Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Author:Kersten Hamilton
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Published: 2012-01-09T16:10:47.955000+00:00

Thirteen

MAMIEO looked Finn over, head to foot. She shook her head. "Which part of 'bring Aileen's mortal remains' did you not understand?"

Finn folded his arms. "The part where they were scattered in the park," he said. "Making them difficult to gather."

The old woman turned to Teagan and Aiden, and her expression softened.

"It's sorry I was to hear about your dear máthair." She came down the steps and took Teagan's hand. Up close she was even tinier than Teagan had thought, but her grip was strong. "I loved Aileen like my own child. Though why my grandson is dragging you across the countryside ... shank's mare, by the look of it, I don't know."

"There's reason, Mamieo," Finn said. "The Highborn Sídhe are walking."

"May the Almighty be with us"—the old woman crossed herself—"and smite dead those who stand against us! Do you know this for certain?"

"One came into the Wylltsons' house," Finn said. "He carried John Wylltson away. We followed him to Mag Mell—"

"You did what?" Mamieo pressed her hand to her heart.

"We went to Mag Mell," Aiden said. "But we couldn't find Dad."

Mamieo swayed, and gripped Teagan's shoulder. "I need my nitro." Finn took the old woman's elbow and helped her up the steps.

"Come on, then," he said, and Teagan and Aiden followed them into the motor home. Inside, it looked like an Irish cottage, with lace curtains on the windows and a crisp doily on a small table. There was a bookcase that held every book Aileen Wylltson had ever written, and an ancient Bible under a crucifix on the wall.

Finn helped Mamieo to a seat at the table. She fumbled with a basket of pills, picked up a bottle, and held it at arm's length.

"Lord, would it be too difficult to make my arms longer, or my eyes sharper?"

"You could just wear your reading glasses on a loop about your neck," Finn said, "and let the Almighty worry about more important things."

"More important? Pha." Mamieo snorted.

"Let me help you." Teagan picked out the nitroglycerin bottle and opened it for the old woman.

"Thank you, dearie." Mamieo shook out a pill, put it under her tongue, and leaned back, eyes closed.

"That'll give her heart a jump." Finn sounded a little worried. "She'll be fine in a minute or two."

"And why wouldn't my heart need a jump?" She sat up, green eyes flashing. "Those that go to Mag Mell don't come back again, Finn Mac Cumhaill! And me that frail, that I couldn't come after you if I was needed!"

"Tea, Mamieo?" Finn asked.

"Of course we need tea!"

Finn took the kettle from the stovetop, filled it, and put it on the burner.

"Sit down, Aiden," Mamieo said, "and stop fidgeting."

Teagan lifted Aiden onto the bench seat. He scooted over to make room for her, then fixed his eyes on Mamieo.

"You're really wrinkled," he said.

"And you're a wee green pratie," Mamieo shot back. "Now—tell me everything."

Teagan started with the shadow touching her mother.

"And you saw this shadow, pratie?"

Aiden nodded.

"My poor Aileen," Mamieo said. "After all that time, the damn things came for her.

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