A Nymph Without Mercy
I

They were not sodifferent from mankind. Not truly. They had the same limbs and appendages, buthumanity did not seem to be bound to the trees as they were. They did not hearthe whisperings of the forest as the trees spread whatever news of the woodlandrealms seemed most pertinent, though most of it was simple chatterings aboutsquirrels and bird’s nests that were beginning to show signs of burgeoninglife.

What seemed the mostdifferent was in their manner. Most of the men were gruff and surly, with hairon their faces that made her skin itch just to look upon it. They came to huntand forage, and her sisterlings often encouraged their games of old that sendthe men running with bows in hand, desire dwelling in their hearts.

It was their way.

Perhaps it seemedfoolhardy to tangle with danger in that way, but the dryads knew the riskswell. They would tease and taunt and draw the men away from the High Cityshould they ever stray too close.

And nymphs were quickand light footed, while the men stomped and cursed in the underbrush, seekingtheir prey.

Long ago the dryadshad learned that a tale was told amongst the menfolk that if a man stole a kissfrom one of the elusive creatures he would be granted a wish—and the right tobed her.

That story had beengiven to her by one of her elder sisterlings, as her father would mostcertainly not have shared such a thing. She could not imagine being used insuch a way—not when for her people a single touch between dryad and dryon wasenough to seal their bond.

There were certainlyno trysts before their sealings,especially not with a human male.

Never had she heardof one of her kind being ensnared before. When speed and agility failed one ofthe nymphs, a well placed arrow on behalf of the dryon was certain to fell thepursuer.

While the game mightseem mischievous—and often the younglings looked forward to the day theirsaplings had grown tall enough for them to be chosen for the task—it was oneheld in high regard.

They were protectorsof the realm, though with feminine wiles and coy glances instead of weaponry.

But perhaps that wasthe most dangerous kind.

Mairi was relativelynew at the venture, and she found that she had not the cunning spirit that theelders had told her would come with practice. She often pitied some of thekinder looking men who so easily became enthralled, and while her people rarelycaused anyone harm, the disappointment at not catching one of her kin was clearlyevident and made her sorry.

The children were theworst.

Some were so youngand innocent, all large eyes and shrunken features as they obviously turned tothe woods for whatever nourishment they could replace. Despite the protests of herkin Mairi would whisper to them, luring them a tiny bit closer to the High Citywhere she knew the most luscious berries resided.

She received aterrible scolding for the risk she had taken.

“If you lead themcloser and they replace sustenance, it will only entice them to return. And they shall not be childrenforever!” Her father was rarely angry. He was a calm spirit and one of theelders whose wisdom was unmatched—at least according to Mairi.

“If you had seenthen, Adar, you would have agreedwith me! I am allowed to help a lost fawn, but not a human child?”

Her adar continued toglare but Mairi remained steady. She did not know if it was truly as dangerousas he suggested. All she knew was that when a starving child stumbled into herpath she could not remain idly by—not when with a simple word she could have savedthem.

Eventually he sighed,reaching out a lone finger that she met eagerly with her own, one of thefamilial signs of affection. “I do not wish to lose you. Not after your amé…” His expression grew wistful, as itoften did when he mentioned her mother.

“You will not loseme, Adar. I am careful. They may seeme but I would never allow them to touch.”

To touch a humanmeant exile—possibly even death. None in living memory knew of a nymph that hadbeen touched by a human, but it was well understood throughout the woodlandrealm that it was strictly forbidden. She might be soft-hearted toward the raceof men, but she would never risk the ability to see her father or sisterlingsfor the sake of their kind. “I amsorry. I do not mean to upset you.”

“That is never yourintention, little one, but I should hope you would heed the wisdom of yourfather and not seek trouble when there is none to be had. Play with your kin,protect our home, and be contented.” His eyes crinkled around the edges,belying his age in his otherwise youthful face. “And perhaps when the time isright you shall bond with that young friend of yours and live a long and happylife together.”

Mairi pulled away andhid her face behind her long hair, mortified that her father should be aware ofthe dryon who had begun expressing interest. They had known each other sinceseedlings, though mostly from afar. His father had long since been member ofthe council with her own adar, but aswith all children once they had left babyhood no longer were they allowed tomingle. Each to their own kind until bonding—that was how it had always been.

Her father laughedsoftly at her distress. “We may not encourage contact, young one, but it hasbeen obvious for some time that you and Raghnall had a fondness for oneanother. Should I announce the ceremony?”

He was teasing her,she knew, but she still felt acutely embarrassed. This was not how her bondingwas to be announced!

Raghnallwould have sought her father’s council and upon receiving permission he wouldbeckon her under the canopy of trees, older and wiser than any other place inthe High City. The stars would twinkle from their heavens up above, and solemnlyhe would tell her of his desire for her, and taking her hand he would pledgehimself to her, bonding his very soul with hers until they were parted bydeath.

Her father chuckledonce more before waving her away. “Very well, daughter, I shall keep silent onthe matter a while longer.”

Mairi did not havemuch time to linger on the prospect of imminent bonding, or her father’sapparent silence on the matter, notwhen there were duties to perform. But while some of their more able bodieddryons clothed themselves in armour of fine metals and hard oaken shields, thenymphs wielded power of a different nature. All of her kin were beauties intheir own right. But just as the occasional flowers that broke through theheavy underbrush of the forest floor, they were equally diverse. Mairi’s hairwas long, easily brushing her hips. She had often heard some of the robust mencommenting on how much they wished to touch the silken strands—at least, shehad gleaned as much as she flitted from the cover of trees that made up herhome.

Her eyes were thoseof her father’s, blue and pale. She often wished she had the sparkling green ofsome of her sisterlings, but she never mentioned so in front of anyone. Envyled to dissention, and it was far nicer to be a merry band of protectors,luring unwelcome folk away from their borders clothed in gossamer silks and primroses.

On this occasion shefound Eldared waiting for her at the Main Gate. The large and imposingstructure was built between two ancient elms, though it blended with the mossygreenery so completely that unless one knew to look it would nearly passunnoticed.

“My, Mairi, yourcheeks are as red as a robin’s breast! Has Raghnall finally beseeched you?”

Whatever composureshe had mustered quickly fled. “Have we truly been so noticeable?” Discretionwas a quality highly favoured, and the notion that their friendship was sowidely recognised was almost intolerable.

Her friend laughedairily, herself having bonded four seasons past. “There is nothing to beashamed of, Mairi. He is a favourite of your father’s, and I am certain thematch would be well received.” Eldared’s eyes narrowed. “Or has he touched youillicitly? You know that is forbidden. He must petition for your hand.”

Mairi shook her headfuriously. Only once had a dryon touched a nymph without first being grantedpermission. His punishment had been quick and forceful and none had dared do soagain.

“He would never. ButI fail to see why this is being discussed now! He had made no great overtureyet you and my father both seem to think it is inevitable!”

The notion did notdispleaseher, but she did not feelquite as enamoured by the idea as she believed she should be. For their kind itwas forever—and bonding was never to be taken lightly. Surely that meant sheshould be confident in her affection for him before giving her consent.

One of the guardsstanding watch high above the Gate interrupted them when he bellowed, “If youmean to be of use today then please go forth into the forest! Standing aboutgossiping like two old-growths is no use to anyone!”

Eldared rolled hereyes but obeyed, walking into the morning-light beyond the safety of the HighCity.

She was one of Mairi’sfavourites to be paired with, as her teasing disposition made the hours passquickly and with much fun to be had. When she was told to be with one of the youngerlingsMairi felt terribly exposed. She was a youth herself and felt completelyunprepared to teach others how best to beguile.

It was a rarity thata nymph with a bond-mate should continue in their work, but Eldared hadinsisted that until she had a seedling of her own, she would be of service.

They strolled throughthe forest aimlessly, enjoying the brightening skies, though the woods remainedshadowed by the heavy trees above them. But occasionally a ray of sun wouldpeek through the trees, and Mairi relished the warmth as it fell across herskin.

“Do you think...”

“Hush!”

Mairi froze atEldared’s command. Ahead were two hunters, boisterous and loud as they ploddedthrough the woods.

“I’m tellin’ ya!There was a buck not twenty paces ahead!”

The other man,clearly his brother based on the strong resemblance, scoffed. “And I’m tellin’ you, our ma dropped you one too manytimes when you were a bairn!”

The first man scowledand gave his younger brother a hearty shove. “North. I’m sure of it.”

North would lead themto the City. They were not dangerously close, but enough that Eldared nudged Mairisoftly and gestured for her to make an appearance. Such was one small annoyancesince her friend had bonded—more and more often it was Mairi who was requiredto present herself as an offering, while Eldared stayed hidden amongst thetrees.

And Mairi wasconfident that she laughed all the while as Mairi ran and the men followed.

But such was theirtask and so with many years of practice, she emerged from the undergrowth, thesunbeam that found her no longer feeling so warm and welcoming as she took inthe features of the startled huntsmen.

Every man wasdifferent. Some liked a fearful maid who would squeal and dash while hefollowed in quick pursuit. Others preferred a seductress with luring eyes andbared shoulders that would inevitably come wherever she motioned.

Mairi refused to playthe latter, though upon one of the more lively occasions she had attempted todo so at the bidding of her sisterlings. She had felt awkward and ridiculousthrough the entire venture, but she could not deny that the result waseffective.

Men were such foolishcreatures.

Before she coulddetermine how best to approach them, the younger of the brothers quicklyremoved his hat. “M’lady! Are you lost?”

Mairi smiled softly,always pleased to replace a well-mannered man.

The elder of the twoslapped his brother’s arm roughly, his eyes never leaving her form. “That in’tno lady, Aiden! She’s a wood-nymph!” His voice lowered but Mairi could stillclearly hear him. “She’ll grant us a wish if we catch her.”

Aiden looked at hercuriously, and she was pleased to see that his eyes did not darken in thatgreedy way they often did when the mythical tale of wish-giving was thrownabout. Instead he clutched at his hat and bowed, earning yet another cuff fromhis brother. “I said, she in’t a lady! You don’t need to be putting on airs toimpress her.”

His voice rose oncemore, louder this time as though he thought her hard of hearing. “If you’lljust grant us our wish now we won’t have to hunt you down!”

Mairi’s head tilted,and her brow furrowed. “That would defeat the purpose.”

And with that, sheran.

It was useless tospeak to them as they knew none of the nymphlin tongue, but it always made herfeel a bit better—especially when one of them was obviously a sweet youngman—to keep to her manners. It felt rude not to engage even a little.

Her father would notapprove.

She headed South,leaping nimbly over the small stream that would eventually lead to a largerriver downstream.

Mairi hesitated,waiting for the sounds of followers before continuing. If the younger brothercould not be convinced to give chase there was little point in abandoning bothof them as they could continue to hunt closer, defeating the purpose of hertask.

But the elder brotherseemed to hold much sway over Aiden and soon the sounds of their search grewloud. “This way!”

Eldared peeked outfrom behind a nearby oak, her smile wide as she made a great performance ofscattering the underbrush and twigs to reveal a false trail. Generally their racedid not leave traces as they moved throughout the forest, but it appeared herfriend was providing her some respite from the chase as this would allow forher to cease their game early— and without her having to make anymoreappearances to keep them in pursuit. If they did indeed continue as Eldared ledthem the guards would turn most of their attention to her friend, keeping her secureas the men were led safely from the City.

Mairi could not helpbut giggle, her laughter carrying through the stillness of the trees as theyanswered her in kind.

Run; do not let them replace you!

Such a pretty nymph!

There is a squirrel chewing on my bark.

She revelled in thefeel of the breeze as it caused tickles of hair to whisper across her skin andthe way it sent billows of silk about her legs as she ran.

There was a joy to befound in this task, even if she pitied the men she deceived.

So lost was she inthe bright spring morning that she was only vaguely aware the small glen sheentered and of the buck a short ways to her left.

And then a briefwhistle met her ears.

And then pain.

Blinding pain thatstopped her short as it seared through her shoulder.

Pain that caused herto stumble and fall to the soft grasses below, clutching at the joint as shewatched the liquid being to ooze from a wound that most assuredly had not beenthere before.

She had never feltsuch pain.

And dumbly, shethought that her blood would ruin her lovely gown.

An arrow was lodgeddeep within her flesh, and she stared at it in horror for a moment longer beforereleasing a long keen.

Where were theguards?

Where was Eldared?

Surely they had notall continued on with the trespassers.

But there was onlyone person emerging from the neighbouring wood, and it was not the comfortingpresence of her kin.

It was a man, tallerthan she had ever seen before.

He was dressed all iniron, a helm upon his head that concealed his face. It was darker than the palesilver that the dryon wore on occasion, nearing black in its appearance.

And then she knewfear.

Because with the painof her shoulder and the blood that still steadily flowed, she knew she couldnot run.

He walked steadilycloser, his demeanour and presence a startling contrast to the peaceful beautyof the trees.

Run, little nymph!

To touch him brings death!

Poor thing...

The trees lamentedand Mairi’s breath grew shallow. “Please, do not come closer!”

He did not heed herand she tried her best to rise from the ground and flee. If only she could makeit to the trees there was a chance she could escape.

For this was her homeand she did not wish to be parted from her kin due to the actions of one man.

The hunter hesitateda moment longer, dropping his bow to the ground and pulling off the leathergloves that encased his hands.

And lastly he removedhis helm.

She scurried backfurther, terrified that he would attempt to heal her.

For one could notheal without a touch.

And to touch wouldmean a bond—a bond that was forbidden.

Perhaps it was theloss of blood that made her head feel so strange, but as she glanced at hisface, clouded by pain and terror as she did so, she thought him one of the mosthorrid looking men she had ever seen.

But before she couldponder such things further, she saw a pale, long-fingered hand reach toward herand it took every bit of her waning sensibilities to gasp, “Please, do nottouch me...” before she knew no more.