Where There Be Humans

by Rebekah L. Purdy

  Raising my hips, I managed to jar it off me, but not before it knocked my sword from my hands. Shit. I rolled again, reaching for my weapon, but the creature caught my leg, jerking me backward. Then I remembered the dagger Archer had given me and tugged it from where it was secured at my waist. With a shriek, I pierced the monster in the shoulder. It cried out, releasing me for mere seconds, then attacked again. But this time, I clamped my hand on the hilt of my sword and spun just as the thing lunged, my weapon stabbing through its chest.

  It let out the most horrifying cry, then fell to the ground, silent.

  Trembling, I turned back to the battle at hand to find my friends fighting. Pudge seemed to be handling his own, striking down an enemy with a single swipe of his blade.

  As I scanned the woods, I caught sight of a faint flicker. I was sure it must be the camouflaged one again and took off after it, trying to dodge limbs as I pushed through the thicket. A crash sounded next to me, and I saw Grr in pursuit as well. We came to the point where the other guard post had been set up, and I nearly tripped over the massacred body of one of our soldiers, who was missing his skin. My stomach churned. Oh, Hag. No one deserved this.

  Grr and I circled around, coming to a halt to search our surroundings. The dog whimpered, sniffing the ground for its scent. “It’s all right, boy. We’ll find it.”

  It couldn’t have gotten too far.

  The hair at the nape of my neck prickled, standing up on end. My grip tightened on my hilt. Then a twig snapped behind me, and I spun around, drawing my sword down with all my might. A loud screech echoed in the night as the blade pierced its neck. The creature turned bright red, no longer blending in with the environment. With one last strike, it toppled to the ground.

  Grr nudged my leg. “It’s dead now.”

  I reached down and pet his head while he tried to lick my hand.

  My body trembled, and I gave praise to the Hag. I could’ve died. We could’ve died. But what hit me most was the fact that I’d killed things tonight. Their blood still stained my hands and clothes. Gurgles sounded in my stomach, nausea washing over me. Was this what real battle was like?

  “Let’s do one last sweep of the area just to be sure we got them all,” Captain Bushwell said, coming up alongside me.

  So we retraced our steps, counting bodies as we went.

  “We’ve got one dead soldier,” I said. “If I’d gotten here sooner, I might’ve been able to save him.” Tears brimmed in my eyes, threatening to spill over.

  “You did well, Ivy. Don’t beat yourself up about this. Trust me, this could’ve been so much worse had you not reacted as quickly as you did. You saved us.”

  “What were those things?” I asked, wiping my blade off on the wet grass.

  “Marsh men. They haven’t roamed these lands in centuries,” Captain Bushwell said.

  “Great. So they decided to show up now, when we come?” Pudge said, wiping the rain from his brow.

  “Perhaps something awakened them,” Beaurick said.

  My gaze caught Captain Bushwell’s. Or someone was trying to keep us from reaching Dorian.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “We’ll set up camp here,” Captain Bushwell said, dropping his pack to the ground.

  I followed suit, taking a moment to stretch my arms above my head. We’d been traveling for close to a month now. Hag, it felt as if we’d never reach the human realm. The longer we took, the less likely we’d find Dorian alive, but we were going as quickly as we could in this unfamiliar territory. Though we weren’t making as good a time as we’d hoped.

  “Ivy, can you pull out the map?” Captain Bushwell came over to me. I dug the rolled-up parchment from my pack, and we laid it across a fallen pine.

  He leaned over, studying it, then turned to me. “I think this is where we part ways. I’ll pitch camp here with Vane, Barthe, and the rest of the soldiers”

  My throat thickened with emotion. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. You’ll be less likely to get caught this way. You can take Beaurick, Cray, and Percivious with you. When you and Pudge arrive at the border, have those three set up camp there. You can send updates via the dog to them. That is, if you think he’s able to.”

  I peered at my dog, who seemed to nod at me. “Yes, he should be able to.”

  “Good. That way, if there’s an emergency, they can help you and also get word to us.”

  I sucked in a deep breath. “I’ve waited to go on a Mission my whole life, yet now that the moment has arrived, I’m scared.”

  Captain Bushwell touched my hand, giving it a squeeze. “If anyone can do this, Ivy, it’s you. I’ve watched you grow from a wild youngling into a strong warrior. Like Amos always says, heart and sword…”

  Tears welled in my eyes. “I promise to do you proud.”

  “I know you will. And no matter what happens, stay focused on your rescue Mission. I’ll worry about the politics back here…”

  The thing was, it wasn’t just the Mission on my mind, but the fact that soon I’d be around humans. My human family. And I had no idea what to expect. According to the books, there were similarities in their hierarchies as well as manners. Hopefully that information was correct.

  Taking the map back from the captain, I turned to find the other four and Grr waiting for me.

  “Be safe, may the Hag bless and watch after you,” I said. “I’ll send word when Pudge and I reach the human world.”

  “May the Hag watch after you as well,” he said.

  Vane smirked at me. “Try not to get lost, halfer. Would hate for you to fail your Mission.”

  “I’m sure you would—try not to get maimed by another fairy.”

  Pudge chuckled. “Maybe it’ll bite his arse off.”

  “Pshhh…we couldn’t get that lucky.”

  After a few more goodbyes, we left our companions and continued on our journey.

  …

  We needed to get more supplies. My gaze drifted to Pudge, whose clothes were practically hanging off him. He’d thinned down, losing the softness in his face. As it was, we’d had to use rope to keep his breeches from falling down.

  “Okay, Sarvish is only a few miles from here. We can use our glamour and head into town.” I folded the map and shoved it in my pack. “You need clothes that fit. And we’re almost out of food.”

  “And I’d love a pint of ale,” Perci said, wiping his brow.

  Pudge grinned. “I just want a bowl of stew. That’s it.”

  “And clothes,” I said again.

  “These are holding up fine.” Pudge gestured to himself.

  “They are not fine. They keep sliding down and showing your skinny arse.”

  Pudge patted his clothing, then puffed out his chest. “I don’t think Mother will recognize me anymore.”

  “Yeah, we might have to rethink the nickname.” I laughed, walking ahead. “Maybe we should call you Muscles.”

  Pudge’s cheeks turned darker green. “Nah. I like Pudge.”

  We followed the path toward the village, stopping when we reached the outskirts.

  Concentrating on my power, my body warmed as I waved my hand, letting the glamour fall over me. The magic doused my goblin-green skin, making me more elf-like. Pudge did the same, looking like a cross between an elf and a goblin. From the corner of my eye, his form blurred. But not enough to make me question what he was. The others did so as well, each taking on a masked version of themselves. We wouldn’t be able to use it too long, especially during daylight hours, as it would be too taxing. More so for the others due to having to exert more power to hide their features.

  Huts lined the river, and docks with fishing boats were tied off and bobbing in the current. Elves, dwarves, and centaurs hurried along the road. Horse-drawn carts rolled over the cobblestone road, carrying people and merchandise toward the harbor.


  The shops were in opened huts, with wooden signs advertising their goods.

  “Why don’t you head to the tailor while I arrange for our other supplies?” I handed Pudge some coins, pointing him across the street. “The rest of you, do what you need to do. This will likely be our last supply stop before we get to the border of the human realm.”

  “If I have money left, I’m gonna grab a mutton leg,” Pudge said. “I can already smell them.”

  “Fine. But everyone has to meet at the tree line by nightfall.”

  “Are you sure we should split up?” Beaurick’s voice sounded nervous.

  “We should be fine. Just keep your glamour in place. If something feels off, then head for the tree line as soon as you can.”

  We parted ways, and I headed into the market. There were displays of meat, bread, pies, and fruit set up on tables and the backs of carts. Several more sellers offered trinkets, jewelry, and silken fabrics. Everywhere I looked, someone had something for sale.

  “Can I help you with anything?”

  I glanced up to see a beautiful elfin woman, her auburn hair hanging to her waist. She fanned the air in front of the shelves of cheese and baskets of dried fruit.

  “Some cheese,” I said.

  Her lips turned down at the corners. “Why do you mask yourself with glamour?”

  My mouth went dry. “You can see me?”

  Did this mean others could see my true form as well, or was it just her?

  “No. But the magic shimmers when you walk,” she whispered. “Most won’t notice it, unless they have magic themselves, so be mindful. Some of my kind don’t take kindly to strangers.”

  “I won’t be here long. I’m just getting supplies.”

  “Hmm… I wonder who let a girl of your age out on her own.” She smiled, wrapping the cheese in cloth.

  My jaw clenched. “I’m not a child. I can take care of myself.”

  She took the coins I handed to her, then gave me my purchase. “I’ve no doubt. But it astounds me that you would be so far from home. This must be an important Mission.”

  “It is. One of life and death,” I said.

  “Then be safe, young goblin.” She uncovered a willow bow on top of a stack of old crates. “Perhaps an extra weapon to take with you?”

  I stared at it as she picked it up and handed it to me. The smooth wood etched with tiny roses was light as the wind. Holding it up, I pulled the string back, my fingers grazing my cheek. It was perfect. Much easier to handle than the one Captain Bushwell had let me use during guard duty the night of the attack.

  “How much?” I asked. But she was gone. I found a quiver of arrows sitting on the table, but everything else had disappeared. No cheese. No fruit. No elf.

  Bewildered, I headed through the market, purchasing dried meat and cheese. Right before dusk, I made my way to the tree line. Everyone but Pudge had returned. Then I saw him. At first, I didn’t recognize him. His hair tamed. His clothes fitting over a newly toned body. I shielded my eyes against the setting sun.

  As he drew closer, I noticed the mutton leg in his hand and rolled my eyes. He ripped a small piece off, tossing it to Grr, who followed at his heels. They were actually getting along—my two best friends in the world, at peace, for now.

  “Those fit you much better,” I said when he joined me.

  “Yeah, it’s nice not having to stop and pull up my pants every few minutes.” He took another bite of meat. “Want some?” he offered.

  “Who are you, and what have you done with my friend?” I laughed, slugging him in the arm.

  “What? I’m just trying to share.”

  “You never share your food!”

  As if to prove me wrong, he handed a bite to everyone in our group, then gave the rest of the large leg to Grr, who stopped to chomp up the bone.

  “I’m a changed man.” He adjusted his pack.

  My gaze slid over him. He sure was. Not just his looks, but he appeared more confident now. Though underneath, I knew he was still my Pudge. My eyes rested on his lips as memories of our kiss bombarded me. A kiss that had been on the edge of my thoughts more than once lately. Would we ever repeat it?

  Giving my head a shake to clear those thoughts, I led everyone away from the village and back to our task at hand.

  A couple of miles later, we made camp, and after a strenuous sword practice, we bedded down.

  The next day dawned hotter than dragon’s breath. And every mile we hiked made me feel like I’d jumped into a fireplace. So when we came to the shoreline of the sea along the peninsula, I almost cheered. The water glistened, waves crashing against the rocky inlet. A small waterfall cascaded down from the cliffs above, sending up spray.

  I glanced around. The cove was fairly private, nestled away by rocks and trees.

  “Why don’t we stop here and bathe,” I said, setting my things on the beach.

  Grr barked, chasing waves that lapped at his feet. His tongue dangled from his mouth as he turned to look at me.

  “Actually”—Beaurick blushed—“why don’t you two go first. We can hunt for dinner while you get cleaned up. Then when you’re done, we can swap out.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  “Yes,” Perci said. “We’ll be back soon, hopefully with some rabbit.”

  Pudge slid off his leather boots, rolling his breeches up to his calves. He sighed. “This water feels good.”

  “Yeah, well, watch out for the crabs.” I gestured to two of them moving toward his toes, their pincers clacking together like a round of applause.

  “Ow! It pinched me.” He backed up. “I ought to crack it open and have it for lunch.”

  Plopping down on a rock, I shook my head with laughter. “Seriously, you’ve been bitten by more things on this trip.”

  “Oh yeah?” Pudge cupped a handful of water and tossed it at me, soaking the front of my tunic. “I thought we said we weren’t going to bring up the fairies again.”

  Giggling, I hopped up and chased after him until I managed to get a hold of his waist and tackle him to the ground. But this Pudge was stronger. He shifted beneath me, rolling on top of me and pinning my hands above my head.

  “Do you give?” he asked.

  “What do I look like, a dwarf?” I attempted to dislodge him, but he held fast.

  “No. Definitely not a dwarf.” His eyes glimmered, hair sweeping his forehead. His smile widened. “So, Ivy Archer has finally been bested.”

  I snorted. “Please. I’m letting you pin me down. If I wanted to get away, I could.”

  A strange look crossed his face. “You don’t want to get away?”

  “No. Wait, I mean…” My skin flushed. Just what did I mean? That I liked having him this close? Warmth spread through me quicker than a chimney fire. Would now be a good time to tell him I’d been thinking about him a lot more lately? And not in the way a friend or sibling would think… That after our shared kiss on the ship, I’d been imagining a second one.

  Music drifted on the wind, and Pudge went still. His gaze shifted toward the water. He loosened his hold on me, then stood.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  His eyes seemed vacant, focused on something in the sea. He walked into the surf, fully clothed.

  “Pudge? What are you—”

  Then I saw them. Sitting on the rocks, tail fins spread out in front of them, singing. Three sirens.

  Panic welled in my chest as I grabbed hold of him. “Pudge, don’t listen. C’mon, snap out of it!”

  But he kept walking. The water was up to his waist now. If he didn’t wake up, they’d drown him.

  “Leave him alone,” I shouted. Grr leapt in the water beside me, gripping Pudge’s tunic in his teeth. Together we tugged on him, but his clothes ripped free.

  “No. Please, wake up.”
r />   The sirens sang louder, and I screamed. Fear pounded in my mind. I couldn’t lose him. Not Pudge.

  I looked back toward the beach as the water came to his neck. Did the others hear my shouts? But no one came. I spotted the bow from the elf propped against the rock, beams of sunlight filtering down upon it.

  Trembling, I raced for the weapon. My clothes clung to me, weighed down and dripping. I struggled through the waves, trying to keep my footing. At last, I reached the bow. Taking an arrow from the quiver, I notched it and pulled the string back. I took aim at the first siren.

  The rowan arrow sailed through the air, striking the creature in the chest. She shrieked in agony, slipping into the foamy depths. Where was Pudge? Oh Hag, I couldn’t see him.

  “Stop singing,” I cried, notching another arrow. Grr howled in the distance, and I let the sharpened point fly against the wind. Another siren fell away.

  The last met my gaze, mouth curling into a wicked smile as she hit another high note. With my target in sight, I released another onslaught of arrows.

  Dropping my bow, I dove into the icy currents, kicking hard. I surfaced and cupped my hands to my mouth. “Pudge?”

  Tears burned my eyes. No. Please. Don’t do this to me. Holding my breath, I went under again, spotting him sinking toward the seafloor.

  I grabbed hold of his arm, dragging him upward. The current was too strong. I needed help. Just then, Grr clamped hold of Pudge’s breeches and paddled hard. Between the two of us, we managed to get him to the shore.

  “C’mon. You can’t leave me.” I sobbed. Kneeling over him, I pushed on his chest. “Don’t take him from me.” I covered his mouth with mine, trying to blow air into his lungs.

  At last, he sputtered, vomiting up water. I turned him on his side, cradling his head in my lap.

  “Ivy?” he said, voice raspy.

  I broke down. I’d almost lost him. And that was too much to bear. My fingers trembled as I wiped his hair from his face. Closing my eyes, I rested my head on his shoulder and bawled.