Read Online A Fine Cauldron Of Fish by Cornelia Amiri - Free Book Online

feeling about this. “I want
Margaid free from slavery to me, so others can see her and she can
decide for herself who she wants to be with, me or someone else.
It’s only right. She’s a great person, she deserves freedom. Who
doesn’t? But Margaid is like a butterfly, a bird, she has to be
free.”
    “ What can I do?” The man’s
eyes gleamed.
    “ I am told you are a druid
and you can invoke the god Mannan beg mac y Leir. Only he can
release Margaid from her vow of slavery to me.”
    “ But you are a
non-believer.” The druid gazed at him with those piercing blue
eyes, challenging him.
    “ I believe in Margaid. I
can see and hear her. And I believe that Mannan can make her human
so we can be together, if that’s what she wishes. It’s our only
chance at happiness. I want no other woman, only Margaid. She is my
future.”
    “ Mannan can be like a storm
rising off the ocean, such is his temper, and he may not take well
to your request,” the druid warned.
    Andrew nodded. “I have been told of
the risk.”
    “ I can perform a ritual.
But once I start, there is no turning back. Are you sure you want
to do this?” the druid asked.
    “ Yes.” Andrew gazed into
Margaid’s large eyes as he took her hand in his and squeezed it. “I
have to do this. You are not meant to be a slave.”
    “ I want to be with you in
whatever way I can.”
    “ Margaid, if you love me,
let me do this. I need to.”
    “ I do love you and I can’t
talk you out of this. So I’ll stand by your side as you speak with
Mannan beg mac y Leir.”
    “ Very well,” the shop owner
let out a long sigh, “come into the back of the store, I have a
small temple there.”
    Andrew clutched Margaid’s warm, soft
hand, squeezing it as they walked together, following the druid
into a back room.
    The druid gestured. “Margaid, you sit
here, and Andrew, you sit there, facing each other.” The druid sat
a fat candle on the center of the table and lit it. “Reach across
the table and grasp each other’s hands.” The druid raised his arms
in the air.
    Andrew reached out to stop him.
“First, shouldn’t we introduce ourselves? My name is Andrew, and
you know of Margaid.” Again Andrew noticed the druid smiling at
Margaid and he swore he could see her. “And what’s your
name?”
    “ My name is...well they
call me Orbsen mac Alloid.”
    “ Orbsen, I’m glad to meet
you.” He reached out and shook the druid’s hand. Andrew almost
yelled ouch. The old man had a surprisingly strong grip for his
age.
    Margaid grabbed Andrew’s shoulder and
he tilted his head toward her, but she didn’t say anything. Her
face was red, tense, and lined. The nails of her hand pressed
against his skin. She stood up and pointed at the druid, then swung
her head back to Andrew. Trying to tell him something important,
her lips moved, but she didn't utter a sound.
    “ What’s wrong?” Something’s
not right. “We have to go.” He shot up out of his seat, but Margaid
shook her head no. “I mean we’ll stay.” Andrew looked at Margaid,
who now bobbed her head up and down. She wanted to stay but still,
something was wrong. “Okay, we’ll stay.”
    He shifted his gaze back to Orbsen and
shrugged to hide his confusion. “Shouldn’t I pay you
first?”
    “ No, not me.” The druid
remained calm in his expression and tone as he still sat in the
wooden chair. “The god will ask for a sacrifice. Sometimes he wants
it in a golden bauble or a sword, but other times he will ask for
much more.”
    Andrew gulped, knowing he
could easily be dead, drained of all of his blood at the hands of
the god himself or another lhiannan
shee . Margaid squeezed his hand tight, but
she no longer dug her nails into him and her face was less lined.
She was more relaxed, yet still unable to speak. He had to fight
through the gamut of confusion, fear, anxiety, excitement,
curiosity, and love for Margaid. As she sat back down, so did
he.
    Andrew nodded to the druid to
begin.
    Orbsen