Avelynn: The Edge of Faith by Marissa Campbell

Author:Marissa Campbell [Campbell, Marissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-09-25T18:00:00+00:00

“Have you found the stones?” Alrik asked Angharad.

Close to noon, the army made ready to leave Dinefwr, but the three of us huddled around the table, the morð iniquitous between us.

I held the stones out to Alrik. “Angharad has provided an amethyst pendant and a curious white crystal.”

Angharad brushed her fingers across the coarse surface of the stone. “It was a gift to my mother from a monk traveling from the east. He had many curiosities in his collection. My mother took a shining to this one.”

The gem was round and smooth, no bigger than my thumb nail. The crystal had a hole drilled through the center. It looked like a pendant, but it was large, as long and thick as my thumb. I’d never seen a talisman like it. “How am I to wear it without drawing attention to it?”

“Use this.” Alrik rummaged in his satchel and pulled out a thin lace of deer pelt. He threaded the soft leather through the stone and tied the ends.

I lifted both the amethyst and crystal over my head. The stone settled near my sternum, and I tucked it beneath my kirtle. The gem sat higher, between my collarbones.

“What of the third stone?” Alrik asked.

“I will find it,” Angharad said. “I just need more time.”

“Thank you,” I said.

She smiled and gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. I returned my attention to the matter at hand. “I want this destroyed,” I said, pointing to the morð.

“Can it be done safely?” Angharad asked. “Destroying it might … hurt you further.”

“I’m sure if it was still efficacious, I would continue to experience the pain.” I pointed to the iron nails driven through the hay. At least I hoped that was the case.

“Was there anything in Muirgen’s book about how to destroy it?” Alrik said.

While Angharad had been running about finding the protective stones, I had pored through the book, looking for answers. “There’s a section on charms and fertility blessings. Nothing specific to curses or magic, but I think I found something useful.”

I pulled the book closer and scanned the page. I read the section aloud: “Beware the harlots and child-murderers, whoremongers, witches, and slain-choosers for they sing over herbs, make deals with the dead, and whisper evil and wizardry to the wind. Cast them out. Drown them in the river. Bury them alive.”

It was set apart from the rest of the text. “It’s a proclamation from a king’s charter, rewritten as a warning. Muirgen obviously included it here as a reminder to remain silent and keep our faith a secret.” It had nothing to do with the morð but it gave me an idea.

“How is that supposed to help?” Angharad pressed closer. Her breasts nestled against my back. I could smell the fresh, soothing scent of lavender. I flushed and looked at Alrik. I hadn’t told him what had happened between me and Angharad. I hadn’t meant to hide it from him, but with everything that had happened, it had slipped my mind. I wondered if, like Regin, he would enjoy watching.

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