“Something must be done,” she whispered to herself.
“Well, you can do something, now,” Mike responded, though her words were not for him. He paused outside of a stacked group of old shipping containers, fashioned together to create the town center. “Are you ready?”
“Right.” The new queen straightened. “Yes, I will do something. I’m ready.”
Mike opened the heavy metal door, revealing the inside of the containers. Rusted and worn, holes formed in the sides of the make shift building by a process of natural degrading and added light to the room. The effect almost seemed intentional if not for the candles that were lit as well. Mike entered first, and Briar followed with Mysti at her side. Boxi remained outside for security; if this was an attempt to attack their new queen, she would move the Earth before letting them succeed.
The murmurs started the moment she stepped inside the space, and Mike waited patiently for the group to come to attention. He knew her presence would do anything but put them at ease, which was why he’d sent word ahead of their expected guests. The grumbles subsided quickly as Mike lifted his hand and called for their attention. “I ask that you all listen to what Briar has to say. She is the new Fairy Queen, and as the leader of her people she comes here, offering us help, in exchange for our assistance.”
“Our assistance? So she’s here to bribe us?” A brute older man sat at the far end of a table crafted from old wood and metal. His face was lined with a thick coat of grey hair that would have been three shades lighter if he had ready access to clean water.
“Relk, please, hold your comments for later. Let’s hear what the girl has to say.” Two seats over from the burly man was a slender woman whose features told that she was of a younger generation. Trex was one who couldn’t shed her reptilian side, not entirely. Though her face, half shadowed by the low light, appeared normal, a prominent lizard tail laid on the ground at her feet.
Mike gave her the floor. “Briar.”
“I must first apologize to you all.” She looked around the room, taking in the stern faces of the seven council members. This was not going to be an easy feat. “I, like so many others, have simply forgotten about you. All of you out here, victims of a war that was not your own. Our people have not done enough to rectify what has been done to you. It is easy, living as we do, to forget those who are less fortunate, much too easy. I had no idea that this was the lives you and your families led. And until fighting side by side with your leader,” she nodded at Mike, who returned the show of respect, “living for just one day as you all do every day, there was no way I could ever really understand it.
“Nothing I say or do here will fix the past, it won’t change the fact that you have spent decades suffering for the acts of a few. I’m not here to erase the past. That is something that simply cannot be done. I am here offering to you, all of you, a better future. Should you choose to help us or not.” Mysti scoffed and Briar shot her a look that told her to back down. If she didn’t agree with her decision, that was something to speak to her about in private. It was not a matter of debate, and definitely not in front of outsiders. “Yes, our people need your help, and if what we are facing is as terrible as we believe it is, your people are at risk as well. If you choose not to help, I will understand your positioning. I do, however, hope that you choose in the best way for your own people, as our queen before me did for ours.”
“You would help us, without bargain?” the woman spoke again, leaning into the light to reveal the scaled side of her face previously hidden in the shadows.
“Yes. Those children, those babies, they don’t deserve this.” Briar shook her head. “I don’t believe that any of you deserve to live like this.”
The council members looked to one another, passing concerned and questioning gazes across the table. None of them wanted to discuss the issue further, not with Briar in the room. Though she came there in what seemed to be good faith, they still did not trust her or her kind.
Mike reclaimed the floor from Briar. “Give us time to discuss.”
Complying, Briar and Mysti made their exit, leaving him behind to discuss the matters at hand with the skeptical council.
“How did it go?” Boxi questioned, relieved that the two appeared without any sign of concern.
“We’ll find out soon. They’re discussing matters now,” Mysti answered her as Briar was too preoccupied with a small girl who walked by. The child was covered in filth, limping from an injury, and still she smiled brightly at her friends just a few feet ahead. When she reached them, her soft giggle fluttered over to Briar who couldn’t help but smile. There was still hope and it was inside of that little girl. Even if the prior generations could never forgive what was done, they would do what was right for their children, she knew it.
Mike emerged from the door with a smile on his face. “It appears we have a deal.”
“They have agreed to help us?” Briar asked. She’d been worried that they might accept her offer of aide without any return responsibility on their end.
“I simply explained to them that what you are up against will negatively affect us as the threat comes from the Ashen.” He smiled. “That alone was enough. We aren’t exactly thrilled with the current powers that be, but to have some ancient warlock from the darkest part of the coven take over things … well, we all agree that we must do whatever is necessary to prevent that from happening.”
“That’s good news.” Briar smiled, trying not to give too much of a show of her relief. “What’s next? Is there anything you need me to do now?”
“Next, you go back home, and I get my people together. If you need to reach me, Jinn knows how,” Mike said. “Oh, and I promised them you would be sending food and fresh water here.”
“Right, yes, we will get on that.” Briar turned to Mysti. “Please put in the call. Have supplies brought by air.” She paused, turning to Mike. “Is it okay for air supplies? I wouldn’t want to alarm anyone.” Not everyone knew of the deal they’d just struck; fairies taking flight above them might prove disarming, especially because it wasn’t an area they ever came near.
“Yes, I will make sure everyone knows what to expect.” Mike indicated the men leaving out of the side of the council chambers. “They are spreading the word as we speak.”
“Great. Mysti, please get that going.” Briar nodded again.
“We’re just supposed to walk back out of here?” Boxi asked, obviously getting anxious being in the scorch lands. The place was toxic, there was no telling how the environment there would affect them if they stayed for too long. Mysti kept the air circulating around them as best as she could, but in time, that too wouldn’t be enough.
“Yes, no one will bother you. As I said, news is spreading as we speak about your generous offer,” Mike stated with a wide smile. “Besides, you walked in with me, and you will leave without issue. The perks of being something of a king.”
“When do you plan on returning?” Though Boxi was eager to leave, Briar still had questions.
“When things are arranged here. There will be a lot to do.” Mike waved at a group of children, one of whom was the girl that brought a smile to Briar’s face. They called his name and then ran away giggling. “The council will help to arrange things, but we have to spread the word to everyone. There are groups of slithers all over the world. They need to hear this news from me directly, and that will take some time to get done. At least a few days.”
“Do you need any assistance with that?” she offered, knowing that kind of travel would be easier with a bit of fairy magic.
“No. Trust me, we have our ways.”
“Great. You can expect the supply drop in the next few hours.” Mysti rejoined the conversation after calling back to Vilar. “Are we good to go?”
“Yes, there is much to be done.” The three fairies walked out of the scorched lands, just far enough away from those who lived there. Once out of the marked boundaries, they took flight, their fairy wings carrying the
m back to Vilar.
“We need to find out where he is.” Briar sat in the small room that was set just off to the right of the chamber room with Jinn. There they could sit together and speak in private. The room was a simple space, with a long wood table, stained a deep shade of burgundy. They sat together at one end of the table, leaving the other eighteen chairs empty. Briar preferred the space to the chamber room, which still reminded her of the death of her friend and former queen, and the loss of the Solaris stone.
“How do you suggest we do that?” Jinn sat back in his chair, running his fingers through his hair. “We have no way of tracking him. Hell, we don’t even know what this guy looks like. He may no longer have the appearance I remember.”
“I tried Sybella, but the seer was unable to help us. She is hurt really bad. The healers say she may take a long time to recover, and if she does, she may not ever be fully restored.” Briar sighed as she thought about the mental state of the woman she’d visited when she returned from the scorched lands. Sybella was held up in her room, mumbling to herself about evil.
“What’s our alternative?” He lifted the beer to his lips, having opted out of the sweet wine that was originally offered to him.
“Tracker spell?” Briar tossed out the idea already knowing it was futile.
“Not without something of his,” he replied, confirming what she already knew.
“Well, considering his home was sent up in flames, I say that is highly unlikely.” She laughed dryly. “Talk about a stroke of bad luck!”
“What if we could use me for the spell?” Jinn pepped up.
“You?”
“His magic is what created me. It was a long time ago, but perhaps there is still enough there, some signature that we can use.” It was the only thing they had, and even it was a slim chance.
“It’s worth a shot.” Briar pressed a small button on the arm of her chair that summoned her second in command, Mysti. When the fairy entered the room Briar issued her request. “Please go retrieve Rebecca. Tell her that we need her assistance.”
“Rebecca?” Jinn watched Mysti closely as she left the room to carry out the order. He’d had an odd feeling about the woman since they met, and it wasn’t going away.
“She’s a witch, one of the few on our side. She’s the only one I know that is capable of tracing magical signatures.” She paused, considering the man at her side. They hadn’t discussed how he was doing with everything. From the moment they returned, they were on a race to find Daegal, and Jinn’s concerns had taken a backseat to the chaos. “Are you okay?”
“I’m managing.” He straightened in his seat, not ready for the conversation that was about to happen. He’d been happy for the distractions that arose when they returned from the Collective.
Briar tilted her head. “I’m worried about you, Jinn. I know this is hard on you.”
“Yes, you’re right. It is difficult for me right now. The thing is, there is nothing I can do about that.”
“When we were in the Ashen, your anger, I’ve never seen you that way before.” They weren’t the best of friends, but they’d known each other. Jinn visited sparingly Vilar as he was a tolerated guest, and most times he was there she’d see him. It wasn’t long until he figured out that their accidental encounters were planned. She had to keep an eye on the powerful outsider no matter how accepted his presence was. In all the time, she’d never seem him display any emotion besides a casual show of aloofness.
“It’s been quite some time since I’ve had reason to be that angry.”
“Right.” She paused, considering her next words carefully. “Do you think you can contain it?”
Before he could answer, the door opened and in walked Mysti followed by a short, chubby woman who smelled of whisky and mint. The odor filled the room quickly. Jinn raised a questioning eyebrow at Briar who shook her head. This couldn’t be the person she wanted to help them. Rebecca had become more liberal with the spirits in the past few years. Briar knew it was because of the things the woman had seen. Most often when she was asked to use her gift, it was to track someone or something that was horrible, their magic dark. The woman wore a crooked smile as she was escorted inside of the room by Mysti.
“Are you sure she is up to this?” Jinn questioned as the woman stumbled over to the chair Mysti directed her to and plopped down into it.
“Yes, sorry, she has taken Alesea’s death really hard. They were close.” Briar left out the rest of the reasoning for Rebecca’s condition.
“Briar,” Rebecca hiccupped. “Ooh, my apologies.” She covered her mouth and giggled. “I am at your services.” Glossed-over eyes found the new queen at the opposite end of the table.
“Rebecca, we need you to perform a tracking spell, do you think you can do that for us?” Briar kept her tone soft, coaxing. The witch was on edge, had been for a while, but even more so with the death of her friend.
“Well, of course I can!” she shouted, pointing her finger to the ceiling as she stood from the chair. She stepped away from the table, but her momentum continued, and she stumbled backwards into Mysti’s arms. Once back to her feet she asked, “Who would you like to have tracked?”
“A warlock,” Jinn answered. “His name is Daegal.”
The woman’s expression sobered up quickly. The rosy color caused by the whiskey drained from her cheeks. “Oh, no, no, no, I cannot. Oh no.” She shook her head. “He is … oh no, nope. I just can’t.” She slid back into her designated chair.
“Rebecca, we need your help.” Briar kept an even tone, realizing the fragile state of the woman’s mind.
“Oh, I’m sure you do, but,” she paused for a belch that turned into a hiccup, “you don’t know what it is that you’re asking of me. I’m afraid that is out of my doing.”
“Is it really?” Jinn stepped in, challenging her.
“Well, I—” she began. She was bluffing and he called her on it, no one ever had before.
“You what?” again he challenged, and they waited to see if the woman would in fact fall apart.
“He is evil, the darkest of magic I’ve ever heard of. If I try to track him, he will know it, and he will come after me. I just can’t do it.” She shook with fear.
“Rebecca, we will protect you.” Briar leaned forward in her chair. “You have to know that.”
“Like you protected Alesea?” She couldn’t stop the words from passing her lips. She slapped her hands over her mouth. “Oh, Briar, I am so sorry!”
“It is okay.” Briar stood from her seat to walk over to Rebecca’s side. She wrapped her arms around the woman, warming her with her magic. It would ease her pain. “I understand, and you are in no way obligated to help us with this.”
“I really wish that I could.” She looked up at the woman who held her. “I do, but I don’t want him to come after me. I don’t want him to do what he’s done to so many others.”
“Rebecca, please do not worry.” She helped the woman up from her seat. “You should go get yourself some rest.” With an understanding smile, she handed Rebecca off to Mysti, who walked her to the exit and gave instructions for another fairy to make sure she made it home safely.
“Great, now what are we going to do?” Mysti returned to the table. “Is there a plan B?”
“We’re going to track him,” Jinn spoke.
“With no witch?” She laughed. “How exactly do you plan to do that?”
“I’m a witch, or at least I used to be. I’ll track him. There has to be a way.” He frowned. He couldn’t give up, not that easily, not because a witch was too drunk and afraid to help. “There must be some sort of connection between us. If I can find it, I can use it to tell us where he is.”
“Are you sure you can do it?” Briar had made her way back to her seat and to the glass of wine she’d been nursing since she’d joined Jinn in the room.
“No, I’m not entirely sure, but it should be simple enough to accomplish.” Jinn thought back to a time before he was turned
into a djinn, when the magic of his ancestors came to him like second nature. That was changed when he was. Though he could still feel it there, he had been disconnected from it. He never attempted to repair that connection, unsure what it would do to him. In this case, he really didn’t have any other choice.
“What if what Rebecca says is true? What if he will be able to tell that you’re tracking him?” Mysti still stood at the end of the table, never being asked to leave the room.
“Then he’ll know I’m coming for him.” Jinn stood from his seat, no longer wanting to remain in the space. Unlike the witch who’d stumbled out of the room sobbing, he wasn’t afraid to face Daegal. Hell, he’d been waiting for centuries for a chance.
Praia positioned herself across from Jinn. It was the first time she’d been allowed to witness him as he meditated. It had always been a private event for the man, so when he asked her to be there, she jumped on the chance. It also concerned her—if he wanted her there, it meant that this wasn’t going to be a normal session and she may need to intervene. He sat on the floor across from her and eased himself into a deeper level of consciousness. His legs were folded, and his hands posed atop each knee with fingers pointed towards the sky. A soft blue light danced across his fingertips and his eyelids fluttered. He asked her to act as his anchor while he did what he needed to do to find a connection to Daegal. It would take a lot out of him to reconnect with his magic and then use it to repair and follow the broken link back to the warlock responsible for its disconnection.
Djinn Rebellion Boxset (Books 1 -30: A Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy Page 12