Heir Of The Fallen Flame

Chapter 19: Bride's Of The Nymph King

Kael woke to the sound of drums.

Each strike rolled through the ground beneath him like a second heartbeat. His eyes opened slowly and for one confused moment, all he saw was leaves.

Leaves above him and beneath him. Leaves woven together so tightly they formed walls. Thick vines twisted around wooden pillars, glowing faintly with silver light. The air smelled of wet bark, flowers, and something older, like rain trapped inside ancient trees.

Kael groaned softly and tried to move. The branches tightened instantly around his wrists.

He froze.

The memory returned in pieces; the forest, the vines bursting from the ground, Lyra shouting at him to run before both of them were dragged beneath the trees like prey caught in roots.

Boom; the drums sounded again.

Kael turned his head sharply. He was inside a cage, though cage hardly felt like the right word. Massive roots curved upward from the earth itself, twisting together like ribs around him. Tiny glowing insects drifted lazily through the air outside the bars.

Across from him, Lyra sat against another root cage. Relief hit him so hard his shoulders nearly sagged.

Her hands were bound behind her back with glowing vines and dirt streaked one side of her face, but her eyes opened the moment she noticed him staring.

“You're alive,” she muttered.

Kael gave a weak laugh. “You sound disappointed.”

“I am disappointed.” Lyra admitted.

She had risked her life to keep this man safe and now that she's spent time with him, and realised this man had a million and one questions to ask, she wasn't sure if she'd done the right thing.

Kael smiled faintly despite himself, though it vanished quickly when another loud drumbeat shook the village around them. Only now did he truly notice where they were.

The entire place had been built into enormous trees. Massive trunks stretched upward farther than Kael could see, their branches intertwining high above like a living ceiling. Wooden bridges connected tree to tree while glowing lanterns made from hollow fruit hung everywhere.

Creatures moved between the structures gracefully. At first glance, Kael thought they were human. Then one of them stepped closer.

His breath caught slightly.

The creature’s skin resembled smooth bark layered with pale green markings that pulsed faintly beneath the surface. Long silver-green hair flowed down its back, woven with flowers and vines. Its ears curved upward sharply and tiny leaves sprouted along one side of its neck like part of its flesh. Its eyes were entirely gold.

The creature stared at Kael curiously before tilting its head.

“He wakes.”

More figures gathered slowly around the cages now.

Some carried spears carved from white wood. Others wore armor made from layered bark and woven leaves hardened like leather. Their movements were strange, too quiet even.

Kael lowered his voice slightly. “…What are they?”

Lyra leaned her head back against the cage bars. “Tree nymphs.”

Kael blinked. “I thought those were stories.”

“They probably think the same about humans.”

One of the creatures hissed softly at them in a language Kael didn’t understand. Another replied sharply before glancing toward the center of the village.

The drums grew louder and the crowd suddenly parted, something was coming.

Kael sat straighter without thinking as several taller nymphs approached carrying staffs wrapped in glowing vines. Behind them walked a figure unlike the others.

The king.

Even Kael understood that immediately.

He was taller than every nymph around him, broad-shouldered, his bark-like skin darker than the others, almost ancient-looking. Antler-like branches curved from behind his head, decorated with silver chains and flowers.

His golden eyes settled first on Kael and moved towards Lyra.

Kael felt something twist unpleasantly in his stomach as the ‘king’ kept staring at Lyra.

The king stepped closer slowly until he stood directly before Lyra’s cage.

The village had gone silent now, even the drums stopped. The king spoke in a deep voice that sounded oddly layered, almost like two people speaking together.

“You crossed sacred roots unbidden.”

Kael frowned slightly. Sacred what?

Lyra lifted her chin despite the bindings around her wrists.

“We did not know these lands belonged to anyone.”

A murmur spread through the surrounding nymphs immediately.

The king’s expression remained unreadable.

“All forests belong to someone,” he said.

Kael swallowed. Right. Good point.

The king stepped closer still, studying Lyra openly now.

“You carry iron,” he said.

Lyra said nothing. “You carry bloodshed.”

Unexpectedly, the king smiled. “A fierce spirit,” he murmured.

Kael immediately disliked where this was going. The king turned toward the gathered nymphs and raised one hand.

“She shall be blessed.”

The village erupted instantly, drums thundered again. Several nymphs began chanting while others scattered excitedly across the bridges overhead.

Kael blinked rapidly. “…Blessed?”

Lyra’s face had gone completely blank, which somehow looked worse than fear.

Kael looked between them. “What does that mean?”

Lyra answered quietly. “It means we are in trouble.”

“No, I gathered that part.”

The king faced her again.

“The forest has chosen,” he declared.

Kael frowned harder. “Chosen what?”

The king’s glowing eyes never left Lyra.

“My bride.”

Everywhere went silent until Kael barked out a laugh before he could stop himself. He glanced at Lyra with tears in his eyes, this is hilarious!

No one else laughed and slowly, Kael’s smile disappeared.

“No. You are serious.”

Lyra looked like she wanted to stab someone. Preferably Keal since he thinks this is some funny joke.

The surrounding nymphs began moving quickly now, decorating parts of the village with glowing flowers and hanging silver vines between the bridges.

Kael stared around wildly. “They’re actually preparing for this!”

“Yes,” Lyra muttered darkly.

Kael gripped the cage bars. “Wait…wait, hold on! You cannot just marry someone because they walked through your forest!”

Several nearby nymphs hissed angrily at him. One smacked the bars of his cage with a spear. Kael flinched backward immediately.

The king finally looked toward him again.

“You speak loudly for prey.”

Kael swallowed. Right. Perhaps not the best choice of words.

“We mean no disrespect,” he tried carefully. “We simply wish to leave.”

“You entered sacred ground armed,” the king replied. “That alone grants death.”

“Ah. Lyra's sword.” Kael muttered. “But I wasn't holding anything! I was unharmed!”

“Really?!” Lyra snapped.

“Are you? Demon boy.” The king said, “We heard all about how you killed the grand mage. You are danger itself.”

Kael exhaled, “God I hate Ronan!”

The king turned on his heels, leaving.

“Prepare for the ceremony. We feast tonight!” He announced. “And welcome our new queen.”

Everyone cheered as the King levitated away or so it seems.

Kael knew these men were serious. Lyra seemed to realize the same thing because her eyes were just as fearful as his as she studied the growing number of guards surrounding them.

“How many?” Kael whispered softly.

“Too many.”

“Can you cut through the vines?”

“I tried while you slept.”

Kael looked at the glowing restraints around her wrists.

“They tighten every time I move.”

Wonderful. Just wonderful.

Several nymph women approached Lyra’s cage carrying silver fabric and flower crowns woven from glowing petals.

Lyra stared at them like she was deciding how many she could kill before dying.

Kael lowered his voice quickly. “We are not staying for a wedding.”

“No,” Lyra agreed coldly. “We are not.”

Kael tugged uselessly against the roots holding his wrists but the vines tightened painfully.

He winced. “Any ideas?”

“Several.”

“Good.”

“Most end with us dead.”

Kael exhaled shakily, why did he think Lyra wanted to keep him safe to begin with?!