The Butter Spirit's Tithe

By Charles de Lint

Short story. The Butter Spirit’s Tithe first appeared in Emerald Magic, edited by Andrew M. Greeley; Tor Books, 2004, and was most recently reprinted in Muse and Reverie, Tor Books, 2009.

Conn O'Neill is trying to make a go of it as a Celtic guitarist until he inadvertently runs afoul of a vengeful spirit. Cursed for seven years, at the end of which his soul is promised as a tithe to the fearsome Grey Man, Conn's only hope lies with his musical partner Miki Greer. Miki knows a thing or two about Irish spirits, having lost her brother to them in de Lint's novel Forests of the Heart. She's not about to let them claim someone else.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charles de Lint
• Release date: Apr 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9780920623107

Charles de Lint

Charles de Lint and his wife, the artist MaryAnn Harris, live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. His evocative novels, including Moonheart, Forests of the Heart, and The Onion Girl, have earned him a devoted following and critical acclaim as a master of contemporary magical fiction in the manner of storytellers like John Crowley, Jonathan Carroll, Alice Hoffman, Ray Bradbury, and Isabel Allende.

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The Butter Spirit's Tithe

A short story by

Charles de Lint

Smashwords edition

Copyright 2004 by Charles de Lint

Smashwords Edition, License Notes:

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It happened just as we were finishing our first set at the Hole in Tucson, Arizona, running through a blistering version of The Bucks of Oranmore—one of the big box tunes, so far as I'm concerned. Miki was bouncing so much in her seat that I thought her accordion was going to fly off her knee. I had a cramp in the thumb of my pick hand, but I was damned if that'd stop me from seeing the piece through to the end, no matter how fast she played it.

So of course she picked up the speed again, grinning at me as we kicked into our third run through the tune. I grinned back, adding a flourish of jazzy chords that I shouldn't have had the space to fit in, but I managed all the same. It's the kind of thing that happens when you play live and was nothing I'd be able to duplicate again. Miki raised an eyebrow, suitably impressed.

And then, just as we came up on a big finish, all the strings on my guitar broke, even the bass E. I snapped my head back, which probably saved me from losing an eye, but I got a couple of wicked cuts on my chording hand.

Needless to say, that brought the tune to a ragged finish. Miki stared at me for a long moment, then turned back to her mike.

We're taking a short break, she said, while Conn restrings his guitar. Don't go away and remember to tip your waitress.

I reached over to the P.A.'s board and shut off the sound from the stage, switching the house speakers back to the mix of country and Tex-Mex that the bar got from their satellite feed. Then I sucked at the cuts on my hand. Miki dropped the strap from her accordion and set the instrument on the floor.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, she said, sounding more like her brother than I'd ever tell her. What the hell just happened?

I shrugged. Guess I got a set of bum strings. It happens.

Yeah, right. Every string breaking at the same time. She paused and studied me for a moment. Has it happened before?

I shook my head. I was telling the truth. But other things just as strange had—no more than two or three times a year, but that was two or three times too many.

I set my guitar in its stand and went to the back of the stage where I got my string-winder and a fresh set of strings. Miki was still sitting on her stool when I got back to my own seat. Usually she'd be off the

Reviews for The Butter Spirit's Tithe

[liscarey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Conn O'Neill is a brilliant guitarist, but not a commanding lead performer, and that's why he's working as a janitor in an office building when he meet the Butter Spirit, a rather mean and vengeful spirit, and unintentionally disrespects him. The spirit curses him for seven years, and says that at the end of the seven years, Conn will be his tithe to the Grey Man.While much of the cursing is petty harassment, not all of it is--particularly with regard to Conn's girlfriend. But for all the problems, he keeps on picking up gigs as a guitarist, and eventually becomes Miki Greer's regular accompanist. When seven years has passed, and the day the Grey Man will claim him approaches, Conn finally has to tell Miki what happened, and will happen. As those who've read Forests of the Heart are aware, Miki Greer knows something about the spirits and their ways. She sets a plan in motion. However, she only tells Conn to be ready, not anything about what her plan is or what to be ready for.It's a warm and charming short story about friendship, love, courage, paying attention to details, and being just tricky enough.Highly recommended.I bought this short story.

[alexdraven · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Classic de Lint, and a really enjoyable read!