Fantastic Schools, Volume 3

by Emily Martha Sorensen

  The young woman in red removed a scroll from her robes. Closing her eyes and clutching it, she said, “Mind Call. Dr. Graff. Cleric of Loki in Northampton Bog kidnapping fairies. Require assistance. Please come or send another.”

  The scroll glowed brightly for a moment then turned to dust.

  The mages waited. Kendi whispered to Karen, “What does this do?”

  “The spell allows a message of twenty-five words or less to be communicated telepathically. The recipient can then respond with a new message of the same limit.”

  “Shouldn’t he have answered by now?” the fairy asked.

  “I would think so.”

  Sally opened her eyes. “It failed. He must be traveling on another plane.”

  “Of all the times for a natural one,” Nathan said, shaking his head.

  Kendi fluttered up. “Can you try to contact someone else at your tower?”

  Sally shook her head. “I only brought one scroll.”

  The fairy led the trio of mages deep into the bog until they reached a ring of toadstools. “The fairy home!” Sally shouted, excitedly.

  Other fairies flew out to meet Kendi. All were about a foot tall and wore tiny clothing made from the fur and plants. A dark-skinned fairy with hair of flames flew up and greeted Kendi.

  “You’re looking hopeful, my friend.”

  “Perth is coming back!” Kendi then turned to the trio. “Perth is my husband. He was one of the first taken. Six who live here have been stolen.”

  Kendi led them to her tribe’s chief. Only young fairies flew near the human settlements. This one was old with gray hair and a long beard. His wings were wilted and torn. Four fairies held up his chair. Another behind him nudged him awake. Karen approached slowly and knelt before him. Thanks to Kendi’s instructions on the way, she knew what to say.

  “O great one, your servant has told us of your village’s plight. We will help in any way we can.”

  The other two knelt on either side of her. Nathan added, “We pledge our most valiant effort but cannot promise to succeed.”

  The chief chuckled from his air-borne throne. “The gods rain down blessings on us when most needed! Let the festivities begin!”

  The tribe whooped and began to dance in the air. Fairy dust rained down as they glided and spun. They danced in pairs and in fours. Dozens of fairy children, small enough to fit several in a human hand, flew in circles as well as impressive and complicated patterns. Adults hovered to make sure they flew correctly. Other adults brought out a sheet of fabric filled to overflowing with fruit and berries. Water and juices were provided.

  Kendi had pointed out the mates of the other kidnapped fairies. They all danced, excited that their mates would be coming home, but she sat underneath a tree by herself.

  Sally nudged Karen. “Someone has eyes for Kendi.”

  A male fairy in blue and yellow flew up to her, asking her to dance. Obviously, it wasn’t meant to be romantic since the other stranded mates were dancing, but Kendi shook her head. As he asked again, and she repeated her actions, Nathan moved closer.

  After the fairy asked a third time, the mage asked his own question. “Are you deaf, blue boy? Kendi doesn’t feel like dancing.”

  The little blue fairy flew off after one last moonstruck look at Kendi.

  Sally shared a look with Karen. He was interested in her romantically. Dr. Graff had covered small parts of fairy culture in class. The way the fairies held up marriage as the ideal, it surprised them to see one of them so obvious and public in his attempts at adultery.

  Kendi settled down on a toadstool and cried.

  “Hey, no tears,” Karen said. “I’ll get your husband back, and then he can chase off the man in blue! You’ll have your happy life together.”

  She cried harder. “No, we can’t. You see, we’ve been married ten years and have no children. I’m not even pregnant and have never been pregnant.”

  “I feel for you,” Sally said. “Maybe we can get a cleric to come here.”

  The tiny woman shook her head so hard her hair was flying from side to side. “No, you don’t understand. Moke was wooing me because when Perth is returned, we will be forced to divorce!”

  “What? Why?” the girls’ eyes widened.

  “Because after ten years with no children, it is obvious that the gods have not blessed our marriage. I don’t know what upset the goddess of childbirth, but all my sisters have many children and all his siblings do, too. The chief will break our bonds and free us for others so the tribe may grow.”

  “I’ve never heard anything like this.”

  She looked down at the ground. “Marriage is the foundation of family. It’s meant to provide a place for the children to be raised. The gods give children. If a couple has no children, it means the gods don’t bless the marriage, and we married against their will. Without strong families, we don’t have a strong tribe.”

  Nathan opened his mouth. “Now I’ve heard everything. It can’t be because one of you is infertile. You have no children because the ‘gods,’ who you say love your people, won’t grant a simple request. Why ten years? Why not five?”

  The fairy cried harder.

  Sally motioned for Nathan to hush. “We’ll do what we can.”

  The cute fairy flew up to Karen and hugged her. Her tears dripped on the robes.

  “Don’t worry,” Karen said. “I’ll pray to God. He’ll grant a child.”

  Karen could see Sally dig her elbow into Nathan’s side as the man snorted in derision.

  Kendi flew up and tapped the end of Karen’s nose. “Will he? You humans are so big. Are your gods bigger, too?”

  “I suppose so. Have you met many humans before?”

  She shook her head. “You’re the first I’ve really met.” She lowered her voice. “You big guys scare me; I could get squished. Even dwarves are huge compared to me! If it weren’t for Alfred, I never would have approached you.”

  Butting in, Nathan said, “Of course, we can’t work for free.”

  Kendi nodded and motioned for other fairies to come close. “No. You can’t. Name your price.”

  With another elbow in Nathan’s ribs to keep him quiet, Sally interjected, “We just need to interview a fairy for our magical ecology class back at the Tower of the Moons.”

  “That’s all?” the fairies asked in unison.

  “Surely you want more than that!” Kendi said.

  “It is all we need. Though if we are wounded and you have healing potions afterwards...”

  “Of course! No potions here, but we have magic to help.”

  “Alfred may need more than we do,” Nathan grumbled, grit in his voice.

  She giggled. “I like that. You sound determined.”

  “We are, but we need more than determination,” Karen said.

  The fairy nodded. “I agree. If determination was all it took, I’d have a dozen children by now.”

  Surprised at her statement, Karen carried on. “We need a plan to put into action.”

  “If plans and actions were all that mattered, I’d still have a dozen children.”

  Blushing, Karen wanted to change the subject, Kendi looked to be early thirties, but the math didn’t work for humans. “How long is a fairy pregnancy?”

  “Exactly four new moons.” She waited a moment, hovering in front of Karen’s face. “Aren’t you going to ask what we need along with determination, plans, and action?”

  “What?” the white robe asked, her voice quavering with trepidation.

  “The blessing of the gods.”

  The three mages sighed in relief.

  Along with several fairies to guide them and help them, the trio set out for the cleric’s cabin.

  Karen stalked along, fuming. She couldn’t wait for this adventure to be over and turn Nathan in to the tower for what he did to her! While the head of the black robes would find it amusing, her own mentor wouldn’t. Mistress Janey, the head of the red robes, would probably vote for disciplini
ng Nathan as well. She didn’t know what they would do. The school’s discipline manual didn’t cover all situations but left the administrators with leeway.

  In front of her, Sally asked Nathan, “You said something today that made me think you were a Christian at one time, at least not an atheist. Is that true?”

  “Yes,” Nathan answered, softly. “I used to be a Christian, but I found out that my pastor for years had been having affairs.”

  “So you became Evil?”

  “Bite your tongue! Then I’ll kiss you and make it better. It wasn’t a one-bad-day situation. I realized this man who had pastored me and counseled me had been a duplicitous scoundrel. He wasn’t in it to help us—he was in it for himself. From that day, I started looking out for number one, first and foremost. Over time, Good became Neutral. Then Neutral became Evil. I still don’t think of myself as Evil. I prefer Assertive.”

  Karen felt a whisper of pity for Nathan but only for a moment. His invasion of privacy made no apology possible.

  Kendi landed softly on Karen’s shoulder. Her lightness surprised Karen. Oh, Karen knew that fairies had hollow bones to make flying easier, but to know something in your head was different than experiencing it.

  “Can you tell me something, Karen?” Without waiting, the fairy continued, “You called your school the Tower of the Moons, but there’s only one moon! Unless you mean moon as a measure if time, the way we use it.”

  The brunette shook her head. “We recognize three types of the one moon, one for each color of robe worn by the moon mages. New moon for black, full moon for white, and red moon for half moons.”

  “Interesting. You wear white, so you do white magic?”

  “Exactly, and after I face the Trials, my might will wax and wane with the phases of the moon. Nathan’s power will wax opposite of mine. Sally will be most powerful on the half moons and least on the full and new.”

  “When do you test?”

  “A few months from now. I’m level two and have to have the experience for level four. I’m trying to space it out.”

  One of the fairies flew down to them. “Hush. We’re getting close.”

  They proceeded in silence the rest of the way to Alfred’s cabin. Soon, Karen saw the blue-gray rock walls next to a single, dead tree. A whiff of smoke rose from the chimney emerging out of the thatched roof, and lantern glow shone through the windows. Iron bars in the windows would keep fairies from escaping or entering.

  A fairy sentinel complete with tiny sword descended to Kendi. “He is in there with Grimm. He usually goes hunting about this time. We sense no traps or wards.”

  “The big people will go in there once we distract him,” she said.

  Nathan told the fairies, “Just make it look good.”

  A few minutes later, Alfred emerged from the ramshackle house with Grimm at his heels and a net in his hands. The human cleric wore a ragged, black cloak with bright red boots. He walked hunched over, had a bulbous nose, and had only a fringe of black hair. “Let’s go, Grimm, you miserable cat! We’ll check the traps first for little folk. Ha ha!”

  As he walked away one of the sentinels emerged from the trees in front of Alfred and sped off just above head height. Alfred and Grimm took off after him!

  Kendi whispered, “Two minutes, then we go in.”

  Karen counted the seconds in her head until they went in. She, Sally, Nathan, and a couple of fairies slipped in. Other fairies remained to watch out for Alfred.

  The room inside the cabin was stuffed with equipment and lined with shelves. A shelf to the side held glowing bottles of golden liquid. Karen estimated three dozen jars holding fairies. “Holy cow! Kendi, you said six!”

  The fairy’s gaze whipped around the room, her hair flying.

  “The others are from other clans. Help them if you want, but you have to get ours out.” Kendi fluttered in front of a jar with a male fairy. He beat on the glass.

  “We’re coming for you, Perth!” the little fairy said. Overcome with excitement, she grabbed hold of the jar lid and screamed. “Iron lids! Oh, he’s evil.”

  Nathan quipped, “Iron lids is a sign of thinking ahead, not evil.” He smiled, grimly, “But it is what I would do.”

  Sally took the jar and screwed off the lid. “I don’t know if we’ll have time to open them all! Alfred might catch on and come back!”

  “Breaking the jars might hurt the fairies. We can’t carry them all. We have to try. Oh, I wish I could cast a Mass Opening spell!”

  Karen and Sally set to opening the jars. Nathan looked at the work bench and picked up a bottle identical to those on the shelf.

  “Nathan! We’re here to free the captives!” Karen hissed at him.

  “Dr. Graff will know what this is. It must be important!” He slipped it into the pocket of his robes then set to opening the prison jars.

  Satisfied, Karen opened two more then heard a wolf whistle.

  Flabbergasted, she spun around and snapped at Nathan. “This is hardly the time or place!”

  “Twasn’t me, Miss Goody Two Shoes! That was the signal he’s coming back! Life isn’t all about you!”

  Sally shouted, “Just open the jars!”

  They hurried, opening every jar they could.

  With a yowl, Grimm sprang into the cabin. Orange with darker orange stripes, the cat looked feral and dangerous. The freed fairies zipped around the cat, trying to distract him.

  Grimm paid them no mind. His yowls almost sounding like chuckles, he held up one paw and extended the claws from it. He leaped at Sally’s face.

  The red-robed mage shouted, “Bedazzle Monster!”

  “Hurrh?” Grimm growled. As his eyes crossed, he thumped into Sally.

  She threw him to the ground.

  On their side of the room, Karen and Nathan rushed to open more jars.

  Grimm struggled to his paws and leaped onto the lab bench. His tail knocked over a lantern. Oil spilled out and flames spread across the table.

  “Karen! Fire!” Sally shouted.

  The mages hurried to open the last jars. Just as the flames flared high and lit the roof, they opened the last one.

  The grateful fairy lass gave Nathan a kiss on the cheek as she flew past.

  The three mages hurried outside, a singed Grimm padding after.

  His mouth agape in horror, Alfred watched the fairies he had captured fly away into the night. Several stayed with their rescuers to help them.

  “No! You’ve ruined everything!” Alfred shouted, trying to grasp the fairies in his hands. Failing, he looked at the trio. “I’ll get you!”

  The cleric lunged for Karen. As he touched her arm, he shouted, “Take Moderate Wound!”

  Pain radiated from Karen’s arm throughout her body. She crumpled to the grassy bog ground, writhing.

  Alfred spun and kicked Sally’s legs out from under her. The red robed mage fell.

  Nathan dug sand from his spell pouch. “Sleep!” he shouted, throwing the sand in Alfred’s face.

  The cleric scrunched up his face and furrowed his brow. “Ha! I made my save!”

  While he was looking at Nathan, Karen grabbed his ankle and pulled him to the ground. Nathan took the opportunity to stomp the cleric in the face.

  The fairies swooped down and did their magic on the moaning Alfred.

  The red robe took her turn, throwing a pinch of colored sand into the air. “Rainbow Cone!”

  A cone of multiple colors erupted from her hand, striking the cleric and knocking him unconscious.

  “It won’t last long,” Sally said.

  “It’ll last long enough.” Karen climbed to her feet, looked down at their foe, and waited for him to open his eyes. Finally, he did so. “Do you surrender?”

  Alfred closed his eyes again and nodded, weeping.

  Karen and Sally lowered their hands and stepped away. They turned to the fairies who had stayed to help.

  Kendi and another fairy flew in close. The little blonde woman beamed with joy. “Kar
en, Sally, this is Perth, my husband.”

  “A pleasure to meet you,” Sally said.

  Before Karen could give her own greeting, she heard Nathan shout, “Watch him! Certain Hit!”

  As she dove for the floor, a wet thunk came from behind her.

  The two women turned back to Alfred only to see Nathan laying beside his corpse, hand on the black-hilted dagger embedded in Alfred’s chest. Yowling, Grimm vanished into the bog.

  “Nathan...” Karen wasn’t sure what she felt.

  “He was preparing a prayer to strike you in the back, Karen.” His face was grim, no sign of glee or satisfaction.

  The black robe knelt beside the dead cleric and picked up the sacred medallion hanging around his neck. “Loki, just as they said.” His eyes glazed over, and his jaw went slack.

  “Nathan! Nathan!” Karen said, rushing over and shaking his shoulder. Sally was right beside her.

  Blinking, the black robe shook his head. He dropped the medallion like a hot potato and rose to his feet, shaking.

  “Fire and steel,” he muttered.

  “Fire and steel? What does that mean?” Sally asked.

  Like a switch being thrown, Nathan’s expression turned to iron. “Nothing. I saw nothing.”

  “Saw? We didn’t ask if you saw anything. We asked what you meant,” Karen argued.

  Wordlessly, Nathan headed for the trail back to the fairy village.

  Sally shrugged and set out after him.

  Confused, Karen followed.

  Back at the tribe’s land, fairies danced in the air to fairy music. A bonfire burned brightly, lighting up the night and throwing sparks. The three humans sat off to the side with Kendi and Perth.

  “I think that’s enough for our report,” Sally said, putting away her pen.

  Kendi fluttered back up in the air with a giggle. Perth would not leave her side.

  “We thank you so much,” Perth said, “Even though our reunion will be short.”

  Sally whispered, “Come with us, the two of you. No one will need to know about you and Perth.”

  Perth replied, “We’d know.”

  Karen shook her head. “What will you do?”