Free Kelpie Curse: A Feyland Urban Fantasy Tale (The Celtic Fey Book 2) by Roz Marshall Page A

counted to three then forced them properly open. But she really was gone. Back to her real life, he hoped, then gritted his teeth and pushed himself up onto an elbow.
    With the other hand, he probed the wound on his neck. Blood. But not fresh red arterial blood. So not a life-threatening wound—unless the wolf's foul teeth harboured some deadly infection.
    Or unless the witch takes retribution on me for the wolf's injury.
    But what if she had seen that it was Corinne who shot the wolf? Would Corinne be in danger instead? Perhaps it is a blessing that she has gone home.
    A wave of nausea threatened to engulf him, and he was about to lie down again when the patter of approaching feet put his senses on high alert. Pushing onto his knees, he reached for his cloak and pulled it over his head. He felt too sick to stand and run. Hiding was his only option.
    When the approaching creature appeared from behind a gnarled pine tree, he breathed a sigh of relief. Urisk.
    The goat-man stopped, sniffing the air and surveying the clearing through narrowed eyes.
    Elphin let the cloak drop and spoke up. "Hello, Urisk."
    Urisk jumped. "Where—" Then his gaze darted to Elphin's neck. "You are injured, young man."
    "It is nothing. Just a wolf bite."
    The goat-man hopped closer and examined the wound. "This is not nothing. You need treatment. Come." He held out a hand and helped Elphin to his feet. "I have medicines back at my cave."
    -::-
    Sitting on the soft furs in Urisk's cave while the goat-man fussed around him, Elphin's vision began to waver and blur.
    "Lie down," Urisk commanded, and Elphin was only too glad to obey.
    His eyes closed, he winced as something warm and damp was placed onto his neck.
    "A poultice of moss and herbs. To draw the poisons from the wound."
    Cool hands behind his neck wrapped a soft cloth bandage over the injury. "Thank you," Elphin mumbled, feeling the blissful tendrils of sleep reaching out for him.
    Urisk smacked his lips appreciatively. "That is better. Now," he laid a hand on Elphin's arm, "perhaps you can tell me where my manservant Colpach has gone?"
    As if someone had thrown a bucket of ice water over him, Elphin's senses sprang to full alert. Opening his eyes, he examined Urisk's face, which held a look of concern, rather than malice. Elphin relaxed somewhat.
    "He tricked Corinne into taking off his silver chain," Elphin said, "and turned into his water horse form. Then he enticed her to ride him, and tried to drown her." He set his jaw. "In order to save her, I had to shoot the kelpie." At the look on Urisk's face, he added, "I am sorry."
    Urisk sucked air through his teeth. "Your actions have left me without my manservant. I am trying to build up stocks of healing herbs. He was helping me to cultivate the meadow."
    "I am sorry," Elphin repeated. "But he was going to kill my friend."
    The goat-man slowly shook his head. "There is only one answer. You should make retribution for murdering my servant. You will work for me instead."
    "But—"
    Elphin's protests were cut short by the strident voice he feared the most. Cailleach.
    Standing in the entrance to the cave, she was flanked by her two wolves, the injured one standing on three legs. "No!" she roared. "He is my cup-bearer. He returns to the mountain with me!"
    Urisk drew himself to his full height to address the witch. "My lady, he killed my servant. He must work for me to make retribution!"
    Propping himself on an elbow, Elphin shook his head to clear the fog in his brain. He needed to intervene here, or he would end up back at Schiehallion with the witch. Taking a deep breath, he tried to make his voice stronger than he felt. "This is a decision for the King. We need to go and seek judgement at the Bright Court."

C HAPTER 20

    A GRACEFUL FOREFINGER tapped contemplatively against the Bright King's lower lip. Then he stilled, and his sapphire-blue eyes alighted on Elphin. "And you, young minstrel, what would you have me do?"
    Standing on the