Notes of Sorrow is a short story written for Seanan McGuire's Patreon supporters. It closely follows Distinction of Place.
| “ | I cannot sing; I'll weep, and word it with thee: For notes of sorrow out of tune are worse |
” |
Author's Summary[]
We really need to find out what's been going on in Armorica while Tybalt was hunting a possibly imaginary hope chest. Welcome back to Tybalt's timeline for another step along the winding road to the present day.
Plot []
Tybalt returns to Armorica after his revelation at King Alban's Court, but Rozenn isn't in their quarters. As he goes to look for the girl, he notices the scent of blood and follows it to find an injured fox, which he identifies as a Reynard. The fox bites him, but Tybalt isn't angry, and only soothes her. He carries her back to Enora, because he suspects that the fox is her changeling daughter, Naig, who is also Rozenn's lover.
Enora confirms that the fox is Naig, but she is confused because Naig was never able to transform because of her human blood. Tybalt is still bleeding, so he goes to seek out the healer while Enora promises to try to coax Naig back into a two-legged shape.
Tybalt goes to the healer's quarters and finds it empty. He settles down to wait, and ends up falling asleep. He is woken by the arrival of the healer Sandrine, who first scolds him for bothering her so early, then - after seeing his infected wound - scolds him for not waking her. Sandrine tells her that animal bites have to be taken seriously, and the infection could have led to Tybalt's arm having to be amputated if he came even later. Tybalt learns that it is now noon, and he slept half the day away at the healer's quarters.
Once his arm is wrapped by the healer, Tybalt returns to Enora and Naig. Enora tells him that Naig is frightened and hiding, and although she is in a fox shape, she cannot speak the language of foxes or understand her mother. Tybalt goes to Morane, because he remembers that Borrowing magic was one of her strengths when they were younger. Morane confirms this, although she mentions that she is out of practice.
At Tybalt's request, Morane borrows Enora's magic and uses it to help Naig transform back to her two-legged form. Naig tells them that while walking in the woods, they were attacked by a Tylwyth Teg woman, who grabbed Rozenn and turned Naig into a fox.
Tybalt recognizes the woman from the story as King Alban's wife, and tells Morane that he's going to get Rozenn back, but he might start a war in the process. Morane assures him that if it comes to that, then they will go to war over Rozenn.
Characters []
Mentioned Only[]
Trivia[]
- Tybalt talks of not being able to change shapes as the greatest horror of any shapeshifter. He claims that there are magics passed down from Titania to her children that can bind them to their animal forms until their minds regress and they are incapable of being restored. This is also what (almost) happened to Tybalt and Jazz at the hands of Amandine in The Brightest Fell.
Locations[]
See also[]
| Tybalt Shorts |
|---|
| A King Without a Court |
| Remembering to Rule |
| Caring for Cailin |
| September |
| Hero's Quest |
| Court of Silver |