Part I – Mages and Magic
Chapter 1
Elizabeth Bennet leaned over the injured boy lying in the narrow bed. “What happened to you, Tommy?” She did not expect a useful answer. No one else had been able to tell her what had attacked them.
“Don’t know,” said the boy sullenly.
“I saw it.” A girl of perhaps five peeked out from behind the door. “It was a fay. It jumped out of the bushes, grabbed his leg, and bit him.”
Finally, someone who could confirm her guess! “What did it look like?”
The child considered. “It was one of the little ones with the red stocking hats.”
A redcap, as Elizabeth had suspected. “Thank you. That is very helpful.”
“Only babies see the fay,” Tommy sneered.
Elizabeth gently touched the skin around his wound. Hot. Too hot. “All children can see them when they are very young, but I know a few lucky people who have kept the ability to see fay folk all their lives.”
The little girl crept forward to stand by Elizabeth’s skirt. “I hope I can. I like the fay folk. We have a brownie.”
“I can tell,” said Elizabeth. The cottage was sparkling clean, inside and out, unlike many of the neglected cottages at Hunsford. “She does excellent work.” She nodded to the short, stocky creature who stood outside the window, polishing each pane. The brownie glared at her.
“Is this going to hurt?” asked the boy suspiciously.
“A little, but it should not be bad. Your mother was clever to rinse it out so quickly.” Elizabeth unpacked several vials from her satchel and handed one to Tommy’s mother. “Put two drops of this on his temples and rub it in slowly.” It would make no real difference, but it served as a good distraction while she performed her magic.
She sent her consciousness through her fingertips into the gaping maw of the bite. The fay poison had not traveled far, but the bite was alive with sparks of malicious magic. One by one she stubbed out the sparks and drew the poison to the surface.
“That stings!” the boy cried as she wiped a damp cloth over his wound to collect the poison.
“I am sorry.” Elizabeth folded the cloth over itself twice and handed it to Charlotte.
“Will he live?” Tommy’s mother, Mrs. Miller, asked, her voice trembling.
“I see no reason why he should not.” Elizabeth wrapped a thick bandage around his leg. “He is young and healthy. You should put a deadly nightshade vine around his leg above the wound, but not touching it. That will draw out the rest of the poison.” The nightshade would do nothing for the poison, but it would catch any sparks of malicious magic she might have missed. If only she did not have to hide her use of magic! “We will come again tomorrow to check on him.”
Mrs. Miller wrung her hands. “Why are the fay folk attacking us? They never used to hurt anyone. Now it isn’t safe to cross a field.”
“I wish I knew.” Elizabeth surreptitiously pinched out a stray spark of magic. “I remember when redcaps never bothered people unless they were attacked.”
The woman lowered her voice. “Is it safe, living in a house with a brownie?”
“Your brownie will not hurt you. I have only seen injuries from redcaps and elfshot. Staying away from trees and bushes may help to keepthe children safe from redcaps.” Nothing could protect against elfshot, the terrifying projectile that seemed to come out of nowhere and ate its way to the victim’s heart. It was no wonder the villagers were frightened. “If he worsens, send for me at the parsonage.”
Tears filled the woman’s eyes. “Thank you. I will.”
Elizabeth followed Charlotte Collins out of the cottage. “Could you wait for a minute? There is something I need to do.” Beside her a fluffy white cat yawned and stretched.
“Of course,” said Charlotte.
Elizabeth walked around the outside of the cottage to the window where she had seen the brownie. The stocky fay was still there, scrubbing industriously at the window frame with a worn rag.
She scowled at Elizabeth. “What is it ye want?” she demanded. “I’ve work to do.”
“The bandage on the boy’s leg has iron shavings in it. I did not wish for you to burn yourself by touching it.”
“Iron shavings, forsooth,” grumbled the brownie. “Mortals are nothing but trouble.” With inhuman speed she reached out and scratched the side of Elizabeth’s neck with the pointed nail of her little finger. “Now be off wi’ ye, and take yon bit of bad luck with you.” She pointed at the white cat.
