by Martin Owton
“Let’s go inside,” she said, after a while. “We’re getting wet out here.”
Lamps had been lit in the keep and a maid bustled about lighting more. Lady Alice met them at the entrance, Mara in her arms.
“Thank Iduna you’re safe,” she said. “Where’s Celaine?”
“Still at Esmont’s,” said Maldwyn.
“I shall go and fetch her at first light.” She held up a lamp and looked critically at Aron and Edith. “And you two both need a bath before anything else.”
Aron looked at Edith; her eyes seemed very bright and one side of her was soaked in blood, her hair matted with it. Tancred’s blood. I suppose I must look much the same. He had kept no count of how many he had killed that night, but he must be wearing some of their blood.
Aron did not get his bath; at first light the hunt resumed for the survivors of Tancred’s men. Aron and Maldwyn joined Thomi and his men, now equipped with crossbows from the armoury, in a search through every corner of the castle. By ones and twos they were found and flushed out. Two attempted to fight; Thomi shot one with a crossbow and Aron killed the other. The rest that surrendered were imprisoned in the guardroom to await Maldwyn’s decision on their fate. The two bodies were added to the cart loaded with the rest of Tancred’s men for transportation to the burial ground. The bodies of the Nandor guardsmen who had sided with Tancred were returned to their families; a gesture of reconciliation suggested by Lady Alice. Tancred’s body was enthusiastically dismembered and his head stuck on a pike over the gate along with Broll’s.
By the time the last of the rebels had been hunted down Lady Alice had returned from Esmont’s with Celaine. She sat alongside her mother huddled in a blanket in the pony cart. Aron watched her closely for any sign that she knew where she was, but there was none. She seemed to look straight through him and Maldwyn.
They took Celaine to her old room in the keep that she had shared with Edith and surrounded her with her dolls and playthings from her childhood. She sat on a stool holding a doll and vacantly stroking its hair giving no sign that she knew anyone else was there. Lady Alice had to leave the room then rather than weep in front of her. Edith stayed, talking to her in a low voice, but afterwards told Aron that Celaine did not respond. Aron came away heartsick that there seemed nothing he could do.
“It is as I feared,” said Maldwyn. “It was always a faint hope that bringing her home would draw her back to us.”
“I wish there was something I could do,” said Aron.
“Pray for her,” said Glynis sharply. “You’re beloved of Iduna. That must be good for something, pray to her for the poor child. Maybe you can bring her to her.”
Her words struck a note in Aron’s mind, though perhaps not the one she was expecting. Could he bring her to Iduna? He remembered the first timed he’d dreamed of Celaine’s distress; he had felt Iduna’s presence with Celaine directing him to help her. She knows. How could she then fail to help? Would she let him go afterwards? Would Celaine even come with him?
“We should all pray for her,” said Lady Alice. “Send for the priestess please, Glynis. We’ll need fresh flowers for the shrine. Maldwyn, you’ll need to draft a letter to the Earl of Marenin.”
The two women left discussing arrangements for the visit of the priestess.
“What am I to say to my Lord of Marenin?” asked Maldwyn.
“You should offer him Edith as his bride,” Aron said quietly after a moment.
“What? I thought you and she were settled as a couple.”
“The alliance with Marenin is more important to Nandor than what I want.” The words burned Aron to the core, but that did not make them less true.
“I think not,” said Maldwyn. “The happiness of two of the people I love most is more important to me.”
“Thank you, my Lord.” Aron felt a warm glow flow through him at Maldwyn’s words.
“Besides,” said Maldwyn with a grin. “Edith has become far too handy with a knife for me to suggest otherwise to her.”
“In which case, I think you should tell my Lord of Marenin the exact truth,” said Aron. “Tell him Lady Celaine is too damaged by her ordeal to be a wife for anyone.”
“She isn’t ever going to be, is she?”
“I have one last throw of the dice. I could take her to Iduna.”
“You can do that?”
“I believe so. Whether she will let me return is not so certain.”
“You have….encountered her before?”
“Yes. A few times,” said Aron. “You remember last year when I got sick after our boat was wrecked?”
“Yes. You were asleep for days. We thought we’d lost you.”
“I was with Iduna. The ruins we camped in used to be her main temple and retain a connection to her. That’s how I came to enter her realm. That was the first time.”
“I didn’t believe in the reality of the gods,” said Maldwyn after a moment.
“Nor did I,” said Aron. “She changed my mind.”
“If she can help Celaine then I’ll gladly pray to her, and bring all of Nandor with me.”
“I suspect you may find much of Nandor already follows her.”
“Will she help?”
“I think so, said Aron. “But...”
“There’s always a but.”
“There’s always a price if you ask the assistance of a god.”
“I don’t think we have a choice. I cannot bear the thought of Celaine remaining as she is.”
“Nor can I.”
“So the price will have to be paid.”
“One way or another.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Aron was woken in time for the prayer ritual as he had asked. It seemed to him that no time at all had passed since he closed his eyes before he was roused. While he slept a shrine had been constructed in the garden decked with fresh flowers and greenery. A gentle rain fell as the priestess Helda, a sturdy grandmother with a cap of white hair, lead them in prayers and songs; some of which sounded similar to tavern drinking songs that Aron had heard.
Lady Alice and Edith sang in harmony in clear voices that brought tears to Aron’s eyes. Maldwyn stood with them looking confused and keeping quiet. Celaine sat on a stool beside them still holding her doll, a vacant look on her face. Her gaze sometimes fell on Aron, but heartbreakingly there seemed no recognition when it did. She, at least, was less gaunt than when they’d first found her.
Should I feel more? He looked around at all the people, maids, cooks, grooms and a few guardsmen who stood or sang. If Iduna is here, shouldn’t I know? He knew she listened to prayers, but there was no sweet voice whispering in his ear. Lady, give me a sign. Celaine’s gaze fell on him and she smiled, her blue eyes sparkled for a moment then she looked away and the connection was gone. It gave him a little hope that the real Celaine was still alive and, maybe, even reachable.
They stayed at the shrine, singing and praying, until the rain grew heavy enough for Helda to bring the ceremony to an end. They retreated back into the castle to get warm by the fire in the hall.
“Did it work?” asked Maldwyn quietly as they walked across the courtyard.
“I couldn’t tell,” said Aron.
“I thought you’d know,” said Maldwyn. “I suppose if she wakes up tomorrow her old self when we’ll know, but how long do we wait?”
“Not long. But we need to talk it through with your mother and Edith.”
***
“If there’s a price then we have to pay it,” said Edith. “We’ve gone through so much already we can’t hold back now.”
Celaine had been put to bed as if she were a young child, and now the four of them were sitting in the solar around the fire, outside the rain still fell.
“Do you really think she will help?” asked Lady Alice.
“Who can know with the gods,” said Aron. “But it seems our best hope.”
“I agree,” said Maldwyn. “I don’t know what else we can do.”
“Helda said that if any good was done today we’ll see it in the morning,” said Lady Alice. “If there is no change in her tomorrow, then I think we must try. But will she go with you?”
“I think she will if I come. She’s used to me mist-walking to be with her,” said Edith. “But it’ll be easier if we can make the draught taste better.”
“You think she’ll drink it?” asked Aron.
“If I ask her to,” said Edith.
“Good,” said Aron. “The last thing I would want to have to do would be to force it on her.”
“Have you enough mushrooms?” asked Lady Alice.
“We bought plenty in Keshan,” said Aron.
***
Celaine was unchanged in the morning, though she did smile briefly at Aron at breakfast before retreating back into her own world.
“Tonight then,” said Maldwyn.
Aron, Edith and Lady Alice all agreed.
Aron and Maldwyn spent the day on the dull but necessary task of producing an inventory of arms and supplies in the castle. Earl Baldwin had not been a man to spend money unless forced and Tancred and his men had run through much of what a garrison should hold.
“There’s a lot of catching up to do here,” said Aron, surveying the armoury, aware that it was now his duty to oversee it.
“Some of it must wait if we have a wedding to stage,” said Maldwyn. “Edith will not demand as large an occasion as Celaine would, but it will still not be small.”
Aron worked through the day with only half his mind on the task before them; what awaited him in the spirit world? Would Iduna welcome him as previously? Would she let him return? If Maldwyn was similarly distracted he didn’t show it.
After dinner they gathered in the solar; Celaine still lost in her dream world, clutching her doll. Aron brewed the mushroom draught, sweetened it with two spoons of honey and poured three mugs then set them aside to cool.
“It’s likely to be a long night,” said Lady Alice. “I will sit up and watch over you.”
“I’ll stay too,” said Maldwyn.
“There’s no need,” said Lady Alice.
“I wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway,” said Maldwyn.
Once the mugs were cooled Aron took his own and passed the other two to Edith. Edith placed took a sip of one and placed the other in Celaine’s hands. She spoke quietly to Celaine and, to Aron’s relief, Celaine began to drink. He took a mouthful from his own mug; the added honey made it far more palatable though not actually pleasant. He watched Celaine and tried to match his consumption to hers so that they would be ready to enter the mist at the same time.
Celaine laid aside her empty mug, Edith drained hers and took Celaine’s hand and reached out to Aron. He finished his draught, took Edith’s hand and thus joined they awaited the mist.
He saw it first on Celaine’s face, her eyes opened wide and she gasped, before he felt the lift himself. Mist rose from the floor and hid the faces of Maldwyn and Lady Alice. He stood up and Edith gently drew Celaine to her feet.
“We going to see someone to make you better,” said Edith to Celaine, and together they stepped forward into the mist.
Aron focused his mind on his memory of Iduna and her words ‘keep me always in your heart, and you will always find me’. The mist swirled around them until all he could see was white. A point of golden light began to glow ahead of them. He led them towards it as it grew stronger, until it surrounded them. Aron smelled roses and hawthorn blossom. The wooden floor beneath their feet became springy turf and then the mist dissolved into the light of midsummer. Birdsong filled the air and a well-tended garden stretched away before them.
“Where are we?” whispered Edith. “It’s beautiful.”
“This is Iduna’s land,” said Aron, feeling the tension drain out of him.
Celaine smiled at Aron and Edith. There seemed more life in her eyes than they had seen for weeks.
“Lovely flowers,” she said. “Lovely place.”
They strolled down a gentle slope towards a grove of fruit trees and the sound of running water where something white glinted in the sun partially concealed by the leaves. Aron realised what it was before they reached it, but he was too late to divert the girls.
“That’s Lord Tirellan,” said Edith. “Why is there a statue of him here?”
Celaine stared at the statue as if transfixed. She reached out and touched its face with one finger, a tear rolled slowly down her cheek.
“That’s not a statue,” said Aron quietly. “That is Lord Tirellan.”
“How?” said Edith, wide-eyed. “What happened?”
“He betrayed Iduna and she caught up with him,” said Aron.
“Poor Petter,” said Celaine.
“Where is she?” asked Edith.
“I’m right here,” said a soft female voice.
Aron turned; Iduna stood before them, her golden hair flowing gently in the breeze. She smiled, and it felt as if the summer sun shone on Aron’s face.
“I’ve been expecting you,” she said. She reached out a hand to Celaine. “My poor dear child.”
Celaine took her hand and Iduna put an arm around her.
“Come,” said Iduna.
She led them through the trees to a pavilion which Aron had not previously noticed. Beside it a stream chuckled through a small waterfall and bees buzzed in the balmy air.
“Wait here for me,” said Iduna. “I need to take some time with Celaine.”
Inside the pavilion was a pair of couches and a table laden with ripe fruits and chilled wine.
“This is…” said Edith.
“Heavenly?” said Aron. “Well she is a goddess, and this is her place.”
They sat close together on a couch.
Edith reached for a fruit. “What is this?”
“That’s a peach,” said Aron, taking one for himself. “They grow in the south. They’re only for the rich in the Holy City.”
Edith bit into the fruit and juice ran down her chin.
“Worth it, whatever they cost,” she said.
For a moment they savoured the fruit and the tranquillity.
“I could stay here,” sighed Edith, and for the first time Aron noticed the golden apples amongst the selection of fruit. Edith turned to look directly at him. “Did she ask you to stay?”
“She did offer. I chose not to.”
“But it’s so peaceful.”
“But I’m not ready.”
“Do you think Iduna might offer Celaine to stay here?
“I think it’s possible.”
Edith didn’t answer immediately. “Celaine would be happy here. She’d like the gardens. And we’d know where she is.”
“There are worse places.”
“I still want her back though,” said Edith licking juice off her fingers.
Edith took another peach and bit into it before she spoke again.
“Tell me about what happened to Lord Tirellan, and how come you were in his house with your face painted and your hair curled,” she said. “You looked very pretty by the way.”
“It’s a long story.”
“I think we’ve got time.”
So Aron told the tale, starting in the House of the Exiles and leaving nothing out.
“That’s an amazing story,” said Edith. “I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t been part of it. So Lord Tirellan was just playing with us all along?”
“I think so. I very much doubt his interest in Celaine was real.”
“I’m sorry to say you were just the latest in a long line of people he betrayed,” said Iduna.
They both turned to see her standing behind them.
“He was beautiful and charming and could be very entertaining when he wished, but you could not trust him,” she said, an edge of sadness in her voice.
“How is my sister?” asked Edith.
“She has suffered grievously,” said Iduna the edge of sadness still present. “So much so that her mind has retreated f
rom the memories. I cannot take away those memories but I can make them….more distant. But if I am to draw her back to her former life there has to be a connection, a thread that I can use to connect then to now. That thread is you.” She looked at Aron. “Her faith that you would find her and her love for you. I have watched with joy what has grown between you two these last months, but now if you want her back you must open your hearts and find space there for her. This will be hardest on you, Edith, for you must share Aron with your sister. If you cannot do this, it would be better she stays here.”
Aron watched Edith’s face closely for any sign of dismay or hesitation; there was none.
“I want my sister back.”
“Then I will send her back,” said Iduna. She took Aron’s hand. “You have changed, and I am glad of it. I no longer fear you will follow Petter.”
“Could that really have happened?” asked Edith.
“If he had rejected the truedream and not gone to Nandor,” said Iduna.
“You seemed to be in that dream as well as Celaine,” said Aron.
“I was. I can work through dreams; otherwise it is hard for me to intervene directly in your world. It always causes complications.” She smiled. “But I would not have permitted that demon to take you.”
“It would have been good to know that,” said Aron, shivering at the memory.
“Did you not? How could you think I would forget you at such a time?” She looked away for a moment and Aron felt as if the sun had gone behind a dark cloud.
“It is of no matter.” She smiled again and the sun returned. “I must return you to your world. After all you have a wedding to organise.”
“I was thinking about that, and what I’m to tell Maldwyn and Lady Alice,” said Aron. “And Helda, the priestess.”
“You need tell Helda nothing,” said Iduna. “She will understand it all and know what to do. It is not so unusual.”
“What do you mean?” asked Edith.
“A wedding of three,” said Iduna. “I do not insist my followers choose one only. I well know that the course of love may run in more than one channel.”
“Oh,” said Edith. “I didn’t know that. Father would not have been happy to find I was learning about any other god than Martis.”