“Pfft. Doubt it,” Van said as she scanned the disgusting male patrons in the eatery.
“Sure he will. He just needs to be smart enough to know he’s a key and not a hammer.”
Van’s mind moved away from the unlikely prospect of romance back to her personal mission. Paley stuck to hers, finding out more about her parents. Now Van needed to refocus on her first order of business, finding a cure for the Anchoress curse. She doubted the miscreants on the docks would be of any help.
Kopius returned to the bar.
Daisy brightened.
Brux grimaced and walked away.
“What did you find out?” Daisy asked. Her tone implied answering the question would verify he had done recon and not flirting.
“Yeah. I’m over this place,” Pernilla said, glaring at the bartender who casually chatted with patrons at the other end of the bar. “Let’s find passage to Cortica and get out of here.”
“I’m all for that.” Van couldn’t wait to get this mission done and get home. She doubled her resolve to talk Uxa into letting her be a full-fledged Grigori fighting demons in the Earth World.
“It won’t be easy,” Kopius said. “Cortica is off-the-map if you know what I mean.”
“No.” Van stared at him. “I don’t.”
“He means it’s not on any maps,” Daisy said, taking the mystery out of Kopius’s comment.
Van thought Daisy’s response was unlike her and figured it came from Daisy’s frustration with Kopius flirting with those women.
“So right, my brilliant little flower.” Kopius kissed Daisy on the top of her head.
Daisy beamed.
“Those who live on Cortica, refuse to live by Balish law.” Kopius rested one arm around Daisy’s back. “They’re wanted criminals hunted by the Balish, some flat-out rejected society.”
“Or society rejected them,” Pernilla said.
“It can’t be worse than this place.” Daisy rubbed her arms as if to keep away the chills despite the warmth of the stuffy, overcrowded eatery.
Kopius rubbed her back, and Daisy leaned into him.
Van’s eyes scanned the crowd, hoping Brux wasn’t watching.
“The Balish don’t go there because the island is too unruly for even them to control,” Kopius said. “Looting is their main industry.”
“Hey.” Brux had returned, too preoccupied with something to notice Kopius and Daisy’s intimacy. “You guys, come with me.” He took them to the back room of the eatery to a ruffian standing on a chair surrounded by a crowd of blackguards, giving him their full attention as he spoke.
“He’s built a following by speaking in cafes, pubs, and eateries all over the region,” Brux said in a low voice.
Van leaned close Brux. “Who is it?”
“Semjaza,” he said. “He’s talking about,” he lowered himself to Van’s height and whispered, “you.”
Chapter 19
Brux’s last word—you—sent a shiver of fear through Van.
She gazed at the orator on his soapbox along with the rest of the crowd, with rapt attention, especially with the Anchoress being his main topic.
“The legendary Lodian warrior has revealed herself to those in power, but many of us remain skeptical,” Semjaza said. He stood, raised above the crowd by using a chair as his podium. “Rest assured, she walks among us.”
The onlookers murmured as they mulled over this bit of information.
“Before the death of Prince Ferox’s older sister Princess Solana, and his older brother Prince Devon, he had no desire to inherit the throne. He preferred to live life with carefree, wild abandon, like his father.” Semjaza wriggled his finger at the crowd. “Now the boy’s responsible side is coming out, like that of his dear departed mother, Queen Brigid.”
The crowd ooo’d and ahh’d.
“The upheaval in the Balish kingdom caused by the death of his family members—Princess Solana, Queen Brigid, and Prince Devon—opens the door to others attempting to take over. There will be much turmoil. A time of darkness has come upon us.”
The crowd appeared enraptured with the soapbox orator.
“The Balish Council wants to kill the Lodian’s Anchoress—snuff her light out of existence—because of her immense power.” He smashed his fist into his palm. “I say no!”
Echoes of ‘no’ came from the crowd.
“We must keep her alive!” he cried.
“Um.” Van tugged Brux’s sleeve. “I’m going back to the bar.”
Semjaza lowered his voice. “There is an illness spreading to our shores.”
Van stopped short and twisted back around as the onlookers gasped.
“How does he know about the illness?” Van whispered to Brux.
He shushed her.
“By word of the light, I say this illness grows stronger. It takes our souls. This demon illness,” he raised voice with added passion, “came from the Earth World and it is afflicting our children, and our adults who are compromised in some way. But it will progress to others—to each one of us—if it is not stopped!”
The crowd gasped.
“We need the Anchoress!” he shouted. “She will set it straight! She will vanquish the darkness and save us! She is our redemption!”
“Oh brother,” Van muttered, hoping she never came face to face with this guy.
After he finished ranting, made his pitch for the onlookers to join his group called Crusaders of the Light, the speaker jumped down from his chair-podium and mingled with the patrons.
“He’s taking a huge chance yapping openly about the Anchoress,” Pernilla said.
Kopius shook his head. “Not here. Anything goes.”
“That’s probably why he’s here,” Daisy said. “Despite the darkness of this place, there is an undercurrent of freedom—of light.”
Van almost resented Daisy for always seeing the good in everything. Although every part of Daisy appeared fragile, from her naive mind to her long, thin hair and her tapered fingers that looked like their grip could barely hold the weight of a napkin, Daisy seemed to gain strength from her connection to the unseen vibration of nature.
“Do we believe him?” Van asked. “The illness has reached the Living World?”
Brux nodded. “We have to assume it leaked through the cracked seal.”
“We need to mend that thing, fast,” Kopius said.
Van couldn’t agree more.
Daisy, along with Kopius and Pernilla had made their way back to the bar. But Semjaza happened to catch Van, Brux, and Paley as they tried to wedge their way through the crowd.
“What brings young-uns like you to the wharf?” he asked. “You lost? Need help? The word of the light will guide you.”
“Thanks, but no,” Brux said. “We’re here to book passage to Cortica.”
“Oh, no. No.” Semjaza visually cringed as he swept his hands back and forth. “I’m here to save people from that kind of life.”
“It’s not like that,” Van said.
“Life of crime, living on the run. It’s no life,” Semjaza counseled. “Whatever you kids did wrong, it’s not as bad as you think. By word of the light, it can be fixed. I suggest you head on home.”
“We didn’t do anything wrong,” Paley said.
“Listen.” Semjaza placed a hand on Brux’s shoulder. “No good comes from Outlaw Island. That place—it takes your light. Chews you up and spits you out.”
“Can you tell us how to get there or not.” Brux crossed his arms.
“You said you’d help us.” Paley twirled her hair and flashed him a smile.
Semjaza grinned, suggesting he had a soft spot for Paley. “You can get there easy enough by paying for passage on one of the ships at the dock here. Most make runs to Cortica, off the books.” He winked and then leaned in closer to the trio. “But, once you get there, you’ll need money or strength to keep from being killed. From the looks of it, you all have neither.”
“We’re strong,” Van said with bravado. �
��What we’re doing is important to your cause.”
Semjaza raised his eyebrows. “Is that right, now?” He squinted at Van. “What did you say your name was?”
Brux stepped in front of Van, probably thinking along the same lines as her—not liking the flow of conversation. They didn’t need this blabbermouth to even think for a second that Van carried the Anchoress bloodline. Talk about adding risk to the mission. Especially when out-of-bounds Lodians were marked for death by the Balish.
“We’re fated by the light to go there.” Brux used a phrase that would resonate with Semjaza. “That’s all you need to know.” He winked conspiratorially.
“Fairy trade’s hot right now.” Semjaza couldn’t stop staring at Van’s eyes.
Van knew why. He hoped to see the telltale phosphorescent violet glow, a distinguishing mark of the Anchoress. Too bad for him, the glow only appeared when Van connected to her magical bloodline. But, Van didn’t want to take any chances and needed to get away from this guy fast.
“A fairy’s tear will get you anything you want in Cortica,” he said. “Despicable trade. Highly illegal. But, if you can manage to get one, it will prove your prowess as thieves, get you street credibility, then you can buy anything you want. But you didn’t hear it from me.”
Semjaza turned and began to edge himself away from the trio.
“How do we get one?” Brux called to his departing form.
He twisted around. “Get what?” Semjaza disappeared into the crowd.
The trio edged their way back to the bar next to Daisy, Kopius, and Pernilla. They relayed Semjaza’s suggestion.
The bartender finally decided to wait on them. The group ordered food and drinks, while Kopius ran down to the docks to book passage to Cortica, leaving them with orders to get him a double saebal bomb with fries.
“A wha—never mind.” Van didn’t even want to know.
Kopius returned as Van scooped up the last of her Moss Almonds and Avocado Pud.
“Booked passage on The Seahag,” Kopius said waving a handful of tickets. “It’s a grain barge. Captain will take us on and drop us in Cortica. We leave tomorrow at dawn.”
“Wait—we have to get a fairy’s tear before we go,” Van said.
“Not to worry.” Kopius sat down on the bar stool and smashed the double saebal bomb into his mouth.
They all stared at him, waiting.
“Well?” Pernilla asked.
“Didn’t I tell you I’m a problem solver?” Kopius said with a mouthful of his partially chewed sandwich. He swirled a potato fry in front of Daisy’s mouth.
She smiled and turned her face away.
Van rarely saw Daisy eat anything. The girl had zero appetite.
“Enough with the show,” Brux said to Kopius. “Spit it out.”
“You’re not going to like it.” Kopius stopped eating and turned his attention to the team. “We need to catch a fairy.”
Pernilla laughed.
“Like…a real fairy?” Paley asked.
Pernilla’s expression grew serious. “Wait—fairies exist?”
“That doesn’t surprise me at all,” Van said, remembering the strange creatures she encountered on her last trip in the Living World which included trolls, gnomes, buffalroo, and an evil sorceress.
“Yeah.” Kopius nodded. “Fairies are real.”
“I’ve heard they exist,” Brux said. “But I’ve never known anybody who’s seen one.”
“Apparently, this area is ripe with them,” Kopius said. “It’s probably what drew the criminal element to settle here in the first place.”
“How do we catch one?” Pernilla asked.
“We have to set a trap in the woods. Called a fairy spike.”
Daisy gasped and turned paler than usual.
“That’s sick,” Paley said. “We can’t spike the poor fairy!”
“How do we get the fairy to the fairy spike?” Van asked, focusing on the mission.
“Well, it seems the fairy,” his eyes darted to Brux, “has to be seduced.”
Chapter 20
“What?” Brux looked alarmed. “No way!”
“Okay, how about beguiling the fairy.” Kopius laughed. “Most guys are dying to meet a fairy.”
“Why?” Daisy’s wide, blue eyes turned to him.
“They’re incredibly beautiful.” Kopius seemed uncomfortable talking about the subject to Daisy. Probably because she had this air about her that made others strive to meet her expectations of decency and goodwill.
“So?” Daisy shrugged. “There’s plenty of beauty in the world.”
“Why is there a trade for them?” Van asked, not sure she wanted to hear the answer.
Kopius shifted on his stool. “Fairies, well, they can bestow small gifts of magic, if you win their favor. Fairy magic on a simple level is undetectable by the Balish.” He struggled to find the right words. “Some people keep them as pets, forcing the fairy—through starvation or torture—to use magic for their personal advancement. And they can’t be killed—well, by certain magic they can—but, basically, they’re immortal.”
“So, they could be kept a prisoner for an eternity.” Paley’s fingers zipped to her mouth, and she gnawed on her cuticles.
“Doing some jackass’s bidding, generation after generation.” Van shivered.
“That’s so mean.” Daisy looked more wilted than ever.
“No wonder the trade is illegal,” Pernilla said, looking like she was ready to punch somebody.
“No wonder it’s so lucrative,” Brux said. “They provide magic on demand.”
“Plus,” Kopius said. “Like we already know, their tears bring in big money. Can you imagine what criminals get for a fairy?”
“We’re not going to keep her,” Van said, helping them stay focused. “We just need her tear, then we set her free.”
“From what I know, fairies are sensitive to energies,” Brux said. “They can feel the emotions and intentions of humans. That makes them hard to find, never mind catch.”
Van turned to Kopius. “You looked at Brux, so that means he has the right emotional vibration to charm the fairy? How does that work?”
“You call to them by performing a sacred ritual,” Kopius said. “They catch the scent of the caller’s sweetness and come flying in.” He grinned. “That’s why it has to be Brux and not me.”
“Fine.” Brux sighed. “What’s the ritual involve?”
“You dance while reading a poem that professes how beautiful she—the fairy—is and how much sweetness and love you have to give her.” Kopius’s eyes sparkled with anticipation over Brux’s level of discomfort doing the ritual. “And then, there are the offerings.”
“Oh, that’s all,” Van said, sarcastically.
“No, that’s not all.” Kopius’s tone turned serious. “Brux will need to clamp the fairy’s ankle in a manacle that has a chain attached to a spike hammered into the ground. Once she’s caught, she’ll let out a high pitched wail. That’s when the traders quickly cover her with a special soundproof fairy sack. But if she’s left alone to continue with her cries, they’ll eventually catch the attention of any nearby wizard who will then come to her rescue. Only a wizard, or the person who set the trap, is able to undo the fairy spike and set her free. Once she’s freed, it’s tradition that she offer her rescuer a tear to show her gratitude.”
“But Brux gets to do the beguiling fairy dance-love poem reading?” Van grinned so wide her cheeks hurt.
Brux had the look of someone condemned to take one for the team.
“Naw,” Kopius said, letting Brux off the hook. “I can do it. I can fake niceness.”
“You said sweetness, not niceness,” Pernilla said.
“Same difference.” Kopius shrugged.
“There’s a difference between being nice and being kind.” Daisy cast her eyes to the floor, clearly disappointed in Kopius.
Daisy’s words resonated with Van. Brux’s essence undoubtedly consisted of pure sweetne
ss. No faking it there. But Daisy had overlooked the sweetest, kindest person on their team.
“No, not Brux.” Van turned to Daisy. “You have to do it.”
“Do fairies like girls?” Paley asked.
“Hm.” Kopius rubbed his chin in thought. “My intel said they’re attracted to sweetness. I assumed since fairies are female they would be attracted to a male. But I have to agree, the female gender is pretty sweet.” He smiled at Daisy and pulled her in by the waist for a hug.
Daisy grinned, clearly loving the attention. “It makes sense that fairies would be pansexual,” she said. “They probably sense energies, not gender.”
Kopius gazed at Daisy. “Hands down my girl is the sweetest.” He kissed the top of her head.
Her grin grew wider.
“She’s a sure bet to attract one,” Brux said, looking like he was doing his best to ignore Kopius and Daisy’s relationship.
Van was proud of Brux. He made an effort to put his personal feelings aside for the mission. She found herself grinning at him, just like Daisy did to Kopius. Mortified by her lack of control, she stopped it at once.
“The problem is the fairy spike.” Brux looked at his sister. “Are you capable of grabbing a fairy and shackling her to a spike?”
“How big are they?” Paley asked. “I’m thinking they’re the size of a butterfly.”
“They’re like the size of an elf,” Kopius said. “Or a mountain goat. Kinda like, maybe…that barrel.”
Paley snickered. “I have no idea what you’re trying to say.”
Van stared at him. “Which is it? An elf, a goat, or a barrel?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Daisy’s long, white-blond hair shimmered as she lowered her head. “I can’t do it.”
“That’s the conundrum.” Pernilla flipped her hands in the air. “The sweetest person is the most unlikely to be able to carry out such an atrocity. No wonder fairies are near impossible to get.”
“I can hide nearby,” Kopius said. “I’ll swoop in and grab her.”
“No way,” Brux said. “Daisy will be distracted knowing you’re there. It will show in her energy—a telltale sign that someone is else is near.” He stood tall. “I’ll do it. I’ll grab the fairy and clasp her in the manacle.”
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