Winter's Bite by Annie Bellet

Author:Annie Bellet
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, short story, sword and sorcery, epic fantasy, sword, high fantasy, fantasy short story, fantasy action, annie bellet, a heart in sun and shadow
Publisher: Doomed Muse Press

Three

The sun was already sailing high over the branches by the time the twins woke. They found themselves alone in the Fairy’s bed. Idrys rolled over and propped himself up on one arm to look at his brother. Emyr’s eyes opened and a small smile played across his generous mouth. The smile faded, however, as he recalled all of why they were there and not just the mysterious and beautiful events of the night before.

“It’s too bad they won’t ever believe this story,” Idrys said with a wistful sigh. “How many can claim that one of the Fair Folk made them men, eh?”

Emyr gave his brother a light push. “I don’t feel any more a man today than I did yesterday. Besides, father will be sick with worry.”

He rose from the bed, suddenly uncomfortable with his nakedness around his brother in a way that he’d never been before. He ruefully thought of his words a moment ago. No, not like a man, but still, she’s changed us somehow.

“True.” Idrys yawned and stretched. “But ah, I think it worth it.”

Emyr threw him another amused look and found his tunic. Pulling it on he went to the door and reached to pull it open. The door didn’t budge. He put his full weight against it until he finally fell back into the sheepskins, his arms burning.

“Quit playing, brother.” Idrys rose and walked to the door. He set his weight against it and got the same result as his brother. They shared a look and then both tried, gripping the smooth wooden handle hand over hand.

The door stuck.

Both men sat down then, the sense of dread from the evening before returning full force. They were stuck in a fey home, trapped by a lady of the Folk. Emyr and Idrys looked at each other with apprehensive eyes.

“I think I like stories better when they stay stories,” Idrys said.

“No argument here. I tried to tell you we should leave that white buck well enough alone, didn’t I? But no, you just had to go running after every bleeding whim of yours, as usual.” Emyr’s words held more bite than he intended, fear turning what was meant as a gentle rebuke to something crueler.

To his surprise Idrys dropped his gaze and curled up with his arms around his knees, mouth pressed into an unhappy line.

Unaccustomed to this lack of fight from his twin, Emyr sat for a few minutes in silence, thinking. He took stock of the small cabin. There was a covered pail, much like the indoor privy buckets he was used to at home. At least their captor had provided for that need, though it cut off an excuse to leave the house.

He looked finally to the small window. The windows at home were usually shuttered or covered in leather scraped thin enough for light to come through. This one looked too smooth and clear for leather.

Rising, Emyr went to investigate it. The pane felt like stone under his fingers, warmed from the sun and very hard.

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