Fay Tale - Chapter Twenty-One
The little unicorn skipped toward the group, completely obvious to the ogre gaping down at it.
“Hello Anand, King of Mortals! Hello Lily, Flower Princess! Come play with me!”
His voice was high and clear, and Maidd felt a half moment’s amusement overcome his shock at the unicorn’s titles for the royal family.
“Before you go I would introduce you to Liliana’s new Guardian,” the king intervened. The little white head turned sad black eyes to gaze up at Anand.
“But I wish to play first.”
“Race you to the water!” Lily shouted, completely ignoring her king’s wishes, and dashed off. The unicorn sped after her, a white blur as slender legs pumped furiously to catch up.
“That is Verbaedenbenhamid, Lord of the Herd. He protects and purifies the king’s forest,” the king explained with a quiet sigh.
Maidd stared at the little white unicorn splashing in the stream next to the princess. His gaze then turned to the gigantic red beasts standing still and foreboding as dormant volcanoes.
“Those aren’t ponies.”
“They are not,” Anand agreed.
“They’re not even close to ponies.”
The ogre’s face was mildly accusing.
“Yet it would not be convenient for those who practice the darker magical arts to become aware of their presence here,” Anand pointed out.
“…trophy hunters,” Maidd said with reluctant understanding. “Or even the Fay.”
The king nodded his agreement. For a moment they simply watched the little creature kick and splash in the water of the meadow. Lily somehow seemed more solid in comparison to the delicate unicorn. The ogre shook the thought away as the remaining red unicorn stomped irritably across the stream and over to them.
If Maidd had not been cowed with the first red’s size and manner, this one positively oozed menace and the desire for an ogre-shaped rug under its massive hooves.
“Verbaedenbenhamid’s Guardian Clutch,” the king said in a neutral voice. “Red Unicorns are the Guardians of their Herd. Most especially their Lord.”
“It’s good to meet another Guardian,” the ogre said politely, not taking his eyes off the creature as it tried to loom over him. “I’m sure it must be difficult to keep your lord safe.”
The snort which followed his statement somehow sounded closer to a snarl. Maidd wondered if red unicorns preferred to bite, gore, or trample their intended victims.
“We will let nothing harm our Lord,” Clutch said and snapped his teeth together just inches away from the end of Maidd’s nose.
“I’m glad to hear you take your work seriously.”
The red unicorn glared suspiciously down at the ogre, but Maidd continued smiling up at him. Clutch shook his great head irritably, as if ridding himself of an annoying fly, before stomping away to join his lord at the stream.
“You may join me in setting up the gifts for presentation,” the king informed Maidd, but the ogre glanced reluctantly in the direction of the stream. “She will be safe in their care,” Anand promised.
Maidd followed the king back to the hobbled horses who had moved out into the meadow to graze. They seemed perfectly at ease with the gigantic unicorns, and Maidd relaxed slightly.
In deference to the ogre’s effect on domesticated animals, Anand removed the saddlebags from his gelding and handed them to the Guardian. The horse eyed Maidd warily but seemed to thinking chomping clover a better use of his teeth then taking a bite of ogre flesh. Maidd was suitably grateful and moved quickly away when all the bags were in his grasp.
“Unicorns are powerful creatures,” the king said quietly.
“They make Hoofsbane look like a real pony,” Maidd agreed.
The king shot him an amused glance.
“I referred to their magic rather than their physical appearance though your assessment is not incorrect. All know of the white unicorn, most powerful, and leader of every glory. However, all unicorns have considerable magical potency. The red guardians are that very size because of their battle magic. They able to withstand the offensive magic of even the best of mages.”
“Not someone you want as an enemy.”
“Precisely so. Yet, invaluable as an ally. They not only keep all of ill-will from this forest, but those of magical origin which are not compatible with cities and humanity are able to coexist within this forest as a result of their magic.”
“I’d wondered where the less visually palatable of the Folk were,” Madd admitted.
He knew the irony of saying so as an ogre, but there were some Folk that were not only deadly but looked it as well. The nightmare horse, for example, or the undead no matter evilly or goodly aligned.
“Generations of prejudice are not overcome in the span of ten years,” the king acknowledged. “Not all are accepted as readily as you.”
“Makes me grateful for my warm welcome.”
Anand inclined his head in acknowledgment of that irony when the little unicorn lord dashed up, frisky as a colt. Or would that be a fawn? Maidd wondered. The little thing was positively ethereal. Maidd was afraid to breathe lest he knock the youngling over.
“What presents have you brought me?” Verbaedenbenhamid asked, poking his muzzle into one of the saddlebags that Maidd held.
“If it pleases you then I will show you,” Anand replied.
The unicorn lord withdrew his slender muzzle and the king lifted a large flask out of the first bag.
“Pressed grapes of impressive age. A bottle which was recently acquired.”
The king handed the bottle to Maidd who after a moment’s hesitation uncorked it then handed it back. Anand nodded his thanks then limped toward a small stone outcropping in the meadow. He poured a small amount of wine into a naturally formed basin in the rock before stepping back. Verbaedenbenhamid trotted eagerly toward the treat, but before he could reach it one of the red unicorns stepped forward and gently, but firmly, shoved the young lord out of the way.
The white unicorn sighed but didn’t protest as the red lowered a large muzzle into the wine and lapped it suspiciously. After a long few moments of consideration, during which the white unicorn was practically dancing with impatience, the massive head finally withdrew.
“You may drink Verbaedenbenhamid,” Clutch finally said.
Without further urging he dove his muzzle happily into the drink. Maidd was impressed by how quickly the small creature guzzled the treat. Anand refilled the basin once more before the unicorn decided he was finished. Maidd surely hoped unicorns didn’t get drunk, but the little creature seemed just as easily balanced now as he frolicked beside them as he had earlier.
“What else?” Verbaedenbenhamid asked hopefully.
The king returned to the saddlebags. This time as he opened one he did not reach inside but held it down for Lily who had also joined them. She took out a large linen cloth wrapped around what must have been a heavy object as she struggled to lift it free of the bag. She sat on the ground, Ben’s head protruding over her shoulder, and eagerly unwrapped it.
The unicorn sighed with pleasure at the sight of slender silver bar carved with a vine relief.
“Bury it Lily, Queen of Flowers! Hurry!”
The princess happily dug into the soil with her bare hands until she had a shallow hole into which she placed the silver bar. At Ben’s urging she covered it up again then drew back as he lowered his horn against the soil.
The unicorn’s neck was far more flexible than any horse’s as he had to press his chin nearly to his throat to position his backswept horn against the ground. Since he showed no discomfort in the feat, Maidd presumed he must do this fairly often. Then there was a bright burst of light which blinded the ogre and his charge. The unicorns seemed unaffected and Anand had looked away before it came.
Could have given me a warning, the ogre grumbled inwardly as he blinked to clear his vision.
Maidd blinked again when the soil beneath the horn started to move. A slender, silver tip pushed its way out of the soil.
Slowly it grew until it became a curling silver vine the length of several spans. Once it stopped growing, the unicorn lord fell on it eagerly. Halt and Clutch moved to stand beside him but refrained from eating. Only when Verbaedenbenhamid had finally eaten his fill and stepped back did Halt and Clutch step forward.
Clutch reached down and gripped the plant by the base with his teeth. With a judicious yank, he tore the plant up by its roots then held it out to his companion. Halt bit what was left off the vine portion of the plant and it quickly disappeared down the great throat. Clutch’s roots similarly disappeared. The only evidence that a plant had been there was a scattering of earth, which was promptly erased by a sensible hoof stomp.
Energy restored the white unicorn pranced up to Lily and took a teasing nibble of her curl. This produced the hoped for shriek and a merry chase ensued until both children were spent and had collapsed in a sleepy pile in the warm meadow grass.
“Mortal King I would speak with you,” Halt said, his deep bass voice comically soft to avoid waking the sleepers.
Anand nodded in acknowledgement and followed the great creature to the other side of the meadow where their discussion would not disturb the children. Maidd sat nearby and watched as the little unicorn’s head rose and fell with every breath Lily took as they lay curled up together.
I don’t know much about ponies, but that little one seems awfully young for a unicorn lord. Are they all like this? Or did something happen to the previous lord? That would explain the reds’ extensive hovering. Then again Seris was just as bad about Lily.
Glancing up at the remaining red, Maidd was pretty sure Clutch wouldn’t be in mood to talk about it. So instead he enjoyed the quietly seductive peace of the meadow as he waited for the king to return. About half a mark later, Halt and Anand returned to the stream.
“It is time for us to depart,” the king said without preamble. “There is no need to wake Liliana if you can avoid it.”
Maidd got the hint and carefully scooped her up, sliding the little unicorn lord’s head off her stomach and onto the grass. He moved very carefully, aware that his every movement near the little unicorn lord was fanatically observed by the massive reds.
Once the princess was in his arms, Maidd backed away to stand behind the king. But despite his care the unicorn lord twitched and opened his eyes. When he saw the four adults looking at him, Lily cradled in Maidd’s large arms, he sighed.
“I guess you’re leaving now.”
“They are, my Lord,” Clutch agreed. He didn’t seem displeased by the fact.
“Have you thanked the mortal king for the gift?” Halt asked, nudging the little unicorn affectionately.
“Thank you Anand, King of Mortals,” the small unicorn added sheepishly. “Your gifts were truly delicious. I have not eaten anything so tasty since the elderberries Clutch found yesterday.”
If the king found the comparison of berries to expensive wine and silver insulting, he did not show it. Instead, he inclined his head in quiet thanks. Before they could depart, however, the little lord spoke again.
“Halt?”
“Yes my Lord?”
The little unicorn turned a puzzled face up to his guardian.
“Why don’t we ever give any gifts to my friends?”
Maidd felt the sudden shift in atmosphere. Both reds became tense, guarded. The king deliberately at ease.
“That is because we already give them gifts, ” Halt said carefully. “We keep the forest clear of tainted creatures and oversee the Folk who are permitted to live within our borders. The water is also kept pure. The soil clean.”
“But those gifts do not taste as exceptional as the silver plant!”
“Lily likes the water,” the princess offered sleepily.
Maidd rocked her carefully in his arms, but her eyes didn’t close again. Younglings. Always waking up when least helpful.
“But I want to give the Flower Princess something very yummy,” the unicorn lord insisted.
“I like Ben’s hair,” Lily began and both reds shifted uneasily. “But Daddy says I can’t ask for it cuz bad people would do bad things with it and I might lose it. I don’t think I would though.” She said this last in a very petulant voice.
“Is there anything else?” Maidd coaxed, seeing the reds relax.
“I want to play with Ben more, but Daddy says he can’t take me.”
This time all three unicorns stomped in agitation.
“Unicorns do not associate with vampires,” Verbaedenbenhamid said firmly. “Not ever.”
“Maybe I could bring you,” Maidd said quickly. He didn’t trust Lily not to say something rude where her father was involved, and last he checked being gored and trampled by bloody-minded unicorns was not on the royal agenda. “The king is very busy so he can’t take you very often. But if Verbaedenbenhamid agrees, I’ll take you whenever we’re allowed to come.”
“I agree!” the unicorn lord declared before his guardians could protest.
“The princess has her own responsibilities,” Anand reminded them all. “She cannot come to play merely when she wishes it.”
“Please, Anand, King of Mortals? I dearly wish to play with her.” The look the white unicorn turned on the king would have melted an icecap.
“...it is possible she would be available once per week,” the king said at last.
Verbaedenbenhamid skipped and bucked about the clearing like a spring fawn. Lily scrambled down from Maidd’s arms and added her own cheers and dance to the unicorn’s. Maidd felt himself grinning from ear to ear. Even the dour white garments of the king seemed a shade less dull as he shared in the same setting as the joyous pair.
Of course, once Lily had woken up she no longer wanted to leave. Maidd and the king had to firmly enforce the parting, which led to sullen pouting on the way back to the horses. When Lily remembered she would have to ride the pony again, the pouting became much less sullen and more verbose in nature.
The king ignored her complaints as he unhobbled the horses, slipped the pony’s lead rope over his saddle, and mounted his horse. Maidd took the hint and helped Lily mount the pony by dint of scooping her up, dumping her in the saddle, then quickly taking a step back. The pony made a lightning fast grab for his arm but only managed a mouthful of his sleeve without any ogre flesh attached.
Anand nudged his gelding into motion and back into the forest, princess and ogre following unhappily behind him.
Author’s Corner
In my search for a unicorn picture, I came across this little gem. I was THIS close to using it as the main picture.