“Aye, that he did,” Robert murmured, draping an arm around my shoulders. He was still wearing his gallowglass getup, and the chain mail was pretty uncomfortable against my tender, semi-burnt and lacerated flesh. But, those pains also meant that Robert was alive and safe and holding me, so I didn’t complain. As long as he was with me, I might never complain again.
“My sister, you have real estate,” Chris announced.
“What?” I asked. I’d never owned property in my life, even though Chris had often encouraged me to buy my apartment in Queens. “Where?”
Chris handed over a piece of paper. “Right here. You and Robert are now the deeded owners of the cottage we are currently standing in.”
I stared at the deed, which listed Robert James Kirk and Karina Siobhan Stewart as the owners of said cottage. I guessed I was keeping the herd of wights, along with my gallowglass. “Does this mean that I live in Scotland now?” I asked, wondering how hard it would be to get a dual citizenship, which also seemed to be the only document Fionnlagh had forgotten.
“Ye live wi’ me, love,” Robert murmured. “Whether our home is here or across the sea in your America means little to me, so long as ye remain by me side.” He tightened his arms around me, and I sighed. Robert was right; from now on, home for me would be in his arms.
“Oh, crap.” I wiggled out from under Robert’s arm, and powered up my laptop. “If Olivia vanished without a trace, what about my grant money?” I said to Chris and Robert’s confused stares. “What if we don’t have enough left to get home?”
“Rina, I can pay our way back to the US,” Chris said. “I’m a real author again, remember?”
“Yeah, well,” I grumbled. “All of my research had better not be gone too.”
My fingers flew over the keys, and I pulled up my bank account. The balance in my checking account had remained unchanged, but when I clicked over to savings I gasped so loudly both Robert and Chris rushed to my side.
“What has happened, love?” Robert demanded, while Chris asked, “Is it all gone?”
“Not gone.” I angled the screen toward them, and watched Chris’s eyes widen, while Robert still looked confused. “I’d say it’s all there. There, and then some.”
“Three million dollars, US,” Chris said, then he looked at Robert. “Looks like you are going to be on the Seelie King’s payroll for quite a while.”
Robert nodded, his eyes grim. “Aye, that it does.”
Chapter Thirty Eight
Karina
Later, after we’d all eaten and showered and tried to restore some semblance of normalcy to our unnormal lives, Robert and I cuddled on the couch and watched a romantic comedy. Chris had gone to bed early, and we were enjoying our alone time.
“Love, I have yet another confession to make,” Robert murmured during the end credits.
“Confess away,” I said. “Whatever you have to say can’t be nearly as bad as when you bit me. Or poisoned me. Or breathed fire down my throat.”
Robert scowled. “Do no make light of such a harrowing experience. And,” he added, grazing his teeth along my neck, “I rather thought ye liked a wee nibble.”
I giggled, completely in love with the sweet, caring man nestled beside me on the couch. “You better get on with this confessing before we get too distracted to talk.”
He gave me another nip for good measure, then rose and retrieved his gallowglass armor. From an inner pocket in the leather tunic, he withdrew two corked vials.
“Remember when I told ye about the elixir?” Robert asked, once he’d returned to the couch. I was about to say that of course I remembered, because who could forget about a magic potion that made you live forever, when my eyes widened.
“That’s it?” I asked.
“One and the same,” he replied. “I imagine that your brother was correct, and that our lord Fionnlagh will be needin’ me services for some time yet.”
“Oh. I guess that’s good.” I dropped my gaze, altogether unpleased that Robert was going to remain cover model hot while I got all wrinkly and my hair fell out. How long would it be before Robert grew tired of being with an old woman?
Apparently, my concerns were pretty obvious, because Robert said, “Love, the second bottle is no’ for me. ‘Tis for you.”
“Me?” I squeaked.
“O’ course,” Robert replied. “Do ye really think I could go on wi’ out ye, me sweet, sweet Karina, who broke me free from Nicnevin’s curse no’ once but twice?” He uncorked the larger of the vials, then his brow furrowed. “Despite that I want ye by me side for all eternity, I will no’ force ye to take it. If ye prefer a mortal’s life, I will understand. And no, I will ne’er forsake ye o’er a few silver hairs. I am yours until the end o’ time, Karina love.”
I grabbed the vial from him. “That’s right you won’t forsake me.” I downed the contents in one gulp; it was as sweet and thick as Robert had described. “There is no way I’m going to let you out there, gallowglassing around without me. We don’t know what Fionnlagh has planned for you. You’ll need someone to watch your back.”
Robert smiled, and took the now-empty vial from my hands. He recorked it and set it on the coffee table, and then he gathered me against his chest. “Aye, me love, o’ that I surely do.”
#end#
Glossary
Alchemy [al-kuh-mee] – a form of chemistry and speculative philosophy concerned with discovering methods for transmuting baser metals into gold, finding a universal solvent, and an elixir of life.
Christopher Stewart – an Elizabethan scholar and bestselling author who resides in Manhattan, and older brother of Karina.
Dob’s Linn – a site near Moffat, Scotland. It is the location of the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point which marks the boundary between the Ordovician and Silurian periods.
Doon Hill – a hill near Aberfoyle, Scotland that some believe to be a gateway to Elphame. Some believe that Robert Kirk is still imprisoned in the Minister’s Pine at the crest of the hill.
Elphame [el-faym] – Fairlyand; abode of the fairies.
Fairy ointment – an ointment applied to a mortal’s eyes that allows them to see fairies in their true form.
Fash [fæʃ] – to worry, trouble, or bother.
Fath-fidh [fath fee] – a spell to keep things close, yet hidden.
Fionnlagh [fin-lay] – the Seelie King.
Fuath [fuə] – malevolent water spirits. Their name literally means “hate” in Gaelic.
Gallowglass [gal-oh-glas, -glahs] – a heavily armed mercenary soldier. In Elphame, the gallowglass is the Seelie Queen’s assassin.
Glamour [glam-er] – an illusion that conceals flaws or distractions.
Good People – a euphemism for fairies.
Habetrot [hay-beh-trot] – an imp concerned with household chores.
Haver [hey-ver] – to equivocate; vacillate.
Karina Stewart – an American geology student traveling in the UK to further her doctoral work. Younger sister of Chris.
Ken [ken] – knowledge, understanding, or cognizance.
Kirk [kurk] – a church.
Leannan sìth [leh-nan shee] – a fairy woman who acts as a muse and offers inspiration to an artist in exchange for love and devotion. In time, she siphons off all of the artist’s creativity.
Leprechaun [lep-ruh-kawn, -kon] – an Irish dwarf or sprite employed in making or mending shoes.
Loch [lok] – a lake.
Nemeton [neh-meh-ton] – places sacred to the old Celtic religion, primarily trees but also including temples and shrines.
Nicnevin [nik-neh-van] – the Seelie Queen.
Robert Kirk – a minister, Gaelic scholar, and folklorist, best known for writing The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns, and Fairies.
Seelie Court – the home of the light or good fairies.
Sgian dubh [skeen duve] – a small, single-edged blade.
Sorcha – a woman Chris meets in a pub, and proceeds to have a relations
hip with.
Tantallon Castle – a semi-ruined mid-14th-century fortress in East Lothian, Scotland. It sits atop a promontory opposite the Bass Rock, looking out onto the Firth of Forth.
Teind [tend] – a tribute due to be paid by the fairies to the devil every seven years.
Transmutation Regulations – regulation passed during the Industrial Revolution limiting the practice of alchemy in the US.
Wight [wahyt] – a small, winged fairy commonly found in gardens.
Acknowledgements
Those who know me—either in real life or who follow me on social media—know that I have been working on this novel for a long, long time. Everything has at last come together, and I’m finally able to bring Karina’s story to you. Of course, this only happened because I had help. A lot of it.
Let’s start with the fantastic cover, which was created by Deranged Doctor Designs. It is everything I wanted, and they were a joy to work with. Check out their portfolio at http://www.derangeddoctordesign.com/
Thanks to my fabulous editor, Suzanne Lahna, the inside of the book is just as pretty as the outside. If you’re in the market for an editor, formatter, or just someone to snark with, they can be found at https://wordvagabond.com/
Without Jenn Carson, this book would not exist. Literally. Her formatting skills are without equal, and she’s a damn fine writer, editor, and friend, to boot.
Morven Westfield, remember all those years ago when we discussed me writing an article about fairy ointment? Well, here’s where it led. You were one of the first who thought people would actually want to read about fairy ointment, and your encouragement was the push I needed to really dive into this story. Thank you.
I’ve also got to thank my A Team: April, Ann, and Amy. Even though we’re separated by distance and the absurdities of daily life, you’re always there when I reach out.
Last but not least, thank you to the ones who put up with me when I’m glued to my laptop, who bring me drinks and snacks so I don’t have to stop writing, and who are my best cheerleaders: Robb, Ember, and Robby. Love you guys.
The story continues in…
Walker
Gallowglass #2
Available December 2017
Join my mailing list here (and receive a free ebook anthology as a gift): https://authorjenniferallisprovost.com/contact/
About the Author
Jennifer Allis Provost is a native New Englander who lives in a sprawling colonial along with her beautiful and precocious twins, a dog that thinks she's a kangaroo, a parrot, a junkyard cat, and a wonderful husband who never forgets to buy ice cream. As a child, she read anything and everything she could get her hands on, including a set of encyclopedias, but fantasy was always her favorite. She spends her days drinking vast amounts of coffee, arguing with her computer, and avoiding any and all domestic behavior.
Find her on the web here: http://authorjenniferallisprovost.com/
Friend her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jennallis
Follow her on Twitter: @parthalan
Other books by Jennifer Allis Provost:
The Copper Legacy, a four book urban fantasy:
Copper Girl
Copper Ravens
Copper Veins
Copper Princess
A duology based in the Copper world:
Redepmtion
Salvation
Gallowglass, an urban fantasy set in Scotland and New York:
Gallowglass
Walker
Homecoming
The Chronicles of Parthalan, a six volume epic fantasy:
Heir to the Sun
The Virgin Queen
Rise of the Deva’shi
Golem
Elfsong
Blood Prince
Changes, a contemporary romance:
Changing Teams
Changing Scenes
Changing Fate
Changing Dates
Gallowglass Page 24