by Martha Carr
Leira scooped up a few more wings in a napkin. “I’ll be right back.”
“That’s not enough to hold him.”
“Then I’ll show him where your stash is.”
“Very funny. Hey, wait… you wouldn’t.” Correk frowned as he grabbed the platter and carried it behind Leira toward the guest house. As he passed Estelle, she nodded calmly. “Make sure you bring that platter back.” The cigarette gently bobbed up and down in her mouth as she spoke.
Correk caught up with Leira as she opened the door, wiping her fingers on a napkin and dropping her purse in the chair. Leira scooped the troll out of her pocket as she kept going into the kitchen, depositing him on the table.
“Yumfuck!” The troll bit into the wing he was still holding and fell back onto the table, wrestling the piece of chicken.
“He’s leaving fur prints everywhere. I’m going to let that play out before I even try to clean it up.”
Correk set the platter down on the counter and scooped up three more pieces, putting them on the table near the troll.
The troll was on his back, his arms and legs wrapped around the wing as he looked up at Correk, eyeing the wings on the table and the platter on the counter. He had a ring of sauce around his mouth that made him look like he had a furry red beard.
“No. Not the whole platter. You can share.”
The troll let out a cackle and bit down on the wing, finishing it off in seconds. He pushed the bones off and reached out for the next wing, sliding it toward his five-inch body, wrapping his arms and legs around the next piece.
“If he was any bigger this would be horrifying. The only reason we’re not looking away is because he’s so tiny.” Leira gave in and got a dishrag, wetting it at the sink and wiping up the area around the troll. “Feel like I’m making a barbeque outline of a crime scene.” She looked up at Correk. “This food thing with trolls never gets better, does it? I’m going to live to be hundreds of years old. He’s going to live to be something with zeros behind it, still bonded to me, still eating like this.”
“Now you’re catching on to why we don’t rescue trolls. Lifelong commitment.” Correk spread out his hands, smiling.
“Fuck me. This is going to go on forever.”
Sounds of slurping and grunting rose up from the table as the troll threw off more chicken bones and reached for another wing. He was covered head to toe in barbeque sauce and was happily licking his paws, nibbling on the last chicken wing.
Correk saw the troll glance up at the platter as Leira grabbed a plastic container from a lower cabinet, rummaging around for a matching top. She handed the container to Correk as he upended the platter, letting the wings slide in, snapping on the lid. He put them in the refrigerator just as the troll cleaned off the last wing in his possession, smacking his lips. “Motherfucker! You have to sleep sometime.”
Correk raised his eyebrows.
“Yeah, he talks more now.” Leira rinsed off the platter and plucked the troll from the table, holding him under the running water. Yumfuck opened his mouth wide under the faucet and spit the water up like he was a furry fountain.
“Badass,” he gurgled, grinning as Leira applied a little liquid soap. She was trying to get the last of the sauce off his back as he wriggled away from her.
“Cut it out, you can’t lick back there anyway. Can you?”
The troll let out a trill and attempted to twist around and lick his fur.
“Nevermind! Don’t want to know. Sorry I asked.” Leira grabbed a dish towel and gently rubbed the troll’s fur as he spread out his arms, his legs in the air and shut his eyes. He gave off a soft purr as she dried him off and swaddled him in the towel. “Here, all yours. It’s a boy.” She handed him off to Correk and grabbed the roll of paper towels, tackling the remaining smears of sauce across the table.
“I’m heading back out to the festivities.” Correk picked up the platter and deposited the troll on the couch on his way out the door. “You coming?”
“Right behind you. Nesturnium.” She rubbed the top of the troll’s head as he let out a trill. “I didn’t forget this time. You stay put right there and watch TV or go to sleep. It’s late. We’ll be right out there.” Leira headed for the door. “I just tucked in a troll so I can go hang with some magical people and my Elven cousin. Yeah, things are back to normal! Aloha motherfuckers.”
Correk smiled and opened the door.
“Leira!” The yell went up from the crowd outside as Leira smiled and shut the door behind her.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Eireka looked across the table at her mother sipping coffee, narrowing her eyes to study her.
“Don’t do that dear. You’ll cause frown lines.” Mara took another sip.
“Exactly. What’s up, Mom. Confess.”
“Don’t know what you mean.”
Eireka tilted her head to the side. “Uh huh. You’re looking good these days, Mom.”
“Must be all the fresh air. The air is thick in the world in between.”
“That’s another thing. Time stands still in the world in between but lately you’re looking like a remake of Benjamin Button. You look more like my sister than my mother.”
“I’m half Light Elf. It’s to be expected. When you look at it that way we’re close in age.” Mara didn’t make eye contact with her daughter.
“After everything we’ve been through, you’re still doing it, aren’t you? How many portals have you opened?”
“I may be looking younger, but I’m still grown and your mother.”
“You had better have a damn good reason for risking the world in between again. You slipped through the cracks once…”
“I have my reasons and believe it or not, I don’t have to share them.”
“Better be good ones.”
“It’s me, dear, the best.”
“Romance?"
“I have nothing against humans. After all, your father was a human. A rather fine one too.”
“Money? I have more than enough from the settlement. You don’t need to be visiting an entirely different world to get money.”
“Occasional card game with a few old friends but I’m good on money. Stop guessing. And don’t even think about feeling me up with magic. Won’t work.”
“Creepy Mom.” Eireka drummed her fingers on the table.
“How’s Donald?” Mara reached over to the counter to get more coffee.
“Fine. We’re going hiking later today. Revenge? Is that it? Revenge?”
“For what? I don’t hold grudges, anyway. Pointless and draws dark magic to you.” Mara gave off a shudder. “That dark mist was enough to teach me to let things go.”
“I’m going to figure this out.”
“I’m sure you will, dear.”
“Can I at least get you to promise to be careful?”
“That goes without saying. I have a few skills of my own, you know. I made one bad call and now everyone doubts my magic.”
“Your one call was a wowzer. You are looking good.”
Mara looked at her reflection in the toaster. “Better than a facelift. Okay, I have to run. Do I need to pretend to be going somewhere on Earth or can we be grownups and I’ll just go?”
Eireka put her hands flat on the table. “Take me with you.”
“Not a chance.”
“I can open a portal on my own and follow you.”
“I know, but you won’t. You’ve got a bigger conscience than I do, always have. That potty mouth of Leira’s is from me. Go to Oriceran if you want to. It’s your home too, along with this one. Can’t stop you, won’t even try. But I want your word you won’t try to interfere or nose around in my business. Your word. You’re going to have to trust me that I have my reasons.”
Eireka made a steeple with her fingertips, pressing them against her mouth. She finally let out a sigh. “I do trust you but I’ll kick your ass with a fireball if you get hurt… or worse.”
“You should swear more often. Le
t’s go of tension. Maybe that’s why I’m looking so much younger.”
“Funny mother. Very funny. Fuck you.”
Mara let out a loud laugh, rocking her head back and opening her mouth wide, slapping the table. “There you go!” She got up and put her mug in the sink. “I’m out of here. I’ll be back tonight, you have my word. Maybe sooner if all goes well.”
“Will you at least agree to tell me eventually?”
“Definitely. That’s always been part of the plan. Let’s go in the living room. Never like opening a portal in the kitchen. Not enough room.” Mara got the cloak hanging on a hook in the living room.
“A cloak? Who are you hiding from?” Mara was sure she saw her mother start. A clue… maybe.
Eireka trailed Mara into the living room of the small apartment and watched as her mother formed a ball of light. The energy grew and sparked in her hands until she let go and a portal opened to Oriceran, growing large enough for Mara to easily step into the dense forest.
Eireka grabbed her mother’s arm before she was all the way through the portal. “You come back to me.”
Mara looked into her daughter’s eyes. “Always.” She brushed a lock of hair off Eireka’s face and stepped all the way into Oriceran. Eireka took a long look around at the lush foliage. It had been a long time since she had been there herself and she felt the ache in her chest. My other home. “Be careful, Mom.”
The portal was already closing with a pop and a sizzle and a shower of sparks. Eireka put her hand in the air where the portal had just been. “Not easy being your daughter all the time.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Mara moved easily through the underbrush, making her way to the road that led to the bazaar. She had made the trip to Oriceran so many times lately the path was becoming familiar to her.
“It’s good that I told her. Sure, sure it is,” she muttered, arguing with herself. The nearby reeds and ferns bent toward her as she talked. “I mean, it’s not like it wasn’t becoming obvious that something was up. Sure, yeah, it’s fine.”
Mara batted at a bug flying low near her head, just missing it as it flew higher, whirring and buzzing. She was too distracted to look up and notice how the sun shined brightly off the insect’s body. It flew away in the direction of the deeper parts of the forest as Mara hurried on her way, still talking to herself.
“I need more information before I say anything. Everyone has been through enough. I could be wrong and get everyone worried for no reason. This way is better.”
Mara got to the road just as a carriage was passing. She waved at the driver sitting on the top and he pulled back on the reins, slowing the horses. “Are you headed north?”
He nodded as he rested the reins in his lap. “I stop wherever I’m paid to stop.”
Mara held up a smaller gold coin. “The Dark Market and you forget you saw me and you don’t stop for anyone else.”
“Suits me fine. Get on.”
Mara hesitated, waiting to see if the driver was going to hop down and help her into the cab but he was busy biting down on the coin. She rolled her eyes and swung open the door, stepping onto the small step and hoisting herself into the worn carriage. The leather on the seats were shiny from use but still intact and the interior was swept clean. Mara settled back against the seat and looked out the window, making sure to keep her face hidden from view as they rode past the Light Elves’ floating castle.
The view of the royal gardens was always a favorite part of her journey to the market.
It wasn’t long before the market came into view down the road. Mara tapped on the ceiling. “You can drop me here. This is close enough.”
“Suit yourself. Whoaaaaaa.” The driver gently pulled on the reins and Mara opened the door, easily hopping out. She tossed the driver another small gold coin and looked him in the eye. “You forget you even came this way.”
“Consider it done.” He bit gently down on the coin before sliding it into his pocket, smiling. He turned the horses toward the road that led toward the ocean and Rodania, giving the horses a slap with the reins as they picked up to a gallop.
Mara walked the last stretch of road, keeping to the side, looking for the young Wizard she was hoping would be at his table. Relief flooded her body as she saw Louie haggling with a Witch. “Prices haven’t gone up. These are new items. That means I get to set a new price.” He took a round metal object gently out of her hand and put it back in its wooden box. “Don’t like the prices, don’t buy it.” The Witch marched off in a huff, deeper into the tent.
Mara got closer to the table and made a point of looking through the knickknacks near the front. Louie looked up at her and smiled broadly, sliding a box further under the table with the toe of his boot. “Lots of folks don’t get the risk involved with securing many of these babies. Not easy. We get that though, don’t we?”
“How much for this hair comb?” Mara held up the silver comb embellished with pearls. Louie scratched his chin, thinking about it. “For you, just two gold pieces. Not the small ones though.”
“Done.” Mara dug in her silk pouch and pulled out the coins. It would be a nice present for Eireka. A piece of Oriceran.
“What, no haggling? Suit yourself, lady but that’s half the fun. Some days it’s all the fun.” Louie took the two coins and slid them into a pouch at his waist. “Interest you in anything else?”
“I’m looking for Jackson.” Mara held his gaze, doing a nice imitation of Leira’s dead fish look. “I have some information he’ll want.”
“Tell me, I’ll tell him.” Louie was still smiling but his eyes gave him away.
Mara shook her head. “His ears only.” She took out a large gold coin and slid it across the wooden counter. “Where can I find him?”
“Lady, he doesn’t like to be found most days. I can tell him you’re looking for him.”
Mara put her hand back on the coin as Louie pulled at it from the other direction. “On the other hand, he never said not to tell anyone.” Mara lifted her hand and Louie picked up the coin, flipping it in the air and smacking it in his palm. He put it in the pouch with the other coins. “How did you know to ask me in the first place. Jackson never hangs around these parts.”
“We’re old acquaintances and I remember when you apprenticed with him the first time.”
“I thought you looked familiar.” He tilted his head to the side, scrutinizing her. “Can’t quite place it.”
“The address?”
“Right…” Louie took his eyes off Mara and glanced back toward the road in the direction of the ocean. “He has a pretty sweet cabin in the woods near the edge of the forest. Only a morning’s walk to the ocean from there. Here, I’ll write the coordinates down for you. Can you read those? Perfect, like who on Oriceran can’t do that. Look out for his old dog. He gets a little overly protective.”
“Roscoe is still alive.”
“You know the dog! Well, of course you do if you’ve been around that long. Dog’s still alive but getting long in the tooth. Still a great guard dog. Those farts are enough to drive off any thief. Now, that’s real love.”
Mara cringed but recovered quickly. “Will I find him there today?”
“You’ll find him there most every day. Only time he leaves is to go on trips for lost artifacts.”
“Lost till he finds them?”
Louie smiled, the creases deepening around his eyes. “You feel me!” He pointed at Mara. “You good people. Tell him to come to the market sometime and say hello. All has been forgiven. I’m sure that old ban has been lifted. I haven’t seen him myself in months.” I have a sword I need to show him.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Louie’s coordinates were accurate. Mara expected nothing less from a scavenger as gifted as Louie. She stopped at a thicket of trees and lifted the hood of her cloak, pulling in a small amount of magic to obscure her features. She needed the chance to talk to Jackson before he realized who was at his door.
Mara knocked on
the door and tilted her chin down, making it even harder to see her face. She heard movement inside and a dog whine but no one was moving toward the door. She beat a little harder and stood back, waiting. Nothing.
She pounded again, this time with more urgency using the length of her forearm. Finally, someone was barreling toward the door, hushing the dog who had started to bark by this time, snatching open the door.
“For God’s sake, what is it?” Jackson snapped as he pulled the door wide.
Mara lifted her face. “Eireka’s in trouble and so is your daughter.” She let the spell slip from her features and watched the surprise grow over Jackson, mixed with anger and pain.
“Daughter?” His mouth hung open. He had a scruffy beard and his hair stood up in sharp points in places. There were dirt and oil stains down the front of his tunic and his boots had seen better days. Still, she could see what attracted Eireka to the man. Underneath all the grime and hair was a strong jaw and deep green eyes. Just like his daughter.
“Good to see you, Jackson.”
“Mara,” he hissed, still gripping the door. “What damn daughter? Haven’t you told enough lies already for one long Elven life?”
Mara swallowed hard. This is not going to be easy. “I have one more lie. A lie of omission. The worst one, I’m afraid. You have a daughter.” Mara took a step over the threshold, pushing Jackson out of the way. The stale air hit her in the face and she resisted making a face. Things would be tricky enough without her judgment about his living arrangements. “She’s twenty-five and a spitfire. A lot like you but likes rules. She even makes sure other people follow them for a living.” Mara dusted off a chair with her hand and took a seat. First part, accomplished. I’m inside. Will make it harder for him to ignore me entirely.
Jackson shook his head, blinking his eyes as he rubbed his head. “Mara, your lies are generally closer to the truth than this whopper.”
“Not a lie. Look, I’ll own my part of things, you own yours. Eireka thinks she tried to tell you. There was a note. I intercepted it and burned it. Your part of things was you just left. You didn’t even try to say goodbye or my lies would have all fallen apart on the spot.”
