The air was still and the forest quiet, very little to interrupt Vahaliaβs thoughts as she tried to focus along the horizon where Creature had swiftly bolted towards previously. It wasnβt Circeβs presence along the darkened tree line that caused Vahaliaβs attention to drift, but that of the visit she had to Cordeliaβs House.
It had been implied that Cordelia was blaming Damien, her brother-in-law, for concocting a poison harsh enough to nearly kill both Cordelia and Ricard. Both surely would have passed without quick and careful care butβ¦.poison?
It was always said to be a womanβs weapon of choice. However, Damien seemed bold enough to attempt something so sly. What Vahalia knew of him anyway. He had been rather elusive since before Valeriaβs death and even then, Damien could very well have paid off someone else to do it for him.
Could he possibly have been set up?
Knitting her brow due to the lack of focus, she eased her draw and lowered the bow in her hand as she stood upon the snowy plains of the Laeves overlooking the ridgeline of Circeβs domain.
What could have possibly caused him to want to act now? His brother had passed many, many moons ago and as it stood, there could have been a variety of other methods β sooner methods β to dispose of someone. Moreover, was he hoping to finish her and her Lordling off in the same breath of murder that Cordelia herself had been accused of exacting upon her late husband prior to Ricard?
A low sigh escaped the Lady Cress, vapors drifting into the frosty air as her eyes then scanned the treeline once more for Circe. A sharp whistle loosed and a directional bob of her head that caused Circe to slip away into the shadows of the tree and brush, all but her shadow seen skimming the forest towards Creature's direction.
There was a hunt taking place, but even still, her mind was malms away. Castien had been abroad, keeping herself busy with charters in Valnain, and Kaevia had still been absent upon her own personal quest which had no fruitful evidence as letters had yet to arrive.
The Keep often felt quiet, save for the little pitter-patter of the twins' feet and the peppered cries of Aradia throughout the night, which was expected when you shared spaces with young children. Starlight was quiet, just as she liked it but there was still the impending feast in the coming days that the Island had been preparing for. As a provider, Vahalia aimed to keep the tradition alive without disappointment.
It was the way the Cress family gave back to the locals in the area and with the new Year upon them and only a year or so of new traditions within Black Water, it was imparative to keep them flourishing.
Something in the air shifted and brought Vahalia back to the present, unfurling from her torment of quiet pondering as the ridge along the horizon began to grow with blips of color and the oncoming flight of the local antelope that Creature had been tracking and now, Circe had delved into the fray to assist in herding them. The loud whooping in the distance grew closer as each animal, nearly a small herd of twenty, frantically bolted to avoid their heels from being gnawed on that became dangerously close to Creatureβs maw and the way he snapped at them while giving chase.
Like a bansheeβs whail, Vahalia could hear Circe not too far behind as the excitement seemed to coil the entity into her element. Inky tendrils and whisps of void billowed into the air behind her familiars, keenly aware of their placement and presence in the controlled chaos that was stampeding directly towards Vahalia.
Standing firm, she drew the bow again, eye narrowing to track a target as she properly sought out two stags in the bunch, leaving the doe and fawns for later seasons and population, her golden eyes tracked the movement, the sound of her own heart in her ear but the ground under her feet gave rise to subtle shakes as the herd grew closer.
She breathed in, held it briefly and at the release, her fingers loosed the arrow as it whistled through the cold air and impaled itself into her targetβs eye. A direct hit which caused the animal to wobble, cry out, and then hit the snow.Β
The herd nearly upon her, she drew another arrow from her quiver and again notched it to line up another shot, finding the weaving stag in amongst the group, which had not provided a clear enough shot. Hooves rattled the ground under her and the thunderous approach of the antelope as several rushed past, kicking up an upheaval of the light snow.
As they took flight from the danger at their flanks, Creature had managed to wrestle one to the ground and without maiming it which provided Vahalia with the opportunity she needed for her second shot. The moment it stopped moving, Creature was up again, bristling like a dog shaking off the snow, and he was off again on the prowl as his entire massive frame on four legs continued his hunt with Circe close behind.
It was the whaling and cries from the darkened treeline soon after the herd moved on that told Vahalia that they had their prey. Prey she would let them feed on for their assistance as she had what she needed already and planned to prepare for the feast in the village by the morrow.
Slinging her bow along her shoulder she finally moved from her position towards the fallen game and tugged down the ebon mask that covered much of her mouth, hand diving towards the linkpearl at her ear, βBruce, Iβm ready for a cart.β there was a pause and a soft hum escaped her, βYes, about half a malm from the forest trail into the Laeves.β
A blip of static met her ear and her hand fell away as she crouched in the snow near the game before in the snow, clinging on to dear life from the shot that had not finished it but merely incapacitated it, βI thank you for your bounty.β she spoke to the animal before lowering a hand to its gaze and closing its eyes while her hand procured a proper dagger from her belt and chose to end the suffering it had been induring with one, quick and fatal jab.
All was silent again, but this time, the familiar metallic scent filled her nose, coupled with the mainstay sea-kissed air and vital that dappled the snow.
At least the Cress family traditions over the years and the expertise of her fatherβs hunting excursions she and Valeria had been forced to accompany him on proved to be productive, even now many years later. Venison would certainly make a delightful meal.
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