by Sarah Noffke
She read the placard beside the display. “Thought to be from the Roman empire. Circa unknown.”
Liv turned around, aware that her mouth was hanging open. “This didn’t belong to the Romans, did it?”
Rory’s eyes were glazed when he shook his head.
“This is a giant’s sword, isn’t it?” Liv asked, thinking that only someone as tall as Rory could swing such a large weapon.
Again the giant nodded.
“But why can’t you come in here?”
“That, I don’t know,” Rory answered. “It’s been that way since this museum was built over a hundred years ago.”
“But this museum is run by mortals. And what is the sword doing in the Natural History Museum anyway?” Liv asked.
Rory let out a long breath. “Unfortunately, in all this time we’ve been able to uncover no information on the mystery. The sword belonged to my grandfather, Rory Bemuth Laurens. It is called ‘Turbinger.’ It disappeared long ago, then showed up here with magical wards around it that prevented us giants from taking it back.”
“So you can’t go near it, but I can?”
“It appears so,” Rory answered. “Although this was the first time I had the chance to test the notion.”
“That must mean that magicians have put a protective spell on the sword,” Liv ventured.
Rory didn’t look so sure. “Maybe, but magicians like to keep things hidden for their eyes only. You probably have an entire museum of artifacts in the House of Seven.”
Liv thought about the library where she used to spend many an evening. It was more of a treasure vault of strange objects than a place to find books. “So, mortals have your grandfather’s sword, but who put the wards around it to prevent you from taking it back?”
“Again, this is all unclear,” Rory stated. “All I know is that the sword that should belong to my family and me has been on display in this room for a century, with no way for us to reclaim it.”
Liv found herself frowning. “That’s sad. I’m sorry.”
“Giants are known for their superior metal work,” Rory explained. “My grandfather, one of the most talented craftsmen I’ve ever known, made this sword. It isn’t just incredibly strong and never dulls, but it has also been imbued with unique magic that protects the bearer.”
“Damn, I’d like a sword like that,” Liv said, running her eyes over the beautiful weapon lying in the case.
“And you could have one,” Rory said with an edge to his voice.
Liv spun around. “I could?”
“I could make you your very own sword, one that was fit for you and your stature.”
“You mean, tiny,” Liv said with a laugh.
“Real swords are created specifically for the person. My grandfather knew how to craft them so they complimented the one who wielded them. That skill has since died out, though.”
“But I bet you still know how to do it,” Liv stated.
Rory nodded. “Yes. He taught me everything I know, and I’d be willing to make you a sword—one that was an extension of you, and stronger and more beautiful than any sword any magician has ever used.”
Liv looked back at the sword before facing Rory directly. “You’ve got my attention. What’s the catch?”
The giant grinned slightly. “I only ask a favor of you in return for this sword I’d make for you.”
“Go on,” Liv encouraged, her tone dry.
“All you have to is to steal my grandfather’s sword from where it’s being held right now.”
Liv blinked at the giant dully. “Right, you want me to break into a nationally-famed museum. That’s all I have to do.”
Chapter Six
Liv ran her hand over the walls in the entrance hall and watched as the ancient symbols lit up and danced under her fingertips. She stared at them each time she came to the House of Seven, feeling as though they were yearning to tell her a message. The harder she looked at the symbols, the more familiar they seemed, and yet the meaning was never revealed to her.
“Can you believe what he wants me to do?” she asked Plato, who was beside her, referring to Rory’s request for her to steal the sword. Plato had apparently been lurking in the shadows of the museum the entire time, so he knew what Rory was asking of her.
“It sounds like a perfectly reasonable arrangement,” Plato said, strolling with his tail high. “You need a weapon, and he needs a favor, which you can provide.”
“Who said I needed a weapon?”
“Well, wind and intimidation are fine for fighting goblins, but one day your adversaries are going to be taller than knee-height.”
Liv agreed with a nod. “Hey, I did pretty well with putting that minotaur in his place, if you remember correctly.”
“Yes, but you used a long red scarf to distract him,” Plato responded.
“All so I could corral him out of the streets of Spain. I really hope the Councilors don’t assign me another shitty case like that.”
“Well, at least the mortals thought the minotaur was a bull, and no one was the wiser after you got him out of there,” Plato said.
“I’m not certain that the mortals would know they were looking at a unicorn even if it stuck its horn up their—”
“Barn-side,” Plato offered, cutting in.
“Yes, that was exactly what I was going to say. ‘Barn-side.’”
“Mortals see what they expect to see, but faced with too much magic, the blinders will come off,” Plato advised.
“Rory said something about how it’s not safe for mortals to know about magic. Do you think that’s true?” Liv asked.
“I think it’s complicated, and it depends on who you ask,” Plato answered. “For magicians and giants and many other magical creatures, it’s probably better if mortals don’t know about all the happenings in the magical world. However, I’m not sure how mortals would feel about it.”
“Because they’ve never been asked?” Liv posed.
Plato nodded. “I suspect as much.”
“Well, here in the magical community, we’re excellent at deciding what’s good for everyone else,” Liv said as she rounded the corner to face the Door of Reflection. Her image stared back at her, rippling like the surface of the door was made of water. Her long, flowing blonde hair was mostly tucked under the black hood of her cape, which hung down her back.
Liv pretended that the black void to her left wasn’t drawing her attention. Lately, when she looked down the corridor into the chasm of darkness, she felt a strange pull toward it. But much like the white tiger and black crow, no one talked about this strange aspect of the House of Seven. The magicians usually hurried past it, not even noticing that they were striding by something that looked like a cliff leading off the edge of the world.
Stepping through the Door of Reflection, Liv allowed herself to move forward, now accustomed to the strange feeling of passing into the Chamber of the Tree. The process was supposed to cleanse the member of Seven of fears and doubts before each meeting. Liv didn’t understand why she always experienced a strange dream where she was going blind and was surrounded by indistinct figures.
She expected to see that same dream as she passed through the door, but it was different. Liv was standing on the edge of a mountain, eerily similar to the one she imagined her parents fell from to their deaths five years prior. The wind whipped at her back, sending cold shivers over her skin. In the distance, she spotted smoke rising from what appeared to be a cozy village. The smoke quickly turned into raging flames that spread from rooftop to rooftop. Liv startled, feeling like she was the only one for miles who could see the fire. The only one who could help. But she was too far away, imprisoned on a mountain peak.
Stumbling through the Door of Reflection, Liv straightened as soon as her current reality took shape. She pushed her shoulders back and raised her chin high, trying to disguise the remnants of what she’d just seen.
The Councilors all sat in their usual places on the high semi-circula
r bench at the back of the chamber. Also as usual, not all of the Warriors were present, most were off working their cases. Maria Rosario, Stefan Ludwig, and Decar Sinclair stood with their backs to Liv, their focus on the Councilors.
Silently, Liv took her place between Decar and Stefan.
“Ms. Rosario, do you feel you can handle this case alone?” Adler Sinclair asked, his light-colored eyes briefly flicking to Liv.
“I’m confident that I can intervene before the poison gets into the water supply,” Maria stated with assurance. She wore a beautifully embroidered maroon jacket, her long black hair cascading down her back.
“You must be swift,” Adler warned. “The lives of thousands are in your hands.”
The Warrior nodded and pivoted, striding quickly for the exit.
The attention of the Councilors shifted, most looking at Decar, although Liv received a quick glance from Clark.
“The rebellion between the Elves,” Adler began, “Has it been quelled yet?”
“I need to meet with more of their diplomats and smooth over some boundary issues,” Decar answered. “But I think that within a fortnight, we’ll have come to an agreement.”
Adler nodded, looking around at his peers. “I think that’s reasonable, considering what’s at stake. I approve the next steps of the negotiation.”
There was a communal agreement from the rest of the Councilors, and much like Maria, Decar spun and marched away.
“Ms. Beaufont…” Adler began, his voice suddenly sounding tired as he reviewed the tablet of notes in front of him.
“Very creative problem solving,” Hester DeVries stated, a kind smile spreading on her face. “The goblins actually returned many of the stolen items, is that right?”
Liv nearly snorted with laughter. “Well, they didn’t want to at first, but I was able to persuade them that it would be in their best interests.”
Adler pressed his fingertips to his forehead, that typical annoyed look on his pale face. “Ms. Beaufont, you tied up Chief Trock Swaliswan, humiliating him in front of his entire tribe.”
“That was what humiliated him?” Liv asked. “You should have seen the ridiculous getup he was wearing. I mostly covered him in ropes to save my eyes from being set on fire.”
From the corner of Liv’s eyes, she saw a faint smile crack Stefan’s face. His sister, Raina Ludwig, also looked quite amused. She was sitting between Hester and Clark on the bench.
Adler tapped his fingers impatiently on the table in front of him.
“I think that you, Olivia, need some lessons in diplomacy,” Bianca Mantovani offered, her sharp cheekbones looking hollow in the twinkling light the tree cast down on her. She read from her tablet, shaking her head with disapproval. “Is it true that you threw several goblins across the camp area?”
Liv laughed. “Name’s Liv. And the little heathens were about to poke me with dull blades and pitchforks. I believe that’s called defending myself.”
The white tiger strode around the bench, looking even more majestic than Liv remembered. He didn’t glance at her, but rather stalked around the circumference of the room, his head held high. What the hell was up with that animal, and why did no one seem to give him much notice? Liv wondered. Just a giant cat strolling through the chamber. Nothing to see here.
“I don’t see what the problem with Liv’s tactics was,” Raina said, her voice clear and loud. “A Warrior is permitted to use whatever defensive measures are required in a case such as this. And although goblins aren’t considered lethal magical creatures, in large numbers such as these, they can be overwhelming.”
Haro Takahashi and Lorenzo Rosario agreed with a nod, but Bianca ignored Raina’s words, leaning forward to look down the bench at Raina.
“The problem is that Olivia’s tactics have created extra problems for the House,” she explained.
Raina was undeterred and pointed up at the tree, on whose branches each of the Councilors’ and Warriors’ names glowed brightly in blues and greens. “I do believe her name is Liv, Bianca.”
The other woman shook off this correction, looking at Adler for backup.
“Ms. Mantovani is correct,” Adler stated matter-of-factly. “We have an agreement with the goblins that they’ll help us with various finding projects in return for certain leniencies. Yes, they were in violation of their agreement, but you were simply supposed to provide a warning, not destroy their camp.”
“I demolished it and then put it back together, so technically I didn’t destroy their camp,” Liv argued.
Adler sighed. “You tied up their chief and made threats.”
“Let me get this straight,” Liv began. “I’m supposed to enforce the rules unless we have an agreement with a group of magical creatures. Then I give them a slap on the wrist? They’re goblins. They were never going to listen to reason anyway.”
“Then they would continue to steal a bit more from tourists,” Adler said dismissively. “The problem would have sorted itself out eventually. As of now, we have to make amends with the chief.”
“Who, by the way, was stealing from resorts all over Bali,” Liv said, her face growing hotter.
“Yes, that behavior was unfortunate, but the agreement we have with the goblins is more important than resolving their violation in the manner you did,” Adler stated.
“So we should enforce the rules fully unless we have an agreement with the creatures, and then we turn a blind eye?” Liv asked. “What if it had been giants or some other creature we don’t have an arrangement with?”
Many of the Councilors laughed, Bianca the loudest, her tone shrill and unwelcoming. “Giants would never enter into an agreement with the House of Seven,” she said in a high voice. “They are rarely ever seen, and when they are, they refuse to be sociable with magicians.”
Lorenzo Rosario nodded from the far side of the bench. “It’s true. They are less civilized than goblins, if you ask me.”
Liv wanted to remind the Councilor that he hadn’t been asked, but that probably wouldn’t do her any favors since most were regarding her with disapproving stares. Thankfully Clark was keeping his head down and avoiding giving her any more looks.
“Ms. Beaufont, we’re hoping that you take away a valuable lesson from all of this,” Adler said, his tone patronizing. “We’ve taken into account your need for more practice in the area of diplomacy when assigning your new case. You’ll find the details on your tablet. Review it now, and please ask any questions of us that will help you to be effective on this case.”
Liv swallowed the smartass remark begging to spring out of her mouth as she pulled her tablet from her robes. She couldn’t wait to see what tedious task they’d assigned her this time. Maybe it would be reminding fairies of the proper zones for pollination so as to not cross too far into competing territories, or maybe she’d be training brownies on best practices for cleaning houses.
She glanced at her tablet, and for a moment, she thought she might add clairvoyance to her list of magical talents. Another worthless case.
Liv looked up at the seven Councilors, who were regarding her with indifference. “Yeah, I don’t have any questions. Think I can handle this one.”
Adler brushed his white hair off his shoulders and nodded. “Let’s hope you’re right. We don’t need any more problems from you.”
Chapter Seven
“We don’t need any more problems from you,” Liv said under her breath, impersonating Adler Sinclair.
She hurried past the “Great Void,” which was the name she was testing out for the strange blackness. Maybe the person she was on the hunt for right now would know what it was all about. Liv was in no hurry to start on the case she’d just been assigned. And besides, she had a standing date every evening that she wasn’t about to miss. The brownies could wait.
Liv still couldn’t believe that her next case involved intervening with the brownies about their work, imposing cleaning regulations on the small elves, who only wanted to serve by secretl
y cleaning the homes of mortals they admired.
Pulling open the large door to the residential area of the House of Seven, Liv stepped in carefully, checking behind the tapestry that hung on the closest wall. There was no one there.
She slid down the passageway, checking in a tall vase that stood next to a sideboard. Nothing.
Poking her head into the dining room, Liv ensured it was empty of people before entering. She browsed under the table, in the large cabinet at the back, and behind a large potted plant. Again she didn’t find who she was looking for.
“Stay put, little monkey, because I will find you,” Liv said in a whisper.
“You’re talking to yourself again,” Plato said. He had appeared suddenly at her side.
Liv shook her head. “You know damn well who I’m talking to.”
“All I know is that you’re not even close to finding her.”
Liv regarded him with sudden curiosity. “Don’t tell me. I want to do this on my own.”
“I wouldn’t dream of spoiling the fun.”
Liv’s eyes rose to the great chandelier that hung over the long table. Crystals of various colors dangled in strands from the tiers. Above the chandelier, the rafters of the ceiling seemed to go on forever. She used to think she saw little figures hiding there when she was a kid. She probably had, but the person she was looking for wouldn’t be up there. At least, she hoped she wasn’t, because then she wasn’t going to be found.
“Liv?” a man called from the kitchen. “Are you looking for something to eat?”
She spun around to find Akio Takahashi. The Warrior had a sword sheathed at his side and wore long oriental silk robes. He was younger than his brother Haro by about a decade, but they shared the same boyish features.
“I’m not,” Liv answered. “I’m looking for someone.”
Akio stepped forward. In his hand, he held a large croissant. He eyed it for a moment, as if considering whether to eat it, then looked at Liv. “Can I help you?”