《The Seagod's Curse》


 1 Leaving home for good

    1 Leaving home for good


    Ian looked back for the last time. The life he had known ended today. But although he had spent all twelve and half years of his short life at his father''s farm in the middle of nowhere, he was utterly relieved to part ways with his family. None of his brothers ever saw him any different from an intruder. A changeling, even. His ability to understand animals better than any of them did not do him any good in this regard either. Animals simply trusted him beyond human-understanding. He sighed. Instead of letting him hone such a useful skill his family grew wary of it and all but his father who had loved him like any other of his sons started to avoid him.


    Now that his father was dead and with his mother''s disappearance long ago virtually nothing kept him in this place. Quite the opposite, he knew due to a conversation he had overheard that staying here would lead to quite unsavoury consequences. His eldest brother had talked about informing the Inquisition if ''Ian did not saw sense on his own and left.''. Ian gritted his teeth such an act would surely lead to him being arrested and maybe even put on a pyre. So much for family-love and even charity. His father''s funeral had been the day before. The place of his funeral-pyre still smouldered slightly. Ian knew he should have stayed a little longer to put his father''s soul to peace, but he wouldn''t risk his own life for the sake of a dead man.


    So, he set off in the first light of the new day.


    Ian had long since known where to head to the moment his father died. He was following the broad river, downstream, towards the sea and the big harbour. Sparrowsbourgh... He had visited the city several times, when he had either accompanied his father to sell their farm''s excess or did it by himself later on.


    The boy had always liked this kind of work travelling, negotiating, selling and buying. Ian knew, though nobody ever admitted it, that his brothers and father had seen him as their best man doing it. Since his first solo-trip three years ago at the frail age of ten, their income had actually doubled, even though they had had less to sell.


    This fact led him into believing he could become an asset if someone would take him as a traders-trainee. Well, that could become a problem. Without proper recommendation or at least a father to pay for his first year of apprenticeship, as it was usual, it would be hard enough to have someone taking the risk of taking him in.


    Him being only able to do maths but unable to write or read more than the most basic stuff didn''t help either. Maybe he would really work as a deckhand on some trading-ship and hope for a chance to shine. In this scenario he would at least have a place to stay, a salary and the opportunity to see more of the world. Maybe he should just set for this course of action... not that there was a high demand for scrawny thirteen-year-old deckhand either.


    The sun was already high up in the sky when Ian reached the city''s outskirts. The poorer quarters outside the city-walls reeked of dead fish and poverty. They were infamous for thieves, whores and deceases. Filth and decay where-ever Ian looked. A shudder ran down his spine as he imagined being forced to live here if his plan didn''t work. He knew if he ended here the best thing, he could hope for was some brothel allowing him to work for his accommodation. Even though he shuddered at the thought of selling his body. Being involved in street-fights, robbery or drugs shortened one¡¯s life rather reliably. Not knowing how to fight would only lead to an early grave or imprisonment extinguishing any hope of an apprenticeship.


    He needed money. But even though he would first try his luck at getting what he really wanted, maybe he was lucky. At least once in his life. He was fed up with always drawing the short straw. Trying to cheer himself up he headed towards the harbour district.


    As usual this district was filled to the brim with people working, loading and unloading ships, selling goods, shouting, scolding, running around. The noise was ear-splitting. Several huge trade-vessels had been moored alongside the pier.


    Looking at them Ian was suddenly unsure how to proceed. They were intimidating. After he had stood there for a few moments he finally found the guts to approach the most beautiful of them. It was a slender, yet voluminous cog sporting a beautiful carved maiden as figurehead. A scripture on the planking said it was called Feodora.


    A middle-aged bulky man seemed to survey the ongoing process of unloading. He had a somehow savage aura around him and didn''t seem approachable at all. But Ian had nothing to lose and all to win. The boy approached the grim looking man with what he hoped a neutral and friendly expression. ''Sir? Excuse me please, my name is Ian and I would like to know whether you are offering jobs at the moment. I am relatively skilled as a carpenter and quick in picking things up. Due to working on my father''s farm I am used to hard work and also quick in maths as I was in charge of selling our excess.'' he stated trying to look more confident than he was.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    The grim man who had attentively listened to his very words nodded and said ''If you are not shy of hard work, we have indeed a working place for you. You will have to climb the ladder. Starting as a lowly ship''s boy. If you proof your worth, we will put you in charge of something. You will have to work hard, but we offer you two hours of education each day. All our ship-hands are getting that if they want to. Being literate is a good asset for everyone in our captain''s opinion. I know it is unusual, but it works alright for us. I am Ron FitzRoy, the Feodora''s first mate. Are you okay with the terms offered?'' the first mate asked. Promoting literacy was indeed quite unusual in times were only the higher classes were able to read. Even the churches made sure to rather paint their windows than to teach.¡¯ People tend not to obey without question when they are taught to ask.¡¯his mother had always argued, when their father had forbidden her to teach them more than the absolute basics.


    ''Yes, sir. I do agree to the terms stated.'' Ian answered


    ''Good. Report to the captain. His name is Sean McLir. He always wants to check new employees before taking them in. Tell him I send you.'' the seaman told him.  Ian nodded and made his way to the captain''s cabin carefully avoiding to be in someone''s way, not an easy task regarding the fact they were still unloading the Feodora.


    Finally reaching the door he knocked firmly, trying to avoid being either too reluctant or too loud.


    A sharp ''Come in.'' resounded and Ian opened the door.


    The cabin was larger than I had appeared from the outside. It consisted of an official area like some kind of study or library including an oakwood desk and a chart table as well as half-hidden behind a curtain a more private area.


    The captain was sitting behind the desk seemingly studying some kind of log either nautical or economical in its nature. His gaze never left the scripture even as Ian entered.


    ''Sorry to interrupt your studies, Sir. My name is Ian and your first mate Ron FitzRoy told me to report to you, Sir. I am here to ask for work. As a ship''s boy¡­Sir.'' Ian said.


    ''I see. What are your qualifications? Ron seldom sends anyone in... especially telling them to use his name. Got to have taken a liking to you boy. Well, Ian, tell me what you told my grim first mate to do so.'' The captain said looking up with a crooked smile looking at Ian over the edge of his glasses.


    ''I didn''t know... He was quite approachable when I talked to him.'' Ian answered unsure how to react to the captain''s claim. ¡®I told him I was a passable carpenter and able to pick up things fast. Then I told him that I''ve been in charge of selling our farm¡¯s excess and doing the maths for it. I have been doing hard farm-work since little..., Sir.'' Ian recalled his first conversation with the first mate.


    ''I see.'' the captain said again with a smile and furthered ''How refreshing to talk to an honest soul. A trait far too rare these days. Your hands tell me you are more than capable as a carpenter. And I think I even saw you sell your goods last year. You were selling apples and sheepskins, weren''t you? Selling good quality far above the market-price, but not skimming the people either. Commendable, I thought at that time. But tell me, son, why does a farmer let a son like you escape from his turf. You''re quite an asset as far as I can see...''


    ''My father died a few days ago and my brothers, there are six of them only see me as another mouth to feed, regardless of anything I might offer.'' Ian explained reluctantly trying avoid his brothers'' real reason to send him away, in case the captain was as superstitious as his brothers.


    ''But that''s clearly not all. Are you by chance the seventh son of a seventh son?'' the captain asked coming right to the point Ian had tried to leave out.


    ''I am. But even though I am no evil. Nor a changeling.'' he replied and lowered his head as if he expected be hit.


    ''Don''t fear I will not hit you. I can perfectly see you are not evil, nor a changeling by any chance. If you agree to my pact you will see, that we do not blindly follow the Church¡¯s laws as seemingly anyone does these days.'' the captain replied with a hint of compassion in his sea-blue eyes. Which was a very dangerous thing to say these days¡­ no one knew who might listen in. But that only meant that Ian would probably not be ratted out due to his strangeness, something his own brothers would have done without a second thought.


    He straightened his back, maybe it was too good to be true, but what else could he do?


    ''Yes, I agree to your offer. Is it true that I will be taught how to read and write?'' the boy asked with hope in his eyes.


    ''Certainly, and so is the possibility to rise up in ranks if you deserve to.'' Sean McLir laughed.


    ''Okay, Ian of unknown ancestry, do you pledge to serve on the Feodora under the following premises? Two hours of school each day, doing any task you are told, within reasonable boundaries, be faithful and loyal to your captain and first mate, given a salary of one silver a month and a bunk as well as clothes and food for free?'' he asked holding out his hand.


    Ian suddenly felt that this contract was far more binding than anything he had ever heard of, as if he would be bound to it on a spiritual level. Maybe not a deal with the devil, but a Sidhe-pact he had heard about in fairy-tales since little. The captain had even called it a pact. He agreed nonetheless since he was okay with everything stated.


    ''I agree. Although I don''t think this is a normal contract.'' he said and smiled at the flabbergasted gaze of the captain.


    ''You are literally the first to see that immediately. Such a clever boy. If you proof your worth, I will show you things you never even dreamed about.'' Sean McLir smiled, revealing a mouth full of white teeth that might have been a little too sharp to be entirely human. Ian noticed, but shrugged and smiled. This was a chance and he had already struck the deal. His fate was sealed.

 2 Ships and Stories

    2 Ships and Stories


    As soon as the Feodora was unloaded the crew started loading new goods in the freight-space. All boxes and barrels were carefully distributed to create an even load. Long ropes held everything in place so it wouldn''t move. Any undesired movement would lead the ship to imbalance which could cause the ship to capsize, as one of the seasoned seafarers declared. His name was Tom and the first mate had told him to take Ian under his wing.


    Because as he said ''Any dumbass can unload a ship, but only good and seasoned seamen are able to load it properly and even them need an able first mate and a smart captain to double-check it. Be sure to remember that one, lad, it will save your life one day.'' Any mistake could lead to doom. ''All those smugglers that have drowned because their greed got the better of them... some even hollowed their keel, idiotic bastards. All of them are now lying in their ever-wet beds beneath the waves. Or at our lords table in heavens if ya believe in that, lad.'' the old man said loud and in a significantly lower voice ''Or maybe in Tir-na-nog at Manannan''s court. If they are lucky enough.''


    His voice carrying an awe that made clear he neither worshipped the northern gods, still popular among common folks especially seamen, though better not spoken about, nor the beliefs the church preached, but the old gods... like his father had... a dangerous belief nowadays.


    Ian liked the old man. He reminded him of his late father, who had been a relatively old man himself, having outlived three wives. That is if one counted his mother''s disappearance as death. His father had always doubted that, had even told him she got spirited away. Taken by her folk or more sinister people. His brothers had thought him to be a little peculiar in his old age. Especially after taking his mother for a wife, when she had been younger than his eldest.


    Ian sighed and focussed on the knots Tom had shown him. He knew the old man would probably redo them later, but it still gave him the feeling of being of use.


    After several hours the ship was loaded. As the sun was already setting the Feodora would spend another night in Sparrowsbourgh leaving tomorrow at midday. The captain wanted to reward the crew with an extended shore leave as they had worked hard and would spend a few weeks without reaching any harbour, as Tom had told him. Ian felt a little anxious about that. He never had really left home much less spent time on a ship. The perspective of several weeks out in the open felt more than foreign.


    He had been asked whether he wanted to stay aboard or join the older seamen who had invited him quite open-heartedly, but he had declined the offer. Wanting to familiarize with the ship beforehand. Ol'' Tom stayed, too. ''Too much effort to grown land-legs for me old bones.'' he had told the younger seamen who had patted his shoulders and gladly accepted his offer of taking the night-watch.


    Before the last light had vanished Tom gave Ian a tour around the ship.


    ''Is it really a cog?'' he asked the old man. Tom chuckled in response and declared cryptically ''Some might say so. But most times the Feodora is simply the ship the captain needs. One could say it depends on who is looking at it. It is as much of a cog as of any other human ship-forms.''


    ''How am I supposed to learn the right terms if the ship changes?'' Ian asked intrigued since he had no doubt about the Feodora being special, simply looking at her captain.


    ''Just stick to Starboard and Port board for left and right, respectively. And Bow and Stern for front and back. The big mast in the middle is the main mast, it carries the crow''s nest and the main sail. The one to the bow is called foremast and the one to the stern mizzenmast. The rest will come to you eventually.'' the old man smiled as he sat down on the main deck watching the harbour and the boy at his side. This was the first of many evenings the old man told Ian about his gods. How Lugh slew his grandfather the Fomorian Balor, about the Morrigan, the chooser of the slewn and about Manannan a trickster and lord of the sea. Many a time the crew would gather and listen to him. Sometimes even the captain or the first mate would join them standing quietly in the shadows.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    And like that the first part of his journey passed. His many duties, such as running errands on the ship, climbing into the crow''s nest to bring food to the look-out, scrubbing the deck and helping in the kitchen, made Ian settle into his new life rather quickly. The others told him to be quite talented as he has had no problem to adapted to the ship''s movements at all, quite the opposite, he felt as if he finally was where he belonged.


    Of course he still had a lot to learn. Tom as his mentor spend a lot of time teaching him the ins and outs of a seaman''s life, whilst either the captain or the first mate took care of the younger one¡¯s education. Educated commoners, a rather unheard idea. But it assured the loyalty rather than planting the seed of rebellion. Something that lead many of the so-called higher classes shy away from ¡®wasting education on the dirty plebs¡­¡¯, as one of the older seamen quipped. Some of those evenings when they talked politics and had drunk their fill, or maybe a little more, could become quite heated. The cruel and hypocritical church, blood sucking nobles and so on. Nearly any authority could be questioned by the riotous lot, but never the old gods or the captain. Sometimes Ian asked himself if he was really the only one running from those authorities or if that was maybe a hiring criterion.


    When he asked about those rather dangerous conversations Tom, one of the first to ever sail with the captain, always said ''The Capt''n is giving us the choice to trust ''im or not. He offers education to form an opinion for oneself. Rather than having us discover his oddities ourselves and fret about them. One might even think of educating us as a rather selfish endeavour for it grants his own security.'' Ian had yet to experience the so-called oddities, besides the contract he had signed when he first arrived. Yet.


    One evening as he told another of Manannan Mac Lir''s adventures the first mate Ron FitzRoy joined them. He always liked to listen to the old man''s tales but today he frowned and said ''Of all days, Tom, do you think today is the right day to talk about Manannan? The captain will join us soon, you better stop invoke spirits you can''t bottle up later on.''


    ''You are right I was careless in my choice, today, please extend my apologize to the captain.'' Tom said hurriedly and frowned.


    ''No need. You know he has heard every word.'' the first mate grinned signalling that no offence was taken. Ian frowned why not talking about Manannan today, why not in front of the captain?


    ''So, young Tom, are you again talking about times that are so far in the past, you never knew them?¡¯ a solemn voice out of the shadows asked, making the old man shiver. ¡®You should know better than to glorify people and calling their names while traveling on the Ley lines. You know better than to call a god, especially that one whilst travelling the lines. Do you want him to sink the ship ''cause he can? He would do so, I assure. Especially this one. Better think before invoking the Tuatha de Danann, they like to play with mortals.'' Sean McLir continued in a solemn manner. He had called the old man young, as if the barely in his third decade looking captain was many times his senior, that was more than a little eerie to Ian. When he looked up the captain¡¯s usually brown eyes gleamed amber in the light of the torch as he stepped into the light.


    ''Aye Capt''n should''ve thought about it. Never invoke the Sidhe while travelling the Ley-Lines, ''cause they might come over to visit. Should''ve known better, I apologize.'' Tom bowed his head as if more like apologizing to a noble or maybe something more, Ian thought. A little odd. Just like the smile that had spread on the captain¡¯s face. The following silence was complete, no-one dared to move only the flames dancing on the torch could be heard, as if even the surrounding sea was listening. Until after a few moments of listening into the darkness the captain said ¡®It is okay. No harm was done this time. At least you slandered no-one. They were listening but more out of curiosity, than out of malice¡¯ The first mate nodded and as if that had been the sign the sounds of the surrounding sea returned. A relieved sigh could be heard and the crew dispersed. Only Tom, Ian and the Captain were still standing there, looking over the dark sea.


    Ian thought the whole event odd. Yes, the belief in the Tuatha was strong abord but that seemed to be extreme. But he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the eerie silence had been more than just coincidence. And travelling on Ley line? What did that mean? He didn¡¯t know and his feeling told him that now was not the time for questions. Not while the darkness surrounding the ship felt like it was watching and waiting. On what? He didn¡¯t know and a sinking feeling told him he didn¡¯t want to know either.

 3 The Storm

    ''Damn. We should have already left the in-between.'' Ron mumbled barely audible. It had finally happened. The curse had finally reached out to them. Now they would be inflicted by it, too.  He sighed, both him and his cousin, the captain had been spared due to the fact they had not been home in the last 13years. Barely using the surface lines. And now that blabbermouth named Tom had established a connection between them and the Grey Plane. Any story could be regarded as a prayer and every prayer could be regarded as a wish for connection, especially whilst travelling the Ley-Lines. They empowered any prayer, confession and what else like a booster.


    He sighed now they had to get rid of their human sailors and follow the summoning as quick as possible. They could still be happy that Tom had invoked Manannan and not the Morrigan, who would not have cared whether the fragile humans suffered due to the magic of the Sidhe. She would never have left any leeway.


    Sean looked at his first mate, knowing his reasoning. ''I guess we will have to set our sails for the next port. Pray to whoever, that the Sidhe are not in the mood to play tricks on us, now that they know where to find us.''


    ''Why would mighty beings like the Celtic gods pay attention to some minor vessel like ours?''  Jordi a teenage deckhand argued. ''Because the Feodora is no simple ship, young one.'' Tom answered in the Captain''s stead. ''It was first launched at the shore of Tir-na-nog.''


    ''Enough! No further mentioning of any of this until we are back in the Mortal Planes. The In-Between is no place for such talk.'' Ron thundered in a tone none dared to argue. A silence just as loud as the shout blanketed the ship. Every sailor minded his own busyness and busied himself with the usual tasks. Finding peace in routine. Only the captain and the first mate stayed a while where they had been, before heading towards the Captain''s cabin once more. Frowning and clearly lost in thought.


    Ian shuddered as he saw their sombre expressions. He knew that there was more to it, than those two would let on. The captain and his first mate were people who knew how to keep a secret. The Feodora was indeed different. Considering the fact, the captain and first mate didn''t refute the launching at Tir-na-nog directly could be seen as an admittance. Being able to use a Sidhe-Contract meant being related to the Sidhe. So why not.


    Ever since he had set foot on this ship, he had felt it was different. Though he had first thought it was due to his inexperience. The planks seemed to breath at times, to be warm like some living creature. And every time he touched the wood the Feodora seemed to enjoy it. Lately he had caught himself stroking and patting the ship like one of their animals back at the farm. The connection he felt ever since he had first seen the ship grew slowly but steadily. He knew his brothers and even most of the sailors would have freaked out at the motion, but old Tom had only smiled.


    Ian could clearly remember what the old man had answered when he had told him about his feelings towards the ship and how they scared the wits out of him. His feelings were still in a turmoil.


    ''It''s perfectly within expectation, lad. You were born for the sea. Much more than any of us besides the captain and first mate.'' old Tom assured the boy, who got an inkling of why the others called him a lune behind his still broad back.


    ''I don''t know what ya mean. Was born a farmer''s boy.'' Ian answered suddenly frightened by the truths he felt in the old man''s words. All that destiny stuff like born for the sea or born for greatness like his father had always said, it all surmounted into nothing in face of reality. Like hunger, the inquisition or a storm whilst on a ship.


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    ''It doesn''t matter if you want to admit it, you can''t run from destiny.'' Tom had smiled. The memory faded as fast as it had come. Well, right now, the old man wasn''t smiling, instead for the first time since the young boy had known him, he frowned.


    ''Feels like there is a storm brewing ahead. I should''ve really kept my trap shut.'' the old sailor grumbled ''Like some newbie rattling about gods whilst merely an inch away from their realm. A beginner''s mistake that could cost us dearly now. Worst thing is that I really don''t know why I did it. Maybe I was played.  A pawn in a much bigger game.''


    This sounded like the rambling of a lunatic to Ian. But even though a small part of him wanted to know what made the men he had grown to respect so nervous, that they sounded like lunatics.


    He sighed there was even a part of himself who knew they were right.


    Dark clouds and the hisses of squalls brought him back to reality even before the first gust of cold seawater splattered across his face. And then the storm was suddenly upon them.


    He followed Tom over the shaking and bucking deck. Waves like horses reared and towered next to the ship, shaking it violently. Creaking of ropes and tows even drowned the sound of waves and wind.


    Ian knew he should be frightened and that he should have trouble staying on his feet, like virtually every other sailor aboard besides the captain and Ron who were looking as if they were rooted to the bucking deck. Whilst even seasoned sailors like Tom and Red, the second mate had trouble standing much less walking around like Ian and the other two could.


    This was a hell of a storm. Ian felt its raging power with every fibre of his being. Like fresh energy pumping through his veins with every gust and squall he felt.


    He looked around. All sailors had towed themselves to the deck and were staring incredulously at Ian for they had never seen anyone besides Ron and the Captain able of this feat. Being the calm in the storm. In a normal storm they would have fought the elements, followed orders and do their uttermost to keep the ship in going. But this storm, like all storms in the in-between was different. It didn''t follow any logic.


    The ship was shaking like about to burst. But at the same time, it was kept in perfect balance, like whatever caused this storm simply wanted to play but not hurt the ship.


    ''Seems like they are playing with the ship. They seem to know that neither the Captain nor Ron are in any danger to fall off, it seems the same goes for you, lad, though I doubt anyone knew... as for the rest of us, I guess, the Mortals amongst us are not important enough to care.'' Tom told Ian, who could hear him perfectly well above the noise, the millions of wrinkles made the sailor look like an old wooden statue in the flash-light of the lightning-bolts that now raced through the pitch-black sky.


    ''You make it sound like the captain and first mate are no mortals...?'' Ian asked in a low voice, that effortlessly overpowered the storm. He didn''t even know why neither him nor the old sailor thought about shouting like the rest of the crew did. And even if they did, they were barely audible.


    ''Lad, Ian, by now you should have noticed that you have more in common with those two, than all other of us combined. You are not dumb, lad. You know only Sidhe and their most direct kin are able to form Sidhe-Contracts. That means you know what they are, what you are. You along with the captain and first mate belong to the Grey-Plane, one of the three immortal planes. I guess you get the rest without me saying it. Don''t play dumb it doesn''t suit you.'' the old sailor argued with iron in his voice.


    Ian gulped. ''You say I am Sidhe kin?'' ''I would even go as far as say you are related to Manannan flock, like the Captain and R¨°n. I guess there will be a talk between the three of you after we are set free of this storm.'' Ol''Tom explained.


    ''Well if what you say is true...'' Ian began and held up a hand to stop Tom who wanted to interrupt him ''Well I guess it IS true... then I really need to talk to them. Until now I simple discarded all those things that happened to being a seventh son of a seventh son... now I don''t know... I guess all of this is about my mother...''


    ''I guess you might be right... look, lad, the captain is about to act.'' Tom said excitedly and pointed to the captain who had positioned himself in the middle of the deck and spread his arms, looking up in the sky as if to welcome the pouring rain.


    ''I am Sean MacLir, son to Manannan MacLir. I swear to my name that I am to return to my father''s court within the moon.'' he thundered


    ''IIIIttt''sss nooott enouuughh. Yooouuu arre nooot ennnoughh. Briiiing R¨°¨°nn aaandd alllll ooothhher ooofff Siiiidddhhheee Bllooood wiiiithhh yoooouuu, Dooonnnn''ttt fooooorggeeeettt ttthheeee Boooooyyyyy.'' the storm answered.


    ''I swear to do as I am told.'' Sean MacLir told the storm and it dissipated with a soft ''GOOOOOD.''


    The sea was still and silent as if there had never been a storm. Ian gulped and looked at the captain, who waved him to come over ''I guess I am in for it.'' he thought as he approached the tall Sidhe who now had his aura of power on full display. He, the captain was the son of a god, of Manannan MacLir and that entity had ordered to bring him, Ian. Ian gulped at the thought. He had never felt this small and helpless in his whole life.

 4 Aftermath

    Although everybody aboard the Feodora had known their captain and first mate to be Sidhe, they felt extremely uneasy and restless being shown both the power of the old gods as well as their own Captain¡¯s power. Earlier they could simply ignore facts, now it was ingrained in their brains like a branding of sorts. The high salary McLir offered suddenly not being enough to mute their doubts.


    The unrest of the crew boiled under the surface merely bottled up by the even greater fear.


    Ian felt utterly reminded of what he knew his brothers had felt seeing him ¡®commune¡¯ with animals as they had called it. At the same time though the crew that consisted of many a lost soul like him held much loyalty for their Captain, so they wouldn¡¯t dream of munity against him. But the lingering fear persisted. Until it finally found an outlet, him.


    Ian could feel their stares and whispering like physical pain. It was worse than at home, since there had always been the forest and the stable, he could hide in when it got intolerable. He knew now, more than ever, that fighting or even talking back was not only futile but dangerous.


    They had yet to try hurting him physically, but he knew at this rate it was only a matter of time. His only chance was to be either sheltered by the captain, though he didn¡¯t put much hope into that. The captain had to fend for his own. He couldn¡¯t look after some youth he barely knew.


    His other hope however was that they reached shore fast enough for him to flee, unharmed. Though he felt like the captain would not let him go since he had been requested by the entity, Mannan or whoever had conjured the storm.


    Ian felt like a mouse couped up with cat watching his every move. Especially Samuel a young unruly sailor was watching him with malicious intent. Little mishaps seemed to happen every time they crossed paths. Bucks with dirt water were spilled over the deck he had just scrubbed. Knots he had double-checked untied themselves mysteriously. Nothing dangerous, only little stings. But still enough to mark him as a clumsy nuisance in the eyes of the rest of the crew. A dangerous thing to be especially in the current climate and on top of being different.


    It was the second fortnight when the crew finally turned against the 12-year-old boy. The nightshift had just taken their place on deck and Ian was about to enter the crew¡¯s quarters like every evening to sleep in his bunk, as Samuel and Berth stepped in his way. ¡®Don¡¯t you dare to enter, you Fey rat. We don¡¯t want to sleep with something like you. Off you go, sleep with the other rats in the freight-space.¡¯ Having that said Samuel reached behind him and tossed Ian¡¯s belongings out. Only his change of clothes and his little sack he had carried from the farm.


    No blanket, no cover, no cushion. And no warm jacket they used whilst on nightshift.


    ¡®I will freeze myself to death. You can¡¯t do that. At least give me a rug.¡¯ Ian shrieked anxiously.


    ¡®Nah, you rats have your magic and fur to provide for you. No need to waste a proper rug on a waste of space like you. Would¡¯ve even kept your possessions you have probably stolen from some child you strangled in his sleep¡­if it wasn¡¯t for the curse, you probably laid upon them¡­ fine clothes, too good for a rat like ya¡­ but how could an animal like ya self otherwise guise itself like a human being. If it wasn¡¯t for the Captain being some unholy creature, too we would have thrown ya off board and watched ya drown, like the rat you are. Now off you go, before we make ya and don¡¯t dream of eating with us proper people anymore. The scrabs we leave are more than enough for such a dirty, smelly rat.¡¯ Berth rambled in a tone that made Ian shrink back.


    Hiding his head between his shoulders he turned around and ran. Before those hateful people could harm his body on top of his heart. He had to flee from home after his father¡¯s death. Now he was unable to feel safe in his refuge ever again. Bitter tears of hurt burned in his eyes. He hated human nature for the cruelty it possessed. Maybe one day he would start to hate humans themselves, he thought. Running blindly in direction of the freight-space to look for a sheltered hiding-space where he could hope to endure the night without having to keep one eye open at all times, he bumped into a muscular chest.


    ¡®Ho, young Ian. I was coming to find you, but now it seems you have found me instead.¡¯ The voice of R¨°n the first mate rumbled. ¡®But say, lad, why are you fleeing, crying and carrying all your worldly belongings with you, like you angered the wild hunt?¡¯ the giant asked in a suddenly worried tone.


    ¡®Well, I don¡¯t know about the wild hunt, which I would never badmouth, but humans can be scarry, too, if they hunt you¡­ I seem to attract such situations¡­¡¯ Ian explained silently, trying to avoid sobbing loudly.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡®There, there, child¡­ What did they do? How can they do something like this? And how old are you, dear? You are but a child, a very young one at that in our standards. Come with me, I will take you to Sean, the Captain. He wanted me to get you.¡¯ The dark and intimidating first mate said in a tone as if to calm a prancing horse or a little child. He put one of his giant hands on Ian¡¯s small shoulder and led him in the direction he had come from.


    ¡¯12. I am 12.¡¯ Ian answered now sobbing.


    ¡¯12¡­ it could be, Sean is right¡­ it could be¡­ ¡®R¨°n mumbled looking at the slender boy beside him attentively. ¡®Dear, tell me, could you describe your mother to me?¡¯ he suddenly asked.


    ¡®I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t she was stolen from us, half a year after I was born. Got barely enough milk to survive, the nurse said. I have never known her.¡¯ Ian said a little confused about the question.


    ¡®That¡¯s unfortunate¡­¡¯ R¨°n mumbled.


    Then they reached the Captain¡¯s cabin and R¨°n opened the door without knocking.


    ¡®He has heard us since ages.¡¯ The first mate explained, when he saw the shock in Ian¡¯s eyes.


    ¡®While that may be true, I would still appreciate, if you did not ruin Ian¡¯s good manners, old friend.¡¯ The Captain said with a slight smile rising the edges of his mouth.


    Today the regal man did not look like Ian had seen him ever before. He looked several years younger seemingly about 20 years old, instead of the middle-aged version of him Ian knew.


    ¡®I see, your contact to the Sidhe was enough to awaken your true sight¡­¡¯ Sean McLir said when he took the boy¡¯s astonished gaze for what it meant and added ¡®I warn you¡­ if you look into the mirror, you will see people¡¯s true form¡­¡¯


    Winking at the boy the Sidhe said ¡®don¡¯t fret when you see R¨°n. He means no harm to you at least¡­¡¯ the captain explained, looked into Ian¡¯s eyes and added ¡®I guess we should just get over with it.¡¯ As he held out a mirror in an angle that Ian could see his own face and the area R¨°n should be. But instead, there stood a horse. A freaky white horse with long predator fangs and glowing eyes. It shook his head in annoyance. Ian¡¯s eyes widened when he recognized the Kelpie.


    Then it opened its horrifying mouth and said in R¨°n¡¯s voice ¡®Well done, well done, you princely idiot. I brought him here with still wet eyes from crying after being hunted by the crew and now you scare him to bits.¡¯


    Ian somehow did not feel anxious seeing the monster behind him. He felt what the captain had said was true, R¨°n meant no harm to him, in the opposite, actually, if he looked into the Kelpie¡¯s eyes that carried a warm expression. But one thing continued to bug him about the whole situation ¡®I didn¡¯t know Kelpies could take human form, I thought you guys were restricted to horse and fay form.¡¯ He blurted out, biting his tongue when he saw the incredulous expression on both the captain¡¯s and the first mate¡¯s, or rather the Kelpie¡¯s faces, thinking he said something wrong.


    He felt incredibly relieved when both of them exchanged a look and started to laugh.


    ¡®Well, that¡¯s a first.¡¯ R¨°n finally said a little out of breath. ¡®Normally people fret and try to escape or at least beg me not to eat them. Gets rather annoying, I assure you. Good you are different. Well, I guess you better be, since you should say goodbye to the idea of being human. But back to your question, no, I am one of my kind. Sean¡¯s father, Manannan MacLir, yes that one¡­don¡¯t look at me like this, you have just outed me ¨C ¡®the first mate said looking at the grumpy face of the captain, before adding ¡®anyways Manannan can¡¯t provide immortality without giving an aspect of his into the mix. I was a human seafarer, before he offered immortality to me. As you can guess I decided rather quickly to accept the offer¡­ well, as you might also guess he forgot to mention I would not be a human afterwards¡­ He sent me to sleep and the next morning I got up in my quadrupled horse form¡­ only after I got hungry, I got to know, what I really had become¡­ the nightmare of every child living near the coast¡­ it took me some time to get to terms with it and even more time to first learn control myself and then get a hang on transforming back to the imagine of my former true form.¡¯


    He sighed, seemingly remembering darker times as his expression darkened. ¡®Without Sean¡­ I do not know and do not want to imagine what would have become of me. Because unlike his father and mostly any Sidhe I have since then, he didn¡¯t think it a great joke letting me loose on my former village¡­ Manannan¡¯s view was that he had fulfilled his end of our bargain. I had become a fey and therefore immortal. They take every word they say literally¡­ that is good, since they cannot lie, but they know how to interpret their words and your words in their favour.¡¯ He cautioned the wide-eyed boy, who could not believe the fantastic story he had just been told. Though at the part of letting a new-born Kelpie loose on a village he shivered.


    ¡®Well, now that you have heard a very human-coloured story about us Sidhe¡­ I am going to help you see the other side, too. We, that means me and you are not evil. Though we are both Sidhe. The Sidhe, our country and our people belong to the Grey Planes. Neither celestial nor infernal, just like the mortal planes. Neither good nor bad, though I have to admit, we have a sometimes-goofy humour. Especially the older ones¡­ but imagine to have lived for millenniums and tried about everything¡­ they just see mortals as a form of entertainment. I guess both you and me will get to that point, eventually¡­¡¯ Sean said with a sigh, then he looked into Ian¡¯s eyes and added ¡®Yes, Ian, you are Sidhe. Are you by chance close to your 13<sup>th</sup> birthday?¡¯


    ¡®Yes, tomorrow¡­ why?¡¯ Ian asked completely unable to make a sense out of what the Captain had said.


    ¡®I asked because that is the moment Sidhe and half-Sidhe children awaken and become real Sidhe. That means they become vulnerable to iron, hot and cold, unable to lie and utterly unable to control their powers, unless properly educated¡­ you get the idea.¡¯ Sean McLir, or MacLir said solemnly.


    ¡®Uff.¡¯ Ian said and asked ¡®How do you know?¡¯


    ¡®The conversation you have heard is not the only one, that has taken place. The voice you have heard, my father, Manannan MacLir has claimed you. He told me, that you are his grandson and my nephew, my lost sister¡¯s son¡­ so welcome to the family, Ian MacLir¡¯ Sean told the flabbergasted Ian and pulled him into an embrace. Ian couldn¡¯t believe it. He had a family, a place he belonged. And a bunch of new problems, seemingly starting tomorrow.

 5 13th birthday

    Ian groaned when he slowly woke up, somehow, he felt like he lay next to a huge warm body. Slowly opening his eyes, he found he wasn¡¯t in the crew¡¯s quarters but in one of the cabins. Next to a horse. A huge white horse, a noble grey, that looked like some lady¡¯s steed. How did he get into one of the cabins and why was he with a horse? Then all the events of the day before came back into his mind. He was Sidhe and the ¡®horse¡¯ was a kelpie and definitely not an it but a he, because he knew R¨°n would make him suffer if he called him ¡®it¡¯.


    And if he called the first mate ¡®it¡¯, wouldn¡¯t he also imply, that he himself was an ¡®It¡¯? He was a sidhe himself¡­ a monster, his brothers would say, an unholy creature, just like the crew had said when they had thrown him out.


    Today was his 13<sup>th</sup> birthday, the day the captain had told him would change his life, today he would become a ¡®real¡¯ sidhe, something he did not really look forward to¡­ he had had enough struggles due to him having latent sidhe powers thorough his youth. In the end those were the reason he had to flee his home before his father¡¯s ashes had been cold.


    Ian sighed and tried to get himself out of bed, not an easy thing to do, when a huge horse was lying next to him encasing him between himself and the wall. The boy knew why R¨°n had done that, he tried to protect him from the crew, for why he had changed into his horse form, the first mate had tried to make it as comfortable for Ian as possible and avoid any sexual implications. His guess had been correct.


    Ian felt much more secure, sleeping with a horse in the same room, than he would have with a man. But right now, R¨°n¡¯s horse body was a massive wall between the scrawny boy and his way out of bed. After some futile tries to climb out of his encasement, he gave up and started thinking of yesterday¡¯s event, as well as what was bound to happen today.


    Sean, the captain had said, that today was the day they would get to know whether he was his lost sister¡¯s son or not. Which would make him his, Sean¡¯s, nephew. And the grandson of Manannan MacLir, the sea god of sidhe. As for his grandmother on this side, he had no information. But the possibility of being a quarter-God and full-sidhe, due to the dominance of their genes over human genes, whatever genes were, was already overwhelming enough.


    Even if he only was a ¡®normal¡¯ sidhe, like R¨°n, it would be enough to swipe him of his shoes. But a deep part of him doubted that possibility strongly. He had always felt an uncanny sense of familiarity with the captain, that had only been strengthened over the course of time especially


    during his lessons, he had given to him.


    Those lessons were much more than simple school lessons to him. After only two month he was able to read and write acceptable, a speed, that had made his fellow students more than envious. He had been given books about history and lore. Real books. And he had been allowed to touch them. Every single one of those treasures had been worth more than his own life on slave market or even more than he would have earned in his entire life as a farmer. Ian couldn¡¯t know for sure, but he knew, that the price for books was astronomical. The opportunity to read one of those and their whole presence on the ship was a miracle to him. Even the thought of their carefully written words and masterfully painted initials and illustrations made him smile.


    In the end even now, that he was about to be spirited away to the sidhe he felt, that it was worth it.


    Again, he tried to climb out of bed for he wanted to talk to the captain and an inner unrest wouldn¡¯t let him go back to sleep. Finally, after a few futile struggles his stirring woke the stallion. R¨°n groaned and said ¡®you seem to be eager to see the changes this day may bring to you. Happy birthday, little one.¡¯


    ¡®Not so sure about that, but I feel like I can¡¯t stay still for any longer. Never mind sleeping. It¡¯s like some kind of energy is racing through my veins. Is that magic?¡¯ Ian asked whilst trying to keep the nervosity out of his voice.


    ¡®Might be, though I think it¡¯s good old nervousness, lad.¡¯ The kelpie answered with a neighing laugh in his voice. Then he changed into his human form, that looked slightly different to Ian than it had yesterday, as if his true form was slightly overlapping his human features.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡®You are seeing it now, aren¡¯t you? No more comfortable lies for you it seems, boy. Even without that accursed mirror Sean saw fit to show you yesterday. It¡¯s quite early for you, but that only means, you are going to be much more powerful, than I could ever dream of. The possibility of you being Sean¡¯s nephew is increasing with every passing minute. But now come on, we need to get you over to Sean, to talk and plan how proceed.¡¯ R¨°n said with a worried expression.


    Ian nodded and then asked ¡®Getting me over to decide, that sounds as if you are giving me a say in how to proceed?¡¯


    ¡®Well as far we are concerned you will definitely get a say, sidhe only follow their commanders and kings, but are not as much into hierarchy otherwise as humans are. You should get used to it, for otherwise they will use you for their definition of fun¡­ so never agree into doing something that puts you between rock and a hard place, because as of today you will find it increasingly hard to lie or go back on your word until on your next birthday you will be rendered completely unable to do so at all. In your case that might occur even earlier, you know the greater the powers the greater the balancing forces. You will surely have a Geas, too.¡¯ The tall man said looking at the flustered Ian and smiled reassuringly. ¡®Don¡¯t worry, we will help you during transition.¡¯


    ¡®Would all of that happened to me if I had never met you?¡¯ Ian asked suddenly feeling he needed to know if he had had a chance of a normal life.


    ¡®Of course, it¡¯s your heritage. Your mother¡¯s. But come on, Sean is far better in explaining things than I am.¡¯ The kelpie said and took Ian¡¯s small into his big hand, leading him out of the room.


    Outside they met some of the crew members, that consciously avoided Ian¡¯s gaze, every thought of giving him a hard time diminished in the face of R¨°n. Well Ian could certainly get used to that. Maybe one day he would have a similar aura of danger¡­ a little part of him craved it¡­


    He was fed of running¡­ but even though there might be some advantages of his situation he knew of some major drawbacks already and felt there was more to it, like he really had bitten of more than he could chew¡­


    Then they entered the captain¡¯s cabin, it looked still like he had seen it on his first day on board. But the same it looked not at all like it had looked even yesterday, the overlapping of pictures felt nauseating. The other version looked much larger and darker. Like the space inside the cabin was unstable¡­ runes were glowing in a green light at every empty space on the room¡¯s walls. The single bookshelf had expanded into a complete library out of huge wooden shelfs. Then Ian blinked and the room had changed again showing several doors looking like they belonged to a patrician house. Next blink all of it looked like a tent in some tent in a roman army camp, he had seen in one of the books. Next, he felt his knees give in and he sank into the blackness of unconsciousness.


    ¡®¡­You should have warned me that he is that far along the road. I could have at least closed the ley-door. You know how straining magic overload can be, morron.¡¯ Sean chided his old friend, who had a guilty expression on his face fidgeting back and forth like a horse, that couldn¡¯t decide whether to flee or not.


    Those were the first things Ian picked up when he came back to his senses. ¡®I didn¡¯t know it was as hard for you born sidhe, too, I thought only us made sidhe were that unstable first.¡¯


    ¡®Well, you are right, once he got used to his new abilities, it will be much easier on him, than it was for you, natural, if you get what I am saying. And of course, you were victim to your new instincts, something Ian will most likely not experience. Well not like you any way.¡¯ Sean argued.


    ¡®Uhm, hello, I am awake¡­¡¯ Ian said unsure how else to make them stop rambling.


    ¡®That¡¯s good, lad, that¡¯s good. I need you awake for the tests I want to do with you. Just get over with it now, then you can ask all your questions and we are going to plan our further proceedings.¡¯ The captain explained, what he had planned. Ian and R¨°n both nodded in agreement.


    Seeing their agreement Sean went over to a cupboard and took his sabre out of a specifically manufactured drawer. ¡®This is Badh¨´n, which is breakwater in my first language. He was forged by my father when I became a man in his eyes. Manannan used some of his blood to prevent him from ever falling into the hands of anyone outside our family. If you are able to lift it, your identity is all clear.¡¯ Then he put the sabre back into the drawer and motioned Ian to lift it.


    Unsure what to make of it and strangely reminded of the legend of the one true king and the sword in the stone, Ian stepped forward and gripped the sabre¡¯s hilt. The same energy that had been cursing through his veins all day came to a crescendo. The hilt vibrated as if to respond and then he felt himself easily lifting the sabre that seemed to be strangely alive. Like some kind of animal not a weapon. It was an uncanny feeling and Ian was entirely unsure whether he liked it or not.


    ¡®Oh, Badh¨´n likes you¡­ that settles it you and me are family. Since none of my remaining siblings ever left the sidhe and Badhun only reacts to the mainline that strongly my best guess is for you to be my nephew. Father will know for sure, when we arrive at his court at T¨ªr na n¨®g.¡¯ Sean stated and took the humming sabre out of his newfound-nephew¡¯s hands.


    ¡®Okay, that makes the other tests superfluous. We can proceed in planning how to proceed¡­¡¯ Sean smiled and winked at his first mate and nephew.


    ¡®First of all¡­ what do we do regarding the crew, I don¡¯t feel like taking those idiots with me to the sidhe.¡¯ R¨°n said in a sour tone, he couldn¡¯t get over the fact his men had turned against one of their own.


    ¡®I say we leave them behind in the nearest port and sail to the sidhe.¡¯ Sean agreed and nodded.


    ¡®Is that even possible, I thought a ship of this size needs a crew to sail it?¡¯ Ian asked confusedly.


    ¡®Well, that would be true if the Feodora was a human ship. And even now, we do not have all we need to proceed with our plan. Would you be so kind and get Ol¡¯Tom over and tell him I have a deal to offer.¡¯ the captain said, sending the boy away.

 6 Dealings and headaches

    The moment Ian left his uncle¡¯s cabin, a thought he still couldn¡¯t quite put his head around, he felt the crew¡¯s hostility even more acutely than the night before. Heard every hushed whisper, saw several sailors make the sign of the cross and the sheer amount of hatred in their gazes. ¡®Quite hypocritical¡¯, he thought, ¡®sailing willingly with a prince of the Sidhe and profit from his endeavours but shunning his nephew.¡¯


    He frowned wondering where that thought might have come from¡­ hadn¡¯t he been just as shocked and frightened only hours before? Now running that gauntlet that had made him cry out of fear and self-pity that very night felt like a nuisance not like the threat he had felt earlier. It seemed that his changes had not only brought true sight with them but some kind of steel to his character he hadn¡¯t had before¡­ or maybe he was finally through with being a whiny little baby¡­ he did neither know nor care. The boy only felt relief. Relief that he was not alone in this world. Not anymore. No fear only resignation and a simmering undertone of disgust filled him when he searched their faces that felt strangely vacuous with their stares. Like his brothers faces. Blank masks without meaning. He didn¡¯t feel hatred or anger only pity. A part of him knew that was arrogant but he head the deep feeling that he soon would have the power to back it.


    Finally, he saw Tom who had been below deck and emerged with his tool kit. Smiling at Ian. Unlike the others who held only hatred in their eyes he looked at him with warmth and something else reverence? Ian didn¡¯t know but offered a smile of his own as he approached the old man, who in turn halted his steps and waited for him whilst setting his tool kit down.


    ¡®Morning, lad, sorry for the rough treatment last night. Didn¡¯t listen to that old me. Didn¡¯t care for reason in their beastly fear.¡¯, he grumbled when Ian arrived next to him.


    ¡®No hard feelings. I am only happy that you didn¡¯t participate in their craziness.¡¯, the young Sidhe smiled and added ¡®The captain sent me to fetch you.¡¯


    Old Tom nodded and said ¡®Then let¡¯s not keep him waiting.¡¯


    The sailors¡¯ stares followed them until they reached the wooden door to the captain¡¯s layer. Ian who had closed it after them halted in his movement when he saw a flash of blue light around the handle. Privacy Runes he thought, though he didn¡¯t know where that sudden feeling for the meaning came from. He let his fingers run over the carving which reacted with a soft glow as if greeting him.


    ¡®Seems like he has the same attention span I had when I was first given this gift.¡¯ Ron said behind him pulling Ian out of his revery.


    ¡®It¡¯s been 20 years since my father made the deal with you¡­ and even now you still grump about¡­ despite being secretly happy about your powers, which I know for sure¡­¡¯ the captain grunted palming his face before he added ¡®Don¡¯t mind his comments it¡¯s his first time meeting such a young Sidhe. He is the youngest in our group by several centuries¡­¡¯


    Ian¡¯s mind stopped working for a second. Centuries! That was such a mindboggling concept to live for centuries¡­ than it dawned on him that he would too¡­ if nothing killed him prior that is¡­


    ¡®And again¡­ Ian¡­ it would be rather helpful for this conversation if you were here in body AND MIND.¡¯ Ron chided him in a good-natured tone. The boy felt his cheeks heat up.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡®Ok to start again. We are going to reduce to our crew to the minimum before transversing to the Sidhe. That means only us three sidhe-blooded and three more open minded, willing sailors who know that they will be changed upon return and accept that the time flows differently over there so they should not be bound by a family awaiting their return. Tom, I would offer you a position. Please choose upon the men, you know things they would rather not say into our faces. Be careful though, they are frightened after facing our otherness¡­ you¡¯ve seen how they treated Ian, who is the least frightening of us.¡¯ The captain told Tom who nodded along and agreed ¡®It would be an honour to see the land my grandmother always told me about when I was still a wee lad.¡¯ The captain smiled having anticipated the positive answer. ¡®For the other members I think Jones and Mathew will do. They both hail from the north where they still worship the old ones.¡¯, the old man offered before he amended ¡®Pardon, I know they are family to you.¡¯, upon seeing the frown in the captains face.


    ¡®No you are right.¡¯ Sean sighed ¡®It¡¯s just so easy to forget that my father is a god to some of you, especially after living among humans for so long¡­ to me he is and always will be my father¡­ powerful, annoyingly so, but still a person.¡¯


    ¡®Yeah we get it Mr. special prince.¡¯ Ron groaned ¡®An everyday person who transforms a human into whatever he sees fit. And you are just as normal¡­ you know understatement does have its limits¡­¡¯


    Ian looked at them planning and bickering. Asking himself why they even bothered with having him here for the administrative work and planning, they had to do, when he had nothing sensible to offer.


    He was deadly tired and anxious to find out what his function was going to be. And what it meant to be Sidhe-kin.


    ¡®Tom would you be so kind and bring Mathew and Jones so we can start with negotiating the first deals?¡¯ Ron asked the old man who stood up and left.


    ¡®Ok. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve asked yourself why we wanted you present when laying out the first part of the plan.¡¯ Sean said looking at Ian who nodded. ¡®You will witness the contract. That¡¯s why. Our little contract when you came aboard is only as binding as it is because we are both Sidhe and only two people. For me to form a contract with a human means to reach into the Sidhe and pull part its laws into this realm, binding them as long as they are here. But the contract we are hashing out with the sailors will be one with more parties involved. It will protect us, that means Ron, me and you from their possible betrayal upon reaching the other side and getting a better offer.¡¯


    Ian frowned feeling a headache forming. Betrayal. Contracts. The other side. Counteroffers.


    ¡®I know it is quite complicated to understand at first.¡¯, the captain offered with a sad smile, before adding ¡®It won¡¯t get better you will you get used to it. You will have to. Everything in the Sidhe revolves about quid pro quo, contracts and hidden agendas. Being unable to lie directly and being bound by your word means people get creative and very cautious. Be glad you only just turned 13 that means you get three years to acclimatise. 16 is the age our children will be regarded as useful since they have come into the most basic of their powers. Usefulness does keep you alive but also means you must shoulder responsibility. Nobody will forgive you a blunder at this point. Your grandfather will test you in the way he has tested every member of his bloodline. You are a heir- no matter how far removed¡­ noblesse oblige.¡¯


    ¡®And that¡¯s exactly the reason Sean prefers to dwell in the human realm¡­he can¡¯t stand politics.¡¯, Ron tried to cheer the blanching Ian up, adding ¡®You know, Sean, you could definitely work on your pep-talks.¡¯


    ¡®Yes it is hard and complicated to be Sidhe, especially a royal one, but you also get cool magic powers, fighting and adventures. And maybe even the girl.¡¯, the Kelpie smiled showing his sharp teeth making his smile more unsettling than reassuring. ¡®Which girl?¡¯ Sean asked. ¡®There is always a girl in a good story. How else would you brooding heroes ever produce the next generation of knights in white armour? Can¡¯t be us the witty sidekicks who are designated as monsters¡­¡¯


    ¡®You are crazy.¡¯, Sean groaned but couldn¡¯t help a smile.


    ¡®I agree. But after completely overwhelming poor Ian, how about we further it just a bit by letting him take a look at himself in the mirror.¡¯ Ron grinned and reached for the mirror which had Ian shown the Kelpie¡¯s nature for the first time.

 7 mirror, mirror

    Ian gulped as he reached for the mirror. What was he to see?


    ¡®Don¡¯t worry my awesomeness is still unreached.¡¯, the Kelpie quipped self-ironical as if reading his mind. His fingers prickled upon touching the mirrors surface. Finally taking it out of the first mate¡¯s hands he dared to take a look.


    His wavy light brown hair was the same as always, as where his black eyes. No changes there, good. But if he hadn¡¯t known that it was himself he was looking he wouldn¡¯t have believed it. Sure the face in the mirror was familiar but he looked like an older improved brother rather than himself. The babyfat was gone. His face was sharply contoured with high aristocratic cheekbones and an unblemished nearly shining complexion. And pointed ears.


    It felt unreal and out of an inner impulse he smiled at his reflexion, finding his teeth blindingly white and sharp, not as sharp as the Kelpie¡¯s but definitely not human.


    This lead him to look into a deeper layer of his reflexion. Just like when he had looked at the Kelpie the image shown wavered slightly. When the image settled he still saw his face but now his complexion was nearly blindingly bright with an inner light, his features looked as if in flux. He felt that wasn¡¯t all to see, but a part of him knew it was sometimes better not to look deeper than one is able to fathom. Still he stared on as if under a spell.


    ¡®Are you ready to talk or are you turning into a tulip or something?¡¯, Ron asked breaking the spell. Ian shook his head correcting automatically ¡®Narcissus. And I would rather not fall in love with my own reflexion.¡¯


    ¡®Ah, Kelly taught you at least some legends of the old. She was nearly as good at this as our father is. But I guess she hasn¡¯t risked to tell you about the Tuatha. She was on the run, you see. Just as stubborn as our father, neither of them would see reason when they were fighting. She is a princess and a warrior. But she would always duel and win over every man our father had tried to marry her to. Until he tricked her into a bet he had rigged. The moment she found out she ran.¡¯ Sean told Ian who listened with rapt attention. It was the first time anyone told him about his mother. His father didn¡¯t talk about her, her disappearance felt shameful to him. And his brothers hated her for leaving.


    He wanted to hear more about her.


    But just when the captain wanted to continue a knock at the door heralded Tom, Jones and Mathews arrival. ¡®We will talk later about her.¡¯, Sean promised Ian and called them in. Ian felt a little cheated since he knew there was another round of boring contract work to come.


    ¡®Oh I hope we haven¡¯t interrupted something important. Young Ian looks rather down.¡¯ Jones exclaimed smiling at Ian. The boy wanted to say that it was no problem for him but couldn¡¯t form the words. His heartrate increased. It was like he was unable to speak for a moment. Slightly panicked he took a deep breath. Before shaking his head to clear it. After a moment it dawned on him. It would have been a lie to say he had no problem with them arriving especially when his uncle had just begun to talk about his mother. It seemed even white lies were out of question for the moment. But hadn¡¯t Ron and his uncle told him he had a year before being unable to tell a lie? Well, he could ask them later, right now he had to think about a way to be polite and completely honest at the same time. And everything whilst everyone looked at him waiting for his answer. His uncle with curiosity in his black eyes, Ron with a smirk, which both clearly showed him they had understood his predicament, but would do nothing to help him. The sailors on the other hand looked a bit confused and worried. Tom on the other hand seemed to get to the same conclusion as the two Sidhe and grinned slyly after a moment. Another deep breath and Ian finally answered stiffly, resorting to formal speech to avoid a too direct phrasing, which his Sidhe-blood could regard as a lie. ¡®Thank you for your concern, Jones. It was nothing that could not be postponed.¡¯Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Ron laughed ¡®You sound like a lawyer rather than a country boy¡­ this way of speaking must be part of the reason you are this good at getting what you want whilst haggling on the market. Poor merchants must have thought you were a noble in disguise. Which you technically are. Unknowingly. How ironic.¡¯


    ¡®Can we please stop making me the centre of attention?¡¯ Ian begged inwardly whilst shrinking away from the mockery as well as his uncles scrutinizing gaze.


    ¡®You have to get faster in improvising. They will eat you alive. Some literally.¡¯, his uncle stated before turning towards his three non-sidhe crew members in the room.


    ¡®Tom told you what we are about to do?¡¯, he asked. They nodded and Mathew added ¡®Going to fulfil the oath you gave that voice in the storm, sir.¡¯


    ¡®Yes, you are right we are going to answer my father¡¯s summoning. You know that you need our protection when entering the Sidhe? And that you won¡¯t come back as the same humans you were before, if you stay human and alive at all?¡¯ he questioned them further. They nodded solemnly.


    ¡®That won¡¯t do. You must say it for the pact to work. Did you understand what I¡¯ve asked you?¡¯ the Sidhe asked them again and the three of them said ¡®Yes we understand.¡¯


    ¡®Knowing all that you are still willing to come?¡¯ he asked them to which they all agreed.


    ¡®Good from now on the three of you will be bound to me, Ron, Ian and the Feodora with your life and soul until the completion of our journey and return to the human realm. Further any actions, words or inactions aimed to harm any of us in any possible way will wound you instead. Any attempt to flee or avoid fulfilling the contract will void our protection of you. This protection includes any avoidable harm that could have been prevented by Ron or me. Ian will be exempted from this compulsion since he has yet to reach his 16<sup>th</sup> year. This pact is formed by me Sean MacLir, son of Manannan. It was witnessed by Ron FitzRoy and Ian MacLir, grandson of Manannan. Do you agree to the stated conditions? If so say we agree and your names.¡¯, the captain, suddenly prince, asked and Ian could feel the magic of the Sidhe humming in the air.


    ¡®We agree. Killian Jones, Thomas Fletcher and Mathew Andres.¡¯ The three agreed. In the same moment Ian could feel a magic tether snap into place. He, his very being had just been connected to a contract. He shuddered inwardly, suddenly very happy about the protection his uncle and Ron offered him, for he knew he was far out of his depth.

 8 invisible Threads

    Ian stood outside in a usually quiet corner of the ship hunched over his elbows planted on the railing his head resting in his hands. He was looking at the waves which showed a little foam even this far out. It was naturally windy enough to let them sail at a considerable speed even without his uncle¡¯s and Ron¡¯s little tricks.


    Ever since his thirteenth birthday a few weeks ago the young half fey could feel the magic they deployed. It was only ever a push in the direction they wanted, but it mattered. Not that he had doubted his uncle¡¯s capabilities to make the ocean do his bidding, he was after all the seagod¡¯s son¡­ which made Ian his grandson.


    The magic the other fey used were not the only things his awakened nature made him aware of, the sea itself seemed to want to communicate with him. He was drawn to it. Oftentimes standing at the railing staring at it listening to its whispers. Just like right now. This new ¡®hobby¡¯ of his as Ron called it would keep him occupied him for hours, at least if no woke him out of this trancelike state.


    Ron loved to startle him out of it. Even using a bucket of cold seawater.


    Despite knowing that it was for his best not to stay too long in this state Ian couldn¡¯t quite understand why the formerly strict and stubborn first mate enacted his playful side in this particular way. His uncle and Tom the only crewmembers beside Ron who would freely interact with him since his awakening found it hilarious.


    The rest of the sailors avoided him actively even the two that had sworn themselves to accompany them into the Sidhe. Those two were less overt in their fear than the rest of the crew, but it showed nonetheless. And it stung Ian more than he liked to admit that this fear towards him was far more pronounced than towards his uncle and the first mate, though they were far scarier in truth. Mightier. Stronger in any possible way.


    When he asked Ron about it the Kelpie snorted and showed a very predatory grin as he said with mirth ¡®Wouldn¡¯t it be stranger if we, who are masters of our powers couldn¡¯t hide it from our prey? What kind of kid would climb on a Kelpie¡¯s back if every fibre of itself cried danger? That lure would be very ineffective, wouldn¡¯t it?¡¯ Seeing Ian¡¯s wide eyes he added ¡®Kid, Sidhe are predators. Do you think those fangs both of us sport are for show? Yes even the little ones you have grown do little to hide fact that we are anything but human. And some of our needs and urges are anything but human. Remember that you are no longer anyone¡¯s prey.¡¯


    ¡®But you don¡¯t drown and kill children, you are here and sail¡­ eating normal food.¡¯ Ian stated shocked upon being called a predator his tongue unconsciously tracing the tips of his very sharp fangs.


    ¡®Yes, I am here. But that is only possible thanks to your uncle and now partly you. If not for you I would be bound to a lagune, a fjord or something like that. Slave to my nature. Not necessarily killing people but definitely not free to move or stay this long in human form.¡¯, the big man answered with a frown. His grey eyes darkening like the sea before a storm.Stolen story; please report.


    ¡®What do you mean? Why would you be bound and how am I contributing to your freedom?¡¯, Ian asked intrigued but cautiously.


    ¡®Because Kelpies are normally bound to their body of water. Only because your uncle and now you are children of the sea and high sidhe I am able to bind myself to you as a replacement for that body of water. And your energy you are producing as part of existing as high sidhe is the same energy the land would produce for me. You are the Sidhe a part of the whole, the land itself, I am lower Sidhe or fey, I live off the land, its energy. I don¡¯t produce energy I need it to sustain my existence. I can¡¯t leave your side as much as I couldn¡¯t possibly leave my body of water. My LIFE depends on you. I can go without that energy, but not for long. And here in the human realm I would need to lure humans and feed on their energy to survive. The energy on this side of the veil is not enough to sustain me without.¡¯, the fey explained. Triggering a much deeper understanding for why the Kelpie held such a deep grudge against Manannan for turning into what he was. Yes, he was immortal but bound to rules that robbed him of his freedom.


    ¡®I am sorry.¡¯ Ian stated silently.


    ¡®What are you sorry for? For my idiocy that I didn¡¯t thoroughly check the contract your grandfather proposed whilst forbidding his children to speak? No kid there is nothing to be sorry about. I made my decision for better or worse. I can even understand why he did it. Your mother had just run away and your uncle was so cross that he set out to sail the mortal realm with only a mortal as his backer. No king, mortal or Sidhe would have let that happen. And none of his offspring was ever able to defy a direct order from him. Bound by blood you are. His daughter beyond his reach, he needed a strong and dependable Fey to accompany his son. My mortal life was too short and frail in his eyes to even matter. It was a deal to let your uncle leave that accursed blessed island of his father¡­ I would do it every time for my best friend. And I know that he would never leave me. But you need to understand that no one in the Sidhe is free. No spirit and no High king. And not you. We are all part of a whole. The threats that bind us are much thicker and sturdier than any relation in the mortal realm. And that is where our immortality and magic stem from.¡¯, Ron explained in a very serious tone before leaving Ian to stare at the sea with even more on his mind.


    This conversation had him reeling for days. The implications of so many unspoken rules and invisible threads connecting everyone in this realm. The Sidhe, a place he began to fear without having been there. He could feel the sea responding to his thoughts even in the mortal realm rising with the pressure he felt. There was no way out he would have to face his fears. But first they had to set the rest of the crew ashore. It wouldn¡¯t be long until they reached Bellhaste.


    And really it wasn¡¯t very long before a sailor up in the mast shouted ¡®Land Ahoy.¡¯


    As planned, they manoeuvred into the harbour shortly after. But the moment they could look beyond the ramparts several sailors blanched. And Sean, the captain of the Feodora cursed for the first time Ian knew him. Behind the walls of the inner harbour lay three warships. All sporting a big red cross on their flags. And knights with the very same cross were seen patrolling and working abord and on the quay. A sinking feeling spread in Ian¡¯s stomach when he thought about his pointed ears and fangs that he could not yet properly hide, as well as his aura. They had to tread very cautiously when they entered. But turning around after being spotted would have been just as suspicious. And the last thing anybody wanted was being suspected by those zealots.

 9 seventh son of a seventh son

    ¡®This isn¡¯t good. Not good at all.¡¯, the captain stated the obvious.


    ¡®Well, that¡¯s obvious. We need to steer clear of those fanatics and their blessed silver and cold iron weapon¡­ and especially their Lugh forsaken attitude against everything that is not to their liking.¡¯, Ron grunted as he nervously watched the quay for any movement of the order¡¯s knights.


    ¡®But what do we do? If we just follow our plan to drop off the crew and sail off with just 6 people they will know and deem it more than suspicious.¡¯, Sean Mac Lir asked the central question of this debate. A debate that had already lasted a few hours, ever since they had anchored. Most of the crew was already in Bellhaste probably drinking and visiting the flourishing reds light district. The rest besides the skeleton crew would follow soon. Right now, one could write it off as normal behaviour of sailors in a harbour town, even if all of them had taken their belongings with them. The sailors themselves were not in danger¡­ if they didn¡¯t do something dump in front of the knights.


    ¡®Yes, but staying here will heighten the chance one of the sailors does something dump and tries to safe his sorry ass by selling us.¡¯, Ron repeated the argument he had already voiced several times. The debate was caught in a never-ending circle.


    Ian sighed, laying his head back counting the planks that made up the ceiling of the captain¡¯s cabin. If he had his way, he would have at least gone into town to look around for a bit. But due to his state as his had called it he was forbidden from even leaving the cabin. And by now sitting here for hours hearing the ever-same arguments he was bored out of his mind.


    Just when he was about to close his eyes and try to sleep a little to shorten the wait a knock at the door put an end to the discussion.


    ¡®Yes?¡¯, the captain asked.


    ¡®Captain. The knights of the holy cross are on the quay wishing to speak to you.¡¯, Tom who had entered said in a worried tone.


    ¡®Do they seem upset?¡¯, Ron asked cautiously.


    ¡®I don¡¯t think so, but I am no expert in reading zealots.¡¯, the old man answered solemnly and added in a near whisper ¡®would be no good for me either to have too much to do with those folks.¡¯


    ¡®I know. But letting them wait would be worse. Let their leader and at most two of his men abord. Better to meet them on my ship than on their land.¡¯, Sean ordered, suddenly channelling his princely aura. ¡®Doesn¡¯t seem like we can hide. That means we must remind them of the accords their order has with my father. Ian, you stay back. Do not talk unless I personally ask you to. Stand behind my left shoulder. Ron, you take my right.¡¯, his uncle ordered whilst Tom had already left the room to invite the uninvited in.


    ¡®Do we offer bread and wine?¡¯, Ron asked in a businesslike tone. Ian knew that thee sharing of bread and drink was a symbolic non-aggression contract. Binding to all in the Sidhe, weaker on a vessel that belonged to the Sidhe and almost not existent on the turf of the mortal realm.


    ¡®We will see, if they are worth of our hospitability. If they are really here to talk, we just might, but there is no sense in invoke old magic on those who are carrying cold iron and blessed silver. They oftentimes lack the necessary honour.¡¯, the prince of the Sidhe, who had now a regal air around him decreed.


    Another knock at the wooden door Tom¡¯s voice sounded ¡®Your guests, my Lord. Head knight Sir Lorenz accompanied by knights Sir Ralf and Sir Marek.¡¯


    After waiting for a few seconds Sean Mac Lir said: ¡®Enter.¡¯


    Three knights entered through the door the old sailor held open before he bowed out.


    They positioned themselves before the heavy wooden desk, behind which Sean Mac Lir was seated.


    Ron and Ian stood as he had directed behind him. Hands folded behind their backs, faces expressionless.


    After a while in which no one said a word the new comer in the middle, Sir Lorenz, Ian guessed, cleared his throat and said ¡®We greet you Prince Sean Mac Lir, son of the great Mannan Mac Lir. We are coming in peace. Don¡¯t we share a pact? Aren¡¯t we allies? Though it seems our reception is not as cordial as I might have hoped. No bread and wine? Where is the famous hospitality of the Sidhe.¡¯ Ian could see how Ron tensed upon hearing the insulting and callous demand, but Sean remained still.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    He measured the knights before him with a calculating gaze before answering, his tone as cold as ice. ¡®I greet you, Sir Lorenz of the holy cross. The reception you are receiving mirrors the treatment of our folk when it crosses your turf. Cold at best fiery at worst. Your own demeanour doesn¡¯t speak well of your own education towards those of royal blood. I wonder what your human princes would do if addressed in such a¡­ fraudulent manner¡­¡¯, his ocean blue eyes now dark with the storm of his displeasure. Then he added with a sardonic smile ¡®Or do you think it is good manners to come without being called to me and demand ludicrous things, whilst wearing cold iron weapons thinly hidden beneath your clothes, not to mention your blessed silver blade worn openly on your hip?¡¯


    ¡®It is well in my rights to come to any meeting with my usual weaponry, which is a privilege of my standing. Don¡¯t you think it fair for me and my men to bring weapons, when in fact you are weapons?¡¯ the red-haired knight answered mockingly seemingly thinking to have the upper hand. Ian didn¡¯t like the direction this conversation was heading. Towards a confrontation they had wanted to avoid.


    He sighed inwardly. The churches knights were famous for their narrowminded sadistic and arrogant ways. That combined with the famous pride of the Sidhe he himself could feel was not a good combination. Only his raising as a part of the human society held it back. But he knew Ron was seething.


    Sean on the other hand plotted a plan to make them pay for the insult. The captain knew he couldn¡¯t act openly because the three ships of the order were able to completely block the harbour, rendering it impossible to get out. And he knew this hostile behaviour was aimed for him to break the treaty. To create an opening in the carefully worded accords the church clearly wanted to get rid of. Oblivious to the fact their fleet only remained intact as long as Mannan willed.


    ¡®I advise you not to go down that road any further. That¡¯s an advice. But if you fail to do so it¡¯s on you. Your order has grown arrogant. But remember Sidhe are not as easily cowed as humans. So say your part and be on your way before you overstay your welcome even further. Because you are right, we are weapons.¡¯, the prince of the Sidhe stated.


    ¡®We are here because we believe you have kidnapped a boy. 13 summers old. The lord of the fief he was stolen of claims him to be a seventh son of a seventh son an asset which is rare and well protected nowadays. An asset that does not belong to the family it was born, or even more ridiculous to himself, in but to the lord and the church. The boy is to be handed over at birth¡­ and educated to be a knight of our order. Failure to oblige is to be heavily punished. The boy¡¯s family was punished and we could trace his way to the nearest harbour. Where we were told a boy of his description had boarded your ship. So, hand him over, or you yourself are breaking the accords.¡¯, the knight threatened looking at Ian as if he knew it was him, he was searching for.


    ¡®I have not hidden a boy that fits your description. The only boy that has recently boarded the Feodora stands right behind me. My nephew, Ian Mac Lir, who is surely no matter of your concern. For those of the blood of the Sidhe are always to be regarded as Sidhe no matter the human parentage they might have.¡¯, Sean answered whilst studying his nails as if not perturbed at all.


    ¡®Sidhe blood he may be but we are entitled to every seventh son of a seventh son born to human parents. And we will get what is ours.¡¯, the knight growled his gaze studying Ian, before he added ¡®Better pack up, boy. We will depart as soon as possible.¡¯ Then with a court nod towards Sean he said ¡®Prepare yourself, Sidhe. We will get what is ours.¡¯, and left the ship with his man. Showing open hostility.


    After hearing the steps of the three knights fade Sean turned to Ian and asked ¡®So, you are the seventh son of a seventh son?¡¯


    ¡®Uhm, yes, but I didn¡¯t know it mattered besides seeing ghosts and so on¡­ I didn¡¯t know there was a law that condemns me to slavery in that order.¡¯, Ian answered with a shrug.


    ¡®You didn¡¯t seem fazed that your human family was punished?¡¯, Ron asked with a raised brow.


    ¡®My brothers wanted to burn me on a stick¡­ I had to flee after overhearing their plans. Witchcraft they said. And that I was a monster. I have no love for any of them since my father died. I couldn¡¯t even attend his funeral.¡¯, Ian answered with another shrug, his face impassive.


    ¡®Understandable point of view, I guess.¡¯, Ron shrugged and Sean nodded.


    ¡®We still need to get out of here and reach the Sidhe before the moon is over. And you being a hot commodity doesn¡¯t make that any easier. But at least now we know why there is half a fleet of knights on our track.¡¯, Ron murmured.


    ¡®You might know, but I don¡¯t.¡¯ Ian complained.


    ¡®You, my boy, are the perfect weapon. Neigh immune to magic, being a seventh son of a seventh son, paired with considerable magic powers due to your Sidhe blood. The side that convinces you to fight for them is going to win the smouldering cold war of the nexus and the planes connected to it.¡¯, Sean explained with a worried expression then adding ¡®And, my dear nephew, you are utterly unprepared. That¡¯s something we are going to fix, when we are in the Sidhe, but first we need to escape. And those few dozen knights will do anything to get you under their thumb.¡¯

 10 Think careful about what you wish for

    ¡®So that¡¯s your brilliant plan? Giving them exactly what they want? Me?¡¯, Ian asked unbelievingly his eyes wide from the shock of what his uncle had told him.


    ¡®Absolutely. You are of our blood and very much able to free yourself ones you are with them. Your powers will guide you. In the meantime, the rest of us are going to sail into the open sea and wait for you out there.¡¯, his uncle said seemingly resolved to do just that. Leave him, Ian, to fend for himself in the clutches of the order of the holy cross.


    ¡®And in the off-chance I manage to escape on my own¡­ how am I supposed to meet you in the open sea?¡¯, Ian asked rubbing his face his hands in a gesture of complete exhaustion. He couldn¡¯t believe his uncle would do that to him.


    ¡®Come on. That¡¯s easy. You simply ask the sea to guide you.¡¯, Ron answered in Sean¡¯s stead.


    ¡®Brilliant. You two know, that I don¡¯t know a first thing about my so-called powers? Hell, I don¡¯t even know what they are! And you two tell me to trust in myself and go to the last place I ever wanted to be in my whole life. Risk my damn life.¡¯, Ian near shouted.


    ¡®Yes, you will do just that. And though it would have been better for you to have more training, we don¡¯t get that luxury. You know your way around a sword. Ron told me that you¡¯ve inherited our family¡¯s battle instincts. The rest will come to you when needed. You just have to rise with the stakes.¡¯, Sean answered matter-of-factly, seemingly bored with his nephew¡¯s insistence.


    Shaking his head he added ¡®I really don¡¯t know why you are so shocked. You are thirteen and a Sidhe. My father simply left me in the dark ice grove when I was your age. Your mother was sent to Scathach to be trained as a warrior-maiden. I don¡¯t know which was harder. Everyone gets their own challenge and this is a fabulous opportunity that presented itself.¡¯


    The ancient demi-god, that was his uncle, devilishly grinned ¡®And since we can¡¯t directly harm them without breaking the accords¡­ well they laid a claim on you¡­ let¡¯s see if they are able to claim what they wish for.¡¯


    The knights came early next morning. Ready to force their claim it seemed. Grimm faces. Swords ready to be drawn. Sean met them on deck. Ian stood beside him with a grave expression. His uncle he now knew would really send him away. A part that had trusted him crumbled into nothing. He was alone again. Like he had always been. Everyone left him. No matter what they claimed. Looking at the knights and then back at the Sidhe he didn¡¯t even know why it had surprised him. His mother, a Sidhe herself, even if she had never told him about it, had always told him to never trust anybody because everyone had their own motives and goals. And trust only led to heartbreak and becoming a pawn. He had been a fool. Looking now at the bleak future ahead he straightened his back and waited for the deal to happen.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡®We will do as you ask. I will give you my nephew, just like you have asked. But know if he ever frees himself of you, you cannot ask for him a second time for then he is Sidhe and no longer human.¡¯, Sean Mac Lir told the head knight looking straight into his eyes.


    Sir Lorenz knew he should have felt triumph but he didn¡¯t a cold feeling sinking into his stomach.


    Those words had sounded far too much like a curse of old and the part of him that remembered his grandmothers hushed voice when she had told him the old legends of the Sidhe. Suddenly he was again the small boy hiding from the shadows the fire had painted. Fear. He recognized. And the recognition made him angry. Anger was a much easier feeling to cope with. And looking for a victim to release some of the tension those two emotion had created he looked at Ian, who stood in front of him his eyes cast down but his posture straight infuriatingly unbroken.


    A cruel smile grazed his lips. ¡®Come on, boy. You see how much you are worth to your so-called relatives. But what else is there to expect from creatures old enough to be the stuff the fairytales are written about them. Old devils. Not as bad as demon vermin, but not by far. Let¡¯s try and make an upstanding knight out of you.¡¯, he said in his mind already planning a torturous training regime to make him obedient and forget his accursed fey blood. The boy would curse the day he was born before long. He turned to take the boy without so much as a good-bye to the arrogant Fey prince he feared and despised with all his heart. Happy to have had the last word.


    They had nearly left the ship when a voice behind him said ¡®In your own interest, be careful what you wish for and who you are insulting. Old magic remembers.¡¯


    The head knight turned to see who had spoken and immediately wished he hadn¡¯t done that. Ian, too looked back. Both the Sidhe prince and the Kelpie next to him had dissolved their glamours. The eery white horse and his master shone in a blindingly bright light. It was Ian¡¯s first time to see a high Sidhe without glamour. And like the head knight¡¯s grandmother had warned the true form of a high sidhe was not for the mortal eye to see or mind to comprehend. Beautiful and horrifying at the same time. In Ian it formed a deeper understanding for who he was. In the head knight it planted the seed of madness. A deep part of Lorenz knew he would never get rid of this picture in his head.


    And as he shuddered, he heard a laughter so haunting, he knew even though he had thought he had won instead he had lost. When he turned, he eyes found Ian¡¯s black eyes that now looked to him as if he was gazing into the abyss.

 11 Faolan

    The march of the group was solemn. Everyone deep in thought or still reeling with what had happened mere moments ago. The knights sneaked glances at Ian, who walked in their midst like a foreign body, outwardly eerily relaxed again. His presence a constant reminder of what they had felt earlier. It didn¡¯t help, that his own aura, though much weaker tugged on their overstimulated senses. In the centuries since the last Sidhe had walked the mortal real unveiled the memories of them had waned and most people had thought the old tales to be exaggerated.


    But now, it didn¡¯t seem like that had been the case. Rather it seemed like they had been overconfident fools. The old magic was far from dead.


    Head knight Lorenz¡¯ mind drifted even further, as a man who had been let on many more secrets than his brothers, he reevaluated many his believes. If one Sidhe could send his battle-hardened warriors to the ground with only lifting his veil, what would have happened if he tried. His gaze wandered to the boy, no the Sidhe, beside him. He was of the same blood as the prince. Hell, he was a prince himself. And even if he was half-human, that half was not weaker as he was a seventh son of a seventh son. ¡®What kind of monster am I bringing back to our order. Against his will, mind you. I wonder if it was really a good idea to force matters in this case. I will take precautions against his powers. Everything will be good, just like it has been with that girl.,¡¯ he tried to reassure himself, though his gut was still filled with ice.


    It wasn¡¯t long before they reached the orders flag ship, the Righteousness, that lay between her two sister ships the Resilience and the Resolve, that had been blocking the harbours entrance before. The Head knight left to report to the bishop motioning the knights to stay on the quay with Ian. Nobody seemed to want to take the place beside Ian until young knight from the very back of the group made his way to the front and placed his hand gently on the boy¡¯s elbow. Almost respectful.  Leaving him much more room to breathe. Ian shot a look back to where the Feodora had anchored only to find the place empty and the ship well on its way out of the harbour. His uncle had left. Now everything was in his hands. Again, his resolve threatened to weaken at the tall task he was faced with. Especially now, that he stood before the giant warship, that dwarfed his uncle¡¯s ship by about three times.


    ¡®She is a beauty, isn¡¯t she?¡¯, the young knight beside him asked his golden eyes hefted on the Righteousness¡¯ tall figure.


    Ian looked at him, surprised by the friendly tone and nodded, ¡®That she is. Imposing.¡¯


    ¡®Not quite as fast as the prince¡¯s Sidhe vessel, I bet. My gran always said the Sidhe¡¯s ships could sail faster than a storm and appear out of thin air. Just as magical as the Sidhe themselves, she said. Did know an awful lot, my gran, you know, worked as a healer. Used the bid of fey blood she possessed for the people of her village. Never thanked her, always feared her, feared us. Didn¡¯t matter to her, though. Saved many people, until she couldn¡¯t save a Duke¡¯s daughter. The order did save me than, me and my parents. Couldn¡¯t do anything for her, though, burned her on a pyre they did.¡¯, the knight told him in a whisper ¡®I¡¯ve been in the order ever since. To pay back the debt of my life they said. More like using my powers inherited from her for their goals.¡¯


    ¡®Knight Faolan, if you like the recruit so much, maybe you want to share your cabin with him then?¡¯, head knight Lorenz asked in a growl walking up to them. Then looking sternly at his other knights ¡®It seems like there is a reason, why we need our special recruits. Since all our pure-blooded human recruits seem to be afraid of a Sidhe that only a mutt with fey-blood didn¡¯t shrink from duty. I guess it¡¯s good for them to share quarters then, I wouldn¡¯t want to rob you of your sleep.¡¯


    Ian who had winced at the term mutt looked at Faolan who wore a stoic expression. ¡®He is used to it.¡¯, he thought and even though it might be an act to get him to trust the young knight, he didn¡¯t believe it. His new senses picked up a slight rise of magic in the man beside him, barely detectable, so miniscule he wouldn¡¯t have felt it if Faolan¡¯s hand hadn¡¯t still been on his arm. ¡®Interesting.,¡¯ he thought his black eyes calculating as he held the young knight¡¯s golden gaze. Maybe these tensions were something he could use. He would observe and plan, though his time limit of 20 days was rather short considering he had to break free and somehow meet up with his uncle in the middle of the sea. Not to mention he had to figure how to do that. 20days until his uncle would break his oath. 20days to be on the island of Tir na nOg.


    ¡®Come on, princeling, the bishop wants to see you. Faolon, you can accompany your new bunk mate.¡¯, Sir Lorenz ordered and then with a cold gaze towards the other knights he said ¡®Scatter, make yourselves useful.¡¯ As if they were children not knights. ¡®No respect.¡¯, Ian thought looking at the begruntled looks the knights shared. There was something rotten in this order, he noted.


    Without further ado Faolan and Ian followed the head onto the tall ship. The moment he stepped on its planks Ian jolted as a hostile aura seemed to seep out of the wood. Then he saw it. Everywhere across the Righteousness¡¯ surface were intricate inlays holy symbols in silver and iron.


    The stay abord would be harder than he thought. He could already feel the symbols press down on his Sidhe nature.


    He purposedly let his step falter for a moment before seemingly steadied himself as if he had been thoroughly affected by the symbols. Being seen as weaker than he was could serve him well, when he escaped. After the first effect had hit him by surprise, he felt near to nothing a constant hum, a slight strain, but nothing his magic couldn¡¯t cope with. Noting that Sir Lorenz and the rest of the knights abord watched him closely, he smiled inwardly. He wanted to be underestimated. The only one who didn¡¯t buy his act was Faolan. A small wink told Ian as much. He really needed to make this man take his side because if not it would be much harder not to be caught redhandedly.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    They reached the bishop¡¯s quarters after passing several knights who stood guard. They let them through but radiated readiness, Ian noted. An intricate double-leaf door heavily ornamented with iron and silver inlays protected by two knights in full-plate-amor gleamed in the sunlight. The holy symbols here added to the pressure and Ian was honestly relieved it wasn¡¯t him who had to knock on that door. On this ship in front of that door he felt weak for the first time ever since his thirteenth birthday. It was his first time his Sidhe blood had him at a disadvantage. Thinking about it he shot a look at Faolan on whose forehead a bead of sweat had appeared. His fey-blood handicapped him, too, more pronounced than his own it seemed.


    Shortly after the head knight¡¯s knock the bishop called for them to enter and the last pair of guard knights opened the door.


    The room was lavishly furnished akin to a palace rather than to practical ships cabin. Ian disliked it immediately overladen with splendour too pompous. It left a bad taste in his mouth. The church that preached about helping the helpless and watched them starve in the streets whilst affording such surplus of wealth. Hypocritical at least.


    The bishop was an ascetic looking man with too much jewellery. His thin fingers looked like they were about to break under the sheer weight of his rings and his thin frame drowned in his fur coat. If not for his hard and unforgiving expression he would have looked ridiculous, but now he looked dangerous like a man who had fun at seeing people suffer.


    The thin smile which he wore on his lips looked rather painted than genuine as it never reached even near his eyes.


    ¡®It seems like the peasant boy mother church has send us out to catch is hidden royalty. A prince of the Sidhe. I am honoured to make your acquaintance, your royal highness prince Ian Mac Lir. My name is Bishop Theodorus Malus of order of the holy cross.¡¯, he said in a voice that sounded like it was used to give orders. A very warlike voice for a priest.


    ¡®An honour, your eminence.¡¯, Ian answered with a slight nod, ignoring the offered hand with the silver ring he was supposed to kiss. He knew he would have had to kiss it, if he hadn¡¯t been royalty and technically higher in rank than the bishop before him. His uncle had told him to avoid any action his magic could interpret as submission or an oath. For though he didn¡¯t yet feel the full compulsion of such actions as he would if he was sixteen, but it could still have hampered his freedom considerably. The bishop nodded and smiled knowingly in return.


    ¡®I see. Your uncle took time to teach you at least the basics rules of the political games we play. A shame it would have been much easier, if you had spent your time abord the Feodora less studiously.¡¯, the bishop declared in an amused tone ¡®But that makes it only more fun to deal with someone of your pedigree.¡¯, he nodded before turning to his head knight and asked ¡®You brought our other special recruit? That means you want them to share an accommodation?¡¯, and added as the knight nodded ¡®Good idea. Maybe that will let us have an easier time with both.¡¯, then he smiled diabolical at Ian and ordered ¡®Since his Highness Ian is royalty, we should offer an adequate place for them to stay. I thought about the ornamented chamber for high ranked guests. We should offer any protection we can. So that nothing untoward happens.¡¯


    Ian¡¯s stomach roiled at the mentioning of protection, ornamented and untoward in that particular tone. He was quite sure it meant sleeping in a lavish room where every centimetre was clustered with silver and iron holy symbols and extra guards at the door. His status protected him somewhat but also opened the door for the many mean niceties that every high-ranking hostage got to know when living with another clan. And placing Faolan with him was a barely concealed way to show the bishop didn¡¯t trust the other fey-blood either.


    But maybe he could make that work as an advantage, since the only person, who was able to really see through his sidhe magic would be positively pissed at the order, even more than he had already been. Ian smiled and acted ignorant, thanking the bishop though avoid phrases that implied obligation or real gratitude.


    After a few more or less overt attempts to change that the bishop released them and ordered Sir Lorenz to guide them to their new quarters. Ian was quite relieved, that though he had been completely right about the interior design of his new accommodation, the added strain was minimal at least for him. Faolan was however far more bothered and blanched upon laying his eyes on the room¡¯s protections.


    The door had barely closed as he sighed ¡®How am I supposed to even breathe in here. It feels like there¡¯s a horse sitting on my chest.¡¯, and added much quieter ¡®And how comes you are completely unbothered.¡¯ ¡®Not completely.¡¯, Ian answered in a hushed voice ¡®There¡¯s a strain, but that¡¯s about it.¡¯


    Faolan nodded ¡®Royalty, just like gran said. I know what to do.¡¯, then sinking on one knee he took his sword out of his belt and presented it on both of his hands and pledged ¡®I, Faolan of the green oak, pledge myself to thee, my liege, your royal highness prince Ian Mac Lir. I will be your vassal, your sword and shield.¡¯ The flabbergasted Ian could feel the old magic take hold and responded the way his uncle had taught him. He had laughed when his uncle had him learn the answer to that particular pledge as one of the first things after he had recognized him officially as part of the family, which had been the first time Ian had felt the old magic take hold in him. That time it had been the acceptance of his name and the legacy it carried. This time it was a vassal oath that would make him to Faolan what Sean was to Ron. The fixpoint of his magic, his very core, which was about to be connected to the royal line of Manannan Mac Lir.


    And when Ian accepted with a surreal feeling ¡®I, Ian Mac Lir, prince of the Mac Lir lineage accept you, Faolan of the green oak, as my vassal, my sword and shield.¡¯, two things happened first Faolan¡¯s dormant core snapped into life fuelled by the injection of high sidhe magic and the knight fell down on his knees as he shifted into a wolf pup in the size of midsized pony, his fur the same sandy brown as his hair in human form. Ian who was beyond wondering said in a deadpan ¡®That certainly explains the golden eyes.¡¯


    With a shake an equally bewildered Faolan returned to his human form and said ¡®That was unexpected.¡¯, before both of them sank onto the bed in the middle of the room. Without bothering to undress, as they were thoroughly exhausted from the highly magical ritual held in the worst place possible. ¡®At least I am no longer alone.¡¯, was the last thought both had before falling asleep as their heads hit the cushions.

 12 minutes like hours

    A loud knock at the door made Ian jump into an upright position. Beside him Faolan woke up with a snarl showing very inhuman fangs. Ian looked at the young knight with a raised eyebrow and asked ¡®Are you going to act like a guard dog now? I thought we might try to hide our cards a bit longer.¡¯, he didn¡¯t know why, but he knew he needn¡¯t be afraid or guarded towards his vassal. The connection that had been formed by the pledge remained like an undercurrent. Always there but not really noticeable until he focussed on it.


    Faolan scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed and slightly nervous about this new instinctual behaviour of his. It was unsettling how it felt like the canine part, that had led to his transformation the evening before, had just clicked into being felt like it had always been there. It felt right, like something that had been missing all his life. For the first time he felt whole. But snarling and baring his teeth were definitely not a helpful behaviour in their situation. ¡®Sorry.¡¯, he mumbled his golden eyes avoiding his lord¡¯s dark gaze.


    Ian in turn felt suddenly self-conscious, why had he called the young knight out for something like this? The correction had felt natural like when he had talked to his brothers, when everything was still alright between them. Faolan felt like family to him. Even if he only had known him for such a short time. That was unsettling but oddly reassuring at same time. Now he understood his uncle¡¯s trust in Ron. There was no doubt. But they had been friends before. Ron would have, no had sacrificed everything he had out of loyalty to his friend. Was it really ok to trust a stranger like that only due to a magic bond. Something neither of them understood? Not fully, at least.


    Another knock, louder this time, woke them out of their revery.


    ¡®Yes?¡¯, Ian called after he and Faolan shared a look and the knight had nodded, motioning Ian to act. It seemed like the young prince was to be their primary spokesperson.


    ¡®Sir Marek is here to guide you to the mass, your highness.¡¯, one of the guards told them as he half entered the quarter. Ian shrugged. He was still not used to this whole your highness stuff. His uncle and Ron had trained him to act the part, sure, but in his heart, he was still a peasant boy. Though his sidhe instincts helped in incorporating the lofty existence he was supposed to be.


    ¡®Let him know, that we will shortly be able to depart.¡¯, he answered fully knowing, that the knight outside believed himself higher ranked than him, title or not.


    Ian smiled, as remembered one of his uncle¡¯s teachings. They had spoken about how to act in a hostage situation when the one holding him hostage knew who he was. ¡®Let them wait for you. That¡¯s the easiest way to establish dominance whilst wearing a title protecting you. Not too long, but enough to let them feel it.¡¯, his uncle had told him. ¡®Why should I? People don¡¯t like waiting. And if I am already in a tight place wouldn¡¯t such behaviour make it worse?¡¯, Ian had asked only to see his uncle smile. ¡®One would think so. But the truth is if you simply let them do as they please, if you let them hurry you, you loose standing. You are right it is a gamble. But insinuating a concept of power in your enemies¡¯ minds is just as important as real prowess on the field. Don¡¯t overdo it but never be a push-over, otherwise they will do with you as they please. Always remember politics are a game. Strategies are central.¡¯ Ian had nodded hoping not to need that knowledge for some time. But here he was. Counting inwardly to 30 he straightened his gown and nodded towards Faolan, before calling out ¡®Open the door. We will now depart.¡¯


    The knight complied visibly surprised by the confident order. ¡®The boy treats us as if I was really a guard to protect and not to watch him.¡¯, he thought deeply impressed by the young prince¡¯s calm and confident demeanour. The lack of any arrogance in his friendly smile deepened the impression of competence. The guards felt seen. An impression that was oftentimes absent when dealing with their superiors. And that planted exactly the image Ian wanted to create in the guards¡¯ minds. Both would talk to their colleagues about him. In an impressed and positive manner.


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    Sir Marek was less impressed and watched the way Faolan, a knight, he himself had mentored and who had served under him as a squire, stood protectively behind Ian only half a step away. Just like he, Marek, had done it so often when guarding the bishop. His brows furrowed, as the second in command and the orders spy master, he had been let in on the bishops plan to control both sidhe by pairing them. He had been against it. Faolan had never been a strong believer, but always loyal to those he thought worthy of his trust. And that particular trait coupled with the young Sidhe¡¯s charisma was a dangerous combination. He had voiced it, told them, that Faolan was not ready yet. But his superiors had just laughed at him. They didn¡¯t see any danger even if they worked together against them. He scoffed at the thought. That was hubris. He knew it and it hoped that Lorenz and the bishop knew it too, after yesterday at least.


    His eyes found his former pupil¡¯s gaze it was¡­ different¡­ the Faolan he knew had always had a slightly defiant but submissive gaze. Had always begged for his approval. Like a young hunting dog. Something he always known and had used as a handle to manipulate him. To make him obedient. Like it was his speciality.


    Whenever the order had a special recruit, they were given to him or his master. To break them in. Just like he had been years ago. He had wanted to groom Faolan to do just that. His intelligence and talent would have been ideal for that, if not for the wildness in his eyes, that never quite left. Those feral golden eyes.


    Now these unsettling eyes held none of the traits he had cultivated in them, only wildness and a sense of betrayal. Faolan felt betrayed by him. Marek gulped when he saw his mentee shielding the prince from him. A trust was in those eyes when he looked at the other Sidhe, that he, Marek, had never quite achieved. After not even a day of knowing each other, a pang of jealousy reached his heart. It seemed like they were going to develop something real. Something, he would never have. A sense of loss filled him, now that he had lost the only apprentice, he had ever deemed worthy of succeeding him in his line of work. And lost he had him. If he ever had had him, a little voice in his head mocked him.


    Marek closed his eyes for a moment and then looked at his former apprentice protecting the one he had been told to take on next. Maybe that could become his new leverage using Faolan¡¯s loyalty to the fey prince to bind him again. A smile crept across his face. He had always liked a challenge and that Sidhe knew how to play. Letting him wait. Unsettling him and elevating the guards. Maybe now he could have two competent knights instead of one. Because a knight that princeling would become. Marek could see it with his own special gift, that had landed him with his master. His witch blood and future sight.


    Ian and Faolan followed Sir Marek in total silence. Every now and then they could feel the gaze of the knight¡¯s silvery grey eyes. Faolan, knew his old master was scheming something and he knew that that was never good. Seeing it was him who was sent to fetch them, the third ranked individual in the order, he knew that Ian was to be his next mentee. The thought made his canine side growl. Faolan only just so could stop the sound from his throat. Being that spider¡¯s mentee was not something he wished for anybody, least of all Ian. His time with him taught him everything he knew about why he hated the church. Again, he had to suppress a snarl. These new instincts, that made him connect with his feelings so much deeper than he had in years, were troublesome. He liked how he felt like himself again but knew it was trouble, especially around that man, who new him far too well. No good would come out of this.


    Ian watched the silent interactions with rapt attention. ¡®Very interesting.¡¯, he thought, if he didn¡¯t trust Faolan and his pledge, he would have been very worried about the tension between the two. They knew each other clearly better than a simple knight should know his commander. That made him think of the way Lorenz had singled out Faolan the day before. Like he had done that many times before. He would have to ask his knight about it. They had clearly tried to trap him. And Faolan had known about their designs, but had instead bound himself, his very core, to him. Not that he was against it, but he wondered why.


    After about two minutes that had felt like hours they reached mass. It wasn¡¯t big and clearly designed to only cater to the higher ups. Lavishly furnished. And just like his and the bishop¡¯s quarters far too big to fit on any ship. How hypocritical of the order, the church, to condemn magic but use it for comfort and power. And for less benign things Ian could imagine.


    His eyes scanned the room registered the show of power that was presented to him here. It was deliberate, he knew. Then he looked into Theodorus Malus calculating eyes, smug smile and knew his mission to escape had just gotten much harder.

 13 changes

    Ian had been right with his premonition. The bishop had made their lives much more difficult. It had had been nearly a week, since that first morning in the mass and the young Sidhe had been nothing if not busy. It seemed like the knight, who had been instructed to fetch them on that morning, Sir Marek, had been instructed to work them, mainly Ian to the bone.


    After assessing his prowess with a sword, which was good for someone, who was a total beginner, but nothing when it came to the orders expectations, he had him spar against Faolan. And the young knight, who had been squire to this perfectionistic knight, was one hell of a fighter. Even when he tried to hold himself back, what was not easy at all for the newly awakened Fey, who had a suddenly gained a new level of strength and athletics, as well as instincts who didn¡¯t care for slowing down at all, he left his liege bruised and battered. Something Marek and Lorenz watched gleefully. But under duress Sidhe tend to grow.


    There was a reason young Sidhe were not cuddled. Their powers tended to not show themselves if not put under a considerable amount of stress. And even though Ian cursed the harsh training regime that left him no time to hash out a plan to escape he could feel his body grow stronger, his reflexes and mind sharper. The magical iron and silver shackles the bishop had gifted him on the first morning drove his magic to retaliate. Which would have been good if he didn¡¯t know, that his magical leeway in regard to things such as lies, as well as his human-side¡¯s resistance towards the same metal he was forced to wear, were shrinking. Ian could feel it. He was well on his becoming a full Sidhe just like his uncle had predicted.


    But he wasn¡¯t the only one changing. In step to the maturing of his own magic the bond to Faolan grew and the young Fey changed. As if the quality changes towards high sidhe magic in Ian triggered an evolution from a simple shape shifting fey, who were somewhat low in the ranking of the Sidhe to something more. Just today Ian had been woken up by Faolan who had cursed out loud when he had looked in the mirror.


    It had still been dark outside so the only light in the room had been coming from the young knights glowing golden eyes. A perfect dark sight had come with the change. That was good as he matched Ian now in that trait, whose black eyes could see in the pitch like it was day. But Faolan had needed several tries to turn the eery glow, that frightened himself off.


    The fear didn¡¯t help a whole lot in this endeavour, since the glow and all his instinctual powers were linked to strong emotions. ¡®Everyday something new.¡¯, Ian commented dryly when he discovered the second change to his new friend¡¯s appearance. A streak of green hair had found its way into the knight¡¯s sandy locks. They had braided his hair so that most of the colour was hidden. Faolan was on the edge about everything that happened to him. That was so far out his control.


    Ian could not comfort him. He was even more beside himself. Green hair. This colour hinted at something, Ian had been ruing ever since his friend¡¯s first change. The young knight, who like himself liked humans was turning into one of the feared Cu Sidhe. Fey dogs who grew up to a bull¡¯s size and could kill with their bark. And were utterly bound to their masters, just like Kelpies were. He would have more than a vassal in Faolan. The young Sidhe would have something akin to a loyal dog.


    Ian hated the idea of having that much power over a friend. But his royal Sidhe magic did its own bidding, caring little about what its vessel thought. The old magic acted on potential. It acted in the best interest of those it favoured most. Such as the royal lines. Those who produced the old magic, by being alive. Even if it had to act against said persons will. It wasn¡¯t cruel for it knew no morals. He had seen the consequences of its acting. The bitterness when Ron felt the weight of its chains on him, chains that bound him to Sean. A man who was everything to him. A man who was bound so deep to the old magic it was illuminating his true form from the inside. Filling him completely, changing him to act like Sidhe did, like the old magic did. Completely unapologetic.


    That made Ian fear for them. For Faolan who would be bound in such a way and for himself who would one day stop fearing and loose the last vestiges of his humanity. Rather sooner than later.


    The knights didn¡¯t know they were hurrying him in his evolution. They had done the whole process with several other special recruits in the history of the order.


    But none of them had been high sidhe. None of them had been awakened to their Sidhe powers.


    The clanging of weapons resounded through the training hall abord the Righteousness. Ian and Faolan were sparring and Ina was losing bitterly, again. Faolan manoeuvred the young Sidhe through the ring like he was leading him through a complex dance. The young prince knew that the older fey could have ended this spar several times already. He didn¡¯t do that because he wanted to give his lord at least some face. Ian knew that, too and hated it. But if he couldn¡¯t even land a single hit on his friend, there wasn¡¯t much Faolan could do besides giving him the chance to improve by not cutting him down directly. The thirteen-year-old gritted his teeth. It was frustrating. He knew if he let loose, he would have a chance, but he wasn¡¯t sure whether he could do that with his shackles on. They were burning his arms. It was a constant pain he hadn¡¯t quite got used to.


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    His mind drifted away from the fight, his eyes unfocused and that was all that was needed. While his friend did give him time to improve, he didn¡¯t tolerate any loss of focus. His protectiveness wouldn¡¯t let him slack in protecting Ian. And protection meant best-possible chances of self-defence. And a swift correction, when the boy in his care slacked.


    One fast step forward and a quick rotation of his sword against Ian¡¯s, that was sent flying, alongside its owner, who suffered a quick kick against his now unprotected chest. Ian looked up at the furiously gleaming eyes of the fey knight, who now stood over him. Clearly pissed at his failure.


    ¡®Stop gawking and get to it again. You won¡¯t get any better with the sword from just laying around and doing nothing, princeling.¡¯, Marek chided Ian who still lay on his back, Faolan¡¯s sword tip against his chest. The tenth time that morning. Gritting his teeth more due to the words than to real pain, which had already been healed by his hyperactive old magic, he stood up and raised his dull sword. Even the practise weapons though dulled were made from the same precious alloy the real swords were. Three parts cold iron, two parts hallowed silver. It burned in his hands. Faolan had had real burns after his first awakening and wore now leather gloves, a luxury the order didn¡¯t afford to squires. That meant Ian¡¯s hands burned worse with every time his magic healed him. But it didn¡¯t bother him now, not much at least.


    He faced Faolan again, getting in fighting stance watching every move of his sparing partner. Determination and something wilder finally awoken under the thinning veneer of his human form illuminated the black eyes of his with an eery glow, fangs unconsciously bared, Ian now looked anything but human. Faolan in turn grinned ¡®Seems like you are finally starting to take this serious.¡¯, he quipped, his own eyes beginning to glow ever so slightly.


    Then as if suddenly unchained Ian jumped and he fight unfurled. Nothing reminded of the rather tame sparring minutes ago.


    Now they traded blows at an unpreceded speed, sparks flying from were the dull blades met. Ian was still on the backfoot, but now one could see him improving by the second. The young sidhe lost, still, but this time he did care. A low growl escaped his throat, when he was driven back to the very border of the ring. Using all his strength he pushed back, but couldn¡¯t quite match Faolan¡¯s strength. His shackles now gleaming as if heated in a smithy all over again. Ian¡¯s skin burned hissingly, but he didn¡¯t let up. Pushing even more power in his limbs. Finally landing a hit on Faolan. The young knight laughed throatily ¡®Finally. That¡¯s what I call a spar. No need to hold back, young one.¡¯ Then upping the speed again he easily overpowered Ian, who had to let go of his weapon lest he wanted to risk a broken wrist. This time the young didn¡¯t let up and evaded his attack with a quick dodge reaching with his other hand for his lost weapon. Faolan tried to kick it away but wasn¡¯t fast enough and Ian got up his sword still in his left hand. Before he could switch it over to his dominant hand again Faolan attacked swiftly. Ian parried with his left hand whilst trying to grapple the taller knight with his right hand, aiming to upset his balance. Faolan avoided his try easily, but smiled ¡®Good try. Maybe we should give you two short swords instead of one long sword. You seem nimble enough to dual wield.¡¯ Then he used Ian¡¯s own grappling to unbalance the younger man making him stumble, so that he could shove him again. And for the eleventh time this day Ian found himself flat on his back.


    ¡®Finally. Some improvement.¡¯, Marek said watching Ian get up on his feet again. Then he added ¡®I think Faolan¡¯s idea has merit, don¡¯t you think, Lorenz?¡¯  The head knight furrowed his brows but nodded, ¡®Dual wielding? That¡¯s quite a hassle, but the boy is young and nimble enough. Maybe we should let him try it.¡¯ And then with a grin ¡®Two swords mean double maintenance and double the work to master. You are going to hate Faolan for suggesting it. But I think you are going to be a menace on to field with it.¡¯ And with that their training regime was upped again. But against all odds two swords felt much more natural to Ian than one ever had. And over the next few days he finally developed his fighting style enough to make his sparing matches much closer calls, than before.


    After a week it finally happened, Ian could secure his first tentative win against Faolan, who smiled and congratulated him with a pad on his shoulder. Over the time their sparring matches had developed in such a clearly paranormal way, that many knights were now coming to watch them fight. Speed and strength, as well as their agility exceeded everything most of them had ever seen and the upper echelons approved the audience. They thought, if the knights saw what they would be up against when fighting Sidhe or demons, they could prepare better.


    But their fighting was not the only thing that changed. Faolan, now wore a scarf over his hair that was now nearly predominantly green. They had tried to shave it but after about ten minutes it had grown out again. At night he now oftentimes went to sleep in his human form, but woke up as something was clearly a Cu Sidhe.


    That made Ian worry, as well as their deadline, that was now only a few days away. He could feel the pull of his silent promise to his uncle, to not leave him hanging with his oath. But despite all their long nights of planning neither Faolan nor Ian had a solid plan. The fleet had left the harbour and sailed in the opposite direction from where Ian could feel his promises pull. It made him sick.


    Ian looked at the moon outside their quarters window.

 14 unexpected findings

    ¡®Come on, princeling, haven¡¯t got all day.¡¯, Marek said in his usual gruff tone. Faolan was not with them now since he was on watch duty. Ian threw a last glance at his friend, who was watching them from his post. It was dark outside, but with Ian¡¯s dark sight he could see his friends tense shoulders and gritted teeth from afar. It had been the first time, the Cu Sidhe had asked Marek to accompany Ian for his lessons. In the ways of the order. But Marek wouldn¡¯t have it. He cited the watch schedule instead, clearly not wanting to deal with both young men for this particular endeavour. Ian knew that and Faolan knew it, too. If it had been otherwise Marek would have had him excused without much effort.


    It was only railing watch. The most boring watch with the least responsibility. Most would have seen that as a degradation, but not Faolan, who was quite happy not to have much to do. He used that time differently, sure he stared at the sea and walked his rounds, but his focus was directed at his core. Surveying the changes and meditating to get his emotions under control again. It was slightly frustrating for a man who had always kept a tight lid on them to be flooded and influenced by the much stronger counterparts his Cu Sidhe side gave him, as well as its instincts. Not that accepting to be a Cu Sidhe, his childhood bogeyman, was easy on him. He had suspected it right away, but seeing it confirmed by his first full transition this night had still been a bummer. Even thinking about it let the monster in his chest raise its head in reaction to his rising emotions. Forcibly calming himself he focused on Ian¡¯s back disappearing from view.


    At least that was something that both his sides could agree on, it didn¡¯t sit right with him seeing him going there and he had to suppress a low growl. He knew his liege, no, his friend, was only touring the cells, but still, his hackles rose at the mere thought of the young sidhe coming near this unsavoury part of the ship. Because on the Righteousness were not only holding cells like on any other war ship, no, there were magically warded prison cells, that forced the inmates to take on their true forms. They were held like the slaves in freak shows. To hammer into the recruits¡¯ brains that the supernaturals were not human and that it was totally okay to treat them like animals. To either use them like Marek, Ian and him or hold them like cattle, if not outright kill them. Worst of all, Faolan knew most of the inmates were children, whose parents the order had killed. To weak and stunted in their growth due to the inability to change forms. And that thought finally overcame his resistance and a menacing growl escaped his throat his eyes glowing golden.


    It was dark in this part of the ship. Dark wood and iron bars, lined with silver runes. Little to no light besides the flickering sheen of the torches barely illuminated the cells. Misery lay over the whole area like a thick blanket. Chains rattled as the inmate in the nearest cell moved its body. His eyes fully capable of seeing in great detail in lowlight environments widened, when he spied what was held in this cell. A small dragon with bloodred scales and intelligent green eyes.


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    His instincts told him that this dragon was very young and the wrongness of seeing a child bound in chains cut his heart. ¡®That could have been me, if my brothers had had their way.¡¯, he thought grimly. Something about the dragons gaze made his old magic rise in his chest and suddenly he could hear a female voice in his head ¡®Hello, cousin. My name is Moira de Dun Scaich .¡¯, the dragon, he was sure said. ¡®Hello. I am Ian Mac Lir. Why are you calling me cousin?¡¯, he answered in his thoughts. ¡®Because we are, all High Sidhe are related. I am a halfling like you, though whilst your human half will be erased by the old magic, making you full Sidhe in no time, my other half will always brand me as lesser in the eyes of most High Sidhe.¡¯, she hissed into his thoughts, triggering the wish to hold up his arms in surrender, a wish he suppressed lest he wished to Marek¡¯s attention to their conversation. ¡®Touchy topic. I didn¡¯t know. I know so very little about the Sidhe. Never been there, you know, born and raised a peasant in this realm. It¡¯s been less than a month since my thirteenth birthday and all those changes.¡¯, he thought in a calming tone.


    ¡®Well, I suppose that explains that you didn¡¯t what I am. But what does a child like you on this ship on the other side of the bars?¡¯, she asked a curious feeling accompanying her thought.


    ¡®My human side is the seventh son of the seventh son¡­ according to human laws I am the church¡¯s property.¡¯, he answered sending the image of a shrug with his thoughts. ¡®Aren¡¯t you a special boy? Your birth will make you just as much of an outsider as I am. You are a crime by Sidhe law. Well not a real crime, but the high kings strongly suggested to abstain from creating one like you. Prophecy and all.¡¯, the dragon, Moira, quipped in his head. Ian¡¯s eyes widened slightly ¡®Prophecy?¡¯ he asked inwardly.


    But before the Moira could answer his question, Marek said ¡®I know a dragon is a fascinating sight, but we need to move on.¡¯, confirming that he indeed had been completely oblivious of their conversation. A fast ¡®I¡¯ll be back.¡¯ was all, Ian could send before the eye-contact broke.


    The other inmates where miserable, too, but none radiated the same terrifying intelligence the dragon had. They seemed to be broken beyond repair, nothing more than the beasts they appeared to be. ¡®No wonder.¡¯, Ian thought to himself, ¡®All of them had been captured young and held in their beast-forms since then, no communication or education only instincts overriding the higher intelligence they should have had. It was bitter. And he loathed this place out of the deepest part of his heart. They had to do something about it, just as they needed to find a way to escape. Then a thought broke through to the surface of his mind. ¡®Why not? Why not killing two birds with one stone?¡¯, he thought and had to suppress a grin. He had to talk to Faolan about his plan that walked the line between madness and genius.