Hestaesia: Lost in Love

by K. L. Thorne

  “Oh!” Faye's face lit up, glowing happily. “You just reminded me.”

  The sun sprite got to her feet and dived into the tent once more. Lori watched on curiously.

  A slim hand emerged, clutching a familiar silk pack. Her satchel!

  Lori gasped and snatched it from her sister. She dug through it eagerly. Although a lot of the items inside were damp, everything had seemingly made it through unscathed. She hugged her possessions to her chest.

  “Raxx found it when he was out hunting you and Lephas down. He gave it to me that night back in the tavern, which is how I knew he was serious about looking for you.”

  “Oh, Raxx! I could just kiss him!” Lori crowed, hugging her belongings to her chest once more.

  “And he will politely decline, if he knows what's good for him,” a deep voice cut in.

  Lephas had reappeared with an armful of branches and dried foliage for the fire.

  “Oh.” Lori flushed. “I didn't see you there.”

  “What have you got?” The demon gestured to the bag in her arms as he knelt to drop his kindling beside the fire.

  Lori beamed. “My satchel. Raxx found it and gave it to Faye.”

  “Oh, of course. I'd forgotten all about that. Is everything still there?”

  “Seems to be.” She fought a smile as she dug through the contents. There were several pairs of knickers bundled at the bottom. Some of them were significantly skimpier than the pair Lephas had already admired. She couldn't wait to show them off.

  “What are you smiling at?” he asked, narrowing his eyes with suspicion.

  “Oh, nothing...” Lori hooked a pair, no more than a tiny scrap of red lace, from the bottom, and held it up nonchalantly. “I'm just happy to have my things back.”

  She watched as his gaze darkened hungrily.

  “Put those back in that bag, right now,” he growled at her under his breath.

  Lori smiled and bit her lip, but obediently dropped the article of clothing back into her satchel. They held one another's gaze for a long moment. She felt a shiver dance up her spine.

  “Where is that shadow demon?” Faye crawled from the tent and stood, gazing out into the forest, blissfully unaware of the chemistry that was bubbling back and forth beneath her nose.

  Lephas begrudgingly turned his attention back to the fire but not before casting Lori a smouldering grin, full of promises.

  Lori was delighted – her demon always kept his promises.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  As the daylight steadily faded, fine flakes of snow danced from the sky once again. Lori and Faye sat huddled together in the entrance to the tent, talking quietly between themselves.

  They looked even more alike when they sat closely together like that, Lephas mused as he watched the girls curiously through the fire.

  Though her sister was the sun sprite, Lori's face seemed to glow with happiness. It was wonderful to see a sparkle had returned to her eyes. He was relieved that she seemed to have recovered from whatever majick related exhaustion had plagued her.

  He would ask Raxx about that later. The shadow demon had been gone for hours, though that wasn't anything to be concerned about. Something he had tried to convince Faye of several times in the man’s absence.

  The princess seemed on edge without the shadow demon nearby. Her pale eyes were constantly searching for him, despite how engrossed in conversation she and Lori appeared. He supposed he had yet to earn the girl's trust, a feat Raxx had clearly managed.

  “Where the hell has that demon got to?” Faye asked him, for what felt like the hundredth time. “Surely it can't take that long to hunt something? I thought you said he was good at it?”

  “Apologies, but catching fish by hand is no easy task, Princess.” Raxx appeared from nowhere beside the tent.

  Lephas was more than used to the man stepping out of the shadows like that, but clearly the faeries still hadn't adjusted. They both yelped as they startled.

  “How many times have I told you?” Faye snapped at him, holding her palm to her chest. “Don't do that!”

  Raxx didn't deign to respond but held up four large river fish, each hooked with a section of snare wire in their mouths. Their silver scales glinted in the firelight, almost like the glass of a mirror. Lephas had never seen such a fish, but both princesses’ eyes sparkled.

  “Are those mirror trout?” Lori gasped, sitting forwards on her knees.

  “You really got them?” Faye smiled up at Raxx. “How?”

  “It wasn't easy,” The shadow demon muttered, catching his commander's curious eye. “Faye was telling me a story about a species of fish that the faeries cook for banquets and special occasions. I was curious.”

  “Where the hell did you get them from?” Lephas asked, raising a brow.

  “There's a small lake, hidden in the mountains just south of Awrelwood. That's the only place they breed. You went all that way?” Faye gaped.

  Raxx simply shrugged and sat himself down in the snow. “It's not that far. Not for me, anyway.”

  “And you've already gutted them too?” Lephas noticed with interest.

  “It made sense to do it some place where there were less sensitive female constitutions to upset.” Raxx grinned.

  “Hey,” Lori complained. “I may be a tad sensitive when it comes to small, cute, fluffy things but seeing a fish gutted is no issue for me.”

  “Well, I've saved you the trouble anyway Princess,” Raxx replied. “The only disappointing thing is I've been unable to find much in the way of vegetables. I did have a look around and gathered together some wild garlic and tubers, but that was about all I found.”

  “Good job,” Lephas praised. “The fish won't take too long to roast on a spit, we could just stuff the garlic and tubers inside.”

  “They aren't especially dense or tough at this time of the year, so they should cook quite well.” The shadow demon nodded in agreement.

  Lephas got to his feet and hunted through the snow for some suitable sticks to use as a spit whilst Raxx stuffed the fish with the sparse array of vegetables he had collected.

  The demons expertly speared all four fish, two on each stick, and held them out over the fire. Whilst their meal was prepared and cooked for them, the two faeries continued to chat easily with one another. When Lephas was confident they were suitably distracted he turned his attention to his friend.

  “So, trekking for miles to gather a specific kind of fish? That's unlike you to go to so much effort.” He probed, keeping his voice low so as not to be overheard.

  “Like I said – I was curious,” Raxx replied tightly, not taking his eyes from the fire.

  “Hm.” Lephas hummed, still unconvinced. He changed the subject. “I suppose we'll need to take the pair of them back to Banesteppe with us now.”

  “Faye certainly looks happier now she is with Lori. I doubt they'll want to separate again.” The demon's black eyes flickered across the fire to the sun sprite.

  “Zelrus will be interested in meeting them. I think it would be in our best interest to return with them both.”

  “Have you given much thought to what you're going to do when you get back to Banesteppe?” Raxx asked. “What are you going to tell our esteemed leader?”

  Lephas felt his mouth form a grim line. “The truth, I guess, and pray that he understands.”

  “He definitely won't, you realise that? The king isn't known for being particularly understanding when it comes to matters like this.”

  “No, but when have we ever had to deal with matters quite like this before?” the commander replied defensively. “I know the king gives Oriel a hard time about his, uh, extra-curricular activities, but it's not like I've ever done something like this before, or ever will again.”

  “True. In all honesty I'm still quite surprised. I would have definitely put my money on Haros getting the princess into bed, not you.” Raxx stared thoughtfully into the flames.

  Lephas punched the demon in his arm, striki
ng before he had the chance to fade, and laughed. “Fuck you.”

  “How much longer will it be? I'm starving.” Faye called out. Their playful banter had attracted the faeries' attention.

  “A little while yet,” Raxx replied.

  Lephas caught Lori's eye across the fire. She cast him a sultry smile and twisting a strand of long blonde hair from her ponytail around her finger flirtatiously. Her hair looked even more silky and shiny now it was brushed and braided. It suited her up out of her face like that.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked her, ignoring her sister's complaining. She nodded and, with a quick glance across to Faye, Lori got to her feet.

  She skipped around the fire gracefully and sat herself down heavily beside him. She wormed her arm beneath his and hugged his bicep to her body.

  “Hi,” the princess chirped happily, flashing him a dazzling smile. With her squeezed tightly against him, Lephas realised how much he had missed touching her all day. He wasn’t resentful - they had been busy and it hadn't been appropriate – but he was surprised by how glad he felt to have her tucked up next to him once more.

  Lephas quickly glanced between Raxx and Faye. The faerie was studying her nails and the demon was absorbed in watching the fishes' flesh bubbling and crackling in the fire. Sensing a rare moment of opportunity, the commander leaned over quickly and silently to press a chaste kiss against Lori's mouth.

  The faerie melted beneath his touch with a small whimper. He would never tire of the reactions he elicited from her.

  They pulled apart quickly before anyone noticed them. Lori released his arm, instead wiggling beneath it. She wrapped her arms around his chest and snuggled against him. Lephas draped an arm over her affectionately.

  There was a deep sigh from the tent. Faye was gazing at them both with a small smile.

  “You guys... I'm so jealous.” She wrapped her arms around herself.

  Raxx glanced across at them too, before looking hastily away and turning his attention back to the fish.

  “I think they're done.” Raxx cleared his throat and reached out to gently prod at one of the fish on his spit. The flesh flaked away easily, a sure sign it was cooked.

  Lori sat up, allowing Lephas to shift himself up onto his knees as both he and Raxx removed their fish from the fire.

  “It's hot, so be careful.” Lephas pulled one of the fish free from the spit and handed the stick to Lori.

  The faerie took it eagerly and began nibbling cautiously at the offering. Raxx followed suit, handing his spit to Faye. Both sisters wasted no time tucking in. Clearly a generous appetite ran in the family.

  Neither himself nor Raxx minded eating with their hands. It was messy, but it was something they had both gotten used to doing when in the wilderness.

  A comfortable silence fell over the small campsite. A breeze sent flurries of fine, dusty snowflakes circling around them and the fire cracked and popped, glowing brighter.

  Although the vegetable matter was a little sparse, it was still a welcome change to eat something with more substance than just meat. Lephas finished his meal in record speed. The fish, as promised, had been worth the trip Raxx had made for them.

  He had never tasted anything quite like it. The flesh was delicate and almost buttery and it melted in the mouth. Unlike most fish he had eaten, the mirror trout wasn't filled with thousands of fine bones. It made eating them much more enjoyable. Lephas could see how it would be fitting for a banquet or some other fancy occasion, not that he had ever attended one.

  “That was delicious.” He nodded, leaning back against his arms. Lori discarded her stripped fish bones before hastily snuggling in against him once more. He squeezed her tight.

  “It's definitely one of my favourite meals.” Faye agreed with a happy sigh. “Thanks for getting it for us Raxx.” The sun sprite smiled across the flames.

  “You're welcome,” Raxx replied, almost awkwardly. “It was as good as you promised.”

  “It's even better when you've got a full complement of vegetables and sauces... And the right wines.” Faye licked her lips, placing her fish bones into the snow beside her. “But that was still pretty damn good.”

  The forest had long since grown dark, their surroundings illuminated only by the glow of the fire. Faye sparkled in the dim light, whereas Raxx had disappeared almost entirely. Lephas knew the shadow demon would soon vanish, as he often did once darkness had fallen.

  “What are you planning to do with yourself this evening?” he asked his friend as Raxx stretched his large leathery wings.

  “I'll scout ahead, keep an eye out for Lazuli's men - that kind of thing,” the shadow demon replied thoughtfully.

  “You're not going to sleep?” Lori asked, pulling her hood up as the snow began to fall harder. She shuffled forwards on her knees, moving to sit herself between Lephas's legs. Resting on her hip to face Raxx, the princess lay back against the commander's chest.

  “I don't do much sleeping,” the shadow demon answered with a smile. “Nightfall is easier for me. The darker it is, the faster and further I can travel. I'll see any trouble coming our way miles before it becomes a problem.”

  “That's nifty. Pretty much your opposite, hm Faye?” Lori called across the campfire.

  “Well, I wouldn't go as far–”

  “She's scared of the dark, you know.” The princess teased, ignoring her sister's protests.

  “I know,” Raxx replied simply, his dark eyes flickered with interest.

  “What do you mean by that?” Faye spluttered. “How do you know? Lori, what have you been telling people?”

  Lori laughed. “Nothing - I swear!”

  Lephas shot a silent questioning look to Raxx. The shadow demon just shook his head subtly. Another story for another time, it seemed.

  Without a word, Raxx got to his feet. His huge black wings stretched to their full capacity before fluttering closed once more.

  Unlike faeries, when demons sported wings they were much larger and angular, more like the kind you would see on a reptilian creature. The thin membranes that stretched between each spindle of cartilage were soft and smooth, but leathery in texture.

  Raxx's wings were unusual in that they were as black as night. No daylight could permeate them when he stretched them out, even at midday.

  “Anything you'd like me to keep my eye on?” Raxx looked to Lephas for instruction.

  “Nothing specific, just let me know if you find anything of any interest.”

  The shadow demon nodded silently and stepped into the darkness, disappearing almost immediately. Lephas felt Lori shiver against him.

  “Creepy,” she murmured.

  “Goodnight to you, too. Asshole,” Faye muttered to herself, hugging her knees.

  “Sleep well, Princess,” Raxx replied from nearby, his voice distorted.

  The faerie startled with a short yelp before growling under her breath.

  “Asshole!” she shouted into the darkness, laughing breathlessly.

  Lori shifted uncomfortably between his legs and Lephas glanced down at her. She was pale and her eyelids were heavy.

  “You look worn out,” he stated, sitting forwards. “I think maybe you should try to get some sleep. You've even got a proper roof over your head this evening.”

  “Where are you sleeping?” Lori asked quietly, hiding a yawn behind her fist.

  “I'm not sure, but I know I definitely won't fit in there with you pair.” He laughed. “I'll probably just tend the fire and nap where I can.”

  “But I want to sleep with you.”

  “That's cute.” He smiled, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “But I'm putting my foot down on this one. You need to be wrapped up warm and out of this snow.”

  Lori huffed and got to her knees. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. Lephas, wrongly assuming it to be chaste kiss, was surprised when Lori pushed her tongue boldly into his mouth. He shuddered and held her close. He allowed her to kiss him for a few moments longer before pulling
away with a grin.

  “That was great... But you're still sleeping in the tent.” He laughed.

  “You're no fun at all.” Lori scowled playfully and her arms dropped heavily to her sides.

  “Faye?” Lephas called out, leaning around the princess. “Do you have enough bedding for you and Lori in there?”

  “I've got plenty,” the sun sprite replied, glancing over her shoulder into the tent behind her.

  Despite Lori's protesting, Lephas got to his feet and held out his hand for her. She took it begrudgingly and allowed him to lift her up.

  Faye grinned. “It'll be just like old times - camping in the castle gardens. Except, you know, much more unpleasant and colder.”

  Lori giggled and clambered into the tent. She collapsed wearily onto the travel mattress that was laid out inside.

  “Goodnight ladies. If you need anything, I'll be just outside.” Lephas smiled, turning his back and walking over to the fire.

  He sat heavily in the snow once more and reached out for Lori's abandoned spit. He poked the embers and listened to the two girls as they whispered amongst themselves.

  The snow swirled around him and Lephas stared into the flames, lost in thought. As the fire dimmed, he tended it, throwing more foliage into its depths and listening to the satisfying popping and crackling as it was devoured.

  An hour or so passed and soon all the commander could hear were the soft, deep breaths of the two princesses.

  “I thought they were never going to fall asleep,” Raxx spoke out behind him.

  Lephas jolted and the stick fell from his hands.

  “Fucking hell!” he cursed with a shaky laugh. “I hate it when you do that.”

  “Sorry, it's a bad habit.” The shadow demon sat down beside him.

  “I thought you were out scouting?” he asked, breathing deeply to calm the rush of adrenaline.

  “The forest is quiet for miles,” Raxx replied. “There's a small cottage a little north from here that might be worth checking out, but no sign of anything sinister.”

  Lephas sighed. “That's a relief.”

  There was a heavy pause before Raxx spoke again.