Scottish terms
Taking the piss – to be kidding or joking.
Pal(s) – friend(s)
Missus (pronounced the same as Mrs [miss-eez]) – slang for someone’s female partner or wife (i.e. my missus, or the misses). I have heard some accusations online of this being sexist (probably to people outisde the UK), but I strongly disagree with this. Can also be used by woman to female friends regardless of marital status i.e. “where have you been, missus? I’ve not seen you in ages.”
Lassie – term for a young woman.
Ma/Da – term for Mum/Dad.
Greeting – crying, weeping.
Picts – The mysterious inhabitants of Dark age/early medieval northern and eastern Scotland. Most famous for the beautiful standing stones and artwork they left behind. Many things about them and their culture is still murky as they didn’t leave us any written records. What is written down is mainly from other sources from the rest of Britain, and Ireland.
A till – What the money goes in and receipts come out of in shops. I think they’re called cash registers in the USA?
Script
Can you believe I’m sick of tea? I can’t even watch as my flatmates make it anymore without being reminded of a customer. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to make a brew for myself again. It was a nice change when Fionn suggested some coffee to get through a particularly dragging afternoon. No customers, of any kind, had come in, and I was beginning to think it was one of those unfortunate days where all I did was lose at cards.
When he suggested the loser had to go and get the coffee, I may as well have just walked out then and there instead of letting the two of them wipe the floor with me. But let’s face it, it wasn’t as if Chronos was buying us coffee.
When I returned, trying to balance two cups in my hand as I unceremoniously kicked open the door, Fionn had his head bent down, staring into the glass cabinet full of sparkling jewels. I placed the coffee cups on the surface and eyed him warily. His expression was pensive, eyes narrowed as if in deep thought, and he was gently biting one side of his lip. I gave in like an impatient bairn and asked him what he was doing.
Rather than answering, he moved around me and back behind the counter, sticking his hand in and carefully pulling something out. After eying it for a few more seconds he admitted that it looked familiar, but he couldn’t remember why. This thing he’d pulled out was surprisingly dull and tarnished. It was a necklace, with a grim silver chain that didn’t look like it’d been cleaned in decades, with a heart shaped pendant hanging off it that didn’t sparkle or shine. It was deep green, and could either have been coloured glass, or some precious stone like an emerald. I couldn’t tell. A part of me wanted to say it was costume jewellery, judging by how scruffy it looked, but as with everything in the shop, it could well have been some kind of stolen jewel from hundreds of years ago, worth a small fortune today.
Fionn remained silently and ferociously inspecting this necklace, so I turned to Chronos for answers, whilst taking a sip of my coffee, hoping I wouldn’t burn myself. He admitted it’d been in the shop for a long time without anyone takin’ any interest. As to what it did, if anything at all, he either couldn’t or wouldn’t say. It’d been made especially for an American heiress during the 19th century, and nothing bad had happened to her. I ogled this scruffy looking thing in Fionn’s hand. It was worth a small fortune if it’d been worn by the rich of the Victorian era, yet it wouldn’t have looked out of place in a bin.
I queried how long it’d been in the shop, to which Chronos answered just after the first World War. Well, that would explain why Fionn recognised it. He’d probably stared at it many a time when he was Madam Norna’s familiar, he just hadn’t noticed it until now. I told him as much, although missing out the touchy subject of his relationship with my boss. Yet, when I glanced up at him all confusion and bemusement had vanished, replaced by clarity and joyful nostalgia. Something didn’t fit right with his expression and my theory. Why would he look so happy that he recognised a random bit of jewellery he took no notice of before? It was almost as if it reminded him of someone, but that wasn’t possible. Chronos said it’d been languishing in the shop for a century with no owner. I started to get this weird feeling on the back of my neck, and a wee voice whispering in my head.
Out of the blue I asked Fionn what age he was. Don’t ask me where it came from, it was like the question just fell from my mouth from somewhere in the back of my mind where other secrets and connections are kept. His eyes snapped from the necklace to stare straight into mine, searching them to find if I was being serious. It was lightning quick, but I noticed his eyes dart to Chronos for a brief second. The same look the Madam and he sometimes shot each other when I asked a difficult question, almost as if checking for permission to answer.
He gave me one of his grins, all teeth showing, and answered old enough to remember when the necklace was around an heiress’s neck. Now, I’d made the mistake of taking a sip of my coffee right before he answered and proceeded to choke on it in my surprise. He wasn’t serious, he was taking the piss like he always did. I inspected him, waiting for the punchline I knew deep down wasn’t coming. Fionn doesn’t look that old. Before that day I’d have said mid-thirties at the latest, younger than Madam Norna at least. But he was saying…what was he saying? That he was over a century old? I really shouldn’t be surprised but can you believe there are still things in this new world of mine that can shock the fuck out of me.
It also left the sticky question of if Fionn was that old and didn’t look it, then was it the same for others? I scanned around the shop, across the antiques, some younger than the Irishman standing opposite me, for my grumpy companion. Not seeing or hearing him I ended up asking aloud. Fionn had been putting the necklace back in the counter and at my question he snapped the door closed a wee bit too firmly. I felt my eyebrow rise, and dismissively he answered Reid was out somewhere.
You don’t say. I bit out some sarcastic reply that Fionn took no notice of as he started to come out from behind the counter. I challenged him why he didn’t like Reid – rather, why he was always so harsh on him. I’m finding it hard to believe I’ve gone from not really liking my familiar to being begrudging pals? Reid may be rough around the edges, short tempered and grumpy, but he’s helped me a lot, saved me from myself a few times, and from a car. Our relationship’s improved over time, but I couldn’t understand why Fionn seemed hellbent on making theirs worse.
Predictably the answer was because he’s a mongrel, because he never smiled, an endless list of hollow reasons. It was said with a petulant tone and grin, but there was a melancholy chime reflected on his features. I refused his answer, saying I didn’t think that was the truth. He exhaled slowly; the pretence of mirth gone as his features lost their humorous shine. Fionn confessed that he didn’t hate Reid, he envied him.
With the greatest timing the bell above the door went and pulled our attention away from the most interesting piece of information I’ve heard in a while, barring Fionn’s age thing. The bad timing was further explained when Reid came in accompanied by a lassie. They were laughing and smiling together, the ease of a long-term friendship, or something more. I couldn’t tell just by looking. This has given me bad thoughts ever since. Before that day Reid was this abstract person, someone who only really existed within the realms of shop business. Yet when he came in with this lassie, looking friendly and at ease, I began to realise he had a life, just like me, outside the shop, and I didn’t know a thing about it. It sounds so stupid now that I’m talking about it. Of course he has a life; family; pals, and problems, but we’ve never spoken about them. I’ve never asked him. It’d only been a few minutes before when I was thinking we were now pals, but what sort of pals knew nothing about each other’s personal lives? For all I knew this lassie could be his missus! I’d never seen him look like the way he did entering the shop, comfortable and happy. In the shop, he only ever wears a scowl.
At the time I couldn’t dwell on these thoughts as the two came over to the counter where Fionn, Chronos and I were. Before I realised what was happening and who was who the lassie had started talking to me. She confessed that she couldn’t believe I was the Madam, I was so young, and not what she’d imagined. The lassie was a wee bit shorter than me, with shoulder length honey brown hair and grey green eyes staring at me with what I assume to be the awe that people stare at celebrities with. I think what surprised me more was that Reid laughed, actually laughed. It was more of a snort really, the snigger of someone who knows something their pal doesn’t.
Calling this lassie Izzy, he introduced me as the Madam’s apprentice, and that the Madam herself would be upstairs. With a nervous chortle Reid’s pal confirmed that Reid had mentioned me, and that she felt like she knew me already. That raised a whole new set of questions. I couldn’t contain myself and turned to Reid in surprise, stating that none of what she’d heard was probably complimentary. Izzy smiled, but didn’t deny it, further piling guilt, anger, irritation, or whatever it was on the fire of ma thoughts regarding Reid and me.
Turns out this Izzy lassie was here to see the Madam, although she never produced a card like the normal customer. Regardless, I led her upstairs, and to my surprise Reid followed us. I wasn’t sure what to say, if he was even allowed in. I made tea like I usually do, and when I returned Reid was sitting beside his pal on the customer’s sofa. The Madam didn’t say anything about him being there, so I wasn’t going to.
Like any other customer my boss started with her usual; asking what she could help with. I’m usually curious about their reasons, but in this case it was doubled. I was actually interested in who this lassie was, her connection to Reid, and why she’d evidently used him to see Madam Norna.
The room descended into a strange lowness, tinged by a fear that was by no means unusual in a customer, but had an edge of something sinister. She explained that there was a curse on her family that’d been in effect for as long as anyone could remember. When the women in her family turned 21 they slowly began to lose their minds. It’d start with hallucinations here and there, and over time these hallucinations would become intertwined with their reality so they couldn’t tell what was real or not. This, according to Izzy, would kill them before long. It’d offed her grannie, and her Ma’d been put in a care facility to stop her from hurting herself. Izzy turned 21 in a matter of weeks, and she wanted the curse to stop.
After a few moments of quiet, Madam Norna queried if Izzy knew the origin of this curse. She answered that it was a blood curse from centuries ago, put on her family by what she called a rival clan. As to the exact person who cast it, they remained a mystery. It couldn’t have been anyone from this rival clan, though, because foxes didn’t have the ability to cast curses. That at least partly explained the connection between this lassie and Reid. Both were the same species, but I suppose it left more unanswered. I’m still fascinated with this shapeshifter thing, yet another subject I’ve never asked Reid about. Can they change at will, or is it like a full-moon thing? Do they look like the foxes you see rifling through bins, or are they different? This customer wasn’t going to answer these queries though.
The Madam, in her matter of fact way, informed Izzy and Reid that she couldn’t break the curse put on the family. I expected her to say something else, a ‘but’ or ‘however’, but nope, that was it. I glanced reluctantly to the customer’s sofa and saw Izzy’s face fall, almost looking as though she was going to start greeting. She exclaimed that she’d pay Madam Norna anything she wanted if she’d find a way to help her.
Why do they always say anything? It’s like most of the customers have no idea that anything is a possibility when it comes to my boss. Unmoved by the lassie’s outburst, the Madam kept her silence. Then it was Reid’s turn, and the grumpy familiar I recognised returned. He demanded to know why Madam Norna wouldn’t help. After further deliberation she repeated that she couldn’t break the curse, but she could protect Izzy from its effects.
I knew then that it’d be time for me to get up and go to the cabinet, and sure enough the command came. I was to find a pendant on the second shelf that was round and silver. Beside the vials, bottles, and boxes, was a black leather cord, hanging from it was a round silver disc, with a symbol inscribed on it. I felt like I’d seen a symbol like it before.
When I was wee, my Da’ and I used to go camping during the summer holidays. One year we went somewhere in the north of Scotland, and one day he took me to see this ancient stone pillar. The markings on that stone pillar were similar to the ones on this pendant in the Madam’s cabinet. That pillar I’d seen all those years ago was actually a Pictish monument, made and put where it was by the mysterious inhabitants of ancient Scotland. I didn’t connect the pendant and the pillar at the time, I just thought the symbol looked familiar.
I placed it on the coffee table, and by the look Izzy was giving it you’d have thought it was a snake about to pounce on her. I understood her fear when her next question was asking what the price would be.
Half ae her life, was the simple yet haunting reply.
I’m still not comfortable with knowing I live in a world where people can trade years of their life like gold in a pawn shop. I can’t say I was that surprised, though. The Madam’s prices are never money, yet always seem to have a significance or weight that makes them worth something. Personally, I didn’t know how years of a person’s life were stored. Perhaps there was a till I didn’t know about.
Reid was the first to voice an objection, protesting that it was too much. He wasn’t surprised by the currency though. I remembered back to a conversation I’d had with him some months previous. One where he told me people were scared of the Madam because no one knew what her price was going to be. I understood that sentiment better now. No wonder people were afraid, one minute they’d be living until they were 70, and after a visit to her they were looking at half that. Obviously, people could refuse to pay, leave with their troubles unsolved. I got the impression that didn’t happen a lot.
Madam Norna, probably unaware she was looking like a fairytale villain, explained that in order to protect Izzy’s life and sanity, she’d need some of her life in return. Afterwards offering the point that she didn’t know how long she’d live; half of her life could amount to nothing. In my opinion, even if she gave up half her life, she’d still probably live longer than she would do if this curse set in. Yet, the other side of that coin was that giving up half her life could leave her with a shorter time. The Madam continued to say that Izzy would be free to live her life, settle doon with a partner, have bairns, find a lucrative career, whatever she wanted. However, any bairns, mainly daughters, she had of her blood wouldn’t be protected from the curse, nor would this protection reverse what had happened to her Ma’.
There was a static silence blanketing the room. Reid wasn’t happy, and making sure we all knew about it. His pal, on the other hand, contemplated seriously. To be honest I didn’t think a decision like this one should be made immediately. We’re talking about half your life here. A few further questions followed. If Izzy made this deal, she’d never lose her mind? The Madam confirmed, not from the curse. I didn’t like this answer, didn’t like the ambiguity, and I get a bad feeling in my gut just thinking about it. The second query was if the curse on her family could be broken? Yes, all curses were breakable somehow, just not by the Madam.
By this point I was actually rooting for this lassie, Reid’s pal, to say she’d think about it and leave. Before the shop I used to think I was the kind of person who’d say something regardless of the situation. But I find that ever since becoming the Madam’s apprentice, sitting in on these meetings I’ve become a silent observer. It’s when I’m sitting at the coffee table, pouring the tea, that I feel I don’t have a right to give my opinion, or say anything at all. This world, my world, is too grand, too sinister, and too unknown for me to interfere, even if a wee voice in my head wants me to. Besides, she wasn’t my pal, I didn’t have a right to start giving out advice or opinions. I thought Reid would, but he, too, kept his silence.
Izzy didn’t take time, didn’t have a good think, and accepted the Madam’s pendant in exchange for half of her life. As the lassie went to take the pendant my boss gave one final explanation. Once Izzy put it on, she could never take it off. If she did, under any circumstances, its protection would wear off and the curse would play out. Madam Norna said this with a familiar enunciation that made me feel worse than I already was. I wished it didn’t sound so much like foreshadowing. With a stomach slowly knotting in on itself, I observed as Izzy happily took this pendant and slipped it around her neck, from where it was to never be removed. I dared a glance at Reid, and saw he, like me, felt the same trepidation.
Fionn and I both watched as Reid and Izzy left the shop, but I couldn’t shake the dark cloud that had settled itself on my mood. What would happen to her? Would that wee pendant really keep such a curse away forever? How long was half of her life? Fionn noticed my dour look and told me I shouldn’t fret; people didn’t come to see Madam Norna if they weren’t desperate. Customers knew what they could get themselves into. I still don’t wholly believe that’s true. If I try to find a silver lining it’s that Izzy is protected from the curse, and she was amply warned about the consequences of taking the pendant off. And that’s the last I hope ever to hear of that entire situation.
As I heard Fionn speak and natter I remembered our conversation before Reid had come in with his pal. His hatred for my familiar didn’t stem from personal aversion, but from jealousy. If Fionn thought he was getting out of follow-up questions, he was sorely mistaken. I asked, plainly, why he’d be jealous of Reid. The jovial curve to his features flattened to sadness, and he wouldn’t meet my eyes. Because Reid didn’t know what he had, being a familiar. It was a chore to him, something he had to do to keep himself safe. I couldn’t understand this answer. Rather, I couldn’t understand why Reid’s reasons for becoming my familiar would annoy Fionn so much. Then it dawned on me. Fionn hadn’t wanted to stop being my boss’s familiar, but his own actions had essentially forced her hand. He wanted to be her familiar again, but couldn’t, and there was Reid, a familiar who hadn’t really wanted to be one in the first place but was.
I pointed out to Fionn that it wasn’t the same, and that Reid would probably gladly switch places with him. That thought, although said jokingly at the time, has haunted me ever since. Reid became my familiar out of necessity. Are we really pals, or do I only think we are because he’s always there, forced by the fox ring and circumstance? Not to mention, is the reason he came to see Madam Norna in the first place still a problem? Does he still need my protection? And if he doesn’t, what does that mean? Will he leave and go back to his life? Am I keeping him from that life unnecessarily? I know I should talk to him, but I don’t want to. I want to be selfish, just a wee while longer.
Script – Scots (ish. More like Scots lite. My international listeners wouldn’t have understood a word I’d said if I’d fully committed to Scots).
Can you believe I’m sick ae tea? I cannae even watch as ma flatmates make it anymore withoot bein’ reminded ae a customer. I dinnae ‘hink I’ll ever be able tae make a brew fae maself again. It was a nice change when Fionn suggested some coffee tae get through a particularly dragging afternoon. No customers, ae any kind, had come in, and I was beginnin’ tae ‘hink it was one ae those unfortunate days where all I did was lose at cards.
When he suggested the loser had tae go and get the coffee, I may as well have just walked oot then and there instead ae lettin’ the two ae them wipe the floor wi’ me. But let’s face it, it wasnae as if Chronos was buyin’ us coffee.
When I returned, tryin tae balance two cups in ma hand as I unceremoniously kicked open the door, Fionn had his heid bent doon, starin’ intae the glass cabinet full ae sparklin’ jewels. I placed the coffee cups on the surface and eyed him warily. His expression was pensive, eyes narrowed as if in deep thought, and he was gently bitin’ one side ae his lip. I gave in like an impatient bairn and asked him whit he was doin’.
Rather than answerin’, he moved roond me and back behind the counter, stickin’ his hand in and carefully pullin’ something oot. After eyin’ it fae a few more seconds he admitted that it looked familiar, but he couldnae remember why. This ‘hing he’d pulled oot was surprisingly dull and tarnished. It was a necklace, wi a grim silver chain that didnae look like it’d been cleaned in decades, wi a heart shaped pendant hangin’ aff it that didnae sparkle or shine. It was deep green, and could either have been coloured glass, or some precious stone like an emerald. I couldnae tell. A part ae me wanted tae say it was costume jewellery, judging by how scruffy it looked, but as wi’ everythin’ in the shop, it could well hae’ been some kind ae stolen jewel fae hundreds ae years ago, worth a small fortune today.
Fionn remained silently and ferociously inspectin this necklace, so I turned tae Chronos fae answers, whilst takin’ a sip ae ma coffee, hopin I wouldnae burn maself. He admitted it’d been in the shop fae a long time withoot anyone takin’ any interest. As tae whit it did, if anythin’ at all, he either couldnae or wouldnae say. It’d been made especially fae an American heiress durin’ the 19th century, and nothin’ bad had happened tae her. I ogled this scruffy lookin’ ‘hing in Fionn’s hand. It was worth a small fortune if it’d been worn by the rich ae the Victorian era, yet it wouldnae ha’ looked oot ae place in a bin.
I queried how long it’d been in the shop, tae which Chronos answered just after the first World War. Well, that would explain why Fionn recognised it. He’d probably stared at it many a time when he was Madam Norna’s familiar, he just hadnae noticed it until noo. I told him as much, although missin’ oot the touchy subject ae his relationship wi’ ma boss. Yet, when I glanced up at him all confusion and bemusement had vanished, replaced by clarity and joyful nostalgia. Somethin’ didnae fit right wi his expression and ma theory. Why would he look so happy that he recognised a random bit ae jewellery he took nay notice of before? It was almost as if it reminded him ae someone, but that wasnae possible. Chronos said it’d been languishin’ in the shop fae a century wi no owner. I started tae get this weird feelin’ on the back ae ma neck, and a wee voice whisperin’ in ma heid.
Oot ae the blue I asked Fionn whit age he was. Dinnae ask me where it came frae, it was like the question just fell fae ma mouth frae somewhere in the back ae ma mind where other secrets and connections are kept. His eyes snapped fae the necklace tae stare straight intae mine, searchin’ them tae find if I was bein’ serious. It was lightnin’ quick, but I noticed his eyes dart tae Chronos fae a brief second. The same look the Madam and he sometimes shot each other when I asked a difficult question, almost as if checkin’ fae permission tae answer.
He gee me one ae his grins, all teeth showin, and answered old enough tae remember when the necklace was roond an heiress’s neck. Noo, I’d made the mistake ae takin’ a sip ae ma coffee right before he answered and proceeded tae choke on it in ma surprise. He wasnae serious, he was takin’ the piss like he always did. I inspected him, waitin’ fae the punchline I knew deep doon wasnae comin’. Fionn doesnae look that old. Before that day I’d have said mid-thirties at the latest, younger than Madam Norna at least. But he was sayin….what was he sayin’? That he was over a century old? I really shouldnae be surprised, but can ye believe there are still ‘hings in this new world ae mine that can shock the fuck oot ae me.
It also left the sticky question ae if Fionn was that old and didnae look it, then was it the same fae others? I scanned roond the shop, across the antiques, some younger than the Irishman standin’ opposite me, fae ma grumpy companion. No seein’ or hearin him I ended up askin’ aloud. Fionn had been puttin’ the necklace back in the counter and at ma question he snapped the door closed a wee bit too firmly. I felt ma eyebrow rise, and dismissively he answered Reid was oot somewhere.
Ye dinnae say. I bit out some sarcastic reply that Fionn took nay notice ae as he starteed tae come oot frae behind the counter. I challenged him why he didnae like Reid – rather, why he was always so harsh on him. I’m findin’ it hard tae believe I’ve gone fae no really likin’ ma familiar tae bein’ begrudging pals? Reid may be rough roond the edges, short tempered and grumpy, but he’s helped me a lot, saved me fae maself a few times, and fae a car. Our relationship’s improved over time, but I couldnae understand why Fionn seemed hellbent on makin’ theirs worse.
Predictably the answer was because he’s a mongrel, because he never smiled, an endless list ae hollow reasons. It was said wi’ a petulant tone and grin, but there was a melancholy chime reflected on his features. I refused his answer, sayin’ I didnae ‘hink that was the truth. He exhaled slowly; the pretence ae mirth gone as his features lost their humorous shine. Fionn confessed that he didnae hate Reid, he envied him.
Wi’ the greatest timin the bell above the door went and pulled our attention away fae the most interestin’ piece ae information I’ve heard in a while, barrin’ Fionn’s age ‘hing. The bad timin’ was further explained when Reid came in accompanied by a lassie. They were laughin’ and smilin’ together, the ease ae a long-term friendship, or somethin’ more. I couldnae tell just by lookin’. This has geein’ me bad thoughts ever since. Before that day Reid was this abstract person, someone who only really existed within the realms ae shop business. Yet when he came in wi this lassie, lookin’ friendly and at ease, I began tae realise he had a life, just like me, outside the shop, and I didnae know a hing aboot it. It sounds so stupid noo that I’m talkin’ aboot it. Of course he has a life; family; pals; and problems, but we’ve never spoken aboot them. I’ve never asked him. It’d only been a few minutes before when I was thinkin’ we were noo pals, but whit sort ae pals knew nothin’ aboot each other’s personal lives? Fae all I knew this lassie could be his missus! I’d never seen him look like the way he did enterin’ the shop, comfortable and happy. In the shop, he only ever wears a scowl.
At the time I couldnae dwell on these thoughts as the two came over tae the counter where Fionn, Chronos and I were. Before I realised whit was happenin and who was who the lassie had started talkin’ tae me. She confessed that she couldnae believe I was the Madam, I was so young, and no whit she’d imagined. The lassie was a wee bit shorter than me, wi shoulder length honey brown hair and grey green eyes starin’ at me wi what I assume tae be the awe that people stare at celebrities wi. I ‘hink whit surprised me more was that Reid laughed, actually laughed. It was more ae a snort really, the snigger ae someone who knows somethin’ their pal doesnae.
Callin this lassie Izzy, he introduced me as the Madam’s apprentice, and that the Madam herself would be upstairs. Wi’ a nervous chortle Reid’s pal confirmed that Reid had mentioned me, and that she felt like she knew me already. That raised a whole new set ae questions. I couldnae contain maself and turned tae Reid in surprise, statin’ that none ae whit she’d heard was probably complimentary. Izzy smiled, but didnae deny it, further pilin’ guilt, anger, irritation, or whitever it was on the fire ae ma thoughts regardin Reid and me.
Turns oot this Izzy lassie was here tae see the Madam, although she never produced a card like the normal customer. Regardless I led her upstairs, and tae ma surprise Reid followed us. I wasnae sure whit tae say, if he was even allowed in. I made tea like I usually do, and when I returned Reid was sittin’ beside his pal on the customer’s sofa. The Madam didnae say anythin’ aboot him bein’ there, so I wasnae gonnae.
Like any other customer ma boss started wi her usual; askin whit she could help wi’. I’m usually curious aboot their reasons, but in this case it was doubled. I was actually interested in who this lassie was, her connection tae Reid, and why she’d evidently used him tae see Madam Norna.
The room descended intae a strange lowness, tinged by a fear that was by no means unusual in a customer, but had an edge ae somethin’ sinister. She explained that there was a curse on her family that’d been in effect fae as long as anyone could remember. When the women in her family turned 21 they slowly began tae lose their minds. It’d start wi hallucinations here and there, and over time these hallucinations would become intertwined wi’ their reality so they couldnae tell what was real or not. This, accordin’ tae Izzy, would kill them before long. It’d offed her grannie, and her Ma’d been put in a care facility tae stop her fae hurtin’ herself. Izzy turned 21 in a matter ae weeks, and she wanted the curse tae stop.
After a few moments ae quiet, Madam Norna queried if Izzy knew the origin ae this curse. She answered that it was a blood curse fae centuries ago, put on her family by whit she called a rival clan. As tae the exact person who cast it, they remained a mystery. It couldnae have been anyone fae this rival clan, though, because foxes didnae have the ability tae cast curses. That at least partly explained the connection between this lassie and Reid. Both were the same species, but I suppose it left more unanswered. I’m still fascinated wi’ this shapeshifter ‘hing, yet another subject I’ve never asked Reid aboot. Can they change at will, or is it like a full-moon ‘hing? Do they look like the foxes ye see riflin’ through bins, or are they different? This customer wasnae gonnae answer these queries though.
The Madam, in her matter ae fact way, informed Izzy and Reid that she couldnae break the curse put on the family. I expecteed her tae say somethin’ else, a but or however, but nope, that was it. I glanced reluctantly tae the customer’s sofa and saw Izzy’s face fall, almost lookin’ as though she were gonnae start greetin’. She exclaimed that she’d pay Madam Norna anythin’ she wanted if she’d find a way tae help her.
Why dae they always say anything? It’s like most ae the customers have no idea that anythin’ is a possibility when it comes tae ma boss. Unmoved by the lassie’s outburst, the Madam kept her silence. Then it was Reid’s turn, and the grumpy familiar I recognised returned. He demanded tae know why Madam Norna wouldnae help. After further deliberation she repeated that she couldnae break the curse, but she could protect Izzy frae its effects.
I knew then that it’d be time fae me tae get up and go to the cabinet, and sure enough the command came. I was tae find a pendant on the second shelf that was round and silver. Beside the vials, bottles, and boxes, was a black leather cord, hangin’ frae it was a round silver disc, wi a symbol inscribed on it. I felt like I’d seen a symbol like it before.
When I was wee, ma Da’ and I used tae go campin’ durin the summer holidays. One year we went somewhere in the north ae Scotland, and one day he took me tae see this ancient stone pillar. The markins on that stone pillar were similar tae the ones on this pendant in the Madam’s cabinet. That pillar I’d seen all ae those years ago was actually a Pictish monument, made and put where it was by the mysterious inhabitants ae ancient Scotland. I didnae connect the pendant and the pillar at the time, I just thought the symbol looked familiar.
I placed it on the coffee table, and by the look Izzy was geein’ it you’d have thought it was a snake aboot tae pounce on her. I understood her fear when her next question was askin’ whit the price would be.
Half ae her life, was the simple yet hauntin’ reply.
I’m still no comfortable wi’ knowing I live in a world where people can trade years of their life like gold in a pawn shop. I canne say I was that surprised though. The Madam’s prices are never money, yet always seem tae have a significance or weight that makes them worth somethin’. Personally, I didnae know how years ae a person’s life were stored. Perhaps there was a till I didnae know aboot.
Reid was the first tae voice an objection, protestin that it was too much. He wasnae surprised by the currency though. I remembered back tae a conversation I’d had wi him some months previous. One where he told me people were scared ae the Madam because no one knew whit her price was gonnae be. I understood that sentiment better noo. No wonder people were afraid, one minute they’d be livin’ until they were 70, and after a visit tae her they were lookin’ at half that. Obviously people could refuse tae pay, leave wi’ their troubles unsolved. I got the impression that didnae happen a lot.
Madam Norna, probably unaware she was lookin’ like a fairytale villain, explained that in order tae protect Izzy’s life and sanity, she’d need some ae her life in return. Afterwards offerin’ the point that she didnae know how long she’d live, half ae her life could amount tae nothin’. In ma opinion, even if she gee up half her life, she’d still probably live longer than she would do if this curse set in. Yet, the other side ae that coin was that geein’ up half her life could leave her wi’ a shorter time. The Madam continued tae say that Izzy’d be free tae live her life, settle doon wi a partner, have bairns, find a lucrative career, whitever she wanteed. However, any bairns, mainly daughters, she had of her blood wouldnae be protected fae the curse, nor would this protection reverse whit had happened tae her Ma’.
There was a static silence blanketin’ the room. Reid wasnae happy, and makin’ sure we all knew aboot it. His pal, on the other hand, contemplated seriously. Tae be honest I didnae ‘hink a decision like this one should be made immediately. We’re talkin aboot half your life here. A few further questions followed. If Izzy made this deal, she’d never lose her mind. The Madam confirmed, not frae the curse. I didnae like this answer, didnae like the ambiguity, and I get a bad feelin’ in ma gut just thinkin’ aboot it. The second query was if the curse on her family could be broken. Yes, all curses were breakable somehow, just not by the Madam.
By this point I was actually rootin’ fae this lassie, Reid’s pal, tae say she’d ‘hink aboot it and leave. Before the shop I used tae ‘hink I was the kindae person who’d say something regardless ae the situation. But I find that ever since becomin’ the Madam’s apprentice, sittin’ in on these meetins’ I’ve become a silent observer. It’s when I’m sittin at the coffee table, pourin’ the tea, that I feel I dinnae have a right tae gee ma opinion, or say anythin’ at all. This world, my world, is too grand, too sinister, and too unknown fae me tae interfere, even if a wee voice in ma heid wants me to. Besides, she wasnae ma pal, I didnae have a right tae start geein’ oot advice or opinions. I thought Reid would, but he too kept his silence.
Izzy didnae take time, didnae have a good ‘hink, and accepted the Madam’s pendant in exchange fae half ae her life. As the lassie went tae take the pendant ma boss gee’ one final explanation. Once Izzy put it on she could never take it aff. If she did, under any circumstances, its protection would wear aff and the curse would play out. Madam Norna said this wi’ a familiar enunciation that made me feel worse than I already was. I wished it didnae sound so much like foreshadowin’. Wi a stomach slowly knottin’ in on itself, I observed as Izzy happily took this pendant and slipped it roond her neck, from where it was tae never be removed. I dared a glance at Reid, and saw he, like me, felt the same trepidation.
Fionn and I both watched as Reid and Izzy left the shop, but I couldnae shake the dark cloud that had settled itself on ma mood. Whit would happen tae her? Would that wee pendant really keep such a curse away forever? How long was half ae her life? Fionn noticed ma dour look and told me I shouldnae fret, people didnae come tae see Madam Norna if they werenae desperate. Customers knew whit they could get themselves intae. I still dinnae wholly believe that’s true. If I try tae find a silver linin it’s that Izzy is protected frae the curse, and she was amply warned aboot the consequences ae takin’ the pendant aff. And that’s the last I hope ever tae hear ae that entire situation.
As I heard Fionn speak and natter I remembered our conversation before Reid had come in wi his pal. His hatred fae ma familiar didnae stem frae personal aversion, but frae jealousy. If Fionn thought he was gettin’ oot ae follow-up questions, he was sorely mistaken. I asked, plainly, why he’d be jealous ae Reid. The jovial curve tae his features flattened tae sadness, and he wouldnae meet ma eyes. Because Reid didnae know whit he had, bein a familiar. It was a chore tae him, somethin’ he had tae do tae keep himself safe. I couldnae understand this answer. Rather I couldnae understand why Reid’s reasons fae becomin’ ma familiar would annoy Fionn so much. Then it dawned on me. Fionn hadnae wanted tae stop bein ma boss’s familiar, but his own actions had essentially forced her hand. He wanted tae be her familiar again, but couldnae, and there was Reid, a familiar who hadnae really wanteed tae be one in the first place but was.
I pointed oot tae Fionn that it wasnae the same, and that Reid would probably gladly switch places wi’ him. That thought, although said jokingly at the time, has haunted me ever since. Reid became ma familiar oot ae necessity. Are we really pals, or do I only ‘hink we are because he’s always there, forced by the fox ring and circumstance? Not tae mention, is the reason he came tae see Madam Norna in the first place still a problem? Does he still need ma protection? And if he doesn’t, what does that mean? Will he leave and go back tae his life? Am I keepin’ him frae that life unnecessarily? I know I should talk tae him, but I dinnae want tae. I want tae be selfish, just a wee while longer.