Hunting for Eggs
Tristan stood under the shade of a tall oak tree, with Elysia by his side. They watched the younger children gathering eggs for the Tree-King Festival, in remembrance of when El’Tihir had used the Power of Division to create enough eggs, from one egg, to feed an entire army. The eggs were dyed in many speckled colours and hidden beneath the brush in the gardens of the Royal Courtyards. Tristan had decided that this year he would not be part of the hunt.
‘Why don’t you join them?’ Elysia asked with a sidewards glance.
‘I have to keep an eye out for the demon,’ Tristan replied. He still carried the quiver with the remaining arrows he was able to salvage. Some had been too damaged to use, but he had managed to find seven that were still sharp at the blade tip.
‘You wounded him pretty badly from what I hear,’ Elysia said. ‘I think he will be licking his wounds for now.’
‘We don’t know that for certain,’ Tristan replied.
‘Well,’ Elysia said, ‘we are safe for now.’
‘It was close though,’ Tristan said. ‘Really close. I need to keep a sharp eye out in case he returns.’
Neverend was sitting at his feet. He had kept the wolf close whenever he could be taken away from his mother, who was still recovering from the night that the demon attacked.
‘You were very brave that night,’ Elysia said.
‘I just did what needed to be done,’ Tristan said with a sigh. ‘I’m lucky I had the arrows to guide me. But I’m worried they won’t wound the demon, now that the quiver is no longer using the Power of Division.’
‘We are well guarded,’ Elysia said. ‘The Captain of the Guard has made certain his men are on top of the way this demon behaves.’
‘And what if he tries a different tact?’ Tristan asked. ‘What then?’
‘I don’t know,’ Elysia admitted. ‘Some things cannot be controlled. We must trust to fate.’
Tristan was silent for a time, until he admitted, ‘I liked the song. Thank you.’
‘You deserved much better,’ Elysia said with a smile.
‘It was beautiful,’ Tristan said. ‘I couldn’t believe you wrote it for me.’
‘It shall be a part of the Tree-King Festival for many years to come,’ Elysia said. ‘You have become a symbol for the people. You are my hero.’
‘It was nothing,’ Tristan said with a wave.
‘I’ll never forget what you did for me, Tristan.’
‘It’s not a big deal,’ he said with a sniff.
‘Let’s go and collect a few eggs,’ she said. ‘For traditions sake.’
‘Alright,’ he said, then followed her onto the field to search for speckled eggs.