A Nymph Without Mercy
V

Weeping was a tiring endeavour.

Not only was sheexhausted from the wound, but her heart ached so fiercely that every breath wasa torment. Never had she imagined that her future would hold such sorrow. Sheknew unequivocally that she was in exile, but a part of her hoped that if sheremained in the glen a while longer, Eldared or her adar would appear and offer her a home. Perhaps not the cosy littlenook she had known before, but one nonetheless. She would be alone but theywould know she was at least alive and she could say goodbye.

Or maybe, if shewaited just a bit longer, her bond-matemight appear.

But neither happened,and as she lay against the birch, too weary and heart-sore to move, shepondered if death would in fact have been a blessing.

Her stomach made thatstrange sound again and she covered it helplessly with her hand. Garrick hadsaid it meant she was hungry and inneed of nourishment. She sighed deeply. Her tree had always seen to suchthings. Its roots had plunged deep into the earth and what nutrients it foundsustained her perfectly well, with little effort on her part to contribute.

But no more.

Her eyes strayed tothe biscuit settled on the soft grass a short ways away from her. She felt yetanother pang of hunger and although she was not certain whether it was appropriateto eat off of the ground—but surely most food came from the ground?—she roseand retrieved it.

Perhaps if she wasbetter, prettier, her bond-mate would not have spurned her and even now wouldbe providing her with food. But as it was this would be the only morsel hewould ever supply, so she savoured it as best she could.

It was only as sheconsidered falling into a nearby pile of leaves and refusing to stir until shewithered and returned to the earth that she stopped herself.

She was not one proneto dour thoughts, and while a tragedy had occurred, she would not give intodespair. Her life was forever altered and there was nothing she could do tochange the past. Her bond-mate lived, even if he was discourteous and perhaps abit mean, but he was hers. Her adar did not have the option of seekingafter her amé, but she did.

And she would replacehim.

Before he hadtranslated it for her, she did not know how to speak the language of stomachs.Mayhap it was presumptive of her to assume he would know the intricacies ofmating when he was but a man. She could teach him, if only he would listen.

If her yearsprotecting the City afforded one simple lesson, it was that she was wellskilled in the art of persuading men.

She found that her resolveresulted in a renewed energy—or was that the biscuit she had eaten? Remainingin the little glen, while safe and almost comforting in its seclusion would nothelp her. Her mate possessed a horse and could travel much more quickly thanshe, and she had already wasted far too much time.

There would be nomore tears, not for herself and not for her adar.He would wish for her to scratch out whatever happiness she could from hercurrent circumstances, not dissolve into hopelessness.

And she would have himbe proud of her.

From what she hadheard whispered about by the more experienced dryads, bond-mates could feel one another, not only theiremotions but also their locations. More than once she would be speaking to oneof her sisterlings out in the forest when suddenly her mate would appear,bestowing a fond nudge and warm hand in greeting. Mairi had smiled and noddedand pretended she understood how they could so easily be found. But now as sheclosed her eyes and tried to imagine where Garrick might have gone, sherealised that aside from a vague sense of anger and annoyance, she could nottell which direction she should go.

Their bond was stilltoo new, too untested and ill-forged to offer any great assistance.

She refused to allowher frustration to turn to discouragement, not when her determination was stillso fragile.

Walking through thewoods without her escorts was disconcerting. The trees did not send out acheerful good morrow! and it wasaltogether too quiet. While her people were naturally silent as they walkedthrough the underbrush, there was still a feeling that someone was near, readyto offer assistance should it ever be required.

But not now.

She was not naive tothe dangers that these forests held. Bears would just now be wakening fromtheir long slumbers, disagreeable to company now that they no longer inhabitedtheir warm dens as they had all winter. For the most part dryads were acceptedby the woodland creatures, their senses attributing them more to foliage ratherthan a threat or meal.

Such would have givencomfort if only she could be certain that she still would appear so—already shewas losing her memory and physical nature to a more human disposition.

Courage.

She would havecourage and all would right itself.

So she plunged aheadinto the forest, grateful to replace that she was still speedy and light on herfeet, though she had to be careful not to jostle her shoulder too acutely asshe ran through the tightly woven branches. Before long, however, she grewweary. She had come to the last of the familiar trees, her mouth feltstrange—almost thick though dry as well.

She huffed. Herbond-mate should be here to direct her to what she needed!

Soon. For she wouldnot fail. Not in this.

Her ears prickled asthe sound of the stream as it changed into the beginnings of the river met herears.

And even if hersenses could not tell her where to replace Garrick, suddenly she knew that sheneeded a drink of the cool water.

She hurried onward,before stopping at the embankment. It did not appear very deep, she was certainshe could stand in it and it would come only to her waist. She was simplyunsure of how to drink. Did she kneeland bring the water to her lips with her hands or did she lean forward untilshe could sip directly, much as she had seen the does and fawns do?

The bits of stonebeside the river hurt her knees as she knelt, although she tried her best topick the softest places to do so. She scooped up the clear liquid cautiously,unused to being in contact with it in such form. Rain she knew, and she and hersisterlings enjoyed many occasions of dancing merrily through sudden midsummershowers while the dryons played enthusiastically on instruments carved from ancientwoods.

Mairi chastisedherself thoroughly. She would not dwell on such things. Not now.

The water was crispand refreshing, though she grimaced to discover that much of it soaked into thesilk of her sleeves instead of replaceing its proper way into her mouth. Butstill, as she sipped she decided that she quite liked this drinking business,especially with the way her mouth felt cool and sated the more she managed toswallow.

Her sleeves alreadydrenched, she stared down at her hands as they swished within the water. Shefound herself wondering what it would feel like to be utterly submerged. Would shefeel cleansed and renewed, or would the cold prickle her skin all over,demanding she escape?

She hesitated only amoment before deciding to risk it.

Perhaps she requireda new perspective. While she had never felt restricted by her people—far fromit as her days had always been cheerful and happy ones—now she could be trulyfree. Free to touch, free to explore, with no thought to whether or not she woulddisplease the elders or bond accidently with an unsuspecting dryon.

The water lapped ather ankles as she stepped forward, the moss slimy and slick as it coated therocky depths below. She took another step forward, leaving her skirt to puddleand become equally wet, marvelling as it alternated between sticking to herflesh and floating ethereally in the clear water.

Another step she tookand yet another, until, as she suspected, the water met her waist as she stoodin the middle of the stream.

Her toes felt almostnumb and she felt cold, colder thanshe ever had before. But there was something delicious about the frost as itdeadened the feeling of her skin, and with one last bout of purpose she sankbeneath the surface.

She was only underfor a moment and as soon as the burst of freezing liquid covered her head shepushed forward with her feet, once more standing as she gasped and spluttered,the icy prickling all the stronger as it pressed harshly upon her torso.

But she also feltexhilarated.

Eldared would havescoffed at her for doing something so silly, but Mairi found as she trailed herhands through the water in a spin that she did not care. Her heart poundedsteadily as she swished about, before finally her fingers turned a pale shadeof purple and they felt stiff as she bent them.

She stumbled out ofthe stream, tripping on one of the rocks as she did so. She unthinkingly caughtherself upon the rocky shore, and to her bemusement she discovered that tinypebbles had imbedded themselves into her palms. But what made her inhalesharply and cringe most was the way her shoulder loudly protested the action,and she breathed harshly as she waited for the pain to abate.

She would not cry.

Mairi rested amoment, hoping that what little sun managed to peek through the trees wouldbegin to dry her dress—and preferably, begin to warm her. But a slight breezewas beginning to send a chill throughout the forest and the longer she sat thecolder she became.

And very odd shakesovercame her on occasion which made her teeth click together in a strange waythat she did not like at all.

Walking with asaturated skirt was troublesome and when it stuck to her legs and tripped herfor the third time, she considered replaceing a sharp rock and cutting off a largesection of it.

But what stayed herhand was remembering that it was her adarthat had given it to her, and he had smiled at her so sweetly when she hadopened it on her name-day.

“It was yourmother’s, little one. Violet always suited her so nicely, and I am certain itwill do much the same for you.”

She had fought a lumpin her throat as her fingers skimmed the delicate silk for the first time, andshe had eagerly held out her fingers for him to touch with his own. Warmth andlove as she had always known from him had flowed through their bond at thesimple exchange, and she had promised to treasure it always.

There was nothing shecould do about the gash in the sleeve from where the arrow had damaged it, butshe would do her best to be patient with it as it dried.

Before long she cameupon a bridge that spanned the width of the river, a long dirt road stretchingominously to either side.

She nibbled her lipthoughtfully. She could keep to the forest and perhaps replace provisions in thatway, but already she felt horribly lonesome. Even if she could not replace herbond-mate immediately, she would welcome the company of someone. And many of the villagers she had seen appeared kindly,and maybe they would be willing to spare another biscuit or some thread so shecould mend her dress. She wondered if anyone had any silk worms nearby. Mostappeared in rough clothing that was not at all the luxurious fabrics she wasused to. Did their cloth and thread not come from such a lavish source?

A small stream ofsmoke emerging from the left beckoned her forward.

Her kin did not buildfires of their own, but she had often seen encampments that utilised them. Garrickhad done so, and she remembered now with a shiver the way it had felt so warmupon her back.

She would like onenow, preferably with something a bit warmer than the cold stream to drink.

The smoke was fartheraway than she expected, and she was quickly realising why the humans she hadencountered wore such strange coverings on their feet. Some part of hernymphlin heritage must have protected the delicate soles of her feet from thesharp branches and leaves that inhabited the forest floor, but now they wereexposed and every rock and twig poked harshly at her skin.

But she kept walking,for standing and thinking too much would only lead to more tears, and she hadexperienced quite enough of crying for the conceivable future.

Eventually a noisestartled her and she turned sharply and she saw a white haired man driving acart. It seemed old and rickety, and Mairi was very doubtful it could properlysupport his weight, though it did not seem to be considerable. There was also astrange wooden device stuck in his mouth that puffed out rings of smokeperiodically, and she stared at is quizzically.

“’Allo there, lass!Are you in a spot of trouble?”

He smiled at herkindly though she blushed and tugged at her skirt, trying to make it keep fromclinging quite so much to her legs. “I am, sir, if you are amiable. Would youhappen to know where I might stay the night?”

The man grunted andused the wooden stick in his mouth to gesture forward. “Aye. There’s a tavernnot too far that might have a room for ye, if’n you’re willin’ to pay.”

Mairi was not certainwhat it meant to pay, but she wassure she was willing to do what was necessary to be in the company of othersagain.

And perhaps herbond-mate would also require shelter and might seek lodgings as well.

“I am.”

He peered at her fora moment longer before patting the seat beside him with a gnarled hand. “Well,come on then, lass, I’ll be seein’ you to the door.”

She smiled at himgratefully, but hesitated when she reached the perch he was seated on. No stepwas readily evident and she wondered how one properly entered a cart. But yearsof climbing trees had taught her well, so she leapt up fairly easily—though theman still chuckled at her. “Ne’er seen one as graceful as you. How did you getall wet? Haven’t seen many a clouds this ‘morn.”

He nudged the horseonward with a flick of a large stick, and she eyed the creature carefully toensure it was unharmed. He seemed disgruntled at having to cease munching onthe long grasses that had popped through the gravel of the road, but did notappear otherwise injured.

“I went in the stream.”

The man gaped at her.“That water be freezin’ still! Lairds above, girl, you should have better sensethan that.”

Mairi blushed, notrealising that her little bout of curiosity should be seen as inappropriate. “Iam sorry.”

He shook his head, lookingremorseful. “I’ve got no blanket to offer ye, but you’ll warm up right as rainonce we reach the pub.”

She did not know howhumans expressed their thankfulness to one another and she did not wish to makeanother mistake by presuming it was the same as her kin. So instead she gavehim a soft smile and whispered, “Thank you.”

His ears turned redand he patted her arm with his free hand, and she decided that the wooden thingin his mouth produced a rather pleasant smoke that smelled faintly of cherry. “Whatis that?”

He eyed her,evidently trying to judge where her eyes had landed and to what she referred.“Me pipe? The wife don’t much care for me smokin’ in her kitchen so I do asmuch as I can on the way to market. Shame too,” he groused, “I make the finestsmoke rings in all the land.”

Mairi did not know ifhe spoke truly as she had yet to see another man make an attempt, but shenodded in any case. “Would ye care to try it?”

She nearly reachedfor it, out of idle interest and a desire to be polite, but there was amischievous glint in his eye that stayed her hand. “I believe you are jestingwith me.”

His grin wasinfectious and she thought he would have been a very handsome man indeed in hisyouth. “Aye. Have yet to replace a woman who cared much for pipe smoke.”

Mairi would haveliked the drive to continue for much longer but in another few moments he hadstopped the cart. “That’ll be the pub. Tell ‘em Harold sent ye and they mightgive ye one of their sweeties for only a ha’penny.”

She could not helpit. He had been precisely what she required to carry on, and she wished for himto know it. So before she leapt from the perch she placed her hand on his armsoftly, much as he had done. “Thank you for your kindness, Harold, I was muchin need.”

His ears turned thatstrange shade of pink again, and it looked odd indeed on a man his age. “Offwith ye, lass, I have deliveries to make,” he blustered, and she almost thoughtshe had done wrongly again except there was a slight smile on his lips thatbelied he was well pleased.

The tavern, or pub asHarold as also referred to it, was not quite as she had expected. Men sat aboutsmoking pipes and a few appeared to be playing games of some sort, though noneshe would ever like to play. One in particular seemed dangerous in the extreme,as a man was using his knife to replace the spaces between his fingers, and Mairithought it ridiculous to risk ones digits simply for a game.

But she would neversay anything and instead hovered at the door, unsure of how to proceed.

She had wanted people, to be sure, but as she staredinto the darkened room she wondered if this was precisely the kind of peoplethat would make her feel less alone.

A rather haranguedlooking woman appeared before her, and she took an instinctive step back at thescowl gracing her face as she assessed Mairi from head to toe. “What would yebe wantin’ girl? We aren’t fancy folk here.”

Mairi opened hermouth to retort that she had made a dreadful mistake and would take her leave,but a portly man appeared and scowled at the woman. “Don’t you be given her ahard time simply because she’s prettier ‘an you, Mabel. Back to the kitchenswith ye!”

He wiped his palms ona dirty cloth at his waist. “Watcha needin’, lass? Would ye be lost?”

And though he did notat all resemble her father in any manner of significance, the way his eyescrinkled about the corners as he smiled at her was so similar that to herhorror she choked out a sob. “I do believe I am.”