Page 116 of The Changeling

‘I promised to become queen of the Shee.’

‘I do not understand. You? Queen of the Shee?’

‘It is my birthright and my burden.’

In the distance, a cock crowed.

‘It is time.’ My mother kissed the man with the ragged black cloak, then stepped onto the willow throne, climbing up its entwined branches till she was clinging to the twisted crown at its apex. She drew a narrow flint knife from her belt. Like a song or a spell, she chanted:

Once, twice, thrice, must die a willing sacrifice

once by blade, once by fire, once by water

blood on the throne at the year’s dark cross-quarter

She looked at me, smiled, and cut her own throat.

Part VII

Lady Elder guards the end and the beginning of all things the dark moment of crossing the bright threshold we transcend

I

Queen of the Hollow Hills

I had known what was to come, but even so I flinched and gasped. Her blood sprayed across my face. Robbie caught me in his arms and turned me, shielding me from the sight. I heard the thud as her body fell and hit the ground, and then a great cracking sound, as the throne split in two.

All through the cavern, people dropped to their knees. Some prayed, some raised their voices and wailed, keening like I had done just a few days earlier. My father cradled my mother’s bloodied corpse and wept. I looked up into Robbie’s face.

‘I am the queen of the Shee now. I dinna yet ken what that means. I do ken I canna abandon my people. Will you stay with me and help me, come what may? Or will you go back to the life you knew and forget me?’

His lips curved. ‘Do you know how hard I’ve tried to forget you? You are unforgettable, Caiti.’

‘I didna mean to ensorcell you.’

‘I know.’

I stood on tiptoe and kissed him. He kissed me back, but swayed where he stood. He was frighteningly pale and thin. I wanted to take him home, but where was my home now? This cold, spectre- haunted cave? The burned-out ruins of a cottage? The gaunt tower of Inchbrakie, filled with people who thought me a witch?

‘Go now,’ a voice said.

I turned.

The man with the black ragged cloak and withered foot stood behind me, leaning on a stick, his face ravaged with grief.

‘It is time for us to mourn and burn our queen. It is time for you to rest and heal. The curse is broken, and we do not yet know how we can live without it.’

Impulsively, I put my arms about him and hugged him. My father. I had never expected to have one.

For a moment he was stiff and unresponsive, then he lifted one hand and stroked my wild hair. ‘You look so much like her,’ he said in a choked voice.

‘Thank you for letting me fly with you.’

‘You needed to bear witness.’

I nodded.

‘So much death,’ I said. ‘So much sorrow. Why? Why did they have to kill my family?’