Precisely, dear. There is nothing that man can do because any reaction would emphasize his guilt, he must remain silent. That lack of response only serves to highlight his shame. Oisin is clever, he knows words can be more powerful than a sword in the right hands.’

  I kept my smile on my lips but I didn’t possess my grandmother’s confidence, I’d started to get the measure of my fiancé, the darkness in that man’s cold heart meant he would find equally subtle ways to reply; they wouldn’t involve swords either.

  ‘So I delay things until Taranis is deemed unworthy for me?’

  ‘That’s right, dear. We need to obtain his research and we can only do that if you’re close to him, after that he will be so humiliated he won’t want anything to do with you. From what I hear he conducts experiments on his own subjects, the man has no moral compass, everything he does is to advance his own ambitions.’

  I couldn’t help myself.

  ‘That makes him rare in this place then, doesn’t it?’

  Laughter made my grandmother cough, tears formed in her eyes as she gasped for breath, when she took her handkerchief away from her mouth specks of blood stained it. She stuffed the offending item beneath her blanket and pulled out another from the woollen folds. We didn’t have much time, I needed to press on.

  ‘This fellow you have in the human realm, Oisin’s lover, I don’t understand his role and why you bother with him.’

  I could see she was struggling for breath and I considered wheeling her back to her room and cancelling our family meeting but she held up a single finger, a sign to wait. Eventually she swallowed and spoke in a whisper and with an expression which told me every word would be important.

  ‘Robin Goodfellow will be the catalyst for enormous change. I believe he will be crucial to the resolution to feud we share with humanity.’

  I didn’t understand how one man could influence events on such an enormous scale but he’d killed Llyr so I had to assume such a murderer could do anything. ‘Crucial. How?’

  ‘He has suffered more than anyone I know. His story is one of persecution, hardship and extreme violence. Much of it at the hands of your fiancé, my dear. Robin was one of the Trooping Fairies.’

  ‘I thought Llyr killed them all.’

  ‘He almost did, Robin escaped before Llyr’s purge. But in his early years he suffered most because of who, and what, he was. Much of it at the hands of Taranis. What makes Robin stand out and gives me hope, is that despite those hardships, he tries to to protect others. He is a good man too-frequently faced with terrible choices. Do not judge him harshly Filidea. He sacrificed himself to save others and it took all my skill to keep him alive. He remains a crucial part of this realm’s fate.’

  I remembered her predictions, in this orchard and before she left with Oisin for the human realm, that rattled around my head now. I hoped this might be the time for her to explain those enigmatic comments.

  ‘You once talked about birds coming home to roost. That there were powerful forces operating in the shadows that could destroy our race. Is this man part of those forces?’

  ‘Oh no, dear. No.’ She paused to catch her breath. ‘Robin will battle those forces, though his motives will be different to yours and mine.’

  Her breathing sounded raspy, I was exhausting her but I wasn’t getting any closer to finding answers to her puzzles.

  ‘Grandmother!’ I snapped. ‘If I am to prepare myself for these grave dangers I need to understand them. You’re not making any sense.’

  Her shoulders slumped, she closed her eyes and tried to take a deep breath, it triggered another coughing fit that brought tears to her eyes. I instantly felt guilty. I think I sighed. She took my hand, held it and looked in to my eyes until she could speak again.

  ‘I’m sorry, dear.’ A long pause, I waited but knew I wasn’t going to get what I wanted. ‘I understand your frustration. I was your age when I encountered a secret, one so large and terrible that I knew I had to find out what it was. I knew who would tell me. Morgana was my best friend. I knew her knowledge of that secret put her life in peril. She refused to tell me, she wanted to keep me safe. Weeks later she was murdered.’

  Grandmother’s eyes fixed on an apple blossom petal as it sailed majestically to land on her lap. She picked it up between gnarled forefinger and thumb and examined it before turning her gaze on me.

  ‘It is ironic I must do the same with you. I forged my network of spies to uncover that secret eventually. I found that it lies at the heart of what is wrong with our realm, including our war with the humans.’

  She took a careful breath.

  ‘I created the Knights’ Protocol as a temporary solution. My death will see it end. That is when the birds will roost, Filidea. The story of Gawain and Arthur is a false one. But I lacked the necessary authority and influence to do anything about it at the time. I also lacked the right… agent.’

  Her eyes suddenly burned with fierce intensity.

  ‘But now we have Robin, Filidea. I have taken certain measures to help you, after I have gone. The secret needs to be shared. The lies proved false. You have the qualities needed to make that happen. But you will need help. At that moment, trust in Robin. And Oisin.’

  I had to assume she was trying to help me but, despite my best intentions, I wondered if her ramblings were the result of intense pain. I patted her hand fondly and smiled. She guessed what I was thinking. The fire in her eyes remained and she gasped her next words.

  ‘Robin trusts Oisin completely. He will listen to him when he ignores everyone else. Oisin’s integrity is why I have confided in him. You must do the same. It will require enormous courage but I know you will provide the solution to this problem when the time is right.’

  I had no idea what she was talking about but before I could ask another question Vevina entered the orchard, escorting the rest of the royal family. They moved as one, a continuous line of silver finery that caught the sun and glittered, reflecting rainbows against whitewashed walls. Perfect faces glanced around the orchard, briefly confused at the lack of any other members of the Light Court, like a ripple, haughty expressions turned to
bewilderment and then into frustration.

  I took a deep breath and stood up, performed a curt bow to my father as he arrived to stand in front of me and my grandmother, he looked down his aquiline nose at me, it wrinkled very slightly.

  ‘Why have you summoned us Filidea? We were given to understand there was some kind of ceremony to be conducted here.’

  My mother stepped forward and stood by the side of her husband, her dress floated as though it defied gravity, a clever design facilitated by chemical treatments of dozens of pearls in its hem. She glanced at me, then at the old woman in the chair, when her eyes returned to me she’d worked out the purpose of the meeting but she chose to stay silent.

  ‘Well Filidea?’ my father sighed, impatience dropping his tone of voice.

  ‘There is to be a ceremony, father. Or sorts. We thought it would be a pleasant experience to conduct it in the orchard, as it’s such a lovely day.’

  He frowned, he still hadn’t worked out what was happening, but then neither had the rest of his entourage, busily adjusting frills, bodices and ceremonial swords that would never see battle. Everything they wore had an entirely decorative purpose and it defined them too, so different to the plain white blouse and grey trousers I wore, an outfit I knew would irritate my mother. I was definitely the black sheep of the Light Court.

  My father cleared his throat. ‘What are we doing? Planting trees?’

  Mother’s exasperation, always easily ignited, announced itself with a loud sigh.

  ‘For goodness sake Nuada, Nimue is going to name our daughter First Minister.’

  She glared at the face trying hard to contain the pain that wracked her body, there would be no concessions where the two of them were concerned. Only two weeks ago I’d heard my mother tell my uncle that she’d be glad when the old woman finally departed for good, she intended the funeral would be the biggest party the Light Court had ever seen.

  Mother’s accusation caused consternation. My uncle and his two simpering daughters’ astonishment quickly morphed into indignation. Dressed in his silver uniform, Midir looked masculine and purposeful and stood out against the other men, he caught my eye and smiled. Nimue waited until everyone had quietened down, achieved by the quality of glare she had once used to intimidate me.

  ‘You sound as though you are not happy for your daughter to reach such a lofty position, Etain. Surely that is not so?’

  Despite the pain I spotted the faintest upward curl on her lips as my grandmother held my mother’s eyes. My father leapt in to the fray.

  ‘But mother, there must be an election, we cannot simply…’

  ‘Of course, do you think I’m senile Nuada? Every member of the Light Court has voted for Filidea, I instigated the election by secret ballot several days ago.’

  ‘What?’ he barked.

  ‘The results have already been validated and confirmed.’

  ‘But why was I not informed? I am High Lord, I have the right…’

  A wrinkled finger on a hand covered in brown liver spots rose and he swallowed his next words. I smiled to myself and wondered how I would ever get that kind of control, or even if I wanted people to behave that way.

  ‘Because she’s your daughter Nuada, or would you rather have some lick-spittle lordling challenging your decisions, in front of everyone at Court?’

  A coughing fit halted the tirade and I knew it was my time to launch.

  ‘Father, we must confront one of the most difficult of times in recent history. Our Dark cousins are about to appoint their new High Lord…’

  My mother snorted loudly. ‘A brown hybrid, I don’t know what things have come to when…’

  I raised my voice just loud enough to establish I hadn’t finished speaking, my mother glared at me but remained silent, she and I would argue about that matter later.

  ‘…but as my dear mother is suggesting, it promises to be a contentious moment for their society and one which will bring considerable insecurity. There are those who will seek to use such political upheaval to mask their own ambitious undertakings. Others seek to continue the war with the humans…’

  ‘What?’ My father and uncle exclaimed simultaneously.

  I smiled, I knew I’d be able to out-manoeuvre them, just not this easily.

  ‘You must be mistaken, Filidea. No doubt you have heard gossip in the salons or in the parties you girls go to.’ My uncle Elcmar smiled and brushed his white hairbrush of a moustache as he always did when he spoke to women.

  My cousin Niamh exploded with laughter. ‘What, her?’

  I ignored them both.

  ‘Our spies tell us Dark forces are requisitioning armaments and men, they have increased the training of their dragons.’ That shut them up. ‘I am going to meet with the spy we maintain in the human realm to learn of developments there, I understand they also maintain a war footing.’

  I had their attention now.

  ‘So you see Father, we face some significant challenges, you and I. The last thing we need is any dissension in our Court. We must appear to be the epitome of unity, it is why Grandmother acted proactively. I should have notified you, I am very sorry, you are right, as High Lord you should be informed at all times. I hope this slight miss-step of mine won’t sour this new relationship of ours?’

  I gave my father my winning smile. He looked at me and returned it.

  ‘Thank you for appraising our family of the situation, Filidea. Obviously I was aware of the matters you… explained… it is vital everyone here appreciates the difficulties we face. As you say, we must show… unity… at all times.’

  He placed both hands on my shoulders and kissed my cheek and stepped back, turned to take in the rest of the family who dutifully applauded me. Niamh and her sister Airmed looked as though they were going to be sick.

  ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me,’ I said, eager to escape the deceit and fakery of this family get-together, ‘I have an appointment with the man I am to marry.’

  I didn’t look at my grandmother, I knew all eyes would be on one or the other of us, but strode out of the orchard with as much confidence as my shaking legs could muster. The two of us would meet up later when I would find out what everyone really felt, once our spies in the royal household had reported back to us.

  I’d got used to riding, even enjoyed it. I had a quiet mare, a strawberry roan I’d called Roisin, ‘little rose’, because of her colour. I think she understood I was still learning and treated me with the kind of tolerance you give children who struggle to learn their alphabet. The mid-morning sun was gathering warmth and I decided to enjoy my ride to Taranis’s castle, once my position was formally announced I’d have few occasions to enjoy such moments. Roisin clearly felt the same way as she moved at a gentle canter along lanes where farmers carted bales of hay, its smell hung in the air to capture summer so perfectly. I couldn’t help but smile, the meeting had gone much better than expected and I now had a purpose, an opportunity to make a difference to our society.

  As I rode up to Taranis’s castle I realised what enormous challenges were involved. I held my breath as I passed through the seething mass of poverty housed outside the huge stone walls. It reminded me of what grandmother had said about Oisin’s lover, how he would change our society, I still couldn’t understand how one man could address such enormous inequality. It shouldn’t stop it happening though, I felt ashamed at the hardships I saw, the pitiful state in which so many people lived their lives. I had no idea what could be done about it but Taranis had to acknowledge his responsibility for these people for a start.

  I gritted my teeth as anger piled on more anger where that man was concerned.

  Inside the castle my horse was taken from me as I arrived in the central courtyard and I was escorted along corridors and down staircases that were very different to the route I’d taken on my previous visit. My questions were met with silent smiles and it unnerved me, I wasn’t being taken to conventional reception rooms, the lack of windows told me we were bel
ow ground. At the end of a corridor of dark stone walls, without even a tapestry to provide warmth or decoration, stood Taranis, tall, upright and grinning.

  I adopted the same false expression.

  ‘My lord,’ I said and lowered my head only very slightly.

  His bow was equally as terse. ‘My lady, thank you for visiting me again. I must apologise for the unconventional location for this greeting but your arrival could not have been better timed.’

  I wasn’t going to play his game by asking for his reasons, he looked for every opportunity to score points over me and he was obviously planning to surprise me. My pulse increased, I hoped I wasn’t showing any outward signs of my nervousness. I tilted my head sideways to register vague interest, his smile faltered slightly but he regained it and placed a hand on the handle of the door behind him, then paused.

  ‘Were you aware I have been the subject of some scurrilous rumours? They’ve even led to a work of fiction penned by an unscrupulous hack.’

  My heart jumped into my mouth, which suddenly felt dry.

  ‘I was vaguely aware something along those lines had happened but I’m not one for court gossip, my lord.’ I grinned. ‘As you know, I prefer to spend my time in the library.’

  He’d already turned and opened the door before I’d finished, making it clear he didn’t believe me. This was not going the way I’d hoped. He beckoned me forward, his smile had vanished, his eyes held an expression I hadn’t seen before and didn’t want to see now.

  I clasped my hand over my mouth to stifle the scream waiting to escape. My first reaction was that grandmother had seriously underestimated the depravity to which this man could sink, regardless of any moral compass.

  A naked man was strapped to a wire bed frame. A steady drip-drip-drip of blood fell from somewhere between his legs, wires were connected to various parts of his body and he writhed and moaned softly as his body spasmed. His bloodshot eyes held a wildness about them that reminded me of a panic-stricken animal. I tried to find words to express my horror but none came, nothing could capture the shock. Taranis watched my reaction with a grin that sickened me.