"Up ahead!"
My wings beat against the wind as I soared over the forest. Efret rode behind me on a flying beast's back. Accompanied by my step son who was holding a small glowing pendant in his hand. I was going to owe him for this.
Sayuri whistles underneath us. Her horns covered in vines of all kinds and her mask crookedly fixed on her face. At her behest the pixies and dryads got off their butts and started searching with us. In front of her floating in the air are several will-o'-the-wisps.
Their ghostly bodies hover in the air and form a trail forwards. One that I can identify in the dark and use as a marker. "I think they see her! White hair right? Up there by the trees! She almost made it to the cliffs!"
I dove down and folded in my wings. Using my hands I tore apart everything in my path. Sayuri caught up to me on foot and called a pixie to her side. She's always had a good relationship with them. I'll ask her for pointers later. Known for being greedy and temperamental...If I learn how to tame them, perhaps I can tame her.
I stepped over a tree root and almost stumbled.
No.
I screamed and ran to her. "Ria!"
My greedy thing. Her eyes were already closed and her plump cheeks devoid of their lilac blush. Her poor head had dried blood all over it. Several spirits and forestfolk had gathered around her. Sprites pulled at her fingers with tiny hands and encouraged her to wake up.
No. Not like this. Not again.
Kneeling down I tried to hear her. Tried to pray but the words. I can't even put together words.
"Please...Please..."I begged and waited for her. Please don't let me down. Please.
Her tiny mouth sucked in a cold breath and I breathed with her. Thank you goddess. Oh thank the gods. I blinked back tears and cradled her to my chest. She turned into me and mumbled something.
"Yes, it's me. I'm here. You're ok. I'm gonna get help. Stay with me Ria. Don't go to sleep. Help! Help! She's too cold!"
Sayuri rushed over to me and I showed her to Ria. She cursed and placed a hand over her head. Warm green light emanated from her palm and helped with the healing of the open wound. Her expression eased but I still could feel her slipping.
No. Not this time. Not this one. Please. I'm sorry. I'll do anything. I'll go through any test. I'll never kill again if you let me have her. Just this once. Please. I'm begging you.
I sobbed as I cradled her little body close to me. "I'm so sorry. I'll never leave again. I'm so sorry."
Sayuri pushed me away from her little head and brought me to my feet. "Niathe, where's that boy?"
Clutching at my lifeline I asked brokenly. "What?"
She emphasizes. "He's one of the sun's kids, right? She needs heat right now."
Right. Right. The kid. Ugh. It just has to be him of all people. Fuck.
I summon my wings again and break through the tree line. Sayuri stays on the ground with her friends. She's not a fan of flying at all. I fly over to the two. Erichean almost leaps off the beast when he sees Ria.
He better fix her.
"You. Warm her up. Now." I fly close to the beast and bob in the air. His weary eyes stick to my daughter and he nods emphatically. With both hands I carefully hand my daughter to the little bastard and he immeditely starts chanting in an ancient tongue. Not in elvish and I don't recognize it's origin.
His entire body glows orange light and the light in Ria's necklace responds.
Little bastard gave her a tracking device the day he met her. At least it has some useful qualities. My tears dry up with the wind as he restores color to my daughter's cheeks.
Efret listens with engrossment. She's always liked uncommon things. Ancient tongue is one of them. Not only is it extremely effective to use in both witchcraft and sorcery, but it's also another way to glean hidden knowledge from texts. We bob there in the air for another minute before he's done.
I reach out for her and he shrugs me away. "She needs me. I'll give her back later."
Did he just deny me my child? I growl and remind him of his place. "Don't test me. Give her back."
He gives me a dark glare and carefully hands her back to me. Her warm little cheeks brush against my clothing and I study her. She seems fine. Guess he does live up to all of his—
Wait.
"Why is she losing warmth?" Her little fingers start turning blue and I rub them anxiously.
"The magic in the necklace wanes the farther away it is from its source. She'll get colder the farther away she is from me."
I groan in frustration and give her back. Just for now. As soon as she can survive without him I'm taking her back. "Let's go. To the compound."
Efret nods and pats the beast on their head. It gives out a war cry before swooping down. My heart leaps into my throat and drops as suddenly as it does. "Careful!"
Efret flies recklessly to the cliffs and I follow after her. With laser focus I watch as Erichean brings Miseria closer to his chest and swaddles her in his shirt. She practically purrs and moves closer to him.
I will never understand that bond she has with him. All the other children have a healthy dose of vigilance but not her. As soon as we get back I'm separating them. And telling her about his 'games'.
She'll learn. She'll understand when she's older. He's not to be trusted.
I flew back under the light of the moons. This is my domain and yet I've never noticed how cold it was before today and dark. Perhaps it just didn't occur to me before you. I should have lanterns hung around the forest, as for heat...I'll have to consult the council.
I flew over trees of all sorts and avoided a flock of birds.
"Hey!"
What's that? I looked down to see a glimmer of something in the foliage. Someone called for me faintly. "Niathe…!"
Wait, is that, Nolan?
I took one look at Efret and decided I had enough time to swoop down before she entered the barrier. I freefalled and tucked my wings in before landing on a tree. The branch threatened to break and I hopped to another one before finding a sturdy one to crouch on.
What in Tartarus is going on here?