Eire of Aggression

  *

  The door to the workshop was left open so that the dogs could come and go as they pleased while Brody and Mac kept out of the brisk evening wind and chatted. The young fae kept a near-constant grin while he admired the large assortment of finished sculptures, going from piece to piece energetically. Brody said that he was glad Mac enjoyed his handiwork, but then casually asked why he seemed so jittery; the reply was one he hadn't thought of. In animated tones, Mac said the workshop was awash with glamour. Hopes, dreams, and creative impulses saturated the little building.

  Brody sat on an uncut block of limestone and asked, "Does that mean it's going to draw fae here? I'm pretty sure I don't like that idea."

  "Any who might happen through this area, yes," Mac said as he stared at a bull's head carved in obsidian that he carefully held in his hands. "I see little reason why most fae would come this way normally, but your shop would certainly be noticed if they did. Since low-caste have better senses for glamour, I'd imagine your lady Kate might occasionally see activity around here deep into the night. How strange that low-caste fae are more receptive to glamour when they have limited abilities to manipulate it." He looked over to Brody with a crooked grin. "Ironic, don't you think?"

  "Wait a second," Brody said with concern, "you mean I have low-class fae here in my shop prancing around in the middle of the night?"

  Mac turned to look at him with a curious expression. "If you're referring to low-class as meaning unsavory types, then I find that doubtful. Most low-caste fae are genial creatures. That being said, it is best not to intrude upon their dancing and frolicking; I'm sure you don't want any more mischief on your land than what you've already told me about."

  "See, that's the problem - if I wanna go out on my land in the middle of the night, I'm damn well going to. Your low-caste can deal with it or fuck off."

  "But, as I understand it, you wouldn't be aware of them without your Lady Kate's fae-sight."

  "Yeah, but now I know they're here without her telling me, don't I?"

  Nodding solemnly, Mac replied, "I can see where you would find it an intrusion. However, you could simply befriend them; there are benefits to such a tactic."

  Relaxing his scowl, Brody asked, "What sort of benefits?"

  Mac shrugged. "Allow them a small tribute, such as an occasional pail of milk or a few sticks of butter; low-caste would be inclined to reciprocate. They might tidy your shop or pull weeds from your property, for example."

  Brody rubbed his chin in thought and tried to imagine what Kate might advise. If fae were going to be hanging around anyway, it might be best to be on good terms. Then again, if he could send them off with no repercussions... he liked that idea better. "Uh, do those old ways of warding fae off really work? You know, like salt or horseshoes or whatever? Not that I plan on it - I'm just curious."

  Mac set the obsidian sculpture down and began to study a Celtic cross carved from malachite. "I suppose they would," he said distractedly, "although those methods only work on low-caste. Hand-wrought iron, on the other hand, would keep any fae at bay. It still might lead to mischief if, say, a gnome was denied a location by mundane means that he'd come to favor."

  "It almost sounds like extortion," Brody grumbled.

  Mac turned and looked at Brody once more. "With all due respect, wouldn't sharing a bit of your dairy be a much better course of action? In times to come, there will be enough hard-hearted fae to contend with. Why add to their ranks?"

  "Why? Because this is my damn land, that's why. If they want to ask me or Kate permission - like you politely did - then maybe. Otherwise, they're not welcome!"

  Taking a small step back, Mac quietly said, "It was not my intention to anger you..."

  Standing to his full height, Brody heatedly said, "What if it were your place, Mac? Jane says you have a real nice spread; what if you had sneaky little humans hanging out on your property while you slept? Don't tell me you wouldn't feel intruded upon."

  To Macklin's eyes, the graced human seemed to swell to slightly greater proportions than his already formidable size to accommodate his growing anger. From the light of the electric lanterns, his large frame cast ominous shadows throughout the interior. The fae took another small step back, mostly because Brody's presence was beginning to make him feel claustrophobic in the small structure. "I cannot say it would be fair to compare the two," he replied calmly. "But, in your place, then I might take small offense to the trespass. As a solution, I would either make them retainers or find a diversion for them off of my property."

  "Make them retainers, seriously?" Brody replied with a growl, "How in hell am I supposed to do that? The point is that I don't want any damn retainers! I don't want to have to share my own damn property!" He took a step forward while clenching his fists and bellowed, "And most of all, I want my life back - my simple, normal, fucking life!"

  Mac tensed as Brody's aura bloomed to a new intensity. His attention was then diverted when a presence was sensed at the open doorway, and it certainly wasn't one of the dogs.

  "Here now, Mister Brody," said a soft feminine voice. Both heads turned to Liadan as she floated just inside the workshop. "Not exactly chewin' the fat out 'ere, I'd bet, what with all the noise and making your pets nervous just outside." She quickly eyed them both. "You're alarming this well-intentioned Fair fae with your hard words and dark mood, ye are - might that be your intent?"

  Brody let out a harsh sigh, trying to reclaim his composure. "No, it isn't. I'm sorry about that, Mac - I'm just frustrated with all this."

  Mac nodded his acceptance of Brody's apology, although it was Liadan who spoke. "I hope you'll not be minding me to ask, Brody, but might you be also perturbed with the field mice and rabbits out in your paddocks?"

  "What?" Brody asked with a frown. "No - why should I?"

  "Because they're honestly not much different than low-caste at this point; ye take no notice of them and they've been about this area for long and long, to be sure. Honestly, the furry little pests are a bit of a nuisance when compared to the gnomes and pixies I've seen hereabouts." Liadan hovered forward while Brody sat back down and Mac visibly relaxed. "Ye might even look at it this way, if ye would but try. They be wee children who come to revel in the glow of strong hearts and fine endeavors, they do. Take it as praise, even."

  Brody rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands loosely together. "That's a better way of looking at it, I guess. Again, sorry - I didn't mean to get all worked up like that." He looked over to Mac and said, "That new info just caught me off-guard; I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

  "I admit that I don't understand your anxiety," Mac said with a grin, "but perhaps it had something to do with what you really wanted to discuss." Brody's eyebrows arched questioningly, so the young fae added, "I sensed a topic troubling you when we first came out here."

  "Should I leave you gents be?" Liadan asked them. She then quickly offered to Mac, "That's a fine manifest ye have, master Fair."

  Glancing from one supernatural guest to the other, Brody said, "Oops, forgot my manners. Liadan, this is Macklin. Mac, this is our friend, Liadan." They informally bowed or curtsied to each other, respectively. "I've mentioned both of you to the other; I'm glad you finally get to meet."

  "Ah, lady Liadan," Mac said to her with a warm smile, "tales have been told of your counsel and talent with gifts. I'm honored to meet you."

  "Actually, Liadan," Brody interjected, "I'd like you to be here for the question I had for Mac." He didn't want to be rude, but was anxious for an answer to the topic foremost on his mind. "I figure two opinions are better than one, ya know?"

  "Very well," she said as she floated up and sat on one of his shelves, "but I'll be remembering a promise of a warm hearth and biscuits with me visit, and I'll be holding ye to it."

  "Sure, of course," Brody quickly replied. "So anyway, the question I had for Mac, and now both of you, has to do with when this attack is supposed to come. Is it an army, or just a gro
up, or what? What will they do first? Who will they go after? Is it gonna be like a street fight, or are these bastards more serious than that? Is someone gonna form a defense? Will they hurt humans? What happens if -?"

  "Easy - easy now, Mister Brody," Liadan interrupted from her high vantage point. "Me poor head couldn't keep up with all your queries. Simmer a bit and I'll do me best to answer, I will. I'm sure that good Macklin will do the same from his own view." She said the last with a questioning lilt.

  "Of course," Mac said. He sat on a rough block of granite near Brody and looked at him earnestly. "I've not been in a battle like this before, nor even seen one. I have heard tales, though. To make matters simple, I'll tell of what I'd expect. Is that acceptable?"

  Brody sighed his reply, "That'd be great, thanks."

  "Now, with fae being mainly independent creatures, it will be no army. Their numbers are dependent on their leaders and attending elders, as well as the amount of plunder."

  "What's worthwhile to them around here?"

  "Verden havens, for one," Liadan answered, "and there's more than a few hereabouts, I can tell ye."

  "There are?" Brody asked.

  "Aye," she answered with a nod, "and with some of those come permanent bridges. I believe I've mentioned all this to ye in the past, if ye think on it. Seized by another fae, those hard-earned bridges can be opened and near always lead to the vanquished fae's Lore holdings. In turn, that land is at risk as well."

  "Okay, so wait a minute," Brody said as his brows furrowed together. "That means most local fae - if they had a haven and bridge - would want to defend their own shit. Unless they could make some defenses or something, each one would be facing that pack of looters on their own. So, basically, they're fucked, right?"

  "Unless they either fled or stood together before the aggressors could make any claims," Mac replied, "then... yes."

  "The war party would have other aims as well," Liadan explained. "They'd capture places such as glamour-rich glens and woods. And, as far as seizing glamour... sometimes humans fall into that category, I'm sorry to say."

  "They'd take some of the villagers?" Brody asked in a hushed tone.

  "It is possible," Mac said. "And let us not forget their excuse to pillage: namely, you and all of the local McCarthy women, 'defiantly' in breach of one of our laws. When they arrive, attempting to explain your situation may well be futile."

  "It is also possible," Liadan offered, "that their leadership be lacking and each greedy fae will go after their own prizes; seen it happen before, I have." She left her high perch and floated down in front of Brody while she brushed rock dust off of her plump backside. Liadan then looked him in the eye. "If there were to be a group to confront and counter them, then that might be best. Still, the defenders could lose." She cocked her head slightly to the side. "And before ye ask, I'm no leader or warrior, although I will fight."

  "Any fae to act together by choice as guardians is a far cry from common, from what I've gathered," Mac offered. "And, only from what I've heard, most loosely assembled war parties will attack like a swarm. If allowed, they'll ignore tactics and pursue chaos at their own whim."

  Liadan nodded. "Aye, that could be the truth of it. I have it on authority from me chum Lochlan that this rabble not be sanctioned by the Circle. Oh, and by his word, the lough now be safe again. Incensed, he was, that the waters be intentionally poisoned by a fae hand. That fine merrow made it safe once more with no small effort, he did."

  "It was intentional?" Brody asked; his surprise was tinged with anger. "Well, tell him thanks from me."

  "That I will; he also said more of the war party against Ballaghadaere, passed on to him. Ah, the Lore be ripe with gossip, yet all of it honest, it is. So, Lochlan learned of a few fae who went to join their ranks; not so concerned with righteousness or laws, they were - more out for blood and spoils of conquest, is what I be thinkin'. Others might actually be seeing the virtue of their cause; I can't say for true. "

  "So," Brody said with a perplexed expression, "you're saying that really anything could happen. I'm guessing you mean it'd be better if it was over with as soon as possible - that makes sense. But what happens if they beat the defenders, if there are any? What happens if all the area fae just protect their own places and get picked off one by one?" Brody looked to Liadan first, waiting. She simply pursed her lips with a worried look in her eyes, so he turned to Mac. "What happens then?"

  With a sour expression, Mac replied, "A long, dark road for Ballaghadaere."