by S. M. Boyce
Rory grunted, lifting his hand in a lazy wave.
Bertha led the way inside, toward the kitchen in the back. “The least I can do is make you breakfast. Is that all you needed?”
“That and your charming company,” Audrey said with a wink.
Bertha chuckled, a deep rumble that filled the shop. “I think you’ll like these eggs. For something so vicious, they taste great.”
Victoria collapsed into a chair at the now-familiar table, a plate filled with bread rolls in the middle. She wriggled in her chair as she got comfortable, her back still aching from last night. “We could also use a place to stay. Do you know of any good inns?”
Bertha did a double take, eyes roaming Victoria. “Where did you sleep last night?”
“One of the caves in the cliff face.”
Bertha smacked her fist against the counter and shouted something in a language Victoria didn’t understand, but she knew the tone full well—cursing. The great, big ogre slapped both palms flat on the table and stared at Victoria, brows furrowed in anger. “Are you trying to get killed?”
“What? Why, are the caves bad?”
“Bad? Bad? Child, do you know what lives in there?”
“Take a wild guess, Bertha.” Audrey grabbed a roll from the center of the table and shoved it in her mouth.
“Bandits! Thieves! The pickpockets who steal in our streets! Not to mention the nasty beasts that prefer the deeper caves. Never go in those again, do you hear me?”
Victoria quirked an eyebrow, mind racing. If few ventured there, maybe they could find a cave with no thieves or bandits in it so she could practice controlling her new magic. After all, she would need isolation to learn to wield the thing in her arm.
Bertha yanked open a silver cabinet, and a huff of cold air leaked into the room. She plucked a bowl from within and viciously stirred it with a spoon from the counter. “You humans, honestly! So reckless.”
“Where can we stay? We have a bit of cash, so we can pay,” Audrey said.
“Cash?” Bertha looked over her bumpy shoulder.
“Money,” Victoria said.
Bertha stared at her blankly.
Victoria reached for Audrey’s pack, pulling out a few of the crystals from the drawstring pouch her parents left her. She spread her palm, showing Bertha. “These.”
“Ah, denni. Our currency is called ‘denni.’ And never you mind, girls. If you help me out in the mornings, I’ll make up my spare room for you. It’ll keep you out of those caves.” She clicked her tongue, shaking her giant head.
“Oh, Bertha, thank you!” Victoria smiled and wrapped her arms around the ogre’s waist. They didn’t fit all the way around.
The shopkeeper patted Victoria on the head. “Of course. I’ll have a friend of mine make you some clothes as well. Those human rags won’t suit you here. Now, eat up. You two are pitifully thin. I can’t do much to fix your strange little faces, but I can at least fill out those figures.”
***
A few hours later Victoria carried a basket of apples out back, wearing a fresh outfit that reminded her of steampunk cosplay. Between the boots and the corset over her white blouse, she loved it. At least Fairhaven had decent fashion. She carried a basket of apples on her hip and rifled through them in search of a ripe one. She couldn’t always recognize the strange and magnificent fruits, vegetables, and meats that Bertha prepared, but at least these were familiar. They were also, unfortunately, unfit for consumption according to Bertha. These were set aside as feed for the local farm animals, but Victoria snuck a bite anyway.
As the sweet juice of the bright red apple filled her mouth, she surveyed Bertha’s yard. There wasn't much to it: a large shed with a lock on it, a small space paved with bricks, and a wooden fence that blocked most of the view beyond. She could only see the roofs on the second or third stories of the nearby houses, and of course the crystals glowing far overhead.
She still expected to wake up at any moment, to shake herself and realize that none of this could be happening. And yet, with every passing second she fell more in love with the crazy city filled with people who kept calling her ugly.
Something hissed. Body tensing, eyes darting over the yard, Victoria tried to find the source. In the corner, a strange cat-like creature with pink fur and two sets of ears pawed at the dirt. Its fluffy tail curved like a snake, drifting back and forth. Victoria set her basket down and peeked over the cat’s shoulder, only to find a small person with wings waving his hands and squeaking unintelligibly.
The cat lifted its paw to strike, but Victoria smacked it on the butt. It screeched, jumping in the air and spinning to face her. It hissed, forked tongue darting through its razor-sharp teeth and hackles raised as it tensed to attack. She yelped in surprise at the hideous-looking creature. It pounced. Surprised, she lifted her hands to catch it, but a shield appeared instead. The cat landed hard against the metal with a loud clang that echoed around them. The shield disappeared as quickly as it had come, and the cat-like monstrosity stumbled across the yard, eyes crossed. After a few seconds of stumbling, it shook its head and ran off, shooting her a nasty glare before it jumped over the fence.
Victoria scanned the nearby houses, but no one watched her. She had gotten lucky, but her luck might not hold. She would need to be more careful.
The little creature the cat had attacked whimpered. Victoria knelt, stretching her hand toward the little guy who cowered on the dusty brick, his back pressed against the wooden fence. He wore a brown tunic with a tiny rope drawstring, thin metal cogs fused with his delicate wings. He watched her through gaps in his fingers, trembling.
“It's okay, you tiny thing,” she said softly.
He stopped trembling and stood a little straighter, hands pressed against the wooden fence for support as he examined her. His gossamer wings reminded Victoria of the fairies and pixies in the stories her mother used to read to her when she was a child. But this little pixie had clockwork pieces that clicked in a circle embedded in his shoulder, and another in the middle of his chest. One of his arms ended in a metal claw. He flitted upward, his wings humming as they beat the air, and he flew close to her face. He squeaked, his voice high-pitched and unintelligible, and hugged her nose.
She laughed and stood, happy to have saved the little guy. As she returned to the house she felt something tickle her arm and looked down to find him holding on, his arms and legs wrapped as far as he could around her wrist. She chuckled and lifted him off her, setting him on the ground. “You'll be fine. Just don’t play with any more cats, okay?”
Pleased with her good deed, she walked inside as Audrey finished setting some sweet potatoes into another of the baskets. Wiping sweat from her brow, Audrey squinted at Victoria’s head. “What’s in your hair?”
“Huh?” Victoria reached into her hair to find the little guy holding onto her ear. She chuckled.
“What is that? He looks like a tiny human.”
“No idea. I saved him from a cat-thing.”
Audrey laughed. “Not even the cats are normal here. At least we have apples and sweet potatoes to remember home.”
“You just wait. I bet those potatoes sing when you cook them or something.”
Audrey snorted and pointed to the creature in Victoria’s hair. “You found yourself a pet already?”
“Guess so. He won’t leave me alone.”
The floor creaked under the heavy weight of familiar, stomping footsteps. Bertha ducked under the doorframe into the kitchen and clicked her tongue. “Oh, those pixies!”
“He's a pixie?” Victoria asked.
“Annoying things. They were some wood elf’s experiment gone wrong, and they escaped about three years ago. They’ve been bothering us ever since. Never fear, little one, I’ll kill him for you. Hold still.” Bertha raised her arm, tongue sticking out a bit as she took aim at Victoria’s head.
Victoria lunged backward, out of reach, “I’m good! All good, thanks.”
“Nonsense. Ho
ld still.” This time Bertha grabbed a broom from against the wall. Victoria tensed and shuffled around the table, doing her best to keep it between her and the ogre trying to swat her.
Audrey doubled over with laughter, holding her sides.
“A lot of help you are,” Victoria said under her breath as she passed.
Audrey laughed harder, tears in her eyes now.
“Fine, fine,” Bertha said, dropping the broom. “Stubborn humans! Keep the stupid thing.”
“My own pixie, huh?” Victoria set the little guy in her palm. “I should name you Styx.”
Audrey shook her head. “A pixie named Styx. How original.”
“Shut up. It’s funny.”
“If you say so.”
Victoria picked up the second basket of apples she needed to take outside, grinning in triumph as Bertha returned to the front of the shop. So far, she had found two of her three necessities: food and shelter.
Now to find a mentor.
She studied her right hand, the cold metal of the relic in her arm a constant reminder of the unfamiliar tech that had permanently fused with her. She’d defeated a cat with it, but that was hardly a victory. This thing would get her killed if she didn’t act fast. With Fyrn out of the picture, she needed to find this wizard named Diesel and hope beyond hope he didn’t kill her on sight.
She grimaced, butterflies in her stomach at the thought. Maybe she should practice a bit first, get the hang of summoning at least the knife so she could bluff her way out of a bad situation if everything went south.
Ugh. Weak. She hated it when plans required bluffing, as it left too much to chance. Yet, as she stared up at the glowing green ceiling, the nerves ebbed somewhat. She had found Fairhaven. She had found Fyrn Folly. Her parents had set her on the right path, and she would not fail them. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she did. Failure wasn’t an option.
She nodded to herself, resolute about what had to come next. As much as it would hurt, it was time to train. Hard.
Chapter 13
Around lunchtime, Victoria ducked through the crowds on Fairhaven’s Main Street with Audrey in tow. Bertha only needed their help in the mornings and evenings, and since they had the afternoon off, Victoria figured she should find a place to practice. Styx had nestled in her hair and fallen asleep in her loose curls, so she took him along for the ride.
As she walked through the crowds, she eyed the cliff faces surrounding Fairhaven. Wherever she looked, she found a new cave. There must have been hundreds, thousands even.
It would be the perfect place to practice. The trick would be finding an empty one. That was why Audrey had tagged along. Though neither were exceptional fighters despite their time in kickboxing classes, Audrey threw a mean left hook.
First, though, they needed to get out of town. It wouldn’t do for half the city to see them scaling the cliff to a cave. Talk about suspicious. No, they needed someplace on the edge of town, like Fyrn’s house.
An idea dawned on her, and she grinned mischievously. His protection spell had hidden everything—his house, the caves in the cliffs, all of it. If they were going to practice, they might as well be hidden completely.
Perhaps the old fart would be useful after all.
***
Audrey led the way through the streets, most of the route still foreign to Victoria until they rounded a corner and saw the familiar trail toward the old cottage. Victoria’s heart leapt in her chest as she scanned the windows looking for signs of life. No lights. No smoke in the chimney.
Bingo.
Styx fluttered by, zipping around their heads as they hurried through the force field while Victoria scanned the cliff. There were at least two dozen caves to choose from, four of which had paths, or at least rocks they could hop across, to the entrances.
From here, she couldn’t tell how deep they were. She pointed to the nearest one. “That’s the one we slept in last night, right?”
Audrey cracked her back. “Yeah, unfortunately.”
“What about that one?” Victoria pointed to the only other one with a real path to it. The others would require a lot of hopping and prayer to reach.
“Let’s try it.”
They climbed the path, Victoria careful to press her back against the wall in the narrow parts as she inched along the rock. She peered over the edge—a good thirty-foot drop—and was grateful heights didn’t make her weak in the knees. Audrey, however, looked like she was having a rough time of it.
“You’re doing gr—”
“No talking,” Audrey said, back flat against the wall and eyes wide as she crept along the path.
Victoria suppressed a chuckle and nodded.
Once at the entrance, she leaned toward the cave and peeked in. Darkness. It was deep, and the light only illuminated the first fifty feet. After that, nothing but shadow.
She tensed her jaw, straining her ears to listen. No footsteps. No conversation. No bones or leftover carcasses that would normally litter a creature’s den. She held her breath but couldn’t hear a thing in the silent cave. No rugged breathing from some other creature, thank goodness. She scanned the cave for signs of life like the remnants of a fire or leftover food, but found nothing.
Carefully, she tiptoed inside. Audrey followed, fists balled and no doubt ready for a fight. Victoria craned her neck as her eyes adjusted to the growing darkness, but she didn’t see any moving figures.
“Sweet,” she said under her breath.
Audrey yelped, spinning toward Victoria. “Fuck, you scared me!”
Victoria laughed. “I think coming all the way out here was a good idea. Fyrn’s spell must keep out the creatures and thieves.”
“For now.”
“Thanks, Debbie Downer.”
“I’m just saying we should be careful. You never know when someone—or something—may show up. Besides, Fyrn made it pretty clear he doesn’t want us here.”
“Noted. What are you going to do while I practice?”
“Keep watch. These caves make me nervous.”
“We’re fine,” Victoria said with a grin.
“Do you want to get eaten by a giant centipede? Because I sure don’t.”
“What, a snarx? Sorry, but it’s hard to take something seriously when it sounds like it came out of a Dr. Seuss book.”
Audrey blew a raspberry. “Just focus. Go train. I’ll be by the entrance.”
“Stay out of sight.”
“Yes, Ma,” Audrey huffed.
Victoria rolled her eyes and stepped into the low light at the back of the cave, careful to stay as far from the entrance as she could. Even this far out of town and protected by a spell, she didn’t want anyone to witness her magic.
“Hey, actually...” Victoria set one hand on her hip, tapping her chin with her finger.
Audrey glared over her shoulder. “What?”
“You should spar with me. That might help.”
“Hell, no.”
“Hey, be helpful!”
Audrey shook her head. “Your shield-thing might randomly appear and kill me. You master solo first, and maybe we’ll level up to sparring when I’m sure I won’t die.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
Audrey blew a sarcastic kiss.
“Ugh, fine.” Frowning, Victoria rolled up her sleeves and studied the relic fused to her arm. It glimmered in the low light, the silver and copper metals twinkling like the sea. Styx hovered nearby, cooing as he stared at the glittering metal.
Nothing happened.
Hmm. “Appear.”
A glint of light from the metal embedded in her arm blinded her for a second, but that was it.
Pacing, she stared at the magical artifact and wracked her brain to remember what had been different about the times the shield had appeared for her.
Ah, right—moments of fear.
She eyed the cave entrance nervously, but this wasn’t quite the same. It wasn’t true fear, just unease. She’d felt fear
when she thought of Luak, of the way he had charged her—
The shield appeared in her hand, weighing her down like a hundred-pound barbell. She groaned, bending with it as it crashed into the ground and embedded itself in the rock. Styx squeaked with fear and flitted toward the ceiling.
“Damn it,” she muttered. She wrestled with the massive shield, trying and failing to dislodge it. Cursing under her breath, she focused her attention on the shield. The memory of Luak faded, and the shield went with it.
She fell to her knees, pain shooting down her legs from the fall. She grimaced, frustrated, annoyance burning her up from inside.
“Calm down,” she said softly to herself. With a deep breath and closed eyes, Victoria slowly cleared her head. She could handle this. She could do this.
It seemed as though her new magic responded to either memories or emotion. At least she had finally narrowed it down a bit.
Success!
Technically.
Sort of.
She braced herself and lifted her right arm, tensing her shoulders as she prepared to summon the shield again. In the parking lot by the bank, the shield had changed size to accommodate both her and Audrey, which meant this thing could morph. Perhaps she needed to try a smaller one, one she could hold. Maybe she could—
A flash of green light from the entrance of the cave blinded her. Only streaks filled her vision. Victoria lifted her arm to shield her eyes, but she still couldn’t see.
“What are you doing?!” someone asked, his voice harsh and deep.
Victoria panicked. A massive shield appeared, blocking her entire view of the cave. She cursed, the weight of the massive thing pulling her onto her stomach as it tipped over. The shield disappeared as she fell, and she hit the ground hard.
Covered in dust and gravel, she looked up to see Fyrn’s silhouette. Audrey had been frozen in place, one hand reaching for Victoria and mouth open as if she were trying to say something.
“What did you do to her?” Victoria demanded. She pushed herself to her feet, clenching her hands into fists.
He quirked an eyebrow. “You’re going to fight me? Really?”
“I don’t care if you’re a wizard. No one hurts my friends!”