Chapter 32
After the first day of education, I am so exhausted that even my eyelashes hurt. I still feel unusually congested; I must be allergic to some of the plants on this island.
Layla has taught me about how the Huldras came to be—which I already knew—and of the history of the Huldra all the way up until the Viking age in Northern Europe. People used to believe that Huldras had hollow, bark-covered backs and tails that resembled those of a fox or a cow. It was all a fabrication, of course. The bark-covered-back-and-animal-tail-story was started by a woman whose husband had been unfaithful to her with a Huldra. The wife had been so angry and jealous of the beautiful Huldra that she started this rumor to make the Huldra sound more ugly than she was and to try and keep men away from the, in her words, "devilish creatures." There was no mention of Huldus in these stories and I wonder if it could be because women were better at hiding their affairs with a Huldu from their husbands.
In the beginning, Huldras and Huldus mainly lived on invisible islands like Wraithsong Island. These were scattered across the Norwegian and Swedish coasts. A few of them lived in caves around northern Europe, but many of them were hunted and killed. Huldras would frequently wander the forests surrounding villages and help hunters who pleasured them. If a man pleased the Huldra to her satisfaction, she would blow on the man's bow or rifle, causing it to never miss a shot. There were no stories of what Huldus would ask men or women to do. I'll have to ask Anthony when I see him again.
When Maureen enters, her hair is yet another color. This time it's shoulder-length, straight and brown. I wonder why she keeps changing her hair color and style, but I get the feeling it's a taboo subject. First Maureen teaches me how to use my flair, and though I am very excited about it, I don't want to let her know that it is something I have dreamed of learning all my life.
"It is quite simple," Maureen says. "If you desire a man to fall madly in love with you then you need to kiss him passionately. If you only want him to submit to your will then all you need to do is ensure your saliva comes in contact with his skin."
I learn a little goes a long way when it comes to my flair.
"The amount of flair you use has a direct correlation to how much power and control you will have over the prospect," Maureen says. She sounds so business-like.
"How will I know how much of my flair to use?"
"That, you will only learn through practice. If you use too much, well, you will have a slave for life."
"But then I'll just tell him to stay away," I say, remembering that I did that with Savannah.
"That is not how it works. They will stay away for a while, but soon, they will be unable to resist and begin stalking you. You become an obsession to them, and the obsession will eventually grow dangerous unless you know how to manage it."
I cringe inwardly, but keep a pleasant expression pasted on my face. Savannah will definitely be a dangerous stalker if what Maureen is saying is true—I can see it now. I am glad to be so far away from her, but fear what will happen once I return to Sarasota. I'll have to cross that bridge when I get there.
"If you use too little of your flair, the prospect will not be willing to concede his power to you."
It sounds a little tricky. "So do my looks or anything else make a difference on the...uh...prospect?" I ask.
"Yes, of course, but not like you think, darling. Only through your mind can you completely seduce a human. It has little to do with your looks or your sensuality, though those things too will naturally play an important part—more so in the beginning," Maureen says. "Your flair and your mind are the two most important aspects you possess as a Huldra. Most men think your attractiveness is your looks, but it is not."
"And what about my fifth Huldra gift?" I have to ask.
"That is not in today's lesson. Now focus!" Maureen says impatiently.
Of course that's what she would say.
Finally, Olaf takes me out to a field just outside the castle and teaches me how to shoot a bow and arrow, how to blend in with the environment and how to track someone. When we go outside, I see the entire castle and am surprised to see that it is huge and is built into the surrounding mountain. That must be how they have the cave. The Gothic castle has a circular, gray stone tower situated on each of the four corners, an oak front door with steps leading up to it, and tons of stained-glass lancet windows. It looks haunted, not because the castle hasn't been maintained, but because it is so dark and gloomy, especially now in the afternoon when the building sits in the shade of the mountain behind it.
The long day finally ends, and I massage my shoulders, trying to relax. I take a shower in the attached bath and sink into bed. I study the Eleven Charges a Huldra must abide by. Maureen is going to test me on them in the morning.
The Eleven Charges
I promise as a Huldra...
I think Maureen needs to abide a little better by the last charge. She is taking more than she needs and definitely to the detriment of others. After about an hour of studying, I cannot keep my eyes open anymore and I drift off to sleep.