These Antique Fables

These Antique Fables is a short story written for Seanan McGuire's Patreon supporters.

More strange than true: I may never believe
These antique fables, nor these fairy toys.

—William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Author's Summary[]

[W]e return to the world of October Daye with a love story, of a kind, and a war story, of a kind, and a tale of a girl who became a woman still trying to find her place in Faerie. You've met January O'Leary and Li Qin Zhou before. Now see them meet each other.

Plot[]

In 1916, January O'Leary and her father, Malcom ap Learianth, are waiting for her mother to return to the Kingdom of Silences with help against the ongoing attack by Kingdom of the Mists. When assistance doesn't arrive in time, Malcom takes a drastic step, transforming January into a yarrow branch and sending her away to the safety of the Duchy of Shadowed Hills.

When she awakens, January discovers that much has changed. Her father is dead, her mother is crippled with mourning, her home knowe has fallen, and her uncle Sylvester has taken her in as ward. When he declares her his presumptive heir, she finds the functions and responsibilities a heavy burden. She finds solace in the Library of the Stars and in her friends Elliot and Magdaleana.

In 1943, January wakes to find a rose on her pillow that smells like her mother's magic. January's uncle Simon Torquill comes to tell the household including January that her mother September has died while acting as a medic in Europe.

In 1965, on her 100th birthday, Sylvester throws January a party. Although she resents both preparations and attendance, once there, she finds that maybe her luck has changed.

Characters[]

January O'Leary
Erskina, January's lady's maid and lover
Erskina's mother
Malcolm ap Learianth
Sylvester Torquill
Simon Torquill
Elliot
Luna Torquill
Jin
Magdaleana
Li Qin Zhou of Goldengreen
Sir Etienne
Melly, handmaid

Mentioned only[]

September Torquill
Queen Siwan
Queen Morane of Armorica
allied Folletti
August Torquill
Countess Winterrose
Amandine
Septimius Torquill ("Grandfather Torquill")
Erskina

Locations[]

Mentioned only[]

October Daye Series
Novels
Rosemary and Rue • A Local Habitation • An Artificial Night • Late Eclipses • One Salt Sea • Ashes of Honor • Chimes at Midnight • The Winter Long • A Red-Rose Chain • Once Broken Faith • The Brightest Fell • Night and Silence • The Unkindest Tide • A Killing Frost • When Sorrows Come • Be the Serpent • Sleep No More • The Innocent Sleep
Bonus Novellas
Strangers in Court (R&R) • Never Shines the Sun (CAM) • Full of Briars • Dreams and Slumbers (OBF) • Of Things Unknown (TBF) • Suffer a Sea-Change (NAS) • Hope is Swift (TUT) • Shine in Pearl (AKF) • And With Reveling (WSC) • Such Dangerous Seas (BTS) • Candles and Starlight (SNM)
Free Downloads
In Sea-Salt Tears • Forbid the Sea • No Sooner Met • Heaps of Pearl
Anthology Shorts
The Fixed Stars • Rat-Catcher • Through This House
Patreon Shorts
Stage of Fools • In Little Stars • The Voice of Lions • The Act of Hares • Shore to Shore • Instruments of Darkness • With Honest Trifles • In Deepest Consequence • Write in Water • Live in Brass • These Antique Fables • Jealous in Honor • Quick in Quarrel • The Ambitious Ocean • And Thrice Again • Of Strange Oaths • Sun Sets Weeping • Dreams and Sighs • Wishes and Tears • Poor Fancy's Followers • Our Trial Patience • Earth for Charity • Mean and Mighty • And Deeps Below • Sacrifice Your Tears • Into the Sea • In Safety Rest • Upon Your Honor • With Sweet Peace • Like a Dream • Give Sorrow Words • Distinction of Place • Notes of Sorrow • Drown the Lamenting
Browse POVs
Toby Shorts • Tybalt Shorts • Lorden Shorts • Luidaeg Shorts • Other POVs