Chapter 25
25
Daln led them to the base of the mountain and they looked up in awe. An old road gently sloped up for a few hundred feet, then abruptly went upward. They couldn’t see where it led because there was a thick ring of fog, the Mist, that surrounded the lower half of the mountain.
A building labeled The Museum of Earth was only a few feet in front of the Mist. “Do many people visit it?” Kaley asked.
“They used to,” Daln said. “They had sweets and drinks. We’d stop there before climbing up. There are caves in that mountain. My family and I used to—” He broke off. “But then everything was changed and the Mist was put here.”
For a moment they were quiet. He meant the time before families were broken up and separated.
As always, Sojee didn’t allow misery. “Are we going to stand here all day?” he said. “Or are we going to steal something from Earth?”
“Besides me ?” Kaley shot back at him.
Sojee’s eyes twinkled. “Let’s hope this time works out as well.” He rode ahead of them.
“Was that a compliment?” Kaley called after him. “That makes two of them. If I get three I turn into a princess.”
Daln looked at Tanek in question.
“Earth humor,” Tanek murmured, and urged his horse forward.
The museum looked like a two-story American house from the fifties. In fact, it very much resembled the house Kaley had grown up in. In the back was a small replica of their barn.
Tanek reined in beside her. “Feeling like you’ve been here before?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“I have the same feeling. I imagine black-and-white birds all around.”
“Wyandotte chickens. My family raised them. They are good layers.”
Sojee rode his big horse beside them. “What now?” he asked impatiently.
“I’ll go in and talk to the curator.” Kaley dismounted and got her backpack. When she saw Tanek staring at the Mist that was just a few feet away, she said to Sojee, “Please keep him from running straight into that.”
“I plan to help him try,” Sojee said.
“Of course you do,” Kaley muttered. The front door of the museum was unlocked and she went inside. To the left was the usual countertop and a tiny shop. She saw framed drawings of the house for sale, some old copies of Where the Wild Things Are and lots of maps.
“Hello?” she called, but no one answered.
She went through a doorway and entered a big room that had been partitioned off into several three-sided rooms. The first one looked to be a kitchen in Italy. It had walls of varicolored plaster, old iron tools and a VHS player. Kaley stood blinking at the scene. It was the most mixed-up set of time period artifacts she’d ever seen.
With wide eyes, she walked past the other rooms. There were cavemen with a rotary dial phone, and a scene like a glamorous party. Some of the mannequins were dressed in Jane Austen style, some as 1920s flappers. South American and African artifacts were combined, with a Tahitian dancer in the corner.
“Creative history,” she said. At the end was a doorway to another room. It looked like the contents of a thrift shop had been purchased and transported to Bellis. An eighteenth-century sampler hung above a 1940s typewriter. Old paperbacks by Louis L’Amour and Mickey Spillane were displayed as reverently as a Gutenberg Bible. She walked along, marveling at the items that included a CD player, ballpoint pens, a potato peeler, a juice box.
At the last shelf, she paused. There was a printer and beside it was a pile of ink cartridges. If she wasn’t in such a hurry, she’d like to set that printer up. She had no idea how she’d plug it in, but maybe Daln’s men could figure it out. She would print all the photos that had been taken of the Selkan men.
She took off her backpack and removed the SD card that contained the photos. She had no idea what was ahead of them—would the Mist devour them?—but maybe she could leave behind the pictures. As she put the card on top of the printer, she wondered if anyone would see it, or know how to use it.
“Maybe when we return...” She didn’t let herself think about that. If whatever was beyond the Mist was part of a fairy tale, she knew from experience that it could be deadly. Was Jack and the Beanstalk actually Tanek and the Mist? Would huge creatures be waiting to eat them?
She turned away before she let herself conjure more ugly possibilities.
Outside, Tanek and Sojee were at the Mist, touching it, watching their hands disappear as they put them through. They tossed rocks, listening to hear if they fell. They tried to get through in multiple places but couldn’t.
Sitting nearby in a sulky pose was Nessa. He was showing his displeasure at being there.
She went to Daln, who was standing away from them and watching. “Have they discovered anything?” she asked.
“Nothing new,” he answered. “But then, over the years, we’ve tried everything. When a boy is sent to us, the first thing he does is try to figure out about the Mist.”
“Boys are sent here when they’re seven. I meant to ask about that. If women are on another island, how do they have young boys to send to you?”
Daln gave a little smile. “We have the best swimmers on this island. Other men cut, we swim.”
“In more ways than one,” Kaley said, and he laughed at her joke.
Tanek heard them and turned, raising his brows.
“No cars,” she said, then looked toward the barn.
Sojee glanced up at the house. “Was anyone there?”
“I called out but no one answered. Have you seen anyone?”
“No.” Sojee had an expression on his face that made her suspicious.
“What do you know about this place?”
“I bet there are cars in that building.” Sojee strode ahead.
“Secrets,” Kaley muttered.
“What does your necklace say?” Tanek asked.
“It’s as cool as ice. I guess secrets don’t count as lies.”
“Ah, more Earth wisdom.” He hurried after Sojee.
Kaley ran after the two men, with Daln pulling Nessa behind him.
When she saw that the big chain lock on the double barn doors was open, she got a strong feeling that they were expected—and being watched. She whipped around to look at the house and saw a curtain move. She turned to Daln. “Did you let anyone know we were coming?”
He seemed puzzled by her question. “No.”
Sojee and Tanek each took a door handle and opened them.
In front of them was one of the most beautiful sights Kaley had ever seen. A stream of sunlight came in through the loft like it was sent by angels. Stars seemed to form.
It was a Jeep Wrangler, probably late-nineties model. It was white with red interior and had four-wheel drive.
“Is this what you want?” Sojee asked.
“Oh yes!” She put her hand on the hood. That the car had recently been washed again gave her the feeling that they were expected. She went to the driver’s side and looked in. “Five-speed manual. Perfect!” She thought about the strange assortment of old goods inside the museum. “I doubt if the battery is charged, and the tank is probably empty and—” She saw the keys dangling from the ignition. A little round globe of Earth was on the ring.
She looked at the men who were watching her, and her heart seemed to leap into her throat. She had no idea if this was going to work. As she tossed her pack inside and took her seat, she whispered, “Please, please,” over and over.
With her feet on the pedals and her eyes closed, she turned the key.
The engine started immediately, sounding very loud in the little barn, and the men jumped back. Kaley yelled out, “Hooray! And there’s gas in it!” Not much, she thought, but some. She was ready to go but when she looked at them, she thought about what they were about to do—and she didn’t like it. It was a great risk! Sounding as conversational as she could, she said, “I’ll go ahead, then if everything is okay, I’ll come back to get you.” She pushed the clutch down, put the gear into first and rolled forward.
She had only moved two feet before Tanek and Sojee put themselves in front of the car. Nessa tried to leave, but Sojee grabbed the back of his shirt and held him. Daln stayed far to the side.
“But—” Kaley began, then stopped. She knew it was no use taking the time to argue. She lifted a hand in surrender.
There was a bit of confusion as to how to get into the vehicle but none about who went where. Tanek took the seat next to Kaley, while Sojee and Nessa got in the back. They turned to look at Daln. He didn’t speak, just shook his head. He had an expression that suggested he believed he’d never see them again.
Only Nessa paid attention to it. “I will remain here. You can send Perus back to me and I’ll fly everyone to safety.”
“Ow!” Kaley’s necklace had turned hot.
“Do you want to stay with Daln?” Tanek asked.
“Yes!” Nessa answered, and the necklace cooled.
“Thanks,” she told Tanek, grateful a lie could be canceled with a truth.
He held on to the padded armrest with one hand, the console with the other, and braced himself against the seat. When she adjusted the rearview mirror, she saw that the other two were in the same position. “You guys look like my grandmother when Dad drives. He goes too fast, and she always thinks she’s facing death.”
Tanek kept his eyes straight ahead. “Are you more grandmother or father?”
She smiled. “Sorry, but Dad and I used to race. By the time I was eighteen, I could beat him.” She let up on the clutch.
“Wait!” Sojee said. “I’m sitting on something.” He held out a book to her.
Kaley took it. “The Hobbit,” she said. “It’s my father’s favorite.” She gasped when a sprig of rosemary fell out. Her father often left one for her. Suddenly, a wave of homesickness hit her so strongly that she wanted to scream. Instead, she pushed hard on the horn and the sound echoed around them, seeming to bounce off the mountain then back. She let up and for a moment she put her head down on the steering wheel.
Tanek reached out and placed his hand on the back of her neck.
She lifted her head and turned so his palm was against her cheek. She knew he understood about losing loved ones.
“Can you make that sound again?” Nessa asked excitedly. “I like it!”
His words broke the mood. Kaley reached over, opened the glove box and put the book inside.
Tanek picked up the rosemary, broke off two strands, gave one to Sojee, kept one, then handed the rest to Kaley.
“What about me?” Nessa wailed.
“You don’t deserve—” Tanek began, but Kaley handed Nessa a piece.
“For our son,” she said to Tanek. “I mean, your son. Our mission.” He had an annoyingly smug little smile. “If you don’t stop smirking like that, I’ll tell Toki on you.”
Instantly, Tanek sobered.
“Coward,” Kaley murmured. Again, she checked the mirrors. She saw the flash of a tail that showed her Tibby had found a crevice to hide in. She watched as Tanek took a little bag from his pocket, gave it a twist and it ballooned out. He held it up and the light that was Arit disappeared inside.
“I’m not going to leave her here alone.” He didn’t have to explain the dangers to something as small as Arit. He put the pouch inside his shirt, protected by his body.
With everyone settled, Kaley let up on the clutch and slowly moved forward. Since the men were holding on tightly, she crept downhill on the rutted road. She knew she was going to need momentum to get through the Mist. She’d seen that the men had encountered a solid interior. Whatever was there, she didn’t think that moving slowly was going to get them through anything. She stopped at the bottom of the hill and looked at the road. The way up was very steep. It was going to take speed and torque. “I need to go fast, so you’ll have to—”
“Go!” Sojee said. “Don’t mind us, just go !”
The long, unused road was full of potholes. As she tried to gain speed, she had to jerk right and left to avoid them. She knew the passengers were being thrown about but she couldn’t concern herself with that.
She downshifted, gained speed, then upshifted. By the time she reached the Mist, she was in third. When the Mist was at her headlights, she said, “May God watch over us,” then floored it.
Instantly, they were inside, and cool white air engulfed them. She slowed to a crawl. She couldn’t see the road or what was in front of them. It was absolutely silent. She wanted to yell, to blow the horn, anything to create noise, but it would take too much effort and she had to concentrate.
The Mist grew more dense. When she could no longer see Tanek next to her, she knew it was all or nothing. She clutched, pressed down on the gas and was glad to go faster. She just wanted to get out of that bleak nothingness!
When the Jeep burst through the Mist into sunlight, all she could think was No wall . They hadn’t hit a wall, hadn’t been crushed. They were alive.
She downshifted, braked, then sat there in idle. She could see the Mist behind them. Turning in the seat, she looked at them. “Everyone okay?”
Sojee and Tanek looked pale, but Nessa’s eyes were excited. “This beats my dragon,” he said.
“It can’t fly or—” Kaley began, but Tanek said, “We’ll trade.”
She knew what he meant. When—not if—they got Mekos back, his father would give him the dragon he so wanted. “I don’t think this machine can fly,” Kaley said to Nessa, “but I’m not of royal blood so maybe it won’t do it for me.”
Nessa looked triumphant.
Sojee was looking around. “What is this place?”
She cut the engine, glanced at Tanek, and they got out of the Jeep. They were on the side of the mountain; the road ahead was steep and seemed to spiral around. The landscape was storybook pretty. There were fields of perfectly trimmed crops. Cows and goats that looked like they’d been to a salon were grazing. In the distance were cute houses with flowers in front and smoke coming out of the chimneys. They could see a few people walking. Their stride was jaunty, as though they were whistling a happy tune. It was ethereally beautiful, but at the same time, it was kind of creepy.
Tanek and Sojee came to stand on each side of her.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Sojee said.
“Not in real life,” Kaley said. “Just in illustrations. Do you think those people are real ?”
“I don’t know,” Tanek said, “but this place scares me more than that cake house.”
“Me, too,” Sojee said.
“And me,” Kaley said.
“What about your stories?” Tanek asked.
“My guess is that an evil witch stole the souls of everything that came through the Mist.”
The men nodded that it sounded possible. Tibby was at her feet and he jumped into her arms and hid his face. He seemed as afraid as they were.
They were concentrating so hard on the view that a man’s voice made them jump.
“Hello! Do you need help? What can I give you? Food? A place to stay? Credits?”
Sojee put his hand on the sword that was at his back. Kaley clung to Tibby. The man was in his thirties, handsome but not overwhelmingly so. He wasn’t fat or thin. He had nice teeth, good hair, and he was smiling.
Kaley had never seen anything so scary. She hid behind Tanek’s big body and Sojee stepped toward her to form a protective sandwich.
“We need directions,” Tanek said.
“You’re brave,” Kaley whispered.
Tanek put his arm back, protecting her even more. “There were two men flying on part eagles and a boy on a dragon. Have you seen them?”
“Why, no, I haven’t. Would you like some food?”
“No,” Tanek said with exaggerated patience. “I want to find my son. He—”
“Ah, yes. Children. My partner and I have six children. They are good and true, all of them.”
Tanek spoke louder. “The men have scarred faces and the boy is—”
“As beautiful as the sun,” Kaley said loudly.
The man’s face brightened. “Could they be walking?”
“Yes!” the three said in unison.
“Then they are ahead of you. We offered them food and drink but they were too busy to stop.” He looked puzzled. “They weren’t very polite.” When he reached into his pocket, the three took a step back. Tanek drew his sword half out.
“The young man gave me this and told me to stay by the road.”
“And you obeyed him?” Sojee asked.
“Of course. Why would I not?” He handed Tanek a blue stone. It was a sapphire.
“I bet it’s from that robe,” Kaley said.
They turned to look at Nessa, but he wasn’t in the backseat. They looked at the Mist and there was the prince, trying to go back through it, but it wouldn’t let him. He was kicking it and hitting it with his fists. It looked soft but it was rock-solid.
“How odd,” the man said. “Why would he want to leave?”
“He likes gingerbread,” Sojee said.
“We have that.” The man was smiling. “You are welcome to—”
Sojee took the sapphire from Tanek and held it before the man’s face. “Where did they go? How long ago? Where the frack is this place?”
The man looked serious. “They went up the mountain. I’ve not been there but I’ve heard that it is beautiful. I do not know what how long ago means. This is Selkan island on the planet of Bellis. Can I help you more?”
“No.” Tanek sounded kind and understanding. “You may go home now.”
“Thank you,” the man said, and began walking along a grassy path toward the fields and houses.
Kaley fell back against the car. “Well, that was, uh...”
“Scariest thing I’ve ever seen,” Tanek said. “I’d rather face men in a cutting game.” He looked up the steep road. “You ready to go? If they’re on foot, we might catch them.”
Sojee went to the Mist, grabbed Nessa by the arm and pulled him back to the Jeep. Of course he yelled in protest, but they ignored him. They got in the Jeep and Kaley started the engine. “We don’t have much gas left.”
“Then we’ll climb when we must,” Tanek said.
It wasn’t easy going up the mountain. Years of lack of use made the road almost impassable. Worse was that to one side was an edge to the mountain that fell straight down. One wrong turn of the wheel could send them into oblivion. Three times they stopped for the men to get out and move fallen trees. Sojee took charge of Nessa and made him help lift. He complained, but by the third one he said nothing, just grabbed an end and pulled. Sojee slapped him on the back in praise, but Nessa scowled.
At times, the Jeep struggled. Parts of the road were filled with scree and the vehicle seemed to go back as much as forward. Once, Tanek and Sojee got out and pushed the Jeep until they were on more solid ground. When they got back inside, Kaley asked Tanek, “Do you know why we were allowed through the Mist?”
“Just luck, I guess.”
Her necklace grew warm. “Keep lying and you’ll burn a hole in me.”
Tanek took time in answering. “My guess is that we were given special permission by someone who probably cares about my son.”
“Who? Toki? Your father?”
“No,” Tanek said, and she could tell that he wasn’t going to say more.
Kaley put her attention back on driving and watching the gas gauge get lower. She knew they were soon going to be on foot. Suddenly, Nessa let out a yell that startled them.
“It’s Perus,” Nessa screeched. “He’s come for me.”
Before Kaley could stop, Nessa flung the back door open and leaped out. He hit the ground running and disappeared into the woods. Sojee, muttering curses, untangled his long body and went after the boy.
Kaley stopped the car and looked at Tanek. She knew he didn’t want any delay in finding Mekos. “I didn’t see the dragon. Did you?”
He opened the car door. “I saw the tail as it flew past. I—” He broke off and listened. “I don’t know that birdcall. Maybe Toki...” He didn’t finish.
She knew what he meant. Maybe Mekos’s mother or one of her furry relatives was signaling him. He could move faster without Kaley. “Go! I’ll be fine. Tibby is with me.”
“Do not leave this truck,” he ordered.
“It’s not a—” Kaley began, but then repeated, “Go!” He moved so fast she could hardly see him. She got out of the Jeep, Tibby with her, and they stretched. She listened but heard nothing, no birds, no sound that might be a dragon and no men yelling at anyone. Under different circumstances, it would have been nice.
She left the road for some privacy, and when she stood up, Tibby looked at her with wide eyes. She could feel that he was hearing something. “What is it?” In the next second, she felt his uncontrollable, impossible-to-disobey urge to go to whatever he was hearing. He took off running. “Great!” Kaley muttered. “It’s probably a singing Siren in the woods. Maybe I should tie myself to a tree.” With a sigh, she ran after Tibby.
She hadn’t gone but a few yards when she saw a stone cottage. Past experience made her look around to see if three little pigs appeared. “Or a wolf,” she said aloud.
When the door opened, she stepped back, ready to run away. But to her surprise, it was Garen, the man who’d helped her with photos and Cinderella’s slipper. His handsome face was freshly bruised—and she felt guilty. Did he get that from helping me? she wondered. Tibby ran across the man’s feet as he went inside the house.
“We meet again,” Garen said, and he stepped back to open the door wider. “Would you like a cup of tea?” His eyes sparkled. “Or some Selkan beer?”
“I would,” she said, “but the men will be searching for me.” He didn’t say anything but his eyes conveyed his thoughts. He’d helped her with the shoe but she wouldn’t have a drink with him. “I’d love one.” She followed him inside. The interior of the cottage gave cute a deeper meaning. She gazed at the stone walls, big fireplace, hand-hewn wooden furniture painted with folk art scenes, deep-set windows open to the cool breeze. “This is beautiful.”
“Just a simple place,” he said humbly as he put a copper kettle on the iron woodstove.
Tibby was stretched out on the worn stone hearth, sleepy and content, not at all as he usually was. She wondered how Garen got past the Mist but it seemed impolite to ask. She was looking around the cottage. “This place is adorable.”
“Is it as nice as my aunt’s house?”
She didn’t know what he meant.
“My aunt Uella? The woman you killed? She lived in the gingerbread house.”
All the hairs on Kaley’s body stood on end and she looked toward the door. She needed to get out now ! “The woman was murdering children!” Kaley said as she backed toward the door.
“My aunt did have unusual dietary needs.”
“For children?” she gasped. “That was her diet?”
Garen filled a pretty teapot with hot water. “Truthfully, I never liked the woman. My mother—her younger sister—put some protection spells on me when I was a child. I think my aunt saw me as an especially tasty tidbit.”
Kaley stopped moving. Her insatiable curiosity and her fear for her life were pulling her in opposite directions. She watched him set the table for tea, adding a plateful of cookies. “Did your aunt bake those?” she managed to say.
Garen smiled. “It is her recipe, yes. You may leave, but please stay. I will tell you that as long as you’re here, your friends won’t find the dragon or that worthless prince.”
She blinked as fairy tales of magic ran through her mind. “Is Perus really here?”
“Of course not.” He glanced around the little cottage. “And by the way, you see this house as it is. Your friends would see it as a stone fortress. Impenetrable.”
Kaley swallowed. It appeared that she was alone with a real live warlock. She should run out the door. Unfortunately, her curiosity was winning the struggle. Besides, she remembered this man helping her on that blood-covered platform, and how kind he was when taking the photos. Whatever he was, he’d taken some hard blows because of her. Cautiously, she sat down at the table.
Garen sat across from her and filled the two cups. It was loose tea. It appeared that genuine warlocks didn’t use tea bags. “My grandfather made your necklace.”
She put her hand on it. It didn’t change temperature.
“It won’t work on me,” he said. “And I don’t think it works on you, does it?”
“No.” She’d read too many stories not to be afraid of the tea. She didn’t move.
He understood her hesitation. “Remember when I swore my life to you? I meant it. You’ll always be safe with me.” His blue eyes lit up. “Besides, I don’t need to use poison.”
She understood what he was saying. She took a sip. “You mean you have other ways of accomplishing what you want?” Her head came up. “Did you put Tanek to sleep in the stables?”
He looked pleased that she’d figured that out. “Yes, I did. I wanted to get to know you better. I knew about my aunt and that you’d tamed a tabor.” He glanced at Tibby sleeping peacefully. “You got those two men out of the tavern and that shoe fit you . No one else, just you . How could you do those things?”
His astonishment was flattering. She held up her arm. “I blocked the chip, and I knew the stories about the gingerbread house and the glass slipper.” She shrugged. “It all fell into place.”
“And you found the necklace my father made. It was not meant to be noticed.”
She wasn’t about to tell him that Arit showed it to her. “You just said your grandfather made it.”
“Same man.” The humor left his face.
“But—” she began, then said, “Oh.” Fairy tales often told of incest. “Sorry,” she murmured, and he went back to smiling. In spite of the bruises and scars on his face, he was a very good-looking man.
“I don’t have time to go slow,” he said, “so I’ll say it all quickly. Your abilities intrigue me.” He paused for a moment. “I would like to offer you a kind of employment. If you accept, I can give you great riches, and a palace to live in.”
Kaley had read too many fairy tales to be enticed by his offer. “Would the palace be real or an illusion? Would you create some fake house so you could watch me every moment? You can see me but I can’t see you? That kind of thing?”
He looked genuinely astonished—but pleased. “Yes. But now I won’t do that.”
She couldn’t help smiling at his honesty. “Everything I know is in books from my planet.”
“Stay with me and you can record those stories for the people on my planet. My guess is that there are more of those...events happening here.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“I’ll help you find them, then we’ll work together to destroy all of them.” He sounded eager. “We’ll be a team. A joint partnership.”
Kaley shook her head in disbelief. “On Earth I can’t get a boyfriend, but here I have offers in abundance.”
Garen made a sound of derision. “The others are worthless. Prince Bront believes people should give everything to him, and Tanek will place you after every bird on the planet. You’ll never be first in his life.”
“But you can do better?” There was no missing the sarcasm in her voice.
“I’ll give you your heart’s desire—whatever that is. I know of your connection to animals. If you want a thousand creatures to care for, I’ll give them to you. We have animals that haven’t been seen on your Earth for thousands of years.”
Kaley knew she should run out the door, but what he was saying interested her. “I have friends here.”
“I understand. I, too, have friends.” He took a breath. “Give me one year, then, if you choose, you can return to them, and I will step aside. By then, you’ll have found out what you can do on this planet. You’ll know what your strengths are.”
Kaley narrowed her eyes. “What do you get out of it?”
“For one year, I wouldn’t be alone. I’d have a true friend and a student. And you’d be my teacher as well. I want to know more about Earth. I’d like to hear these stories that you know.”
His offer was more tempting than she wanted to admit. Tibby felt her agitation. He lifted his head and looked at her. “Maybe Jobi has a book. You could read it and—”
Abruptly, Garen got up and went to a tall cabinet that was painted with folk art. He opened a door, withdrew a small wooden box and held it out to her. When she hesitated, he opened the lid. “What do you see?”
The first thing she saw was an oil lamp the size of her palm. It was the kind from an Aladdin story and she didn’t dare touch it. There was a little wooden toy of a man, its arms and legs attached with pins. A leather bag with pebbles falling out of it was in a corner. “These are things you found?” she asked kindly.
He looked amused. “If you were from here, each of those items would be fascinating. Your earthliness makes you unable to see the enchantment of them.” When she didn’t reply, he said, “The little man dances. He fascinates people so much that they see nothing else. The bag contains an endless supply of wealth. I think you have an idea of what the lamp does.”
“Magic lamps always cause trouble,” she said.
He closed the box and set it on the cabinet. “Your hesitation is Tanek, isn’t it? Fertility and soaring are irresistible to women.” He leaned forward. “Tanek is interested in you because you’re different. If you stay with him, your powers will be wasted on cleaning swan feathers. Meanwhile, your stories will be happening. Are more children being killed? Is there suffering and torture that only you know how to stop?”
She didn’t answer because it was something she’d thought about.
“If you stay with me,” he continued, “even if it’s only for one year, I will dedicate my life to helping you. Together, we’ll search out these evils and destroy them. I have abilities that I inherited from my odious family. I’d like to use them for good.” He took a breath. “Can Tanek not wait a year for you to go to school? Do women on Earth not ask such a thing of a man?”
His offer was making her head spin. He was saying things that had been in the back of her mind. Maybe the reason Jobi brought her here was to find fairy tales and destroy them. She looked down at her empty cup. Tanek had also made her an offer. But she knew Garen was right. Accepting Tanek would mean she’d live with his family. Share his life. If she sought out horrors, like Cinderella and the gingerbread house, she might have to do it on her own.
On the other hand, there was the promise that she could go home to her own family. But then what? Her father and grandparents could live with her, but someday, she’d be alone. On Earth there were no real fairy tales to abolish. But she could write about them. Fictionalize them, maybe? Would a man who didn’t think she was strange come into her life? She had a vision of boring her students with stories of what she’d seen and done while on another planet. Of course no one would believe her.
She looked across the table at Garen. Just one year.
“If...” he said softly, “at the end of the year you want to continue your work, I can give you whatever you need. You can have a home, a garden. You can train others to help you. You can do what you’re meant to do. You can fulfill your life’s purpose.”
As befitted the drama of his statement, Garen got up and went to the woodstove. The second his back turned, a tiny light appeared by the far wall. It was no bigger than a gnat but Kaley knew it was Arit—and she felt a sense of relief, glad that someone knew where she was.
When Garen reached for a tin of tea, Arit’s light flashed brighter, then went out. It had only been for a second but it was long enough to show an old key hanging beside a pretty little bouquet of dried flowers. You do the same as your aunt , she thought. You hide your valuables in plain sight.
When Garen looked back at her, Kaley had composed herself. She was thinking of how to get that key then leave graciously. Suddenly, a flaming arrow flew through the open window. It was so unexpected that for a moment, all she could do was stare.
The arrow hit Garen in the shoulder. For a man so scarred, so used to pain, she didn’t expect the scream of fear that came from him. It echoed off the stone walls and nearly pierced her ears.
Witches fear fire!
Tibby, suddenly no longer under some magic spell, got up and seemed ready to attack.
But Kaley was faster. As a farm girl, she was used to emergencies. She grabbed the tablecloth, dishes crashing to the floor, and slammed the cloth onto the flaming arrow. The fire went out.
Even with the fire gone, Garen’s face was distorted in terror. His eyes were like an animal caught in a trap. In the next second, he ran through a door that looked like a cabinet, but she saw that it led outside. He fled into the woods.
Behind Kaley was a pounding on the front door. As Garen had said, it wasn’t locked, not from the inside anyway. When she flung it open, she wasn’t surprised to see Tanek there, a bow slung across his shoulder, and looking terrified. He didn’t say anything, just opened his arms to her.
Kaley didn’t realize how frightened she’d been until she felt his strong body holding her.
He smoothed her hair back. “It’s all right. He’s gone now. You’re safe.”
Kaley nodded, her face hidden in his shoulder. She would have stayed there longer, but Arit’s flashing light had brought her to her senses. “I have to get some things.” Before Tanek could say no, she ran back into the house. She grabbed the box on the cabinet, then snatched the key off the wall. Tanek put his strong arm around her shoulders and they walked in the direction of the car.
When he stopped, she looked at him. “We should go. We need to look for Mekos.”
But Tanek led them deeper into the forest. There were rocks and he sat on one, then looked at Kaley. “What happened?”
“I’ll tell you in the car.” She started to turn away, but he caught her arm.
“I don’t want Sojee to know about this. It would upset him too much.”
She sat down beside him. “Yes, you’re right. Sojee is very protective, and he seems to think I can do anything.”
“Such as jump across roofs?”
“And rescue two big men in a storm and melt candy houses and—” She knew he was waiting to hear about what happened. “It was Garen, the man from...”
Tanek nodded impatiently. He knew who he was.
“At first, I was afraid of him, but he kept talking and explaining things to me. He’s as lonely as a lost sheep and my heart went out to him. He—”
“What did he say?” Tanek snapped.
“He offered me a job.”
“To work with him? To be his apprentice? To learn but also to teach?”
“Yes!” She looked at him. “How do you know that?”
“A guess. What are you holding?”
She looked at the box that she was clasping so tightly it might crack. With her eyes on Tanek, she opened the lid. “What do you see?”
His eyes widened, then he smiled in delight. “The little man dances. He says his name is Clee.”
To Kaley, the wooden figure wasn’t moving, but she saw the hypnotized way Tanek was staring at it. She had an idea that she could walk away and he wouldn’t notice. She picked up the figure, covering it with her hand, and the spell was broken. “What about the bag?”
He picked it up and poured out some pebbles, but the bag didn’t get smaller. “These are very valuable as well as beautiful. Indienne would love them.” He put the bag down and started to reach for the lamp.
But Kaley pulled the box away. “Don’t touch that!” She put the little man inside and closed the lid. “What was the house where you found me like?”
“A stone fortress. I couldn’t get inside by myself but Arit showed me the window. When Garen moved, I shot. I’m not as good with a bow as my son, so I missed his heart.”
“I’m glad you didn’t kill him,” she said. “His life hasn’t been easy.” She didn’t explain. “He is terrified of fire.” Like all witches , she thought but didn’t say. She pulled the big, rusty key from her pocket. “Arit showed me this.”
Tanek took it and looked at it. “What the starken-el do you think this thing opens?”
His tone made her laugh. “The gates to a place we don’t dare enter!”
Tanek groaned. “What are those animals that eat birds?”
She took a second to know what he meant. “Cats. Maybe it’s a key to a whole island full of cats. Lions, Persians, jaguars, leopards.” Tanek’s look of horror made her laugh harder. “Bet they’d love those blue swans you want to see.”
Tanek’s horror increased. “Blue swans are me . I am a blue swan! Humans who are of swan lineage are called blue.”
The image of a cute little kitty chasing Tanek made Kaley laugh harder. When she described the scene, Tanek caught her laughter so they were both in tears.
They were laughing so hard that they didn’t see Sojee until he was standing inches away and glowering down at them. “Did you two forget why we’re here? Did you forget your son?”
His anger sobered them.
“It’s my fault,” Kaley began, but Sojee had turned his back on them and they followed him to the car.
A sulking, pouting Nessa was in the backseat waiting for them. “I couldn’t find my dragon.” He sounded pitiful.
Kaley and Tanek exchanged looks. They now shared a secret.