“I can pay.” He turned his head and nodded.
“Well let’s talk about that over dinner, but before we go let’s get back to my question. How do you feel?” She sighed and closed her eyes. This man saw what happened.
“To be honest, I wonder how I’m still alive.” He nodded.
“That was a miracle to behold. After the impact I had already written you off. But what happened then was let we say magical. Your friends found us after that and they begged me to help you. How could I resist.”
She looked at him blankly, what did he mean by that? “Ah, if my nose is right, then is diner ready.” His hand reached towards her. “Are you coming?”
MYRTLE EXAMINED THE food on the wooden table.
“Don’t worry, little hunter. I ordered your friend to scrub all the poison away with some of your mortals magic salt.” She looked at Varaln and then back at the food.
“What is your price?” He started to laugh.
“I like your spirit, little hunter. But as I already told you. Your debt has already been paid, that includes food and a place to stay. The price about the information about your beloved daddy, well we can negotiate it after we are done eating. You should be very hungry.” She nodded. She was indeed very hungry, her stomach begun rumbling violently. She didn’t notice it until he said it, what was going on with her? She picked up the wooden fork. Out of the corner of her eye she saw he was following her every move. She took a bite of the strange looking meat. Her mouth almost burst from the various flavours that were underneath the layer of salt. It felt strange, all her worries about her friends and father melted away.
“Do you like it, little hunter?” It was like she was pulled away from a dream and she looked at him. Instead of saying something she took the wooden cup, and took a sip of the red liquid, which tasted very fruity.
“Well?” Varaln looked at her impatiently. She gave him a small smile.
“I didn’t know that Eldric could cook.” Varaln laughed loudly.
Quickly her gaze went around the room, there was no sign of her friends.
“Speaking of Eldric, I was wondering what you have agreed to with them.”
His laugh got stuck in his throat, quickly he took a sip of his wooden cup.
“Little hunter, please. You can’t possibly think I’d degrade myself by discussing my contracts with someone other than the ones I made the contract with.”
MYRTLE SAT UP A BIT straighter.
“I understand that, lord Foxcrest.” His ears twitched a little.
“All I want to know is, are they safe?” His ears twitched again. This time it was her turn to wait for an answer. He gave her a smile, but the look in his eyes was one she couldn’t decipher.
“They are safer in my house, than outside my house.” Myrtle had read about this and she hoped the stories where true, the fey couldn’t lie. They could avoid the truth by avoiding the real answer.
“Lord Foxcest please, my friends are pain in the bum, but they are my friends and they are very dear to me. Tell me at least, will they be alive when their debt has been paid?” Varaln’s eyes turned a little darker, but he nodded.
“That’s something I can assure you.” She sighed relieved.
“How good are they to me, when they are dead.” said Varaln.
ELDRIC WALKED IN TO the dining room, his whole walk had changed. He walked at the table without looking at her.
“Eldric, are you alright?” Still he didn’t look at her, again the alarm bells rang in her head, but she couldn’t react to them.
“I’m fine. Myrtle don’t ask those strange questions.” He reached for her wooden plate. “I’m grateful to be in master Foxcrest care. So should you.” He grabbed her plate and was planning to walk away.
“Darling, when you are done putting those dishes in the kitchen, go to the little hunters room and bring her backpack to me.” Eldric turned to Varaln and bowed.
“As you wish, master.” Eldric left the room, but returned not that much later with her backpack. “Here you go Myrtle.” He handed her backpack, but still didn’t look at her. Instead he turned to Varaln Foxcrest.
“I’m going to clean the dishes, Master.” Myrtle looked at the two men, Varaln didn’t look at Eldric but simply waved him away.
“Thank you darling. After you are done return to your room.”
Eldric left the room this time he didn’t return. Varaln clapped in his hands. “Well, let see if you have something in that backpack that is worthy of information.” Myrtle unzipped the bag and carefully placed the items on the table. He looked at her from his chair, as soon as the bag was empty, Varaln stood up and walked to her side of the table. Carefully he examined the items. “You mortals are so very strange,” he sighed, “so many beautiful things and you don’t attach that much value to it.”He looked at her for a moment. “Or you didn’t bring those with you, which means you are a smart beautiful girl.” His gaze went back to the table and he picked up a golden pendant. “This is enough.” He walked back to his chair and sat down. In the meantime she put all the other items back in her backpack.
“Let me start at the beginning. Little hunter.”
“YOUR FATHER WAS A GUEST at the Winter court, until two years ago. When the halls of the court where filled with whispers about betrayal. Someone wanted to kill the queen of Winter. Perhaps they were more than just whispers, but who knows. One unfortunate day, tthey pointed to me as the guilty one. Your father was one of the few who believed in my innocence, so needless to say, he literally saved my neck that day. Sadly, I was no longer welcome at court after that day.”
MYRTLE HUNG ON HIS lips until he was done talking. She looked at her hands. “Did you say two years my lord?” He nodded.
“After I was thrown out of the winter palace, I didn’t see your father again, which was quite a shame, but I did hear that he also left the palace that day.” She looked at him.
“Do you know where he is now?” Varaln shook his head.
“Unfortunately not, I have almost turned over every stone here in Fearie, because I hadn’t had the chance to repay my deb to him, until you came along.” She clenched her hands into fist. Her heart was pounding, he was alive, her father was still alive.
“That unfortunate, I would have liked to meet him again.” why was her reaction so dense, she just found out that her father was still alive.
Varaln nodded.
“Ten years is a long time, little hunter.”
THE RAIN TAPPED SOFTLY against the windows. The rhythmic sound made her sleepy. Myrtle tried to hide a yawn behind the back of her hand. But Varaln who was still watching her every move had seen it. He pointed at her.
“I saw that, your body is most likely still recovering from that hit. I should have known that. To bed with you.” She saw no point in arguing so she stood up and walked to the door, but she stopped, and looked over her shoulder.
“May I ask one more question, Lord Foxcrest?” He nodded.
“You may, the only question is whether or not I will answer.” She yawned again, she put a hand before her mouth, to hide it. She lowered it and looked straight into Varaln’s eyes.
“How did you know I was my father’s daughter and how do you even know my nickname?” He started to laugh.
“Those are two questions, little hunter. But I’ll turn a blind eye for once. Your father had a pendant with a picture of you in it, he showed it to me once. He also told me how much he misses you.” She closed her eyes and nodded.
“Thank you, Lord Foxcrest. Then I’ll go to bed now.”
He nodded as she walked out of the room. While she was walking through the halls, she felt as if she was missing something, but didn’t know what. She opened the door of the bed room. The bed looked so tempting, how could she refuse to lay down? She smiled when her eyes slowly closed. Her father was somewhere in the Thicket, maybe she would find him while she is on her quest. With those thoughts she fell asleep.
Fox in sheep’s clothing
/> Myrtle woke up from a strange noise. But when she wanted to hear what it was, it already disappeared. She knocked off the covers of fine fabric. Her head was pounding, what happened to her? Was it something she at or drank? She felt her stomach turn.
“Good morning, it is a lovely day to be awake. O my dear you’re almost looking green. Perhaps the fey wine was not a good choice after all. You have to forgive me I never have mortals seen drink it before.” She looked up, how did Varaln enter the room without her noticing it? She wanted to ask him, but her stomach turned again. He was now standing next to the bed, pushing her with one hand. “Don’t worry, little hunter. It will pass.” He took the sheets and pulled it over her. “But it is better when you lie down. Don’t get up until your head allows it.” She stared at him, his eyes drifted away from her face. What was he looking at? His ears twitched and turned. He gave her a quick but nervous smile. “Well I better let you be, I’ll let one of your friends bring some tea against the nausea.”
She turned her head, so she could watch him leave. The door closed behind him. Not much later the moaning was back. What did that mean? Who moaned like that and why? Was somebody hurt? She wanted to get up again, but her body didn’t react. Why was that? She tried to move.
THE DOOR TO THE ROOM opened and for a moment Myrtle feared it was Varaln, but in the doorway stood Sarra, her ruby-hair was hanging loose on her back. Myrtle knew she hated that so why didn’t she tied it up?
“Well Myrtle, here’s the tea master Foxcrest wanted me to bring to you. He also ordered me to tell you, that he will take you to a party this evening, so before that a dressmaker will come to make a dress for you.” Sarra held the wooden cup above her and Myrtle was surprised she could move again.
“A party?” Sarra nodded, while Myrtle took the cup. “And only me?” Sarra nodded again. Myrtle took a sip from the tea. “What about you and Eldric?” Normally Sarra would have said something, sharp tonged as she was, but this time she just shrugged.
“Our host wants my brother and I too stay behind. We are not permitted to leave this house until our debt is paid.” Myrtle was worried, her ears where still filled with the unknown moans.
“Sarra, how do you pay off that debt?” Sarra started laughing.
“Myrtle, you know how rude it is, to talk about things like that.” Sarra stared to walk away, but turned in the doorway. “Drink your tea, the dressmaker will be here soon. Oh and Myrtle.” Myrtle nodded.
“It’s might be better if you stopped asking questions.”
THE DRESSMAKER HAD no intension to go easy on her. He pricked her several times with his needle, while muttering about the soft flesh. Myrtle was relieved when he told her he had al her measurements.
“Well, you are almost off the hook. Mortal child. The only thing you need to do right now is to pick a color.” He opened a book with more than a thousand pieces of different coloured of fabrics. She hissed, she didn’t know anything about clothing. “Come on, this is not that hard. Pick a color. That is a task even a child can accomplish.” Myrtle pressed her lips together, it was hard too not return a nasty comment about the height from the man. She was shocked when she saw him for the first time, he came not higher then her hips. And he wore an old blue hood. Varaln had told her he was a bluecap.
“Mister Argan La Threat, please be kind to my guest. She is the daughter of Eldar Hunter.” The man looked at her if he didn’t believe a word Varaln just said.
“Daughter you say, mister Foxcrest. Yes, yes now I see it. She has his eyes.” Said the blue cap. Varaln looked at the book with pieces of fabric. He reached his hand out and waited for the blue cap to hand over the book, but the blue cap looked at her.
“Give me that book, mister La Threat. I will choice for her.” said Varalan, reluctantly the blue cap gave him the book. Myrtle didn’t know how to react, so she watched how Varaln flipped to pieces of fabric. His eyes winded and nodded. “This is your color, little hunter.” Varaln showed the fabric, the very light green reminded her of the nightgown she had when she was a little girl. “What do you think mister La Threat?” Why didn’t he ask her, but mister La Threat starred nodding.
“Yes, yes that is an excellent choice.” The blue cap walked away to his bag and pulled out a glass jar. Also a piece of cloth, he turned the lid of the jar. Mister La Threat putted the piece of cloth in the jar. “Just wait a second, mortal child. Your dress will be my masterpiece. Please try not too, scream.” Myrtle didn’t understand why should she scream, she wanted to speak her mind. But he already turned the lid from the jar again. Big black hairy spiders, crawled out of the jar. She was not afraid of spiders, she only didn’t like them. She closed her eyes, when she saw that they where crawling towards her.
“ARE YOU READY?” ASKED Varaln. Myrtle nodded, but the dress that mister La Threat designed for her was difficult to move in. Varaln reached out to her, without hesitating she took his hand. He pulled her closer, his eyes wandered over her dress. “That color suites you. Only your hair.”
He took her braid in his hand. “Why did you braid it? Your more beautiful with it lose.” Myrtle felt how his hand pulled of the elastic, and brushed her hair lose. “So that is much better.” Myrtle swallowed, why didn’t she fight back?
“I’m sorry my lord. I didn’t know It would displease you.” She couldn’t believe her own words. But Varaln nodded clearly contend with her answer.
“Well let us be off. We don’t want to be late.” He took her hand and nodded to Eldric how opened the door, Varaln pulled Myrtle trow it. The big full moon stood on dark blue sky, his light almost blinded her. The light green dress looked like lighted up by the moonlight. “O, dear your looking beautiful. Like one of those angels, mortals talk about.” Varaln said. Myrtle looked at the dress a bit uncertainly, Varaln was really was surprised by her reaction.“Aren’t you used to hearing this?” Myrtle shook her head slowly, he pulled up his shoulders. “That’s really a shame, you should hear it from me more than.”Varaln bowed. “Now it is your turn to say something about mine appearance.” She gave him a smile.
“Of course my lord. But unfortunately, I’m just as bad on giving compliments as taking them. So let me try.” Myrtle took a step back, something she shouldn’t have done that. Because the skirt of her dress almost made her fall. Luckily she regained her balance before she could fall, Varaln paid not much attention to that. He seemed what jaded, because she didn’t answer him right away. But now she could look at him, his suite was also made of spider silk, and had a red-brown color. On his shoulder hang a mantle of Fox fur. She had to confess, he looked good. “My lord, you look very dashing.”
His ears twitch and his chest grew.
“Well I do but, thank you for saying it.” He jumped up and grabbed her hand. “I was almost forgotten that we where going to a party. We are gonna be late.” Myrtle tried too run in the tight dress, he opened the door of the onion shaped carriage. He helped her get in, he slammed the door behind him and carriage started moving.
MYRTLE LOOKED OUTSIDE the window of the moving carriage. The world Fearie enchanted her, snow fall between the pine trees. Some were so tall the could thatch the sky. The carriage stopped and Varaln jumped out, he quickly turned to assist her. With her hand still into his he run towards a big hill, Myrtle wanted to ask where they were going. Suddenly they where inside the hill, surprised she looked around. Multiple fey were standing inside a hall, looking her was.
“Needless to say, that you are a rare bird.” Varaln whispered in her ear, she figured that one out for herself. He pulled her with him toward a large woman. “Lady Grimm, my apologies.” Varaln bowed and apologies,
the woman looked at him with disgust.
“Varaln Foxcrest, mine little birdies told me you got three mortals in that filthy den of yours. I assume she is one them.” Lady Grimm pointed to Myrtle and she bowed her head deep, Varaln nodded.
“Allow me to introduce you, Myrtle Hunter. Daughter of Eldar.”
Myrtle raised her head
up and look straight into the giant woman’s eyes.
“I see, you still looking for him. Filthy fox, well this girl is your beat.” The woman turned towards her. “Myrtle Hunter, mortal girl. I’m sorry for my harsh words. Enjoy the party.” Myrtle bowed her head again.
“Thank you Lady Grimm.” They walked away from the great lady. Varaln stared to laugh.
“Bravo. Brava. Little hunter.” She looked at him and bowed her head.
“Thank you mine lord.”Varaln held a servant girl with large dragonfly wings standing and took two wooden cups of the plate, he gave one of the cups to Myrtle.
“Don’t worry, you can drink it. Feywine will be severed later.” Myrtle took a sip of the water. She looked how Varaln his gaze went over the guest, His eyes widdend. “Is that the queen of winter?” Myrtle turned around and saw a women in a snow-white dress. “I have too introduce you. She may know where your father is.” Varaln took her hand again, this time she pulled it back. Myrtle gasped when she did it.
“Sorry, my lord I don’t think it is wise.” Varaln sighed and lied his hands on her shoulders.
“Don’t be afraid, I will be on you’re side all evening.”
THEY WALKED TOGETHER towards the queen of winter.
“Your highness, what a pleasure meeting you here.” Said Varaln, Myrtle bowed so couldn’t see the queens reaction. But she could feel the coldness around the woman grew.
“Foxcrest, go away.” said the woman sharp. Varaln laughed, a little bit nervous.
“But your majesty, I wanted to introduce you too my guest.” Myrtle raised, the queen looked for a moment.
“A mortal, well why would that interest me?” Myrtle shivered. When Varaln didn’t answer the queen looked at Myrtle again. “I don’t care who you are girl” The queen’s opened but closed again. “Wait, your Eldar Hunters child.” The queen turned towards Varaln. “You disgusting creature, leave us for a moment.” Varaln hesitated for a moment, but did what the queen ordered him. So much for staying by her side.
Book of Secrets Page 3