“I am sorry to disturb you Ms. Shafil, but we must speak.”
Esme turned to face the figure standing in the long shadows cast by the setting sun. “Who are you? How do you know me? Did I read your future? If so, I don’t remember.”
“It is your future we must discuss.” He held up an object. I could not see what it was, but Esme recognized it.
“How did you get that? Where is Lucas?”
“Lucas is on a flight to Austria. The book belongs to me now. I presume you would rather the Elders of your people never know that you let this fall into human hands.”
Esmeralda remained motionless; contemplating what spells in her arsenal might pierce the wards protecting this mysterious man. Grigori just kept talking.
“It is my employer’s desire that you return to the Realm of Fae. Make yourself useful to the Clan Defender of Glenhollow. Allow him to rely upon you. Gain his trust, until you receive further instructions. If you do this, the Elders need never know about your exchange of favors with the young Mr. Holter. You will escape punishment.”
Accepting defeat at the hands of a human was not an easy thing for Esme, but she could not think of a way around his extortion while he was magically protected. The brute outweighed her, so she could not wrestle the book from him.
“What about Caswell Esmar’s punishment? Can you guarantee me he will fail to impress the Elders and be permanently exiled?”
Grigori laughed heartily. “You little fool. Caswel Esmar isn’t being punished. He’s being tested.”
His revelation was disturbing. I was really hoping nobody knew that.
##
Joan hadn’t been released to bear weight on her cast, but pent up energy drove her to hopping about on one foot. She was seated in an armchair in her living room when her two visitors stopped by.
“So you let Rodger grope you?”
“It was an accident, Joan.” Rodger turned to Cass. “An accident.”
“I believe you. My stepping on your foot was an accident also.”
Joan wasn’t convinced. “How do you accidentally grab a girl’s breast, Rodger?”
He swallowed hard and turned red. “I was in a panic. Cass flubbed a line from our prepared interaction and I zoned out. It was strange. My mind ran off to the woods somewhere, like I didn’t want to keep pretending… or something. When Cass stepped on me, I kinda woke up and tripped. That’s when it happened.”
“It was lucky he did too, or Meeks might have given up on us. I’m sorry I forgot my line.”
“All’s well that ends well.”
Joan smiled. “It seems like it ended well for you, Rodger.”
“It was an accident. Things happened so fast I didn’t even have time to appreciate it.” He blushed harder. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
Cass decided to rescue Rodger. “What about you, peg leg? Will you be back in school soon?”
“The walking cast goes on next week and I should be hobbling about the halls the week after that. Crutches should do wonders for my upper arm strength.”
“I’ve missed you. I wanted you in on this latest caper and I have no regular lunch partner now. I just hope, you’re ready to come back. You know, to all the madness.”
Joan frowned and looked away. “I’ll deny ever having said this, but I kinda miss it all. When I entered high school, I thought I wanted to be left alone. I had a big, noisy family. I got teased a lot in middle school. My social skills are lacking. The thing is, I’ve had a lot of alone time being laid up and I would say I’m over it. Even talking to my little sister has been pleasant, God knows why, and I’m always happy to see you guys. I think I need people. At least, some people.”
Rodger rejoined the conversation. “If you need help lugging stuff from class to class you can count on me.”
“And I can help you maneuver into bathroom stalls or change for gym,” contributed Cass.
“I think I’ll be excused from gym, thank you. Rodger, please help her over this gender identity thing.”
“We’re just friends,” they both intoned.
Joan laughed. “We’re the three freaking Musketeers.”
Cass and Rodger walked out to the sidewalk and experienced a spectacular sunset before parting company. Cass tightened the drawstring of his hood against the chill air. He was starting to feel comfortable in his new skin. Whereas he’d begun by arguing with Maggie about bra colors, he’d now allowed a boy get to second base, accidentally of course. Cass had made friends and acted to protect them. Of course, that resulted in enemies. Peter didn’t seem like the type to let bygones be bygones, but the vice principal would be watching and hazing would be severely reduced.
Human life was far different than he’d imagined; not as primitive as he’d been raised to believe. Maybe he could learn something from Mortals after all. Maybe he already had.
EPILOGUE
I synched the top of my pack tightly and hoisted my meager belongings onto my back. The sodalite crystal was wrapped in cloth and safely stowed near the top should I need it on the journey. Lynera, Rhassa and Naros engaged in similar final preparations as we closed up the cave as our base of operations. By order of the Council, we were moving.
More accurately, we’d been strongly encouraged to relocate by the three Council Elders who were privy to the Darkmoon Wardens’ experiment in the Realm of Mortals. Ever since the attempt on my life by an agent of the Torchbearer, Kaviss lobbied me to take greater precautions. He’d finally convinced Jolok of Marshwynd and Gianna of Deepcleft to petition the Council for greater oversight of the Wardens. They said it was for our safety, but it was a bid to control me. The Alfarans were beginning to question the wisdom of allowing a human to control their outer defenses.
My three companions and I wended our way down the tricky mountain track leading up to our former headquarters from the principle trail ascending the Ladder of Stars. It was twilight, making me more cautious than normal. I don’t have the night vision of a Fae. On a rocky outcrop marking the wider path, we met our escort of three Knights of Whiteleaf. I did not recognize the Marshwynd and Deepcleft representatives, but I knew Zahus Veyar te Willowalk.
“Congratulations on your elevation, Zahus,” I said. “The uniform suits you nicely.”
He nodded acknowledgment, but didn’t smile. Zahus assumed his role as knight only a few days before. Thus, he’d learned of my existence and duties very recently and hadn’t made peace with the notion of a human roaming freely around the Realm of Fae.
He cleared his throat. “We are to escort you and your retinue past Skyhold territory and into the Green Fens. When the bogs give way to the red grass fields, we will reach a tower on the border of Clan Marshwynd and Clan Glenhollow. That will be your new headquarters.”
Kaviss was a canny old coot. Overwatch Spire was an abandoned relic of the Eathrendi Invasion, more than two thousand years ago. It was well fortified and a respected monument, but no Alfaran would suspect someone was living in it. It was also, conveniently placed so that I could monitor the return of Esmeralda Shafil at the next new moon.
Our little procession traveled swiftly and quietly for three nights, avoiding contact with others and resting during the day. Rhassa had brief conversation with Torvin, the Marshwynd knight, and Lynera made attempts with Zahus. None of the Council guardians conversed with me beyond necessary instructions. It was not surprising that they distrusted a human, but all Darkmoon Wardens experience distance from other Alfarans. This is partially because the Wardens cannot discuss their work and must retain impartiality in all dealings with their fellows. Rhassa, Lynera and Naros also bore the stigma of working for me. The Knights of Whiteleaf now felt quite superior to the Darkmoon Wardens.
Kaviss was waiting for us at the Spire. He posted the knights to stand watch for intruders as he escorted us up a winding stair to the tower’s central chamber. It seemed cramped compared to my old haunts.
I pulled off my pack. “I trust we are warded.”
/> The Elder waved his hand and small runic symbols briefly glowed on the walls and floor. “I hope you appreciate the need for this, Interloper. I do not interfere with your work lightly.”
“Cut the crap, Kaviss. I know you think I’ve been holding out on you, but we have a common enemy. I’m just as interested in neutralizing the Torchbearer as you. I really liked the cave, but I see advantages in this location also.”
He smiled. “You’ve noted the proximity to Clan Glenhollow.”
That was not all I’d noticed. Overwatch Spire held a greater secret than the Darkmoon Wardens. It was the hiding place for the Eye of the Sun, a remote viewing device far more powerful than a crystal ball. Kaviss had revealed this tidbit to me ages ago and probably thought I’d forgotten. I was certain it was part of his plans.
“You’d best set up quickly,” he enjoined all of us. “Resume your observation of Caswell. That boy is our last hope.”
“No,” I replied. “There is another.”
“Really?” he said.
“Probably not. I’ve just always wanted to say that.” Alfarans never appreciate the movie references.
THE END
About the Author
Gregg Schwartzkopf is a husband, father, vocational rehabilitation counselor and, most relevantly, a writer. He’s had the kind of eclectic work experience that one expects of a writer including food service manager, research assistant and professional search consultant. Additionally, he’s spent significant time avoiding reality. In his teens, he was a member of the Society of American Magicians. He has an interest in mythology and the occult and he regularly participates in fantasy role play gaming. He lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife of thirty-plus years and a Manx cat named Ness. For the record, his maternal grandmother was Canadian.
Learn more about the Author at https://www.gs1word.com (including a list of the book’s characters) or find him on GoodReads and Bublish.
Look for Quick as a Bunny, the second book in Caswel’s exile, published December, 2014.
Penny for Your Thoughts is due out Fall of 2015
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