Dullahan

6 - Court - 1

E LET HER GUIDE him out of the house and into the front garden. He saw the men who had delivered the message; a small group of five sitting atop a strange collection of mounts. The first two men seemed normal enough; clad in woven metal rings and thick leather they perched atop horses similar to Ardghal. Both held weapons, sharp, glinting blades at the tip of long poles. They watched the surrounding area with practised wariness, only glancing at him to dismiss him as a threat.

The other three were far more strange. They were messengers, each wearing the same forest green tunic, colours fading a little on their shoulders and backs, each with a satchel slung over their shoulder. Two sat astride their own mounts, talking quietly with one another, too caught up in conversation to pay attention to Eldred or Ness. They sat atop huge deer, a pair of does at least twice the size of any such creature Eldred had seen. He couldn't help but stare, the placid creatures grazing the grass at the side of the road, not seeming to mind the bridles or weight of the saddles on their backs. A third deer, slightly smaller than the other two, stood riderless a short distance away, reins looped lazily around one of Leola's garden posts. It too seemed for the most part unconcerned, although it seemed particularly aware of Ness, staring through Eldred to watch the armoured figure behind him.

A little ways further down the path, the fifth man of the party stood waiting for them, his own green tunic swaying in the wind, fingers tapping impatiently on the strap of his bag. Eldred noticed with a start that the man's ears were long and pointed, their tips visible through his shoulder-length hair.

"Took your time," he chided as Eldred and Ness approached, glancing down at the boy. "The child better not slow us; we are late as it is."

He did not wait for an answer, turning and striding back up the path, leading his mount back toward his companions.

"Wait here," Ness said quietly, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder as she headed toward where Ardghal had been stabled.

It felt strange to be back on the road again. They had only stayed at Leola's house for a few days, but Eldred found he had quickly become used to home life once more. Ness had helped him back onto the horse, lifting him to sit in front of her on the saddle, his hands gripping Ardghal's mane as she held the reins behind him. She hadn't stopped to wait for their escort to prepare themselves for departure, starting off down the road at a trot. The messengers were quick to pick up pace and follow, jolting into motion before Ardghal had travelled more than a hundred metres. The two guardsmen, for that was what Eldred had realised they were, had split so that one led the group, hand resting casually on his weapon, while his companion had fallen behind to bring up the rear. The three mounted messengers had settled either side of them, with the man who had waited in the garden taking up his place just in front of Ardghal. It was only after they had come closer that Eldred had realised that all five of their escort had the same pointed ears- a feature so obvious to him now he wondered how he had not seen it earlier. It was the further extreme from his own ears- not rounded like all he had known back home, instead being more pointed than even his. He found himself stealing glances at all five as they rode, certain that it was something he had imagined.

Ness hadn't said anything as the five had drawn up around them, maintaining a consistent speed even as the deer had sped into a short canter to make up the distance between them. She seemed as reluctant to interact with them as they were with her.

He felt conflicted as the little cottage disappeared behind forests and hills, relief and regret mixing as the events of the last days replayed in his head.

"What did you see inside her workroom?" Ness asked softly.

Eldred felt himself freeze up, his face heating with shame at her words. They were not an accusation; there was no uncertainty behind Ness's question. He found himself staring intently at the long hairs that made up the horse's mane, watching how they curled around his fingers, unable to think of an answer that might placate the anger he was certain was going to follow.