Morrigan's Bidding

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Coming out of his reverie, Darragh smiled again, “I apologize for the silence, MacDougal. I do believe you are lost in ways I hadn’t considered before. Tell me, who currently rules the Quadital?”

  Licking his lips, Sean knew he’d outed himself as not being a native. “I don’t know,” he said after a pause.

  “As I had thought,” Darragh looked at the ceiling with his blind eyes. “Is it time after all? No, surely I’m mistaken,” the words were muttered softly, with a clearly worried tone.

  A piercing whistle sounded from the kitchen, and Sean barely refrained from jumping to his feet. A moment later, Misa came slowly slithering into the room as she balanced a tray in her hands. A copper kettle and two cups sat on the simple wooden tray. “The tea, massster,” Misa said as she placed it before Darragh.

  “Serve for me please, Misa,” Darragh said as he brushed at his beard for a moment. “Misa, what would you tell a stranger of your race?”

  Misa paused briefly in her task, before going back to pouring tea. “We are not to be trusssted. Naga, even lesssser sssuch asss me, are not to be trusssted at all, unlessss Bonded.”

  Sean took the cup Misa held out to him, “Thank you, Misa.”

  Misa’s stared at him, pupils widening, before she bowed her head once. She placed the second cup into Darragh’s hands and retreated back into the kitchen. Before she vanished into the other room, she cast a long look back at Sean, her tongue flickering in his direction.

  “That was a very unusual thing to do,” Darragh stated as he sipped his steaming cup. “Life Bonded are treated as things, normally. Favored pets at the best of times, and almost never acknowledged by guests.”

  Brows constricting as he considered the words, Sean’s lips twisted. “How quaint.”

  Another brief smile flitted across Darragh’s face. “Indeed, but such is the way of life under the Queens. You’re obviously an Outsider, and will have issues with some things here. I can try and give you an idea of what life is like for those under the Queens. Will that help you find your way, MacDougal?”

  Sean considered the old man across from him again. Darragh had obviously been a warrior before he’d gone blind. The many scars attested to that, but his demeanor was not what Sean would have expected from an old warrior.

  “Darragh, I would be honored if you would help me find my way, but please call me Sean. I feel wrong calling you by your name while you’re using my surname.”

  “I did not wish to impose on a guest, but I will do as you ask. Since you are obviously not a normal guest, and being new to our world, you seem to have a distaste for the way Bonded are treated. Would you object to having Misa join us?”

  “I won’t object,” Sean quickly replied as he sipped the tea. The hint of orange helped cut the bitter flavor some, but it was still on the edge of his ability to drink without choking.

  “Misa, come out,” Darragh said, his voice warm as if addressing a longtime friend.

  Slithering out of the kitchen, her tongue flicked rapidly in Sean’s direction as she went to Darragh. “He tassstesss of metal,” Misa whispered to Darragh. Sean caught the words, which had an odd accent to them.

  “I used to work with metal every day,” Sean said, making it known he had heard her.

  Both Darragh and Misa froze for a second, before Darragh coughed once. “For someone who claims to have never seen a Naga, I am surprised you know her tongue.”

  Knowing he had made yet another mistake Sean sighed, “Yeah about that. I think I can understand and speak every language.”

  Misa’s eyes narrowed as her tongue flickered at him again, “He’sss uncertain.”

  “Sean,” Darragh said gently. “You have secrets you wish to keep, I do not doubt, but I will need a starting point to help you find your way. It is up to you to decide how far you will trust an old man in a village far removed from the Queens.”

  “Let’s just say I was given a few gifts that I don’t fully understand, and I found myself on the cliffside overlooking your village a few hours ago.”

  “Have you ever met one of the Queens or one of their nobles?” Darragh asked idly. Misa straightened up at the words.

  “Nope,” Sean said, watching the Naga. “Who are the Queens?”

  A snorting chuckle came from Darragh. “Who indeed? The two Queens are the rulers of this land. The Winter Queen is coming into power over this region now.”

  “Wait,” Sean blinked, a finger held out before him, “Winter Queen? You mean the Fey Queens?”

  Darragh nodded his head. “Indeed. Winter and Summer, the Elvish Queens of All, The Twin Fey.”

  “Fuck,” Sean said, rubbing at his eyes. “Humanity got here through some kind of bargain, didn’t they?”

  “Many have come here through Agreements with the Queens, or one of their nobles,” Darragh replied. “Though it is not as common as it was in the past, according to the stories we have. The last great exodus to this world is said to have happened over a thousand years ago.”

  “Your ancestors were part of that?” Sean asked, already fearing the answer.

  “Aye, those of the Green were brought over in the Agreement that the Queens arranged with our Gods,” the last word was almost spat, as if the word tasted bad in his mouth.

  “Those would include Dagda, Morrigan, Oghma…” Sean trailed off as he watched Darragh’s face twist with each name.

  “Those and more,” Darragh said as Sean paused. “They are not remembered with kindness for leaving us to the Queens.”

  “I see,” Sean said, taking a large swig of tea and wincing at the taste.

  “Your road will be a hard one,” Darragh said suddenly. “If you aren’t the vassal of one of the Queens or their nobles, then you shouldn’t be here. You’ve been tossed to the wolves, and I think I can guess who has done that.”

  “Can you ease that road by helping me understand the world a bit better?” Sean asked.

  Darragh paused, before asking a question in return, “Will you swear that you will do no harm to me, or anyone in the village, unless your life is threatened by one of us?”

  “I can agree to that,” Sean said, nodding. The instant he agreed, he felt a weight settle over him. “What was that?”

  “The law of the Queens,” Darragh stated. “All deals are binding. That is your first lesson.”

  “Huh.” Sean took a moment to think that over. “All deals?”

  “Aye,” Darragh said, “if the terms are stated clearly and accepted by both parties. It is the basic block that all power is based on here. Bonding works off that idea, but is much more invasive, and usually involves magic or Talents.”

  “If someone can use magic, then they can Bond, as Misa is with you?” Sean asked.

  “Anyone can be Bonded. The most common reason is so the Bond Holder can gain access to the magic and Talents their Bonded possess. Misa is Life Bonded to me, which is not to be idly done, as it links the souls of the two together.”

  “I have a lot to learn,” Sean sighed.

  “Yessss,” Misa hissed softly. “All newcomersss do.”

  “Darragh, what would you require in exchange for teaching me enough to not look like a fool when I encounter other people of this world?” Sean asked, starting to understand how the world worked.

  “Having the other party start the Agreement can be a good thing,” Darragh smiled slightly. “I would ask for you to toil with the others in the forest, by either hunting or logging during the day. During the evening, you will have a place here in my home, and I will teach you the beginnings of knowledge that you will need to survive.”

  “What if I wanted to be taught about magic as well?” Sean inquired.

  Darragh’s lips pursed as Misa leaned towards Sean, her tongue flicking out faster than it had before. “I tassste no energy in him,” Misa said.

  “I can use magic,” Sean said firmly. “I would be surprised if the one who gifted me the ability to do so was wrong.”

  “I can try, but it
is not something lightly taught. That would require more. We should table that discussion until you have proven your worth to the village.”

  “The deal is for me to work during the day as a villager, and in return I will be provided lodging here in your home, and be tutored by you in the ways of this world?” Sean repeated, wanting to be sure the terms were clear.

  “If that is the deal you propose,” Darragh said, his head tilting slightly.

  “That deal, but either party can break it without penalty on any day that I have not yet worked for the village. Do we agree?”

  “I will agree if you will agree to a simple addendum. Misa will be treated with respect,” Darragh said simply.

  “I accept and agree.” As the words left Sean’s mouth, another weight, this one slightly heavier, settled over him.

  “We shall start your training when you return for the evening,” Darragh said. “Misa, take Sean to Cian. He can help with the logging today.”

  “Asss you wisssh, massster,” Misa said as she made for the door.

  Sean gave Darragh a small bow before getting to his feet. “I look forward to learning from you, Darragh.”

  “We shall see how you feel tonight,” Darragh chuckled.

  Chapter Four

  Misa ushered Sean out of the house, her speed increasing as the midday sun warmed her. Sean almost had to stop strolling to keep up. Misa glanced at him, her face betraying no emotion except for a single slow blink. When they entered the forest, Misa slowed, her head pivoting as she led him, tongue flicking at regular intervals.

  “What lives in this forest?” Sean asked.

  “Many thingsss,” Misa hissed softly. “Nothing will bother usss while we get to the cuttersss.”

  “Why are they cutting inside the forest instead of at the edges?” Sean asked.

  “Agreement,” Misa stated.

  Her abrupt answer left Sean to wonder who, or what, the village had come to an Agreement with. He didn’t have long to wonder; it only took them a few minutes to reach the place where a handful of large men were trimming branches off a tree on the bank of the stream they were following.

  “Cian, Darragh had me bring you thisss one, Sssean MacDougal. He isss to aid you today,” Misa called out to the men.

  One man, who sported glorious mutton chops instead of a beard, stood up as Misa and Sean entered the clearing where they worked. Two vivid green eyes looked from Misa to Sean, before he nodded once. “Fine. As Darragh declares, so shall it be. Grab one of the hand axes and join us, we need to get this one into the stream.” Cian motioned to a pile of tools, then went back to work without waiting to see what Sean would do.

  “Work well, Darragh hasss vouched for you,” Misa hissed softly before slithering away.

  Sean went to the small pile of tools, looking over the selection of large and small axes. He frowned as he examined them. Only one axe wasn’t bronze, but a dark grey metal that seemed to drink in the sun. Shaking his head, he chose the sharper of the two bronze hand axes and joined the five men around the felled tree.

  Each of the men working glanced at him, then back to their work. Shrugging off the seeming indifference of the others, Sean started at the opposite end and brought the axe down on a two-inch thick limb. A sharp snapping sound echoed as the limb was shorn from the tree.

  Sean stood up, holding the branch in one hand and the axe in the other. The blade of the axe was deformed from the force of driving the bronze head through the limb with a single strike.

  All five men looked at him with raised brows as they stood up. “What did you do?” Cian asked with a frown.

  “Cut the limb. Just, not like I expected to,” Sean said as he tossed the branch at the pile the others were building. Turning his attention to the axe, he could see it would need a lot of work to get it back into decent shape.

  One of the others picked up the limb he’d tossed and examined it. “Cian, it’s cut clean through,” the man said, handing the limb to Cian.

  Sean let the axe dangle at his side as he felt the growing tension. Cian looked the limb over, before tossing it back in the pile. “Do it again,” Cian said, motioning to another, larger branch.

  Sean held up the axe, “It’s a bit broken.”

  Cian’s lips twisted in anger. “It takes time to make the blades worthwhile. Use that blade and cut another limb.”

  Rolling his eyes at the man’s tone, Sean bent and hacked another limb free. The limb came free, the blade deforming even more. He tossed the limb to Cian, “Your axe is about to be worthless.”

  Cian caught the limb and dropped it on the pile. “You’re a detriment to our tools. Use the one real blade we have, it should survive you.” Turning his gaze back to the others, he grunted, “Back to work. We need this tree in the stream before the sun drops too far, so we can get our own tree down.”

  Sean dropped the ruined axe back in the pile of tools and grabbed the dark bladed axe, weighing it in his hand. Holding it up, he eyed the double-bitted axe, the edges seeming to almost glow to his sight. Gently testing the edge, Sean winced as the blade cut him. Briefly examining the cut, which was bleeding a silvery-red fluid instead of the dark red he would have expected, Sean sucked at it. The blood tasted sweet to him, almost like cherry cordial. As he pulled his thumb back out of his mouth to look at it again, the cut was gone.

  A bit surprised at healing so fast, Sean moved back to the tree. Careful with the extremely sharp axe, he began to trim the limbs off. Each careful swing sliced through the limb he aimed at, almost surgically removing them compared to the rough cuts the bronze had produced.

  He removed all the branches from the bottom half of the tree while the others toiled along. “You want me to finish this up for you guys?” Sean asked with a smirk.

  Cian stood up, stretching out his back and meeting Sean’s gaze with a look of appraisal. “You’re not tired? Your arms aren’t numb?”

  “Nope, I’m still good,” Sean said as he propped the axe over his shoulder. “I think it will go faster if I finish, than if you guys continue, though.”

  “Cian, how is he still standing?” one of the others asked with wide eyes.

  “Go ahead,” Cian said, motioning the others back. “Let us know when you need to stop.”

  Shaking his head, Sean snorted as he went back to work. Shortly after he started, he was done, and his left hand had a faint tingle to it. Flexing his fingers and shaking his hand, he turned back to see shocked expressions on the faces of the men. “What?”

  “Only my grandfather has been able to wield this axe without tiring quickly,” Cian said with a note of respect. “Even I would have had to rest before I could have finished half what you’ve done.”

  Cian’s words finally completed the link for Sean. He looked like a younger version of Darragh. “I take it this weapon is special?”

  Cian’s lips pursed, but he nodded. “An understatement. Who are you?”

  “Sean MacDougal, a traveler,” Sean said, resting the axe across his shoulder again. “Though it looks like I’ll be staying for a bit.”

  “Cian, we have to get the log to Oaklake,” one of the others said as he glanced up.

  Cian looked at the sun and nodded. “You are right. Who has to ride today?” He looked at the other four with a stoic expression.

  A moment passed before one of them stepped forward, “Me.”

  “Just remember, Byrne—she gets one kiss, and you are not to come off the log,” Cian told the younger man firmly. “She will try to tell you otherwise, but hold fast.”

  “I know, Cian. We all know, it’s just difficult when she’s there,” Byrne said. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  “Let’s get it into the water,” Cian said, leading the others to the log.

  Sean put the axe down and felt the tingling in his hand stop. Glancing back at the blade, he frowned and went to help the others push the log into the stream. Cian told them to push on three, and they did.

  What they hadn’t expected was
for the top section to go further than the rest of the tree. The log started ten feet from the river, and the top of the log splashed into the water while the bottom mostly just turned in place. All eyes went to Sean again, who was frowning as he looked at his own hands.

  “Traveler, what are you?” Cian asked calmly as he fingered the dagger on his waist.

  Sean took a step back, hands held up and palms out, “Human, always have been.”

  Byrne shook his head, “Cian, if we don’t get going, I won’t make it by nightfall.”

  Cian frowned, but nodded. “I know.” Turning back to Sean, Cian’s frown deepened, “Sean MacDougal, will you please push the log into the river?”

  “Okay,” Sean said warily as he moved over to the group and gently nudged the tree. It rolled two feet, making even Sean pause for a moment. With a few more careful pushes, he got it to the edge of the water. Giving it a last tap, it fell in and began to bob on the current. He reached out and snagged one of the larger stumps from a limb that had been cut earlier.

  Byrne stepped next to Sean with a wary look to his eyes, but straddled the log with a pole in his hands. “Thank you.”

  Nodding, Sean let go and stepped back as the others moved up to the bank. “Come back safe, we’ll see you on the morrow,” Cian said.

  “I’ll be back,” Byrne said as he used the pole to nudge himself out into the current.

  Watching him ride the log down the waterway, Sean shook his head. After a minute, the others all turned to look at him. “So, what next?” Sean asked casually.

  “We cut down a tree for the village,” Cian said as he picked up the dark axe. “Think you can do another?”

  Rolling his shoulders, Sean nodded, “Easy. Want me to fell it for you?”

  Cian’s eyes turned dark for a second before his lips pulled up. “You think you can fell a tree so easily?”

  “If you let me borrow that blade again, yeah,” Sean said, holding a hand out.

  The other three all seemed to hold their breaths as Cian brought the axe off his shoulder and bounced it in his hands. “Fine,” Cian finally said, turning the haft to Sean, who took it from him. His eyes went to one of the three who began to breathe again, “Taavi, pick him a good one.”