The goblin nodded and darted off. Puck turned the other way and started running toward the fishing docks that dotted the western side of the island. He needed a mushroom circle, and he needed one quickly. The ones on the island had been destroyed over the years, but he knew the location of one on shore. His hooves clattered loudly on the paved streets. Startled people jumped out of his way as he raced through the city.
It took him an hour to reach the fishing docks and convince a local fisherman to give him a ride to shore. When the prow of the boat touched the rocks near shore, he tossed a gold coin to the man and leaped out of the boat.
“This is too much,” called the surprised fisherman.
“Keep it,” Puck shouted back. He muttered more quietly, so the fisherman couldn’t hear, “If I’m right, it may not do you any good.”
He raced inland, and his breath came in labored gasps as he climbed a steep hill and entered a stand of pine trees. This particular stand was massive in size, and the ground around them was covered with ferns and moss. He sensed the circle and dove headfirst into it the moment he arrived. Tasker was probably the only person on this continent who knew the underpaths better then Puck, and the goblin put his immense skills to the test.
Angry knots of darkness from the Divide were scattered all over the paths, but Puck turned and wound his way along the trails, easily avoiding the areas too dangerous to travel. The nearest major Adherent Temple and center of power on this world was on the eastern coast, and he aimed for it. Years earlier Puck had planted a mushroom circle right on the temple grounds and hidden it artfully in the deepest corner of a vast garden that grew behind the Temple. He emerged there now, in the shadows of evening.
“So far, so good,” Puck muttered. He looked around. The circle was as he remembered it. A small stand of trees marked the far corner of a garden filled with roses and wildflowers, but the vast garden was silent. No one moved about. The building in the distance was dark, so Puck edged his way to the corner of the trees and started across the grounds. The walls were built of white stone and framed with timbers carved and oiled until the wood shown. Inlays of gold and silver made parts of the building shine and shimmer as the rays of the sinking sun struck the walls. The back door of the place was closed, but Puck pulled a small piece of metal from his vest pocket and inserted it into the lock. After a couple of twists and turns, he heard the soft click of the lock and carefully pushed the door open.
“Odd,” Puck muttered. He looked around the entryway, but it was quiet. Nervous and jumpy, he pulled a dagger from the depths of his vest and started into the vast building. This place normally housed hundreds of Adherents and the staff they needed to support them in the province of Newer York. This was one of the places the Seeli Council sacrificed to try and keep the peace, and the people living here had suffered horribly.
He could tell by the smell that the entryway led to a kitchen. Puck snuck along the walls of the room until he reached the kitchen and poked his head inside. It was empty. The massive ovens were cold. His heart beat faster. The only sound in the building was the slight clump of his own hooves.
On and on he searched, checking room after room and meeting hall after hallway. The entire building seemed empty. He took to simply walking the hallways, not even bothering to hide his presence. Just as he was about to give up and return to the mushroom circle and venture further into the old world, he heard the sound of a door opening.
Puck crouched quickly and slipped behind the corner of a door and waited. He listened to a conversation between what sounded like a man and a woman. What he heard made his confusion and apprehension grow.
“Why are we doing this?” the woman asked. Her voice crackled and broke, like she was having a hard time forming words.
Puck heard the hiss of a torch being lit and saw a small bit of light appear down the hall. Slowly the pair went around turning on the glowing globes that lit the place and lighting torches in the places without globes.
“I don’t know, but the Temple masters said to keep the place lit at night and move around some during the day so it looks like they’re still here,” the man replied.
“Seems like such a waste,” the woman said.
Puck glanced around the corner and spotted the pair standing in the middle of a meeting hall. The woman was running her fingers along the polished edge of a table. In the middle of the table were two polished silver candlesticks, and she reached toward them.
“Waste?”
“I mean for all this stuff to be just sitting here with no one using it,” she replied.
Puck watched as she slipped a silver candlestick into a leather bag at her waist. Immediately the man walked over to her, removed the candlestick, and placed it back on the table.
“You don’t cross the Temple, Matilda. If you do, they’ll kill you and probably your family just for kicks.”
The woman’s face paled as she looked around, but Puck noticed she kept her fingers to herself instead of touching everything she wanted.
“Where did they go?” Matilda asked.
“Beats me. When a high priest of the Temple tells you he’ll pay you to do something, you just listen,” the man replied. “You just nod and be thankful he decided you could keep breathing for another day.”
Puck slipped away from the pair as they headed upstairs. He knew this charade to make the building look occupied would not last long. When only a few people moved around during the day, others would figure out this Temple was empty. He headed down the hallway and out into the street of the city. He needed more information and he knew where to get it. On either side of the Divide, if someone wanted information, they went to a barkeeper or an innkeeper.
Outside the building, the gate was still ajar, and he headed out into the city. The Temple had been built on a hill overlooking the city and the vast harbor that served as a port in Newer York. Inns close to the Temple would be of no help, as they were reserved for visiting merchants and dignitaries. He needed a tavern that catered to his type of mortal, those out to make a buck and just as likely to stick a knife in you as say hello.
Puck was nearing the docks when he finally spotted the place he wanted. It was up against a massive warehouse that itself led straight onto the docks, and it had a half-painted sign hanging from one chain that swung back and forth slowly, squeaking. Inside he heard a hushed rumble of voices. This was where the ruffians of the city would gather. Puck adjusted his belt knife and the hilt of his stun pistol so they were within easy reach, then set his face in a scowl. The look was something only a leader of goblins could pull off. When he knew he was ready, he pushed open the door and took a deep breath of the inside. It smelled of stale sweat and spilled beer, with a waft of rotten food. Sawdust covered the floor, but it hadn’t been pushed around in weeks. He could see dark spots where someone had lost a good bit of blood.
Each of at least a dozen sailors and thieves in the place glanced over at him when he entered, then most went back to their drinks. Either he wasn’t worth the effort to try to rob or his expression told the world what he thought of it, and was working. The barkeeper was a reptilian creature with a humanoid body, and his tongue slithered in and out as he tested the air.
“What cannnn I helpppp you withhsss?”
“I need information,” Puck replied. He got straight to the point and dropped a gold coin on the bar in front of the barkeeper. It vanished immediately, and the reptilian slowly got a glass out from under the bar and poured it full of a concoction that looked like it might take the paint off anything it touched.
“What kindsssss of informationnnnn,” the barkeeper hissed. His eyes flickered about as though sending messages to others in the room.
“I want to know why the big place on the hill is empty,” Puck whispered. He picked up the glass and sniffed it. His nose told him all he needed to know, and he set it back down. “And I w
ant a glass of your finest, preferably without the poison in it.”
The barkeeper looked at the glass nervously, and then glanced over Puck’s shoulder. That was all the warning Puck needed. He slipped his pistol loose of its holster and pulled the trigger from under his arm. As the pistol went off, he rolled to the side and drew his knife. Quickly he dove around the backside of the bar and rolled up to a stand behind the shocked bartender. Calmly, he set his knife on the reptile’s throat.
“I’m willing to pay for this information or I can cut your throat ear to ear and go find another barkeep more willing to bargain with me,” Puck said casually. He looked up and over to where the ruffian he had stunned lay on the floor in front of two other men who looked shocked. Nervously they backed away, suddenly wanting nothing to do with this particular goblin.
“We can talk in back if you likesss,” the reptile hissed softly.
“No more funny business?” Puck asked. “I run a rather large goblin horde up north. If I wanted to cause trouble, I would’ve brought them with me.”
“I swear on my mother’s lifess,” he replied. “No problemsss.”
Puck and the barkeeper walked into a small room behind the bar. It smelled horrible, and a large number of mice and rats scurried away when they entered. He saw a rack on the back wall with dead rats hanging from it and a host of flies swarming around—the lizard’s supper.
“Now thenss, what do yousss want to knowsss?” The barkeeper leaned back against the wall opposite the door and kept his hands in plain view.
“Where did the Adherents go?” Puck asked. He fingered his dagger, which was still in his hand, and eyed the taller reptile.
“Who caressss? They are gonesss,” the barkeeper replied.
Puck could read from his eyes that the barkeeper was still weighing him mentally, wanting to glean some bits of information.
“Let’s say I work with some people who have recently caused the Temple a lot of trouble, and they don’t want thousands of Adherents marching up on them,” Puck said. “So I’d like to know if I must warn my friends to ready our fleet of Ironships for battle.” He laid out for the barkeeper that he could, if he wanted, call on some very powerful friends. He noticed that the reptile’s scaly skin paled some.
“They marched out almosssst two weekssss ago,” the barkeep admitted. “Went north and wesssst.”
“‘They’ as in their soldiers?” Puck prodded.
“No. I mean ‘they’ assss in all of the Adherentsssss,” he replied. “Even the onesss from the shipsss.”
“Whoa, wait a minute,” Puck exclaimed and he leapt upright from his leaning pose on the door frame. “What do you mean, the ones from the ships?”
“Over the lassst months,” the barkeeper replied with a smile. “Thousandss have arrived in Newer York. I’m sssimply happy to ssseeee them gone. Your little band of friendsss could sssoon be badly outnumbered.”
Alarms rang in Puck mind. He had to know if that meant all Adherents from everywhere, or just those in the new world. He reached into his pocket and pulled another coin out and saw greed erupt in the barkeeper’s eyes.
“I think I’ll send a few of my kin here to cause trouble for a while,” Puck muttered loud enough for the reptile to hear him. “Would do you some good to have a town full of goblins.” With that threat, he slipped out of the room and headed out the side entrance to the bar. One more stop, then he’d try to track down this missing force of Adherents.
14: Alchemy for a Mermaid
Eriunia motioned to Jacob and pointed to the table they had cleared. “Set her here carefully,” she said.
Jane fought her emotions but motioned for Jacob to continue. She didn’t like him touching any other girl, even if it was just to lift her onto the table. Call it jealously. She could call it whatever she wanted. Jacob was hers.
“Sorry, Jane,” Jacob muttered. He gave her a brief hug and then walked over to the pool and leaned over. He carefully wrapped his arms around Coronia and lifted her from the water. “Oomph, you’re heavier then you look.” He stammered the moment he spoke, as Coronia slapped him on the back of the head and Eriunia and Jane both exclaimed at him.
“I’m sorry, all right,” Jacob groaned. “I wasn’t trying to . . . oh, never mind.” He decided that, since he was only man in the room, he had better just shut his mouth and do what he was told.
Jacob focused his mind away from the feel of Coronia pressed against him and how slippery her tail felt and walked to the table. He carefully laid her on the surface and stepped back while Jane walked forward.
“Three drops of blood, Coronia. No more,” Eriunia explained. She held out her small knife and stepped back. “You’ll have to do it yourself. If any of my blood were to get into the mixture, it’d ruin the whole thing.” She watched as the mermaid brought the knife to her finger and slowly pricked the tip of it.
Coronia grimaced as the knife poked into her skin, and then she watched as bright red blood welled up. The blood dripped slowly into the waiting bottle. When the third drop fell, she pulled her hand away and wrapped it in a bit of cloth offered by Jane.
“Thanks,” Coronia said. She truly liked Jane and Jacob. The elf she was still unsure of, but desperate times called for sacrifices where her personal opinions were concerned. She didn’t know if she could ever forgive the Elvin people as a whole, but maybe some weren’t too bad. She handed the knife to Jane and smiled at her. Her scales were already starting to dry out, and her tail was itchy.
Jane took the knife and stepped to where the flask waited for her. “Is this going to do anything to me? I mean, when she drinks it?”
“No,” Eriunia replied. She watched as Jane pricked her finger and winced. “Your blood is simply to mark the transformation as human,” she reiterated. “There should be no repercussions.” She had read the descriptions top to bottom. Nothing indicated that the person donating the blood would suffer any consequences.
Jane let three drops of her blood fall into the flask. The liquid darkened for a moment, then turned crystal clear.
“It’s ready,” Eriunia said. She picked up the flask and held it out to Coronia. “This is it. If I did everything right, the changes should begin immediately.” She watched as Coronia took the flask in her hand and held it to her lips. After closing her eyes briefly, she tipped the glass flask up and drank the potion in a single long gulp. It was cool entering her throat, but the moment she stopped drinking, an icy chill struck her and she gasped loudly. The icy feeling spread from her stomach and worked its way into the bottom of her tail.
“I can’t feel my tail,” Coronia said weakly.
The moment the words were out of her mouth, a lance of fire erupted through her whole body. Her tail felt as if it was on fire, and she screamed out in pain. The table bounced as she thrashed about, and she could feel Eriunia, Jane, and Jacob struggling to hold her still.
“She’s powerful,” Jacob shouted.
“No kidding,” Jane replied. She was about to continue when a blow from Coronia’s tail struck her and sent her flying head over heels. She finally came to a halt against a shelf along the wall, but the room kept spinning.
“Jane, are you all right?” Jacob shouted. He was about to run and help her when Coronia let out another ear-piercing scream and slumped. Jacob stepped back as he watched the amazing transformation take place. Slowly the scales fell away and flesh appeared. Her tail, which had been in the process of dividing, finished separating, and feet appeared.
Eriunia grabbed an old piece of cloth, quickly throwing it over Coronia’s new legs to protect her privacy. Coronia’s legs matched the rest of her skin perfectly, and she looked like she had been born with them. Her toes were small almost to the point of petite. The potion had worked. After another minute the spasms of pain completely subsided, and Coronia’s eyes opened. Jacob walked to Jane and helpe
d her to her feet. Together they stepped up to the table and looked to where Coronia’s new feet stuck out from under the tattered piece of cloth.
“How do they look?” Coronia asked shyly. She pulled at the cloth and raised her head anxiously.
Bella clapped her hands excitedly and fluttered up and down so fast the others thought she looked like a hummingbird. “I’m so excited,” the fairy chirped.
Jacob looked away as Coronia, in her excitement, pulled the cloth up high. Over half of her thigh was visible.
“Here, let me help you,” Eriunia said. She smiled at the excited girl and helped her wrap the cloth around her waist and tie it securely so it would not fall. Then she reached out and took both of Eriunia’s hands in her own and helped her to stand.
Coronia wobbled uncertainly as she took her first steps, supported by Eriunia. A broad smile lit her face, and she tried to leap up into the air. That ended with Eriunia catching her before she fell, and they both collapsed to the ground laughing.
“Take it slow at first,” Eriunia instructed her.
Jane ran over and gave Coronia a hug as tears slipped free of her eyes and ran down her face. Once again, they helped Coronia to stand. With her arms draped across their shoulders, she was able to walk around the room. As they moved, her efforts got smoother and more natural. In ten minutes, she was walking on her own.
“Impressive,” Jacob said. He glanced at Coronia’s new legs and nodded. Immediately he felt Jane slap him on the shoulder. “Oh, come on, Jane. That’s not what I meant.”
“I know. I’m just picking on you,” Jane laughed. “Come on, let’s see about getting out of here. Bella, maybe you can help lighten the rocks with some of your fairy magic.”
Jacob went over to the exit tunnel, testing the balance of some of the rocks. Jane came over to join him.
“Watch out!” Jacob said. He wrapped his hands around the edge of a loose boulder and rolled it off to the side of the room. Several smaller rocks followed the bigger one into the pile. Together he and Jane rolled several more large rocks out of the way, enough so that Bella could squirm through a small crack. A moment later she was back with a big smile on her face.
The Map Maker's Choice Page 12
