by Nancy M Bell
Sarie dumped the knapsack she had slung over her shoulder onto the sandy floor with a thump; then turned and undid the ties on the packs lashed to Tristan’s saddle.
“I brought you more supplies and some chocolate cake Mum made special for you last night.”
“Thanks ever so much. I’m so glad the bloody weather has cleared. I really need to talk to you,” Bella said earnestly.
“I have lots to tell you as well. Your da has been raising Cain all over the village. Mum had to get Sam Pritchard over from Mousehole to calm him down and get him to quit lurking around our place looking for you, “Sarie said laughing.
“I’m so sorry you have to deal with him. Maybe I should just go home and have it out with the man,” Bella said.
“Well, you might want to know Daniel has been giving out all over the village how you’re promised to him and that he’ll keep you in line once you come home with your tail between your legs begging forgiveness,” Sarie said grimly.
“Bother and damn!”
“I thought you might feel like that.” Sarie grinned.
“Somehow I’ve got to get on the train and away to London without him or Da finding out,” Bella said desperately.
“We’ll work something out,” Sarie assured her. “We don’t have to worry about that until next week, thank God.”
“I suppose that’s true. I have so much to tell you,” Bella changed the subject.
“How much can there be? You’ve been here in the cave for the last two days, haven’t you? You didn’t risk going out did you, Bella?” Sarie’s forehead wrinkled with concern.
“No, no. I’ve been ever so good. But I did have company.” Bella’s eyes sparkled.
“Who?” Sarie worried her bottom lip between her teeth. There was no telling what Bella might have been up to.
“You remember I told you about that man, Vear, the bloke I met when Raven picked up a stone, and who I have a date with for a picnic on Saturday?” Bella grinned.
“He was here? How did he know to find you here?”
“He knew somehow and showed up here, and there was a friend who followed him as well.” Bella was enjoying drawing the telling of the story out and teasing Sarie.
“Oh, Bella! Half of the Hundreds of Penwith will know where you are! The next thing you know you’ll have your da and Daniel pouncing on you.” Sarie was exasperated with Bella’s foolishness.
“No, Sarie. It’s ever so exciting. Vear is actually a selkie! You know a seal man, those who can change into a man or a seal whenever he chooses.” Bella sat back on her heels and studied Sarie’s face.
“Did you find some rum in this cave, Bella? You’re talking nonsense,” Sarie said acerbically.
“It’s true! His friend Gwin Scawen is a piskie and he stayed the night with me for company,” Bella asserted.
Sarie snorted and led Tristan to the back of the cave to tie him beside Raven.
“Look, right there! That’s where he slept in that little nest in the straw!” Bella pointed at the depression in the straw where Gwin Scawen had curled up.
“Bella, supposing what you say is true. You know that no good can come of a relationship between fairy people and mortals,” Sarie said.
“That’s just what Vear said.” Bella nodded her head.
“Well, at least he has some sense and isn’t bent on seducing you,” Sarie said.
“But I think I’d like to be seduced by him,” Bella said softly. “He’s ever so handsome, and big muscles and all.”
“Don’t go down that road, Bella. It only leads to heartache, you know that. Hasn’t Mum told you the old stories often enough?” Sarie warned.
“Gwin Scawen says it’s worth all the risk and the pain afterward for the joy that you share while it lasts., Bella said.
Sarie gave up trying to talk sense into Bella and set about unpacking the supplies from the knapsack.
Bella decided she would let the subject of Vear and Gwin Scawen drop for the moment and went about helping Sarie put the supplies away. It took longer than either girl thought it would, but soon they were sitting by the fire and waiting for the water to boil for tea. Bella was mad to catch up on all the happenings in the village since her disappearance and plied Sarie with questions.
Sarie filled Bella in on Daniel’s rantings and how Brian had to drag him forcibly from the Arms the night before last because Daniel was wanting to start a fight with anyone who questioned him on why he thought that a smart girl like Arabella Angarrick would ever marry someone like him. Bella giggled when she heard that. Got it in one!
Sarie went on to relate how her dad and grandpa had a huge argument on the high street yesterday afternoon. Standing in the rain like a couple of right loons going on about how the one spoiled the grandchild and how the other had chased another woman from his home by his high-handed actions. Sarie said it was the main topic of conversation all over town with each teller adding their own embellishments and thoughts on the right and wrong of the combatants.
“Poor Da.” Bella sighed. “He just can’t get it through his head that I’m not my mum. Hell, I don’t even really remember her really, just stories from Gramma and Grandpa Raginnis, and those Christmas trips to London. I’ve the sense to know that if she really was the saint they paint her to be she would never have gone to London one weekend and never come back.”
“I suppose it’s very hard on him with you getting all grown up and looking so much like your mum and all,” Sarie said.
“But I am growing up, and I can’t stay a child forever, even if I wanted to,” Bella said in exasperation.
“The grown-up world is way more complicated than it seems once you have to live in it,” Sarie said.
“But way more exciting too, with all sorts of new possibilities.” Bella’s eyes sparkled.
“That’s the look in your eyes that has your da in fits.” Sarie laughed at Bella’s expression.
“Just you wait until you meet Vear. You’ll see. He’s ever so yummy,” Bella told Sarie.
“Supposing that he is real, how do propose that I go about meeting him?” Sarie laughed.
“He said that he’d come and visit today, or the next day. Maybe he’ll bring Gwin Scawen with him, you’ll like him, but he’s not all gorgeous like Vear, though,” Bella told Sarie.
“Well, my surprise is pretty tame compared to your wild tales. I’m planning to spend the night with you and keep you company. Mum has agreed to take care of my riding students for me tomorrow so we have all today and tomorrow to visit,” Sarie said.
“That’s brill! It does get pretty lonely here with only Raven for company,” Bella admitted.
“Oh, yes! So lonely, what with lovely, gorgeous seal men coming to court you every night,” Sarie teased.
“Well he is lovely.” Bella smiled. “But I’m scared too.”
“You’re scared he’ll do something you don’t want him to?” Sarie was concerned.
“No, I’m afraid he won’t.” Bella muttered and hung her head so her hair fell forward across her face.
“Bella! Think of King’s College, how could you go and train there if you got knocked up. Don’t do something stupid,” Sarie warned her. Silently Sarie added to herself, like your mother did.
“I know, I know! It would prove Da right, wouldn’t it? I would be just like my whore of a mother,” Bella wailed.
“Bella, when did you ever hear anyone call your mother a whore?” Sarie was shocked.
“Da calls her that every time he gets drunk. He never remembers what he said the next day. He just makes a point of telling me how lucky he is to have a good upstanding daughter like me,” Bella said.
“From the gossip I’ve heard your da took it pretty hard when your mum left. Folks say the only thing that kept him sane was having you and fighting with your mum’s parents to keep you with him,” Sarie told Bella.
“I’ve only heard a little of the gossip. People tend to shut their traps when they realize I’m listening to their go
ssip,” Bella admitted.
“He’s going to take it hard when he finds you’ve gone to London and left him too,” Sarie warned.
“But it doesn’t have to be that way! I’m not going to London to lark around and spark with men. I’m going to train to be a nurse. Once I graduate I was even thinking of coming back to Penzance and working with Doc Ely,” Bella cried. “The chances of me marrying a doctor are slim to none.”
“Have you talked with your da about that?” Sarie asked gently.
“Not a chance!” Bella shook her head. “The minute I mention London or King’s College he just shouts me down and I can’t get a word in edgewise.”
“I have a plan to get you to London. Tuesday next there’s a train leaving early for London from Penzance, I already bought two tickets, I made a point of talking really loudly about how excited Mum was about going up to London to do some special shopping. The whole station heard about the great exciting trip Mrs. Waters and her daughter have planned. But it will be you and Mum that are leaving in the dark Tuesday morning. I’ll stay at the cave until the day after Mum comes back.” Sarie smiled at Bella.
“But won’t they notice when only your mum comes back and not the both of you?” Bella thought she saw a flaw in Sarie’s plan.
“Mum is going to put it about that an old friend of hers wanted me to see some of her horses and that her fine and handsome son was more than willing to run me back down to Longrock the next day, seeing as how he has some business to take care of in Marazion anyway.” Sarie grinned broadly at Bella.
“Do you really think it’ll work?” Bella asked hopefully.
“I do. Although, worse luck, there really is not a fine handsome son to squire me about in his motor car. I’ll be stuck here with Raven and Tristan and the seagulls for company,” Sarie said ruefully.
“What about Raven?” Bella asked suddenly.
“She’s coming to our place. I’ll say I found her running loose on the headland near where you were last seen. Your poor da will think you’ve made good on your threat to throw yourself into the sea,” Sarie said.
“Once I’m settled in London, in a couple of months I’ll come back and see him and explain everything. He’ll be so happy to see me, and so proud of me for doing so well with my nursing studies that he’ll forgive me for running away,” Bella said confidently.
“I hope you’re right, Bella,” Sarie said.
Chapter Four
The girls passed the rest of the afternoon talking about everything and nothing in particular. Sarie was quite excited about the prospect of breeding Raven and the offspring that would be the result. Bella sighed as Sarie rambled on about the best crosses in the two bloodlines. Sarie could go for hours and hours once she got started talking about bloodlines and what crosses had been successful in the past, and the ones that were not so successful. Eventually the air in the cave sharpened as the sun began to sink into the western sea.
Bella got up and carried some driftwood over to the fire and stoked the small blaze until it was roaring. Sarie set the iron pot into the coals to warm and opened some cans of beans for dinner. Bella filled the kettle and hung it over the fire to boil for tea. Sarie went to the back of the cave to fill Raven and Tristan’s water buckets and give them some more hay. When she turned back to check on the kettle her breath left her lungs in a rush. Silhouetted against the light from the cave’s entrance was the figure of a large man. Taller than anyone Sarie knew from hereabouts.
Sarie blinked her eyes against the glare of the fire and the dying light from outside the cave. Dancing along beside the figure of the man was a small creature no higher than the chap’s knee. The odd little figure seemed to be wearing a cloth cap and a tattered jacket. Bella turned around and saw them before Sarie could find her voice to warn her. To Sarie’s astonishment the little man capered over to Bella and bowed mischievously to her and kissed her hand. The large man approached more slowly, but he did remove his fisherman’s cloth cap from his head as he neared the fire. The long strands of hair shone blue black in the fire light. It appeared sleek and shiny as if it were wet. A long hank of thick hair fell over his forehead in a way that reminded Sarie of Tristan’s forelock.
“Vear! You came! And Gwin Scawen, too. It’s so great to see you both.” Bella gave Vear a dazzling smile.
“Who is your companion?” Vear asked as he turned his large dark eyes on Sarie.
“This is Sarie, my best friend ever!” Bella grabbed Sarie’s hand and pulled her closer to the fire and their visitors.
“Sarie, this is Vear, and this scamp is Gwin Scawen,” Bella introduced them.
“It’s pleased I am to meet you, Miss Sarie,” Vear said formally and offered Sarie his large hand.
“I am at your service, Mistress Sarie, friend of Mistress Bella.” Gwin Scawen bowed so low his long nose almost scraped the sand.
“Nice to meet you,” Sarie said as she put her hand in Vear’s large paw.
“You, Mr. Scawen, are not to go riding off on my horses. That is the service you can do for me,” Sarie told Gwin Scawen.
Vear let out a long rumbling laugh at the look on Gwin Scawen’s face when Sarie called him Mr. Scawen.
“Mistress Sarie, you have me mixed up with those Scottish Brownies from up north who take horses out at night and return them covered in mud and burrs and with their manes and tails full of brownie knots,” Gwin Scawen said earnestly. “I am a Cornish piskie and I would never do such a thing, ever.”
“I have your word on that, I suppose,” Sarie said skeptically.
“If that is what you require, of course you may have it,” Gwin Scawen promised her. “I am not the kind of piskie man to play tricks or jokes on my friends, or my friend’s friends.”
“You then must be a selkie man,” Sarie addressed Vear.
“I am that,” Vear affirmed with a sideways glance at Bella.
“I tell Sarie everything, she knows about you being a selkie.” Bella smiled at Vear, her blue eyes shimmering in the firelight.
“It is good to have such a friend.” Vear smiled at Sarie. “I hope you will be my friend too then.”
“We’ll see if you earn my friendship or not,” Sarie told Vear, but there was less of edge to her voice then there had been a few minutes earlier.
“You are wise to not trust too easily, Bella’s friend,” Gwin Scawen said from right next to Sarie’s side.
“Is that a warning or an observation?” Sarie looked down at his small upturned brown face.
“Oh, only an observation to be sure,” Gwin Scawen assured her. “Yon big one there is an okay bloke. I have known him for many years.”
“Have you now?” Sarie asked.
“To be sure!” Gwin Scawen nodded happily.
“Come, the tea is ready.” Bella took the kettle and poured boiling water over the tea bags in the old pottery teapot Sarie had brought with her.
They settled around the fire as the light leached from the day outside the cave. Sarie watched as Bella flirted quite shamelessly with Vear Du and silently shook her head with regret. Vear Du caught her gaze across the fire and lifted one shoulder in an apologetic shrug. Bella was oblivious to the exchange as she fed small sticks of wood into the fire and chattered on happily about how wonderful life in London was going to be.
“Have you thought anymore about how to get to the station without being seen?” Sarie asked when Bella paused to take a breath.
“I suppose we’ll have to hope that it gets really foggy one morning soon. If we can figure it out in advance then I can meet you and your mum. We can change clothes and then me and Mrs. Waters can get on the train with no one being the wiser,” Bella said cheerfully.
“What if the weather doesn’t cooperate?” Sarie persisted.
Bella looked perplexed for a moment and then she smiled. “This is Cornwall and it’s spring! Of course it will be obliging and storm for us.”
“You better hope so,” Sarie said.
Vear Du cleared his
throat and glanced at Gwin Scawen before he spoke. Gwin Scawen nodded his head, his dark eyes snapping happily in his face.
“I think that Gwin and I can take care of the matter of the foggy weather for you,” Vear Du spoke slowly.
Bella’s mouth fell open in surprise and then she threw herself on top of Vear engulfing him in a huge hug.
“Really and truly! You can make sure that it’s foggy the morning we need it to be?” Bella said breathlessly.
“You’re saying you can call the weather and it will obey you?” Sarie said skeptically.
“Oh, yes, Mistress Sarie! It is very true and very possible,” Gwin Scawen assured Sarie.
“It is true,” Vear Du said as he disentangled himself from Bella’s arms. “Just let us know what morning you need it to be very foggy with maybe a little rain to keep most people inside early.”
“But not so much that the ponies will leave a huge muddy trail behind them,” Sarie cautioned.
“Or maybe so much rain that the trail will be washed from sight,” Gwin Scawen offered with a grin.
“Only if it doesn’t drown me,” Sarie said with a snort.
“I can make is so the rain does not touch you, Mistress Sarie, if that is what you desire.” Vear Du smiled at Sarie, the fire putting flames into his black eyes.
“Make it just enough so that people don’t wonder why I’m not as soaked as they are.” Sarie smiled back.
“Oh most wise, Mistress Sarie.” Gwin Scawen bowed toward her. “I didn’t think of that at all.”
* * *
Sure enough Tuesday morning came almost unnoticed in the heavy fog. Long before the sun crawled unseen over the horizon, Sarie and Bella slipped out of the cave and headed for Penzance. In the wet blustery darkness Bella slid down from Raven and gave her one last hug. Sarie jumped down from Tristan and helped Bella untie the pack lashed to the back of Raven’s saddle. They huddled in the scant comfort of the thick hedge that crowed the lane. Bella peered anxiously into the darkness.
“Do you think that someone stopped your mum from coming?” Bella said nervously.