One Crown & Two Thrones : The Dragons Egg ( Book Two)

Chapter Seventeen - River Fairies - Gil

XVIII

River Fairies

Gil

With a rough shove, Gil fell before the Wolf King, who sat upon a great chair that was covered in a thick fur rug. Around him, hissing where silent men, women and children who stood watching on curiously. The journey back to the caves had been rough, and his body starving and beat, Gil felt powerless as he lifted his desperate gaze to the angered King.

"Once again my brother has disobeyed my orders, his only saving grace is that he had the decency to bring you back," Ulfr said as he sat patiently upon the beautifully carved chair, his long fingers tightly edged into the arms. To his left stood the beautiful and saddened Kya, her body covered in a fine gown, her golden hair tied back and her amber eyes upon him intensely. Ulfr, his fine silver hair cascading about him like a flowing river, blinked twice as he caught the look between the wolf and man. "Tell me what it is that our brothers are in search for?"

"A...a tree," Gil stuttered, his ribs burning with pain. "Some kind of special tree."

As his words flowed out, he heard the sound of whispers fill the chamber and looked about him, seeing the confused faces of the tribe. Ulfr got up from his chair and made for Gil with determined eyes and furrowed brows.

"How does your brother know of the Tree of Meer? It is sacred and secret amongst this forest," Ulfr said as he bent down so that his eyes were now levelled with Gil's.

"Your guess is as good as mine," Gil said with a shrug. "All I know is that my brother has a seed that was given to him by his wife and through a vision he was told to find the tree."

"A seed? What kind of seed?" Ulfr said, his voice now softening and his eyes relaxing.

"I'm not sure, it was a family heirloom, that is all I know," Gil replied truthfully, beads of water falling from the ceiling of the cave upon his face. Ulfr stared into his eyes as though searching for an inkling of deceit. With an inward groan he stood up tall once more and returned to his chair.

"You shall remain here until they return, not as a prisoner but as a guest," Ulfr said with a wave of his hand. "My daughter will look after you."

"But father!" Kya argued hotly. "I cannot...you know I cannot."

"I am not asking you to befriend the man, I am asking that you keep an eye on him," Ulfr said roughly. "For there are those amongst us who would see harm come to him." Gil gazed on at the angry princess, her hot eyes upon him, filled with hatred and abhorrence.

"Come!" she said through gritted teeth. His legs faint, his ankles chained and his hands, Gil tried to bring himself to his feet but found he could not to the laughter of those who surrounded him. Looking up, he searched for help, but the men simply stood away with eyes filled with disgust and would not step forward to aid him. Ulfr looked down at him, almost daring him to crawl. Kya stood with her back to him, her long golden hair shimmering against the light of the jewel encrusted wall. Ashamed, tired and hungry Gil forced himself forward, crawling on all fours across the cold ground, the sound of the chains vibrating across the cave. The laughs of the men and women grew louder as he tried to make his way over towards Kya. Crawling with his eyes upon the ground he felt the pain of a small rock as it was tossed across the cave at his body. Another small stone hit him upon the side of his forehead and he fell to the ground, wishing his life away. "Nugha!" Kya cried out frantically as she turned and walked over to Gil, forcing him up from the ground and onto his feet. Shaking, his lips trembling, Gil tried to smile but was roughly pushed onwards by Kya, who quickly turned her gaze from him, leading him out of the cave.