by Martha Carr
“Part of the enchantment?” said Leira, following behind him. “No transporting.” She pulled on Bert’s arm. “We can just walk there.”
Bert regarded her and said, “I didn’t transport you. You moved at the speed of light. But we can go at your pace.”
“I didn’t say I need special treatment,” said Leira, annoyed. “I just want to travel in a fashion I’m accustomed to, like walking at a normal pace. Tell me more about the Light Elves.”
“Our line goes back almost to the beginning of this world’s existence.”
“Almost, but not quite?” asked Leira.
“There was only one race of elves that were older than Light Elves, but they haven’t been seen for thousands of years, since the treaty. The last of their kind died out in a war that engulfed this world for a generation.”
They walked down a grassy path between tall trees with the same kind of enormous roots Leira had already seen.
Bert saw her looking at the trees and said, “We’re passing through Golden Chestnut Grove. They grow to be over two hundred feet tall and are home to many creatures.”
Leira heard the sound of high-pitched voices and scratching inside one of the trees as they passed.
“Can’t be oversized squirrels. What is that?” she asked, scanning her surroundings.
“You mean that sound? Those are Ashgrog dwarves. Smaller than the dwarves that live along the rivers. Generally harmless, if left alone.”
“Understood,” said Leira. “Stick to the path.”
“Stay close to me and listen well. That should be sufficient,” said Bert.
“Once I’m back in my world, will I be able to find you if I have more questions?”
“That may prove difficult.”
“Because of that no contact with humans rule.”
“Yes, that’s precisely the reason.” Bert stopped walking, and waved his hands to draw symbols.
“I take it no one else can hear this,” said Leira.
“Our worlds have come together before. The cycles cause us to cross paths. The amount of time between crossings is twenty-six millenia, or if you want to be exact, 25,800 years. We call one complete pass a Great Year.”
“Let me guess, the last time the worlds came together was right around the time of the war that wiped out the other elves.”
“Correct. Humans didn’t cause all of the mayhem,” said Bert.
“Earth was involved?”
“Many creatures played a part but there was more harm than good. Councils were gathered, rules were created and powerful spells were cast, enchanting everything to make sure history didn’t repeat itself.”
“That was the last time our kind crossed?” asked Leira. “Come on, keep walking. I can’t stand this stationary thing.”
“You’re a very restless creature.”
“Also not something all humans have in common. A lot of us are referred to as couch potatoes.”
“Furniture made out of food,” said Bert. “Hmph. We would just call that lazy.”
“Fair enough,” said Leira. “I don’t suppose you guys have something called sarcasm, do you? Never mind,” she said, waving it off. She took a deep breath, feeling herself relax. “What is that scent? Something familiar about it.”
“I don’t know why. It only grows on this side of the veil, on this world. It’s moon haldi blossoms. They only bloom when our moons are out together, like tonight.”
“So familiar,” she said, trying to place the scent. “Any other creatures in particular I should know about before I go? I am leaving soon, right?”
“Within the hour, I would imagine.”
“Good. I want to get back before morning on my side. I don’t want anyone to notice I’ve been gone.”
“Not a chance.We will return you to your home shortly after you left. Only a little time will have passed. Our worlds are not completely in sync. It’s part of what makes going through the portals so dangerous.”
“Dangerous?” She looked at Correk, realizing she had no choice. “I have to get home but you owed me more of an explanation before we left. Hey! What was that?”
A tiny creature with a shock of green hair standing straight up on its head darted in front of them and into the nearest golden chestnut.
Bert threw out his arm, stopping Leira in her tracks. “Don’t move! It’s a pesky troll. Look away! If anyone or anything plays with one of those damn things, they could bond with you! If you actually help one? Well, better to just lay down and die because it follows you everywhere causing trouble. Gets into everything. That’s just the beginning of your troubles with a troll.”
“Why, Bert, I didn’t know you could get that worked up,” said Leira. “Not a bad first attempt at actual anger,” she said, doing her best to curb her curiosity and look away. She tried to take sideways glances as they got closer to the tall metal gates and the entrance of the queen’s gardens. “You sound like you have some troll experience. Bad memories?”
“You think this is what you’d call funny but a troll is nothing but a nuisance that you can never shake. It would be comparable to having a permanent boil on your skin that always festers just enough to irritate.”
“Very good visual, Bert,” she said, curbing her desire to look. “Ugh,” she added at the thought of a permanent boil.
In the corner of her eye, she saw the tiny troll, no taller than five inches, scamper over a root. The troll cackled, green hair and white fur vanishing into the trees.
“Looks a little like a little doll I had as a kid,” she mumbled. “Same wild hair and lack of clothes. I used to tie bandanas around mine.”
Leira caught Bert glaring at her and she looked away again. “Okay, okay, no helping trolls. Nasty, troublesome boils.”
She dug her hands in her pockets as they passed under the intricate metal O above the wrought iron entrance.
“Tell me about where you live. Is every Light Elf an Oriceran?”
“Very perceptive,” said Bert. “Or a good guess. Every Light Elf belongs to the House of Oriceran, as you call it, but the name is given to the king. It would have been Prince Rolim’s one day. It was given to the first king back when this world was still young.”
“What do you call these?” asked Leira, bending down to smell a blossom.
“Roses,” said Bert.
“Oh, same as our side.”
“Not everything is different. Things have managed to cross in both directions.”
“That’s it,” she said, remembering where she had seen the rock before. “Lavender Rock. I knew I’d seen it before. That massive quartz cliff just outside of town. That necklace is from there, isn’t it? That piece of jewelry comes from my world. Wait a minute.” Leira stopped abruptly as things started to come together for her. “Magic…exists…in…my…world,” she said, drawing out each word.
“I was wondering just how long that one would take you,” said Bert, turning by a large stone gargoyle spitting water into the air.
“You couldn’t help me out? What else are you waiting for me to figure out?”
“I have my orders,” said Bert. “Answer any of your questions.”
“But offer nothing. So be it. I’ll figure the rest of this out, you know. It’s only a matter of time.”
Bert looked at her with a calm smile that gave away nothing.
Leira kept walking and noticed tall slender reeds of green and red that ran along an iron fence and swayed every time Bert sang a sentence.
She smiled, just a little. “Those are beautiful. It’s like they’re motion activated,” said Leira. “Hey, they move for me too,” she exclaimed before noticing his face. “No need to look so sour about everything. I’m sure there’s plenty here that would ignore me.”
“We should head back,” said Bert, looking more than a little troubled.
“A little moving grass couldn’t have done that to you,” she said, looking from the gently moving grasses and her elven escort. She narrowed her eyes, starting
to put more of the puzzle together.
“Can you think of any other questions?” he asked, settling back into his usual irritable demeanor.
That’s an act, thought Leira.
“Can I use magic?” she asked, on a hunch.
“That remains to be seen,” said Bert. “Not today.”
“You’re an annoying riddle, wrapped in an enigma. All right, I get it. Not why I was brought over here, at great risk,” she said, looking toward the dense forest on the horizon.
“Questions,” said Bert.
“You’re all business. Is there a timeline for when this Bill Somers needs to be found?”
“Yes, before the next double moons appear.”
“What happens if I don’t deliver him before then?” She paused a moment and tapped her lip. “Not sure I want the answer to that one.”
“Then the power the prince stored in the relic will go to Bill Somers and give him certain powers in your world.”
Dammit, she thought. “So, I was right. I didn’t want to know. How often do your double moons appear?”
“Once a month, much like your own full moon. But one has already passed. You have less than a week left.”
“Before all hell breaks loose,” said Leira.
“Yes, exactly like hell,” Bert agreed.
CHAPTER SIX
Leira looked at him as they passed into the Golden Chestnut Grove, but thought twice about asking him anything else. She had enough to worry about for now. She had a gut feeling there would be another chance to interrogate him. Besides, she’d seen enough horror for one day and didn’t want to imagine any more.
Dammit! It was right there on the tip of her tongue anyway.
When exactly did the gates of hell open up before? she thought. Yeah, I’ll save that one for another day.
They passed under a long bough that bent down right above Leira's head. Moss shared the branch with a trail of yellow blossoms.
“Beautiful,” said Leira, reaching up to pull a blossom. She always had to touch things.
A whoop of laughter rang out and she turned to see the tiny troll, staring into her eyes from the branch. He seemed just as mesmerized.
A gust of wind blew through the trees, rustling the branches and caught the troll off guard, blowing him down, tumbling ass over head. He let out a terrified squeal and Leira instinctively put out her hand and caught him, inches before he hit the hard ground. Reaching up, she placed him gently back on the branch.
He purred appreciatively and rubbed against her hand.
“Oh crap! Shit! No!” she yelled, remembering Bert’s admonition, yanking her hand back. She could feel Bert glaring at her.
“I wasn’t going to let him crash land,” she said, turning around to return the look. “Little guy would have splatted on the ground. Am I screwed? Damn! Crap!”
“Swearing really has no effect on anything,” Bert sighed. Leira looked back at the branch. No sign of the troll.
“Any chance I got away with that?” she asked.
“You might be all right. Come on, let’s get you out of this world. That should break the bond, if there is one.”
“Never been so glad to leave a place and get back to my nest,” said Leira, picking up the pace. “Do we have to go back to the woods, or can we say, bippity-boppity-boo right here?” She stepped over a branch.
“Why are you suddenly speaking in gibberish? That’s not part of your language, is it?” asked Bert, looking at her, a question in his eyes.
She flung out a hand. “It’s not mine. We call it the language of Disney. Very popular in my world.”
“Doesn’t appear in any of our books.” Bert’s said, puzzled.
“It’s weird how easily I got used to hearing you say words, instead of singing.”
“Another necessary enchantment. We’re back at the edge of the castle.”
“How does anyone ever know that?” asked Leira, looking around. All she could see was a vast empty clearing surrounded by the forest. “If I squint, I can just make out a shimmer, I think. The whole thing is invisible or what, nonexistent?” Her stomach gave a lurch.
“That’s the whole point,” said Bert. “You can’t attack what you can’t find.”
“Which begs the question, how did Bill Somers find the castle, and that room, and so easily?” she said, ticking the questions off on her fingers.
“Indeed,” Bert said. “That is a question you will need to answer, and soon. We need to head this way,” he said, heading down an overgrown path. Leira hadn’t seen the path until the elf pointed it out.
“Someone betrayed you,” said Leira, speeding up. Bert was moving faster through the woods. Leira looked down to make sure she didn’t trip over any roots and looked up to see him whispering something.
“You’re casting something, aren’t you? Covering my tracks?”
“You’re very good at your job, Detective Berens,” he said, moving slightly faster.
“That’s the first time you’ve called me that,” she said, jogging to keep up. “What are you afraid of out here?” she asked, looking around. “Something has you spooked.”
A chill ran down her spine. “You think one of your own kind helped Somers. Is that even possible?” She stopped where she was and took a closer look at her surroundings. She was sure someone, or something was following them. She crouched down to get a better look. Something was moving through the underbrush at a rapid pace but Leira couldn’t be sure what.
In this damn enchanted land it could just be the plants doing their own little dance.
Bert turned around and tapped on her arm and then headed further up the path. Leira started moving again, keeping up with him despite his pace.
“Everything is possible.” Bert looked pained, a scowl on his face. “Even betrayal. Keep moving. I’m not worried about Light Elves knowing our whereabouts. Even the traitor, if there is a traitor, will know you were here.”
“Then what are we trying to avoid?”
At last, they came to the clearing where Leira had first found herself in this world.
“I realize your entire day is made up of question and answer sessions,” said Bert, “but we’re out of time.”
“The choice of a human killer was no accident,” said Leira.
“I would agree,” said Bert, clasping his hands behind his back. “But they may have been trying to bring over a human thief. At any rate, whoever is responsible was trying to ensure there would be no trail, literal or figurative to follow once he left this world.”
“No magical trail,” said Leira, “because if there was, you wouldn’t need me. That’s a lot of trouble to go to. Makes sense. You want to kill off royalty and live to tell the tale, you’d better do some planning. Who stood to benefit from the prince’s death?”
He shook his head. “That’s the puzzling part. No one. There was no other heir yet, but the queen can still bear more children. Light Elves do not reach outside of their lineage for just anyone to sit on the throne.”
“So, someone was buying time,” said Leira looking around while she thought. “Someone wanted at least a century of time. What is it about this particular time period that makes all of this so valuable?”
“All very good questions, which you can spend time pondering back in your world.”
“Getting the bum’s rush. Forest has eyes?” asked Leira.
“In our world, Detective, elves don’t deal in right and wrong. At least, not in the same way that humans insist on. So much judgment and emotion. We’re more attuned to nature that doesn’t know right or wrong. We deal in consequences. Having you here violates a treaty that’s over thirteen millennia old, and at a very inopportune time.”
“That’s not the first time someone has brought up that exact measurement of time. What is it about that era?”
Bert raised his hands to start spinning light but hesitated before looking Leira in the eyes. “I’ll tell you this much, and no more. It’s not exactly my secret, or I suppose
prophecy would be a better word. Everything hinges on that exact measurement of time. Not only for us, but for your world too. Whoever helped Billy Somers with his crime knows. I fear that the two are somehow connected. Find Bill Somers and bring him back here. Alive,” he said, and began moving his hands, making different shapes with the light.
A portal opened up to Leira's living room, just as she left it. Home.
She stepped through, glad to feel the familiar carpet under her running shoes and see her familiar artwork on the wall. Most of it was by her mother.
Her mother.
“Wait!” yelled Leira, as the portal started to shimmer and fade, shrinking in size. “My mother! She’s not crazy!” she shouted, as Bert waved an arm, shrinking the portal even further.
“Answer me!” she yelled, as the portal shrunk to just a handful of inches.
At the last moment, something popped its head through the small opening and cried out as if it was in pain, squeezing through with a ‘pop,’ and rolling like a ball, coming to a stop at Leira's feet, just as the portal closed.
She looked down to see the five-inch troll with wild tufts of luminescent green hair stand up, and smile at her, laughing so hard, it shook.
“Crap! This can’t be good,” said Leira squinting at the small furry troll. “Maybe not?” she asked, more of a plea in the troll’s direction.
The troll chortled and bounded to her sofa, scampering quickly across the rug. It disappeared under the cushions, pushing them one by one on to the floor, coming out the other side and leaping high in the air toward Leira, catching her off guard.
She yelped as the troll dropped feet first into her pocket, turning around in a circle, making a loud squeaking noise. Leira gingerly peeled back the top of her pocket, wondering if the creature was likely to bite.
It opened its eyes for a moment and smiled at her, cackling again, before curling up into a tight ball in her pocket, and drifted off to sleep.
“How much trouble could you be?” she whispered, watching its tiny back move with each breath. “Dig that hair.” She smiled. “At least when Bert finds out I’ll no longer be the only thing pissing him off,” she muttered.