Pursued(127)

“I…thank you.” Elise bowed her head. “But I can’t claim to be very courageous. I was scared to death. And I didn’t know that the pony…er, Brillem, was a sentient creature. I thought he was just a helpless little animal. No offense, Brillem,” she added to the pony.

“Yet you would have given your life for his, though he is a different species than your own, and you did not even know he was sentient.” The Elder with pointed ears nodded. “I hear the truth in your words.”

“And I see the truth in your eyes,” the Elder with glowing eyes said. Both of them looked at the Elder with the beast-mouth. “Well, brother, what judgment will you pronounce?” the Elder with pointed ears asked.

The Elder with the beast-mouth frowned—or at least, Elise thought he did. It was really hard to tell when he had a muzzle like an animal. “You came into our lands and committed sacrilege and blasphemy,” he growled at Elise. “You claim ignorance of our ways, yet ignorance is no excuse for wrong doing as you yourself have said.”

“Yes.” She nodded, hear heart galloping in her chest. Oh God, what were they going to do to her? And would she be able to protect Merrick and Brillem from whatever fate lay in store for her?

“You and your companion have already been punished once for your crime of wearing the sacred color,” the Elder continued. “And you were led to take the skrillix in error by one who should have known better.” He nodded at Brillem who neighed softly and bowed his head.

“Oh, please don’t hurt him!” Elise begged. “Please let the punishment fall on me and me alone.”

“Girl-child, you must be silent while judgment is being pronounced!” the Elder with the pointed ears snapped.

“I’m sorry,” Elise whispered contritely. “Please forgive me.”

“No more interruptions,” the Elder with the animal mouth growled. “As I was saying, you were led to the plant in error and one punishment has already been given to you—or rather, to your companion.” He nodded at Merrick who was standing tensely behind Elise. “Now…I am given to understand that you badly need the branch you stole.”

Reaching below the table, he lifted the skrillix branch that Elise had broken off the vine and laid it carefully upon the table beside the billib. Though it was somewhat wilted, the red berries still looked plump and fresh and the thorns still looked sharp and deadly. Elise noticed that Brillem, who was still standing on the table, was careful to stay well back from them.

“We do need it,” Merrick rumbled. “Our very lives depend on it.”

The Elder with the beast-mouth nodded. “The berries of the skrillix are legendary for their healing powers. As are its thorns—though for quite a different reason.”

“It is not called the ‘pain vine’ for no reason,” the Elder with glowing eyes said.

“Indeed.” The Elder with the animal mouth nodded. “Hear then, my judgment. Human girl-child, you must prick your finger on a thorn of the branch you stole and let three droplets of blood fall into our cup of honesty.” He nodded at a strangely carved, blue wooden cup the Elder with pointed ears was now holding out. It was filled with a dark red liquid that looked like some kind of wine to Elise. “We Elders will drink of your blood mixed with the juice of the sharing fern, which allows the transfer of visions and emotions. In so doing, we will share your pain for we do not give punishments that we cannot withstand ourselves.”

“Four drops,” Merrick growled.

“What?” The beast-mouthed Elder frowned.

“Let her give four drops. I want to share the pain as well,” Merrick said. “I won’t let Elise go through something like this without me.”

The Elders whispered briefly and then the Elder with the beast-mouth nodded. “Very well. We respect your wish to share the pain of the female you love, Kindred.”

“Thank you.” Merrick nodded at them gravely.

“You are welcome, outsider.” The Elder with glowing eyes nodded back. “Now allow my brother Elder to finish, please.”

Merrick nodded again, silently.

“As I was saying,” the Elder with the animal mouth continued in his low, rough voice. “You will share your deepest pain with us, human girl-child. And when it is over, we will allow you to take the branch you stole back with you to heal your hurts. Is that clear?”

“Yes. Only…” Elise frowned. She thought she remembered something Merrick had said about the thorns of the skrillix—something about them causing hallucinations? She couldn’t quite bring it to mind but it bothered her. “Forgive me, but what do you mean by my deepest pain? Is the poison in the thorn going to make me feel like I’m on fire or I can’t breathe or what? I’m not afraid,” she added hastily, lifting her chin. “I just…I want to know what to expect.”