Adhene

According to folklore from the Isle of Man, if an angel is cast from heaven for some transgression but still has enough goodness to be unfit for hell, it becomes an Adhene.

Known as Cloan ny moyrn, which translates (roughly!) to “the children of pride” or “the children of ambition”, the Adhene is only about the size of a small child. When it can be seen at all.

They move through the forests and along the coasts of the Isle of Man, seen only by those with a keen eye and an open heart. It is said that if you see one, they are captivating. Spellbinding, even.

Unsurprisingly, those who claim to have seen them say the Adhene is an ethereal, beautiful creature with delicate features and gossamer wings.

You know.

Like a fairy. Or an elf.

Which is actually part of the danger they pose.

Like any self-respecting creature of Fae, they are not to be trifled with.

And, like those better-known creatures of myth, the Adhene could be benevolent or mischievous in their dealings with mortals.

They bestow blessings upon the worthy, and all who know them know that if you hear the sound of storage barrels being made, it heralds a bountiful harvest or a successful day’s fishing.

But there are just as many stories of them whisking away babies and ‘wives’—though I’m not sure whether they steal women to become their wives, or whether they only steal married women. The Lore is unclear on that point.

It’s equally unclear about what they do with them once they’ve taken them, save to say that they are never seen again.

Perhaps they become Adhene themselves. Or maybe they’re enslaved. Maybe they’re devoured. Or possibly, they’re transported elsewhere, for a better life.

Who knows?

Only the Adhene, that’s who.

However, the Lore also seems to suggest that those who are on a mission of mercy were immune to the power of an Adhene.

Which is an odd little footnote, because it suggests they do something more fearful than merely whisking women and children away.

Except… no one mentions anything else. Not that I could find, at least.

And perhaps that's what makes the Adhene so fascinating. The Lore tells us just enough to make us wonder what it's leaving out.

In any case, they make for a very interesting story.

I was lucky enough to mention one in passing in my books. Maybe, one day, I’ll be able to do more with them.