Chapter 4

Poppy, along with a large number of other pixies, stood on a tall rock overlooking a frozen creek. The Spriggans, numbering no more than thirty, positioned themselves on the other side of a tree line. From what Poppy could see, the pixie scouts had interrupted the family of Spriggans from setting up some sort of campsite. While the two groups stared at one another, Bria along with Xera haggled with an extremely large Spriggan who stood on the other bank.

Sliding down the snow-covered rock, Poppy decided to get a better look. Although she couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary, being so new she realized if there were something wrong, she probably wouldn’t have been able to tell anyway. At least her sisters, although looking apprehensive, were thankfully not preparing for battle. Finally losing patience, the green haired pixie glided towards the creeks edge. Laurel quickly followed.

“Menadue must be over there.” For a brief moment, Poppy thought she felt the sword and the Spriggan’s presence. “Can you feel it?”

“What? You mean the Spriggans; yes they don’t feel exactly right, do they?”

“No, I mean yes, I agree with the Spriggans but I was talking about the sword.” Poppy decided that crossing the frozen creek before something was decided between the two leaders was probably not a good idea.

Laurel gave a curious smile. “Oh, you’re telling me you can feel the sword.”

Poppy nodded.

Laurel looked at her friend with renewed interest. Before she could say anything else, Syringa dropped from the sky.

“What’s happening?”

“Poppy says she can feel Samphire’s sword.”

“Really” Syringa raised an eyebrow. Making a face, she looked across the creek. “I can feel something, definitely out of place. No that’s not right, there is something darker.”

“Menadue”

Syringa turned her head towards Poppy. “Must be.”

Laurel pouted. “I don’t feel anything.”

As a very tall and thin figure glided of the tree line to stand across from them, Poppy asked. “Who is she?”

“She is one of the Spriggan wives.” Laurel made a face.

A second tall figure appeared and then a third. They were all obviously female and very beautiful. However, it was a dark beauty; their eyes, hair and even their clothes were as shadows. The Spriggan wives were dressed in long black and silver dresses that ran from their necks to their ankles.

Across from the giant Spriggan, Xera noticed the appearance of the wives as well. Keeping an eye on one of the tallest, she turned her attention back to the current leader of the Spriggan family. The Keeper wasn’t particular surprised that the last leader had been disposed of by this beast a number of years ago. Xera didn’t particular care for Piran, the last Hembrynkyas, however even he didn’t deserve to be eaten by this creature; the horrible fate for those who lost the fight for the family leadership.

“Hembrynkyas Jago, do you agree?” Bria asked once more. The large Spriggan reluctantly nodded.

“By Ash, Oak and Hawthorne.” Jago grumbled following the ancient forms. “Agreed, three days no more. Perhaps you and I can share a cup of moon-mead to celebrate our friendship.”

Bria grimaced then slowly nodded; following the ancient forms required her to share a drink. One of the Spriggan wives brought forth two silver cups brimming with a bright golden liquid. Immediately the brute Jago threw the cup back pouring its contents down his gullet in one gulp. Bria seemingly resigned to her fate did the same. However, the two reactions were very different. The mead seemed to have no effect on the large Spriggan while Bria’s entire body quivered. Letting out a soft moan, the leader of the pixies almost fell to her knees.

Jago’s laugh echoed throughout the trees. “What if I threw in two full casks of moon-mead? Would you agree to an additional three days?”

Bria shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Three days was more than enough for these Spriggans to be in her Princess’s forest. “No Hembrynkyas Jago, three days only.”

The leader of the Spriggan actually seemed surprised. “Whatever you say Bria, three days it is.” With a laugh, Jago turned away and headed back towards the trees.

With the ancient ritual concluded, Xera gave a warm smile to the tallest of the Spriggan wife. Crossing over to the other side of the creek, she greeted the raven-haired beauty. “Greetings Ili, so Jago leads your family now.”

The tall Spriggan wife shrugged. “Those are the ways of our males; if Piran had wished to be leader longer he should have been more nimble.” She then gave the Keeper a half smile. “Still the other families fear him which makes our travels easier.”

Xera nodded, “I understand you have a new member of your family one called Menadue?”

Ili stared at the Keeper for a moment. “So you have heard of him, but then again, you did battle with his family over the summer.” Slowly the tall Spriggan wife began to move away from the others, her voice barely above a whisper. “Menadue and Jago have combined our two families in the belief that it will make us stronger.”

“Why is he then still alive?” Xera stood in front of the Spriggan wife, hiding her from curious eyes.

“Jago claims Menadue and his family look to him for protection. That one willingly proclaimed that Jago was a true Hembrynkyas and there was no need for fighting.“ It was rare enough when two families combined however, there still could still only be one Hembrynkyas.

“Seems unlikely.”

Ili turned her head wondering what Xera was looking at when a well-armed Spriggan strode forth from the tree line. Xera was curious when Menadue was going to reveal his presence. Like Poppy, the Keeper had known for some time that he stood hidden among the shadows of the trees.

The raven-haired Spriggan wife laughed. “Jago believes in Jago.”

As the Keeper and Ili continued their conversation, Poppy slipped across the creek to walk among the crowd. A number of her sisters had already begun to mingle with the Spriggans to haggle over the numerous objects they had acquired on their travels. As Poppy watched one of the Spriggan wives walk by, she thought that they seemed eerily familiar. Smiling to another one, Poppy asked. “Do the wives remind you of pixies?”

Syringa grimaced. “Yes.” The purple haired pixie quietly explained that there were indeed old stories that told of unfortunate pixie prisoners forced into marriage by the Spriggans. The very thought made any pixie shiver in disgust and horror.

Suddenly Poppy felt a familiar presence behind her. From the tree edge, a well-armored Spriggan emerged. “Menadue.” Poppy whispered to her friend. Looking about, she could see that his presence was not lost on others.

The Spriggan named Menadue also became aware of the attention and laughed. Ignoring the withering stares, he turned his back on the group of pixies and began to speak to one of the Spriggan wives.

Laurel almost shouted. “Why is he here? That one isn’t part of this family.”

“That sword, he is purposely insulting us.” Syringa scowled.

Poppy nodded, she could tell that the tension in the air had increased dramatically. She knew only the peace that was just agreed upon kept the Spriggan from being assaulted by a score of angry pixies. A slight commotion off to the side seemed to diffuse the situation a little. A Spriggan male was laughing as a blonde-haired pixie stumbled away wiping her mouth with disgust.

“What’s going on over there?”

Syringa sighed. “It’s an old dice game called Letum...foolish.”

“Spriggans do love their dice games.” Laurel commented.

It didn’t surprise the new pixie in the least that these ancient beings also loved to gamble. The green haired pixie remembered travelling to Vegas at least once a year for a various medical conferences. Elaine would always accompany her. Matt’s wife loved the glitz and glamour but especially the shows. Poppy was also no stranger to the gaming table. Like many of her generation, as a young medic Matt learned how to play craps in the Marine barracks but was comfortable enough later in life to play in some of the larger Casinos. It was a shame she couldn’t really get into the game, there was always too much going on.

Poppy smiled, no wonder she lost a lot more than she won. “Letum, sounds Roman. What are the stakes?” She was curious as pixies had no real need for hard currency.

“Kisses.”

“Kisses?” The green haired pixie made a face. What an odd thing to bet. “For what?”

“Moon-mead.”

From the way Bria reacted, Poppy wasn’t too surprised. Intrigued she strolled over to get a better look at the game. As usual, the pixie discovered that there were a number of side bets going on as well.

“They cast lots three times, adding the dice together with the highest score winning.” Laurel and Syringa pulled her friend off to the side so they could get a better look. Another red haired pixie who had been involved in Poppy’s early snowball fight, threw a pair of bone colored dice on the ground. As the dice came to a stop, the pixies as a group groaned. Across from her a particularly ugly Spriggan male nodded, reaching over he picked up the pair of dice. With a wide grin on his lips, he shook the dice in his hands then made one last throw. Unfortunately, the red haired pixie lost. Stunned at the turn of events, she didn’t even see the Spriggan move to claim his prize. With a cry of disgust, the pixie flew away.

“You have not played Letum before?”

Poppy felt Menadue and the sword approach long before he spoke. Turning her head, the young pixie looked the Spriggan in the eye. “Can’t say that I have.”

“A shame, though you pixies should know better. We Spriggans throw lots at every opportunity. One must always be willing to take risks; don’t you agree?”

Was that a challenge and why would she bother to challenge him? The only thing she was interested in was his sword and he wasn’t going to gamble away that blade, at least not for something as simple as a kiss.

“Would you care to try?”

“Not really.”

The Spriggan raised an eyebrow. “Even for moon-mead?”

“I’m not particularly interested in gambling for something I haven’t tasted.”

“Oh come now...you have never tasted it?”

Poppy shrugged. Why was Menadue bothering with her?

Laughing, the Spriggan walked directly through the center of the game and poured himself a mug from an open cask. “Here try it.”

Poppy looked at the golden liquid as if it were poison.

“Go ahead, it won’t hurt you.” Laurel sighed.

Reluctantly Poppy reached for the mug. She liked alcohol as much as the next person but magicked liquor was beyond her experience. As the golden liquid passed her lips, she felt as if parts of her body were on fire. Caught totally unawares, the young pixie like her Clan Chief let out a soft groan. Gods, it was like an orgasm in a cup; no wonder her sisters loved this stuff.

“Thanks.” Poppy rasped, passing the mug back to the Spriggan with trembling hands. If the stories of the wives were true, it was because of moon-mead.

Frowning, Menadue noticed that the pixie had not emptied the mug. Pouring the rest of the golden liquid down his throat, he tossed the mug back to its owner.

“So what do you think?” The Spriggan said with a knowing smile.

“Interesting to say the least but I’ll have to pass.” Poppy tried to sound disinterested. Certain parts of her body were still generating heat. The thought of having another sip pulled at her mind. Thankfully, she hadn’t drunk a large quantity of the mead so was able to slowly get herself under control. If nothing else, the very thought of kissing a Spriggan, much less Menadue, made her nauseous. Like Jago, he seemed surprised that Poppy declined more mead. “Anyway, why so much interest in me?”

“If I am not mistaken, you and I have a mutual friend. Besides, there is nothing wrong with being friendly.”

Poppy eyed Menadue. She was sure that thoughts of friendship were far from the Spriggan’s mind. The green haired pixie could feel Samphire’s sword on his waist, its music playing softly inside her head. To her surprise, whatever lingering affects the moon-mead had on her instantly vanished. “We do, who might that be?”

Looking down at the blade, he looked rather alarmed. “So it was you in the forest?”

Poppy shrugged. “Perhaps and what if it was? You had no business being in the forest without our permission, plus tossing those darts at me.” The green haired pixie shook her finger in his face. “Not very hospitable.”

Menadue grinned, revealing shark like teeth. Placing his hand on the hilt of Samphire’s sword, he commented. “You suffered no ill effects. Still whatever magic’s you cast in the forest will not help you.”

Poppy made a face. “I have done nothing.”

“Don’t play games, pixie.” The Spriggan male half drew the sword, then thinking better of it, slide it back into its sheath.

The confrontation was not lost on others. “Is there a problem?” The tall Spriggan wife named Ili pushed through a small crowd of onlookers that had been forming around the pair.

Menadue stared at her for a moment then shook his head. “Nothing you need to be concerned yourself about, woman.”

“He’s accusing Poppy of casting magic on him.” Syringa said coming to her friend’s aid.

“Why do you believe that Menadue? The pixies always honor the peace.” Strange for Menadue to become so agitated Ili thought to herself. She believed the pixie’s story but she also believed something else was going on.

“Is there a problem?” Xera too joined the conversation.

“This also doesn’t concern you, Keeper.” The Spriggan male growled.

“Of course it does; if it involves one of my sisters then it’s of interest to me.”

Turning he back on the other, he confronted Poppy. “The sword isn’t yours. Whatever magic’s you cast won’t help you retrieve it.”

She smiled, so that was the problem. The sword’s song had not stopped playing inside her head. Poppy had no idea if the weapon was alive but she could tell that it did not like Menadue in the least. “Perhaps she just doesn’t like you.”

That comment brought forth quite a number of pixie giggles. Spriggan males and females alike also found it amusing. Menadue of course did not. Without another word, he began to walk away but stopped. Reaching into his belt, he retrieved a set of bone colored dice. “I’ll dice you for it pixie.”

All conversation around the frozen creek stopped.

Poppy bit her lip; surely, the stakes were much higher than a simple kiss. “And if I lose?”

Menadue turned around, with a none too friendly smile on his lips. “Then you will be my Sclabhai.”

With that every pixie and Spriggan began to speak at once. Laurel ran over to her friend. “No you can’t.”

Poppy noted her friend's panic, whatever he just said wasn’t a good thing. “What is a Sclabhai?”

Xera stepped forward. “A slave.”

That word was like a bucket of ice water splashed all over her. The stakes were very high indeed and all that for a simple sword. Frowning, the young pixie thought, no that’s wrong it’s more than for just a sword. Like the colors on the battlefield, the weapon meant everything to her sisters and it lay in the hands of the enemy. One part of her wanted to hesitate, to stop and run away. However, an older part remembered taking life and death chances every day. Every time Matt stood up in the middle of a fire fight to help a brother in need, there was a chance he would catch a bullet instead. Was this no difference? She had only been a pixie for a short while but if asked, she wouldn’t hesitate to risk her life for one of her new sisters.

“What’s life without risk, eh?” As stupid as this might be, for the first time in a very long time, Poppy felt truly alive.

“What’s happening, Xera?” Bria landed with her escort of pixies. It was now difficult to not notice something was going on as a even larger group of spectators circled the pair.

“She’s what?” The Clan Chief yelled after hearing about the bet. Before she could step forward to stop the game, the Clan's Keeper laid a hand on her arm.

“Let her be.”

“Does Poppy know the consequences if she were to lose?”

Xera nodded. She had seen the determination in the young pixies face. From what she had seen in the child’s former life, Poppy knew exactly the consequences of losing. “She does.”

Bria swore silently.

“Ladies first.”

Poppy raised an eyebrow then giggled. Oh yea, that’s right I’m a lady. Reaching for the dice, she rolled them in her hands, and then stopped. Something was wrong. The dice were made of bone, her new senses could tell that, however something was not right with them. Thoughts of accusing Menadue of cheating ran through her mind but she knew it would cause problems, most likely turning to violence.

“Throw the dice already.” Spriggans around her were yelling.

“Is there a problem child?” Ili glided forward. “Perhaps you would like to use another pair of dice.”

“Keep out of it, Ili.”

“She has the right Menadue, you challenged her did you not?” Reaching to her side, the Spriggan wife pulled out a small grey bag. Opening it up, Ili spilled two beautifully carved ivory dice into Poppy’s hands. “Do you have a problem with using my dice?”

The green haired pixie looked up at Ili and smiled. For some reason she felt she could trust her. “Thank you. Ili.”

“Yes dear.”

Poppy opened her palm, revealing the pair of dice. “Will you blow on them for me?”

“Blow on the dice?”

“It’s for good luck.”

The Spriggan wife laughed. “Of course.”

“Seven” The crowd roared excitedly as the pair of dice turned up a six and a one. It was exactly average Poppy thought to herself. With odds rattling around inside her head, she waited for the Spriggan’s turn.

Menadue scowled at Ili then reached for the ivory dice. His demeanor had changed. All his concentration was now on the game. Obviously even the chance of losing the sword was a concern to the Spriggan. Poppy had a feeling that although she would lose her freedom, if Menadue lost the consequences would be just as high.

“Nine” The other Spriggans roared happily.

Menadue smiled. “You will make an excellent slave.”

“Don’t count your winnings yet.” Poppy reached down and picked up the dice. Looking around she walked over to Xera. “Care for the honors?”

“Luck child.” Xera smiled then blew on the dice. Tossing them across the frozen ground, Poppy watched as the two dice stop rolling revealing two fours.

“Eight.” The pixies said excitedly. A little above average, Poppy began go through the odds of what she needed to win inside her head.

Menadue lost his smile when his next throw turned up a two and a three. “A five!” The pixies roared and the Spriggans moaned. Both groups were now getting very excited.

Poppy stared at the dice in her hand; as unlikely as it might be, there was a small chance that the game will end on the next roll. Biting her lip, the green haired pixie knew whom she wanted to blow on the dice for the last time. Walking up to her Clan Chief, she said. “For Luck.”

Bria nodded slowly. “I…”

“I know.” Poppy smiled.

Grinning, Bria blew on the dice. The Chief of the Skogshaven pixies realized that if given the chance to retrieve the legendary sword, she wouldn’t have hesitated either.

The crowd became deathly quiet as the dice bounced across the frozen ground. Poppy held her breath as the first dice came up as a six. The second die bounced twice more and it too settled on a six. Poppy closed her eyes in relief the game was over.

Menadue looked stunned, coming to the same conclusion as the second die came to rest. “Cheater!” The Spriggan roared crossing the distance between them in a fraction of a second. Several things happened immediately afterwards that surprised everyone. One was the green haired pixie named Poppy spun on her heels, caught the Spriggan by the arm then tossed him over her hip, slamming him face first on to the ground. The second was as he hit the ground; Samphire’s sword suddenly appeared in the Poppy's hands. Finally, before Menadue could react, the leader of the Spriggans burst through the circle of spectators.

Ignoring the armed pixie, Jago reached down, grabbed the fallen by the throat, and picked him up high in the air. “How dare you break the Pax!”

“Go hifreann leat“ Menadue spit in Jago's face.

Contemptuously, the giant Spriggan threw Menadue through the air as if he weighed nothing. “Are you challenging me?” Wiping his face, the leader of the Spriggans raised himself to his full height and cracked his knuckles. “Without that pretty sword of yours it won’t be much of a fight will it?”

Menadue looked up at the giant with murder in his eyes. Without another word, he got off the ground and headed into the forest.

Poppy stared as he retreated into the woods. Did she really just win? It was difficult to tell with the sword in rapture, filling her head with a song of pure joy. Suddenly the green haired pixie was not alone as all of her sisters piled on her with squeals of pure delight; Samphire’s sword had come home.

Menadue knelt on the ground, his head touching the earth. Although the plans had not changed, the chance of them being successful was slim.

“You lost the relic over a dice game, an item that was not yours to lose.” Near Blairsville, in the mountains of Northern Georgia, a tall Aos Sidhe sat on a comfortable chair overlooking a large garden.

“Yes mistress.” The Spriggan trembled. Menadue knew failure in the Unseelie Dunkelheit was usually fatal. The sight of a pair of black dogs, Cw’n Annwn lying at the Aos Sidhe feet didn’t make him feel any better.

“However, you have placed yourself in a position to take over Jago’s family. That at least will save your life today.” Reaching for glass of ice tea, the Aos Sidhe took a sip before continuing “Don’t worry; I will replace the weapon with something suitable.”

“Mistress…the blood price.”

The Mistress of the Dunkelheit laughed. “You are bright eyed aren’t you but then again so are most of your brethren. No Menadue, you must earn this one. There is a child that I want. You will replace her with a changeling.”

Menadue nodded.

“Very good, now go away. I will summon you with further details later.” As the Spriggan faded into the shadows, Countess Sianna sat back. With her pawns now in place and one of her enemies pieces destroyed, it was finally time for the others to finally come into play and then the true game would begin.

Authors Notes: A special thanks to djkauf for a little elvish editing. If you like the story please leave a Kudos, if you have the time I would love to hear from you. Thanks to all for reading! - Elsbeth