by Gavin Green
*
As Kate put her arm around Brody's waist and he put his around her shoulders, they watched two figures fade back into sight out in the field. While the broad and thin fae made their slow approach, Kate whispered, "I'd rather make friends than enemies, if we can."
"That'd be nice," Brody softly agreed. "Then again, with these... people, I'd be just as happy being strangers rather than acquaintances." After a moment's pause, he then said, "I'm sorry, by the way."
"Sorry? For what?"
He sighed. "I lost my temper. That rarely happens, but I did stupid things. I yelled at you. I attacked a side of bacon."
"A monstrous, mutant side of bacon," Kate corrected. "You have nothing to feel bad for, love. I completely understand. We're of the same mind on this."
Oriana and Kazimir stopped on the field side of the low stone wall. Slight nods were given by all, either in recognition or truce.
The morpher spoke first. "I am Kazimir of the Callous Ruin, and I was not sent here for combat. I was asked to deliver a message to the lady of this home, Kate McCarthy." He looked at Brody. "That your aggression might be for her, I chose to intercede only to be able to deliver said message."
With a small frown, Brody said, "My anger was for someone else, but I understand your motives. Well, sort of. You came at a bad time."
Kazimir nodded. "Your rage was for the one who vanished?"
"Lorcan," Oriana supplied.
"That one is of no concern to me. However," the broad fae commented, "I do offer the suggestion that you keep better reign of your temper."
"Hold on there, porky," Brody said defensively. "I didn't know what your motives were, especially after you turned into the ham from hell."
Kazimir held up a placating hand. "I did not mean for my benefit, but for yours. The blow you offered me might kill a human; with your gift of stone in play, then it would be assured."
Confused, Brody asked, "Gift of stone?" The morpher didn't reply.
Kate chose the awkward pause to interrupt. "Kazimir, I am Kate McCarthy. Would you give me your message, please?"
The barbaric-looking fae looked from Brody to her. "My message was for you alone. No one else was mentioned. It is not for me to say if those words are a private affair."
"Then why don't you and I step aside," Kate suggested while she patted Brody's chest to let him know it would be safe, "and you can deliver your message?"
She and Kazimir walked a few steps away with the wall between them. Brody moved a step or two in the opposite direction to stand near the dogs, who seemed themselves again. Oriana stepped closer as well, apparently to admire the animals. An uncomfortable silence ensued.
Brody took in Oriana's strange, otherworldly appearance before he stated his thoughts. "I suppose you did us another favor this morning, as Kate and I assume you did not too long ago," he began. "For that, thank you. And it was probably a good move to calm my dogs down. But here's the thing…" He took a step closer to the wall separating them. "I don't care if you are a woman; if you go putting the whammy on my pets again without my permission, I'll throw your little fairy butt in the lake."
Before any more could be said, Kate and Kazimir returned. Brody saw the concern in her eyes.
Kazimir stated with his gravelly voice, "My duty is complete. I hope you all fare well." The morpher stepped back to shape-shift into his travelling form.
Brody hastily said, "Hang on a second." Both fae looked at him questioningly. "While I have two of you, uh, good folk here, I want to come to some sort of agreement. Look, for the most part, your kind has been an aid, but only because another one of you guys gave me and Kate a shit-load of trouble. Not that we're not appreciative, but we just want normal, simple lives. Is there some way to make that happen? Please?"
The two fae shared a glance. The soft, melodic voice of Oriana spoke for them. "That we could, Brody, we would. Making you forget us would be the simplest solution."
Brody looked at Kate and asked her, "Would you mind forgetting all this shit, darlin'?" When she emphatically shook her head, he turned back to Oriana. "We're all good with forgetting you people, no offense. So lay it on us."
The huge amber eyes looked sad. "It would be for our benefit as well, but as I said, if we could, we would. I am sorry."
"But why can't you?" Kate asked.
"Kate, you have fae-sight; we could take your memories of us, but not the gift. You would eventually come to realize you have it all over again, especially with Brody at your side. For reasons we are unaware of, he is resistant to that glamour." She looked up at him. "We cannot make you forget us, or anything at all, for that matter. You would know of Kate's temporarily forgotten gift, and help her realize it as you have done before. Again, I am sorry."
Jumbled thoughts swirled in Brody's brain. He tried to make his resistance and that 'gift of stone' come together for an explanation... and failed miserably. He then thought that, with his knowledge and that 'gift' thing, maybe he could make the Other Crowd leave he and Kate alone by threatening to tell stories and show off his 'gift'.
But that was blackmail, something Brody couldn't do in good conscience. Not to mention that the ridiculous notion would almost certainly backfire and he'd be seen as a delusional freak. Brody finally determined that the problem started with just one of them, and the others followed - twice.
"What would it take to keep Lorcan out of our lives, permanently?" Brody asked.
Kazimir stepped back toward him. "Are you offering barter?"
Brody hesitated. "Um, can't your people just get rid of him because it’s the right thing to do?"
Oriana turned to her fellow fae. "Kazimir, I know this redcap. He is strong in the gifts of suggestion and travel. He is not one for valorous combat, and would not meet you on a field of battle. You may well have grand skills and gifts for a warrior's use, but I wonder if they would be suitable to corner such a scoundrel."
"Scoundrel?" Brody interjected. "Did you just call him a scoundrel? He's a manipulating, murderous little demon! I don't care how you do it! Use your magic wands or pixie dust or something! Just keep him away from us and Kate's family!"
Kazimir looked at him dubiously. "Pixie dust… Are you serious?"
"I see no reason for Lorcan to plague my family except for me and Brody," Kate stated. "His downfall was here, with us. While Brody may well have secured us for a time, that devil may still lurk about unseen and cause havoc." She looked at Kazimir. "Would you be willing to sentry duty until we can find a permanent solution for Lorcan?"
"Such a contract is not one for me, Lady Kate. I would not be locking myself to a location for any length of time; my type is prone to roam."
With a jeweled hand that gripped her coat tighter at the neck, Oriana said, "There is one who may still hold Lorcan indebted. I could contact her on your behalf for minimal recompense. Then, should the debt-holder agree, you may barter for what you wish."
Brody waved a hand energetically in front of him. "No, no. Thanks, but no way. I wanted less to do with your kind, not more. And making multiple deals with the Other Crowd? Forget it."
Kate nodded. "I'm afraid we'd be out of our element in negotiations with a people we can barely fathom. We appreciate your kind offer, but we must decline. We will make our own way." She turned from one to the other. "Kazimir, should you see Aldritch in your travels, pass along my gratitude for his message. Oriana, your kindness has been an aid, but we cherish our privacy and just want to live our simple lives. Hopefully your support will not be needed again."
The petite fae offered a bow of her hooded head. "Eloquently put and I hope the same as well. I will be pleased when you catch the tranquility that eludes you."
That said, both fae turned and walked away into the field, fading as they went, until Brody and Kate were once again alone. Kate watched to make sure of it.
"What a wild-ass morning," Brody sighed, watching as the dogs decided to jog inside.
Kate hugged him and then looked
at her new watch. "I'm going to be late. I need to fix my make-up and hurry along."
Holding Kate close as they walked side by side back indoors, Brody asked. "So what if you're late? What's McNally gonna do? Fire you?"
"I see your point, although I'd still like to be professional, even on my last day," Kate sighed in futility as she shuffled down the hall, her best outfit damp from the mist. "Mary was right; I'm going to be a worthless pile of shite today."