The moment Ian left his uncle’s cabin, a thought he still couldn’t quite put his head around, he felt the crew’s hostility even more acutely than the night before. Heard every hushed whisper, saw several sailors make the sign of the cross and the sheer amount of hatred in their gazes. ‘Quite hypocritical’, he thought, ‘sailing willingly with a prince of the Sidhe and profit from his endeavours but shunning his nephew.’
He frowned wondering where that thought might have come from… hadn’t he been just as shocked and frightened only hours before? Now running that gauntlet that had made him cry out of fear and self-pity that very night felt like a nuisance not like the threat he had felt earlier. It seemed that his changes had not only brought true sight with them but some kind of steel to his character he hadn’t had before… or maybe he was finally through with being a whiny little baby… he did neither know nor care. The boy only felt relief. Relief that he was not alone in this world. Not anymore. No fear only resignation and a simmering undertone of disgust filled him when he searched their faces that felt strangely vacuous with their stares. Like his brothers faces. Blank masks without meaning. He didn’t feel hatred or anger only pity. A part of him knew that was arrogant but he head the deep feeling that he soon would have the power to back it.
Finally, he saw Tom who had been below deck and emerged with his tool kit. Smiling at Ian. Unlike the others who held only hatred in their eyes he looked at him with warmth and something else reverence? Ian didn’t know but offered a smile of his own as he approached the old man, who in turn halted his steps and waited for him whilst setting his tool kit down.
‘Morning, lad, sorry for the rough treatment last night. Didn’t listen to that old me. Didn’t care for reason in their beastly fear.’, he grumbled when Ian arrived next to him.
‘No hard feelings. I am only happy that you didn’t participate in their craziness.’, the young Sidhe smiled and added ‘The captain sent me to fetch you.’
Old Tom nodded and said ‘Then let’s not keep him waiting.’
The sailors’ stares followed them until they reached the wooden door to the captain’s layer. Ian who had closed it after them halted in his movement when he saw a flash of blue light around the handle. Privacy Runes he thought, though he didn’t know where that sudden feeling for the meaning came from. He let his fingers run over the carving which reacted with a soft glow as if greeting him.
‘Seems like he has the same attention span I had when I was first given this gift.’ Ron said behind him pulling Ian out of his revery.
‘It’s been 20 years since my father made the deal with you… and even now you still grump about… despite being secretly happy about your powers, which I know for sure…’ the captain grunted palming his face before he added ‘Don’t mind his comments it’s his first time meeting such a young Sidhe. He is the youngest in our group by several centuries…’
Ian’s mind stopped working for a second. Centuries! That was such a mindboggling concept to live for centuries… than it dawned on him that he would too… if nothing killed him prior that is…
‘And again… Ian… it would be rather helpful for this conversation if you were here in body AND MIND.’ Ron chided him in a good-natured tone. The boy felt his cheeks heat up.
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‘Ok to start again. We are going to reduce to our crew to the minimum before transversing to the Sidhe. That means only us three sidhe-blooded and three more open minded, willing sailors who know that they will be changed upon return and accept that the time flows differently over there so they should not be bound by a family awaiting their return. Tom, I would offer you a position. Please choose upon the men, you know things they would rather not say into our faces. Be careful though, they are frightened after facing our otherness… you’ve seen how they treated Ian, who is the least frightening of us.’ The captain told Tom who nodded along and agreed ‘It would be an honour to see the land my grandmother always told me about when I was still a wee lad.’ The captain smiled having anticipated the positive answer. ‘For the other members I think Jones and Mathew will do. They both hail from the north where they still worship the old ones.’, the old man offered before he amended ‘Pardon, I know they are family to you.’, upon seeing the frown in the captains face.
‘No you are right.’ Sean sighed ‘It’s just so easy to forget that my father is a god to some of you, especially after living among humans for so long… to me he is and always will be my father… powerful, annoyingly so, but still a person.’
‘Yeah we get it Mr. special prince.’ Ron groaned ‘An everyday person who transforms a human into whatever he sees fit. And you are just as normal… you know understatement does have its limits…’
Ian looked at them planning and bickering. Asking himself why they even bothered with having him here for the administrative work and planning, they had to do, when he had nothing sensible to offer.
He was deadly tired and anxious to find out what his function was going to be. And what it meant to be Sidhe-kin.
‘Tom would you be so kind and bring Mathew and Jones so we can start with negotiating the first deals?’ Ron asked the old man who stood up and left.
‘Ok. I’m sure you’ve asked yourself why we wanted you present when laying out the first part of the plan.’ Sean said looking at Ian who nodded. ‘You will witness the contract. That’s why. Our little contract when you came aboard is only as binding as it is because we are both Sidhe and only two people. For me to form a contract with a human means to reach into the Sidhe and pull part its laws into this realm, binding them as long as they are here. But the contract we are hashing out with the sailors will be one with more parties involved. It will protect us, that means Ron, me and you from their possible betrayal upon reaching the other side and getting a better offer.’
Ian frowned feeling a headache forming. Betrayal. Contracts. The other side. Counteroffers.
‘I know it is quite complicated to understand at first.’, the captain offered with a sad smile, before adding ‘It won’t get better you will you get used to it. You will have to. Everything in the Sidhe revolves about quid pro quo, contracts and hidden agendas. Being unable to lie directly and being bound by your word means people get creative and very cautious. Be glad you only just turned 13 that means you get three years to acclimatise. 16 is the age our children will be regarded as useful since they have come into the most basic of their powers. Usefulness does keep you alive but also means you must shoulder responsibility. Nobody will forgive you a blunder at this point. Your grandfather will test you in the way he has tested every member of his bloodline. You are a heir- no matter how far removed… noblesse oblige.’
‘And that’s exactly the reason Sean prefers to dwell in the human realm…he can’t stand politics.’, Ron tried to cheer the blanching Ian up, adding ‘You know, Sean, you could definitely work on your pep-talks.’
‘Yes it is hard and complicated to be Sidhe, especially a royal one, but you also get cool magic powers, fighting and adventures. And maybe even the girl.’, the Kelpie smiled showing his sharp teeth making his smile more unsettling than reassuring. ‘Which girl?’ Sean asked. ‘There is always a girl in a good story. How else would you brooding heroes ever produce the next generation of knights in white armour? Can’t be us the witty sidekicks who are designated as monsters…’
‘You are crazy.’, Sean groaned but couldn’t help a smile.
‘I agree. But after completely overwhelming poor Ian, how about we further it just a bit by letting him take a look at himself in the mirror.’ Ron grinned and reached for the mirror which had Ian shown the Kelpie’s nature for the first time.
