Page 85 of The Changeling

‘Caiti, what is it? What’s wrong? Who comes?’

‘Witch-hunters.’

Her blue eyes widened. She looked over her shoulder. Men sprinted towards us, knives glinting. Nan dragged me up to my feet. ‘Go, Caiti! Run! Warn your mam, keep Sorcha safe. Go!’

I was dizzy and disorientated. She shook me. ‘Caiti, go! You are young, you have your whole life ahead of you. I am old, too old to run. Go! Go!’

The Lady forgive me, I did.

Carlin ran beside me, snarling at anyone who tried to stop me, but I could hear the pound of boots gaining on me. My legs were stiff, my gait uneven.

The crowd was shouting. ‘They’ve caught a witch! Quick! There goes another. Catch her!’

In a moment they would have me.

Out of the crowd, a chestnut horse galloped. People dived out of its way. Robbie bent and held out one hand to me. I took it and vaulted up behind him. Clinging to his waist, I laid my cheek on his back. With Carlin swift and silent behind us, we fled down the road and away from the lights of the town.

As we crossed the bridge over the River Earn, I looked back. A throng of horsemen pursued us, whipping along their mounts. Robbie leapt a low stone wall, and galloped down a hidden path. The sun had set, but the long twilight of summer gave us enough light to see the way. Gradually it faded, and the first stars began to glitter in the clear arch of sky above us. We came under the shadow of the Knock, and trotted along the rough path and into the valley of Monzie. Ahead lay our little house, its windows lightless. It was late; Mam and Sorcha would already be in bed. Robbie reined in his stallion under the hawthorn tree, dismounted, then swung me lightly down to the ground.

We were very close together. I looked up into his face, trying to see his expression in the darkness.

‘Thank you,’ I gasped.

His hands were still on my waist. ‘Was it all a lie, Caiti? Did you …’ His breath caught. ‘Did you ensorcell me?’

‘Nay! I swear! I didna … I didna mean to!’

‘You did not mean to? So you might have? You do not know?’

I shook my head miserably.

‘How can you not know?’

I could not answer.

‘Tell me the truth, Caiti. Are you a witch?’

‘Nay!’ I burst out wildly. ‘It’s no’ that, I swear.’

‘Then what is it?’

My breath hitched with tears. I wound my arms about his neck and kissed him on the mouth. He broke my hold and set me away from him.

‘Tell me. You owe me that much.’

‘I’m a changeling.’

‘What?’

‘I’m a changeling. My mother is the queen of the Shee. She gave me to Mam when I was a baby and tried to steal Sorcha, but Nan tricked her and got Sorcha back. Mam raised me as her own, even though I was no’ her kind.’

He was silent.

‘I tell you true. I have tried … so hard … to be human. I’m sorry. How could I tell you?’

The echo of pounding hooves in the distance. He looked towards the sound. ‘They come.’

‘Robbie …’