Dryad's Tale, A Short Story Page 2

  Part of me, the girlish, selfish part, felt indignant the lord had not come himself. But, of course he chose the needs of many, I could wish for nothing more. No good would come if he were captured as well.

  “Yes, I know of their evil intents.” I nodded toward the guard, who had taken no notice of our whispered conversation.

  He strained towards the revelry, his lumbering body swaying to the wild drums. Something was unnatural about the way he stood. For an instant, his hard black hoof became soft and fleshy, dividing into fingers. A minotaur!

  I clutched my side, bile rose in my throat. How could a member of the Fey join the beasts? I sank down again. A noble minotaur, the race thought extinct for decades...

  Then I remembered. Yes, the beasts were known for their strength and power, but if a minotaur had a weakness, it was fine wine.

  “Can you open this door?” I said to Farlina, pointing to the clasps that were bound tightly with roots and strips of bark.

  She brandished a tiny sword. “Easy, but how will you keep the guard from sounding alarm?”

  “Just wait.” I pulled the fastener out of my hair and let it cascade down my back. I tried to wipe away the worst streaks and grime from my face. Farlina pulled out her tiny handkerchief to help.

  I strolled to the edge of my cage and called out, “Great Lord Bull!”

  His eyes brightened at my sudden transformation. “Yes, lady?” he replied, his voice full of interest.

  “Such a noble creature, chosen to guard just one woman prisoner, wounded and weak. You must be angry to miss out on such a merry party. How could they do that to you?”

  Sparks of anger filled his eyes and for a moment his nose flattened. Horns were replaced by a mop of thick curls. Then the man’s face melted back into the head of a bull.

  I pretended not to notice. “Why would they force you to stand guard at this time? To keep the best wine for themselves?”

  The minotaur pawed the ground and snorted. “I won’t take it! I fought as hard as any of them! I deserve a share in the spoils!” He lumbered off in the direction of the camp.

  Farlina wove through the bars, her small sword slashing through the thick tethers.

  I was free in an instant, and we fled through the woods in the direction of the farthest ridge.

  Only a few rose to greet us when we arrived. Sprightly had survived and now dabbed at a faun's wounds with great tenderness. The dryads leaned against the ridge to wait for their wounds to close and heal. Fairies fluttered about with small gourds of water and crusts of bread, and two unicorns circled the area, dazed but apparently unhurt. I did not see Crenwar.

  “Where are the others?” I couldn’t help but ask.

  “Some have scattered,” Farlina replied. “Few were spared, my Lady.”

  Lord Dryfus knelt several paces away from the rest. Herbs grew near the stream’s edge and he must be gathering these. My heart leapt when I saw my bow beside him. I went to him and touched his shoulder.

  Relief flooded into his face. “My Lady, you are safe.”

  “Yes,” I replied. A dark stain spread over his leg and soaked through his tunic. “Were you injured?”

  “Nothing, compared to how others have suffered,” he said. “We must leave the forest and travel east, toward the land of my father. The journey will be long and through barren desert, but our strongest will survive. The wounded, young and aged will be helped as we are able.”

  My choice lay stark between us; I could join forever with my tree as one being; or I could give up my very essence, my very spirit, and join the man I loved on his journey to unknown lands. Like always, our faces conveyed these thoughts with no words. He understood my struggle and awaited my decision.

  I placed my hand in his. “I will come with you, my love.”

  Elves constructed a sled from fallen branches for two injured fauns. Unicorns would pull them until they could travel unaided.

  One dryad, Narwa, watched them.

  "Are you coming with us?" I asked her.

  "No." Her face bore fresh lines of sadness. "Shela and I will remain to merge with our trees.”

  "May your branches grow ever stronger." I touched her forehead with mine. She glided off into the woods.

  Lord Dryfus swept me into his strong arms and together we said a prayer for safety. I rested my head on his shoulder, my willowy curls melding with his dark ones. We were alive, more alive than most could ever dream, and we would find a place of belonging.

  We shouldered our burdens and followed the eastern path. The distant sounds of the beasts’ celebration followed us as we left the forest forever.