Fearsome Magics by Jonathan Strahan

Author:Jonathan Strahan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
Publisher: Solaris

SOMETIMES SHE WONDERS whether things might have been different if not for her brother and father’s determination she wed John Bradley. For as the summer progressed she found herself meeting with Brendan in secret.

It was intoxicating at first, to have somebody so obviously in love with her. He was so handsome, so kind, so in love with the idea of her it was almost impossible to resist. Yet still some part of her held back. It wasn’t that she didn’t care for him: she did. Nor was it that he didn’t make her happy, or that his presence didn’t make her spirits lift: indeed when they were together she could almost convince herself she loved him as he clearly loved her. But each time they parted she felt that feeling slip away, replaced by a sick feeling she was betraying someone, although whether it was him or her she was never quite sure.

Sometimes she wondered why he couldn’t see it, couldn’t tell, and then she felt wicked, certain that it was her doing, that she was deceiving him. More than once she decided to break it off, and once even did, yet each time she saw him again, and her doubts fled. It was as if his love were enough for both of them when they were together.

Meanwhile Will watched her, seeking to catch her out. They had never been close, something in his nature making him jealous of her. Sometimes she wondered what it was that made him want her to marry John at all, although she knew the truth was simple: that he wished her to conform to his wishes, to do as she was bid.

And then, on the evening of the harvest, she and Brendan slipped away into the forest together. The night was warm, and as they walked they could hear the sound of laughter and music from the feast over the back. Yet as they reached the stream they heard a noise behind them, and turning, saw Will standing there.

“Will!” she said, in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

He laughed. “I would rather know what you are doing here, although I do not think it will take much unravelling.”

“Where I go is my affair.”

“Not when you go with this one.”

“It is not your concern, Will. Go back to the feast.”

He laughed. “Oh but it is my concern, sister. For you have been forbidden to walk out with this Irishman.”

At this Brendan stepped forward. “I have no quarrel with you, Will.”

Will looked at him as if seeing him for the first time. “No? Well I have a quarrel with you. Have you forgotten my sister is promised to another?”

“Promised by you,” Hannah said.

“Promised by our father. Or have you forgotten him?” Will said hotly, stepping forward. Beside her Brendan extended an arm, shielding Hannah from her brother, and as he did Hannah felt something shift, felt the way things moved around her. Perhaps Will felt it too, for he hesitated, then shook his head, and snorted.

“So it’s to be like that, is it? Well you’ve made your bed, Hannah, I hope you enjoy lying in it.

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