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“That’s ridiculous, Dee!” he scoffed with a laugh.

“Of course I remember Mamie talking about her sister! I never met églantine before, because I was born here in Ireland, and she was born in Bretagne . But, by the Goddess, she’s my cousin and that’s all there is to it.

Now stop with your crazy accusations! I have work to do! ”

He stormed off, pretending to be exasperated with her, watching out of the corner of his eye.

She was not at all dissuaded by his words.

She puttered about, shelving items in the shop and tidying up as she prepared to go to the house and fix dinner.

But he caught her scornful stare. “Say what you will, Bran. But I know, as sure as I’m standin’ here right now, lookin’ at you, that our sweet little églantine ,” she spat with disgust, “is the king’s daughter Issylte, the Emerald Princess herself! ”

In a desperate effort to distract Deirdre from her fixation with églantine, Branoc tried to shower his wife with the attention she craved.

He smiled at her frequently and kissed her cheek from time to time as he worked in his shop and crossed her path.

He even forced himself to make love to her, hoping that his feigned interest would keep her occupied, deflect her attention, and protect églantine.

Deirdre did seem to thrive on the newfound affection and did not mention again the visitor from the castle, the horse named Luna, or the tragic death of the Emerald Princess—until Maiwenn and Issylte came into the blacksmith shop on their usual Saturday excursion.

****

When Issylte entered the shop with Maiwenn, she saw Deirdre bustling about, wiping off the countertop, tidying up. She and Tatie greeted Deirdre with kisses on the cheek and bright smiles. Dee seemed barely able to contain herself, as if she had exciting news to share.

“Mamie! églantine! You’ll never guess who came into our shop just a few days ago! A fine gentleman by the name of Lord Liam, the Master of Horse in King Donnchadh’s castle! Can you imagine?”

At the mention of Liam’s name, Issylte’s knees buckled underneath her. She grabbed the countertop to steady herself as Maiwenn responded brightly. “The Master of Horse! My goodness, fancy that! Did he come here to purchase a weapon?”

Issylte sensed Deirdre’s scrutinizing gaze. Branoc’s wife smirked, seeming to watch Issylte’s reaction. “No, Mamie , he was here to have his horse reshod. A pretty dappled gray mare whose name was Luna .”

Issylte nearly choked—her beloved horse was here ! In this very shop. With Liam!

The blacksmith’s wife continued, as if meting out the cruelty of her words and savoring their sweet effect.

“Lord Liam, the Master of Horse, explained that the palfrey—Luna—had belonged to the king’s only child, his daughter the Princess Issylte.

” Deirdre busied herself, wiping off the countertop, yet Issylte could feel her watchful stare as she struggled to keep her emotions in check.

She cast her eyes to the ground, flustered, while Maiwenn did all the talking.

“How fortunate for you to have earned his business. I’m sure he paid handsomely for Bran’s fine work.”

Issylte adjusted the lacing on her boot, trying desperately to hide her dismay.

Deirdre continued, seemingly delighted at the effect the poison of her words was having on Issylte.

“Yes, we are most grateful for his business. It seems that Lord Liam was on his way to deliver the horse Luna and some other palfreys from the royal stables to a buyer near the village when her horseshoe came loose. While Bran did the repairs, Lord Liam and I had a very nice chat .”

Issylte shot Maiwenn a pleading look, hoping to extricate her from Deirdre’s attack. Branoc was still occupied near his forge and could not rescue them.

“Lord Liam told me how the king had been terribly distraught after his daughter’s death.

How he just could not part with the horse, for the princess had loved the mare so much.

But now, with the king bed-ridden and ailing, the queen decided to sell Luna and the other palfreys.

It seems the Morholt—her Black Knight—was needin’ only warhorses for his army. ”

Bile rose in her throat. She had to escape now.

Just as Issylte could bear no more, Branoc finally came over to greet them, wiping his hands and grinning at the sight of the visitors.

“ Mamie ! églantine!” he beamed, “how are you today?” As her husband kissed the two women, Deirdre gloated, “Bran, I was just tellin’ Mamie and églantine about Lord Liam, the Master of Horse at the castle who came in this week with the gray mare to be reshod. ”

Branoc shot a worried glance at his grandmother and turned to stare at Issylte.

The blood drained from her face. Her legs shook under her gown.

“It’s most peculiar, Mamie . Lord Liam said that the Princess Issylte,” Deirdre crooned, malice burning in her bleak stare, “had long, blond hair—and was quite beautiful. That she was just fourteen when the accident occurred four years ago.”

Maiwenn was assembling her baskets, preparing to leave.

Deirdre’s steely voice was a razor-sharp blade. “Four years ago… the same time that you came to Mamie’s cottage. From Bretagne.” Deirdre shot daggers at Issylte, who dared not meet the malevolent stare.

“Isn’t that just an incredible coincidence ? And, to think that here you are—eighteen years old now, the exact same age that the princess would have been if she’d survived.” A devilish grin contorted Deirdre’s taunting face.

Maiwenn seemed to be trying her best to remain unruffled. “Yes, Dee, it is indeed a tragedy. I’ve heard it said throughout the kingdom that she was a lovely child. Such a terrible loss for His Majesty, the king.”

Turning to Branoc and adjusting the basket on her arm, she announced, “We’ll be headin’ home now, dear. It was good to see you both. Come now, églantine. Let’s go make that seafood stew with the clams and mussels we found this morning.”

Maiwenn took Issylte’s arm and firmly steered her towards the door. Issylte could barely stand as she leaned on her tatie for support. “Bye now, Dee. We’ll see you soon.” Maiwenn flashed a bright smile as she led Issylte out the door.

Maiwenn’s voice was quiet but stern. “Hold your head high and keep your composure. I am sure that Dee is watching from the window. Do not react at all until we are out of view. Come with me, dear. Calmly.”

Once they were no longer in sight of the blacksmith shop and well into the forest, Issylte collapsed onto her knees. “Oh, Tatie … Luna was there! And Liam! And my poor father… He’s bedridden, just like I saw in that vision on the lake!” She shuddered, her breath heaving.

“The queen sold Luna. She belongs to someone else now.” Issylte was inconsolable, her body wracked with grief. “I’ll never see her, or Liam—or my father—ever again. Oh, Tatie , I just can’t bear it!”

Maiwenn stroked Issylte’s back, her touch soothing. “There now, dear. I know it hurts. It’s all right, sweetheart.” Maiwenn wrapped her arms around Issylte in a grandmotherly hug, as if to absorb her pain.

After a few minutes, Issylte raised a crumpled, miserable face to her tatie .

Maiwenn helped Issylte to her feet. “Come, let’s go home to the cottage. I have something important to tell you.”

Seated at the cozy table behind the hearth, Issylte sipped the chamomile tea as her tatie stored the provisions they had procured in the village earlier that day.

Returning with her own tisane, the fairy witch who had so lovingly cared for her for the past four years sat down at the table.

Large, luminous brown eyes twinkled in the firelight.

“My dearest églantine,” she said, her eyes glistening. “I love you as if you were my very own granddaughter.” Maiwenn reached across the table and squeezed Issylte’s hand. Issylte’s heart was in her throat. Where was this leading? A wave of panic washed over her.

“You have given me so much joy , sweetheart. I thank the Goddess every day for bringing you to my doorstep.” Wiping her tears and straightening her back, her tatie seemed to be gathering her resolve. She met Issylte’s gaze, her wise eyes resolute and firm.

“You cannot remain here any longer, my princess. It has become much too dangerous. Dozens of knights are arriving each week, headed to the castle. The Black Knight has every sea wright along the coast building warships for his army, preparing for an invasion of Britain.” Issylte’s lip quivered and her legs shook under the table.

“Soon, there will be lumberjacks felling the trees here in the Hazelwood Forest. More royal guards coming into the village. And now, I fear Dee suspects the truth, after what she said in the shop today.”

Issylte, her heart fluttering, watched Maiwenn sip her tea.

“Do you remember several weeks ago, you saw me talking to someone in front of the cottage, near the woods?”

Issylte nodded, taking a sip of tisane . Her hands trembled, and her stomach clenched. She was downright ill with tension and dread. What was Tatie saying?

Maiwenn continued, her voice at once soothing yet discomforting. “I told you that a villager was asking for a remedy for a stomach ailment,” she said, seeming embarrassed at the lie. “But those were my messengers —the Little Folk —the woodland creatures of the forest.”

Issylte gazed at Maiwenn in confusion. Where was this leading? What was Tatie trying to say? Her stomach was twitching. She wiped damp palms on her dress.

“I sent an urgent message to my trusted friend Viviane, asking if she could take you in. I explained who you were, the queen’s attempt on your life, and that I could no longer keep you here with me.” Maiwenn’s eyes blazed with conviction.

“I received a response not long after, saying yes, you could stay with her, and that she would be sending her guards to escort you there.”

Issylte panicked. “Escort me where, Tatie ? I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here with you. I love you, Tatie . Please don’t send me away!” She clutched Maiwenn’s hands.

The fairy witch rose to her feet and threw her arms around Issylte’s shoulders. Maiwenn rested her cheek against Issylte’s head.

Issylte’s heart was a tight fist. She loved her tatie so very much. She couldn’t leave!

“I know, sweetheart. It breaks my heart to send you away, but that is exactly what I must do. It is too dangerous for you to remain here. You know that is true. If the queen learns that you are still alive, she will hunt you down and kill you.”

And you, Tatie, for sheltering me, Issylte realized with horror. By the Goddess, I must leave before it’s too late. For Tatie’s sake!

Maiwenn returned to her seat at the table, composing her face along with her posture. Her wide, brown eyes—so full of love and light, yet stark and resolute—locked on Issylte’s.

“You, my dearest princess, are the heir to the throne of Ireland.” Maiwenn took Issylte’s trembling hand.

“I believe with all my heart that the Goddess sent you to me. So you could discover your divine gift, learning to wield the magic essence of the forest. So that you could become a powerful healer. So that you can one day reclaim your birthright.” She met Issylte’s eyes with wonder and awe.

“So that you, the Emerald Princess, can become the Emerald Queen.”

Maiwenn turned to gaze at the fire in the hearth as if the flames held the answers she sought.

“I have taught you all the secrets of the forest. You can wield your power to determine which herbs can heal, which can kill. You can create medicines, elixirs, poultices, and salves. Verdant magic is within you, my forest fairy. It protects and guides you, just as it has me, all my life.” Maiwenn cast a loving glance at Issylte, her luminous eyes glowing in the firelight.

“You have mastered the first of the three sacred elements of the Goddess—the forest. And now, you have also shown evidence of the gift of sight —a magic to be wielded through water. It is time for you to develop that divine gift as well. To master the second of the three sacred elements— water.”

Issylte, bewildered, repeated her urgent question. “Where, Tatie ? Where are you sending me?”

Her face alight with wisdom and love, Maiwenn responded with a soft, knowing smile.

“To Avalon.”