The Selkie by Melanie Jackson

Author:Melanie Jackson
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: fiction
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.

Chapter Ten

Ruairidh and Cathair brushed noses and then stepped back the length of an arm to look at each other in the soft blue light that ruled in Avocamor. Both had shed their skins and were in human form. Ruairidh had requested this and some privacy because he felt that their conversation was to be most unselkie-like, and it seemed difficult to attempt it while in their sea form, or with any witnesses.

They sat down on the flat stones at the side of the tarn where the luminescent blue water danced. They took a moment to dispose of their unaccustomed clothing, tucking their robes up out of the water.

The son looked at his father and said in a neutral voice that belied his growing embarrassment, “Da, I think ye best tell me a wee bit about my mother.”

Cathair started, clearly shocked at the request, but Ruairidh went on anyway:

“The others ne’er questioned ye about yer lover—nor have I, for I ken well that ye may still miss her. But Irial wasnae just some village lass in Cornwall, was she?” Ruairidh paused. “And that, as much as tradition, is why ye never spoke of her tae us.”

Cathair continued to stare at his son for a long moment and then sighed in resignation. “Nay, she wasnae some simple village girl,” he confessed. He drew a slow, deep breath and then added, “Irial was sidhe, one of the Twlwyth Teg of Pendeen.”

“I thought she must hae been,” Ruairidh answered lightly.

Cathair looked at his son. “You guessed? It is true, then. Keir thought that ye’d found a mate while ashore.”

“Aye, and she isnae a village lass either.” Ruairidh smiled slightly at his father’s further shock.

“She is sidhe?”

“After a fashion. I am certain that she is MacFie and MacNicol.”

Cathair whistled through his nose. “Then she may well be NicnanRon. If this is true, then ye must have a care at the first mating and limit the salt that passes between yerselves. Sidhe can easily become poisoned, and strange things happen—” he began excitedly, rising to his feet.

“So I already discovered,” Ruairidh interrupted. His expression was slightly rueful as he said reproachfully, “Da, I know it is embarrassing to hae been with a sidhe, but ye should hae warned me. Hexy and I well nigh poisoned ourselves at the first joining. And she is definitely wi’ child, which I didnae intend to happen sae soon.”

Cathair laughed softly and sat down again on the glassy stone of pristine black that edged the tarn. “I am sorry, Ruairidh. I shouldnae laugh when ye are sae distressed, but this is delightful news—the best we’ve had in four hundred seasons. And I didnae look for any glad tidings until the Beltane eve. I shall go at once and see about procuring a skin for her and arranging a celebration. Samhain surrendered his when he had his memories bound and he went to live with his mortal, so we’ve one tae spare.”

“Thanks, Da, but there is nae need for haste. Hexy has not yet accepted who and what she is.

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