Stars glimmered brightly in the deep violet of the night sky. They were brighter here than they were most places, perhaps it had something to do with this being a smaller town, or perhaps it had something to do with the amount of magic that found itself at the very heart of the town. Or, perhaps it was simply because one's mood tended to affect every aspect of their outlook on things.
One small creature sat on the bed of a Chevy pick up truck, her arms were crossed behind her head, her pale, almost vibrant eyes were opened wide, taking in the scene of the sky. The creature wasn't intimidating, at least, not as she lay there star gazing. A torn Dio shirt hung off her dark, slender shoulders. A beat up red flannel was tied about her narrow waist, and stone washed, torn jeans were tucked into a pair of dirty combat boots. One might not realize that they looked at the deputy of Arianna County, but, here she was in all her glory.
After a handful of moments she slowly sat up sighing. She had work to do tonight. The tailgate of her truck was down, a well used pack sitting on the edge of it. As she scooted off the truck bed and hopped to the ground, Chaedi took a good look around. Her small figure was illuminated by the light of a medium camp fire. She was dark skinned, and pale eyed. Her features were sharp, almost alien, eyes a little too large for her face, chin a little too narrow, perhaps, or perhaps it was just that those angular features were too alien to be human. Pointed ears completed the strange, over all appearance of the fae.
As she looked around, she sighed. She stood at one of the many entrances to the Coal mines that this town was known for. This particular coal mine she was very well acquainted with. One nasty, dirty goblin had been caught here just a couple years prior, and it had been her and the Shariff that had done it. Shy-girl smiled at that memory. One of many that had put her on the road that she was on now. And for the better, too.
The pack was slung over her shoulder, and Chaedi made her way just to the entrance. There she knelt, pressing a small, delicate hand upon the ground. The earth spoke to her, called to her even, all the way down to the molten metal that dwelled within it's core. Chaedi closed her eyes, opening herself up to the earth. You see, this little fae was a very peculiar one. One that was iron kissed. The earth groaned and moaned under her hand. Her eyes fluttered open as she drew a dagger from the side of her boot. A swift, light slash caused a cut to form on her arm, her blood ran down the arm, over her hand, and between her splayed fingers. Still she had not removed the hand from the ground. "Snakk høyt Jordens mor." Speak loudly Earth Mother.
The earth groaned again, the land beneath her hand shuddered and a hole started to form. It seemed to simply fall into itself, till a gaping blackness of about four feet in diameter formed in front of her. It was then she curled her fingers into her palm and stood. A half lazy bandage was made of a bandana before she slid the pack from her shoulder, put the knife away, and opened the pack. From within the depths she drew out a small luminescent vial. A smokey green swirled within its depth. "Just a drop or two, and nothing more Shy-girl. This comes from a Greylord, a Greenman." Tallynde's words range loudly in her head. She smiled. Just a drop or two and nothing more. The vial was uncorked and she held her hand over the hole. One drop followed by another before it too was capped and put back in the backpack.
She waited expectantly, curiously to see just what was to happen next. "It'll do its job when the time comes." Again, Tallynde's voice rang in her ears. She chuckled, shaking her head. It'd do its job when it was time.
One small creature sat on the bed of a Chevy pick up truck, her arms were crossed behind her head, her pale, almost vibrant eyes were opened wide, taking in the scene of the sky. The creature wasn't intimidating, at least, not as she lay there star gazing. A torn Dio shirt hung off her dark, slender shoulders. A beat up red flannel was tied about her narrow waist, and stone washed, torn jeans were tucked into a pair of dirty combat boots. One might not realize that they looked at the deputy of Arianna County, but, here she was in all her glory.
After a handful of moments she slowly sat up sighing. She had work to do tonight. The tailgate of her truck was down, a well used pack sitting on the edge of it. As she scooted off the truck bed and hopped to the ground, Chaedi took a good look around. Her small figure was illuminated by the light of a medium camp fire. She was dark skinned, and pale eyed. Her features were sharp, almost alien, eyes a little too large for her face, chin a little too narrow, perhaps, or perhaps it was just that those angular features were too alien to be human. Pointed ears completed the strange, over all appearance of the fae.
As she looked around, she sighed. She stood at one of the many entrances to the Coal mines that this town was known for. This particular coal mine she was very well acquainted with. One nasty, dirty goblin had been caught here just a couple years prior, and it had been her and the Shariff that had done it. Shy-girl smiled at that memory. One of many that had put her on the road that she was on now. And for the better, too.
The pack was slung over her shoulder, and Chaedi made her way just to the entrance. There she knelt, pressing a small, delicate hand upon the ground. The earth spoke to her, called to her even, all the way down to the molten metal that dwelled within it's core. Chaedi closed her eyes, opening herself up to the earth. You see, this little fae was a very peculiar one. One that was iron kissed. The earth groaned and moaned under her hand. Her eyes fluttered open as she drew a dagger from the side of her boot. A swift, light slash caused a cut to form on her arm, her blood ran down the arm, over her hand, and between her splayed fingers. Still she had not removed the hand from the ground. "Snakk høyt Jordens mor." Speak loudly Earth Mother.
The earth groaned again, the land beneath her hand shuddered and a hole started to form. It seemed to simply fall into itself, till a gaping blackness of about four feet in diameter formed in front of her. It was then she curled her fingers into her palm and stood. A half lazy bandage was made of a bandana before she slid the pack from her shoulder, put the knife away, and opened the pack. From within the depths she drew out a small luminescent vial. A smokey green swirled within its depth. "Just a drop or two, and nothing more Shy-girl. This comes from a Greylord, a Greenman." Tallynde's words range loudly in her head. She smiled. Just a drop or two and nothing more. The vial was uncorked and she held her hand over the hole. One drop followed by another before it too was capped and put back in the backpack.
She waited expectantly, curiously to see just what was to happen next. "It'll do its job when the time comes." Again, Tallynde's voice rang in her ears. She chuckled, shaking her head. It'd do its job when it was time.
The Earth whispered and shook: to some it was a whisper unheard, a voice unnoticed. To others it was a quiet murmur and a grinding of teeth, the most recent breaths of a creature ancient, alive, shaped from the bones and flesh of another long since fallen. The earth had many names, some new and some old: Gaia, Jörð, Terra Mater.
But to those that had the ear, She was always ready to speak: slow and soft and distant.
It was with a stretch of shadows and starlight that one became two, that another form found its way to lean against the pickup with a stirring of the breeze, carrying the faint scents of sage and fresh-turned loam. A breath was drawn in, slow and steady, eyes closing against the light of the stars and moon. Dark fingers tapped curiously against the rubber of a tire, and quiet steps padded forward. The fire spat and crackled with the sudden, sharp pop of wet wood meeting the flame, a log settling in its depths with a stir of ash and cinder, cutting through the silence that came in the wake of the earth's voice.
It seemed, by all measure, some encouragement to speak.
And so came a voice.
"To whom do you give offering?"
But to those that had the ear, She was always ready to speak: slow and soft and distant.
It was with a stretch of shadows and starlight that one became two, that another form found its way to lean against the pickup with a stirring of the breeze, carrying the faint scents of sage and fresh-turned loam. A breath was drawn in, slow and steady, eyes closing against the light of the stars and moon. Dark fingers tapped curiously against the rubber of a tire, and quiet steps padded forward. The fire spat and crackled with the sudden, sharp pop of wet wood meeting the flame, a log settling in its depths with a stir of ash and cinder, cutting through the silence that came in the wake of the earth's voice.
It seemed, by all measure, some encouragement to speak.
And so came a voice.
"To whom do you give offering?"
The moments ticked by and still the young half fae waited. After what seemed to her an eternity, while never quite being so, Chaedi sighed. "In its own time, I suppose." She whispered, unable to hide the disappointment upon her face. That is, till a voice touched the air and brought the deputy around with a twist of her heel.
In her own time, Chaedi had seen a handful of Svartalfar. So few of her ilk resided yet, at least, in this land. Her expression smoothed, but not before a look of worry flashed across her brow. The pack was drawn protectively to herself as she glanced down and away, toward the hole that was slowly closing. "Sometimes it is better to simply do as one is told and not ask questions of their betters." She said, her tone held something of a wryness, as if she echoed, with some small measure of amusement, the words of another.
Shy was young, brash even, and filled with an almost bottomless depth of curiosity. It was this very curiosity that drew her closer to the other, her pale eyes taking Tana in with a look of intent study.
"It's to keep away the... trash, so to speak." In her past experience, she had found that some of those that were considered lesser fae were far stronger than what the Greylords or the Greater Fae thought. It was obvious, by her tone, that she did not find them to be 'trash' but formidable fighters that had grudgingly earned her respect. It was in that moment she smiled, her expression bright, cheerful even. Chaedi enjoyed a good fight, especially when those she cared about weren't at risk. "I'm young and naive though, I'm not supposed to be aware of the purpose, or intent behind what I do here tonight." She winked. "So of course I know all about it."
In her own time, Chaedi had seen a handful of Svartalfar. So few of her ilk resided yet, at least, in this land. Her expression smoothed, but not before a look of worry flashed across her brow. The pack was drawn protectively to herself as she glanced down and away, toward the hole that was slowly closing. "Sometimes it is better to simply do as one is told and not ask questions of their betters." She said, her tone held something of a wryness, as if she echoed, with some small measure of amusement, the words of another.
Shy was young, brash even, and filled with an almost bottomless depth of curiosity. It was this very curiosity that drew her closer to the other, her pale eyes taking Tana in with a look of intent study.
"It's to keep away the... trash, so to speak." In her past experience, she had found that some of those that were considered lesser fae were far stronger than what the Greylords or the Greater Fae thought. It was obvious, by her tone, that she did not find them to be 'trash' but formidable fighters that had grudgingly earned her respect. It was in that moment she smiled, her expression bright, cheerful even. Chaedi enjoyed a good fight, especially when those she cared about weren't at risk. "I'm young and naive though, I'm not supposed to be aware of the purpose, or intent behind what I do here tonight." She winked. "So of course I know all about it."
"So to speak, for certain." The words came, lilting and languid, with the clear stamp of English not being their first, nor second, nor third language. The shape of the vowels was off, the words rounded in a way with precious few rough edges, blending together. Night-dark tresses of hair framed a broad, angular face: with high cheekbones and full lips, brows currently furrowed in a calm brand of scrutiny. With the dance of firelight, the creature's eyes glittered dark and striking, like flecks of obsidian that caught the wavering flames around them: old, sharp, bright. They were taller than Chaedi, long-limbed and graceful, lean and lithe, dressed in ratty clothes and faded jeans. Bits of silver flashed from a ring here, a necklace there in the shape of a coin. A stone bracelet clicked with the raise of a hand, a finger pressing to their lips, which pursed thoughtfully for a breath as Chaedi spoke.
And when the woman's tone came through, that breath stretched a beat longer, before those lips found their way to a smile: one that could not only sell a car but make the buyer feel honored for it. Gleaming-bright as the sun, certain as stone, and quick as a summer wind.
"I hope I would not fall under such a label, in the wisdom of one so young and naive?" There was a playful note to be found in their words, weight shifting with a roll of their hips, hands finding their pockets as they dipped into a slight bow to the deputy. "This mine has history, after all. I wouldn't want to become part of it."
And when the woman's tone came through, that breath stretched a beat longer, before those lips found their way to a smile: one that could not only sell a car but make the buyer feel honored for it. Gleaming-bright as the sun, certain as stone, and quick as a summer wind.
"I hope I would not fall under such a label, in the wisdom of one so young and naive?" There was a playful note to be found in their words, weight shifting with a roll of their hips, hands finding their pockets as they dipped into a slight bow to the deputy. "This mine has history, after all. I wouldn't want to become part of it."
Chaedi found herself instantly enraptured by the creature that stood before her. They were old. Perhaps not as old as her mother, but there was power in them. She caught the other's gaze and searched it. After a second her grin flitted back to her features causing her to appear impish. She had seen a fair share of trouble in her day. The pack was slid over her shoulders and onto her back. "Mm-no. The appearance of a svartalfar is rare enough to cause some curiosity about the town. Are you Iron kissed too? Or are you not of Brokki's blood?"
She moved slowly now, walking past the other all the while searching Tana's face for...something. Some feature or expression that bloomed with familiarity. She found none. "No. No you are not... So no family of mine. Who then..." Her words drifted off in thought before she simply shook her head. "You have no worries of me just yet. Tell me, what brings you here? Are you looking for Tallynde Aswaine or Laedi Brokkidottir? Perhaps a debt to settle with John? I will not let you hurt him if that is the case. He doesn't hunt our kind anymore." The protectiveness in her voice was tangible. This was a person she cared a great deal for. Someone she would lay her life down for. She met Tana's eyes with a jut of her chin, a display of the stubbornness she had.
She moved slowly now, walking past the other all the while searching Tana's face for...something. Some feature or expression that bloomed with familiarity. She found none. "No. No you are not... So no family of mine. Who then..." Her words drifted off in thought before she simply shook her head. "You have no worries of me just yet. Tell me, what brings you here? Are you looking for Tallynde Aswaine or Laedi Brokkidottir? Perhaps a debt to settle with John? I will not let you hurt him if that is the case. He doesn't hunt our kind anymore." The protectiveness in her voice was tangible. This was a person she cared a great deal for. Someone she would lay her life down for. She met Tana's eyes with a jut of her chin, a display of the stubbornness she had.
They let out a breath, quiet steps pacing a half-circle around the edge of the fire, their shadow shuddering away from the light, long and stretching further than it had a right to. Their expression was curious: gaze taking in Chaedi all the while, searching her features as if there were a secret hidden in the shape of her features, the set of her shoulders, the line of her jaw. Such scrutiny was hardly hidden: rather, they stared openly, inquisitive, as if daring some challenge or comment be made of it.
Or, perhaps, as if they did not care that such was made at all.
The fire crackled, smoke eddying out into the darkness of the night sky, and the svartalf trailed to a halt some few feet away from the deputy. A second passed, two, small slices of forever that came patiently, and left slowly. Before they gave a nod, satisfied.
"No," they said simply, brightly, warmly. But to which question the answer was given was not said. "There's a debt to settle, yes." There was a tilt of the head, curious. "...it would seem you have inherited it. So here I am."
Or, perhaps, as if they did not care that such was made at all.
The fire crackled, smoke eddying out into the darkness of the night sky, and the svartalf trailed to a halt some few feet away from the deputy. A second passed, two, small slices of forever that came patiently, and left slowly. Before they gave a nod, satisfied.
"No," they said simply, brightly, warmly. But to which question the answer was given was not said. "There's a debt to settle, yes." There was a tilt of the head, curious. "...it would seem you have inherited it. So here I am."
She frowned a moment as she came to a pause. The pack was slid from her shoulders and set into the bed of the truck once more. Those pale eyes never left the other creature that stood before her, never stopped searching that face, stopped listening as they spoke. No, she took Tana in and studied them intently. After a moment, she lifted her hip and used her arms to hoist her rear end onto the tailgate and sat down. She patted the gate parallel to her.
"Tell me about this debt I have inherited, and how I came to do so. Afterward, we shall see what should be done of the situation." It would seem the young fae wasn't as naive as the elders would have thought. She finally pulled her eyes away from Tana to stare into the licking flames of the fire. Perhaps, too, you can tell me what it is I must do to help you, debt aside?"
Her small, booted feet swung back and forth in the air as she chewed over her thoughts.
When she shifted she smiled, amusement lighting her gaze. “As you already know who I am, you probably know what I am. The deputy sheriff of this lovely land. I’m also close friend’s with Tallynde Aswaine, the local Grey Lord of the area. Tally’s not quite what you’d expect of a Grey Lord, I think she really does care about us, about the humans too. She’s got a tender heart, just a little estranged to the common fae populace. Maybe it’s that tender heart that causes her to be, I don’t know. She’s got a pretty big family too, her grandson Aiden is my best friend.”
Drawing a breath, the young face turned her face away. But not before a look of hurt touched her delicate brow. There was something there, a story, perhaps, with Aiden. Something that she carried deeply and heavily on her heart. “Yeah…”
A moment passed before she shook her head. “Anyway, yeah. What’s up Buttercup? What can I do for you?” She forced a smile on her lips, and soon the expression became candid.
"Tell me about this debt I have inherited, and how I came to do so. Afterward, we shall see what should be done of the situation." It would seem the young fae wasn't as naive as the elders would have thought. She finally pulled her eyes away from Tana to stare into the licking flames of the fire. Perhaps, too, you can tell me what it is I must do to help you, debt aside?"
Her small, booted feet swung back and forth in the air as she chewed over her thoughts.
When she shifted she smiled, amusement lighting her gaze. “As you already know who I am, you probably know what I am. The deputy sheriff of this lovely land. I’m also close friend’s with Tallynde Aswaine, the local Grey Lord of the area. Tally’s not quite what you’d expect of a Grey Lord, I think she really does care about us, about the humans too. She’s got a tender heart, just a little estranged to the common fae populace. Maybe it’s that tender heart that causes her to be, I don’t know. She’s got a pretty big family too, her grandson Aiden is my best friend.”
Drawing a breath, the young face turned her face away. But not before a look of hurt touched her delicate brow. There was something there, a story, perhaps, with Aiden. Something that she carried deeply and heavily on her heart. “Yeah…”
A moment passed before she shook her head. “Anyway, yeah. What’s up Buttercup? What can I do for you?” She forced a smile on her lips, and soon the expression became candid.
There was a pause, less in hesitation and more consideration, before on careful steps they padded forward and hopped up to settle on the edge of the tailgate beside her. There was a quiet, fluid grace to the movements, more like a cat's than a person's: rippling and quiet, light in weight but heavy in purpose at the same time. Up close, there were the scents of sage and loam, of wet earth and woodsmoke. It wasn't an unpleasant smell: it had a way of blending in with the air around the campfire, here among the dirt and the flames, as if they belonged here more than they would ever to city streets.
"There are few things that you must do," they answered softly, fingers drumming against their thigh, dark eyes turning to catch the firelight. For just a moment, they were all crystalline gleam and animal shine. A trick of the light? A slip in glamour? "One must breathe, must eat, must sleep. You must fulfill your promises, hold your word, open your eyes when you wake." A moment, a tilt of the head. "...and, in a few days, you likely must fill up the truck on gas." The words came, dry and playful, but as their fingers danced the flames seemed to shudder, swaying against the time and direction of the wind.
"Is the name Thaddeus Jones familiar to you?"
"There are few things that you must do," they answered softly, fingers drumming against their thigh, dark eyes turning to catch the firelight. For just a moment, they were all crystalline gleam and animal shine. A trick of the light? A slip in glamour? "One must breathe, must eat, must sleep. You must fulfill your promises, hold your word, open your eyes when you wake." A moment, a tilt of the head. "...and, in a few days, you likely must fill up the truck on gas." The words came, dry and playful, but as their fingers danced the flames seemed to shudder, swaying against the time and direction of the wind.
"Is the name Thaddeus Jones familiar to you?"
Chaedi's lips pressed tight. She had heard the name once, from her mother. When she had asked about what type of man would have fathered a deviant like her. Her mother's words echoed now in her mind, and soon passed her own lips. "Thaddeus Jones was a warrior of warriors. A fighter amongst mortal men. He was brave, and strong and pure determination." Her pale eyes settled on Tana as she sat there, eyes that were now serious and sad. Sad at having never known the man that had caught her mother's adoration for even such a brief time. Sad at the realization that she would never meet him, now. Why else would someone come seeking her out and asking her such a question.
She wetted her lower lip, her gaze shifting back to the fire. "That's all she ever said about him, my dad." She said, shaking her head. "So he's why you are here?" Her brows furrowed a little as she frowned. Her hands folded in her lap as she sat there a minute, "So then, tell me?"
She wetted her lower lip, her gaze shifting back to the fire. "That's all she ever said about him, my dad." She said, shaking her head. "So he's why you are here?" Her brows furrowed a little as she frowned. Her hands folded in her lap as she sat there a minute, "So then, tell me?"