Dennis McKiernan - Once upon a Summer Day

Chelle and Borel looked at one another and broke into laughter, and Borel said, “It seems everyone we shared our shared dream with, shared the same dream with us.”

Liaze frowned and said, “Frere, you speak in riddles.”

Borel pushed out a hand and said, “As Chelle told Arnot, it is an effect of the spell she was under.”

At a questioning look from Celeste, Borel shrugged and added, “It will become clear when we tell our tale, but for now just call it magie.” He turned to Chelle and said, “Cherie, why don’t you begin?”

Chelle looked at the four eager faces before her, and took a sip of tea and then said, “It was the day of my majority, and my sire the duke had invited many folk to a gala in my honor. Fairies came on high-prancing horses bedecked with silver bells, and from the nearby town of Riverbend came merchants in broughams and…”

The next day, as all were sitting in Camille’s favorite gazebo, Scruff the sparrow suddenly began chirping, his attention focused on the grounds beyond. And across the hedge maze two iridescent-winged Sprites and a dark bumblebee came winging. And they flew to the railing and alighted-Flic and Fleurette and Buzzer-and all were as naked as the day they were born, but for Flic’s epee and belt, and the moondrop pendant Fleurette now wore, the pendant given Flic by King Arle. And Fleurette was definitely female, with her wee breasts and cleft groin; she had brown hair as did Flic, though her tiny locks held pale highlights within and fell down to the middle of her back. After introductions were made all ’round, Flic said, “We have talked it over, Fleurette and I, and if rings are involved in this silly human ritual you are about to undertake, Lord Alain, Lady Camille, well, hurm, we would be honored to bear them.”

The very next day, a long horn call in the distance announced the arrival of another rade, and, in cavalcade, up the length of the vale came slim, dark-haired King Valeray, his eyes piercing and grey, much as were Alain’s. And at his side rode Queen Saissa-slender, dark-haired, with arresting eyes of black. How these two could produce Borel with his ice-blue eyes and silvery hair, and Liaze with her eyes of amber and auburn hair, and Celeste with her green eyes and pale blond hair, none could say, though perhaps Fairies were involved, or so went the rumor.

In Valeray and Saissa’s entourage rode Hierophant Marceau-bald-headed and short and a barrel of a man and seemingly all laughter and cheer… when he wasn’t pontificating.

And when the king and queen came into the welcoming hall, awaiting them were two sons, two daughters, two daughters-to-be, as well as two Sprites and a sparrow and a humming bee.

Once again Borel and Chelle told their stories, and when they were done, Valeray said, “Rhensibe, Hradian, Iniqui, and Nefasi: four sisters, all acolytes of Orbane. And Rhensibe came after my old friend Roulan through his daughter. How cruel.”

“She also tried to prevent Borel’s happiness,” said Alain.

“What a terrible thing to do,” said Camille. “Four sisters, acolytes all, and out to gain revenge.”

Hierophant Marceau made a warding sign and said, “Mithras, protect us.”

Valeray looked at the rotund priest and then turned back to the others. “I knew of Nefasi. And after Saissa’s and my experience, and Camille and Alain’s as well, we were certain that Hradian was one of Orbane’s acolytes, too. But that there were two more…”

“Well, at least Rhensibe is dead, Father,” said Liaze, “thanks to Michelle and Borel.”

“Thank Mithras,” said Marceau, making another warding sign.

“Thank the Wolves instead,” said Chelle, “for they were the ones who did her in.”

They sat in silence for long moments, and finally Celeste glanced at Hierophant Marceau and turned to the others and said, “Since it seems we are here to witness Alain and Camille’s vows, let us all take another pledge upon ourselves: that we will do whatever it takes to rescue Lord Roulan and the others, and vow as well that we will do all in our power to stop Orbane’s acolytes from setting that vile wizard free.”

“Well, I do so pledge,” said Chelle, “and-”

Of a sudden there came the sound of shuttles and looms, and before the gathering stood three women: Maiden, Mother, and Crone; the Ladies Skuld, Verdandi, and Urd; the Fates Wyrd, Lot, and Doom.

Borel and Alain and Valeray stood and bowed, as did Flic. And Chelle and Camille and Liaze and Celeste and Saissa curtseyed, as did Fleurette. Buzzer was asleep, and so too was Scruff, and neither bee nor sparrow stirred. Hierophant Marceau did nought, for he had fainted dead away.

“Be careful what you pledge,” said the Maiden, Skuld.

“For we will hold you to it,” said the Mother, Verdandi.

“If not to the letter, at least to the spirit,” said the Crone, Urd.

Camille said, “ Mesdames, when I was searching for Alain, you did tell me that if Orbane ever escaped the Castle of Shadows beyond the Black Wall of the World, he would pollute the River of Time itself. And so, any pledge to keep that from happening seems worthy.”

“Indeed it is,” said Skuld, with Verdandi and Urd nodding in agreement.

“My Lady Wyrd,” said Borel, “since you see the future, have we a chance?”

“Better yet, have we time?” said Valeray.

Skuld turned up her hands and said, “I will not say what I have seen, only that a distant peril comes.”

“This will I say,” said Verdandi, “with the death of Rhensibe, you have seriously set back their plans, though you have also gained even more enmity.”

“And so, take care, beware,” said Urd, “for they will seek revenge.”

And the sound of shuttles and looms swelled, but Flic cried out, “Wait!”

Skuld and Verdandi had already vanished, but Urd yet remained, and she looked at the Sprite, an eyebrow raised.

“Begging your pardon, Lady Urd,” said Flic, “but I don’t think even for some unknown reason I would ever fall behind, and so I would appreciate it if-”

But with a cackle of glee, Urd vanished as well, as did the sound of looms.

The very next day, with the sun standing at the zenith-“A very auspicious time,” declared Hierophant Marceau, follower of Mithras that he was-in the flower gardens of Summerwood Manor a wedding got under way.

But for the kitchen crew, the staff of Summerwood Manor was present, for none would miss this occasion. Too, those who had accompanied Borel and Chelle from Winterwood Manor were in attendance, as well as Lord Valeray and Lady Saissa’s entourage. And the women stood on the bride’s side of the garden, and the men stood on the groom’s side.

Of Camille’s kindred none were present, for they were scattered to the four winds: Camille’s father, Henri, had run away with a circus and could not be found; her mother Aigrette was dead of avarice, for she had drowned in a so-called wishing well while trying to fetch coins; Camille’s beloved brother Giles was ruling an isle far over the sea; and of her five sisters, Colette and Felise and the twins Joie and Gai were all very afraid of Faery and hence would not come, and besides, they were occupied raising families; while Lisette-whose very rich old roue of a husband and his panting dogs had all died on the very same night of a mysterious stomach ailment, leaving behind a vast fortune-she was entirely too busy being squired about continental cities by a bevy of young and handsome and muscular men.

And though none of Camille’s kindred were there, all of Alain’s were.

As to the wedding party: at the fountain and to the left of Hierophant Marceau stood Alain, with Borel as his best man, and they were dressed in grey. Liaze and Celeste stood opposite, and they were joined by Chelle, maids of honor all and dressed in blue. And Lord Valeray and Lady Saissa were at the head of the spectators, Valeray on the groom’s side, Saissa on the bride’s.