your name to the police. And Gail…” He drew his hunting knife from its sheath at his hip. “…will not be able to, no matter how upset with you she will soon be.”
Gail’s eyes widened and she began to backpedal, but she was caught in her husband’s tight, gloved grip. “No…no, Thom, what have you done?! I loved you! I loved you!!”
Thom shook his head. “Don’t. I can bear the guilt no longer, Mrs. Hollyworth. I have done many things in this life I am not proud of, but taking to bed the wife of a man I once counted as a friend? There are only so many lines a man can cross before he breaks.”
“You bastard!” she screamed. “You bast - !”
She could manage no more before Michael forced her lips apart and slid the knife between her lips, slicing her tongue cleanly in two.
…
Gail no longer sat in the comfort of a home; she now sat beneath a splintering elm tree, rocking herself in its shade like a madwoman. She cradled a filthy, torn length of her own dress against the gaping wound where her nose used to be, unable to speak and barely able to swallow. Tears cut gray paths over her grime-caked cheeks as Thom sat beside her, shaking his head.
“Hello, Mrs. Hollyworth - wait, I suppose I cannot call you that any more, can I?”
Gail looked up at him with miserable eyes.
“Do not stare at me with such a face.” Thom raised his hands in exasperation. “Honestly, Gail, what did you expect me to do?” he growled, looking over at her. “I cannot be with a woman so stupid, she loses her ring. In Highgate, nonetheless! I am lucky your husband agreed to spare my reputation in exchange for yours.” When Gail looked at him, startled, he chuckled. “Oh, don’t look so horrified. You thought that I was truly sorry? Why would I suddenly regret my actions, when I have felt nothing for them previously? No, my dear, this was all your doing - your own detestable foolishness would have gotten us caught eventually anyway. I simply decided to speed the process a bit, and perhaps spare myself for it.”
Gail’s jaw dropped in disbelief before her face contorted in agonized rage. She let out a few choked sobs, leaning into her knees and wailing her sorrow to anyone who cared to hear it. Not that many did care; she had been branded, and it destroyed her accordingly.
Thom stood and shook his head again. “Hopefully, my next woman will prove more successful. Who knows? I may even marry this one.”
She couldn’t believe it. She watched helplessly as he walked away, then broke down into shuddering moans. Her own desolation caused her agony, and she could do nothing about it. How had this happened? For the life of her, she couldn’t fathom what had happened to her ring! She had been caught and punished, all because of an item she only took off when she bathed! That much had been true, but there had been no thief at the window. Only the bright, metallic trilling of birds outside.
Rather like the one in the tree above her, actually. Gail lifted her eyes to look at the bright and shiny creature. It looked almost like a sparrow, but with a long tail and plumage of bright, shimmering gold. Its shine was almost unreal, brilliant and metallic. Its eyes shone white and clear, like twin diamonds.
And though the pain coursing through her caused Gail to doubt the evidence of her own eyes, she could have sworn it held a fat piece of unrefined gold in its foot before tearing into it with ravenous hunger.
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What is an alicanto?
Alicantos were said to be beautiful silver or gold birds that could always be found near mines. The reason for their location and coloring was their diet - precious metals. In this way, these birds were a mixed blessing; on the one hand, you could follow them to potential riches. On the other, the alicanto and its family may have already eaten everything the mine had to offer! Supposedly, these birds were hunted to extinction for their lovely plumage, which adorned the heads of many a proud noblewoman.
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Special Note
A big thanks to Mrs. Trammel, without whom this series may have gone unworked on for another few years! One little message on facebook meant more than you know, and I am eternally grateful for it. Bless you, you wonderful woman!!
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Author’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000730778650
The Bestiary Tales Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bestiary-Tales/281348285228246?skip_nax_wizard=true
Author’s DeviantArt: https://www.chubby-choco.deviantart.com
Allison Graham is a zoology major who lives in the middle of nowhere with a house full of pets and a love of the fantastically unbelievable. A longtime cryptozoology and mythology fan, she started The Bestiary Tales as a way to connect with fans and remind people of the long-forgotten creatures which so many of our ancestors feared, worshipped, or respected.
She loves anime and manga, singing, drawing, costuming, watching elimination-based television shows like Project Runway and Masterchef (she knows nothing about fashion, but fancies herself a pretty good cook), and, of course, studying up in her vast and baffling mythology library.
She would like to point out that anyone curious about her artwork, attempts at poetry, and costumes should visit her DeviantArt - she loves new watchers and friends! Anyone who wishes to talk about the Bestiary Tales, ask about her sources, and even suggest new creatures for upcoming stories is welcome to reach her via Facebook. Just remember, the internet is hard to come by where she lives - if she doesn’t respond for a long time, it’s not you, it’s low service and terrible bandwidth.
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