The Scofflaw Magician (The Artifactor Book 3)

by Honor Raconteur

  Sevana made careful note of that.

  The Fae apparently didn’t subscribe to the idea of grand palaces. They entered a clearing that had a single chair, crafted from the roots of an ancient hemlock, obviously a throne. Lounging comfortably in it was a man of indeterminate age, blond hair overflowing so that it touched the ground in a shimmering waterfall. He looked otherworldly beautiful, and the only thing that made him seem real instead of an illusion was the sensible dark blue coat and trousers he wore.

  To all sides, there were other Fae in the clearing, most of them in small clusters, speaking to each other. As she entered, all conversations abruptly ceased and they turned to her, expressions startled to see a human come into the heart of their lands.

  Seeing only one other face she recognized, Sevana gave a smile and bow of greeting before focusing on the king. As instructed, she didn’t look at his eyes, instead focusing on his collarbones. That was a safe place to stare.

  “Veassen,” Aranhil greeted in a clear tenor. “I see a friend of Ours in your wake.”

  She took note of that royal Our with interest.

  “I do,” Veassen acknowledged. “Sevana Warran is here to speak with you, Aranhil. But she does not bring us good news.”

  “Come closer, Sevana Warran, and look at me. Speak to me so that I may know more of this.”

  Sevana was of two minds about getting any closer to the man that was probably the strongest of all the Fae, but came in another five steps before stopping and looking him straight in the eye. “Aranhil. Thank you for seeing me so promptly.”

  “You have given much to me and mine. Of course I will hear you.” Aranhil leaned forward ever so slightly, his focus intense and penetrating. “What brings you to me?”

  “This.” She once again drew out the portrait and unrolled it, but this time did so fully so he could get a good look.

  Aranhil shot to his feet, swearing in a language that she couldn’t understand. But she didn’t need to, tone and that dark expression were enough to tell her he was probably making up curse words on the spot. “What travesty is this!”

  “I’ve been told that the only time you gave high quality ink to humans was to create the Book of Truth?”

  He regained enough of his temper to answer curtly, “That is so. Where did you get this?”

  “Sa Kao. Aranhil, I believe someone has somehow gotten hold of your ink. They’re using it to create these portraits, trapping the people they’ve painted inside.”

  A gasp of horror came from the group listening in.

  Aranhil pointed a shaking finger at the portrait. “There is a living being inside of that?”

  “I believe so. The spell is complicated, so I’m not sure if they’ve become the portrait or if it’s being used as a gateway to trap them on a different plane. Either way, they’re stuck there and I haven’t yet figured out how to get them back.”

  For a long moment, the King of the Fae stared at the portrait. Then he took in a deep breath and let it out again, regaining control as he did so. “It has been some time since I’ve seen something so vile. This ink was used without Our knowledge. We are not aware of any bottles of it in human hands.”

  “None at all?” she pressed. “This might have been given away decades ago and rediscovered.”

  Aranhil shook his head firmly. “The only time we have gifted ink was for the Book of Truth.”

  Alright, well, that certainly narrowed down the possibilities. “Then someone has broken into your territory and stolen a bottle without you being aware of it.”

  The expression on the king’s face was like a gathering storm cloud. If he’d had a target handy, the man would have been turned to ash on the spot. “That would be nigh impossible.”

  “This magician, whoever he is, has managed to curse three different members of the reigning families without anyone being aware of the attack. One curse went undetected for nearly a decade. The man’s crafty enough to manage getting even through all of your protections.”

  “Start from the beginning,” he commanded. “I must hear the full tale.”

  “You are aware of the Sa Kao army that attempted to enter Noppers Woods?” she asked. It was a stupid question, of course he was, but she had to start from somewhere.

  “Of course.”

  “Ah, well the reason why they did that was—” Sevana launched into the full story from there, giving him a concise series of events. Sometimes she had to backtrack as his knowledge of human magic and how it worked was limited. It took time to explain things so that he completely understood what she meant. But his was the type of mind that retained everything it heard and she only had to explain once. As intense as the interrogation was, it was still a pleasure to deal with such intelligence.

  Satisfied, Aranhil lifted a hand to indicate he had heard enough. “This is grave indeed. We have more sympathy for those that came against us. Starting from this moment, we will cooperate in finding this man that has caused so much grief.” Turning to Veassen, he commanded, “Bring me Arandur.”

  Veassen bowed his head sharply before spinning on his heel and taking off at a dead run.

  Daring to press her luck, she continued, “Aranhil, I must know how this ink is made if I’m to reverse the spell.”

  “No human can know that process.” His tone was enough to shut her up.

  Licking her lips, she tried again. “I don’t need to know the process, but I must know the ingredients in the ink. Please. I can’t help these people otherwise.”

  He opened his mouth again, ready to deny her, but paused. “People? How many portraits are there?”

  “Eleven.” Hoping to tip the scales in her favor, she added, “At least eleven, we’re still searching for others.”

  “Eleven souls,” he repeated in a bare whisper. “The man dares much with magic that is not his.” Sinking back into his chair, he stared at the ground for a long moment. “Why must you know the ingredients of the ink?”

  The question gave her the sense he was softening. “It’s how human magic works. I must know all the ingredients of a spell so that I can craft its opposite, a more powerful opposite, to counter and break it.”

  He lifted his eyes up to hers. “Just the ingredients.”

  “A sample of the ingredients?” she gave him her best smile. “I have to know power levels as well.”

  Aranhil eyed her with an unreadable expression. “I will consider it.”

  That didn’t sound like a no to her. “My thanks, Aranhil.”

  “We understand little of human magic. We request that you give us your aid as needed.”

  Sevana understood that ‘request’ actually meant ‘required’ and that she wouldn’t be able to get the information she needed if she refused to help. “I have every intention of aiding you. It will take both of us, I think, to hunt this man down.”

  Satisfied, he gave her a regal nod. “You will start today.”

  Sevana’s head jerked back in surprise. “This minute?”

  She got that inscrutable look again. “You have another task you must perform?”

  Well, no, but she wasn’t exactly prepared for staying in Fae territory either. “I need to send word back to Big first. My master is waiting for me. Also, I didn’t bring any tools as I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to speak with you today.”

  Aranhil considered that before allowing, “It is unwise to launch an investigation while being ill-prepared. Leave what you have brought, so that We may study it. I will send Arandur to you tomorrow morning.”

  In other words, he was giving her tonight to pack. “I understand, Aranhil. I will be ready for him.”

  “Excellent.” As an afterthought, he commanded, “Speak with Our children before you leave. They are fond of you.”

  There was a part of Sevana that always wondered just how well the children were doing. She’d grown slightly attached to them, although it would take the application of lye and thumb screws to get her to admit it. “I will.” Taking that as a dis
missal, she handed the tube to him, which he took with a white knuckled grip. After a step back, she gave him a bow before turning to leave the clearing.

  A woman with braided red hair and a quiet demeanor stepped into her path. “I am Herion, Sevana Warran. I will show you to the children.”

  “My thanks.” It seemed strange to take an hour and play with the children when Aranhil was so hot to have her start immediately. But maybe this was a ploy of his to keep her in his territory long enough to study that portrait and come up with some basic questions? It smelled of a delaying tactic, at least. Suspicious but amiable, she followed her new guide.

  “Sevana!” A chorus rang out as a dozen children sprang to their feet, rushing toward her.

  She braced herself, just in time, as they flew up to her, all trying to grab her at once. “It’s like being swarmed by magpies,” she complained, a wide smile on her face.

  They laughed but it didn’t daunt them, all dozen still trying their best to hug any part of her. But then, every child here had spent at least a few weeks with her, so they knew well she was mostly bark and no bite.

  Herion was no help during all of this, just standing off to the side and watching indulgently as the kids glomped onto her. Sevana focused on one child at a time, either ruffling a head or tweaking a nose, and eventually their excited energy settled enough that she could sit cross-legged on the ground with them.

  “Alright, you’re all glowing to me,” she announced, eyes taking them in. “I assume that becoming Fae is going well.”

  “It is,” Sky told her. He was right at her knee and was understandably the one that had been changed the most. His features were the same, and those clear blue eyes were no different, but he looked healthy now. The gauntness was completely gone, his skin was healthy and clear, hair shining as it flowed to his shoulders. “We’re glad you brought us here, Sevana. It’s fun!”

  “Fun, eh?” she grinned at him, glad to the bottom of her heart to see all of them so well and happy. They practically radiated joy. “Doing what?”

  “Did you know we can talk to animals as Fae?”

  “And plants too,” Bertrude—scratch that, Maeron said. “Plants are even more fun, sometimes. We can create swings.”

  “But the best part is our parents,” Chase told her. He turned enough to give a gap toothed grin to Herion. “Right, Mother?”

  “Always,” Herion responded fondly.

  “So not one of you regrets leaving the human world behind?” she asked. There was always that niggling little doubt that would never quiet. “Nothing you miss about it?”

  All of them shook their heads, firmly, adamantly, but it was Sky that put it into words. “It’s better here. I don’t ever want to go back.”

  Sevana cupped the back of his head, shaking it a little. “Glad to hear it, squirt.”

  “You’ll stay at least tonight?” Lilly asked, her fingers tangled in the cuff of Sevana’s sleeve.

  “I can’t,” she denied, more gently than she intended to. “I’m actually here because something’s gone very, very wrong and I need the Fae’s help to untangle it. So I can’t stay here long, I have to go back to Big and get ready to work on the problem.”

  “When the problem is solved, she will come and stay longer,” Herion promised.

  Sevana was startled by this sideways invitation and studied the other woman’s expression carefully. Was she really welcome to stay overnight here? Even when the emergency had passed? Herion gave her a reassuring nod.

  “Yes, I can do that.”

  The kids cheered and dogpiled her. Laughing, Sevana went down with a fight, tickling and mock-biting people as her back hit the ground. They loved it, trying to tickle her back.

  Of course, Grydon and Baby had been silently following her all this time, and when the dogpile started, they couldn’t resist. They joined in, licking ears and wagging tails in happiness. The children, not at all daunted by these fierce predators, grabbed them and tried to wrestle. It became a squirming mess of limbs and laughter in five seconds flat. Sevana wouldn’t have minded if she hadn’t been at the bottom of the pile.

  Eventually people shifted enough that she was able to crawl free and get back to her feet. Her hair was flying in every direction, she could feel it, and her clothes had come half-untucked. Whatever dignity she had maintained coming into Fae territory had taken a flying leap. Sighing, she tucked her shirt back in, straightened out her vest, and pulled her hair free of its tie. No point in trying to fix it, not without a mirror handy. She ran her hands through it a few times and hoped for the best.

  “Sevana Warran.”

  She turned and found that at some point Veassen had appeared behind her. What was it with the Fae that let them move like ghosts? “Veassen,” she returned the greeting.

  “We have checked our stores. The ink did not come from here.”

  Ahhh, that was why Aranhil had had her linger for a while. It made sense, if this crime had been committed in his own backyard, then it would change how much she would need to bring.

  “Aranhil is now contacting the others and we are waiting to hear back from them,” Veassen continued. The change in his demeanor was slight but he looked agitated by all of this. “We should have an answer for you by tomorrow morning where the ink came from.”

  “I understand.” So she would be able to see not only this Fae territory, but another? She might be the only living human to do so. “A request, if I may? When you find where the ink was stolen from, touch nothing. I might be able to run a few scans and detect more about the method of how the magician managed it.”

  A fierce light entered Veassen’s eyes. “It would be well if you could do so. I will pass that along. For now, may we offer an escort back to your mountain? You do not need to take the longer path home.”

  The reason why Sevana had taken three hours to get here was because she would run afoul of two other races that were not very nice to humans otherwise. Skirting both of them took her way out of the way, but she didn’t dare do anything different. If she had a Fae escort through, it wouldn’t take her even an hour. “I would appreciate it.”

  At least three kids caught her hands, pulling her back down to them.

  “You’re going?” Sky asked her plaintively.

  “I have a bad man to catch,” she explained with a wolfish smile. “But after I deal with him, I’ll come and stay the night and tell you the whole adventure.”

  Sky lifted a hand, pinkie extended. “Promise.”

  “Promise.” She linked pinkies with him and then lifted her thumb to press against his, sealing the deal.

  “Can Grydon and Baby stay?” Maeron asked.

  “That’s up to them.”

  Without a beat of hesitation, Maeron leaned toward the wolf, then the mountain lion, speaking to them through pure body language. The two animals in turn touched their noses into Sevana’s palms in a quick bye before bouncing away, starting a game of tag.

  “I think I was just deserted,” Sevana observed to no one in particular.

  “We’ll take care of them while you’re gone,” Herion promised.

  They could take care of themselves, but Sevana wasn’t about to say so. “I appreciate it.”

  Veassen extended a hand, indicating he was ready, and she fell into step behind him. They walked without a word being exchanged all the way to the edge of Fae territory, but he didn’t pause or slow. When he’d said ‘we,’ did he actually mean that he himself would escort her back? Apparently so.

  They walked like this for an indeterminate time. Sevana tried not to be nervous, but she knew the instant that they entered Muma Padurii’s territory. It went from feeling warm and strange to cold and prickly. The trees and air lost their glow as well and it became more like a winter forest. Just walking through here made chills rise on her skin.

  “You do not walk through here,” Veassen mentioned to her, like an aside.

  “Place gives me the creeps,” Sevana admitted. “If push came to shove
, I could probably protect myself from Muma Padurii, but it seemed a stupid risk to take just because it would cut my travel time by an hour. Especially when I have a kid in tow.”

  “We appreciate your caution. But after today, it will not be necessary.”

  Eh? Did that mean that their protection wasn’t just for this trip, but that by escorting her, he was going to set it down as a law that she was not to be messed with? Oh that would be ever so nice. Sevana made regular trips into the forest for materials. Not having to watch her back would make life much easier.

  A scratchy voice came from ahead, sounding like nails on a chalkboard. “I know this woman, Veassen. She is not Fae. Why do you bring her to me?”

  Veassen stopped dead and stared straight ahead, as if he could see the speaker clearly. “She is not Fae but is of the Fae. She is Sellion, so named and acknowledged by Aranhil himself.”

  Sellion? Wait, what?

  There was an ugly hiss. “Aranhil does not deal with humans.”

  “This human has given thirteen children to the Fae. She is a mother to us and a friend. You will respect this, Muma Padurii. If she is found harmed in your territory, we will not stay still.”

  There was another hiss, this one of alarm. “Sellion, you named her? Human, I know you by another name.”

  “Artifactor Sevana Warran,” Sevana responded calmly. Sellion? What was that all about?

  “Will you enter my territory?”

  “When I’m coming to or leaving from Fae lands, yes, I will. At all other times, I’ll respect it.”

  “Humph.” It sounded dismissive, but Sevana detected a note of relief in that. “Then I’ll leave you be.”

  As quickly as that eerie presence had appeared, it disappeared again. Sevana let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Sellion?”

  A fleeting grin passed over Veassen’s face. “Aranhil did not have time to tell you. But you are registered in our Book as such and have been since you brought the fourth child to us.”

  She was insecure enough with Fae customs and ways that she felt like she had to clarify. “You told me earlier that the name is the title. Is my new name like that?”