Sean Cullen: The Prince of Two Tribes

“Not yet,” Pukh laughed.

“But you said you’d tell me who my parents were.”

“And I will, as soon as I have assured myself that this really is a Prisoning Stone. I must return to Tir na nOg to do that.”

“That wasn’t our agreement.”

Pukh laughed. “And you are such an honourable creature? Betraying Merddyn and Brendan both? What would they think of you, if they knew what you were doing?”

Charlie sneered. “Merddyn has made me wait for centuries. He keeps promising me he will find my parents but he never does. I can’t wait any longer. Brendan…” She stopped, biting her lip.

“Yes?” Pukh prompted.

“I swore I’d never tell you anything about him. I told you about the stone, not him.”

“Hairs are being split, dear. Hairs are being split.”

The stone secured, the Wild Hunt prepared to rise again into the night sky.

“All right,” Charlie said, ignoring Pukh’s laughter. She stood in silence for a moment before clambering up into the saddle of a fierce-looking horse. Its red eyes rolled back until she stroked it and whispered into its twitching ear. Instantly, the creature settled. “Let’s go then.”

Pukh barked an order and the company mounted up. They rose into the sky, the Prisoning Stone in tow.

Acknowledgments