Of Gods and Fae

by Tom Keller

  He took another few bites of his burger as I digested what he'd told me. The battles with the Spartoi certainly indicated that she'd found her Dragon and her followers must still have it hidden. But where was it? Could she still control it now that she was in Tartarus?

  "By the way," I asked. "Did you ever see her Dragon, or any Dragon here? Shape shifter or other?"

  "I never saw a live one. But I always had my suspicions."

  "Really? Why?"

  "Roxie's and the El Rancho," he replied. "Lot of Fae hung out in those places and both were hotter than normal fires. Kinda makes you wonder. But I don’t really know."

  I'd mentioned Roxie's before, but that wasn't the only brothel in Vegas history that burned down mysteriously in an extremely hot fire. So it was hard to say since the mob did own this town in those days. The C-Bar-C brothel on Paradise Road had gone up in flame some 10 years earlier. The El Rancho hotel on the Las Vegas Strip burned down in 1960. The fire on that one had been so hot it melted a bunch of silver coins into a lump. The place had been totally consumed in just two hours. It did make you wonder.

  There wasn't a lot more to discuss on the issue. It didn’t seem like he knew anything else about Dragons specifically that could help and his information certainly wasn't recent. Although it did appear to confirm that Marissa had been looking for one here, shape shifter or not. He did bring to my attention that he could supply Fae weapons manufactured by his relatives. Maybe not as good as the old days but they'd kill faster than any human weapon, just the same. A point that was worth remembering, even if it was somewhat gruesome. Still, more questions than answers but at least the lunch had been good.

  I probably should have gone right back to work (the human kind), but all this Dragon talk had me going. It's been a couple weeks since I returned from Fae and it'd been awful quiet. I'd certainly expected something; at least an attack against me. Perhaps my change in status had put a scare into them, but probably not. Instead, based on the few attacks that had happened, both here and in Fae, I had to think that Marissa's sentencing to Tartarus had put a gap in their leadership and planning.

  Nonetheless, the Lilin thing and Marissas follower's attacks had me watching the rear view mirror all the time these days. Not to mention I was now responsible for a lot of Fae just on my own. But I wasn't going to live in fear or get too hung up about it. Hopefully something would pop up that would allow me to go on the offensive for a change. I was just gonna have to wait and see if this Dragon thing was worth pursuing.

  I'd planned on going to the office. I still had regular P.I. work that needed to be done. Instead, I found myself in the old downtown district. What the hell, maybe I'd make a stop at Danu's. Just to see how Delia and Lucius were doing, of course. Hey, maybe Bjartr or one of them knew something about Dragons.

  I pulled into a parking place around the corner. I liked to do that because of the way the bar just appeared as you came up to it. I was still pretty new to all this magic stuff so the effect was pretty remarkable. As I crossed the threshold of the magic border the place just appeared. I stopped in front for a moment to look around. It was early afternoon but, as usual, this part of old downtown looked deserted. I'm sure that was a consideration when they decided where to put the place. I wasn't sure who, or how, they'd built it. All I really heard was that it was Elves. I know Bjartr ran the business now but I didn't think he'd been here long enough to have built the place.

  I pulled open the wooden doors and went inside. It was quiet. Just a few groups of various Fae at tables finishing up lunch. They served a rustic menu and I knew some of the locals liked to come by to be reminded of home. Although the décor was somewhat fancier, it did kind of remind me of Handion's place, the Wayward Elf, in my part of Fae. All wood and old world décor. It made me laugh, the Elves and bar thing.

  I walked up to the counter and took a seat. A moment later Delia came out of the back. She glanced at me and then grabbed a mug and filled it with ale, setting it down in front of me before leaning over the bar.

  "So, my new benefactor," she said, curtly. "I hear I have you to thank for my new salary. I hope you don't think that gets you something special."

  Oh, great… I was never going to get on her good side, was I? I was kind of hoping Bjartr would have kept my investment in the bar quiet. So much for that.

  "Don't get the wrong idea," I countered. "I've got a lot of Fae to look after so I'm only making sure that they continue to have a place to go."

  "And my raise is what, just a coincidence?"

  "Nope, think of it more as, I don’t know, reparations," I said as I took a drink. "I'm just trying to level the playing field now that you guys have a little more freedom. Besides, Bjartr has the final say on how it's distributed, not me."

  "Just kidding," she said with a laugh. "He told me all about it."

  "He did?" I said, thinking I'd just dodged a bullet where she was concerned.

  "He had to," she replied. "He made me part owner."

  "Did he indeed?" I said, taking another long drink of my ale. I hadn't known that was in his plans.

  "Yep. I think it was his way of trying to make me feel better about this whole shunning thing. Since I don’t seem to have any Lilin friends anymore, I think he thought that this would keep me busy."

  "And does it?" I asked.

  "Oh sure," she answered, wiping the counter with a rag. "Keeps me a lot busier than before and since it is neutral territory, as an owner, anyone that comes into the place has to at least tell me what they want, even a Lil."

  "Got it, I think."

  "Hey, they aren’t deep conversations, trust me. But any Lilin that come in does have to talk to me, if for no other reason than to place an order. Some kind of Elf magic makes it easier, I guess. That or he worked out some kind of compromise with the Elders. I wouldn't put that past him either. Whatever the case, at least I don’t feel left out. Of course I don’t work the same shift as Rayna, but it's not like we have to talk if I come in to handle an order or something. Besides, Bjartr's here a lot as well."

  "Interesting." Leave it to an Elf to find a way around anything that causes grief to one of their charges.

  "So, can I get you anything else?" she asked.

  I was just about to answer when she was called to one of the tables.

  "Hold that thought," she said as she went to see what they wanted.

  I watched as she dropped off a check and received money in payment. Only fair, I guess. When I'd gone to Fae we'd paid with a hunted boar, here in the human world, cash was still king. She rang it up in an antique looking register and then dropped off the change before returning to the bar.

  "So did you need a refill?"

  "No, I'm good," I replied, draining my glass. "Actually, I wanted to see Bjartr."

  "And here I thought you just came in to see me," she said, leaning over the bar and staring right into my eyes. I was painfully aware of the cleavage she was showing.

  "Well, to be truthful, I was hoping you'd be here," I admitted. "But I wasn't sure where we stood these days. I seem to have caused you a lot of trouble."

  "That you have," she replied. "But I'll let you make it up to me, over dinner."

  "Done, when would you like to go?"

  "How about this weekend?"

  "I can do that," I answered, surprised at this sudden change of events. I was just about to ask her why when the Elf returned.

  "You're back," Delia said as he walked over to the bar. "Robert was just asking about you."

  "Was he?" Bjartr said. "What can I do for you, Robert? Business issues?"

  "Nope," I replied. "We're all set there." I glanced around the room. There were still a few Fae at tables, all ones I'd seen before, but they were engrossed in their own conversations so I figured it would be safe to talk. "What do you know about Dragons?"

  "Now that's a strange question, even coming from you," Bjartr responded. "Are you speaking in general, or is there something specific you wish to know."


  "Specifically, as it turns out. It appears that the other High Fae was searching for one back in the '50s. I'm just trying to confirm it."

  "That was before my time here," he replied.

  "Mine as well," said Delia.

  "What about recently? Did you ever hear of any Dragons around, or maybe Dragon shifters?"

  "Let's discuss this a little more privately," Bjartr suddenly said. A look of concern in his eyes. "Delia, will you watch the bar for a moment?"

  "Sure," she said as Bjartr walked over to the bar entrance and lifted a portion of the counter to let me in.

  I followed him into the back and he led me to a small office. I took a seat in a leather chair across from his desk. He sat down and looked at me, curiously.

  "Now, why did you ask about Dragon shifters?"

  "I'm chasing rumors," I said in reply. "One was supposed to have been in the area around the same time that Marissa was here in the '50s. For what it's worth she seems to have been searching for a way to capture one. I think she may have it." I went on to explain the appearance of the Spartoi in my Fae lands and even the battle with the fire Demon.

  "This is disturbing," he said. "Dragon Were's are rare and none would willingly align themselves with such an evil power. But if killed, their bodies could still be the source of much dangerous magic."

  "I don't think it's dead," I said, and then I told him the story of the collars. I did not, of course, reveal where I'd heard it. That got him pretty fired up, excuse the pun.

  "Slave collars!" he exclaimed. "None have been heard of since The Fall. Who could make such an evil thing anymore? Where did you get this information?"

  "That I can’t say," I responded. "But I do believe it is good info. As to the maker, he's dead."

  "Good riddance to him then," he replied.

  I hadn't expected that from an Elf.

  "Give me moment," he said, now agitated. Then he disappeared.

  I hadn't known he could do that either. When he didn't come right back I gave it a few minutes and then walked back out to the bar area to Delia.

  "Where is Bjartr?" she asked.

  "Disappeared," I answered. "I don’t think he liked what I told him."

  "What do you mean, disappeared?"

  "I mean as in, poof, just disappeared into thin air," I answered. "Does he do that often?"

  "No. He must be very concerned then," she said. "I haven’t seen him do that in a long time. He seldom uses such magic. All we can do is wait."

  We didn't wait long. Just a few minutes later Bjartr was back and leading another Elf through the door into the bar area. He was similar in build to Bjartr, if not a tad taller, and clad in dark leather clothing.

  "Ah, Robert, there you are," he said, spying me back on my barstool. "Come, come, this is Edan, one of my kin from Europe. He must hear what you have told me."

  "So you are the High Fae of the Dryad," he said, walking up to the counter. "I had heard of your return. Although now Bjartr tells me that you may also have information that I have been seeking as well."

  As he spoke Bjartr whispered to Delia and she left the bar and walked to the front doors and bolting them before returning. The last customers having left just a short while ago.

  "It is best that we are not disturbed," he said, walking around the counter to a table. "Delia may stay as she had already accompanied you in the past. Lucius will watch outside. Come sit, let us talk."

  "What is it that you seek?" I asked as I sat down.

  "Before we begin," he interrupted. "Let me say that I have only told Edan enough to get him to accompany me here. I propose that you tell him what you told me and then he will tell you his story. Is that agreeable?"

  "Agreed," I answered. Maybe I'd finally learn something I could use. So I repeated the stories I had received from both Cornwall and Walter Ferrer, once again not naming the sources of my information. Neither of the Elves seemed to notice.

  "This is disturbing," Edan said when I was finished. "It must be related."

  "What must be related?" I asked. Bjartr said something in a language I couldn’t understand as Edan nodded his head. He must have noticed my irritation as he looked at me.

  "I apologize," he said. "I merely told him that you may not know much about us so he needed to explain some things as he tells you what he knows."

  "No problem," I replied, turning back to the other Elf.

  "It is not my place to give you our history," he began. "Suffice it to say that many of us have taken it upon ourselves to watch over the Fae. Only to provide assistance where we can, you understand. Like the Dwarves, we do not like to interfere, although we are not hampered by our laws as they are."

  Hampered by laws? I thought to myself. The ones I've been dealing with have been pretty hands on. But maybe it explained some of the way Bernd and the others had acted since this whole Fae thing started.

  "As Bjartr has watched over the Lilin, I have done so with Dragons, or at least those few that remain here among the humans. Most have returned to the Fae lands of their ancestors. But among the Dragons that remain, as with other creatures, there are also the Were. Few there are and fewer still that have come to this land. This new world as it was once called. Rare they are, for like all Dragons they may live a long time, if not killed in battle. An occurrence that was once all too common for their race. Because of this none have been born for many an age. Truth be told, I know of only one and she is young. One of the few born since The Fall. Her name is Belynda. It is she I seek information about. She has been missing for some time and I have searched far and wide for any word of her. Nothing have I heard in many years until Bjartr told me of you."

  "Seems like quite a coincidence then doesn't it?"

  "Indeed. For it was but 70 years ago, by your reckoning, that she left the old world. So the timing of this other High Fae's search for a Dragon is much too close to be just a coincidence. Don’t you agree?"

  "I do," I answered. "But what would she be doing here?"

  "She came searching for the ones that killed her parents," he replied. "I told her it was a fool's errand, and dangerous, but she could not be persuaded. Both were killed during the last days of the war. They had tried to flee, sending her on ahead to my care but they never made it out. Things were difficult during that time, even for the Elves, as well as many of the other Fae."

  "What happened," I asked. Feeling that I could understand her actions, based on my past as well.

  "Not all Fae avoided the war. A few chose sides. A Dragon would be a valuable asset for humans as well as Fae. Especially when one is losing the war. Those that took sides rose easily among the ranks with the powers they commanded. They would know that Dragons, real or Were, existed, and could be useful to their side."

  I didn’t respond right away. It was common knowledge that the Nazi's were into all kinds of psychic and paranormal stuff. They even had teams looking for relics that would assist them. Why not a Dragon? It wouldn't surprise me a bit that Marissa or her followers would help them either. They could always take over when they got what they wanted. Dark magic has always been useful when subverting others. Why not use it to rise to power in a party that worships such things and will do anything to get them?

  "What can I do?" I asked.

  "Let Bjartr know if you find her," he replied. "Much as I wish I could I cannot stay here and search. I have others that need me. But if I can assist in any other way, I will do what I can."

  "As will I," said Bjartr.

  "Can you at least tell me what she'd be like? Wearing a collar, I mean."

  "Like the Demon we fought," he answered. "She would have no choice but to do as commanded."

  Oh, great, if it was this Belynda than she may have been captured by the very dark Fae that had killed her parents. I was either going to have to kill her controller, whoever that may be, or find a way to remove the collar. Hopefully without killing her or getting killed myself. Not a very comfortable thought.

  Chapter 13<
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  I knew something was wrong the second I got out of the car. The magic kicked in and I crouched down, pulling my sword but not extending the blade, it was too easy to see. Something had to have triggered it to kick in, but I'd be damned if I knew what it was. Still, I wasn't going to ignore it.

  It was after dark and I'd come downtown to meet Delia. As usual, I parked a short distance from Danu's so that I could walk in. The darkness didn’t bother me. I could see and sense most things thanks to being Fae but whatever was out there was being cautious, more so than in prior encounters. In the past it seemed like they barged in and attacked, not this time. I put out a call to Sendy. The moment she appeared I ordered her to turn invisible. "What is your command," I heard her ask as she whispered in my ear.

  "Find Lucius and tell him I'm here," I directed. "He should be nearby. Then scout the area and let me know if you see anything. But be careful, and stay out of sight." As she flew off the streetlights went out. Someone, or something, had shut the power down in the area. If nothing else, this was gonna get interesting. I was just getting ready to move when I heard a loud explosion. Glancing over the trunk I saw flames near the entrance to Danu's.

  I moved to a better position next to the warehouse just down from the bar and slowly made my way there, trying to sense anyone or anything else out of the ordinary. The air around me was heavy, as if something, I don’t know, maybe some kind of dampening spell was in effect. The last time I'd been in a fight down here I could tell what was in someone's pockets by the sounds they made as they moved. But not tonight. Like the last time I had been attacked, there was no magical warning.