by Martha Carr
“I have to ask and I know it’s none of my business. Earl even know you’re here?” Leira waited in the silence that followed. Never fill the dead air space.
“It’s a good marriage, you know. That means, yes, he knows all about this trip.” And the one to Oriceran, bless that man. Lois gingerly touched the wound on her arm. That tale is a story for another day. “Let me spell it out for you and make this easier. One, I’m not exactly asking. I know, I know, I said it was an offer but I’m way too pushy to take a ‘no’ and just leave. Two, you are doing things for the right reasons… at last! I’ve waited my share of time to see that happen again. Leira you rush in no matter the odds and Correk you’re right there by her side. Even Hagan and he’s got to bring a gun to a magic fight! It’s inspiring! None of you stands around and worries about what to do next cuz you’re already out there doing something! I want to be a part of that and this old body still has a lot of gumption left in it. You’re not leaving me out of this. I’ve waited too long.” Lois was shaking her head vehemently, waving her hands.
Hagan took notice of the wand waving in the air, ducking and swaying with each swoop. “Come on, there has to be some rule about waving that thing in the air. It’s worse than a loaded gun!”
“Calm yourself, Felix! Any Witch worth her wand knows how to keep a lid on it.” Lois pushed her glasses back up her nose and straightened out her cardigan, pulling down the edges at her waist.
Leira waited a beat to see if Lois was done. “So… you’re in.”
Correk put out his hand. “Welcome, friend.”
Lois broke into a smile, grinning as hard as she could, pressing down her chin. “Didn’t realize this would mean so much to me! Well… shoot.” She held out her arms, waving her hands at them. “Come on, group hug.”
Hagan drew back a little. “Really?”
“Come on, it’s inevitable. Even if I have to use my wand.”
Correk leaned toward her to pat her arm but Lois took him by the arm and gently pulled him to his feet, grabbing Leira with her other hand. “Nearly lost both of you,” she muttered into Correk’s shoulder, squeezing them both tight. Hagan sat back relieved, waving from the safety of his desk.
“Alright,” said Lois, finally letting go. “Time to get to work. What artifact are we racing to next?”
Leira thought about the two bugs in her desk and pushed the thought aside. Later. “There’s a report of some artifacts being located in the foothills of Arkansas but we’ll need to move quickly. There are reports of others moving toward the location.”
“Well, then, let’s get a move on. Been itching to use my wand in another battle. Good times!”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“How hard can this be?” Charlie Monaghan stood in front of the large sterling silver serving spoon, his hands on his hips. “I mean, it’s a spoon after all.”
The spoon was a set from an old Elven line that had fallen out of favor years ago. Some of the members were believed to have fallen in with Rhazdon during her original reign and they were left disgraced after the great battle. Their belongings were looted and sold back and forth over the years till their origins were forgotten.
The Elven woman of the home had cast a spell on the silver in the house, drawing small bits of energy to store from everyone who ever dined with them. Too small for anyone to notice the loss. Over time each piece absorbed a drop of darkness from the upper echelons of Rhazdon’s followers, and later from the thieves and bargain hunters who came into contact with the silver.
Charlie shook his head. “Can’t be that much magic in a spoon. I can handle a spoon.” He didn’t sound completely convinced and with good reason.
He absentmindedly rubbed his hands together. The pain from handling another artifact, an Elven hair pin had burned a line across his palm. The surge of energy through his body had felt like an electrical shock and knocked him off his feet, leaving him gulping for air. Still, Langston Rogers’ spinning wheel didn’t do that to him when he picked it up and that one opened a portal. Curiosity, greed, and a really good burn ointment were creating too much temptation for Charlie. He had to know.
“After all, if I gave up easily on anything I would never have made a single business deal. Takes balls to keep going. Especially after that Federal Agent bitch took out my labs. Well, tried anyway. All she did was slow us down.”
He reached out his hand tentatively, steeling his resolve. Curiosity won out and he picked up the spoon, gently holding it in his hand, ready to drop it at the first sign of any kind of warmth. He was relieved to feel nothing. No warmth, no tingling, no hum, no spinning or shaking. Nothing.
Charlie let out a sigh. “Huh…” He flipped the spoon over, looking at the back, rolling it around in his hand. Nothing. “Now that’s a disappointment,” he said, pressing his lips together. “A small scalding would have been better than this. All that effort to get the damn thing… Had to be at least fifty grand… Nothing.”
He put the spoon back on the table, looking down at it. Make a good conversation piece. Might as well get it framed.
Another thought flickered in the back of Charlie’s mind like a sudden, sharp point of light. He looked up, distracted by the thought. It was the answer to a tricky business deal he had been wrestling with for weeks. It was suddenly clear what he needed to do. “Of course!” His eyes widened as he saw the different pieces coming together. “Take a little strong arming. Not the first time. Few people lose out.” Charlie gave a short shrug. “That’s business.”
He walked out of his study whistling, the spoon forgotten.
All day long he found himself in the middle of a conversation or reading something online and that sudden spark of light appeared just out of range in the back of his mind. Like I can really see it… And it was always followed by a clarity that spelled out how to get his way, even if there was always a small cost for someone else to pay.
I have really got it going on lately. Must be that new protein shake. Maybe I’ve been thinking too small.
Ideas percolated in his brain, keeping him up that night till he had to get up and write each of them down. It was like he was having a second renaissance. I’m better than even I knew.
Charlie padded down the stairs in his bare feet early in the morning to his study and saw the spoon still sitting where he left it. He stopped for a moment, wondering if… He shook his head. I was due. It’s just good ideas. I’ve had them before. I’m on top of my game.
He smiled and headed to the kitchen to make coffee from kopi luwak beans. Nothing but the best for old Charlie.
A black mist swirled out of the handle of the spoon, rolling out in a swirling stream, sinking into the carpet and the floor, moving out toward the walls, penetrating everything in the room, pushing out toward the hallway, seeking out Charlie. The black mist was growing stronger and was attracted to the dark energy resting in artifacts deposited all over Earth. It was a happy coincidence that the artifacts were leading the mist to some new beings with darkness inside of them. Darkness that drew the dark mist toward them, satisfying its need to rebuild.
CHAPTER NINE
Louie went out on more hunts for artifacts over the next days but his mind was always on the sword. So many questions swirling in his mind.
Normally, he would have taken a few days off, relaxed a little and sold some of what he found or stole or bartered for at the Dark Market to raise some cash. But there were rumors of newbies getting into the artifact business and the field was becoming a little more crowded. Louie was even noticing signs of other scavengers with less skills or finesse tramping through areas, cutting down vegetation or trampling smaller animals and birds. They didn’t know the code when it came to not getting on the nerves of the Gardener of the Dark Forest or, for that matter, the Gnomes or a hundred other magical communities that tolerated scavengers but only on their terms. The interlopers were bad for business.
Locals were willing to overlook Louie searching for old pieces that still had some ener
gy infused in them. Everybody has to make a living, but not at the cost of their own peace of mind. The Gardener was said to be even less tolerant. Hacking away at the forest was forbidden and dealt with harshly. A few scavengers new to the profession had already disappeared and people were already saying it was the Gardener even if no one had exactly seen anything. Many said they didn’t believe the Gardener actually existed but in private warned their children not to go near the forest and to never pick anything if they found themselves on one of the dense green paths. Even Louie wasn’t positive the Elf existed.
He was the Oriceran bogeyman.
Louie came tramping back from another foray over near the river that swept through the Conca. There were large footprints in the sandy mud along the river and reeds that were crushed and bent. “Bracken Kilomea,” muttered Louie, crouching down to get a better look. “Swamp dude.” They were new footprints. Someone was following him on his trips. Not the first time someone had tried that tactic. Louie took out his wand just in case there was going to be trouble and adjusted the pack on his back. He’d managed to collect a few old Gnome artifacts and some promising crystals but nothing significant. Nothing like the Jasper sword.
However, the smaller artifacts would give him something to sell that wouldn’t attract any attention. Too much time away from the Dark Market and someone else would take over his spot. Worse, it could draw suspicion and cause lookey-loos to come searching around his cabin.
Louie heard the snorts and low grumble of the Kilomea and knew he was nearby even if he couldn’t see him. He took off at a run, making his way toward the wall of the Conca where he’d left a rope ladder, scrambling for the top. The oversized Kilomea came charging out of the brush in his direction, followed by two other smaller Kilomea.
They’re scavenging in packs. Holy fuck! Louie scrambled up the ladder. Don’t look back. Don’t look back. He felt the ladder pull downward as the Kilomea attempted to climb. Louie was breathing hard, pulling himself up as fast as he could, the top only a few yards away, sweat dripping off his nose. The grunts were getting closer as he got to the top and threw his leg up onto the grassy plain. He pulled out his dagger and started sawing away at the ropes, the Kilomea crying out in anger.
“Damn it. Knew there was a reason not to use magic to make this.” There was no time to remove the spell and let the Kilomea’s weight do the rest. Louie hung over the edge of the cliff of the Conca that led down to the river and furiously sawed, shouting out the spell anyway. “Altreas riptorius…” He got out the last word as the Kilomea got within grabbing distance and the rope finally shred. Louie lifted himself up, floating halfway out over the Conca as the Kilomea stretched trying to grab him.
Louie felt the strain in his abdomen holding up half his weight as his feet dug into the dirt behind him, trying to prevent him from slipping into the air or tumbling head first to the water far, far below. The Kilomea’s large, hairy fingers grazed Louie’s tunic as the rope finally made a loud ripping sound. Louie looked the Kilomea in the eye, fighting the urge to try and save him as the Kilomea snarled and slashed at the air. The rope gave way and the Kilomea fell backward as Louie gave in and uttered a spell, helping him to land softly enough to survive.
Louie could see the beast lying dazed on his back for a moment as his friends looked up at him, shaking their fists in the air, nudging their companion with their feet. The Kilomea finally stirred and shook his head.
“Good enough for me.” Louie scrambled onto his feet and adjusted his pack again, taking off at a run for the middle of the Dark Forest where it would be harder to track him, much less catch him. He knew the Forest better than anyone else he had ever met except for maybe Perrom, the Wood Elf. Louie had his suspicions about why but was never motivated enough to figure it out. There was no profit margin in messing around in someone else’s business. Only trouble.
CHAPTER TEN
It was late afternoon by the time Louie made his way to the Dark Market and the market was bustling. More Oricerans were willing to risk opening portals to bring Earth’s technology back in exchange for a trinket infused with even the smallest energy. Louie saw that as a great way to end up with a one-way ticket into the world in between. Only fools traded with the humans on Earth.
Louie took a look at the small line waiting to push their way inside the larger tent. “That’s new.” He made his way to his table, shoving a few Crystals out of the way, getting a cold blast of air for his troubles. “That actually feels refreshing. Joke’s on you.”
One of the Crystals turned with his hand on his pick axe just as the line started to move. His friend nudged him and they moved on, the Crystal giving Louie a hard stare.
“Okay, big guy, I know. You’re like a super villain from a comic book. Antifreeze or maybe Freeze Frame. How about just Popsicle.”
“This is why people hate you.”
Louie looked down to find a Gnome crawling out from under his table. “Still not moving Ronnie. You can quit measuring the space.”
“Things change around here all the time. Good to be prepared.” Ronnie gave Louie a wink. “Hey, how come we haven’t done any adventures together lately? You mad at me or something?”
“Don’t tend to stay mad at anyone, Ronnie. You get distracted that way. Been super busy and well, you know, those legs of yours can slow a good Wizard down.”
“Way to wound.” Ronnie climbed into the chair Louie kept toward the back of his space. “You suck at lying anyway. You know a good Gnome can travel as fast as a Wizard. I’ve never slowed you down in all the years we’ve been dickering around with this crap.”
A Light Elf leaned on the table shaking the box Louie set out. Ronnie let out a loud tsk.
“They act like there’s deals to be made that won’t be there an hour from now. Nothing’s changed inside that tent!” Ronnie waved his arms around, annoyed. “None of them are brave enough to go find their own damn artifacts but all of them think they can open a portal and trade with somebody on Earth. Show me the logic in that!”
“Breathe, Ronnie. Not worth your whole head turning purple again. Last time we had to get a practitioner in here to hold crushed barcay leaves under your nose. They charge double to come near the Dark Market.”
“It’s just that I don’t get what’s gotten everyone so excited this time.”
“The usual mistress. Greed.”
A Light Elf who Louie had seen around the market before stopped by the table. He was easy to remember because of the long, jagged scar down his face, unusual for a Light Elf. They prided themselves on their ability to heal. And the long row of piercings down his pointed ears. The dangly earring clanking together. “You Louie? I have a message for you.”
Ronnie slid out of the chair, ready to take a swing at the guy if necessary. He moved his left foot forward, ready to grab the dagger he kept hidden.
Louie glanced back at Ronnie but went with an easygoing smile and put out his hands, stepping closer to the old saber he hid in the nearby pole, enchanted with a spell Louie had concocted on his own. “Dude, never heard of a good outcome that started with that line.”
The Light Elf grunted and gave a grudging smile. “Somebody wants to trade with you…” The Light Elf leaned in, looking over his shoulder to make sure no one was trying to eavesdrop. “On a regular basis. You’re supposed to meet them at these coordinates. Don’t bring nobody.” He sneered at the Gnome, who barked back at him making the Light Elf laugh.
Louie took the message, his brows knit together. “Guy couldn’t come himself. So big he has to send a messenger?”
“More will be clear when you meet with him. Don’t waste the opportunity. Frankly I don’t get it. Why pick someone like you?” The Light Elf curled his lip.
“Pigeon postcard would have been the same but not as stupid.” Ronnie glared at the Light Elf.
“Good one, shortie. Look, message delivered. Word is you’re the most annoying fuck under this tent, which is saying a hell of a lot but you’re not en
tirely stupid. You want to meet the guy.” The Light Elf walked away before Louie could say anything else and pushed his way into the tent above the protestations of others in line. Everyone let him pass. He had a reputation for slights and getting even on his own timetable.
“What’s it say?” Ronnie tried to look over Louie’s arm.
“It’s just a bunch of coordinates.” Louie knew exactly where they would take him. To a favorite place in the Dark Forest for opening portals.
“You never look that worried. What is it? I’ll go with you. Fuck that guy. You don’t work for him. You can use your own rules. We stand together!” Ronnie was breathing harder, getting himself worked up.
Louie snapped out of it and looked up, slapping Ronnie on the back. “Little dude, it’s okay. Sure, you can trail me but stay out of sight. Per our usual. It’s probably nothing. Some other dealer looking for some inventory.”
“You heard what that scum bag Light Elf said. Trade regularly.”
“Doesn’t mean it’s true. Lots of people throw out deals with their mouth that their ass can’t cash.”
“What?”
Louie shook his head. “Nothing. Some old Earth saying. Look, this thing says he wants to meet in an hour. We better put this stuff away and get a hustle on if you’re gonna be in place when whoever this mystery guy is shows his face.”
“You think we need to get Anthony?”
“We don’t need a gang in the Dark Forest trying to lay low. You’re scrappy, you’re more than enough.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Louie left Ronnie nestled in tree branches where he’d have the best view and next to vines that would help him scramble down even faster, if necessary. Louie didn’t like admitting it but he was worried about who was showing up to see him. Too many strange things happening lately. This was just another one. Best to meet a challenge head on, though. Louie didn’t run away from things. Miss a lot of nice treasure that way.
