Welcome back to the fae world! This short vignette does not directly impact the plot of Heck’s Exile, but will give you some insight into the season’s characters. Sennen is the female Harmonic of the Sky Clan. She is distantly related to Junya (Great-to-the-nth-degree Aunt). This meeting takes place shortly before Junya’s hatching, and it’s written from Treth’s viewpoint.
“Move away, you luggort! I was here first.”
Laughing, I splashed my brother, Enno, leaving water droplets on his hair. It disrupted the duck-egg glamour on his plaits, causing him to scowl. We were both naked in the hot springs that served our underground home.
“Admit it,” I said. “You’re loam all over. I don’t get why you changed your hair today. The females love the earth in their fingers.”
Enno blushed. “Our Clan might,” he admitted. “But we’ve got sky fae coming. They like brighter colours.”
I reached for the soap, briskly lathering it over my own hair and skin. “Why would you want one of those flitterbugs for a mate?” I asked, incredulously. I winced as one of my fingers brushed over a raised welt on my hip, left by a fox vixen. She’d lost her dinner in the tussle, but I’d nearly lost my life. “The Sky Clan are skinny twigs that never stay still. Don’t you want someone you can bounce off?”
Enno gave me a salacious grin and shimmied his wings. “Then why do you dye your own hair with madder root? Those orange tips can be seen a mile off, and you can’t switch up the colour.”
I rinsed off the soap and ran my hands over my wings, checking for rips and dead skin. “I dye my hair to please Mam, so I can spend my glamour on more practical things, like shadow-casting. I might be able to cover up my hair whilst scouting out prey, but I can’t hide my wings.” They were stark white with black edging and a pleasing spot pattern. Unfortunately, they also stood out against every grass blade, root and leaf in the forest. As an albino fae, I had the shortest life expectancy of anyone in the Clan.
Enno wrinkled his nose in understanding before wading out of the natural pool. The steam drifted lazily in the air before seeking the outside vent, and a small procession of ants skirted the rocks. A single carrier diverted to Enno, who picked up the preferred leaf fragment and dismissed the ant. The message swirled between his fingers.
“Well?” I asked lazily.
Enno raised his eyebrows. “Maybe I shouldn’t say. You prefer to hide after all.”
I reformed my fingers in a hex shape, ready to shock him. “Don’t play games when you’re naked, brother.”
“As are you. Either way, we’ve got an illustrious visitor coming. Very powerful. Perhaps too much for yo - ooof!”
I stepped over his twitching body to pick up the message. “A Sky Harmonic. The Harmonic?”
Enno grabbed my ankle and knee, flipping me onto the floor with a rolling move. His laid-back manner concealed the fact that he was the best hand-to-hand fighter in the squad. “Yes. She’s back. Sennen ap Anneth herself.”
I sighed.
“C’mon.” Enno implored me. “It’s an honour.”
I reach out for my clothes, my skin moon-white against the muted shades. I almost wished I were dirty again.
“Scouts don’t go into the sky, brother. We stay hidden for a reason.”
*
Mam lined us up outside the holt - the full teylu. It had been a good spring with few losses, and she had eight unmated sons, plus nephews, brothers and half-brothers. My female relatives stood behind her like a rainbow army, glamoured up to the eyebrows. I cast a quick, anxious glance upwards at the ground shield that kept out the larger hunters. A pine marten would create a red ruin in moments, with everyone outside.
“Today is a historic day,” Mam announced. She was dressed in snapdragon purple with silver swirls. “The Elder Harmonic will select one of you as a life companion. She chose our ancestor on the battlefield of the last war a millennium ago, as he proved her most trusted and courageous warrior. He never failed her, nor did any of her other mates from this lineage. Today, you will follow that tradition and be honoured with the same.”
At that point, I tuned out. Mam was pompous when she was nervous, and her speeches went on forever. I much preferred Da, who was a fae of few words and fast action. He wasn’t present, which meant he must be on escort duty.
“…so, select a gift from the old beech stump and arrange yourself around the glade.”
Thank Nion, she had finished!
My relatives made a run for the table, but I lingered back. I had built myself a simple life of hunting, gardening and pranks, dreamed up by my sisters. I did not want the politics or high drama of a leading fae. Instead, I hungered for acceptance. There were fae who looked at me kindly. Husta or perhaps Camoine from the neighbouring holt, with their healing hands and shy smiles.
Mind made up, I drifted towards the stump. The most exotic things were taken, leaving a few bedraggled flowers and herb arrangements. In one of the wooden cracks, I spotted a trio of hazelnuts, still fastened to their branch. That would do. I hurried over to the far corner, next to the patch of inkcap mushrooms and pushed a grin onto my face.
Our neighbours came in first; other Earth Clan lineages with wings of ash-grey, orange, red and black. I spotted Husta, her hair wrapped in a pink half-shell with the robes to match. I raised my branch hopefully, but she darted over to a group of my brothers on the grass knoll.
From the front of the holt, the musicians started a soft drum-beat on mouse skin.
Da swooped down, his flaxen face and stone robes looking almost benign. He could hide with equal ease in a quarry or a cornfield - something I often envied him for. In his wake came a procession of Sky fae, dressed in soft leggings and tunics with their dragonfly wings. I snorted. I could break them with one hand.
Da collected Mam’s arm and bowed to a patch of air. It shimmered and gave way to the most striking female I had ever seen. She had black hair and a black lacework dress that fell to her feet and concealed nothing. Her skin gleamed between the threads, showing every dip and curve. Her lips were berry red, and she moved with the grace of a predator.
I couldn’t stop staring. When a bee flew too close to my face, I snapped my mouth closed, only realising then that it had been open. Given my dry tongue, it might have been that way for a while.
She had not even looked in my direction.
Sennen said something to Mam and flicked her fingers upwards. A golden haze of motes fell over the glade, leaving the males gently glowing. Eager prey. The rest of the Clan clapped and cheered; I waited.
Enno kissed Husta’s hand and made his way over to me. “Are you dancing? Camoine will be here shortly, and we can form a flying square.”
“A moment more,” I said, still distracted.
Enno followed my gaze. Sennen was talking to one of our uncles, who held up a gold coin. He glanced at my meagre offering and chuckled. “You don’t have a chance.”
“Mmmmn.”
“Come and join us. Husta thinks you’re exotic.”
I lingered, reluctant. If I moved, I might miss her attention. If I stayed, I would miss Husta. Enno tugged my arm impatiently.
“What about a wager? Present yourself to the Harmonic now and get it out of the way. When she rejects you, we go dancing with the ladies, and you can scrub my feet in gratitude afterwards.”
I felt my anger flare up. Of all the people, Enno had been my best supporter. Even he didn’t think I had a chance.
“What if she chose me?” I asked. Just to be provocative.
Enno appeared nonplussed. “If she chooses you-well…”
“No glamour for full moon cycle,” I said, feeling vicious.
“One moon!”
I flexed my nut-branch. “What’s more likely?”
Enno stared at the line forming in front of Sennen. Two of our younger brothers were bowing in front of her, tousled hair bobbing in the sun. “As you wish. I’m looking forward to my foot wash.”
I gulped and walked forward whilst I still had the courage. Enno fell in behind me, and I felt, rather than heard, his chuckle.
We had to wait as the queue diminished, each male dismissed after one or two questions. They were not the usual ones either - Sennen didn’t seem to care about our warrior status or wealth. Instead, she wanted to know the colour of the sky this morning, or their last conversation with an outsider.
Mam gestured to me. Feeling awkward, I bowed and proffered my branch.
“And who are you?” she said from above. Her voice was calm and deep.
“Treth Kledh an Gors, Harmonic.”
The branch lifted from my palms, and I straightened up, sweating. This close, I could see the freckles across her cheeks.
“You have an interesting choice of name,” she said. I stood tall and tried not to flinch as she scrutinised me, toe to wing-tip.
“Ah - not really,” I said depreciatingly. “Treth is a normal Earth name.”
She grinned then, vixen-style. “That’s not what I meant. Everyone else used the land version of your lineage name; an Gors. You were the only one to include the shadow. And you are the first adult ghost fae I’ve seen in over two hundred years.”
I shifted from foot to foot. “I’ve had quite a few near-misses growing up, Sky Harmony. I embraced the shadows as I didn’t want to be a snack.”
Sennen laughed then, a smoky chuckle. “Indeed, Shadow-Treth” She reached up to the hazelnuts and cracked them in one slap. The first kernel fell into her waiting palm; the other two fell on the floor.
“Pick them up for me,” she said lazily. I glanced at Mam, half-hoping for guidance, or perhaps an escape. Was this happening?
Mam was beaming. Da gave me a small nod.
I knelt and picked up the nuts, wedging them under the elbows to shake the dirt from my hands. This felt surreal.
Behind Sennen, the musicians switched to a dance tune. The Harmonic transferred my gift to one of her attendants and positioned me in the centre of the glade. A circle of dancers formed around us, and I realised, with an aching heart, that I was the centre of attention. My brothers were a mix of bafflement and jealousy. My sisters seemed relieved.
“Eyes on me,” Sennen said sharply. I winced and dipped my head in apology. “I’m not used to this, Sky Harmony.”
Her cool fingers lingered on my cheek. “Just follow my lead.”
The rest of the dance was a daze. For the first time in my life, I ignored the attention.
Let them whisper.
Let them stare.
The only thing that mattered was her.
I kept my eyes on Sennen and only broke out of my trance when she led me away from the party.
“Sit and drink,” she commanded. Unlike me, she was relaxed and at ease. Another attendant darted over with cups of light cider, and I realised how parched I was. I drank the liquid in three gulps.
“Better?” she asked. I noticed then, she was flexing her right hand, shaking out the fingertips.
“Cramp?” I asked solicitously. She gave a small grimace. “One of the penalties of living for so long, Shadow-Treth.”
I slid to the ground in front of her and massaged her palm. She closed her eyes with pleasure and gently groaned. I took my time, tugging her fingers and loosening the muscles around her thumb. “One of the pleasures of the Earth fae, Sky Harmony,” I said, smiling. “We can soothe anything made of flesh.” She looked more approachable, with her eyes shut.
“Sennen, please.” She withdrew her hand and looked at me intently. “You show promise, Treth. I need a companion who is skilled, observant and devoted to me. In return, I can grant you almost anything you wish.”
I hesitated. “My wings? My skin?”
Her eyes softened then, perhaps a little too much in pity. I bit back a retort; if anyone knew better, it would be this Elder.
“I can change them if you want, Treth, but no one in my Clan will care. You will not carry the same risk as down here on the ground.”
I blinked, uncertain. The hope felt almost too painful. “Really? That’s it? But if you like how I look, why visit the Earth Clan in the first place? You’d find more variety in the sea or the sky.”
Sennen shook her head, exasperated even whilst she was amused. “I can’t mate with my descendants, Treth! It’s unlikely I can have hatchlings now, but the possibility still exists. This arrangement with your lineage was the best solution.”
I coughed. Everything felt like it was moving too fast. At the same time, what else did I need to know? A list of her ancestors? A tour of her fields? Sennen was not like any other fae in our Clan.
“No hatchlings?” I said, when I regrouped my thoughts.
Sennen took both my hands in hers. “No. However, you will have the care of our entire race instead. That’s enough to occupy anyone’s time.” She raised her eyebrows. “Is it too much?”
In my mind’s eye, I could see my tidy life, broken like eggshells on the floor. The soft hum of my days would be fragmented between a thousand disputes and the chaos of fairs and fights. I hesitated, and Sennen’s fingers squeezed mine.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I’ve always watched from the shadows. I track and hunt. I don’t like attention. I don’t lead.” I threw a panicked glance towards the holt. Da was watching me intently.
Sennen put a single fingertip on my chin, bringing my focus back.
“I don’t need a leader,” she told me. “I need someone to follow my lead. Someone quiet and stable to safeguard my peace when the world is falling to pieces around us, Treth.”
I stilled. I felt like the mouse in front of the snake. There was nowhere to run and no way to hide - but did I even want to run? She saw me for what I was.
“Be mine,” she said again and kissed me.