a last job

[asakiyume]

I was retired, but when the Queen of Faery comes with a request, you listen.

"I have a little job I need you to do. It requires cold iron--and lead. I'll pay you well."

Now I didn't want to get wrapped up in that line of work again, but she's a hard creature to say no to, so I agreed. My only stipulation: payment in cash, up front.

"But of course," she smiled.

And left me two gold coins, a king's ransom in today's world.

Comments

[light_of_summer]

This story makes me shiver with apprehension—it brings up mental associations with The Master and Margarita and Tam Lin and the custom of two coins for the ferryman...

(Well done!)

[asakiyume]

Lovely version of Tam Lin! Seems to be of the same lineage as the version Anne Briggs sings.

Glad the story made you shiver a little ;-)

[light_of_summer]

I'm glad you enjoyed Holly's singing! I knew her slightly, back in the 1980s, and heard her in concert at least a couple of times. I think her version of Tam Lin is probably from Frankie Armstrong, but the Anne Briggs version seems very close!