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“I can't say that I have.” Ayda shrugged. “I’ve heard it's gorgeous though.”
“Ah, it's as if Brokkr carved them himself.” Wyn sighed. “There's no more beautiful land if you ask me. That's why they were so prized, you know.”
“I’m sorry?” Ayda paused, putting her cup of tea down. “I don't think I know that story.”
“Have you heard how the Shetland Islands became part of Scotland?” Hùisdean said, leaning across the table. Ayda pushed back against the sensation that she was being chastised. Luckily, Wyn interrupted.
“Hush, Hùisdean.” He rolled his eyes. “Not everyone on the island has heard that story.”
“I bet they have.” Hùisdean looked doubtful.
“Maybe,” Wyn shrugged, “but my point stands. Please don't make the girl feel bad about it. It's not like you don't love telling the story.”
“Hùisdean? A storyteller?” Ayda was shocked. “I don't believe it.”
“Hey,” Hùisdean scoffed, “I’ll have you know that storytelling is a proper tradition in—”
“All magical societies value storytelling,” Ayda interrupted him. “You just don't seem like you'd have the patience. I don't see you giving up your ego to nail the dramatics.”
“Oh, ye of little faith.” Hùisdean smiled, pushing his chair back and standing up to his full height. Wyn clapped his hands in delight and pretended to slap his mug on the table like a beer stein.
“Oh goody, you've goaded him into telling the story.” Wyn cheered.
“You see, centuries ago, the Shetland Islands belonged to the Vikings. They were part of Norway. In those days, Scotland was its own nation too.”
“Still is,” Ayda interrupted proudly.
All of Scotland's magical inhabitants were staunch in believing that Scotland was her own entity, and they would be correct. As long as Scottish magic differed from English magic—which was as different as night and day—they would remain separate in the minds of magical folk.
“Of course,” Hùisdean continued. “At the time, however, Scotland was greatly indebted to several Norwegian lords and fiefdoms. Their kings met to discuss a different solution. Neither of them wanted war, especially a magical one. The elves made up most of the magical population in Norway at the time, and they seldom could be rallied for war.”
“Well,” Wyn smirked, “most elves. Viking blood runs pretty hot in some elvish veins, and they won’t turn down a good skirmish.”
“Be quiet.” Hùisdean huffed. “You’re interrupting the story.”
Wyn waved his hand dramatically and beckoned for Hùisdean to continue.
“How did they settle the debt?” Ayda leaned forward, finding herself getting immersed in the story. Part of her obsession with magic meant she had an obsession with history and all the ways that magic had shaped it over time.
“How else?” Hùisdean shrugged. “The only way most quarrels were ever settled in those days. Marriage.”
“How did that go down?” Ayda scooted a little closer to the edge of her seat.
“The king of Norway betrothed Margaret, his daughter, to James III, the king of Scotland. Instead of a financial dowry, Norway would forgive Scotland of her debts and hand over the Shetland Islands as Margaret's dowry.”
“You're kidding,” Ayda said, her eyes widening. “How did everyone on the Shetland Islands handle that information?”
Wyn answered her. “For the better part of a century, they simply ignored it. The elves already had more presence on the islands and answered to the old gods. The magic on the islands still answers to the old gods, for fuck's sake.” He chuckled. “The same way that Scotland's magic never bowed to her captors, neither did the magic of the Shetland Islands.”
“Incredible.” Ayda exhaled, thinking of her questions regarding Shetland Islands’ unique magical system. They'd have to break the curse before she could ask them, but now she was more motivated than ever.
“Margaret went on to be known as ‘Margaret, the Maid of Norway,’ even when she was at court with her husband, reigning as the queen of Scotland,” Hùisdean continued. “She was loved by everyone who encountered her, except…”
Hùisdean told the entire story of Margaret’s life and the slow adaptation of the Shetland Islands into Scotland. While there was no bloodshed over the matter, and relations were genuinely positive, that remained because everyone accepted that the Shetland Islands would only ever belong to themselves or the elves.
The fact that Scotland's curse hadn't affected the Shetland Islands proved their magic still operated on separate systems.
“And she never really got along with James?” Ayda was shocked to learn that Margaret had never warmed up to her husband and openly claimed her allegiances would always be to Norway.
