Beri hadn’t answered. When Raven glanced over, his adopted brother’s jaws were clenched and his forehead creased. Raven should heed the usual signals to keep his mouth shut. Salm was his problem, not Beri, and he needed to keep it that way.
When they caught up, Salm said, “That, mates, is how it’s done. Beri?” Salm gestured to a couple consulting a brochure.
“No need,” he snapped. “I know what a joust is and can see it’s nae started.” In long strides, Beri took off fast enough that everyone except Salm had to trot to keep him in sight. Beri trekked along the rope bordering the expansive lawn, headed for a line of trees on the far side.
Beri wasn’t usually so abrupt—this place must be worrying him as much as he’d claimed it would.
One of the costumed workers carrying fencing saw them. “Looking for the coffee and doughnuts? Service is up on the side patio.” He lifted his chin in the direction of the house.
Coffee and doughnuts? What was he talking about? Raven glanced at Beri, but he was waving to the chap.
“Thanks, mate,” Beri called. “Will the jousting start soon?”
“Nah, not until nine. However, the maze out back is open.” Again, he nodded toward the house. “Quiet right now. Give it a go.”
Spells. For the fellow who hadn’t wanted to come, Beri was now ahead of everyone in completing his trial assignment. Raven met Willow’s gaze.
Her brows rose. “Did he—”
“Brilliant!” Beri answered, stuffed his hands in his pockets and strolled in that direction.
With a glance toward Willow, Salm saluted the bloke before grinning around at them. He gestured them forward and took the lead from Beri.
Blast that showoff! Yet a few paces on, Raven had it. A maze was perfect. He could split off with Willow and ask her if she’d prebond with him. She’d know how he felt. He’d know her answer, and they could enjoy the rest of the day…
If she said she wanted to. Oh great bloody—
“Look at the colors!” Coral exclaimed.
They’d arrived at a table covered in boxes filled with round cakes iced in a rainbow of brightness. Strangely, every one of them had a hole in the center.
“What’ll it be, guys?” asked a fellow of about their age manning the table. “Just doughnuts, or coffee, too?” He held up a paper cup, every finger bearing a ring, smiled and cocked his purple-haired head at a jaunty angle.
The others debated this coffee thing while deciding on which doughnut. Raven picked a chocolate one covered in coconut, though he didn’t see how he could eat with his jittery stomach. Salm and Oyster agreed to the drink with their doughnuts.
“Way to go, mates!” The lad took their coins and passed over the steaming cups.
They walked off a few paces. The coffee smelled suspicious. Salm downed it with gusto, and Oyster pursed his lips as if he’d been betrayed. Doughnuts, on the other hand—
Raven and Beri groaned simultaneously at the first bite. “Do you suppose Merlin can extend his baking to this?” Beri asked.
“One can hope,” Raven mumbled around the sweetness melting in his mouth. “How do they get them crunchy on the outside?”
“Oh Blessed…” Willow covered her mouth while the rest of them laughed at her near slip. She delicately wiped her fingers on the paper that had held her doughnut. “Whatever it is they say here. That was delicious.”
“Blimey, ’twas!” Coral licked the sugar from her fingers. “I could eat another—wait. I can!” She dug in the little bag she had slung across her shoulder and extracted a handful of coins.
Raven just wanted to get back to walking beside Willow, Beri on her other side, like they always did at home. Then he’d have a chance to get her away from Salm.
Coral tugged on Salm’s arm. “Can you come—”
“Get someone else.” He shook her off. “I plan to beat all of you to the center of the maze.” Not too distant, a solid hedge of boxwood blocked the view beyond the back of the house.
“I’d like another holey cake,” said Oyster. “That lad taking the money was…interesting.”
“Agreed.” Coral grinned. “Worth another look.”
Raven lunged and grabbed each of their arms. “No can do,” he said firmly. “Since Salm can go off alone, we’ve got to split up to beat him at this maze. We still have time to do it. You two and Beri head left once we’re inside. Willow and I will take the right. One of our teams will surely top him.”
“Ha!” Salm fell for the challenge and took off running toward a gap in the hedge marked as the entrance.
Coral hooted and gave chase, Beri beside her. Oyster passed them in a sprint like when his mother had caught him shirtless last year during a heatwave.
And as simple as that, Raven had Willow to himself.
They trotted together, turning right, then left at the end of a long corridor, left and left again, threading their way deeper and deeper. Raven didn’t think the giddy feeling taking over his head was strictly from zigzagging. Several times, he caught Willow looking at him when he’d glanced at her. Did that mean what he hoped it did?
Willow slowed at an intersection. “Toward the middle, that would be more rights, would it not?”
“Not necessarily. Could be that’s how they trick you.”
They took the left. At the next, their pause made his fluttering insides too much to bear. He looked both ways down the empty corridor and, on a whim, pointed upward. “I could do a little spy hop up and check.”
Willow rapped his chest. “You wouldn’t dare!”
At her touch, his heart pounded harder. “I would.” He managed to wink, to keep up the joking. “Only if I were alone. Wouldn’t want you to be in trouble.”
She rolled her eyes. “Kind of you.” She gave him a light push and once more ran to the left, clearly away from the center.
He hadn’t thought it’d be that complicated of a maze, but… Could she also purposefully be avoiding the others? He jogged after her, catching up and running with her, step in step.
“Maybe it’s a kindness to myself,” he said. “I’d miss you if you were restricted to your house. Or worse, quashed!”
She grinned up at him. “’Tis far more likely that you would be the one quashed, and I’d miss you, too. It’s not much fun having only my little brothers to talk to.”
The excitement in Raven’s gut churned into a heavy weight. A comparison to brothers—and younger ones at that!—was not good. He ventured a cautious, “No?”
Willow shook her head. “You only see them in short spurts, and they adore you. Me, they challenge at every turn, though I am in charge when Mam and Poppa must work. It’ll only get worse once Mam has the baby, and she’s sure it will be a boy, too.” She gave him a sideways glance.
Ach, once the new baby came, he wouldn’t be seeing her as much. Well, this was typical of her worries, and at least she wasn’t comparing him to Beri. She was at her mother’s call only if she was at home… “You should apply to the council for an independent shelter on your trial area, as Beri and I have.”
“Neither of my trial areas has an existing shelter, not like yours.”
True, the hollow in the Pines grove was perfect, one of the reasons they’d chosen it for a trial. “We’ll help you find one. Given all the land the Forest contains, there must be one. Or we can construct something, as another trial.”
She met his glance with a soft smile. “I accept your assistance.”
“Brilliant,” he breathed.
At the next corner, they hit a dead end and had to backtrack. Willow slowed, declaring, “I’m getting turned around. Let’s approach this more methodically.”
“We should,” he agreed while his head said, Do it. Ask her now.
Between the boxwood walls, the air was still and fragrant, the only sounds the birds chirping beyond. They walked slowly, side by side, not speaking. Every time he glanced at her, Willow seemed to be looking at him, then they’d look away at the same time. This was it, his
chance. Raven checked before and behind them. Deserted. He wiped his sweaty palms down his trousers. “I wonder…”
He stopped to steady his voice.
Willow stopped, too. “Something wrong?” She stepped closer and peered up at him.
“Naught.” Orb, he was rattled. But then, Willow noticed everything. “Do you think you might—”
Footsteps pounded, growing louder. They whirled around and separated from each other just before Coral and Salm rounded the corner.
“Time to go!” Coral sang out. “Ms. Scallop’s demonstration is soon. Oyster and Beri headed back already. How did you two get stuck far away in this dead-end corner?”
“Coral, no time for chatting!” Salm waved a hand to cut her off. “Willow is the only one who knows the woolens.”
Willow started forward. “Oh, aye. Direct us out, please.” She gripped Salm’s elbow.
Raven’s heart sank. It should be me she’s touching! His chance was gone.
4
Playing at Human
Wanting to blast an energy ball into something, Raven followed Willow and Salm between the maze hedges, the scent of boxwood now overpowering. He couldn’t have worse luck, losing this chance, and with Salm of the Seas ready to grab Willow’s attention at every turn and snatch her out of Raven’s reach!
“So?” Coral trod at his heels. “Why were you two back here? Alone?”
He slammed to a stop and pivoted—
The slight lass lunged out of range, smashing against the foliage, fingers spread. Ready. At her grin, his energy rose in his channels, and it took the grip of an eagle on a thrashing salmon for him to contain it.
“Why,” Raven ground out, “do you find the most inopportune moments to hound me with the bloodiest, inanest questions?” He spun and raced after the others. If it wouldn’t get him quashed, he’d magic the pesky lass to stay lost in the maze.
Outside the tall hedges, humans crowded the walkways that’d been empty before, flooding in from the direction of the car park. Salm led the way among the people and around the great house.
Casting a glance back to make sure Coral was following—they had to stay together despite what he wished—Raven wove around a family and caught up to Willow. She’d let loose of Salm, and Raven wanted to take her hand as they had when they were younger, but he also wanted his hands free in case they needed to defend themselves.
Nae! What are you thinking, you git? This bout of nerves was simply from listening to Beri’s rants. Humans might be somewhat different than Windborne, but not that much. This was exactly the test the elders had set forth for them—to be comfortable and inconspicuous among humans. He’d pass the trial, because he wanted Willow to know he had. That meant more to him than any approval from the elders.
They passed queues for the fragrant, strange foods, jugglers waltzing around, a musical group tuning their instruments, little kids being herded into a line and issued swords—
Willow stumbled to a halt, bringing the four of them to a standstill while she stared at the knight demonstrating a weapon swing.
“How is this safe?” Coral hissed.
“I think…aye,” Willow whispered. “The swords are pretend. A soft substance.”
Salm leaned down to her. “Foam. Our dolphin harnesses are padded with it.”
Raven reached between the girls and poked Salm in the back. “I thought you said we must hurry?” The sooner they were done with their turn at watching the booth, the sooner he could find another opportunity to have Willow alone again.
Within the rows of crafters, the people thinned, and the brightly striped tent loomed to their right. Oyster stood at the doorway and, spotting them, called to someone inside. Ms. Scallop appeared at the door as they arrived.
“Not busy yet, thank the stars. Beri has gotten the lesson with the cashbox. Willow dear, please answer any questions about the spinning, plies and laundering. The labels have the breeds of sheep, including my Manx Loaghtans. Do we have everything, dears?”
This last was directed at Oyster and Coral. Oyster lifted Ms. Scallop’s compact spinning wheel, and Gran had come out with a basket of spinning supplies that she handed to Coral. Ms. Scallop carried another and led the way to the crafters’ stage.
Willow went into the tent with Gran, and Raven followed her. This wasn’t the time to ask her what was in his heart, but he could chat. Before he could think of what to say, she took a drop spindle and a basket of fluffy wool and went back out to stand under the awning of the tent. He followed her out, and so did Gran.
“All set?” Gran asked everyone. “Be welcoming to customers, not talking amongst yourselves. Plenty of time for that when you are nae working.”
Argh. Raven nodded like Gran expected, but how could he get around this? Salm was already with the lambs. At the doorway, Beri had taken over the table for customers to pay for their purchases. That spot was near enough to where Willow stood, putting one in a brilliant position to sneak in a question when she was between customers and Gran wasn’t looking.
Maybe I can still make this work! Raven rapped Beri’s shoulder. “Let me have my turn at this first.”
Beri crossed his arms and glared. “Nay.”
This was…rude. Raven huffed. “What’s with you? Did you nae beat Salm to the center of the maze?”
Straightening, Beri glanced at Lady Lark helping two ladies with woolens inside the tent. “I have this job in hand. You help show the lambs.”
Of all the… Blast it! He couldn’t force Beri out. Frowning, he snapped, “You’re to have a turn with them, too,” before pivoting and striding over to join Salm in the sheep pen.
Beri slumped into the seat. If only this table were in the back of the tent. However, Ms. Scallop had it positioned at the doorway and instructed him to act as both host and sentry: greet the customers with a smile, offer his help, but don’t let them leave without paying. That and the human note and coin exchange were his main duties, and since his parents had trained him as a child to handle their money, he knew it as well as Windborne trade credit.
Ms. Scallop had placed the cashbox—with Lark’s peregrinator secured inside—in her tote bag in a crate under the table. With a knowing look, she’d said, “Keep your hand on the cashbox when you make a sale and return it here immediately. With a large lad like you in this chair, no one will attempt to snoop in our things. Do you ken my security measures?”
Aye, he did. And until someone was ready to impress them upon Raven, Beri wasn’t budging.
Two little boys ran up to the lamb pen, followed closely by their parents. The family was dressed in everyday human shorts and shirts, looking like the families he remembered seeing long ago. Salm showed the boys how to hold their hands still so the curious lambs could sniff them.
A horn honked. Beri jumped. The boys didn’t even look around, and he was envious of them. Their family was together and, at least here, away from human dangers. His parents hadn’t been as fortunate.
He raked his fingers through his hair. He couldn’t stop thinking of his mum.
Salm held back the lambs, while Raven opened the pen and allowed the family inside to pet the animals.
Beri stared up the line of crafter tents toward the manor house and the visitor car park in the field behind it, judging the distance. It was far enough away, and trees lining the drive to the house also stood in the way. He plucked up a pencil and drew hedgehogs on the paper for figuring sales, trying to concentrate on that rather than the automobiles. He’d seen the human vehicles a few times before today. Once, when they had gone to a human city as a family, he, his mum and his da. He’d been a wee lad, approaching fourth year. It was his second-earliest memory. The very earliest had happened the week before, when his da asked him to stop using magic to fetch every single thing he wanted.
“I can do it if we can go to a zoo,” he remembered saying. He’d learned of them in a picture book and wanted to see the strange animals for himself.
Da had laughed. “You
have to keep your magic locked away to go to a zoo, for only humans keep them.”
Beri asked how, and over the morning, he learned to put away his magic in his storage cores. He didn’t use magic the whole afternoon, not even when he played with his friends on the enclave’s playground. He did everything “the human way” throughout the evening, setting the table, putting away his toys, selecting his books.
“I have a bedtime cookie for you.” Da stood in the doorway and held out the plate. Beri remembered getting out of bed and walking over to collect it, something he never would have done before. His da picked him up and tossed him into the air, cheering that he’d passed a test.
In bed, he asked his mum, “Was I human enough to go to a zoo?”
Her long red hair fell across his cheek as she bent to kiss him good night. He caught it and, looking up into her green eyes, begged, “Please?”
They had gone to a zoo, and he loved it. He’d wanted to go again and again, to see as many different kinds of animals as possible. Beri grimaced at that long-ago childhood wish. After his mum had died, they never did. Da had offered, but he’d been too afraid he’d lose him, too.
And then Da did die, in a completely different way, by cancer.
One of the ladies in the tent had selected a scarf to buy and placed it on Beri’s table while she dug in her handbag.
“Pretty color,” he murmured while he wrapped it the old-fashioned way Ms. Scallop liked, with brown paper and twine leftover from her hay bales. He took her money, brought the cashbox up onto his knees and gave her the change. “Have fun at the faire.” He kept his hand on the box until she turned and then put it away.
He’d like to think this money exchange counted as him making a purchase for the trial, but he knew the others would call him on it. When the ladies left, Lady Lark came up beside him.
Trial at the Faire Page 3