Morons and Monarchs

Chapter Fourteen: Helios🤕

𝕴 𝖆𝖒 𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖍𝖎𝖉𝖉𝖊𝖓.

Even after three different Faeries passed me, even after the heir herself kept glancing my way. As if sensing my eyes. I am still hidden.

Even after she fell off of that small hound directly in front of the bushes concealing me from view.

My golden hound hides in the underbrush, his bushy tail wagging back and forth as we wait. His golden shine is toned down in the darkness, my own hair losing its glimmer under the shade as well.

For a hound the size of a building, he can sure hide.

The small hound I believe was referred to as Freedom curls next to the heir. Apologizing.

Guard sits up at the sight, he sniffs towards the white hounds' direction.

Guard is blind, and I was given permission to train him after we found him wounded near the sea. He still refuses to go anywhere near a body of water. He can scent the water, it seems, whenever he is around one.

A golden hound is very rare, and a treasure that most people would sell for millions. But I couldn't. Not with his eyes being mauled off with what looks like a siren's claws. One of the many ocean dangers that lurk in Emain Ablach- the Land of the Sea.

It took us months to even get him to take a bath and wash off the grime and blood coating his elegant coat, let alone drink water daily.

Guard's front left paw was broken... like he was trying to escape the waters but accidentally tripped over a branch.

We guessed he was dragged under and was meant to be sold thanks to his rare fur, but he fought, broke his paw before being dragged completely under. And when the siren realised, it was a futile effort to even try to battle a hound thrice her size, she must have dug out his eyes so he would stop. But then she must have realised that a dead hound amounts to nothing and let him go.

And I decided to keep him. As not only a hound... but as a friend. As a colleague.

I scratch Guard behind his ears, wanting to laugh but not wanting to get caught.

Eirene is gone, and I went back here to check who was hiding here earlier. Only to see the heir and a female guard.

Learning about Court and symbols regarding fans.

It was fascinating, truly, to know that girls tell me all the time that they hate me and think me cruel. Or that they wish to get rid of me- I truly thought that they just dragged their little fans that were nothing but decorative items across their foreheads to be dramatic. I thought it was because they were flattered, not because they wished to get rid of me.

It kind of hurt my pride.

Then she was learning the terminology of a dagger... which was funny as Tech Duinn to watch.

Every single time she answered a question wrong, she had to restart. And every single time she got one wrong, it was the same one!

When she fell off of Freedom just now, it scared me at first. Like she could somehow see me from the other side of the bush.

She is only a half, so I am practically invisible to her half-seeing eyes. If a pure-blooded Faerie fell instead of her- with their advanced eyesight- then I would have a problem.

As the half fell, an Encantados guard that was positioned with Freyja before her death knelt beside her. Assessing for any actual harm. His dolphin snout turned down like he felt pity for the heir.

"Are you okay, Viviendel?" He asks in a chirpy dolphin voice.

Viviendel. Such an odd name. Unique and definitely not one Freyja would give out. Such a beautiful name, yet Freyja was keen on death. She ruled over it, to begin with.

I turn away from all the ruckus arising about the fallen heir. Not wanting any of them to scan the bush and see me. I pet Guards head, indicating for him to follow me. The field is barren, and hard to hide in if you are not in one of the bushes.

But they would not anticipate anything if I just rode through their little group, Viviendel saw me earlier after all, so it would only make sense if I left as well. Unlike the Queen, who rode through the busy road to get back to the castle. I prefer the open ground.

I mount Guard, giving him an aid to walk through the underbrush and trot through the pack of Encantados's and the one half.

"That was one mighty fall," I acknowledge as I stop next to Viviendel. Hopping down to offer her my hand and assistance. Freedom growls lightly.

The two guards, who I now recognise as the two guards, block my sight of her directly after she lets go of my hand.

"Hello, Helios," Delta bites out.

My smile broadens. "Why hello, Delta," I reply with a sweeter yet deadlier tone. "Long time no see,"

Viviendel shoulders her way between the two guards, and I can finally see the resemblance between her and her mother.

Azul steps back a little in order to let the heir breathe.

"Why... now that I look at you without the tall grass covering your features, I must say, you look like one of the finest Laritiones."

Laritiones': The prettiest, most desirable type of Fae. And I am mighty proud to be one as well.

"And dare I say you look like one of the ugliest Tomairsitkiz's I have ever laid eyes on." She replies, and my smile slips to a frown. I look over at Azul to see that he is trying to reign in his laughter. I glare at him.

Tomairsitkiz: The ugliest type of Fae ever. And a disgrace to ever be one.

Viviendel laughs cruelly. "I am kidding, Helios." She addresses me. At first, I was shocked that she knows my name, then I remembered that Delta said it before.

"Oh, why look who is here!" A fin lands on my shoulder, and I pivot around to see Ea standing there. Smiling. "Hey, Helios! I haven't seen you since Freyja's funeral." An engulfing silence overtakes us all as we remember the assembly. We just had pictures of Freyja without her mask on. Her flower.

And then her Everlasting Bloom, waiting to be given to the wilderness.

My wings flare to life behind me. I rarely use them, as I find them a cruel advantage if I am fighting a Bwardipuginin, Encantados, or even a Tomairsitkiz.

"Are you guys friends?" Viviendel asks, breaking the silence. She would not have been invited to participate in the digging of Freyja's Everlasting Bloom. Larger than most since she had more of an essence.

More power.

I smile, "To your guards' dismay,"

She looks confused, "Wait, so you and Ea are friends..." I nod. "But these two," She points at Delta and Azul. "Don't even like you?"

"I think she spelled out the whole situation correctly," I say, glancing at Ea. He nods as well.

"Okay, well, I must go do 'Tomairsitkiz' stuff," I narrow my eyes at Viviendel.

I scoff as I leave.

Tomairsitkiz, how could a sunburned, golden-haired guard be referred to as a Tomairsitkiz?