Chapter 31
Mattie hadn’t really understood what Alice was telling them until now. She still wasn’t entirely clear. “Are you saying you want us to retrieve that amulet?”
“Yes,” Alice answered. “I know it’s a great deal to ask, but as you three are the reason the spell needs to be renewed, it seemed fitting to ask your help in resolving this. Also, bears are incredible swimmers.”
Gunnar nodded. “That’s true. But if the amulet is behind the falls, it won’t require any real swimming.”
“Not behind,” Alice said. “The amulet is under the falls. At the bottom of the pool.”
That seemed to knock Gunnar back. He squinted at Alice. “At the bottom? Of the plunge basin?”
“Yes,” Alice confirmed.
Mattie didn’t like the look on his face.
“That wouldn’t be easy, would it? I mean, the water is all churned up.
Probably hard to see through that. What about asking someone like Undrea?
She’s a mermaid. She’d have no problem getting the amulet.
” Technically, Undrea was a siren, but that wasn’t public knowledge, and Mattie wasn’t about to spill those beans.
“Undrea seems like an ideal candidate, however, the water is more than just difficult to see through.” Alice shifted her gaze to Gunnar. “You’ve pulled visitors from the water there, haven’t you? Those who’ve accidentally slipped in. Or waded too far?”
“I have.” Gunnar glanced at her. “The basin has to be forty feet deep. Maybe more. Add to that the power of the water and the jagged edges of the surrounding rocks, and the lack of visibility is going to be the least of anyone’s problems. It’s going to take someone strong. Someone who can take a beating.”
Mattie inhaled. She’d never imagined any of that. “That’s awfully deep.” She shook her head. She couldn’t ask Undrea to do that. This wasn’t her battle to fight. “And it sounds very dangerous.”
“It is.” Alice was remarkably calm considering what they were discussing. “That’s why it would require a powerful swimmer. Someone capable of holding their breath for a reasonable amount of time and able to fight the current created by the falls.”
“I don’t like this,” Mattie said. She thought harder. “Can’t you use your magic to get it back?”
“No. The amulet has a built-in protection against magical retrieval to prevent it from being stolen or altered by anyone else.”
Mattie wasn’t out of ideas yet. The most obvious solution hadn’t even been discussed. “Why don’t you just make another one then?”
A soft, comical sound left Alice’s throat. “That’s an interesting idea. I believe that coin was one of twenty in existence. Do you know where I might get another one?”
So much for that. Mattie sighed. “No, obviously. Couldn’t Gunnar just wish for another one?”
“That would taint the new coin with jinn magic.”
Mattie swallowed. “But you’re asking Gunnar to put his life on the line.”
Alice’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I would like to gently remind you that you and Ranger Briggs are the reason the spell needs to be renewed.”
“She’s right,” Gunnar said. He leaned forward, his forearms resting on his thighs. “I’ll do it.”
Alice bowed her head. “Thank you, Ranger Briggs.”
Mattie stood up, her heart racing, her mind whirling with bad outcomes. “No. It’s too dangerous. There has to be another way.”
“There isn’t,” Alice said calmly. “If only there was.”
Mattie shook her head. “This is a lot to ask of him. A lot. There’s got to be more in this for him than just him trying to fix what he already thought he fixed.”
Alice took a breath. “I don’t disagree with that.” She looked at Gunnar. “What would you like, Ranger Briggs?”
Mattie could tell Gunnar hadn’t been expecting that. He sat back, face blank for a moment. The silence stretched. Finally, he spoke. “I’d like to keep my job for as long as I’m able to do it.”
“A very reasonable request,” Alice said. “Consider it done. In fact, when you return the amulet to me, not only will I see to it that your job remains securely yours but that your salary is doubled.”
“That’s kind of you, but I don’t need the money.”
A curious light twinkled in Alice’s eyes. “You will.” She looked at Mattie. “What would you like?”
“Me?” Mattie sat back down. “I don’t want anything. Except for Gunnar to be safe. And for Blueberry not to get in trouble for this.”
“Chastising the imp for his part in this would be akin to punishing a bird for flying.” Alice smiled gently. “Would I prefer he kept his chaos to himself? Wholeheartedly. But I understand his nature.”
Mattie exhaled. “Thank you.”
“Surely you must want something,” Alice pressed. “I don’t expect your silence for free.”
“I can keep a secret without a reward. And I’m not the one at risk. Thank you, but I really don’t need anything for myself.”
“There’s nothing?”
Because Alice seemed insistent, Mattie thought a moment. “I’ve always wanted a pair of Japanese maple trees for either side of my front walk.”
“Very good. As you wish.” Alice shook her finger at Blueberry. “That was not a request.”
He nodded solemnly and said nothing, a response Mattie approved of.
Alice picked up her cup and saucer. “The sooner this can be done, the better. As you can imagine, the longer visitors are able to discern the true nature of our town’s citizens, the less likely it is that our secrets will remain hidden.
In this age of social media, information travels quickly.
I would like to avoid going viral, as I believe it’s referred to these days. ”
“I understand,” Gunnar said. “I just need to go home and grab a few things. Maybe hit the camping store. But I can probably be at the falls in an hour or two.”
“That’s wonderful, but it reminds me …” Alice held her cup and saucer in her lap. “There are two more things you need to know.”
Mattie couldn’t imagine what else there might be.
“One is that the amulet was originally on a silver chain. The other is that this must be done at night. Not just for secrecy’s sake but because during daylight hours, the amulet is spelled to appear like a rock. It’s part of a protection spell. It will be much easier to find at night.”
“Easier might be a relative word,” Gunnar said. “There’s already low visibility under the tree canopy during the day. I doubt even the full moon will help at night. The water at that depth will be pitch-black.”
“And cold,” Mattie added.
He looked at her. “In my bear form, that won’t be a big deal. I can manage the cold.”
Alice ran her finger absently along the rim of the cup. “I suppose that’s true about the visibility. But with some additional equipment …” She looked at him as if he’d understand what that equipment was.
Gunnar seemed to. “I can work it out.”
“You can?” Mattie asked.
“Sure,” he said. “Rangers are pretty well equipped. The rest of the gear I can get from Full Moon Provisions.”
“Excellent,” Alice said. She finished her tea and set the cup and saucer aside. “When you’ve retrieved the amulet, return it to me as soon as you’re able.” She gave them a quick smile as she stood. “I look forward to your success, Ranger Briggs.”
He got to his feet, towering over the older woman. “I’ll do my best.”
“I would expect nothing less. I hope all goes well.” With a nod, she left them alone in the room again.
Gunnar sank back down onto the couch.
“You don’t have to do this, you know,” Mattie said.
“Of course I have to do it. The town will be ruined otherwise.” He glanced at her. “I know you don’t want me to. I appreciate that you’re concerned. But I don’t see any other choice.”
Hesitantly, she took his hand, her emotions threatening to get the best of her. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Thank you. I promise I don’t want anything to happen to me either.”
“I’m going with you to the falls. You’re not doing this alone.”
“Mattie—”
“No, we’re not discussing it. I’m going.”
“What if another bear shows up?”
She shrugged. Nothing was going to deter her. “It’s not like I’m bringing a honey cake. Don’t argue. I’ll be fine. Just accept that this isn’t a solo mission.”
The soft clink of china turned their heads. Blueberry was sitting on the second tier of the cake plate, eating tarts as fast as he could shove them into his mouth.
“Blueberry,” Mattie hissed.
“Let him eat,” Gunnar said. “It’s going to be a long night. And I may need my wishes before it’s over.”