Shadowmagic - Sons of Macha by John Lenahan Page B

side of her face.
    â€˜Your little mackerel is lounging in her barrel.’
    â€˜She is not a mackerel, she’s a Mertain. She is a healer from the Grotto of Health on the Mertain islands. And she is not lounging. She is recharging – preparing herself so she can help any of us in case we are injured.’
    Essa was taken aback by my tone. She stood.
    â€˜Maybe you would prefer to join her in her bath tub.’
    â€˜Maybe I would. At least she’s not mad at me all the time and she never hits me with sticks.’
    Essa looked at me like she had never seen me before. I stood and faced her. ‘Anyway, I haven’t seen you for an hour or so – are you sure you haven’t gotten engaged to someone in that time?’
    Essa looked like she had been slapped. ‘You promised you would never mention that.’
    â€˜No I didn’t.
You
told me not to mention it. I never got a chance to promise. Well, maybe I’m tired of being bossed around by you.’
    It didn’t take long for the surprised Essa to kick back. ‘Fine,’ she hissed. ‘I hope you and your fish will be happy together.’ She stomped away, leaving her firefly to flutter around confused, and then she turned. I took a step back expecting a blow. ‘Now that I think of it, you and your fish are perfect together – because you’re an eel.’

    I tried riding with Araf the next day but he insisted on continuing his dissertation on agriculture so I dropped to the rear to have a long overdue catch-up with Tuan. Araf didn’t even notice I was gone.
    â€˜Councillor Tuan,’ I said, ‘I’m surprised you’re still in Duir. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great having you around, but shouldn’t you be in the Pinelands impressing girls with your super-Pooka act?’
    â€˜Girls,’ Tuan sighed, ‘are the reason I am here.’
    â€˜Oh?’ I said with my inflection going up.
    â€˜My mother wants me to marry.’
    â€˜Oh,’ I said with my tone going down.
    â€˜Yes, Mother wants me to marry a mousy woman from the council.’
    â€˜When you say mousy, Tuan, do you mean she’s small or that she changes into a mouse?’
    â€˜Both.’
    â€˜And you’re not into rodents?’
    â€˜It’s not that …’
    â€˜What is it then?’
    Tuan looked around to make sure no one could overhear. ‘There’s this girl in Castle Duir.’
    â€˜Oh, do tell.’
    â€˜This mustn’t get back to my mother.’
    â€˜I’ll be as quiet as the mouse you’re cheating on.’
    Tuan snarled at me then straightened up in his saddle and said, ‘Never mind.’
    â€˜No, no, I’m sorry T. I promise I won’t make jokes. Who is she?’
    â€˜I better not say.’
    â€˜Aw come on, what’s the big secret?’
    â€˜She is an Imp.’
    â€˜Oh, and Mom’s not into mixed marriages?’
    â€˜Mother thinks that Pooka power as strong as mine shouldn’t be diluted.’
    â€˜So she’s hooking you up with a mouse?’
    Tuan shrugged.
    â€˜Why don’t you just tell your mother to get stuffed?’ I said. ‘You do realise you’re a dragon?’
    Tuan laughed. ‘Being one of the most powerful creatures in The Land has little sway with my mother.’
    â€˜Yeah, big guy,’ I said, nodding. ‘I guess I can relate to that.’

    We made good time and got to the base of Mount Cas on the evening of the third day. As we set up a base camp, I expected Dad to make some comment like, ‘Aren’t you glad we left at dawn?’ but all he gave me was that look that said it all. Where do parents learn that all-encompassing look? Is there some sort of instructional video you get when you have your first kid? Does it come with a mirror to practise in?
    Gerard brought out a couple of bottles of dark red wine. It was fabulous. I wasn’t worried about