Hestaesia: Lost in Love

by K. L. Thorne

  “Haros?” she asked.

  “Very good – someone's been paying more attention than they let on.” She could hear the demon smiling, though she couldn't see it.

  “You're not difficult to forget.” Lori yawned and rubbed her eyes.

  “Well thank you, Little Dove.”

  The embers glowed anew as the demon leant forwards and blew air onto them. There was a rustling and suddenly fresh fire broke out in the fireplace.

  Lori watched, mesmerised as the tiny flame gradually grew and engulfed more and more of the kindling. It chased the shadows from the gloomy room.

  Haros's handsome face was finally illuminated and he sat back, watching the fire carefully. He poked the ashes a few times, ensuring the fire had well and truly caught, before turning his attention back to Lori.

  Concern flashed across his expression. “You're bleeding again.”

  “Oh,” Lori replied, dumbly. She raised a hand to her head and stared blankly at the sticky crimson that coated her fingertips.

  The demon rocked forwards onto his knees towards her. He paused, seeming unsure.

  “What?” Lori asked.

  Haros frowned, conflicted.

  “I can fix it, if you want me to?”

  “You know healing majick?” she asked curiously.

  “You'd better not make me regret telling you this, Little Dove,” Haros responded with a short laugh. “Yes, I know a few handy tricks.”

  “But... That's forbidden? Lephas–”

  “Lephas probably thought he was doing me a favour by keeping it quiet. He's considerate like that. Alas, I'm a grown lad and I can take care of myself.” The demon eyed her thoughtfully. “However, should Daddy ever want to know about your holiday in Banesteppe, I ask that you conveniently forget the demon that put his neck on the block to heal you.”

  “I think I could manage that.” Lori nodded.

  “There's a good girl. Now, sit up.” Haros turned his attention to her head.

  Lori obediently pushed herself up on her arms. Chains jangled and she glanced down at the manacles. She had almost forgotten she had them on. She carefully sat forwards and tucked her chained legs beneath herself. Haros knelt in front of her, a delicate ethereal glow growing in his palm.

  “Impressive...” Lori murmured as Haros placed his hand over her wound. “You can do that on command, without any of the chanting and shit.”

  He kept his eyes trained on her, concentrating. “This is nothing – you should meet a friend of mine. The guy disappears into thin air as easy as breathing.”

  The demon hesitated, glancing down at her.

  “...Though you should probably conveniently forget to mention him too.”

  Lori grinned and nodded.

  As quickly as it had come, the sharp pain in her temple subsided. Lori sighed with relief.

  “Better?” Haros asked, moving away.

  She smiled. “Much. Thank you.”

  “My pleasure.” The demon winked, getting to his feet and brushing his hands off.

  Fully awake and feeling unusually invigorated, Lori glanced around. There was no sign of Lephas. She was unnervingly keen to put her eyes on him again.

  “Looking for Lephas?” Haros asked, watching her curiously.

  “Who?” Lori played dumb, earning a laugh from the demon.

  “Ouch – now that was mean. He's catching some sleep. You've just got me for now, I'm afraid.” Haros said with a grin, ignoring her nonchalance.

  Lori didn't respond as she turned to watch the fire, pulling her knees up to her chest. There was a creak as the demon sat in the wooden chair behind her.

  “Can I ask you something?” Haros asked, breaking the momentary silence.

  “Depends.”

  “Why were you running away from home? Just between the two of us – I swear it. I can't imagine anyone ever running away from all those riches on a whim. You must have had a good reason to need to get out of there.”

  “I'd rather not talk about it,” she replied with a sigh.

  “Of course. Maybe something a bit more light-hearted. How old are you?”

  “Why do you care?” Lori turned, narrowing her eyes.

  “Curiosity... And boredom,” the demon answered with a shrug. “We've got a moment to kill before shift change-over and you're left with someone far less entertaining than yours truly. Besides, you're the first civil faerie I've ever really spoken to. Aren't you curious about us too?”

  “Not really,” Lori lied, turning back to the fire.

  Haros laughed. “My, a bit snippy when we're not concussed, aren't we? I think I preferred you with the head injury.”

  “Bite me,” she snapped, but fought a smile.

  “Love to,” he all but growled. “But I don't think it'd be looked upon very favourably by my boss.”

  “How do you know him? Is he just your commander? You seem friendly with one another,” Lori asked, stretching her legs out and leaning back on her arms once more.

  “Oh, I see how it is; I'm not allowed to ask questions but it's fine for you to grill me about Lephas?” Haros cocked an eyebrow.

  “I'm twenty-six. Now answer my question.” Lori feigned annoyance, rolling her eyes.

  Haros leant his forearms on his knees as he sat forwards. There was a curious gleam in his eyes “Tit for tat – I like it. He was just my boss at first, but we're friends now. Twenty-six...My potentially cradle-robbing friend,” he added quietly.

  “Why, how old is he?” Lori asked, tilting her head. Though she had been concussed and not completely clear on the day’s events, she couldn't recall Lephas looking that much older than her.

  “Thirty-seven.” Haros chuckled.

  Lori nibbled her lip. Eleven years. She should be alarmed, not titillated by that!

  “I’m thirty-one, by the way.”

  “No one asked about you... And that shouldn't count as one of my questions.” Lori raised her chin haughtily, but smiled.

  “You wound me, Princess!” he teased. “Alright, alright…Are you single?”

  Lori laughed “What is this, some kind of chat up ploy? Why does that even matter?”

  “Hey, we need to know if some prince charming is going to arrive, sword in hand, to fight for his betrothed!” the demon replied with a grin.

  “Hmph.” The princess paused, her smile dimmed. How should she word this?

  Well, I was arranged to be married to some fat oaf I've never met – don't worry, he's probably never even seen a sword, so no competition for you guys – but I ran away before he even had the chance to propose.

  She ran a hand through her hair. “You've got nothing to worry about. No betrothal, or prince charming.”

  Haros eyed her curiously. “Now that I find hard to believe, but, you're in luck because Lephas is single too. Painfully so. In fact, I think you'd be doing us all a favour taking the cap off that bottle.”

  “I didn't ask!” Lori blushed furiously.

  “No, but you were going to.” Haros cast her a smug smile and leant back in his chair. He tucked his hands confidently behind his head.

  He wasn't totally wrong, Lori conceded. She had desperately wanted to know but she wouldn't have dared to ask.

  She wondered what Haros meant by 'painfully single'. If she was remembering Lephas clearly, he had been smoking hot. Men who looked like he did were rarely single – painfully or otherwise.

  “I think I deserve another question, seeing as you incorrectly assumed what I was going to ask next,” she argued.

  “You're not the one who's in charge here, but I'll allow it.”

  “How did you hear about my running away?”

  Haros's face turned serious and Lori instantly regretted her question. It appeared the game was only for silly questions after all.

  “The king made us aware. We're not privy to where he gets his information from,” the demon answered simply, his fun-loving grin unnervingly absent.

  There was a long pause. Lori picked at a small
hole in the mattress.

  “It's your turn to ask something,” she mumbled, relieved when Haros's face brightened once more.

  “Hm, you're right... Sex?” Haros asked.

  “What kind of stupid question is that? Clearly, I'm a female.” Lori rolled her eyes.

  “No, I was asking if you'd like some,” the demon quipped.

  Lori felt her cheeks grow hot as she gaped at him.

  “I– What?!” she spluttered.

  Haros laughed loudly.

  “Fear not – I'm teasing, Little Dove. I was just–”

  A knock at the door interrupted them, and Lori glanced over. A bearded soldier stood there, looking at her cagily.

  “Shift change, sir.” He stood to attention.

  “Shame. Just as I was beginning to enjoy myself...” Haros shot Lori a wink. With a groan, he stood and stretched his back. “Sleep well, Princess. We set off early in the morn.”

  Lori ignored him, simply laying down and rolling onto her side with her back facing the new demon. He entered the room and took silent vigil immediately. Haros hadn't been joking when he said he was more entertaining than his subordinates.

  She strained to hear them as they muttered between themselves for a moment, but failed to pick out anything of interest. Haros left the room, quietly pulling the door shut behind him.

  Lori sighed and closed her eyes.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Lephas hadn't slept, but it wasn't for want of trying.

  He had tossed and turned through the night, mind whirling. Though he was exhausted but his thoughts had refused to let him rest.

  It wasn't as if he had never taken a faerie prisoner before. They had managed to capture Lazuli's scouts or injured soldiers and taken them back to Zelrus for questioning on many occasions. It wasn't a common occurrence exactly, but he was hardly inexperienced when it came to matters of conflict and politics.

  So how had the faerie princess managed to get under his skin so quickly? He couldn't stop thinking about her.

  Lephas tried to kid himself that it was just morbid curiosity. His interest in the girl was purely because, in all his war experience, he had never actually managed to capture a female faerie. He denied that he was lying awake, waiting for morning to come so he could look at her pretty face again.

  He sat up from the make-shift bed he had fashioned out of camping equipment and scrubbed a hand down his face. This was messed up. He was messed up. Why was he running in circles over a faerie girl who was half his age?

  “Morning, boss,” Haros greeted him from the far side of the room.

  Lephas turned to look at the demon. He was stood in the kitchen area, leaning his back against a tall cabinet and skilfully slicing up a blood berry.

  “You're up early,” Lephas remarked, glancing out through a grimy window. Though the sky was heavy with snow once more, it had brightened, indicating a new morning was nearly upon them.

  “Likewise,” Haros retorted. “How did you sleep?”

  “Fine,” Lephas lied. “Well, as fine as you can when you're lying on a stone floor, using the outside of a tent as a blanket.”

  The commander heaved himself up off the floor and joined his friend in the kitchen.

  “So...” Haros hedged.

  “Oh, no,” Lephas groaned, recognising his friend's tone immediately. “What have you done?”

  “I may have healed our new companion last night.” He paused. “Don't be angry.”

  Lephas sighed heavily. “Don't you know what a risk that is? If she gets free from us somehow and that gets back to her father–”

  “It won't,” Haros replied, self-assuredly. “I made her promise she wouldn't.”

  “Because faeries are known for keeping their word?” Lephas cocked an eyebrow.

  “I know, I know. The poor little dove's head had started bleeding again in the night. I can't sit idly by whilst there's a damsel in distress.” Haros shrugged with a grin.

  “Well, it's your neck on the line – quite literally – if she breaks her promise to you. What else did you two talk about whilst you were making pacts with one another?” Lephas eyed his friend.

  “Not an awful lot – y'know, banter,” Haros said, but the small smirk he couldn't hide betrayed him.

  “Oh, Haros. What did you tell her?”

  “Nothing! I swear.” He laughed, eating a small chunk of berry. “She didn't want to talk about why she was running, so we just chatted for a bit until one of the boys relieved me. Nothing serious.”

  “Hm,” Lephas grunted, unconvinced. He grabbed a strip of dried boar meat and took a vicious bite out of it.

  “She's only twenty-six, can you believe that?” Haros continued casually.

  Lephas felt a lump of meat lodge in his throat. He coughed and spluttered.

  Twenty-six? Not quite half his age, but not far enough from it! As if he needed further confirmation that the girl would never be interested in him.

  He coughed. “How exactly did that come up? ‘Banter’? Sounds more like an interrogation to me.”

  “Not at all. She asked me a few things too.”

  Lephas didn't respond immediately, alarmed by the sudden flare of jealousy that overcame him.

  He didn't know much about what women looked for in men, but he supposed Haros would be considered an attractive demon – and there was no getting away from the fact that he was a more suitable age for the girl. Plus, Haros, like Oriel, was good at talking to women.

  Lephas frowned. He often felt like a fish out of water around the opposite sex. Whilst Haros and Oriel chased women down almost nightly when they weren't occupied with war efforts, Lephas preferred to take a back seat. He was happy to go home alone if no one caught his eye.

  He had always supposed it was because he was a good few years older than the others, and it never really bothered him much, but this? This bothered him greatly. It was unnerving.

  “Did you learn anything of interest?” Lephas asked tightly, trying to feign indifference.

  “She's single, so no prince charming to contend with,” Haros replied, glancing across at him.

  Now that was surprising.

  “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Just thought you might be interested.”

  “Why would I be interested?” Lephas snapped, trying to keep his ire under control. “You're the one who's been sat up having a heart-to-heart with her all night.”

  “I haven't ever had a faerie in bed. I am curious what that would be like.” Haros responded thoughtfully.

  Fuck knows I am too...

  “She's awake.” One of the soldiers strode into the kitchen, interrupting them.

  “Good. Anything to report?” the commander asked.

  “No, she just slept.”

  “Alright, good work. You and the others gather everything together. I need to grab my pack and the prisoner, and then we’ll be on our way.”

  Lephas strode down the short corridor to the back bedroom. The door wasn’t fully shut, but pulled to. He paused for a moment and swallowed thickly before he entered the room.

  The faerie was on her feet, her wrists and ankles still in chains. She had her arms above her head, stretching. Her beautiful azure eyes flickered over him curiously.

  “Well, good morning!” She greeted him with a smile.

  “Hi,” Lephas replied awkwardly, his body shot with tension. He quickly snatched at his pack and knelt to gather the few belongings that were strewn around the room.

  “Sleep well?” she all but purred.

  Lephas gave a short laugh. “Not really.”

  “Yeah, me neither, But please accept my thanks for the mattress. It was much appreciated.”

  “You're welcome. I wouldn't let an injured woman sleep on a cold stone floor.” Lephas kept his eyes downcast away from the faerie.

  “Well, aren't you a sweetheart?” the princess cooed.

  Lephas fumbled, dropping the roll of bandages that was in his hand.

>   “So, I guess now I'm fully healed I'll be left to fend for myself?”

  Lephas had been so focussed on packing things back into his bag, he hadn't noticed the faerie had moved to stand nearby. He got to his feet and was taken aback by her beautiful face looking up at him.

  “I, uh...” He faltered. “I guess that depends on whether you behave yourself.”

  Lori smiled and dabbed her bottom lip with her tongue.

  “I'm not known for being a good girl, I'm afraid.” She held Lephas's gaze for a few long moments before turning her back swiftly. She bent to grab a jewelled hair tie from the floor beside the fire.

  Lephas watched, entranced, as she pulled her long, golden hair over her shoulder and began deftly braiding it. Her hair had dried into big glossy curls, but she tamed them back. Though the hair at her temple was stained a faint pink colour, she had clearly washed the blood out after Haros had finished healing her. There was no trace of the injury.

  “It's snowing again,” Lori said absently, looking out of the dirty window as she worked on her hair.

  “We’re going to need to get you better kitted out before we head off. You'll slow us down as you are now. Hopefully we'll be able to get back to Banesteppe by this evening, if all goes well.”

  “I don't imagine that anything you've brought with you is going to be in my size.” She eyed him up and down.

  “No, but I do have a spare set of snow spikes for your boots. They're one size,” he added. “And I have a fur snood that will keep your face warmer.”

  The thin, scaled leather leg guards she wore, whilst fitting her like a second skin and hugging her curves appealingly, weren't designed for hiking through the snow. Unfortunately, the faerie was right about one thing. He doubted the armour of even the smallest of the men he was travelling with would fit her. Ill-fitting clothing would slow her even further.

  “Are you always so organised?” she asked.

  “You have to be when you're in charge of a group of men. You learn to plan for every eventuality.”

  “I suppose. I'm more the impulsive sort. My sister used to joke that she wouldn't trust me to plan my way out of a paper bag.” The faerie smiled.

  Lephas continued to rummage through his bag, reorganising its contents, but watched her curiously. Lori was clearly fond of her sisters. He wondered if they knew where she was.