WELL, PEOPLE, CREATURES AND odd Elementals who were both or neither, pick an option. Having managed to reassemble her motes into some sort of coherent form even though she felt rattled by exploding all over the forest, Allory listened with half a non-existent ear as Yaarah filled the Dark Elves in on the dangers to Spheris and their journeying so far.
He made her sound like a heroine.
Exactly what she knew she could never be. Born to save Spheris? The Dragon’s whiskers had patently been having an off day. They must have curled the wrong way. Lost their alleged sensitivity. Picked up the wrong scrap of sparkle.
Allory slunk off between Hansanori’s harp strings and tried to work out what was so jolly magical about an Astral Harp. The material of both the frame and the strings was something else. The Harpist explained how he tuned it, suggesting that she might learn to attune herself in a similar way and vibrate her individual motes or groups thereof in order to create Elemental music.
Allory pictured his talented fingers fine-tuning her sparkles … blush! Oh suggids, I did not just think that!
Super inappropriate.
She also tried not to listen to Yaarah expounding upon his new pet theory that the Wraith’s realm might just be chasing a certain sparkly Elemental around Spheris.
Please, no. Anything but that.
An evening as mellow as aged wine enveloped the Deepwoods. The Chameleon Fae invited all their unusual fellows down to a nearby stream to bathe, a Chameleon communal event. Like sleeping in a great pile. At least they kept their undergarments on, which led to a minor issue – Frostbite had none, since she had been captured in what turned out to be a Diamond Fae night dress, and Xiximay’s were in sad need of remedial work. Holes in unacceptable places. Ahem.
“Shoo!” Zzuriel chased Varzune off.
“I can’t offer my able assistance with this important issue?” he offered, igniting the Phoenix’s hair with an inveterately evil grin. Her deep orange tattoos glowed like angry lava pits.
“No!” the warrior growled. “Turn around, you reprobate!”
When he did so, pretending to pant heavily, she booted him firmly in the backside to help him on his way. Allory giggled as he swaggered off as if he had just earned a huge compliment. One way to treat the boyfae! Tough stuff, this Phoenix – not exactly Allory style, but she suspected that taking a few notes would not go amiss. In return, she could teach Xiximay a thing or two about clothing and hair care, Scintillant style.
Murrr-hurrr-harrr, as Yaarah would say.
Time for mischief?
“Izzini?” she called her fellow Scintillant over. “Are you able to weave clothing?”
“No. What do you even mean?”
“Come over. I’ve something I’d love to teach you.”
“What are you up to?” Xiximay asked suspiciously. “Where’s the needle and thread?”
Concentrating on her link with the airavanae, a process which struck her as far easier being in her Elemental form, Allory reached for the threads of the dark Fae’s undies. “Fixing things.”
Stolen novel; please report.
With a wild screech, the Phoenix Fae sprang ten feet into the air, clutching her vitals. “Allory Fae!”
“Eh – eep? Did I hurt you?”
“No! That … tickled!”
Catching Varzune’s curious, amused glance from down by the stream, the dark Fae blushed so hard that she snapped into her Phoenix form. That put paid to clothing repairs for the time being. Note to self, clothing repair was best done off the person.
Allory turned to Zzuriel and said brightly, “So, you needed –”
“Hands off!” she gasped, drawing back.
“Don’t have any hands, tee hee hee,” Allory sparkle-giggled, and had to duck sharply as the Phoenix firebird rushed at her with a grating screech.
Thankfully, the Diamond Fae headed Xiximay off and zapped her with a shower of icy particles to help her to cool down. Then, the girlfae put their antennae together and did some proper examination and discussion of their clothing needs. As it turned out, Izzini did not show much affinity for ariavanae – not yet, Allory insisted, gamely coaching her through each and every detailed step – but she had an excellent, natural eye for design. Both Xiximay’s fireproof undies and Zzuriel’s cold-resistant outerwear soon yielded to their combined efforts.
Izzini stood back and admired the results. “I like.”
“It’s … bright,” Xiximay said uncertainly.
“Swamp green does not flatter any Faerie’s natural skin tone, apart from blending in with sundry toads and reeds,” Izzini lectured. “My design features a striking lime green with yellow accent detail here on your belt, note the additional phoenix emblem, free of charge, and coverage of the upper thighs as requested. The two-piece top displays this yellow accent again – plus triple shoulder straps – snazzy and strengthening at the same time. It’s all the same tough, fireproof material but the packaging, I daresay, is greatly improved.”
“Needed improving, did I?” the warrior growled.
To Allory’s considerable surprise, her fellow Scintillant growled right back, “Don’t you purposely misunderstand me, Xiximay! I meant that your innate beauty deserves adequate adornment.”
The Phoenix Fae folded her arms, glowering and glowing with embarrassment. She did not know where to look.
Izzini said, “Now, Allory says she can style your hair –”
“Help?”
“Aww, who’s a gwuff tuff warrior then?” Allory heard herself sneer. “Eep!”
“Fine. Hit me with your best –”
Kerzap!
“Ouch! Fires of my ancestors, you – I didn’t mean literally!”
She pulled up short as Zzuriel and Izzini both cheered and clapped their wings.
Allory cocked her ethereal head sideways. Perhaps she had been taking insta-hairstyling lessons from the Pixies, but that effort was not half bad if she did say so herself. Izzini flitted up to primp and arrange the loose, asymmetrical hairstyle in a few places, cooing about how wonderful Xiximay’s natural bouffant curls were. For her part, she would not have dared to put the words ‘bouffant curls’ and ‘Xiximay’ in the same sentence without fleeing in fear of her life, but apparently Izzini had mysterious girlfae powers beyond the norm.
Skills that had just stolen Xiximay’s ability to speak.
Meantime, Zzuriel smoothed down her new Diamond Faesilk swimming gear-cross-underwear nervously. “It isn’t too much? Too revealing?”
“Harzune will die,” Allory assured her.
“Die? Oh no, that’s not at all the effect I – oh, Allory, you’re a wicked tease!” Zzuriel spluttered. “But I’m so … big, compared to you.”
“Zzuriel, most Fae’s thumbs are big compared to me,” she shot back. “Look at me from the side, does this angle make my sparkles look bigger?”
Sparkly pose.
Izzini hooted with laughter. “Zzuriel, this Diamond Faesilk that you taught us about is actually rather marvellous for your figure. That flying bag of muscles over here could never pull this off, but with your curvaceous advantages, the prismatic properties of this material make for the perfect foil. I promise you, that chunky Chameleon you fancy will be mesmerised. It’s all one piece for support but these cheeky cut-outs on your flanks and back really do make this outfit sing to your sap, wouldn’t you agree? Plus, I’m really proud of this diamond snowflake detail down the left side – isn’t that right, Allory?”
“Puts my sparkles to shame,” Allory agreed.
“It’s very pretty,” Xiximay put in. She made a face. “Listen to me. What have you done to my personality, Allory Fae?”
“Flame should never hide its beauty,” she retorted.
The dark warrior had to swallow and look away. Hmm. Was that just a blush or could she imagine that flame could become infused by scintillance? How peculiar.