Private Tales Chasing Shadows

[Olyssa]

Olyssa spent the following days whilst they waited tormenting the castle staff. It had become a game of sorts amongst the servants to try and avoid the sidhe at all costs without making it appear as though they did so deliberately. The simple maids and cooks faired better, but it was the poor gardeners, stable hands and master of the hounds who suffered the most. She made a habit of pointing out how wrongly they planted new bulbs, or the pitfalls in their approach to breaking in young horses.

It was a relief to everyone when news of the darkness being discovered arrived.

The stable lad had the two horses tacked up in record time.

Olyssa patted Patience's neck whilst trying to hang on to her horses namesake as she waited for the King.

 

[Nairth San'Seya]

For all of the complaints that Nairth had received about Grovehaven's esteemed guest in those following days, San'Seya insisted upon taking her intrusions in a positive light. Many of the criticisms she'd levied against the methods of his subjects were valid, and rather than simply belittle them, she at least made an attempt to show them how to better their work.

Plus, The King could certainly think of worse ways that a bored Beast Keeper could keep herself occupied. That she busied herself with productive activities was something to be thankful for. Eventually, the time came when his scouts returned with news of the Parasite. They'd spotted it to the west of Grovehaven, headed in the direction of Fal'Addas and the Falwood Stone.

Troubling. Nairth doubted the filth would dare mount an offensive against an entire city in it's weakened state, but the idea that it could hitch a ride and move through the Portal Stone...

They needed to nip this in the bud before things grew any more problematic. Nairth did not keep Olyssa waiting long, quickly making his way outside wearing clothes far more suited for travel and much less elaborate and extravagant for the sake of being dramatic. Hoisting himself up onto his horse, he tied back his hair and cast a glance to Olyssa.

"Two hours due west. We must be careful, we'll be skirting mortal grounds." Nairth didn't need to tell her how non-fae could complicate things, especially if they ended up in a fight with the prey they pair of them sought.

Olyssa

 

[Olyssa]

"Bah! Mice are easily dealt with," Olyssa waved away his note of caution like she had waved away those before. Non-fae would clearly not be something the sidhe would allow to get in the way. Mortals were easily exterminated and whilst the elves were more problematic, fae magic was older. They possessed magic many ancient elves dismissed as myth.

"Come on," with a much more caring ask for Patience, the pair set off at a brisk trot. Both horses knew of the urgency of their quest and carried their riders as swiftly as was safely possible.

Despite Olyssa's grumblings they did skirt as many populated towns as they could and when they were forced to draw closer the sidhe wove a glamour intricate in its making to pass them off as elven travellers, perhaps a sign that she too would rather not deal with non-fae if it could be helped.

 

[Nairth San'Seya]

Nairth's eyes narrowed at Olyssa's brazen disregard for the lives of Falwood's mortals. Perhaps Autumn had not instilled the respect in her that Spring championed, but to kill a mortal for any reason other than a last resort was a direct affront to Spring Tenants, and San'Seya could only hope she would keep her brashness in check, lest their partnership come to an unfortunate conclusion.

"Discretion is the better part of valor, Olyssa. Let us avoid, rather than confront." It was the most pragmatic warning he could concoct in the moment, a gentle reminder of where she was, and on whose authority. Aggression towards those in his land would not be tolerated, Erlking be damned.

Thankfully, she seemed to take note of his words, even if she did not show it outwardly. The pair was able to avoid crossing through densely populated areas, and when they did encounter mortal life, Olyssa was quick to work up glamours for them. With only a slight delay in their timetable they soon rode upon the stretch of road that his Scouts had mentioned, leading up to the Falwood portal stone from Fal'Addas.

It was obvious that something was amiss. This path was well traveled, and yet there was an ominous silence in the air-- Even the birds did not sing above their heads, and the sun, while shining, almost seemed muted in its vibrance.

"Do you feel that?" He brought his horse to a stop and looked over at Olyssa, his face terse and wary. "Perhaps we should plant our feet here, attempt to lure him in with our gift. What say you?"

Olyssa