wraithen as fuck


Gormglaith cracked an eye by a slit, then the other. It was sun storming and cloudless outside as hot yellow beams streamed into the gather lair. Her eyes snapped shut then slowly opened again.

She sat up on the settle with a start, alone. Beyond the windows a dark blue green loch rippled as leafy trees and pines swayed in the wind but the only sound was a far off, steady rush of air. She sighed and blew a lock of stray thatch, hiking the Snotrian wrap up to her nipples as she padded to the supper cove and peered into the kitchen which was sleek, cool and empty, then peeked in the woodsy nest too, its zoisite rune strip shimmering a deep ice blue.

Gormglaith walked through shafts of harsh sunlight. Crossing Glas knoll she was still some way from the corner nest when, keeping stride, she tilted her head, having spotted Bairrfhionn flat on her back in flued black longstockings, chalken chest beaming hard, crimson hair streaming forth with arms thrown out and hands loosely open. Between her lanky thighs Gwenhwyfer knelt like a wraith in white, cheeks throbbing as if to heartbeats. Sunbeams blew through the corner wrapped window into sheer skin fluorescing blue green veins, setting locks to glimmers and making linens glow. The maegden from Elmthorpe leaned against the opening as Bairrfhionn gazed up at her from a fynn and freckled face with searing popinjay green eyes.

Gormglaith yawed her head, dripping with tears. Outside the swans circled and dipped slowly. Rising on her toes she came to the staddle and lowered herself through a thrillsome, stirring smell of slattag ghlass and cairmeal, falling on her side an arm's length from them, head flat in blue black cotton, right hand dug between her thighs, fingers threading into cleft, close linen betwixt, to stare through deep blue lake eyes.

The sun was high when Gormglaith's eyes flung open again, gawking into yellow, white freaked hair and the closely shaved back of Gwenhwyfer's upper neck and lower head. The banshee clung to slumbering Bairrfhionn whose mouth was open in a loopy smile. Gormglaith scrunched in, laying loosely balled hands between the stark blades of Gwenhwyfer Bloor's back.

Soon after, Bairrfhionn stood over them saying, "Ok sleepyheads, anyone who gets up'll find hot chocolate, scones and rowanberry to drink! Anyone who doesn't will miss me dishin' 'em!"

Bairrfhionn's eyes went blank as she nimbly rundled about and walked off on her toes in the girl-like but somehow all too heedful and smooth gait of a house robot, or a wig.

Gwenhwyfer spun over, cast a shy grin and lightly rapped Gormglaith's shoulders with closed fists. Gormglaith broke open a smile as the banshee looked off to the side then straight into her eyes.

"Ok, she's wiggin' out again."

Gormglaith smirked and nodded as Gwenhwyfer put forefinger to mouth in a hush and whispered. The banshee held up three fingers... two... one...

They bounded off the staddle and tore out of the nest screaming, making a swath for Bairrfhionn who whirled and shrieked as the two maegden in white wrapped about her at the waist. They all slid two yards across the slippery stone deck on flat linen clad feet, laughing.

"I'm gonna slash, my bats," said Gwenhwyfer as she made a snapping, hair flying spin and quickly tiptoed away leaving Gormglaith red faced, beaming and breathing hard.

"So Gormglaith!" said Bairrfhionn through a chalky scythe. "Will it be chocolate or coffee...?"

At the board Bairrfhionn poured her a mug of chocolate. Near the Eachdraidh was a dark green and flax bowl heaped with fresh scones, bounded by earthenware mugs bearing butter, boxberry and blackberry jams along with tumblers of foamy, ruddy rowanberry.

Bairrfhionn sat down beside her with a frothing mug of coffee, scanned the board and said, "Bit of a binge then..."

She bit craven into a scone, flakes tumbling as Gwenhwyfer breezed back to alight on the other bench, chin in hands, brims bright pink in scattered daylight between wan and reedy arms. Bairrfhionn rose and with red hair flying about the waist, fetched her clannin sister a mug of coffee, then settled back in to gnaw another scone buried in butter and blackberry jam as Gormglaith squinted at the sunlit loch and Gwenhwyfer eyed them both.

"I forgot," said Gormglaith, casting her eyes up in a simper as she ran off.

She sat down again to hushed gazes, snatched a scone and cheerfully asked, "So, what've y'all been saying behind my back?"

She buttered and jammed the scone and shoved it into her mouth, munchily watching them. Bairrfhionn lunged and gave her a smunching kiss on the cheek to which Gormglaith let out an ear stabbing shriek, sent the scone flying and gaped at Bairrfhionn with a strained smile as the banshee quickly went about buttering another for her.

Gwenhwyfer twirled her eyes.

"Pane... Pane... Pane... " she sighed, shaking her head.

Tears slipping down her cheeks, Gormglaith lit off to the big settle, plopped down, drew up her legs and rocked wombishly back and forth, sniffling, damp eyes lasering the loch. Bairrfhionn, with maple red hair draped forward, dropped head in hands and wept.

Gwenhwyfer stared at Gormglaith, then the banshee, then what was left of breakfast and said,

"Whatever... whilst this bloody crush splatters into weepy puddles I think I'll do something meed..."

Gwenhwyfer was dabbing crumbs, Bairrfhionn racked and sulking, when Gormglaith skipped over, looked down at them with ruddy, puffy eyes and said,

"Ok, let's go see the swans."

"I'll have a bash!" Gwenhwyfer put brightly.

Gaggles flew between flock and fleet as hands were nibbled, beaks petted and so on. Bairrfhionn was sitting on her heels gabbing with a speechy, stalwart guilbneach when Gormglaith rose up in the green henge shade, hands on her hips.

"Bairrfhionn Pane I'm so too nettled by the notion not one of my kin knows about thee banshee or not."

Bairrfhionn cringed, closed her eyes then stood and faced her.

"Shall I be ever so stark?" she answered.

"Flann told me there'd be no frolic at the feish," said Gormglaith. "For starters all I've likely done so far has been to send my friend and thy twain Findabair Pane off on a tide of tears over this wanton little bamf of mine into the outskirts of Eachdraidh. Aside from that, whatever I do now'll forever blow my puff as the afliae were wont to say and speaking of shenn I'd be amazed if the steady titanium hand of mine own Grainne Grendel hasn't been tweedling about somewhere in all this. Geileis spilled more than enough for me to grok that the other night but being such a clueless bumpkin it took us more than a tick so yes Bairrfhionn, a bit of ever so stark would help, one way or another."

"Thou wast there. Thou heardst."

"What."

"Gormglaith?! When I told Geileis about the durham grian! I mean, 'Green greens everywhere'...?"

"Not enough! She likes green! Blue too, we both do. Besides, maybe my Flann can dodge your crummy plait."

"Don't be such a goop! When I told Grainne the same thing two nights ago she read me the blue streak, I can tell thee," said the banshee, putting hands on rail hips. "'Bairrfhionn Pane thou behave'st like thy twain, blinded by the starlight of old gab. Get a grip!'"

Gormglaith leaned forward, her mouth frozen open, straw thatch fluttering in the breeze.

"The harvest moon's full tonight."

Bairrfhionn barely nodded.

"I'll plight with the falling sun then."

She tumbled into four arms, tears running.

Back in Glas knoll they settled at the now empty board, each red eyed and sniffling. Gwenhwyfer raised an eyebrow at Gormglaith, said "Haunt Morigan?" and glommed onto the loch with sunken eyes.

"Creiddyladl? Gwenhwyfer. Hey! How art thou, my bat. Fit! I'm fettle! Bairrfhionn says hi... Hey kinsikins! How'rt tha doing? Wow! I guess Fall's comin'! So hark, the three of us were outside chatting up the swans and it was thrilling. Yeah, anyway we got to talking, uhm, truth be told Gormglaith and Bairrfhionn did most of it and I know this is a bit rash but Gormglaith wants to plight with the falling sun, I mean like... tonight. Gormglaith? She's nodding! ...Ok, I think she is but I'll ask... Art thou bent? Aye, she's bent. Ok! Hey Gormglaith, wanna to talk to Morigan?"

Gormglaith shook her head wildly, waving hands and mouthing, No way! ...No!

"Ha! Sorry, she doesn't want to talk to thee! Heh heh. Thou dost?! Ok... 'k... yeah! I'll ask her... that's dreamy! ...'k! Bye!"

Gwenhwyfer drew a breath.

"As it happens, they're havin' a walk through Loch henge gardens in Fen Glioon, so Morigan thought we might meet there two hours before sunset."

"Ok..."

"We can all get together in one of those fetching little flurt lairs nearby! Then at falling sun we'll go into the henge."

Gormglaith knitted her brow.

"There'll be witnesses. I mean, not only Sparkenbanes."

Gwenhwyfer nodded battishly.

"Gwenhwyfer Sparkenbane it's been at least two thousand years since a banshee plighted at Loch henge."

"I think the last," said Bairrfhionn, "was Korrigan Coe of the Fields, 2127 years ago."

Gormglaith cast Bairrfhionn a startled glance.

"Hey, don't look at me! It's not like I'm the thorpe cabbage or anything," she said with a toothy grin. "Rathyen brought it up a few nights ago."

Gormglaith gazed back.

"I glark there's like, some grim stir to this..."

The banshees nodded their heads as one, like moppets.

"...and you can't tell me what it is."

They shook them, hair swishing.

"...With the falling sun then."

"If thou hauntst thy kynn now," said beaming Gwenhwyfer, "they'll have enough time to meet us in Fen Glioon!"

"I don't want to haunt my kynn."

Gwenhwyfer blinked at her, gobsmacked.

"Bu..."

"Grok," said Bairrfhionn, unfeazed.

"O ...k," said Gwenhwyfer, "it's nearly an hour after noon 'n we're meant to leave about three before sundown so that... leaves us time for some hands of hearts!"

They sought ginger crush and coffee in the kitchen then settled back at the board.

"I don't know how to play this..." Gormglaith said singsong as she shifted her long limbs and stared at the ghosted cards Gwenhwyfer dealt her with a warded forefinger.

"We'll show thee!" answered Bairrfhionn, smiling lopsidedly.

They told of tricks and trumps of the birch of strones and larch of hearts. Giggles mingled with traded bait as glowing cards fell. Forty minutes later the banshees cast steady stares at Gormglaith.

"What."

"Thou wonst," answered Gwenhwyfer.

Gormglaith wrinkled her nose.

"Not. I suck at this."

"Have a glom!" she said, nodding as a blue goblin flew up to Gormglaith and fluoresced the scores.

"Oh come on, y'all let me win!"

"Trust me, Gormglaith," Bairrfhionn put with a grin, "nobody in this clannin lets anyone win at hearts."

"It was jammy then," said Gormglaith, taking a swallow of ginger crush.

Meanwhile Gwenhwyfer slid a linen swatch in front of her.

"It's from Gillian. I haven't read it. Anyway I'm off for a bath!"

An orange and green goblin flew up from the swatch, spitting runes.

"Hey Bairrfhionn, is this the same Gillian Goblyn who..."

"The same."

Gillian in Tales of the knotty kindel

"What's she doing in a teach?"

"Along with bein' a banshee? She keeps busy with Tegan and Rathyen, helpin' scollies learn how to think."

"Hmph! I always liked her in Tales of the knotty kindel... So what dost thou do, anyway?"

"Tha meanst when I'm not flirtin' with ben chees? I guess if it has to do with keeps I might hear about it."

"Thou'rt a freayll witch. I knew that somehow."

Bairrfhionn made a toothy grin, shrugging her shoulders.

Gormglaith's eyebrows knitted.

"Gwenhwyfer."

"Morfyd and Morigan's close kin, neuchadjin. Two of her kynn are Frisian. She grew up in Lyden, hence the frizzy tongue. She's like the utter nest brat and can keep anything hush. We all think she knows skeins and if thou tellst her something it'll never come back so she hears everything in any nest."

"That's it?"

"She's rather keen at bowling too."

Bairrfhionn lifted her palms with a wry smile. Gormglaith grinned as she looked back at the goblin hovering above its linen swatch.

"Cheers from the fettle at Grasp, Wrath ness!" she read aloud. "This is our clannin banns, plight of kindel, Aefterra litha, 5432..."

"I think I'll have a bath, too," said Bairrfhionn. "See thee!"

Gormglaith glanced up as the banshee strode off across black spinel stone, then read, raised her eyebrows, jumped back and forth, frowned, shrugged, sighed and flicked an eye at the next item.

It began with the shrunken ghosts of four girls clattering noisily towards her in clunky black wooden klompen and white longstockings but otherwise neach in sundry wraps and cutty sarks. Next they skipped and cut up in a row with open mouthed, big toothed smiles. This was the latest throw of Yah! She wandered about, right hand squashed between her thighs.

Yah!

The last flyer was called Wrath ness teach and started with a few scollagyn clothed wholly alike in bane white linens, walking steadfastly together against blasts of blustery gales through a barren close between barrowish low bluestone walls. With right hand evermore squeezed into her lap Gormglaith eagerly got lost among casts of keen maegden at bone boards, of sleek and tidy swot dens and nest lairs, a seaside football match under murky skies, then half a dozen scollagyn sitting on a grassy cliff overlooking the cold blue waters and white-topped waves of the Minch off Wrath ness. Here they bantered with a sly looking witch, all the while munching butties from baskets woven of ash splits.

The wind blew hard through leafy green trees as she stared out the windows, watching a flock of birds upend, dip and rise in a looping, twisting throng over the loch.

Gwenhwyfer was at a looking glass drying her hair whilst Bairrfhionn splashed in a sunken pool.

"Hey Gormglaith!" greeted Gwenhwyfer from beneath a huge towel. "How'dst thou like the rag?"

"Hi!" she said, looking about. "I liked the Wrath flyer 'n Yah! was trigger as ever."

Gwenhwyfer smirked.

"Want a bath?" asked Bairrfhionn, leaning forward.

"Like a duck."

Bairrfhionn clambered out of the glowing pool, nudged squeaking goblins on the floor with her toes and sprinted for the shower bay, leaving a sparkling trail of water behind. Gormglaith gazed at Gwenhwyfer through the looking glass as the banshee groomed her hair with quick strokes of an open tined silver mane comb.

"So Gwenhwyfer what'dst thou think of that fettle rag, I mean, when tha plighted?"

"I thought it was... " said Gwenhwyfer between strokes, "boring!"

Gormglaith peeled her longstockings, threw them on a fat, scrubbed stainless steel sleeve and stepped into bright, steamy froth, eyes squishing shut as she settled her bottom against the hard flat stone below. Bairrfhionn padded over, running long fingers through her wet hair.

"Lucky girl, Gormglaith! I'm gonna wash thy thatch!"

Bairrfhionn haunched lankily behind her on dry slate, wetted down straw thatch and kneaded blue shampoo as Gormglaith closed her eyes, adrift. Later she dunked her head, came up sputtering and gasping for air, rubbed eyes and face, then shut her eyes again and steeped.

She opened them as Gwenhwyfer walked to a black granite bench slab and straddled it, limbs evenly spread, bottom thrown back on smooth stone as Bairrfhionn sat crosswise. They scooted forward knees to knees until their ringed noses were a foot afar. Putting hands between her thighs Bairrfhionn gripped the edges of the bench as Gwenhwyfer took slight locks of red hair to twist and plait. Soon three thin braids fell down Bairrfhionn's neck to her shoulder and Gwenhwyfer banded each towards the end with tight windings of many hued strings and thread.

Gormglaith brooded.

"Hey y'all?" she called, leaning forward in the sunken pool's shimmering, bending light.

"Yes Gormglaith?" sang the banshees.

"I forgot to say, I don't want to see Morigan beforehand."

They gaped as she closed her eyes and sank back into the glowing froth.

"That's stern," said Bairrfhionn.

A bit later Gormglaith straddled the bench, Gwenhwyfer crosswise, their thighs spread with bony knees rubbing as the banshee warded a forefinger and laid a darkly ashen blood red upon Gormglaith's lips.

"Have a glom..." sighed Gwenhwyfer, leaning back.

"Wraithen as fuck."