"Your studies are proving useful," Calidi grumbled approvingly, but still did not look happy with the state of the situation. "The human speaks true, all fae know this. I've had near five hundred years of experience forming alliances." Calidi stood from her cross-legged sitting position. Hands balled into fists at her side as they slowly emitted wisps of blackness. The outside of her knuckles licking with the starting embers of magical flame. "Even so! Those alliances you formed were for one of the most brutal and evil of all the fae. Of all the High Fae!”
Vethari bared his row of sharpened teeth, and it made my heart skip in a moment of fear. He raised a finger toward her as if to lecture her. "You forget that I fled that tyrannical society to be a member of the Seelie! I gave up all ties with those bastards. I have earned that trust for many decades. I have my best interests in mind with this, and the best interest of the humans as well."
"What about the best interests of those who have put that trust in you?" Calidi snorted. I couldn't bring myself to interrupt as I watched the exchange carefully. "Their interests are my interests. I am one they look to, to protect them. Stand down," he barked, the rumbling within his throat like the growling of a beast. The fiery nymph stood for not but a few moments more until she eased her tense shoulders. The flames dissipating from her hand as her fingers relaxed.
"I want to unite humans and fae. No more running in fear. No more executing one another on sight. No more. We will work together to fight against a common goal." Vethari's lips uncurled and his eyes shut.
Trying to calm himself down again, with a deep breath, I leaned forward to place a hand on his thigh, my other hand grasping at Calidi's limp hand. "This is very, very important. You both must understand that as the human in question here to help bring us together—nobody else could want this more. At least no human could."
I turned my gaze solely to Vethari as Calidi clenched my fingers within her grasp, seeking comfort which was something I'd never seen her do. It surprised me that she was this worried. "Vethari. I trust Calidi. But I need to know I can trust you. Please." I tightened my grip on his leg. His golden eyes seemed to swirl around as they focused intently. On me or my words, or both.
"I am not sure my plans will... work. Not one hundred percent. I stand by what I said. You cannot trust me."
I winced, beginning to withdraw my hand from him until he snatched it. Grabbing my hand within his faster than I could even realize. "You cannot trust me until my plans successfully come to fruition. Not until the Great Hunt. All I can ask is that you give me your faith. Have faith within me."
Chewing on my bottom lip I ran his words through my head. They made sense. I couldn't really trust him yet. He was still my captor. If things have a possibility of not working true to plan, I couldn't trust him. But I could believe. I nodded at him. A well of worry beginning to slowly fill the pit of my stomach. Calidi cleared her throat at the display, removing me from her grip. I flushed quickly as I moved to pull away from Vethari as well.
But he remained grasping my hand.
Calidi said nothing as she parted the from us with a hard look at Vethari, instead strolling out of my peripheral toward Rolun and Ke. A small thud and complaining from Rolun—with the usual giggling of Ke—led me to believe she prompted them to mind their own business instead of watching myself and the man in front of me.
I focused on the grass, feeling embarrassed at the touch of my captor. I heard him rise, and with his momentum, picked me up with him too. I blinked, confused as he simply gestured forward, and I followed him as he led me away from the small tree and back over the bridge. I glanced over my shoulder at my companions before stumbling slightly. "Where are we going?" I asked, head tilting to the side.
"I need to speak with you privately, it'll take just a moment," he said harshly. I pinched my lips together at the sudden coldness of his words but did not protest.
We didn't go far, to my surprise and relief. The island the others were on far enough away to still be within sight, but not close enough for others to hear. Vethari released my hand as he reached within his pouch of many things. I watched his fingers delve in and quickly clutch around something that shined brilliantly as he retrieved it. It was a small ring that seemed to be made of a continuous swirling pool of malachite. The dark greens and bright jade continuing to move; catching light occasionally even underneath the shade of the willow hovering above us
He reached out for my wrist and placed the ring onto my middle finger. It was large but as he slid it to the knuckle it fit perfectly to the size of my slender fingers. There were etchings on the back of it I couldn't make out. It was instinctual by now for me to pull up the tied hag stone around my neck, bringing it to my eyes so I could read what it said.
Still the words made little sense to me, the inscription reading out what I assumed to be a name: Jaruth.
"What is this for?"
His golden eyes peered deep into my own for a moment before he answered. "The Great Hunt. What do you know about it?"
I cocked a brow at his question, reaching for the ring and twirling it about the digit it was on. "I know we're to hunt a white stag. Other fae who are participating and I."
"And?"
"And after it's shot, we're supposed to bring it back for a ceremony. I don't know what else that entails though..." I trailed off. Were we supposed to then eat it? Or something? That was all I had gathered from the few things I'd read about it in the small library.
Vethari answered the questions I wondered as he spoke, "The white stag is merely a symbol of the death and rebirth of nature. The cycle of life and death. Do you not wonder why Faariin also takes this form?"
I shrugged, shaking my head in confusion at his part in the stakes. Vethari huffed. "The white stag is the symbol of the Seelie Court. Where he hails from. Where he ruled from as a prince. Faariin is the white stag of the Great Hunt."
"So, we're supposed to shoot and kill Faariin?" I couldn't understand. Vethari rolled his eyes, "No. Faariin is a High Fae, it will take much more than that to kill him. But it is a tradition that Is celebrated by all courts. Both the Seelie—in the eternal life of the white stag—and the Unseelie—in its death by hunters. It was the only time all fae could come together and participate in this rite. Now that we are part of no court—we still continue it to bring all fae together."
"Basically, it's just a reason to celebrate, am I right? Or at least a reason to bring fae together."
Vethari gave a single nod. "A reason for all faeries to be at peace, if for just a small amount of time. But this ring," his fingers slid from my wrist and to my fingers, bringing them up closer to his face, "will ensure that Faariin will be incapacitated for a few days."
I moved to yank my hand away from him, and he allowed it. I glared up at him, "You want to kill Faariin?" I shouted loudly.
"No. I just fear what he will do when the humans come. Think of everything he has said up until recently. How has he viewed humans, in your opinion? Favorably?"
Something about this just made my stomach wrench. "No, he sounds like he hates them." Even though he did seem hateful toward humans, would such a benevolent ruler do such a thing to prevent peace amongst our races? "I do not want him to do something that will mess this up."
I remained silent for a time. "Why do you care so much about uniting our people? Why not just kill them or stay isolated like Faariin wants to do?" I looked him straight in the eye. Repeating to myself over and over.
He cannot lie.
He cannot lie.
Vethari returned the stare, as his hands slowly crept up and placed themselves on my shoulders. "I have lived too long."
A small smile began to creep onto his lips. Every time he smiled, the rarity of seeing such a thing, it made me melt. He was so beautiful when he smiled. And when he laughed. "I grow tired of seeing the same struggles of my people. Ten years go by. Fifty. A hundred. Over and over, and nothing has changed. Humans kill us on sight. And some of us do the same to humans. We tri
ck and deceive them. Lead them to water to take them to their watery graves."
One of his hands slowly slid up across my collarbones, up to my throat. Fingers entangling themselves in the back of my hair toward the nape of my neck. My breath quickened.
"I grow too tired of seeing my companions die in battle against your kind. I want to unite them all together. And those who will not unite, must be made to see the error of their ways. Imagine it. A fae from the Unseelie Court. A human from one of the most tyrannical cities in their hatred toward the faeries. You and I."
His thick mane of hair shifted in the light breeze that passed over us.
"Imagine if we did it together."
I could have sworn my heart stopped at that moment. Seeing his eyes fall half-closed, his face fast approaching my own.
I couldn't speak, I couldn't breathe. All I knew is I wanted him badly.
Then the loud POP of a ripping through the air paused his movements. His head snapping upward causing me to turn around to spy the source of the sound that cracked around us like a manmade thunder.
"What are you thinking?" Faariin shouted, an aura of grey beginning to swirl around his form. Tangling themselves as they licked around his forearms and biceps. Burning fiercely around his shoulders. I quickly turned to place my back against the front of Vethari with my eyes widening. "W-We're not doing anything!" I stuttered at his ferocious display. Never had I seen him so angered.
Vethari placed himself in front of me as he pushed me aside, a deep growl rolling within his throat that almost echoed through the forest. "What are you thinking? We were prepping her for the Great Hunt!" he barked back.
Faariin stiffened slightly, his back beginning to straighten as he postured himself to regain the usual calmness over himself. "That is all well said and done, but what was the purpose for leaving behind Batik and Ley?"
"What was the purpose for assigning them to watch her?"
The former prince of the Seelie halted. His nostrils flaring for a moment as the smallest of frowns found way to his face. "Why not? We still do not know if we can trust her to play her part in this plan of yours." I peeked over from the side of Vethari, catching Faariin's eyes as they snapped toward me. I watched as they quickly found a way to my hand that rested on the side of Vethari's stomach. And the ring that rested on my middle finger. A brow peaked slightly as his gaze slowly snatched toward Vethari's menacing face.
"What a lovely little trinket." His eyes narrowed oh so slightly as the fae I stood behind straightened his back.
"Vethari, what in the name of Nature are you doing?" Ley asked as her brows upturned in an almost disheartening manner. Like she was genuinely worried for him. "What are you doing with this human? You've never gone behind our backs before."
"My thoughts as well." Batik spoke softly as well. Both glancing from me and back to their leading officer of sorts. "There is nothing going on. I already told you I was preparing her for what will transpire during the Great Hunt."
Faariin looked upward to the partially hidden sky. The petals of the willows beginning to float down like an artificial winter. Small footsteps approaches from the side as the others began to head toward us from across the bridge. Sensing something going on.
"Ley, Batik. Continue your duties on watching the girl closely. The Great Hunt draws near, and we know not what will transpire. Vethari," Faariin’s gaze fell back to the golden fae that guarded me, a sneer still on Vethari's face, "Return to our village, with everyone. And come speak with me when you're done with your 'prepping'."
I winced, the loud thunderclap sounding again as Faariin disappeared. No motioning of hands, no words issued. I assumed his capabilities at spells to be more advanced than my captor's. Batik and Ley stepped forward, the bottoms of their spears scraping across the blades of grass as they used their free hand to reach out. One hand placed onto the now frightened looking Rolun, who held Calidi's hand. The other's hand placed onto Vethari, flinching as he turned his glare to them both.
Vethari swallowed his anger, closing his eyes, and repeating his chanting of words. This time I prepared myself for the impact, which was much more of a headrush than I'd ever used with the bracelet. As soon as the thought had reached my head, we vanished from the marsh, back to the village.
18
Calidi and I had dressed together, with her making sure I was wearing the appropriate clothing for the Revelry before changing into hunting leathers for the Grand Hunt. For the most part she had remained quiet. Which was unusual for her, aside from the demands to raise my arms, or turn around, or do this and that with my body.
"Calidi, are you alright?" I asked in kind as her back was toward me. Her hands scraped across her desk within the workshop that was covered in many miscellaneous objects.
She exhaled, shoulders slumping slightly as she forced herself to try to release any tension she had. "Yes, child. I am just overwhelmed. Here." She turned toward me with a small wooden bowl of white paint. "Hold still," she warned. Calidi dipped her first two fingers into the paint then pressing it against my face. My teeth chattered for a brief second at how unnaturally cold it was. Calidi continued to paint me, adding lines and dots to my brow, my nose, and to the exposed flesh of my arms. Her head tilted to the side, nodding in approval at her quick work.
"What's this for?" I asked, wishing I had a reflective surface to look at myself in.
"It's traditional, to signify who will be hunting, and who is merely partaking in the celebration."
"Oh. Thank you," I mumbled, as she moved behind me, grabbing a blade. My eyes widened, and I stepped back from her. "I'm sorry, but drawing blood is where I have to draw a line," I warned. She smiled softly, shaking her head as she ran a thumb over the sharpened edge of the hunting knife. "It's not for your flesh, but for your hair. You must keep it out of your face."
I frowned, "I've been growing my hair for ages now. Can't I braid it?"
The sparkling white grin from her told me my answer: of course not. "Stand still so Calidi will not cut you." I tensed but made no move to get away from her. Hair was the least of my worry now. And if the person wanting to cut it was Calidi, I'd probably have let her shave me bald if that was her desire. I couldn't go against her.
She gripped my hair into a bundle in her hand, and without warning ripped through the strands with a single strike. The smell of singed edges hit my nose, making it wrinkle in disgust. The fire nymph sighed, tossing the severed strands into a wicker basket off to the side. "There, it's not so bad."
I moved to reach up, touching the ends that now drifted at my shoulders with a sad frown. She clicked her tongue at my disapproval, placing the blade back onto the table. "Focus on your task tonight, not your hair."
I nodded. "I remember, Calidi. I have to play my part carefully."
Yes, it was close to the time when I'd need to follow through with what Vethari wanted. Still, I was concerned about every part of the plan. I held up my hand to the ring that remained affixed to my finger. Calidi watched my hand as well as I looked up at her. "Do you think I should do this? Do you think it will help the way Vethari thinks it will?"
She shook her head, "I cannot answer you this. It is something you must decide. Play into Vethari's hand of cards, and perhaps it will help when he parlays with the humans. Do not, and perhaps Faariin will do something unpredictable."
"This whole plan is unpredictable," I whined. "I just wish I knew the answer."
With another slight tug to the halter of her own orange gown, Calidi leaned down far enough to speak quietly to my ear. Soft enough that only I could hear, and not any passersby that could possibly not be seen. "Do you trust Vethari?"
My heart skipped at the mention of his name, and without even thinking I nodded. "Yes. I do. Even if he says I cannot. I believe in him. Everything he's done thus far is for his people."
"Then you have your answer," she affirmed as she stepped away from me once more, circling me to admire the work she had done to my clothing and painting
.
"Do you trust Vethari? I highly value your words over others."
She seemed surprised at my question. "Well, yes. With how long he has lived and being a member of both courts for some time, he has the experience that few in all the faerie worlds can say they have. Though I still worry this will work. Humans and faeries have never coexisted. For the thousands of years since the first presence of magic and nature shaped us. Just like beasts and prey."
I reached out, placing a hand to cup her right bicep in solidarity. Giving it a bit of a squeeze. Her exposed skin was hot to the touch. "You're my friend, now. And I think we co-exist well."
A hearty laugh erupted from her, and she smiled wide and genuine. She was a magnificent sight when she was open with her emotions instead of guarded all the time. "Aye, this is true. Calidi is happy to call a human a friend for the first time." She backed away, beginning to strap on her sandals. "This will be a first time for many things. Let us pray that this will unite us."
Her happy demeanor vanished for a moment as she became serious. "Many strange things will happen at the Revelry, I'm sure you understand. And many more during the hunt. Do what you feel is right in your heart, and no one can blame you for being true to yourself."
I was taken aback by her words for a moment. "And to you, Calidi." The smile returned once more as she began to lead the way out of her small home within the tree to the workshop outside, then further still to the grand fire where The Passage occurred.
19
The sun was now making its short descent from the sky and down toward the horizon. Caking everything in hues of purple and pink, with slight tendrils of green slivering through. It was a beautiful sight and nothing like I'd ever seen in my own realm.
I followed Calidi closely as well, as there seemed to be far more fae in the streets than I initially thought would be living within the village. Everyone was dressed exceptionally beautifully, covered in stones and jewelry entwined from grass and flowers and pine needles. Natural, effervescent. It was like a dream with the music, the floating lights drifting about softly, and the happiness of everyone around. Many paired off into couples or small groups of friends.
Solitary Fae (Humans vs Fae Book 2) Page 12