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To Court the Fèidh

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

2nd October, 2021

All Rights Reserved.

• Authors Note – This story was inspired by my dear friend, Possum, give him some love for this amazing story idea, and to use one of his creations in the tale. https://possum.sofurry.com/

Alexander slammed shut the book he was studying, the explosion of dust filling the air and nearly choking the young Apprentice. Taking the beeswax candle in its holder, he stood up and left the stuffy library and walked up to the main hall. Here, he looked at the high vaulted ceiling and his eyes turned to the mounted taxidermy heads of the beasts his order had killed.

Each one was mounted on a plaque, the date and species of said Therian or Were etched into the silver plate below it. He felt a sense of pride in what he and his Order had achieved over the centuries – ridding the known world of these vicious, savage beasts that preyed upon livestock and human alike.

He had yet to be officially indoctrinated into the Order, for ten years, had he studied, reading treatises, theories and even scientific journals about these beasts and he felt he knew them almost as well as he knew himself.

Pride is unbecoming in you young one... Come the thoughts of the Arch-Mage into his mind. You know nothing, are nothing, and will _ be _ nothing – if you think you know even a fraction about these beasts.

Chastised, Alexander hung his head. How did the Arch-Mage of their Order do that? Alexander wasn't a novice when it come to the magicks, but he was a lifetime away from his goals of standing against the beasts – guarded and warded – hearing their screams as the magicks seized them and their cries for mercy and a quick death.

Waving his hand over the flame of the candle, he watched as it leapt into his hand, forming into a tiny effigy of a mischievous imp, that cavorted and danced, thrusting its hips in erotic and lewd gestures.

Such magicks are for children's entertainment – Come the thoughts of the Arch-Mage again. Try that on a Therian, and it would be upon you in a heartbeat and you would wish for death, for what it would do to you, even I tremble to consider.

“Yes, master..." Muttered Alexander, as he closed his fist and the candle reignited.

Patience child, you grow more powerful each passing season, year upon year, has your knowledge and arcane potential grown exponentially. Soon, shall you be brought before me and the others of the Order, indoctrinated into our inner circle and shown the true mysteries. If you survive, shall you be chosen for a Great Hunt to test that which you have learned in these hallowed halls.

With a heavy sigh, Alexander nodded and walked out of the great hall, his mind filled with the dreams of his pending indoctrination and the Great Hunt, that would confirm his place within their Order.

*

Another ten years pass, and Alexander crouched on the cliff, his heavy cloak and hood mottled in forest colours to help him blend in. He had cast a concealment spell over himself, as he watched the hunt below. A young Therian, half human, half beast – a Whitetail Doe...

A Odocoileus Virginianus_ _his mind told him.

She screamed, darting to the left, then the right, as heavily armoured men surrounded her, their razor sharp lances and pikes held before them as they slowly advanced.

“I have done nothing - “ She wailed in terror, backing up against the cliff wall, her short fingers splayed out.

“Silence, beast!" One of them snarled. “Your kind are an abomination against man and Gods, and shall be dealt with accordingly!"

Alexander made his way down the cliff, navigating the narrow path with slow, but sure steps, as he walked towards the men. Some turned and bowed their heads at him, as he walked through their cordon and come to a stop level with the blades that held her against the wall of the cliff.

“Beast, hear me!" He spoke, his voice quiet, but the Therian screamed as if he'd shouted at her.

“Please!" She begged, falling to her knees and clutching her paws before her. “Mercy my lord, mercy!"

“Mercy?" Alexander growled, as he glared at her, his hatred of their kind nearly boiling his blood. “What mercy does your kind show those you prey upon? How many have you willingly murdered in cold blood – torn our throats with your own fangs?"

Hysterical, the doe dropped to the ground, prostrating herself before him.

“None my lord, I swear! We have not..."

“Enough!" Alexander snarled as he summoned his magicks, then raised his hands.

“No, please..." Screamed the Doe as she felt the eldritch magicks seize her and her fur and flesh began to burn as if it was plunged into fire. “Mercy, I beg of you!"

Alexander sought to make an example of her, starting at her ankles, the black flames licked and crackled as they charred fur and flesh down to the bones. His face wreathed in a look of pure rage, he intensified the agony, causing the fires to move slower.

“Please my lord, grant me mercy, I beg..." Come the hysterical screams of the Therian, before she beat at the fires with her palms, then shrieked as her fingers melted into scarred, blackened bones.

Uncaring, the humans watched as the Therian slowly burned to death in front of them, her screams long, agonising and her suffering horrific.

Alexander watched impassively, until the flames burned her corpse to charred, smoking bones.

When it was done, he walked over and stood before it, then he stamped a boot down on the blackened skull, feeling it crumble to powder beneath him. With a disgusted grunt, he turned about – the warriors of the Order kneeling before him in homage and respect.

It is done, child no more you are. Come the voice of the Arch-Mage in his mind. Welcome, Magi...

*

Alexander sat astride his horse in the woods, alone and introspective. He could feel the living forest around him, the wind in the trees whispering a language older than time almost. Dismounting from his horse, his leather soled boots crunching on the loamy soil and leaf litter, he knelt and pressed his fingers into the ground.

Power lay within the earth, ancient, powerful and completely uncaring about human, Therian or Were. It could be drawn upon, this ancient, sleeping power, by those who knew how – but with all magicks, it come with a cost. Something had to be given freely, to draw upon the magicks – be it a simple drop of blood, or as was recorded in ancient texts – for the highest of magicks – one's very life.

“I acknowledge and greet you - “ Alexander spoke, as he cast his mind out, brushing against the wild magicks that filled the woods. “I come in peace, with no ill intent or will."

He knelt on the ground, in thoughtful communion, when he suddenly become aware of a presence. His hand moving subtly towards his sheathed dagger on his belt, he closed his eyes and began to summon his magicks that eagerly come to his call.

“Be at peace child," Come a feminine voice. “You come into a grove without consent or permission!"

A grove? I was not aware of any Druid's in this forest...

Rising, he held his hands out, then as he turned, he dropped to one knee in a respectful bow.

“Forgive me, for I was not aware of intruding, such was never my intent, I greet you Forest Warden, with courtesy and I plead your forgiveness for my transgression."

Holding his pose, he kept his eyes downcast, until the figure stepped forwards and lightly placed a hand on his bowed head.

Alexander rose, then lifted his head, seeing the woman wore a beautiful forest green robe that brushed the ground, the hem dirty and slightly ragged. Lifting his eyes, he saw the cord belt around her slender waist, her thin fingered hands and finally, the pale white of her throat and the most intense brown eyes he'd ever seen, topped with hair of a deep raven black.

“I am Alexander, of the Order of the - “ He began.

With a dismissive wave of her hand, the enigmatic woman smiled and nodded.

“I know who and what you are, Magi, the moment you left your city, did I know of you. Do you think the animals and the birds and even the wind itself, does not speak too and through one such as I?"

“I once more beg your forgiveness Warden, truly, I did not mean to besmirch your gifts."

Frowning, she placed a delicate hand under his chin and lifted it up, gazing into his eyes with an intensity he'd never ever felt.

“I sense great potential within you child..." She spoke calmly, her voice melodic and as gentle as the winds themselves. “I think you will do nicely..."

He stared at her, as her fingers trailed across his forehead and she smiled, then whispered a single word...

Sleep...

His body slumped to the ground...

To Be Continued...