Solomon' Daughters

Chapter 36

"Are you okay," Anthony asked the small winged woman as she pulled the two smaller girls to her while trying to hild her dress closed at the same time. Mina stood behind him and watched as he tried to calm the fairies. Suddenly a noise from the brush near the tree where the second assailant had landed drew Anthony's attention just in time to see the little bastard throw what looked like a javelin at the fairies back. Anthony's hand shot forward and encircled the three kneeling fairies just in time for the javelin to embed itself an inch in the back of his hand. A cursed Anthony ripped free the tiny projectile and hurled it back at the creature it cried out in agony as its shoulder was nailed to the tree behind it.

"Are you okay," Mina asked Anthony. She moved around in front of him careful to avoid the fairies on the ground as she took his damaged hand into hers and examined the it.

"It is fine," he murmured absently and hes dug around in his back pocket. Confused at his actions Mina released his hand when he pulled out his wallet. Warth at his kindness flood her when he pulled out a packet of tissues from his wallet and handed one to the fairy woman.

"Sorry, they are a little old but they are clean," Anthony said told her as she wrapped the tissue around her chest like a towel. She looked up at him in trepidation as soon as she finished.

"Your not going to hurt us are you," she asked softly. Now that she was no longer distressed her shrill piercing voice sounded like wind chimes.

"Nope not going to hurt you or try to capture and study you either," Anthony said smiling kindly down at her. He looked around at the destruction of her little clearing and the front door of her little hut appeared to have been kicked in. He examined the back of his hand, which still pulsed with pain as if the javelin was still embedded in his flesh.

"I would suggest you move to some place less violent, however. The survivors of this little raid will probably return with reinforcement soon," Anthony told the tiny woman. His head turned back to the woman with a jerk when he heard her sob. As the fairy broke into racking sobs Anthony motioned frantically to Mina to help him. His distress at the small woman's tears would have been cute if not for her obvious distress.

"Please don't cry," Anthony begged her, "just tell me what is wrong and I will try to help. Just please don't cry."

"We have no where to go," the fairy said between sobs while clinging to the two smaller ones. "My mate died several years ago and I have not been able to find a new one to fight off the trolls."

"Trolls," Anthony ask in confusion.

"Those things your fought off before were trolls. Pixies and fairies are the same species, the Fey, but fairies are female and pixies are male. So these three are fairies while her deceased husband was a pixy. Pixies have a much lower birth rate then fairies so there are many more fairies then pixies. The trolls are the inverse female trolls having an extremely low birthrate. The trolls and the fey can interbreed so the trolls war with the Fey to capture their women. However you saw the way they acted most trolls are savage like that. Not all mind you but most of the wandering bands of trolls are vicious like that. If you want to meet a civilized troll you would have to find one of their hidden homesteads," Mina explained to him.

"You could come with us. I would protect you," Anthony said to the fairy. She looked up at him uncertainly while she stroked the hair of the other two. Anthony still had not gotten a clear look at their small faces because they kept them down looking at the ground and avoiding his eyes.

"Your word you won't harm us in anyway," she asked them. As Anthony was about to answer Mina grabbed is arm and squeezed tight to stop him.

"Be very careful about giving your word to the Fey it is binding to them as well as you," she warned him and released him at his nod. Turning back to the fairy he considered her question for a moment before speaking.

"I promise not to harm the three of you in anyway as long as you do not know harm or endanger me or any who I claim as mine," he said looking down at her. She looked at him for a while as she pondered his offer.

"Agreed," she said standing. As she stood her right wing drooped slightly and she grimaced as it shifted. She folded it to her back but when she released it once again extended and dropped causing her to wince in pain again. The two little ones still clung to her skirts.

"What is your name little one," Anthony asked lowering his hand to the ground in front of them so they could get on. Hesitating for only an instant the fairy picked up the other to and climbed on to his palm. Standing Anthony walked back to the fountain and sat once more on the lip and settled the three fairies on his knee.

"My name is Sunshine, and these two are my daughters Moonlight and Wind," she said shift so she could sit without putting pressure on her damaged wing. The translucent dragonfly wings on the backs of the three fairy glittered with every color he could imagine.

"Could you fold you wing back into place," Anthony asked he ash hel lift the hem of his shirt to his mouth. As she slowly complied with his request he bit down on one of the stickers in the hem and gave a jerk tearing it. Slowly pulling the thread free so as not to break it he managed to an eight inch strand before it snapped. While Sunshine held her wing in place he gently wrapped the sting around and around her tiny body and tied her wing firmly to her back.

"When we get back to my home Sar-Rah can probably get you a real bandage and mend your clothes. Until then this will have to do. It isn't too tight is it," he asked when he saw her figdet with the stands of string wrapped around her.

"No it is fine, that was very thoughtful of you thank you," Sunshine told him.