Larya sat next to an old fountain, her face set in a dark scowl.
About an hour ago, she'd separated with Lim. Lim had been very clear: The only way to save the muse sprite would be to get this 'Cellemist' away from town so things could be sorted out. Either Cellemist would agree to the muse sprite's terms, and Larya would have to help smuggle her out, or she would officially refuse, and the muse sprite would be free once again. Either way, the situation would be resolved without harming the
leannán sídhe
. The plan was simple, direct, and above all, moral.
Of course, Larya had no real way of accomplishing any of it. Especially with Snatch clearly unwilling to help. And how was she supposed to accomplish it
and
save Mier? They
needed
this antitoxin. Cellesixe had the only samples for a hundred miles, and she was only going to give it if the
leannán sídhe
could be successfully captured. It seemed unwinnable.
The worst part was, she wasn't even sure Snatch was
wrong
.
She just didn't think
she
was, either.
"Heavy thoughts?"
Giving a start, Larya turned. She was sitting on the rim of an old fountain bearing an angelic intersex elf figure as the centerpiece. When Larya had come here to think (well, brood, really), she had been alone.
There was now someone in the water behind her. Larya found herself looking at a shapely, curvaceous young elf woman. The woman had dark green skin, pointed ears, pouting lips, and bewitching silver eyes.
"Oh!" Larya started to get up, but her legs had fallen asleep from sitting so long. She quickly sat back down to avoid a fall. "I'm s-sorry, I didn't..."
"Didn't hear me?" the woman asked, smiling. "I'm sorry. I can be quiet. My name's Ceffy." She offered her hand to shake.
Larya took it. Ceffy's hand was slick with sweat. She looked like she'd just dived into the water, judging by her wet hair. "Larya."
"Mm-hm. I've heard about you." Ceffy gave a slow shake of her head. "Heavy matters with Cellesixe. Moral quandaries, amorous quarries. You must be
exhausted
."
"I... I guess so." Larya shrugged. She wasn't sure whether or not she could trust Ceffy, but considering she was an elf in the town of Celestia, probably not. "I'm not sure I should... discuss it."
"Oh, everyone knows anyways." Ceffy smiled, not unkindly. "It hasn't been exactly quiet, my well-endowed dear."
Larya blinked, feeling her face redden slightly at the brazen compliment. "Um... they do?"
"Oh, yes," Ceffy said. "And you might as well... get it off your chest." She winked. "Secrets weigh us down, love."
"I.. suppose." Larya still didn't feel great about this, but Ceffy's words made sense. Of course they knew what was going on between her and Snatch. She'd practically screamed it. Stupid, stupid. "It just... it isn't right. To kill a fey for just doing what she can't help doing."
"You are a druidess," Ceffy said, her voice low. "A voluptuous young druidess. Those ties to fey tug at you, weigh you down. They make it hard to think straight on the matter, don't they?"
"Yeah" Larya bit her lip. "And still... I mean, I feel like I'm compromising part of myself if I agree to any of it. Maybe I'm biased, but it's
still
wrong. We need to fight it."
"It's so hard to fight, though. You are battling uphill."
"But I can still fight."
"Maybe." Ceffy licked her lips, looking thoughtful. "But Cellesixe has never lost before. And you are only two. It is quite a burden."
"One, really," Larya grumbled. She tilted her head to the side, and added absentmindedly, "Well, two, counting Lim."
Ceffy's lashes fluttered. "Who is Lim?"
"A catgirl druidess I... " Larya stopped herself. She rubbed her head. "Ugh. I don't know why I mentioned her. She asked me not to."
"It's understandable." Ceffy reached out and put a hand on Larya's shoulder. "You're tired. It's natural to slip up."
Larya pulled away from the contact, eying Ceffy with mistrust. But Ceffy didn't seem to notice the gesture. Larya hesitated, then sighed. The strange elf was probably just trying to help. "Yeah, I... I just want to do the right thing."
"Doing the right thing is like trying to fly with lead weights. Doesn't it feel like lead weights, Larya?"
Something in Ceffy's cadence struck Larya oddly. She shook her head to clear it. "I guess?"
"Of course it does," Ceffy said, smiling. She had a very pretty smile, Larya had to admit. Her lips were plump and painted a brilliant ruby red. Her eyes were expertly shadowed, too. In general, her face was made up exquisitely—strange, for someone who looked like she'd just been swimming. "It's all so heavy. The elves have put you in such an exhausting, difficult position, Larya. I am sorry, for my part."
"Eh. You aren't responsible." Larya made a face. "It's that Cellesixe. She's the one driving all of this. I swear, if I could just—" She clenched her fists.
"Careful," Ceffy said, raising her eyebrows. "You'll wear yourself out with anger like that."
"But it's
evil!
" Larya snapped. She knew there were passersby overhearing. Well, let them. Everybody knew anyways. "She's—she's going to murder someone! And she's forcing us to help her do it!"
"Gently, my dear." Ceffy started to rub Larya's shoulder with one hand. Larya hadn't even noticed her reestablish the contact from earlier. "It's not safe to shout like that. You mustn't exert yourself, anyhoo. Not with all you've been through today."
"Ugh." Larya rubbed her eyes. "I just... I just..." She yawned. "I don't know what to do. I'm so tired."
"Have you tried lying down?" Ceffy suggested sweetly. "Having a small rest?"
"Um..." Larya shook her head. "No, I'm okay. Thanks. No offense, but some of the elves here are pretty predatory. I don't want to give them ideas about..." She waved her hand vaguely as an image entered her head. "About leaning over me while I'm lying there. Whispering hypnotic suggestions into me while my mind is elsewhere. Taking advantage of how... um, tired I am."
Ceffy giggled, though Larya wasn't sure at what. "You're a smart girl, Larya. A smart, noble, buxom young woman."