Fairy Tales for Modern Queers by Emily Reed

Author:Emily Reed [Reed, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

ISEULT BARELY stayed away two days after the troll incident. Her long hair was cut close on one side where her wound was, and a bandage covered the area. She was clean and well maintained, being a noble. As she had before, she rode up on her horse at top speed.

“Noll?” she called, seeing them wearing a tunic and working in the field. “Is Cateline all right after… after what happened?”

“I’m—she’s fine.” Noll turned away, hiding their face and eye from Iseult.

“I now owe both of you a debt,” Iseult said, stepping closer. “But I need your magic again. A portal to another realm has opened in the castle, and we are powerless to stop those who have come through and are attacking us. You and your sister are the only ones left with magic.”

“Because you burned all the others!” Noll exploded, turning on her in fury. Iseult looked alarmed, but anger was suddenly coursing through Noll’s veins. “How can you be so arrogant to think they will let me go, even if I stop the attack? They killed my mother, Iseult! Burned her at the stake because she had magic.”

Iseult didn’t seem to know what to do with this information. She stammered soundlessly for a moment, her mouth moving in a futile effort to speak.

At that moment Noll’s father entered the field, having heard the shouting. Noll heard him call out, and swore in panic.

“You have to go,” they hissed. “I can’t help you anymore.”

“But—”

“Is this why you’ve been leaving at all hours and shirking your work?” Noll’s father arrived and stood with his arms crossed, looking at Iseult in her armor standing in front of his teenage child. “So you can be with the likes of her? Haven’t I warned you about these people?”

“Watch your tone, peasant,” Iseult snapped.

“Father, it’s not what you think—” Noll started, but he cut them off, apparently having ignored Iseult’s warning.

“I don’t want to hear it, Cateline. She’s dangerous, you know that.”

Noll felt as though their heart might stop. They looked slowly at Iseult, whose mouth had dropped open in surprise.

“Iseult—”

“You’re Cateline?” she asked, eyes wide. “Noll?”

They were defeated. Unable to look at Iseult, they said, “My name is Cateline Noll. I lied to protect myself, but I did it badly and put my whole family in danger. I was afraid you’d report me for witchcraft.” Noll shuddered and realized that they were crying.

“That’s why you have to leave,” Noll’s father said forcefully. “We have to leave. You’ve exposed yourself to the world. We can’t stay here. You remember what happened in the last village. They took your mother.”

Iseult covered her mouth, and then shook her head. “I promise you I will not let that happen. But the kingdom needs you. I swear to you, no one will harm you. If they try, I will help you escape, and they can do with me what they will. Please, give our kingdom a chance to atone. You are our only hope.”

Noll looked at their father’s worn face, and then back to Iseult.

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