DAVID A. GEMMEL. SWORD IN THE STORM

‘Where am I?’ he asked.

‘Home,’ she said. ‘You are home.’ Her green eyes filled with tears.

‘Whisht, woman! No point in tears. I’m not dying.’

‘You fool,’ she said, softly, wiping away the tears with the back of her hand. ‘That’s not why I’m crying.’

For a moment they sat in silence. Then he lifted his arm and drew her to him. ‘I love you, lass,’ he said.

‘And I you, foolish man.’

Vorna rose and, taking Bendegit Bran by the arm, led him from the room, pulling shut the door behind them.

‘Is my father going to be well?’ asked the golden-haired child.

‘Oh yes,’ she said. ‘They’ll both be well.’

The sun was slipping behind the western peaks as Vorna made her way to Banouin’s house. She still did not think of it as home. Somehow, without Banouin’s vibrant presence, and despite the abundance of furniture, rugs and ornaments, it seemed strangely empty.

Vorna took a deep breath and paused in her walk, as nausea struck her again. During the last month she had – despite the camomile tea – been lucky to hold down one meal in three. She leaned against the fence rail of Nanncumal’s paddock and closed her eyes. A cool breeze blew through her long black and silver hair. It was most refreshing.

As a witch Vorna had often experienced childbirth through the Merging, but – thankfully – had never had to suffer such sickness. For most women, she knew, nausea was commonplace in early morning. It usually passed swiftly, and was gone without too much discomfort. Others – and it seemed she was one – carried it like a curse. Vorna straightened. The ride out to Ruathain had unsettled her stomach and brought on a dull ache in her lower back. She stretched, and carried on walking.

The house was cool and she lit the fire in the main hearth. Suddenly she shivered, and looked round. There was no-one there. This surprised her, for, in that moment, she had felt certain she was not alone. Rising she moved across the room, pushing open the bedroom door. Moonlight was shining through the wide window, illuminating the broad bed with its patchwork quilt. But the room was empty. Again she shivered. ‘Who is here?’ she whispered. No answer.

Moving back to the hearth she sat down in Banouin’s favourite chair and closed her eyes. The powers the Morrigu had given her were gone now, but as a child she had enjoyed power of her own, a sensitivity to mood and atmosphere far beyond the norm. It was this that had allowed her to see Riamfada’s spirit moving among the Seidh. She sought that talent now.

Something was close. Demon or spirit? Sitting quietly she analysed her feelings. No, she was not frightened, therefore it was unlikely to be anything malevolent. A whisper of cold air brushed her brow. Then it was gone, and with it the emptiness returned to the room. Vorna opened her eyes. Just a passing spirit of the night, she thought, journeying to who knew where.

Vorna prepared herself a meal of boiled oats and milk then sat down once more, waiting for the bowl to cool. She thought of Banouin, wondering where he was at that moment.

She pictured him wearing the bronze brooch, with the blue opal. ‘It will bring you back to me safely,’ she said, aloud. ‘It is the strongest charm I possess.’

Taking up the porridge bowl she began to eat. Almost immediately the nausea came, and she put down the bowl and leaned back in her chair. A fluttering of wings made her start. A huge crow settled on the back of a couch and began to preen its feathers. Anger flared in Vorna’s breast, swamping her nausea.

The Morrigu was standing in the doorway, her ragged shawl about her shoulders.

‘What do you want?’ hissed Vorna.

The Morrigu advanced into the room and sat down opposite Vorna, reaching out her ancient hands to the fire. ‘Perhaps I just wanted company,’ she said, with a sigh. Resting her head on the back of the chair the Morrigu closed her eyes. ‘Eat your porridge,’ she said. ‘I have taken away your sickness.’

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193

Leave a Reply 0

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *