Page 39 of The Night Vision
“You’re talking about child abuse and…worse!”
Merlin hummed sadly. “It is a very common theme throughout various mythological systems. Infant exposure was practiced in ancient Greece and Rome, and in Europe through the early Middle Ages, I’m afraid. You have to remember that Tighe is from an extremely primitive and unspoiled community whose practices are based on ancient traditions and values.”
“It’s terrible,” Tighe agreed. “I left because I wanted peace and I hoped that there was more to life than cruelty and violence.I always miss my brother, Eoin, but I was happier after I left my pack.”
Smoak let out a frustrated groan and dragged a hand down his face. “Can we focus on the death and breech birth, please?” he said and Merlin nodded.
“Your supposed death is concerning and a breech birth could be a good or a very bad omen. I’ll need to do more research into this.”
“It also puts him one step closer to a threefold death,” Smoak added, eliciting horrified gasps from Niall and Merlin.
“What does that mean?” Tighe asked, looking from face to face.
Smoak cringed. “I’ll take your tongue if you repeat this but it’s how you make and end a demon,” he said. “There are several ways to accomplish three deaths, but selling your soul—soul death—and actual death are two of the most common ways. The third can be a symbolic death or in your case, an actual death and resurrection. That’s strike one, Ossor. You haven’t made any deals in exchange for your soul have you?”
“No!” Tighe said without hesitating. “I’d never do that.”
“Make sure you don’t,” Merlin told him solemnly. “If you do and you die again, you’ll spend an eternity in torment as a servant of the darkness.”
“It’s notthatbad. Some would even say it’s worth it,” Smoak said and Merlin hissed and flailed at him.
“We’ll have none of your lies!”
“Knock it off, Cenn,” Niall scolded, flashing them an apologetic smile. “I don’t think he’d actually do it.”
“Oh, I would,” Smoak said, then grunted when he was elbowed. “I wouldn’t.”
Niall humphed in approval. “He knows I’d never forgive him but Cenn has more of a conscience than he lets on.”
“More of a—!” Merlin scoffed. “He is a demon, lad. No, scratch that. He isthedemon. Whatever the opposite of a conscience is, that is what Cenn Cruach is. All he is capable of is deception and malice.”
“He’s caring and gentle with me,” Niall pointed out. “He might twist the truth a little to protect my feelings but I won’t tolerate outright lying.”
“Omission does some heavy lifting too,” Smoak whispered from behind his hand, making Niall shake his head.
“Don’t listen to him.”
“I think you should,” Merlin said pointedly, then turned his attention back to Tighe. “A near-death experience like that would count. We can assume that you will die some day but if you sell your soul, you will not find glory with your brother and your ancestors,” he warned.
“I won’t,” Tighe repeated. “They said I was cursed by the fae and that's why I didn’t belong with the Ossors. Is it true?” he asked and Merlin clicked his teeth.
“That’s not always clear when it comes to fae magick. It can be a blessing or a curse. But it’s clear that you’re destined to do good things.”
Tighe frowned at him. “How can you be sure?”
“You could have chosen a life of violence and embraced that frenzy you fought so hard to suppress. It would have made your brothers and your elders fear and respect you, but you craved peace and poetry. A peaceful, open heart and a curious mind can only be a blessing,” Merlin said and Smoak silently gagged.
“Sounds incredibly dull to me.”
“Not to me,” Niall countered with a loaded look at Smoak. “In fact, our dreams are pretty much the same. I’m renovating a farmhouse and Silas is building a tiny house for Tighe, but we both want to be surrounded by nature, not screens and skyscrapers.”
Smoak opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. “You’re not at all the same,” he finally said and pointed at Tighe. “He’s more animal and fae than man. That’s why he was cast out of his pack. Dùbhghlas probably thought a golden ticket had landed in his lap when he saw your name in the paper or heard it on the news. An Ossor, alone and so far from his pack… I bet the women still tell tales about that fae Ossor baby that died and came back to life and how he was never quite right. Dùbhghlas had big plans for you but the sun god snatched you away from him.”
“I don’t care about his plans,” Tighe said, despite the tickle of paranoia in his gut. His fear for Eoin returned and Tighe silently vowed that he would turn the full force of his frenzy on Dùbhghlas if his brother was harmed.
“You should care. Youwill, soon enough,” Smoak predicted and Merlin chuckled.
“We’ll be ready for him. He’s growing more and more desperate, which means he’ll take bigger risks and make more mistakes.”
