Eternal Entities

Chapter 14

Chapter 14:

"Hand over the coins you stole," Vanajja commanded. Valgus helped Aavistus to his feet. All eyes were on Vanajja.

"W-what are you?" the thug asked.

"You don't need to know," Vanajja answered. She pushed the sword closer to his neck. A drop of blood dripped onto the steal as she ordered once more, "The money."

"Fine, fine! It's on my belt! Take it, just please don't kill me!" he whimpered.

Valgus approached him and unhooked a small coin purse. He went back to Aavistus' side and Vanajja sheathed her sword. "Fuck off." The man scurried away. Slurs tumbled from his lips as he went along. The group stood in the aftermath of their battle. They were extremely battered and exhaustion was evident in each of their movements.

The fae boy emerged from his hiding spot. He flew over to Nağme and grew to the size of an average human child. His wings were slightly crumpled and his posture was hunched over. "I, uh, know a place that can help."

"No offense squirt, but I don't see why we should fucking trust you," Vanajja commented.

"It is my father's shop. He can heal you all. It is the least I can do since you're in this mess because of me."

There was a moment of silence. Valgus stepped forward and declared, "I trust you. Lead the way."

The fairy boy perked up slightly. He nodded and began walking towards an alley. Nağme and Aavistus relaxed and turned into their true avian forms. Valgus put the raven Aavistus on his shoulder while Vanajja begrudgingly let the nightingale Nağme roost in her hair. They proceeded to follow the boy.

The alley path was long and narrow. The group could only walk one at a time. When they turned a corner, shimmering lights of different colors floated around them. At closer inspection, the colorful lights were other faes. The boy would give small greetings in a foreign tongue every now and then. The group turned another corner to walk down a dead end. A sign of an apothecary was partway down. The doorway was covered in ivy.

Vanajja looked behind her and back at the door. She raised an eyebrow and the boy took notice. He assured in a shaky voice, "It is shady, but it is good."

"Hmm," Vanajja acknowledged. She kept a hand over her thigh with the dagger.

The fae boy entered the apothecary with Valgus and Vanajja in tow. A voice from the back called out, "Is that you Spivi?"

"Yes, Papa! I brought some customers too," the fae boy Spivi responded.

A tall fae man stepped through an archway. He cleaned his hands of the bottom of his stained apron. He had golden skin that made his orange-brown eyes stand out. His wings shimmered like the golden sun. He wore a shirt with a pinecone pattern with orange leggings. His ears were slightly more pointed than most faes, but they were still smaller than an elf's. A large mole sat next to his right eyebrow. At the sight of Valgus and Vanajja he winced and let out a low whistle.

"Well, it looks like I got a lot of work to do," he softly chuckled. "At least it is just the two of them."

"Uh, actually there are four," Valgus chimed in.

The two birds left their perches. In a blur of purple and blue magic, Nağme and Aavistus were once again in their humanoid forms. Aavistus fell to his knees. Nağme leaned heavily on Vanajja. The tall pirate curled her nose up in disgust but didn't push the avinian off.