Pure

After her tears calmed, Maigred tucked the leaf away in her pocket and hurried home.

She entered through the back, kitchen door, expecting the front door to have already been bolted and barred for the night. In the kitchen she found Eoghan and Aoibh at the doorway between the kitchen and the dining room, peering anxiously into the dining area.

Aoibh turned to look over at Maigred, apprehension clear on her face. She looked even more worried when her eyes fell on Maigred. “Are you all right?” she asked at the same time Maigred said, “What is it?”

Maigred made a dismissive gesture with her hand. “I’m fine. What’s happening here?” She went to Eoghan’s side and looked into the dining room. Her breath caught in her lungs. Finten was sitting at one of the tables, his back to her. In fact, everything looked exactly the way it had in her vision. Maigred looked down half expecting to see she already had the gifts in her arms.

Aoibh came up on the other side of Maigred. “He came in just after you left. He’s been drinking steadily since. He hasn’t said anything to anyone, but…well, I’m afraid what might happen if we ask him to leave.”

“Do you want me to go get…someone?” Eoghan asked in an uncertain tone.

Maigred’s hand found its way into her pocket, her fingers wrapped around the stone and squeezed it. I thought I would have more time to prepare.

Despite realizing she hadn’t lost her magic, and finding the conviction to do whatever it took to defeat the wyrm, she found all her anger and hatred towards Finten rising up in her chest again. She didn’t want to have anything to do with him.

“Maigred? Are you alright?” Eoghan asked.

Maigred swallowed. She forced herself to smile, then turned to face him. “I’m fine. Why don’t you two head up to bed? I’ll take care of this.”

Eoghan frowned uncertainly. “Are you sure? I can go get…I’m sure there’s someone who would help. Maybe some of the lord’s men?”

Maigred’s smile turned genuine. She laid a hand on the young man’s shoulder. “I’m sure. Everything will be fine.” She turned to Aoibh and laid a hand on her shoulder as well. “Really. I can handle this. You two head off to bed.”

They glanced uncertainly at each other, then looked back at Maigred. “If you’re sure?” Eoghan said.

Maigred laughed. She crossed her arms in mock anger. “What, you’ve decided to question my competency now? How many drunks have I tossed out over the years, and how many have I sent you off to deal with? Get to bed, you ingrates!”

They both smiled, their bodies relaxed.

“Goodnight Maigred.” Aoibh took off her apron and hung it on the hook next to the door.

Eoghan searched Maigred’s face one last time. “If you need anything, just call.”

Maigred nodded. Eoghan and Aoibh slipped quietly upstairs and Maigred was left alone.

She turned and looked at Finten again, noting his slumped posture and the shabbiness of his clothes. Caevah had never let him wear anything shabby or worn. That, at least was something that Maigred could do something about.

She turned to the large pantry where she kept a few stacks of clothing and bundles of food ready to go. She found a set of clothes that would fit Finten, then grabbed one of the bundles of food that were still left from that morning. She looked down at the little pile in her arms and swallowed. Am I really going to do this?

She shut her eyes and remembered again what had happened in the square that morning. It’s up to me to do something. She straightened her shoulders and walked out to the dining room. She rounded the table where Finten was sitting, her shoulders stiff and her jaw clenched. He had a cup and a large, fancy bottle of liquor that she didn’t recognize, it was two thirds empty. His golden eyes flicked up to meet hers. There was red in his eyes, but Maigred couldn’t tell how drunk he might be.

“Maigred,” he said in a low voice.

She was surprised he remembered who she was.

She set the little pile of goods she was carrying on the end of the table and sat down across from him. “Hello, Finten.”

“I’ve been thinking about you,” he went on.

Maigred raised an eyebrow, wondering where this was going. “Really?”

“Do you want a drink?” He asked pouring out some of the liquor into the cup. His hand only wavered a little. He pushed the cup across the table to her.

Maigred looked down at it.

“You should try it, it’s Hadeaon’s good stuff.” He lifted the bottle to his mouth and took a long swig.

Maigred lifted the cup and sniffed it delicately. She was surprised at the rich scent of the liquid. It must have been very expensive. “Is it poisoned?”

“What?” Finten asked frowning.

“Does it have wolf’s bane in it?”

“Oh.” Finten set the bottle on the table and shook his head. “No. It’s not poisoned.”

“How did you get this?”

“The bastard gave it to me. As a token of his appreciation for the ‘continued prosperity of our lands.’ ” He smiled bitterly.

Maigred set the cup back on the table. She didn’t want to drink anything that had come from Hadeaon. “How are you getting drunk on this if it isn’t poisoned?”

“It’s very strong, and I’m-” he stopped abruptly. “I’m not that drunk.” He lifted the bottle to his lips again.

Maigred let out a breath, her hands fisted under the table. How do I even begin to explain this? She wondered.

Finten set the bottle on the table again. “I’ve been thinking about you, Maigred.”

“So I heard.”

“Do you ever think about the old days?”

“Sometimes.”

Finten fixed his eyes on the table. “I keep remembering Hadeaon’s men dragging you into the manor, your broth-

“I don’t want to talk about that with you,” Maigred snapped, her throat suddenly tight.

Finten’s eyes lifted and focused on her. “I’m sorry, Maigred. For everything. If I could have stopped it, I would have.” He put a hand on the table and began pushing himself to his feet, but Maigred reached across the table and put her hand on top of his. His skin was cold.

Finten froze, his gaze fastening on her hand.

Maigred swallowed and pulled her hand back to herself. It’s up to me, she reminded herself. “I-I need to talk to you about something. Something else.”

Finten settled back into his chair, his eyes resting wearily on her face again.

“I-I went to the sacred grove tonight.” She swallowed. He’s going to think I’m crazy. “I had a vision, of-of…” She clenched her jaw, then pulled the little pile of goods to the center of the table.

Finten’s eyes dropped to the stack of gifts, his forehead creased slightly in a frown.

“The earth sister sent me to find you. I offer you the gifts of courtship.”

Finten’s entire body went ridged. His eyes snapped up to meet hers again. For one moment his face was open and vulnerable, he looked like he’d been punched in the gut; then his eyes went dark and closed again. His jaw clenched.

“I’m not toying with you.” Maigred said firmly.

Finten didn’t say anything for a moment, then he gave a sharp shake of his head. “No. I swore myself to Caevah. You…you were used. This won’t be blessed by the earth sister. It’s my job to keep our tie to the land alive till…” He stopped.

Maigred frowned. “Till what?”

His lips tightened.

“I told you, I had a vision. The earth sister sent me to court you.”

Finten stared at her for a moment. “What do you want from me, Maigred?”

Maigred’s frustration rose up in her chest. “I want you to stop bowing and cringing to the wyrm. I want you to be a protector again. I want you to accept my offer!”

There was a spark of anger in Finten’s eye as he looked up at her. Maigred realized she had stood up. “Wishing away the past doesn’t erase it,” he said bitterly before shoving his chair back and rising to his feet.

Maigred watched as he walked to the door of the inn. She wanted to scream at him, but there was nothing to be said. She’d offered him the gifts of courtship and he had rejected her. I should feel relieved, she reminded herself.

“You left your gift from Hadeaon,” she called after him.

“Keep it.”

Maigred’s hands fisted in frustration. “I don’t want it!”

Finten pulled the front door open, then turned to look back at her. “We don’t always get what we want, Maigred.” He stepped out into the night and shut the door behind himself.