blooming in old overgrown flowerbeds, and the last flush of wildflowers tangled amid the yellowing grass. It was a late-season splash of color before they died like all things in this world. Soon they too would be gone. It made him long for the Eternal Forest and its consistent flush of beauty—consistent until it started to die, that was.
Experiencing seasons was unsettling for him. All around him, the trees were changing colors, preparing to sleep through the winter. The quiet of the hamadryads prickled through him uncomfortably, and he yearned to return to his kingdom. But he couldn’t… Not yet. Cacus was too much of a danger, and lurked in the forests to feed, easily crossing the borders between worlds.
Dorinda was no help either. Upon discovering that Cacus had slipped into the human world, he had attempted to confer with his sister and gain the insight and wisdom of the oracle of the vegoia. She had been angry with him ever since he concealed the entrance to her cave, but never had she refused her assistance, even if he had to suffer with teasing. Now it was different. She refused to emerge from her spring and ignored every entreaty from him. Only once had she deigned to speak, a voice echoing from the spray of her water. “Seek your light.” Nothing more, no matter how he entreated her, until finally he left and returned to the human world to pick up the fading trail of his prey.
Angered stirred in his breast anew. Unreasonable female.
The flutter of wings cut through the silence as a dove landed on the fountain. It cooed as it strutted, its head bobbing as it made its way along the edge of the fountain, pecking at the space in between the stones where seed had been blown and become caught. Another dove joined it, and then another, their wings beating the air. Selvans watched them, his skin prickling at their unexpected presence.
Sometimes a bird was just a bird… but sometimes…
The dry fountain gurgled, and his ears pricked toward it. He stiffened and then slowly stood, drawing himself up to his full height as water trickled and then splashed into the empty basin. The sweet scent of roses, myrrh, and ambrosia filled the air, and he saw a flash of gold moving behind the fountain seconds before a beautiful woman stepped around it. A playful smile danced on her lips, her amber eyes glowing with affection from her sun-bronzed face as dark ringlets of hair fell over her forehead and tumbled down her shoulders from the elaborate headdress she wore, studded with gems and flowers.
“Mother,” he greeted her quietly.
Her smile widened, and she brushed her hands along the drape of her dress as she approached, a tinkle of gold from her numerous divine ornaments ringing in the air. “My Selvans, my dearest son.”
He sighed wearily as her arms warmly enfolded around him. Her hand smoothed through his hair, and for a moment it was as if he were young again and he was at her knee as she showed him the beauty that dwelt within the heart of nature. Unconsciously, he leaned into her fragrant embrace, drawing her maternal warmth into him. He had felt so cold for so very long.
There was another memory of warmth, but every time he attempted to grasp it, it eluded him. He had nothing but a continuous freezing ache in the gaping wound within his soul. Torn deep, it had no origin that he could remember, but all he knew every day was suffering.
“I do believe that Eru would disagree,” he snorted mirthlessly against her velvet sleeve. Drawing out of her embrace, he offered her a small smile. “All the world knows that winged spawn of the god of war is high in your favor.”
Her warm laughter filled the air. “Perhaps he is the best known, but as you know, all of my children are favorite,” she said with a wink. Brushing a stray lock of hair behind her shoulder, she looked over him critically. “And that brings me to why I am here.”
He didn’t bother holding back his groan. “I don’t want to know,” he muttered.
“Pssh, don’t be that way. You always were the most stubborn of my brood. I’m not here to annoy you. I am here to help,” she said cheerfully as if such news should please him.
He winced and attempted to deflect her sudden interest in him.
“Don’t you have other children you can ‘help?’” he asked.
At his demand,