tithe

ARDUINNA

She surges forward as if walking on air, grabbing the fox's jaw not with fingers, but with talons. She jerks his head up, forcing their eyes to meet. "The midwife," she hisses. "Your job is to accept trade, not to deny it." Suddenly her voice is like a razor, and beads of blood begin to spring up from the dimpled skin beneath her claws.

"The fabrics and the crafts mean little to me. Keep those, and make better deals next time. The song and the favour, though... make it so." Releasing him, Arduinna steps back. Talons become fingers once more, and a soft, pink tongue darts out to lick the blood from them.

Nature, nurture heaven and home
Sum of all, and by them, driven
To conquer every mountain shown

Table by Sky!