Once we made it to the fire that was lit, there was barely a place to sit, most people happy with just dancing as they skipped around with one another. A few faeries, including Rolun I proudly must say, stood beside the throne as they played their windpipes along with the ominous and continuous drumming that came from all around. Faariin, of course, sat on the throne, wearing nothing out of the ordinary beside from a small crown made of fallen elk antlers. The piece was large for his humanoid form. Although his posture was relaxed, with his head leaning against his palm, elbow upon the armrest, his eyes darted every which way, taking in everything that was going on. If it was this obvious to me that he was being careful or nervous—then it must be obvious to anyone else who was paying any attention as well.
Calidi gripped my wrist to help lead me through the herd of people and over to the side-lines. Many tables had literally grown out of the ground and were now covered in a sumptuous display of various fruits and drinks. "Are you hungry?" my companion inquired, and I grinned at her. "Not too much, I'm actually a bit anxious and it's killing my appetite." The nymph laughed light-heartedly as she grabbed a wooden goblet and placed it in front of me. "Here, relax. Just don't indulge too much." I made a face at the drink that was offered, taking it from her extended reach and giving it a sniff.
To my surprise it smelled rather floral and sweet, like tea with some sugar, though cold. Without giving it too much of a thought, I took a small sip before pulling away from the drink. "Are you sure I should be drinking this?" I inquired curiously as my tongue seemed to sparkle with some unknown spice. Like drinking cinnamon. It twinkled throughout my mouth and down my throat. Leaving it pleasantly numb. It had to be a spirit of some kind, and I needed to keep my head focused during the fast approaching events.
She pointed to the far right of us to another table closer toward the throne. Several other people who dressed in similar garb to myself, pink gowns with floral appliques for the women. White pants with floral brocades for the men. They were content, laughing amongst one another as they sipped out of goblets. "They are indulging, if you only indulge a little, you won't be too worse for wear. Your shot is good enough to allow yourself to relax a bit. Maybe it'll keep your nerves down." She grabbed another goblet and clanked against my cup in cheers. "To the united force of humans and faeries!" She smiled, taking several heavy gulps.
I hesitated before taking another gulp as well. My brows raising as the heavy feeling of twinkling around my mouth and down my throat, this time much more pleasant than the first. I tilted the drink upward and finished it down to the last swig. Every gulp tasting sweeter and more brilliant than the last. "Here." Calidi smiled, passing me another goblet after taking my empty one. "What is this, anyway?" I took a much more limited sip from my new cup.
"It's just a spiced wine. Don't drink too quickly however, it'll go straight to your head."
Oh, it was far too late for that. Although I didn't feel drunk, every movement I made felt too fluid and connected to each other. My thoughts were forming clearly, and my vision seemed to sharpen as well. "I've never had a wine like this." I giggled. The anxiety I was feeling started to become repressed with each sip. Instead, pure unbridled happiness replaced it. This was a wine of the Gods, no drink in the human kingdoms I'd been in made me feel so joyful!
I had just finished the second cup when Calidi's eyes looked upward and over my shoulder. "Fancy seeing you here," she smirked.
I turned to spy Vethari standing before me with a different attire for once. Leather boots up to his knee caps that were laced rather tightly, and similar leather riding pants tied at the waist. he also wore a heavy circlet that wrapped from one shoulder to the next, covered in what seemed to be white feathers and red furs. Like the hide of an ibisa, and well taken care of.
Vethari's eyes scanned me over quickly, and to the ring. To make sure I was still wearing it, I'm sure. "Are you trying to get her drunk?" He spoke low, arching a brow to the fire nymph behind me. She shrugged, reaching for the continually spawning cups of spiced wine, passing one to Vethari. "She said she was anxious. Let her relax." I clinked my goblet against the one Vethari held. "Indeed! With everything to come, a little liquid incentive is enough to help me with my part in the hunt." I nodded and took another large gulp.
"Incentive?" Vethari chuckled. He gave a nod to Calidi and without a word, she disappeared off into the crowd, turning easily into a whirlwind of colors as she swirled into dancing mass of bodies.
"I did tell her I was feeling really nervous," I mumbled. I expected a bit of cloudy headedness but none came. My senses were sharper than ever, though only the tiniest of slurred thoughts remained at the back of my head, along with a hefty lack of inhibition. It felt wonderful. I felt powerful. Vethari raised his drink to his lips and took a sip. He made a choking sound as he quickly removed it. Dark purple and red spilling from the corner of his lips and dripping onto his beautiful brocade across his chest.
"Damn," he cursed. Vethari moved toward the table to find something to wipe it off. Bumping into my shoulder abrasively in the process. "Hey! Watch it." I frowned. It gained his attention as he glared at me, assessing my level of drunkenness. "I'm surprised you're not used to it." He shrugged, grabbing a leaf-patterned doily and bringing it to the wine spot on his fur and feathers, giving it an aggressive scrub. "You're going to muss up your furs if you rub it so hard. You just need to wash it." I stepped forward and grabbing the doily from his hand and instead bringing my cup up to his lips. "You seem to need to relax as well."
Another one of his hard stares. With little heed to his stain any longer, he slowly leaned down to take the my drink into his mouth. I tilted the drink back as he allowed it to pour in. His full lips pulling away rather slowly as he continued to watch my movements. I couldn't tell if he was calculating or being hesitant. The messy way I'd allowed him to sip from my cup left his lips stained, as another bead of wine slowly slid halfway down the corner of his mouth.
It was something magnetic. Something beyond myself that made me lean against his chest with my one free hand and raising to the tip of my toes, lick at the juice resting against his chin. His eyes widened as he took a step away from me, a hand wrapping roughly around my own that had touched him. I swayed only slightly as he gave me a once over. "What's wrong?" I groaned softly, that heat building slowly within me.
"You've had too much to drink."
"I'm not even drunk, what are you talking about?"
He looked around us and began to pull me away. "That wine isn't to get you completely wasted. It's part of the revelry," he grunted. I protested, digging my feet into the ground. Vethari growled, turning to face me.
"What's the big deal? I want to be a part of the revelry. I think I deserve it." I pouted, attempting to pull my hand away from his rough grasp. My confidence soared as the warmth within me began to almost burn from the wine.
The rolling of a deep growl within his throat persisted as he stepped forward. His body now close to mine as he stared down at me, and I stared back in defiance. "You're just a human. You won't last through the revelry."
"What is that supposed to mean?" I shouted, and his eyes turned upward toward someone else. I turned right, seeing another participant of the great hunt almost tripping as they approached us.
It looked like the dryad I had seen before. Feminine, androgynous features, long hair tied back in a black braid. The only thing allowing me to decipher his gender was his now open shirt and bare, flat chest. "Human girl," he began, though I raised a hand to interrupt him.
"It's Penelope".
He smiled wide and genuinely, reaching a hand out and placing it onto my shoulder. "Would you like to be my partner?" He grinned, and I returned it. "You want to hunt together?" I asked curiously, the swimming feeling in my head feeling beautiful.
"For the revelry! I've never had a human before." He swayed, almost in sync with the swaying in my mind that felt more like dancing that drunkenness. Before I could shrug and say yes to becom
ing his partner, Vethari bared his teeth. The dryad's slight inebriated movements halting. "She isn't interested."
I snapped at him, frowning, and catching myself from the slight stumble. The sparkling that I had felt while drinking the wine was staying and growing within the whole of my body, despite not drinking anymore. Perhaps I really should have paced myself.
"Are you her partner then? Doesn't seem like it." He hiccupped cutely, and I began to giggle. Uncontrollably so.
"Vethari doesn't like to be partners with anyone." I laughed. The dryad laughed too, the pale green hue of his skin appeared to light pleasantly under the many fae lights floating high above us. "She's my partner." Vethari tilted his head high, and forced himself behind me, pulling my back against his chest. Before the other hunter could open their mouth to speak, the high fae at my back turned around and began to lead me off.
"You really wanna be my partner, hmm?" I cooed as I allowed him to walk me away from the table. And now that I was exposed to the rest of the celebration, I stilled. I'd been in my own little world with Vethari and Calidi and hadn't noticed the thinning numbers dancing amongst the raging fire. Half of the fae were still dancing and drinking, and the other half were pulling others away into the wooded area around them. Vethari seemed to notice my sudden realization.
"Do you get the idea now of what the revelry entails?"
The thought of it all was beyond belief to what I would typically deem barbaric. Had I not been amongst the faeries and their openness for as long as I had, which still wasn't long at all. I understood now. The feasting, drinking, dancing, hunting, and the prospect of creating new fae life.
That heat within me was slowly becoming unbearable. And I couldn't help myself as I leaned backward and up against the front of Vethari. He grunted as I let out a sigh. "Do you want to be my partner or not?" I breathily asked. The heat moving into my core and setting me aflame. Vethari's hands that had been moving me forward slid from my shoulders, lower, and squeezed almost painfully against my hips.
We weren't too far from the center of the dancing and commotion. Neither were the other fae who had coupled together now, and we could indeed hear the moaning of faeries who were spaced throughout the forest as partners. Vethari pushed me into the soft moss of the oak behind me. His hands rough as they slid behind me, pressed into my lower back. The sharp nails on his hands ready to shred through the dress and into my flesh.
I winced slightly and bit my lip as his razor-sharp teeth scratched against the surface upon the crux of my throat and shoulder. My teeth gritting as they scraped hard enough to pierce my skin. I could feel the blood slowly rise to the surface and his tongue lap against it. A moment of pain before the feeling of bliss as his tongue swirled the blood around my shoulder.
Just as quickly as he was on me, he halted his assault.
"I'd break you," he warned, his head dipping low to my ear. "Enjoy yourself but remain focused. Soon, it will be time for you to hunt. I must begin my own preparations for the evening."
How he teased, it was so evil!
Before I had a chance to reply, he stepped away from me, leaving me breathless. Vethari winked, turning on his heel ,and stepping into the crowd of the remaining dancers as he called out, "Do not let me down, Penelope."
20
My head was still swimming ever so slightly as I tucked the bow in my hand underneath the crook of my arms. My heart was starting to race at the reality setting in. I could hear the fast footsteps of those around me who were now taking off into the woods at a hastier pace than myself. I forced myself to crouch low to the ground as I slowly began to give a wide berth from where other hunters were heading. I wanted to make sure that if they were going at this in small groups of three or more, they'd be quickly discovered by our prey and it would dash. The fewer that were gathered together made more sense for me.
Then again, this was just part of the large celebration, and they weren't going to take everything with such gusto as I intended to. I needed the first shot to be mine, so I could keep him down. I steadied my breath, continuing to creep as quietly but quickly as I could. Occasionally my eyes would fly down to catch the glint of the moonlight on the ring I had been given. A small twinkle of magic finding its way to the surface of the swirling of greens.
I didn't know if I only had one chance to do this. One chance of magic to burst from within and implant itself within the arrow. Or if I would have several opportunities. I cursed myself for not getting complete details of the plan beforehand.
My head snapped to the right as I heard the crunch of a twig, and I ducked down behind the base of a thick oak tree. I squinted in the darkness, cursing again. A few shouts and voices running the opposite way of my hidden position before pausing for a moment.
Several heavy breaths. "Did you see him?"
"No, several others already scouted the north end of the woods and they can't spot him anywhere."
"Damn! He's good this year." Another breathy chuckle before they seemed to take off once again.
Making a mental note of their words I headed deeper toward the center. It sounded like they were going to check out the perimeters first. Instead, I was going to head straight to the heart of the woods where they wouldn't expect him to be. He was more visible there with less to hide in. It would make sense for him to hide toward the edges, darting away when he suspected he was spotted. If I could just get there to the heart of these trees I was sure I'd have better luck finding him.
Remaining low was easy enough. But as each minute passed by, I figured I'd have to give up stealth to keep my pace. It was going to take roughly half an hour to get where I needed to go, judging by how big the hunting grounds were.
I passed over the river I nearly drowned in thanks to the kelpie. I bit my lower lip nervously at the memory but kept my pace, making a running jump over the breadth of the water. And, of course, nearly falling in with my lack of any athletic abilities. I was glad I was alone. How embarrassing.
Ducking under low hanging branches and stepping high over arched roots was beginning to take a toll on me as I found myself becoming a bit winded. It wouldn't be too much longer now until I made it to the center and could continue looking from there. It was then that I heard another familiar snap. Though this sounded much harder than the soft padding of boots on wood I'd heard earlier. It sounded almost like metal on wood. A continuing sound of cracks and crunches.
I kept my back to any tree I came across, in case someone decided to pull some faerie prank over on the lone human but ignored any further snapping that didn't sound like others on foot.
Half an hour had gone by. And I was there. I could see the empty circle of moonlight flooding into the center of the woods where the tree canopy no longer touched. A hole in the middle of the thick flora. It was magical, quite beautiful.
And I had been right.
I blinked almost dumbfoundedly as I saw the white stag with its massive rack of soft velvet. Its eyes were half-closed, head close to the ground as it seemed to be asleep. Were it not for the clear giveaway of its ears shifting back and forth with unnatural speed, waiting to hear any footsteps. I halted my movement once its ears turned toward my direction. The beast’s head raised up slowly. Its eyes searching through the darkness to try to spot what had alerted it, but casually.
Never had it been so difficult to hold a breath in. Scared to inhale. Scared to move. Scared to blink. Only after several agonizing moments did it seem no longer interested in what was in my direction and instead continued to listen to the faint sounds of walking that had to be a way off yet. I allowed myself to exhale through my nose. Forcing myself to relax as I untucked my bow and brought it out in front of me. I raised my chin and focused completely straight ahead. I could hear Calidi's words as if she was standing right beside me with her smacking stick.
Draw. Nock. Refusing to swallow the building tension in my throat that burned like bile—I quickly did as I'd been taught. Dipping my index and middle finger back over my head tow
ard the quiver strapped against me, drawing an arrow smoothly from its sheath. And with just another exhale of my slow breaths it was placed firmly to the bowstring and drawn back as far as I could allow it to go.
I was kneeling on my left knee, deep in the damp earth, right leg up and holding me steady as I fought to remain as still and straight as possible, a small amount of shaking from my right hand as the tension of the bow was fighting my every muscle to let it free. I focused hard, closing my eyes for just a moment as I bit my bottom lip to keep myself from breathing through my mouth and alerting the buck. "Please. Let my arrow fly true."
'Aim!' I heard Calidi commanding in my head. I envisioned the small setup on the hay placed right before me. I didn't have to hit Faariin in the heart, or in the head, or anywhere particular. So long as it hit him and landed true, I'll have finished the Great Hunt. And he couldn’t interfere in the more pressing matters at hand that were to ensue in the next few days.
Eyes opening to see the shock of white, glowing in the moonlight. "I can do this," I mouthed to myself. Then Calidi's last command.
'Fire!'
The arrow released.
The whirring of wind flew about as it rushed past its pointed tip seemed louder than anything I'd ever heard. Piercing through the silence like a crack of thunder. I realized the arrow was flying just off kilter by the heavy rush of wind that sounded. My mouth fell agape.
It was going to miss.
The ring on my hand glowed slightly before the tendrils of its magic chased after the arrow that began to fly to the right, swirling around the tip of the sharpened stone. Before my eyes, it angled the arrow back on its course, glowing a deep green.
Solitary Fae (Humans vs Fae Book 2) Page 13