by Gavin Green
***
Enochia sat in the glow of dim candle light within her dusty parlor when an unexpected knock rapped on her front door. Surprised, the oracle replaced the table cover she had just removed. Performing a quick mental scan of who was at the door to her haven, she sensed the brownie Liadan waiting patiently in the dark. Causing the door to remotely open with a flick of her hand, Enochia waited for the tiny fae to venture in. Liadan hovered into view and came toward the table. Her small, pleasant face was set and solemn.
"What an unexpected surprise," Enochia said as she resettled into her chair. "Please, Liadan, make yourself comfortable." When the brownie smoothly landed on the table and remained standing, the oracle continued. "I must admit that I was unprepared for your sudden presence here. I didn't know you were so well-versed in the gift of travel."
"I have me own secrets, ma'am."
When it appeared that Liadan would not explain further, Enochia decided to move on. "Are you here to offer an update? How are things progressing at the Lynch cottage?"
Liadan casually grasped her hands together behind her back. "There be no need for updates and such, ma'am; me work there be finished."
Enochia frowned. "Could you explain what happened, then?"
With a curt nod, the tiny fae said, "On the morning afore last, me presence was found. The two humans came to me with respect, so I stated me reasons for being there. Over yesterday and into this morn, they asked many questions and I answered what I could. They worked side by side with me, sharing me toil. Even though I might not have been the best choice for your mission, I believe I did well enough to put them at ease and smoothed their ruffles somewhat. I made sure not to mention you, ma'am, not knowing if that'd be proper or not."
"I appreciate that small kindness," Enochia said. In her mind, the mission had gone too well; she had hoped for Liadan to linger for a time, learn more of those two, and perhaps have the brownie perform a task or two for Enochia's benefit. "So you think you were successful?"
"I'd like to think so, ma'am. They were cordial and polite, and said I'd be welcome to visit when they bid me farewell." Liadan knowingly worked with the humans as quickly and informatively as she could. She didn't necessarily trust Enochia's intentions, and didn't want to prolong the visit so that the oracle might manipulate it. "Their holdings are in fine shape, so me only reason to stop by again, if ever, would only be for social purposes."
"Well then," Enochia reluctantly said, "I suppose our pact is complete. At your leisure, I can have a pixie guide you to your new haven. I'll just need to glamour it once you've learned the location."
"That'll be fine, ma'am."
There was an uncomfortable silence between them, and Enochia was curious about the change in the brownie's formerly cheerful demeanor. "Liadan, are you sure the humans didn't upset you in some way? You seem... out of sorts."
The tiny fae gave one curt shake of her head. "Not in the least, ma'am. Closer to contrary, I'd say."
"I'm happy to hear it, and a task well done." Enochia made an effort to appear concerned, but since the brownie didn't accept the initiative, then the oracle was quite content to conclude business. "Now, we can -"
"There's just one thing, ma'am," Liadan interrupted, "and it needs saying."
Enochia let the unexpected rudeness pass. She placed her hands in her lap and said, "Then by all means, continue - inform me of this one thing."
Liadan kept her hands behind her back, but assumed a more confident posture. "Well, ma'am, there be some of our kind who actually give a care for some of the Verden folk, meself included."
"While I don't share your enthusiasm or empathy, I can appreciate the sentiment to a degree. What is your point?"
The brownie took a bold, albeit tiny, step forward. "I'll now be counting Mr. Lynch and his lady Kate among those folk, ma'am. Those two want nothing to do with wicked fae games, and haven't earned anyone's ire. If they'd be placed in harm's way for whatever silly schemes some elders dreamt up, I'll be taking exception to it, ma'am. And I won't be alone in that disapproval, to be sure."
Enochia smiled benevolently. "Good Liadan, again, I admire your compassion. Now, while I admit that those two are woven into many possible webs, it was not I who spun them. I merely try to see the possible outcomes and alter the course for the best of all affected. As such, I have been trying to keep Brody Lynch and Kate McCarthy free from entanglements while assisting them to explore their potentials. Why else would you think I sent you on an ambassadorial mission?"
"If it's as you say, ma'am, then you'll forgive me for me concerns," Liadan replied. "I'll simply not want whatever trust I built with them to be betrayed."
Enochia sighed and slowly nodded her head once. "While I may have my own machinations, good lady, I assure you that I plan nothing of the sort."
Liadan nodded in return. "Well enough, then. If you'll send that pixie along to the cemetery on the morrow at noon, we'll finish up."
"Of course," Enochia agreed. She watched Liadan give a small curtsy and then promptly disappeared. The oracle wasn't fond of unknown entities, and the little brownie was just that. Otherwise, a bridge of understanding, if not trust, had been formed with the two humans who had a role in upcoming events. A vague snippet of far-sight struck her mind then; two humans? Or was it three?
