“With what blood?”
“Take the corpse of that freak with you,” Gutga kicked the seelie. “We’ll have enough drink for days. If we keep it between me and you.”
Ram rumbled with laughter. “Yes, Gutga. You always were a smart one. I haven’t drunk sap since I was a boy.”
Both valorcs trudged over to the trees, Gutga returning to the one in which they hid. Only a few inches of bark separated them from the monster.
Impy let out a ribbet of fright and clutched her tighter.
“It’s okay, I won’t let anything hurt you,” she whispered, trying to be as soothing as possible. Even as she promised Impy everything was alright, her other hand strained to keep the Muffle spell intact. She wouldn’t be able to hold it forever.
Bane unsheathed his dagger, his eyes widening in rage as Gutga began scraping away the bark with his talons.
“We don’t have a choice now,” Madagant hissed. “The numbskull’s gonna find us looking for his glarqing sap.”
Joelle set Impy down carefully, before unslinging her bow. “Okay, let’s do it.”
“Wait, what’s going on?” said Jed, but she’d already let go of the Muffle spell.
Gutga froze on the other side of the tree, likely having just heard Jed’s voice inside.
“By the demon god. The fae are in the trees-” Gutga cut off as Joelle blasted the bark between them away with an air spell.
They stood face to face, even as Gutga let out a growl and charged, Bane leaped out to meet him, slicing the brute across the chest with his blade.
Gutga fell back, grunting in shock as blood spilled down him. Bane wasted no time, bashing Gutga’s snout with the hilt of his dagger next, before aiming to hack into his neck. The valorc reeled out of range, however, even as Ram charged forward to aid him.
Joelle scrambled with her arrows. A second before the beast collided with her, Jed threw himself in the way, his axe plunging into Ram’s shoulder.
Ram bellowed in fury, clubbing Jed in the face. Luckily, the talons didn’t scrape Jed’s cheek off, but the flat of Ram’s hand was still enough to send Jed flying to the ground.
Joelle gave up nocking an arrow to her bow and instead leaped forward, driving the arrow into Ram’s chest by hand. The valorc yelped, but recovered rapidly, aiming a swipe at her head in reply.
She dropped to the ground to avoid the blow, and threw out a blast of energy magic. Ram staggered back, but his thick hide absorbed the spell before it could do much damage. He charged at her again, but this time Joelle rose to her feet, throwing a Stunner hex.
The golden flash of light hit Ram between the eyes, temporarily dazing him. Jed seized the opportunity by swooping low and driving his axe into Ram’s calf. The valorc crumpled to the ground and Joelle leaped forward, simultaneously yanking two arrows from her quiver and firing into Ram’s head. Both arrows bloomed with fire on contact and set Ram alight.
She whirled to see Bane still fighting Gutga, although the valorc’s torso was punctured with holes where Bane’s knives had found flesh.
Gutga lurched forward with another swipe, but Bane sidestepped it before flinging an acid spell Gutga’s way. A splatter of caustic liquid flew from Bane’s fingertips and splashed Gutga’s face. Even as the valorc mewled in pain, Bane slid underneath him, driving his dagger beneath Gutga’s chin and ending the fight.
“Crap, there’s another one,” Jed shouted suddenly.
She looked up in time so see a third valorc high above them, emerging from the east. He took one look at his fallen brothers before gliding back through the skies.
“We can’t let him get away,” Bane yelled. “The valorcs can’t know we’re here.”
Joelle was already on it, another arrow notched. She closed one eye as she raised her bow and let loose the enchanted bolt. The arrow struck true, shooting into the back of the valorc’s head and exploding on impact, as it had been spelled too.
The valorc let loose a roar, before dropping to the ground with a thud.
Joelle looked to check Impy was alright and found him still inside the tree, hiding behind a crouching Sabine. Sabine’s face was drained of blood and she hadn’t moved. She’d frozen when it had been time to act. Joelle immediately felt sorry for her. Venators just froze sometimes, especially when they were inexperienced. But still, it wasn’t acceptable when lives were at risk.
“That was too close,” Bane snarled. “That third valorc could’ve blown our cover. Joelle go and burn his body, I’ll take care of these two. We can’t have more valorcs find them.”
Joelle almost told him it wasn’t his place to order her around, but decided it was petty to exchange insult right now.
“And you,” Bane rounded on Sabine, “whimpering when your companions fought. I didn’t have you down for a coward.”
“Hey, go easy on her,” said Jed, much to Joelle’s surprise.
“Why? It took you and Mace both to take down one valorc. If there’d been a couple more of the brutes you’d probably be chunks of meat by now Jagger. Silcorn,” he turned back to Sabine. “Hiding when other Venators battle just means you’re the last to die. Remember that, and don’t let it happen again. Or I’ll call the monitors and have them remove you from the mission.”
Sabine nodded wordlessly, her eyes wet.
“Here, come help me with the third valorc,” Joelle called to her, smiling kindly.
As they walked through the forest to where the valorc had landed, however, she reluctantly told Sabine that Bane was right.
“But I know it was just a one-off, right?”
“Uh…absolutely,” Sabine said quickly, “never again.”
“Now you see how dangerous these monsters are,” she said, stepping away from the valorc after she’d thrown a fireball at his back and the cadaver started burning. “We need to find these fae quick. C’mon let’s get back to the boys, in case any other valorcs are nearby and pick up the scent of their burning brothers.”
“Good job Mace,” Bane growled as they returned. “Our mission was almost ruined because of you.”
“Me?”
“Yes, your pathetic insults diverted my attention just as these valorcs were approaching. They almost took us by surprise.”
I can’t believe him! Either he was stupid enough to believe his words, or Bane was trying to wind her up again.
She swallowed another insult, sighing wearily instead. “You’re right. Those valorcs snuck up on us because we were busy arguing,” said Joelle. Fighting against every instinct, and the burn of humiliation, she stuck her hand out toward Madagant. “I loathe you, but won’t let my hatred jeopardise our mission, will you?”
“What do you mean?” Bane cocked an eyebrow, staring at her outstretched hand like it was a trap.
“That we put aside our differences for the rest of this assignment, form a truce?”
For once she’d genuinely surprised him, but he covered it up with a scoff. “Well…at least you admit you were wrong. Fine,” he strode forward and reluctantly clasped her hand and shook it firmly. “I promise not to do anything to intentionally get you killed, but nor will I save you once you undoubtedly mess up on your own.”
She ground her teeth as he finished his backhanded promise, before surprising him again and saying, “I’m sorry. For saying your dad doesn’t care about you, I mean. That was too far.”
Bane looked deep into her eyes then, utterly bewildered for a second. Then he shrugged, as if her insult had meant nothing, but Joelle knew better than that. Everyone knew Bane was the black sheep of the Madagant family, purely because of his half-nymph side. It wasn’t anything Bane ever did that made his father treat him so badly and she would’ve almost felt sorry for him, if he wasn’t such an arse.”
“C’mon then,” Bane said to Sabine and Jed curtly. “We’re wasting time.”
*
They’d arrived at Mag-Mell before midday, but now the fiery fuchsia orb was bleeding across the horizon as daylight dwindled.
“The name
those valorcs mentioned, Felscythe,” Sabine said hesitantly. “He’s the valorcs leader, correct?”
Joelle nodded, unease spiking inside whenever she thought about him. She didn’t know much about him, other than he led all of the valorcs in Akirandon’s army, so he had to be as dangerous as a dread lord.
“I’ve heard about him on the news,” Sabine muttered quietly. “They say he’s killed countless men and nearly a dozen full-time Realmers. He’s cunning too, far more than the average orc or valorc. The news reports said he has his men drop fire bombs, scorching the area before they attack.”
“Even so,” she replied, playing idly with the arrow in her hand. “Felsythe’s dark reputation won’t save him from an arrow to the heart.”
An hour after their bloody encounter with Gutga and Ram had passed and only now the forest turned again into a row of hills. It was good thing too, as Joelle was getting sick of reminding Jed not to eat any of the wonderfully bizarre mushrooms festooning the trees.
She stopped again now, by the edge of the forest as Jed still hung within. Sabine and Bane were a few metres ahead, following Impy as he hurried to the new set of hills.
“But I’m so hungry,” Jed grumbled, staring longingly at a glowing blue mushroom in the shape of a heart. The mushroom hung upon an oak tree, and Jed had stepped toward it, eyes outstretched.
“Fine,” she snapped, “eat that thing and see what happens. If you’re lucky, you’ll throw up blue vomit for a day, if not, you’ll be forever cursed into a pile of centaur dung.”
Jed whinged, but stepped away from the ethereal shroom and followed her out of the woods, remarking, “Oh great, more frickin hills.”
She was about to echo his sentiment, but this time, they just might’ve struck gold.
Impy waddled ahead excitedly, with more determination than before, and stopped by one giant hill in particular.
“No way,” said Sabine. “At last, has he found it?”
Imps-a-lot looked from the particular hill and back to her repeatedly, pointing at the hill whilst croaking energetically.
“Good boy, Impy.” Joelle scooped him into her arms and hugged him tight. “You found it.”
“I wouldn’t celebrate just yet,” Bane drawled. “The idiot creature could’ve got the wrong hill.”
She set Impy down to round on Bane, but as she did Impy ran to the hill and refused to leave a certain spot alone, poking at it incessantly.
“What’s he doing?” Jed asked. “Wait, how do we enter this hill anyway?”
Joelle shrugged. “There should be a secret door. Although I don’t know if there’s a special way to activate it.” She strode forward and began pulling the dirt and grass away from the spot Impy was so adamant about.
Several minutes later, she realised that no matter how many handfuls of dirt and grass came away, the hill remained, as if it was growing back before she could gouge out a hole.
“Hey, let me have a go,” Jed said, summoning a ball of fire.
Joelle didn’t have time to object and jumped out of the way as Jed eagerly threw his fireball at the spot. The spell did nothing more than singe the hill, however. Impy continued to croak.
“Well, this is definitely it,” said Sabine. “What other hill acts like this. There must be a secret entrance somewhere.”
“Hmm, maybe if I use Earth magic,” Jed said, “or maybe you have to be a faerie to get in?”
Joelle looked pointedly at Bane, who leaned against the next hill along, scowling at their efforts.
“Well, Madagant?” She met his emerald gaze. “Do you know anything?”
Bane held her gaze for several long moments, before sighing dramatically. He whipped out one of his daggers and stepped toward the hill. He cut a small wound into his hand before placing the bloody palm on the spot. At once, the patch of grass scuttled away, revealing a hole big enough to climb through.
Bane stepped away, looking humiliated, but daring anyone to say anything. Even though she often insulted him for it- after he’d insulted her- Joelle had never understood why Bane hated his faerie heritage being brought up.
“Why didn’t you do that straight away?” Jed demanded.
“I didn’t know it would work,” said Bane casually.
She wasn’t sure if she believed him, but Joelle clambered through the hole without comment.
The unnerving silence she’d become used to so far on Mag-Mell was shattered the moment she stepped into the gargantuan hill itself. She realised it was music of some kind, and only a far- away jingle, but after the silence of the world outside it felt thunderous.
She rubbed Impy’s chin affectionately as he hopped in after her. “I knew you could find it.”
“Yeah, nice one, mate.” Jed chuckled as he held out his fist and Sir Imps-a-lot stretched out his own to give him a fist bump.
Bane was the last to enter the hill, and as soon as he was through the hole sealed itself back into a solid wall behind him.
Joelle had never been inside a hill, but she didn’t think a regular hill would look like this.
It was like being in a huge cave, but with dirt walls, instead of rock. The walls were also covered with faintly glowing moss, which allowed them to see somewhat instead of being in total darkness. She couldn’t see the hill’s ceiling however, only darkness.
The far-off music was very soothing now that she’d gotten used to it. She couldn’t describe it well, since the sound was like nothing her human ears had heard before. It resembled flutes, harps, and pan pipes, mixed with an otherworldly cadence. She suspected as they got closer, and the music got louder, it would become more enchanting to their ears.
Soon, the mossy walls faded away to a smooth, petal-like substances. She felt like they were inside a cocoon.
“The summer fae aren’t cruel, for the most part.” Joelle said. “They won’t be trying to trap us here forever. It’s the sidhe that’ll put curses on us. The seelie here will try and lure us into pranks though, some of them highly irritating.”
“Like what?” Sabine asked.
“Giving you food that’ll make you sneeze uncontrollably for hours, a drink that’ll make you laugh until you pass out, that kind of stuff.”
“So, it’s just the winter fae who’ll play awful, life-altering tricks, good to know.” Jed laughed weakly.
“Yeah,” said Bane, his voice void of emotion. “The sidhe’s idea of pranks consist of cursing you with eternal, gnawing hunger, or taking away your voice so you live out the rest of your life as a mute instead.”
“And do we really need to visit the winter court next?” said Jed, “Can’t we just keep it to the summer dudes?”
“But keep your guard up, just in case.” Joelle continued. “And don’t take anything they offer you, regardless of how good it looks.”
“But we can eat the food as long as it’s not a fae offering it to us?” said Jed. “Like if it’s on a table, I can eat it.”
“I’ll let you know beforehand,” she assured him, hungry herself from the day’s trek. “Some food should be fine. Just don’t accept any clothes they try to give you. I heard about one guy who accepted a shirt from a sidhe which strangled him to death.”
The twisted stems of flowers grew out of the ground sporadically, each one equipped with bulbs of bright yellow, which lit the room. She also noted several other giant flower pods, where several fae slept inside, only their heads visible as they dozed.
It was blissfully warm and the smells in the humid air were intoxicating.
The seelie fae were giant versions of the fairies in Veneseron forest. Well, not exactly giant, since they all stood around five feet, but compared to their minuscule brethren, they were colossal.
Some of the faerie’s hair was actual grass, ivy and leaves, whereas others simply had flowers and berries threaded through their colourful strands.
The flawless skin of each seelie appeared crystalline, and imbued by rainbow of faint colours. Many seelie’s flesh was tinged violet or
mauve, whilst others bore a rosy or silver glow instead.
They were all thin and slight, with bat-like ears and unnaturally long fingers, tipped with earth-green nails. But whilst their hair and skin were a riot of hues, every single seelie’s eyes were bright gold and their pupils shaped like diamonds and all of them shared the same pale brown lips, the colour of wood chips.
Many had iridescent or transparent wings, but others had wings with patterns on it, like insects. She spotted one girl with bright blue wings, splattered with four yellow spots on each side.
Several fae who didn’t have wings swung back on forth on the vines trailing from the high ceiling, laughing musically. The whole scene reminded her of a surreal circus, the vine swingers and the tumblers across the tables.
A mini food fight was happening down one table, punctuated by giggles and hoots of delight. A synchronised dance took place on the other side of the room. More fae twirled around pieces of ribbon, like rhythmic gymnasts, whilst a few others sat in a corner, painting astonishing artworks with twigs and resin.
Joelle went through the court hierarchy in her head as she observed the faekind. The seelie were the most humanoid of them, and at the top of the ladder. Then were the nymphs, naiads, dryads and golems, with the pixies and imps being the lowest on the totem pole. They were sorted by intelligence, Joelle believed.
All in all, Joelle thought the fae looked rather too cheerful, considering their world have been invaded by monsters and they’d been forced to hide here. Did she see a glint of fear behind the manic smiles of the dancing nymphs? Was there a starved look to the seelie’s faces?
She noticed the hair of the seelie fae swirled as if it was underwater. For most, the multicoloured hair fell down their backs like liquid ruby, emerald or sapphire, whereas the seelie with shorter hair had it up in a point, almost like a wizard’s hat.
They were all dressed in leaves and twigs, whilst some had berries dangling from their ears in place of earrings. Some fae had wings, like the minuscule fairies in Veneseron’s forest, whilst other fae had tails.
Faeries carrying silver trays flocked around them, one of which offered her a slice of cake.
Angels and Elves- Act I Page 27
