A cool autumn wind blew down the mountain, dancing through the sparse, stunted pine trees and whistling through cracks in rocks worn down by year after year of heavy frost. Faint whisps of clouds drifted by overhead, parting to reveal a sliver of the moon, gazing down on the trio making their way through the woods by the silvery-green light of Heila's witchcraft.
"A, a woman, my lady?" Ollie said, tugging at the lace collar at his neck that suddenly felt far too tight. "There's no one, but, I mean… You and Lady Nyrielle are… and I…. Um," he stammered awkwardly, pulling a soft, musical chuckle from Heila.
"You've confused him, my lady," Heila said, hopping up on a nearby rock to give Ollie a teasing poke. "Mother Ashlynn is asking about your love life because, the life we lead, it's a hard one," she said, her grass green eyes growing briefly cloudy before they warmed and the smile on her lips grew wider.
