Chapter 2 #2
“No! Dinna mind me. ’Tis been a long day.
’Tis all. Nothing more. I swear it.” Keeva fluttered about like a nervous butterfly, frantically pushing open the door and motioning for Lexi to follow her into the building.
“Let’s get ye signed in. Of course, ye can keep the wee moggy during yer stay.
I feel sure he’ll make himself at home in the garden.
Then, when the time comes for ye to leave, we’ll be sure and find him a fine home.
I’ll even help by going to Boyd’s and fetching some moggy food and supplies ye might need for him.
We can post a notice there, too. On Boyd’s announcement board. Seeing if anyone has lost a kitten.”
“Thank you. He’s just too tiny and helpless to abandon,” Lexi said. “I just can’t do that.”
Keeva immediately calmed, and her smile turned almost thoughtful. “Aye, Mistress Lexi. And that be exactly why ye are here.”
Slightly confused by Keeva’s sudden change of heart, Lexi idly rubbed the now sleeping kitten’s head. “I’m not sure about soft-heartedness having anything to do with my vacation. I needed a change, and Seven Cairns seemed to fit the bill.”
“Aye,” Keeva said as she tapped on the electronic tablet on the table, then handed Lexi the stylus. “Sign here, lass.”
With a strange sense of signing away her soul, Lexi signed the tablet, then handed the stylus back to Lexi. “All set?”
“All set. Here are the keys. Now, back to yer car, and I’ll show ye the way.”
As they walked back to the automobile, Lexi kept looking around for signs of the kitten’s mother. “Do people drop animals here to get rid of them?”
“Drop animals?”
“Leave them and drive away. How else would this kitten get here?”
“That moggy came here on his own,” Keeva said with such conviction that it took Lexi by surprise. “Not a soul abandoned that beastie. I’ll grant ye that.”
“Can you hold him so I can drive? I need my left hand so I can shift gears.” Lexi slid into the driver’s seat and tried to hand the cat over to Keeva.
Keeva recoiled as if the little thing were some sort of compact little monster. “Oh no. I canna hold it.” She faked a pitiful sneeze. “Allergies, ye understand.”
“Ahh…” Lexi didn’t understand, but that didn’t matter. Keeva definitely had some kind of cat phobia. She settled the kitten into her lap. “I’m sure he’ll be fine here. Especially if the drive is short.”
“Oh, it is, lass. The cottage is just around the bend a ways. Past the kirk. Within walking distance, really. Once ye’ve settled in, ye’ll not need yer car to fetch things from the village. Ye can walk, and there’s a fine wee cart to help ye carry yer messages home.”
Lexi followed the cobblestone road around the old church, then spotted a cheerful, white washed cottage with a thatched roof and bright red shutters. Her heart leapt with joy. She felt like she’d just spotted home after a long, trying trip. “Is that it?”
“Aye, lass. Do ye like it?”
“I love it. It’s going to be hard to leave when my time is up.
” Lexi parked the car beside the cottage, scooped up the sleepy kitten, and got out of the vehicle, not bothering to close the door behind her.
She hurried to the bright red front door, tried the old-fashioned skeleton key in the lock, and laughed when the portal swung open.
This was better than any fairy tale she had ever read as a child.
The cozy interior welcomed her, hugging her like a long-lost friend.
The furnishings were worn, but clean and decorated with colorful knit throws and pillows, making it look like a loving grandmother had just finished cleaning and decorating.
The overstuffed couch and chairs in front of the quaint black woodstove would be a perfect spot for reading.
Across the room was the kitchen, with bright red cabinets as cheery as the front door and shutters.
A polished copper kettle squatted on the stove, and a fat-bellied cookie jar waited to be filled on the butcher block counter.
“’Tis not a big thing, but will do and keep ye dry and warm for the duration of yer stay,” Keeva said.
She pointed to the right. “There’s yer bedroom.
The next door over is the toilet, and that door there goes out to the garden.
” She tipped a leery nod at the now awake kitten in Lexi’s arms. “Ye might wish to put the wee moggy out there. They like to explore and ensure the place is safe.”
“Ensure the place is safe?” Lexi laughed.
Keeva made the tiny feline sound like a sentry.
She went to the farthest door on the left and propped it open.
As gorgeous as the day was, she couldn’t resist. She set the kitten down and nudged it toward the garden.
“There you go. Keeva said you’d want to check the perimeter. ”
The orange cat flicked an ear, then marched outside as if assuming the mantle of protector.
“Well, isn’t he the brave little thing?” Lexi turned to find Keeva staring after the tiny beast as if praying he didn’t ravage the village. “Do you have a problem with cats?” She had to ask. This was just too strange.
“Just allergies,” Keeva said, her tone still unconvincing.
“I’m sorry to hear that. I hate when anyone is denied the pleasure of an animal friend.
” Lexi went to the door and looked out across the garden—a delightful menagerie of brightly painted gnome statues and concrete piggies greeted her.
“Oh my goodness. I love it. The wildflowers. The flagstone path to that old oak. What a gorgeous sanctuary.”
“Most who stay here like it,” Keeva said.
Once again, her tone said otherwise, making Lexi wonder even more about the girl.
She seemed nice enough. She was just odd.
As long as she wasn’t dangerous, that was the key.
A glance at the kitchen made Lexi feel better.
A large wooden rolling pin and knife block full of knives sat on the counter beside the cookie jar.
If need be, at least she had a few weapons.
She shook away the silly thought. Keeva was not dangerous. She was just different, and nothing was wrong with different. As Mammaw used to say, the world would be a pretty boring place if everyone were normal.
“The place is perfect,” Lexi said to the wide-eyed girl. “I am so glad I came.”
“Aye, Mistress Lexi. We are glad ye came as well. Welcome to Seven Cairns. We hope ye enjoy yer stay.”
* * *
“A Fae tiger has already come to her, and the Highland Veil revealed itself. The lass saw it.”
“Calm down.” Mairwen came away from the window and motioned to the teapot and cups on the table.
Her assistant Keeva needed to learn to keep her reactions to herself.
“Pour yerself a cup of tea and tell me everything.” She had a fair idea about what had shaken the girl, but she needed details, facts, not emotions.
“I saw the Highland Veil as well. I was verra shocked that it showed itself to our visitor. That is a rare thing, indeed. A great honor for a mortal. Did Mistress Lexi comment on it?”
“She was taken by its beauty. Said it reminded her of her grandmother’s quilt of many colors.”
Mairwen nodded as she seated herself at the table. “Good. She associated the show of the Veil with her beloved grandmother and did not panic. That is a good sign indeed.” She sipped her tea, then set it aside, frowning. “And what did ye say about a Fae tiger?”
“I believe it is Aylryd. He glamoured himself into the form of an orange kitten, a tabby, and has already stolen her heart. She thinks someone abandoned him, and is determined to care for him and find him a home.” Keeva picked up her teacup and saucer, then set them back down when they shook and rattled uncontrollably.
“She has no idea what he is. She thinks him a harmless moggy.”
“He appears as a harmless wee moggy to her. Fae tigers only come to those they wish to protect and serve. Much like the Unseelie panther that came to our Emily. Aylryd is a Seelie beast determined to protect his future queen.”
“But what will she do when she meets Prince Jeros? How will he feel about his fated mate being guarded by a Fae tiger?”
“Prince Jeros has greater things to worry about than a Fae tiger. Trust me. The fool still has to overcome his obsession with perfection and his definition of beauty.” Mairwen reached for her worn tarot cards and shuffled them.
She drew a card, placed it on the table, and nodded at it.
“See? The Emperor. Reversed. Excessive control, a tendency to be rigid or inflexible, or a need for validation or control. This has obviously manifested as stubbornness, a refusal to compromise, and a lack of adaptability. Until our prince sees with his heart instead of his mind, he shall be a very miserable prince, indeed.”
“Aylryd will eat him if he makes Mistress Lexi cry.”
“Then we must hope, for the prince’s sake, that does not happen.
” Mairwen sipped her tea, reshuffled her cards, then dealt three more.
They made her smile. “The lovers. The Two of Cups, and the Four of Wands. See here what the cards say about our Lexi and her prince? Strong bonds. Unity. Harmony. Love. Attraction. Our prince must simply overcome his blindness to Lexi’s true beauty. ”
“He swore he was not that shallow.”
“He lied. You saw his reaction when he first saw her scars.”
“At least he will be prepared when he sees her. After speaking with her for but a short while, one hardly notices her scars. He should also feel her soul reaching out to him. Surely then the scales of prejudice and judgement will fall away from his eyes, enabling him to see her for who she truly is and can be if he will but allow it.”
“We can only hope—for his sake and the sake of the Highland Veil. It longs for their bond.”
* * *