Scout Stories: Bruised Beginnings

Mist

"No!" said Miach, stepping away. "Don't hurt them."

Mac Tíre stopped walking. He looked at Miach and nodded.

"They were cruel to me," said the Aed.

It set it's pretty lips in a pout before continuing.

"I have protected them all this time. I kept all the monsters away. They were cruel to you too, after you and the old woman helped them all so much. They were going to take your home."

"Yes," said Miach, "She helped them. And I'll help them now."

Miach opened the pouch and threw it at the creature. Miach didn't know what was inside it until she saw the white dust of her mother's bones spread through the air. The creature didn't yell or cry. It simply turned to mist, collecting every speck of bone dust in an instant. Then it was solid again.

"The price is paid," it said to Miach. "But I would still have you. Tell me your name, little one. Come with me and I will make it so you are never sad again. I will never leave you, or betray you. Come."

Miach thought how weak she had felt when Tegid had been threatening her. How sad she had been when Grandmother died. The Aed would stay with her always, love her always and make her feel stronger than any weak little person.

But then she thought of Grandmother, rude and pushy and helpful. She thought about the fights that they had and how obstinate the old woman could be. Grandmother had been small, and thin and old for as long as Miach could remember. But even the Rí, their greatest hunter and warrior, couldn't win against the old woman in an argument. Grandmother hadn't relied on anyone for her strength. If she was facing the Aed with Miach, Grandmother would have told the thing to wipe it's teeth clean.

"Thank you," said Miach, "but I'll find my own way."

The Aed smiled again, and kissed her on the forehead, leaving a bloody imprint of its lips. It disappeared and the fog vanished with it.

She turned to look at her people, who were staring at her in terror. Then the Rí ran forward and hugged her.

"Stupid girl," he said affectionately. Briana and her mother ran forward next to embrace her. So did some others. Many did not. Some stood in shock. Others yelled for revenge or explanation. A few went to Mac Tíre to help him . Some went to stand over the bodies of Tegid and Grandmother.

"Explanations can wait," said the Rí. "As far as I am concerned Miach just saved us all. We will honour the dead and hear the tale of it. Now, I owed Grandmother my life. I should have done this the moment I heard of her death. I name Miach my daughter."

Miach stared at him in surprise until Briana embraced her, over-joyed that they would be sisters. Miach would have a family again.

"No," said Mac Tíre, disentangling himself from the ones propping him up and hobbling over to the Rí.

"What do you mean 'no'? It's decided."

Mac Tíre shook hhis head.

"The Aed touched her. I will be taking the girl."

"It is already done. She stays here, with us."

Mac Tíre had the knife to Miach's neck before anyone saw him move.

"A Rí should know the law. She was touched by an Aed. She either comes with me or she dies. "

Nobody moved. Miach could feel the knife biting into her neck. This knife was so sharp it didn't need any pressure to cut. It hurt. She had to get away. If she could get to the Rí, he would protect her. Miach closed her eyes.

When she opened them again she was behind the Ri and everyone was staring at her.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Miach, you turned to mist," said Briana, "just like the Aed did."

"When an Aed gifts someone," said Mac Tíre, putting the knife away, "they become different. I came to this place because I thought I sensed an Aedly. In truth I sensed the protection that thing was giving this village. She will come with me to Council.

Miach stared at him.

"But I was going to have a family," she said, tears streaming down her face.

"Aedly do not have family," said Mac Tíre. He started limping towards the doors.

"We will need a cart. You have until it is ready to say your goodbyes. "

"But Grandmother's funeral-"

"-Will take place without you."

Miach stared at him in horror. He turned to the Rí.

"I will need to discuss some things with you, Rí," he said. "The boundary wall must be rebuilt. You will need gate-keepers and a new healer. I will send word to the Council."

When he left, the Rí glared after him.

"You do not have to go, Miach," he told her. But he was wrong. The Council would come and dismantle the village, kill him for disobeying them. If she stayed, they could all get hurt because of her.

"No," she lied. "I want to go. I've always wanted to see more of the world. I want to see what my mother did. Grandmother told me stories about the sea. I want to go."

By the time Mac Tíre had cleaned and bound his wounds, and the cart was ready, Miach had cried four times. Briana had cried with her.

"I don't care what the stupid Council says, we're sisters. You have to promise me you'll come home."

"I p-promise," said Miach, starting to cry again.

As the Rí lifted her up on the cart, his eyes were red and both his girls and his wife were wailing. Miach hadn't taken much more than her Grandmother's books with her. Mac Tíre said she had to travel light.

Old Tam, the cart driver took them to the nearest village before turning around and heading back. Mac Tíre had not spoken for the whole journey but as they started walking, he turned to her

"I am sorry," he said. "You will come to understand."

"You shouldn't do things you have to apologise for."

"I cannot let Aedly alone, little one. If I did the world would be a far worse place. As we travel, we will discover the power you own and how you can control it. Without such training, Aedly can go mad. This was as much for you as for the Council."

Miacah thought about the Aed, how it had killed Tegid. The bloody imprint she washed from her face.

"Am I dangerous now?" she asked.

"You might be."

"But I mightn't. You might have just taken me away from home for no reason."

"The world is big and we are small, Mist-dancer. Soon you will understand. Someday you will thank me."

Miach doubted that, but said nothing. After all, she really did want to see the ocean.