The Hag of Harrow by Sally Parker

Author:Sally Parker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: female protagonist, high fantasy, high fantasy novella, f/f, m/m, LGBT
Publisher: Parker Press
Published: 2022-02-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4

After Vere and Jiran had gone to bed, Foira told Elea and the others what had happened to Edgar, about the Harrow they’d encountered in the forest.

“Where is Edgar now?” Hanald asked.

“He’s with Armel, in the storage room,” Foira said. “I don’t think it would be a good idea for Vere and Jiran to find out about this.”

Elea nodded. “They wouldn’t respond well.”

“Can you and Armel find out more about the Harrow?” Hanald asked.

“Yes,” Foira said. “If it has the same name as the village, there should be something about it in the record. Focus on the hag, Armel and I will handle this one. Edgar is doing better already. I think he’ll be able to help us.” She went back into the storage room.

Elea worried all night. What was going to happen to Edgar? What was the Harrow? The next morning Foira wasn’t at breakfast. Neither was Edgar or Armel.

“My master faced the hag before,” Vere said. “I think it’s time you know what happened. She calls herself Fidelma.” He was telling them this now? If he’d known more about the hag, why hadn’t he said so before? “My master could not defeat her. He died of his wounds from the hag after sending her to sleep.” He looked at each of them. “We’re going to end the hag. I will not leave Harrow until she is stopped, for the village and for my master.” He stood and headed for the door.

The rest of them moved to follow. Foira came back out of the storage room and handed a small cloth wrapped bundle to Hanald.

“Wrap this around your leg,” Foira said. “It will help.”

Hanald looked about to protest, then nodded.

Foira was good at poultices. She’d learned from her mother. Elea noticed Hanald looked exhausted, like he hadn’t slept well. As the mercenaries split up into the village, she saw he was still limping. Hopefully the poultice would help. Elea found Alger and Cavan walking near the center of the village, far from the forest.

“Hanald looks very tired,” Elea said.

Cavan sighed. “I noticed that too. He seemed to be having nightmares last night, but he wouldn’t talk about them this morning.”

“Do you think Fidelma could have caused them?” Alger asked.

Cavan frowned. “We don’t know enough about her. There’s no knowing what she can do.”

Later in the day, Hanald collapsed near the well. It was Belinda who got to him first. Elea helped Belinda get Hanald back to his feet. He looked even more exhausted than he had earlier. Alger and Cavan joined them on the way back to the inn. Elea glanced around, relieved to not see Jiran or Vere watching. At the inn they sat Hanald down at a table.

“What happened?” Belinda asked.

Hanald didn’t say anything for a long moment. “I was more tired than I thought I was.”

“What sort of nightmares were you having last night?” Alger asked.

Hanald sighed, seeming to avoid looking at the rest of them. “I’ve been having nightmares about the hag, about Fidelma, since we fought her.

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