by Martha Carr
“This I know. That or God forbid, being afraid.” He still didn’t look up and leaned closer to the screen trying to read something.
“Use your reading glasses. I know you need them.”
He let out a grunt and shuffled around in his desk drawer, pulling up a tangle of dimestore glasses, slipping on a pair.
“I…” Leira hesitated. “I wasn’t afraid. In fact, I was happy. I didn’t know how to tell you I almost died and I was going right along with it.” Hagan finally looked up at her concerned, and Leira looked steadily back at him. “I didn’t even know I was in danger. It didn’t feel like danger. No pulse pounding, no fear. Just joy. Kind of hard to bring up that over coffee.”
Hagan gave her a long look before he spoke. “I’m one hundred percent human. No foreign planet in here anywhere.” He rubbed his stomach. “I grew up in an era when the smart phone was mind blowing. Before that, my job was the same for me as it was for my grandfather. Hear me out. I’m the senior partner here. I have more experience figuring out a case. A lot more.” He leaned forward over his desk.
“Lately, every day has some kind of shit that flies or zaps or sucks things in that could kill us in ways I didn’t realize were possible until that very moment. All magical, all foreign to me and nothing that a gun will take down. So, I have to pull up my big boy pants and run in there anyway and improvise. Ask for help. Let go of the lead. None of it easy, I’m a planner by nature. But it’s all doable. That’s what over twenty years on the job will get you. The maturity to speak up even when you don’t know the right words and a heaping helping of humility that will save your ass. You can learn that one a lot sooner. We’ll just make that rule number fifty-four.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
General Anderson didn’t waste any time coming by the warehouse. Leira looked up to see him come striding into the warehouse followed by several other agents. In the back was Alan Cohen. He gave Leira a smile but didn’t wave. The general was not in the mood.
He took the chair opposite Leira and laid his hat on his leg. “Long days lately. For everyone.” There was a scowl on his face and deep lines from not sleeping. “We’re ahead in the race to keep magic in check but just barely. Tricky business.”
Alan looked over the top of the general’s head at Leira but didn’t give anything away. The agent next to him glanced over at him and back at Leira.
“This is unrelated, sir. There’s a royal Gnome that was trapped on this side of the veil. He’s not doing well and needs to be returned to Oriceran. Currently, he’s with the dean at the Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia.”
“I take it that would require a nice bit of magic.”
“It would take opening a portal. It would be a humanitarian gesture and the right thing to do. Low risk.”
“But a momentary distraction from the assignments at hand.”
“A day at most.”
The general didn’t answer for a long minute.
Open a portal. Help a royal Gnome go home. The new normal. Leira shifted in her seat.
He gave her the same stoic, stony expression she was used to seeing on many occasions. She waited him out for an answer. His entourage stood behind him, patiently waiting in silence without moving. Even Alan.
Hagan sat across from her, not moving a muscle, giving the general the same blank look.
“Minimal amount of magic used?” The general abruptly rose out of his chair, putting his hat back on his head. Leira knew if he was asking questions they already had his okay.
“Should be.”
“No humans find out?”
“Not a one.”
“Do it. We owe the Seminary a few favors anyway. They’re good people. Well, good Elves or something.” The general waved a hand. “I’ll clear it with the Silver Griffins but you go there and open the portal personally. I know the dean and the last time he opened a portal I was a young man. That’s right. None of this magic is news to me. Is that everything?”
Except for a few run ins with the light force. Nothing else. “Yes, that’s everything.” Leira gave him a dead fish look. She knew better than to give information no one was asking for. Another old lesson from Hagan.
“You can take one of our planes. Get you back here faster. The artifacts issue is heating up and we can’t afford to waste time while you’re changing planes.”
Leira walked the general to the door. “Thank you.”
“Humanitarian effort all the way around. They’re a good idea whenever you can do them. Frankly, I like to do them every time. Balances out the other things I find necessary to do that aren’t so pleasant. Do you need to take Lois or Patsy with you?”
“We’re good. Hagan and I can handle it.”
“Take Alan with you. Well then, I’m off to the next item on my agenda.” He strode toward the door without looking back. “Alan will meet you at the hangar. Take your PDA jacket.” Alan gave Leira a nod as he turned to go, pulling the door shut behind him.
“Better call Rose. Tell her to hold dinner. Maybe I’ll get those M&M’s after all. Call it the beginning of a meal.” Hagan pulled out his phone. “Always make the call first. You ever manage to hook up with someone, I’ll start you on the relationship rules. Give you a sample. Rule number one, call the spouse first. Hello Rose?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
They got to the hangar thirty minutes early and found Alan already waiting for them. At the last minute, Leira brought Correk with them. “For help with the portal,” she said. And to keep me grounded.
The flight was uneventful and they got there just as rush hour was winding down. It wasn’t long before they were pulling onto the grounds at the tree-lined seminary.
“Turn here. He said to come to his residence.” Leira pointed to the right as Hagan turned the rental car around the curve, the lights shining on an old red brick Colonial with dark green shutters. The dean was standing in the open doorway.
“Man lives next to a cemetery.” Alan watched the headlights play over the headstones and a tall carving of an angel in flight.
“Kind of goes with the job description.” Hagan turned off the car and was already opening the door, pushing the button to unlock his seat belt. “Where’s your jacket?”
“I brought it with me. It’s in the car.” Leira got out and walked up to the dean, her hand outstretched.
The dean grasped her hand in both of his. “I knew we’d be seeing each other again, and under much better circumstances. Thank you all for coming.”
The dean led them into his study where the Gnome was resting comfortably on his brown leather tufted couch. The bruising on the side of his face had turned a deeper purple and green and his eyes were still swollen. Correk clenched his fists at the sight but said nothing as Leira went over and put out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you Harvey. We’re here to help.”
He looked up shyly at Leira. “It’s been a long time since I saw my home. Thank you for wanting to help me.”
“We’re going to get this done.” Leira nodded her head. “Do you need a few minutes before we do this? Do you need to gather anything?”
The Gnome patted a duffel bag next to him. “Got everything I want to show my folks. Mostly souvenirs. I’ve been waiting a while for this. I’m ready when you are.”
“Okay, then let’s get this show on the road and return this Gnome to Oz.” Leira glanced at Correk who gave her a nod. She formed a light ball in her hands, her eyes glowing and let the magic grow, pulling in the energy with her feet.
“Regulate the energy.” Correk watched carefully as Leira pulled her hands apart, easily opening a portal. “You’re doing fine.”
The dean leaned closer to Hagan. “Is she new at this magic thing? I got the impression she was a very powerful Elf.”
“Long story.”
Leira felt the magic beckoning to her, like it was asking if she needed more. She kept her eyes open and felt for the human DNA within the magic stream. The portal widened just as a large macaw flew by, the
colorful wings expanding. The royal Gnome’s eyes filled with tears and he struggled to stand as Correk and Hagan helped him to his feet. He walked unsteadily toward the opening as a breeze hit him in the face. “Oriceran,” he whispered with reverence.
“Look at that. It’s been a long time.” The dean put out his hand to reach through the portal and touch the ground. “You never know how much you miss a place…”
The Gnome stepped through the portal as Correk reached through and laid his duffel bag down on the ground next to him. The Gnome got on his hands and knees and kissed the dirt, running his hands through it, getting it under his fingernails. There were tears running down his face.
“What the hell…” Alan’s mouth opened and his eyes widened.
The Gnome was still reveling in the dirt, rubbing it on his cheeks, stretching out his neck. In the process, his back began to straighten and his features on his face moved just slightly into a better position. His entire body shifted, realigning itself.
The Gnome stood up, straightening his sweater and brushing some of the dirt off his pants. Clods still clung to his cheeks.
“It’s the magic. It’s restored him.” Correk smiled and gave the Gnome a wave. “Royal Gnomes in particular were never meant to leave the dense field of magic. They don’t fare well. It’s as if their very being is kept alive by magic.”
“Can’t stop thinking of Santa’s elves.” Hagan shook his head. “Sorry.”
The dean smiled. “Totally appropriate. They are often the support system on Oriceran and can see the bigger picture when others are too focused on winning the details. Gnomes are some of the kindest creatures on Oriceran unless someone they love is harmed. Then they’ll nobly go into battle but they only fight to stop a war. Never to crush an enemy.”
Leira held the energy steady, giving everyone a longer look at Oriceran as she resisted the stronger surge of magic swirling around her feet.
“You’re Leira Berens. I’ve heard of you.” The Gnome beckoned to her with his finger. “You will do great things. Remember this from an old Gnome. Everything works for the good. Even an ass kicking managed to lead me home. But you’ll need to be looking for it to spot it. Whatever you focus on will grow.”
Leira could feel the magic growing stronger within her and she stepped back, letting the portal abruptly close with a shower of sparks as the Gnome gave a last wave and a smile, standing upright and breathing in the scented Oriceran air.
“That never grows old.” Hagan waved his arm around in the space where there had just been a hole.
“That was a nice piece of work we did tonight. Good for us.” The dean clapped his hands together, delighted.
“Wow, that was a new one for me,” said Alan, quietly.
“You okay over there?” Hagan clapped him on the back.
Correk put his hand on Leira’s arm. “You did fine.”
“I know you’re sending in your magical scout to check.” She gently pulled away her arm. “Ask me outright, I’ll tell you. Feels like you were crawling under my skin. The urge was there. I managed to resist it. What did the Gnome mean, you’ll have to look for the good?”
“Things work out the way they’re supposed to even when it doesn’t look like it at the time. Old Elven kind of wisdom.”
“Sounded like something right out of Turner Underwood’s playbook. Why is it, I keep thinking he knows so much more than he ever says.”
“Because it’s true. We should talk. He’s asked me to be the next Fixer.”
“Whoa. Mind blown.”
“You are without words. Not even a good string of swearing. Now, I’m more impressed with the offer.”
“Fuck off.”
“Much better. Troll approved.”
“There must be more to you than I realized.” She studied him carefully. “You have had a knack of saving the day. Funny, I never noticed before.”
Correk smiled. “You’re going to someday die as an old lady swearing and making a joke.”
“In my new vibrating recliner.”
“Classy. You’ve thought the whole death thing through. At least you kept the bar high. Don’t you somewhat humans want to die in bed surrounded by family?”
“Fucking vibrating recliner. Family can be there too. Hey, I’ll live so long imagine what else the chair might be able to do by then.”
“I’m getting out of this conversation before you tell me.”
“See? Turner was right, you do know more than you’re letting on.”
“Time will tell.”
Leira smiled but she looked at him a little longer. I wonder…
Her phone buzzed and she glanced down. There was a text from her grandmother to call her back. Sooner rather than later.
What’s Yumfuck done now? Leira answered her, typing, see you for Sunday dinner. The phone buzzed again in her hand before she could see the reply. The general was calling.
“Hello? Yes sir. Not a problem.” Leira listened, writing down numbers as the general spoke in rapid fire. Correk could hear bits and pieces that almost amount to shouting. There was no room to get much in till the general wound himself down.
“We’ll do our best. Okay, we’ll do better than that.” Leira hung up the phone with a grunt.
“Problem?”
“We need to get somewhere in a hurry.”
“Not a problem. We have a government jet waiting on us.”
“Still a problem. The general heard about a prized artifact in West Africa somewhere and all the sides are descending on it. The French have sent in their own people, along with Axiom, and a few unknown rogues.”
“He wants us to be the winners.”
“I see the issue. We have no time and half a world between us.” Leira licked her lips, considering the other alternatives. “We could…”
“No, we could not.” Correk said each word deliberately. “I know your idea. It’s a bad one.”
“You don’t know what I’m about to say…”
“Open a portal from here to there.”
“Wrong! I know the rule about opening portals to move around on Earth.”
Correk arched an eyebrow and looked at Leira suspiciously. “Then, let’s hear it. What do you have in mind? An ancient ritual Turner Underwood told you about? If you’re about to say anything about traveling there out of body…” His face instantly flushed with anger.
“Whoa! Cool your jets there, dude. I may run toward conflict but I have my limits! Okay, it’s to open a portal. Hear me out. Not from here to there but from here to Oriceran, and then to West Africa.”
Correk said nothing, just looking at her for a moment. “Okay, that’s not half bad.”
“Scaring you with the whole out of body thing helped, didn’t it? This sounds rather pedestrian. Two small portals and I have exact coordinates. Seven degrees 44'59.99" North by 1 degree 29'59.99" West. Leave now?”
“Did the general give you any more details?”
“I’ll tell you on the way. It’s mostly a lot of, everyone wants this stuff, they’re all armed, get there first and take it. Don’t get killed. Keep the magic to a minimum.”
“He talked for a long time. It seemed like there was more.” Correk started to form the ball of light as Leira held up her hand. “No, I’ll open it. You’ve done enough for one day.”
“Killjoy. That was all he said, in a nut shell except for the part about Oricerans vying for this trinket too.”
Correk looked up as the light grew, opening the portal.
“You had to know that Oricerans would get involved in this at some point.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Louie pressed his back against the large boulder, listening to the scientists climb over the monument, making a racket.
“No finesse for the job. Fucking anthill.” He leaned over to his side, looking out just far enough to get a look at their progress. His heart was pounding and he could feel the sweat trickling down his back. “How do humans do this?” He adjusted the knapsack slun
g across his chest and checked his watch. Two goddamn hours left. I was cutting it close already without all the interference.
He got a portal to the middle of Ghana, in West Africa opened with the help of his best friend, Zyno. He was a Wood Elf he knew from the Dark Market who was almost as good at scavenging as Louie. Almost. The price was steep, ten gold coins with half the money upfront and half on the return visit safely back to Oriceran. Zyno was always quick to point out that was the friends and family discount.
Louie jingled the gold coins left in the leather pouch hanging from his belt, along with a knife in its sheath and a magical compass that worked on both planets. On Earth the needle pointed true north and on Oriceran, eastward toward the strongest magical pull. One day, Louie was determined to find out if there was more to the story on both planets but for now, he had another treasure to hunt and only so much time to do it.
He didn’t open portals for himself anymore. Not after what happened in Montana near the Saskatchewan border years ago. Louie got tipped off about a prized ancient relic the humans dug up along with other less magical relics. None of the archaeologists realized what they had but Louie did. In his excitement, he fumbled the light ball when making the opening. He stepped through without paying enough attention, already looking out toward the frozen horizon as he felt his leg slip into a crease, pushing against a thick, gelatinous air. He felt the immense, pressurized tug as the world in between did its best to suck him the rest of the way into its grasp.
A mild current of panic immediately set in but he was used to having to save himself in close quarters and some part of his brain kicked into calm survival mode. He looked down and saw the carabiner he always rigged to himself, just in case and reached out, hooking himself to a system of pulleys the researchers had set up for the dig into the deep hole. He hung on and pulled with everything he had, inch by inch till his leg was free.
Dumb luck, that’s all it was that saved me that day. The whole thing still turned his stomach. Louie took a lot of chances all the time but only because he planned so well. He shivered in the hot African sun. Rather die. He shook his hands, getting rid of the bad mojo. Doesn’t help on jobs like these. Besides, problem solved. Best friend opens the portal, I sleep at night. Zyno offered an even bigger discount if he could come along, getting a laugh out of Louie as he stepped through the portal.