it's pronounced kay-ley

+++++++++++++++++++

Finally, the party ended and Higgs met up with Merida to travel back home.

"Did you have fun?" he asked.

"It was pleasant. Nothing beats a ceilidh but eh..."

"A ceilidh? We have those."

"No, no, not an English ceilidh; dull and droll. No, I'm talking about a proper one. One day we can visit my family and I will introduce you to a real ceilidh."

"Aren't those for special occasions?"

"Sometimes."

"By the way, did you see that strange man earlier?"

"Aye, I did."

"Elizabeth said you knew him?"

"Not personally but he's actually-"

"Ms. Dunbrough, so nice of you to invite me to your home." Emmerit said, sliding up next to her unannounced.

Merida looked at him as he gave her a look, indicating he didn't want her to tell Higgs about their future relation.

"Invited to our home?" Higgs asked, confused.

"Laird Higgs Northumberly, this is Emmerit Delaney."

"How do you do?" Emmerit said, bowing.

"Hello..."

"I invited him to stay with us. He has been on quite the journey."

"Um... who are you acquainted with-"

"GRETCHEN!"

"Wah! What?" she yelled, confused at being pulled away from talking with someone else.

"So good of yer cousin to join us tonight. I wish ye would have mentioned him sooner."

Gretchen blinked at Emmerit and tried to hide her confusion and pain from Merida squeezing her arm."

"Um... yes. It's so good to see you, Cousin. I was having so much fun that I forgot to introduce you to everyone. What a terrible person..."

"But I ken ye dinnae have a place for him at Lady Hinkley's due to his wishy-washy nature. He just showed up without warning!" She leaned over to Higgs. "Gretchen was telling me all about it."

"Yes. I was." She said mechanically as Emmerit grabbed Gretchen's hand.

"I apologize profusely, dear cousin. My travels do not give me the luxury of a consistent schedule, or speed of post. But your friend has so graciously let me stay at her home... so long as her employer is fine with it?" he said, looking at Higgs.

Gretchen was still confused and Merida kicked her in the leg from behind.

"Yes, I am very sorry, Cousin, but my lady wishes that all traveling guests give her at least a week's notice for room and board at the manor. It's ill form to come from street travels without the luxury of at least a bath when you arrive. Plus, the cleaning of the house and downing of beds... Tedious work... But if Lord Northumberly would be so gracious as to keep you, then all is well."

"We've got plenty of room... and since its Gretchen's cousin, we will make him pay by having him help around the house."

"If he's my cousin, then surely you would be nicer."

"But after all he's done, Gretchen." Merida seethed.

"Oh, yes," Gretchen said, realizing what Merida was doing. "I guess he deserves a bit of punishment for improper notice."

"No need-" Higgs started.

"Anon, it would be most unfair to impose on your home and not help." Emmerit said dramatically. "I will endure whatever Ms. Dunbrough has in store."

"Um... sure?"

"Oh thank you, Mr. Higgs. I'll never forget your kindness!"

"Right... I'm going to go say goodbye to Elizabeth..."

He walked away and Gretchen made a face at Merida.

"Who even is this?"

"Emmerit Delaney, at your services, ma'am." He said with a bow.

"Why is he suddenly my cousin?"

"Mr. Delaney is related to the Northumberlys but... not in a normal way."

Gretchen turned her head. "It's too late at night to deal with this. I'm just going to believe you."

"I am not from this time and I would like to keep that fact from the Northumberlys. I feel it would anger them to know that the curse has not been broken in the future."

"I guess..."

"Gretchen," Elizabeth said, walking up. "Higgs was just telling me all about your odd cousin that I wasn't aware you had."

"He... is... a... traveler and so it's hard to track him down for postage and such. Cousin, this is my employer-"

"Lady Elizabeth Hinkley." He said, slightly venomously.

Merida and Gretchen looked at each other in confusion but then Emmerit suddenly smiled and grabbed Elizabeth's hand.

"A pleasure, my lady." He said, kissing it.

"My, what a charmer." She said, oblivious to the change in tone.

"Gretchen has told me so much about you already but she didn't mention how beautiful you were."

"I see... Best be careful, sir, my beau is your room and board." Emmerit smirked as Elizabeth looked at Gretchen. "We need to get home, Gretchen. It was lovely to meet you, sir, and do come around before you have to leave. I'd love to chat." She took her hand from his and went over to Higgs, kissing his cheek. "Goodnight, Lord Northumberly."

"Goodnight."

They left and Higgs smiled, touching his cheek. He looked at Merida as she lifted an eyebrow at him and he cleared his throat.

"Yes, we should get going too. Let me just say goodbye to Fuchsia and Boston."

He walked away and Merida looked at Emmerit. She put her hands on his and he looked over at her.

"Dinnae ken to understand what that was about but please try to keep yerself in check. Ye'll make for more suspicion otherwise."

"Are you ready, Ma?" Edgar said, walking over. "Oh, hello..."

"Edgar, this is Emmerit Delaney. He's going to be staying with us for the week."

"Oh. I'm Edgar Dunbrough, nice to meet you."

"I didn't know Ms. Dunbrough had a son." Emmerit said, shaking Edgar's hand.

"She's my adoptive mum. I took on her name so that it wouldn't look scandalous on Mr. Higgs' part."

"I see."

"Come along now, let's get going."

***********************

Merida pulled down the bedding and handed Emmerit a night gown.

"Ye should be alright. Dinnae ken what ye do in the night where ye're from but, we're not much on light other than the lamps... Make sure to turn them off in the night though."

"Right, of course... I'm sorry that I made you make up that elaborate show."

"No trouble at all. I'm just glad that Gretchen was cooperative this time. Usually she's such a stick in the mud... Speaking of, whatever yer issue with Lady Hinkley, try not to let it come through so obviously next time."

"I'm sorry?" Emmerit said in confusion.

"Whether or not she caught it, Gretchen and I caught the way ye said Lady Hinkley's name. It wasnae pleasant of tone. Dinnae what ye ken of her, but ye best keep it to yerself. I ken ye got secrets, but when it comes to the people around here, keep yer wits about ye, ye hear?"

Emmerit nodded as Merida started to leave. "Ms. Dunbrough?" She turned back. "How did you know?"

"About?"

"My arm."

"I told ye-"

"You didn't see it. You couldn't have."

"Those robes that seem to accompany all forms of the kitsune have large sleeve openings. A bit of light in the darkness can reveal all things... Yer business is yer own, Mr. Delaney. An ye want to share, ye can, and an ye dinnae, no pressure. It was an observation, not an obligation. Just remember that there isnae anyone here to be afraid of. What happens here has no bearing one who knows in the future, yah?"

She went to leave again. "I..." She stopped. "I... I want to but..."

"How old are ye, Mr. Delaney?"

"Sixteen."

"Ah, only six and ten, just a wee bit older than Edgar. That makes more sense as to yer actions and yer comments. Ye look older for yer age."

"Hormones."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Anyhow, I willnae force ye to talk, but ye seem keen on getting something off yer chest. Ye've been keeping me from leaving."

Emmerit rubbed his arm, seeming shy. "No one really knows, where I'm from... I mean, the curse is known but... not the um, abuse. The rules about hiding the curse changed over time and in my time it's kind of cool to be like me. It still sucks but it's not so... damning." Merida nodded in understanding. "The others have good lives but..."

"Why dinnae ye?"

"It's just the line of succession I came from. As you know, there are bastards running around with Northumberly blood in them and curses they don't understand... The part of the line that I come from just... isn't kind to us. The men are still regarded as freaks, abhorrent monsters... tools."

"Tools?"

"I can't elaborate on that."

"I understand... So then, what are ye doing here?"

"I came to stop a wedding, but not only did I end up in the wrong time, I ended up in the wrong timeline." Merida made a face in confusion. "I won't go into linear physics with you but basically, every action makes other things happen. For example, there is another place where you never met Lord Northumberly, where the curse never happened, things like that. Small things create bigger things. For example, walking home as opposed to riding in a carriage creatures two different outcomes. It's those time when you think of things you should have, could have, would have... those blank unfulfilled desires have been met somewhere else."

"Interesting. So ye're saying that ye ended up on a different time path?"

"Kind of."

"How?"

"I'm a time and space kitsune. Those paths, as you call them, are within space."

"Can ye see them?"

"No."

"Verra interesting, but..."

"The wedding I wanted to stop would have created my line."

"But... then ye'd..."

"Yeah... but I guess the curse had other plans."

"Could ye get someone from the past and take them to the future?"

"I'm not sure on that. Why?"

"The next time ye are a kitsune, come back and find me. An ye can, bring me to yer time. I'd love to see it."

"You'd be completely lost." Emmerit said with a laugh.

"True, but I dinnae need the scenery." She walked over to him and grabbed his hands. "Time nor space cannae keep me from doing what's right. An I could, I'd beat up the ones who make ye feel like ye arenae e'en worthy of living... of being born. Ye tried to kill yerself by keeping someone from meeting another... to hate yer life so bad as that..."

Emmerit smiled. "If I knew how, I'd love to see that happen. I think I'd be more in luck to meet a descendant of you and they still have this brazen spirit."

"Maybe so." She let go and went to the door for a fourth time. "Goodnight, Mr. Delaney."

She left the room and went downstairs for a small nightcap.

Emmerit took off his clothes and slipped into the nightgown. It was out of his element, but the sentiment was nice. He pulled up his sleeve and looked at the hand-bruise that was there, plain as day. He thought about Merida's offer and then smiled a little. It would be funny to see her go off on the ones who did this but it was not meant to be. He wasn't even supposed to be here himself, let alone take Merida to his time. As strong as she was, he didn't think she'd adapt too well.