Sorceress

Chapter 29:

"Finn," I answer, warily eyeing him.

"Aine, my father requested that you wore this," Finn places a hand in the lagoon water, and it seems that the water also shows his other side, as his hand becomes withered and clawed. When Finn draws his hand out of the water, he pulls out with him a dress weaved from the stream and current of the lagoon. Confused, I nod my thanks, "As you will have to rally the Southern tribes to face this industrial power that my father has told me about, you will have to convince them that the sidhe have sent you-so you will have to look as though you are genuine, not someone pretending," Finn explains,

"Your father said that I was a guest here because I needed to acquire knowledge to go with my powers," taking the dress, I continue, "What does he mean by that, and how long will I be staying here? When will I know that I am ready?" Finn smiles ruefully,

"You are a mortal, you will not survive long here; where the immortal waste the endless time that they have." Finn sighs, almost talking to himself, "It was never a good combination; the strongest power on earth combined with child like creatures that have forever to corrupt it as they please," 

"Have there been other mortals staying here before?" I ask, but Finn laughs,

"There have been other mortals, I can guarantee this, but they have been kept here as the sidhe play toys, or servants. Some of the mortals wanted to find us, and searched for us, and found that upon arrival, it was not quite what they wanted or expected," Finn stares into the distance,

"You dislike this place so much... why do you stay? You must feel caged in by the low ceiling of the cave. Leave, go outside, enjoy the open sky, the stars, the rush of the wind," 

"I cannot leave, you have seen what I become," Finn rubs a hand over his eyes, "And, I think that your learning is close to completion- you needed to see how those utterly in tune with nature can channel its force, and I think that you have opened your horizons further; you came here as an oblivious girl from the North, just having seen everyone you love killed in front of you, not knowing whether the faerie tales would be true. However, my father has observed that you are a quick learner, and that if you, for example, fought the pouka again, you would most likely defeat it,

"How could I have learnt so much in just a night?" I ask, confused, and lost,

"We base our knowledge on what we have experienced, and new experiences broaden our horizons. You have experienced the two opposite extremes; the industry of the Vikings, and the nature of the sidhe, and you have experienced the in between; the Celts," Finn smiles, "And you wanted to see outside? Remember that you base your magic on what you experience, and you have experienced the magic of the lesser faeries, would you like the experience the magic of the greater faeries?" I nod, almost dreading what would happen- I had seen the power of a lesser sidhe, did I really want to see the power of a greater sidhe?