Dennis McKiernan - Once upon a dreadful time

“Mesdames,” murmured King Valeray upon straightening.

“Valeray,” said Verdandi.

“What would you have of us?” asked the king.

Verdandi looked at Urd, and she in turn peered at Celeste among the gathering and said, “The gray arrow?”

“It is in my quarters,” said Celeste. “Shall I fetch it? It is broken.”

Urd cackled and said, “Broken? Nay.” And with a gesture, of a sudden the arrow appeared in her hand, and even as she held it, the shaft became whole and its leaden point keen. Then she looked at it and murmured, “Even were I to let it stay broken, still it is too deadly to remain in mortal hands.”

“Why else have you come?” asked Borel, stepping forward.

Slowly Urd turned her head toward him and canted it to one side. “Just as when once I met you by a stream, ever bold, I see.

Questioning the Fates, are we?” And then she cackled in glee.

Borel pushed out a hand in negation, and Michelle looked at him quizzically.

“I believe what my son means,” said Valeray, “is-”

“We know what he meant,” snapped Urd, and she turned to Skuld.

“Yes, we came to give warning,” said Lady Wyrd, “and it is this: for a while there will be peace, yet upon a dreadful time yet to come you will all be needed, as will others. Heed me.

Stand ready and relax not your guard, for there will be a- Ah, but I cannot directly reveal what I have seen, yet know that one among you will be the key.”

“The key?” asked Camille.

Skuld looked at her and smiled and said, “The key.”

“So peril yet comes,” said Valeray, his words a statement, not a question.

“It does,” said Skuld.

“Be ready,” said Verdandi.

“And on guard,” added Urd, and her gaze swept across the gathering to momentarily stop upon Luc, and then moved to Camille.

And the sound of looms swelled and then vanished, and the Sisters Three vanished as well.

The gathering stood stunned for a moment, but then Valeray lifted his glass and, with a rakish grin, said, “Here’s to interesting times!” To interesting times! cried they all.

. .

“I do not understand what you are referring to,” said Simone, peering into her now empty cup and setting it back upon the saucer.

“Oh, Simone,” said Michelle, “Lady Wyrd said, ‘One among you will be the key,’ and Liaze’s Luc has the key, and Lady Urd’s gaze rested upon him just before the Three Fates vanished. Hence, perhaps that’s what she meant when she gave us that warning.”

In that moment a gong sounded.

. .

“Ah,” said Valeray as the distant echoes died, “dinner, my lads.

Let us hurry and fetch the ladies from the green room and get to the board, else the chef will be most upset.” As they filed out from the armory, Blaise said, “I think Laurent is right: let’s hunt down this bitch Witch Hradian and kill her outright. Then Orbane will have no acolytes at all, none to attempt to set him free.”

As the ladies waited to be collected, Camille and Avelaine took up the cups and saucers and moved to the sideboard. “You are with child?” asked Camille softly.

Avelaine glanced down at herself. “Oh, does it show?”

“Non, it’s just that I saw you place a hand across your waist when the peril of an unseen being was mentioned.”

“Ah. You are observant, Camille, and, oui, I am with child.

I was going to announce it at dinner tonight.” Camille gripped Avelaine’s hand and said, “Splendid.”

“Oh, but I wish Chevell were here when I speak of it.”

“He does not know?”

“Non. I wasn’t positive when I set out from Port Mizon, but now I know for certain.”

“Regardless,” said Camille, squeezing Avelaine’s fingers. “I am so happy to have Duran, and you will find a babe of your own to be a pleasure, too.”

“Where is the wee prince?”

“Perhaps asleep by now. When last I saw him he was with his bonne d’enfants having a bath.”

“He seems a happy child.”

“Oh, he is,” replied Camille, smiling.

In that moment, the king and princes and chevaliers arrived and swept the women out from the green room and toward one perhaps brighter.

. .

They sat about a long table, one of oak, and in a grand dining room. The chamber itself was all of gold, broken here and there by white: golden velvet paneled the walls, and white bellpulls dangled at each corner; upholstery of a golden fabric and patterned with a scatter of tiny white flowerets cushioned the golden-oak chairs; white sideboards trimmed in gold stood along the walls.

White lanterns in golden sconces cast a yellow-white aura over all. The ceiling above was white, with golden crown molding all

’round. The dinnerware was white porcelain rimmed with gold, and the white utensils were edged with gold as well.

The meal began with an appetizer of escargot and a small glass of pale white wine-“Ah, an Autumnwood vintage; some of Liaze’s best,” declared Valeray, hoisting his goblet on high toward her. The others followed suit, and Liaze inclined her head in response.

As they supped upon the snails, Simone looked across the table and asked Camille, “Why is it you have a small sparrow in your pocket?”

“Oh, Scruff, you mean,” said Camille, touching a finger lightly high on her bodice where the wee bird drowsed. “He is a trusted companion, and I wanted him with me at our meeting even though he is asleep.”

“Is he magical in some manner?”

“You might say so. He was loaned to me by the Lady of the Mere, to be my companion as I looked for Alain. It seems he can sense danger and deception, and he certainly proved to be of great aid.”

“This Lady of the Mere: who might she be?”

“Ah, the Lady of the Mere, she has many names: Lady Sorciere, Lady Wyrd, Lady Skuld, She Who Sees the Future.”

“This is one of those Michelle spoke about, one of the Fates?”

“Oui.” Camille gestured toward Valeray and Saissa and said,

“It seems this family is somehow caught up in the intrigues of the Three Sisters.”

“Ensnared is more likely,” said Valeray.

“Granted,” said Camille. “But without them I would never have rescued Alain.”

“Nor I Michelle,” said Borel.

“Nor I Luc,” said Liaze.

“Nor would Roel and I have released Avelaine and Laurent and Blaise,” added Celeste.

“Nor would have I discovered the whereabouts of King Valeray and Queen Saissa,” added Camille last.

“Here’s to the Fates,” cried Blaise, hoisting a glass, “else Laurent and I would be statues still.”

“Hear, hear,” said Valeray, and he hoisted his own and downed the drink.

Simone raised her glass as well, but tremulously added, “But who is to say that the Fates didn’t have a hand in precipitating those crises from which you all were rescued.”

. .

The escargot was followed by a creamy bisque of trout, along with another of Liaze’s white wines, this a vibrant gold, one that would stand up to the richness of the soup.

The talk turned to that of the tourney, and of the games and jongleurs that would surround the gala events-an echecs tournament, lawn bowling, croquet, ladies’ archery, minstrels, jugglers, stilt walkers, and the like, and it was during this happy converse that Avelaine announced she was with child.

“Is it true, Avi?” asked Roel.

“Oui,” replied Avelaine. “A little new vicomte or vicomtesse is on the way.” Laurent and Blaise and Roel leapt up from their seats and rushed to Avelaine’s side and handed her up from her chair and, somewhat cautiously, embraced her. Emile, too, hugged his daughter, and Simone wiped tears of happiness from her own eyes.