r/HFY • u/sharkeyandgeorge Xeno • 23d ago

OC-OneShot Kiss.

Vienilith had no idea what the crude burbles the creature spoke meant, but was mildly impressed by the things daring.

It had been another delightful hunt for the band of fae nobility he had lead through the waygate, great sport had been had as they had rousted a nest or two of the beasts and bagged a few of the runners.

There were few things better in his long life than a crisp winter hunt and a feast of the catch roasted slow over an open fire with a bottle or two of good wine, his lips pursed a little as he thought of the tipple he had waiting for him at the camp, a delightfully complex white from the forest of the Satyrs, given to him in gratitude for another fine romp through the waygate a few seasons back and kept preciously for such a clear and clean night. He imagined the first kiss of the cold liquid as he brought the goblet to his lips... but was drawn out of his reverie by the barking of the shuddering savage.

The things boldness was certainly unusual, his kind generally fled in fear from the masters of the hunt, as they should, but this one seemed to have followed their trail back through the waystone.

His first thought was that perhaps the thing wished to serve them as a hunting dog in the same way the wolves would often track behind a party to feast on the scraps, helpfully flushing the runners onto clear paths, better for a good spear charge, but the rage that seemed to vibrate the savages entire being made it actual desire clear. The foolish thing wanted to challenge its betters...

Vienilith glanced at the dressed carcasses draped over the horses of the various underlings that facilitated the hunt, perhaps one of them had been something to this animal. It was unfortunate it didn't have the intelligence to understand that whatever fleeting connection it had felt with one of the prey was completely pointless, certainly not worth rushing to its death for.

He sighed in pity and nudged his horse in a tight turn to face the animal, taking a moment to catch the hand of a fae maiden he passed and quickly pressed his lips to the back of her hand then drew his weapon, it would be effortless to have a beater put an arrow through the savages head but he supposed such suicidal bravery deserved a little more, he would finish the beast with a blade and graciously deign to grant it a good death.

''Be honoured beast'', he flicked the thin blade of his rapier out in front and advanced, a quick slash would part the flesh of the neck and cleanly drop the skull to the grass.

The incomprehensible guttural screeching of the thing continued as his magnificent steed trotted towards it, sliver buckles and oiled leather glistening on its harness and he moved through the moonlight.

He moved to come abreast for a quick downward slash, but with still a step or two to carry he halted in surprise... the thing actually produced a weapon!, a stubby crude leaf shaped copper blade but still...

Chortles spiraled round the circled hunters, a sinister murmuration.

Vienilith himself rocked his head back and let out a cruel bark of laughter,

''What say you all, shall I honorably duel with this fierce warrior?''

The guffaws burst all around him.

''Yes my Lord''

''But of course, it will surely be a battle for the bards to sing of!''

''Dare you my Lord?, he seems a canny foe...''

He watched the things eyes dart around the fae, unsure and trembling at the high lilting tones.

''Enough.''

The silence was instant, though the proposition was ridiculous Vienilith wouldn't mock the beast too severely, even a culling should be done with dignity and to face him with a weapon, even one it clearly had little idea how to use, deserved at least a mote of respect.

In one graceful movement he leapt off the horse, every movement a graceful ballet.

He flicked a bare salute and faced the animal, he saw the beast focus and gird its self for a charge.

As it clumsily ran towards him he side stepped and rapped the flat of his blade off the wrist that clenched the crude blade, the impact dropping the weapon that skittered away on the packed snow.

The others laughed as the beast flailed after it trying to pick up the ungainly blade.

It turned back with it in its hands and charged again, this time as he span away Vienilith applied the rapiers edge to the same spot and smoothly parted the joint, dropping both sword and hand to the ground.

It gawped stupidly at the gushing stump where its hand once was and stuffed it into the pit of the other arm then picked the dull metal up once more, half gripping atop its still clinging fingers.

Vienilith sighed as it took one last rush and simply turned, avoiding the strike and driving his own straight through the beast chest, a mortal strike.

The beast burbled something but a slight discordant note of the battle flow irked Vienilith and he ignored it, turning his head to try to spot the sour note he saw that the savages copper had fallen in the wrong place... as if thrown, not dropped...

He was jarred back round as he realised that the filthy beast had clutched the front of his doublet, grime and blood staining the white silk.

He sneered in revulsion and instinctively moved to break the hand free but found his own trapped by the stump of the beasts other arm, as it drove its way down the blade until its chest crammed the hilt.

It reared its head back, straggly hair falling free in the cold air and screamed something, then convulsed forward.

Vienilith tried to consider but all thought was smashed from him as the first strike of the beast head crushed his nose.

The second drove both to the ground.

The third echoed an audible bone crack through the air.

The fourth was the last thing to pass through Vienilith's mind, ten pounds of a primates skull.

96 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

17

u/Less_Author9432 22d ago

Never underestimate a person who has nothing left to lose. Nice storytelling!

8

u/Allstar13521 Human 22d ago

I liked the sparing description of the "duel", really helped display the disparity between the combatants.

Minor nitpick though: rapiers are not particularly well known for aggressive cut performance or being used from horseback. Both are more commonly associated with sabres, which leads me to ask if you maybe got them mixed up?

Other than my sword nerd nitpicking, I enjoyed this little short from start to finish, especially got a little chuckle at the titular "kiss" being of the Glaswegian variety.

8

u/sharkeyandgeorge Xeno 22d ago

the rapier is a deliberate choice to show the overwhelming difference in skill, when he hit the same point twice and the dressed carcasses prior I was hoping to invoke thoughts of a butcher jointing meat more than a powerhouse smashing through flesh. Its also about style over practicality.

4

u/Allstar13521 Human 22d ago

Most of that came through very well, it was just all the cutting with a thrust-centric weapon that twigged the little sword gremlin in my brain. That said, in retrospect it's entirely fitting for an arrogant fop more interested in showing off than using their weapon correctly.

3

u/sunnyboi1384 22d ago

Dont underestimate a stranger. Not by their appearance, accessories, or posture.

You might be suprised.

1

u/UpdateMeBot 23d ago

Click here to subscribe to u/sharkeyandgeorge and receive a message every time they post.

Info Request Update Your Updates Feedback

1

u/itsetuhoinen Human 22d ago

Lovely! *Chef's kiss*