Magic Heist

by Mary Karlik

  “Keep it within our hands.” Finn looked as if he was about to faint. He took a deep breath and continued the spell in his language.

  The flow settled in the center of the room. Finn yelled the final command, and the magic rained down on the fairies. They drank it in until their skin sparkled with the colors of the rainbow.

  Layla leaned against the wall and watched until the flow was gone. Color returned to the fairies’ once drawn and pale skin. Those who were too weak to sit up, stood. Those who stood stooped over, straightened. And most flew around the room with a new vigor.

  Esme flew to Layla. “You did it!”

  “Finn did it.” Layla looked across the room at her best mate. Her gut tightened, and her wings fluttered with worry. She was knackered from the healing, but Finn looked more than just tired.

  His skin was pale, and his face had a grey cast. He leaned against the wall and sucked in deep breaths. She rushed to him and wrapped her arm around his waist. “Let me help you to the lounge.” He leaned on her as she helped him through the door. Ian waited in the hall and helped Finn the rest of the way to the lounge.

  They stretched him out on the sofa. He shivered and shook his head. “I didn’t do it.”

  Layla knelt next to him. “I don’t understand. The fairies are better.”

  “It won’t last. I felt their illness.” He closed his eyes as another wave of shivers hit him.

  Ian covered him with a blanket. “Hold on, mate. We’ll get you some tea.”

  Ian left the room, and Layla took Finn’s hand. “What do you mean you didn’t do it?”

  He opened his eyes and turned his pale face to hers. “They can’t live in this world without magic to protect them. I gave them three days of protection, at most. We need to get that wand and get them home.”

  His eyes closed again, and Layla’s chest tightened. She squeezed his hand between hers. “Tell me how to help you.”

  He reached from under the blanket to touch Layla’s cheek. His fingers barely grazed her skin before his hand dropped away. “Layla. Remarkable, wonderful Layla.” His face tensed. “My magic will heal me. I need rest. Tell your man, seventy-two hours.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Worry whirled in Ian’s mind as his brother drove across the Firth of Forth into Edinburgh. Three days to steal a wand from a castle, and they weren’t even sure it was the wand. This was a fool’s mission.

  He looked down at his dragon-scaled arm. The spirit had been quiet since he’d landed back in the human world. He didn’t know if it was a lingering effect of whatever Dorach did to it or if it was saving its strength for another attempt to take his body. But he welcomed the respite from the spirit and hoped it’d leave him alone until they secured the wand. Fool’s dreams.

  He glanced at the back seat. Finn had slept during the entire journey back to Edinburgh. But Layla sat straight up, eyes forward, hands in lap, barely speaking for the entire five-and-a-half-hour journey. She was worried, to be sure, but he had a feeling she was also dishing herself a heaping of self-blame. He needed to talk to her. Reassure her. Refocus her attention.

  His insides clenched. He had to convince Layla and the rest of the team that they could plan and execute a monumental heist in just a few hours. Maybe somewhere along the way, he’d convince himself, too.

  It was nearly midnight when Andrew turned into the car park. He managed to snag a spot near Buzzard’s SUV. Buzzard leaned against the front of his car, talking to Theo and Jack.

  Finn awoke as soon as Andrew turned the engine off. He stretched his arms out in front and yawned. “Once I got over the fear of the speed this thing travels, it wasn’t bad.”

  “Are you feeling better then?” Layla’s voice was thin and reedy.

  “Aye. A bit.”

  Layla didn’t smile, but Ian saw some of the tension leave her.

  As soon as Ian opened his car door, Buzzard tipped his chin toward him. “About time. Did you have tea along the way?”

  Ian climbed out. “Did you come up with a brilliant plan while you were waiting?”

  Finn slid out of the car and looked around. “So, this is the city. It seems impossible that we’ll find a wand hiding here.”

  Ian smiled. “If we’re right about the wand, finding it will be easy. Taking it will be the challenge.”

  Andrew got out of the car and said his goodbyes to the team. “It’s always good to see you—alive—and in one piece. Try to stay that way.”

  Ian jerked his head toward Amelia’s car. “You’d better be on your way.” He walked Andrew back to the car. “We live only minutes apart. We really should get together more often.”

  “Aye. We say that a lot. Let’s really do it this time.”

  Ian nodded then smiled. “You know we won’t.”

  “You won’t. I’m always around.” He opened the car door. “Maybe when this is over, you’ll make a pub quiz night.”

  “Sure. That would be nice.” Ian gave his brother a quick hug. “Get some rest.”

  Andrew hesitated before getting into the car. “If you need anything—”

  Ian interrupted, “Aye. I will. Meanwhile, you have classes to attend.”

  “Check in daily. Just text a thumbs up. Just so I know you’re not in another world.”

  Ian nodded. “I made the same deal with Amelia.”

  Andrew’s gaze went to the group gathered around Buzzard’s SUV. “You and the fairy?”

  Ian answered with a smile.

  “Nice.” Andrew slapped Ian on the back before slipping behind the wheel. “Okay, brother. Go steal that wand. But be safe.”

  When Andrew was out of the car park, Ian led the group between the hedges to his flat. When they rounded the corner of his building, a door across the courtyard opened. It took him a second to realize it was his door. Coming through it was a little man with a neatly trimmed beard wearing a pressed shirt and tweed trousers. The man pulled the door closed as casually as if he lived there.

  Layla stopped next to Ian. “I know him. That’s the troll I chased below the city.”

  Ian ran toward the man. “Hey. What are you doing?”

  The troll looked up with a startled expression and took off down the lane.

  Ian tossed his keys to Buzzard and sprinted after the man. “Get everyone settled.”

  Layla fairy-sized and flew after the troll.

  Ian couldn’t believe how fast the stubby-legged man was. And with only the homeless sleeping in the shop doorways, there was nothing to stop him. Except for Layla’s magic.

  But why wasn’t she using her magic? She had almost caught up with the troll. Twice she stretched her arm out as if she were going to zap him with a spell and both times she drew her hand back with a clenched fist.

  Ian was gaining on him but not close enough to tackle him.

  Ian yelled, “Can’t you use your magic?”

  She grunted and stretched her arms toward the man.

  “Hurry.” The troll was almost at a close. If he made it through the passageway, there was a good chance, they’d lose him.

  * * *

  Layla hesitated again then flung her arm out straight with her fingers stretched toward the troll. “Reòth!” A blue streak shot from her fingers and splashed over him. He froze mid-step.

  Layla landed on the walk, human-sized. She bent over with her hands on her knees and heaved in deep breaths. “Sorry. The fairy-healing drained me more than I thought.”

  Ian stopped on the other side of the troll. He hunched over to catch his breath but kept his eyes on Layla. “Are you okay now?”

  “Aye. I think this is the troll who was working for Fauth.” She straightened and inspected the man. “I’m sure of it.”

  Ian pointed to the troll’s clenched fist. “It looks like he’s got something in his hand.”

  Layla looked closer at his fist. “He’s definitely holding something, but I can’t tell what. I could pry it open, but there is a chance that his fingers would snap off like ice-c
overed twigs.”

  “Leave his fingers. We need to talk to him anyway.” Ian swept his gaze up and down the High Street. “The street is empty. I reckon I could carry him back to the flat, but I’d just as soon you unfreeze him here.”

  “Just be ready. No doubt he’ll try to run.”

  Ian took hold of the little man. “Go ahead.”

  Layla flicked her hand. “Neo-reòth.” A gold coin slipped from the troll’s fisted hand. He struggled against Ian’s hold to pick it up, but Layla got to it first.

  The troll’s eyes bulged as he stared at the coin in her palm. “Let me go.”

  Ian pulled the man’s hands behind his back. “Not likely. But you’ve got some answering to do.”

  “I just want what’s mine.” The man tried to pull his arms away.

  Layla held her free hand at the ready to throw another spell. “You’ll get your coin back after you answer some questions.”

  “I’m not talking about the coin.” The troll sneered at Layla. “I want my magic back.”

  Ian stared down at the man. “And how is breaking into my flat going to accomplish that?”

  The troll twisted his neck to look up at him. He forced the words between clenched teeth. “Fauth took my magic. It’s in the Dragon Scepter. I only want what belongs to me.” The troll shifted his gaze to Layla. “But I couldn’t find it, could I? You’ve already sold it at the Magic Market, haven’t you?”

  Layla’s wings fluttered. “Magic Market? You know where the portal is?”

  “Portal? Not hardly. The market is here. Has been for centuries.”

  Ian noticed the troll’s eyes staring at the coin in Layla’s hand. He pulled the troll away from her. “How? This world doesn’t have magic.”

  The troll shot him a look. “Hey, you don’t have to be so rough.”

  “Just answer the question.”

  The troll looked at Layla. “Do you really think that when the fairies closed the portals, they made sure everybody was on the magic side? No. There wasn’t even a warning. One minute there was a passage. The next the doors had vanished. It was only after the fact that we were told what happened.”

  “But that would mean that magicals were trapped.”

  “Aye. Your people, the oh-so-benevolent-fairies, used the human world as a dumping ground for undesirables for hundreds of years. Once they banished Fauth here, the bin was full. Why not close the door?”

  “But good people crossed, too. Why would the fairies lock out their own?” Disappointment shone in Layla’s eyes, and Ian’s heart pinched. She still wanted to believe in the goodness of the people who’d teased, taunted, and kept her magic from her.

  “And the fairies stranded them.” The troll practically spat the words.

  “Enough fairy history. We need to focus on other things.” Ian flashed Layla a like-the-wand look. “Let’s get him to my flat and have a wee chat about that Magic Market.” Ian held the back of the troll’s shirt collar as they made their way toward the flat.

  Layla walked on the other side of the troll. “How’d you manage to get into the flat to begin with? It had a protection ward.”

  Ian saw a flash out of the corner of his eye, and when he turned, Layla was gone.

  At the same time, the troll let out a huff. “Ach, well now she’s gone and done it.”

  Ian tightened his grip on the man. “Done what? What did you do to her?”

  “I didn’t do anything. She put the coin in her pocket.”

  Ian hurried the man the rest of the way to his flat. When he opened the door, Buzzard looked up from the table. “That didn’t take long. Where’s Layla?”

  Ian pulled out a kitchen chair for the troll. “Sit.”

  Theo sat across from the troll typing on his laptop. He looked up at Ian. “I know. I’m already using my beautiful IT skills to make sure Layla’s shot of freeze-magic doesn’t show up on CCTV.”

  Ian nodded. “Great. Can you also figure out where he sent her?”

  “What?” The entire room spoke in unison.

  Ian pressed his hands flat on the table top and looked down at the troll. “In a single blink, Layla disappeared. Now, I want to know where she went.” It took nearly all of Ian’s strength to keep from wrapping his hands around the troll’s neck.

  The troll ruffled his hair with stubby fingers. “Well, that depends on which pocket she dropped the coin in.”

  “I think it’s time you shoot straight with us.” Buzzard leaned over the little man.

  Ian held his right arm in front of the troll’s face. “Do you really think this is going to go well for you? Do you see the dragon scales on my arm? Do you know what it means? It wouldn’t take much to let the other side of me have a chat with you.”

  Finn nodded toward the troll. “Clever that one. He had a traveler’s coin. I reckon it’s how he got into your apartment. It’s a specialty of troll magic. If Layla put it in her right pocket it will take her one place, the left another.”

  Ian leaned on the table. “You said you had no magic. How’d you manage to cast a spell on the coin?”

  “The magic of the traveler coin isn’t mine. I paid dearly for it.” He set his eyes hard at Ian. “I’m not a criminal. I just want my magic back.”

  “Not a criminal?” Ian straightened, and anger tensed every muscle in his body. It was tempting to let the dragon come out and play. “You were working with Fauth. You helped him torture those fairies.”

  The trolls face melted. “I had no choice. Once Fauth had my magic, he owned me. It wasn’t until he died that I was free.”

  Ian wasn’t sure what to make of the man’s story. It certainly was plausible. Fauth had control of him once, too. “Your magic is in the walking stick—”

  “Dragon’s Scepter.” The troll corrected.

  “Whatever it’s called, it’s warded. There isn’t a being in this room that could get it for you if they wanted to.” Ian softened his tone. “There are bigger problems at hand. So, I’ll ask you again, where did the coin take Layla?”

  The troll folded his arms and sat back. “If she dropped it in her right pocket, it took her to the market.” He tsked and looked away. “I should have used it when I saw you coming, but I panicked.”

  Ian straightened. “How do we get to the Magic Market?”

  “You have to have passage. A traveler’s coin is the easiest.”

  “But there are other ways in?” Ian pressed.

  The troll shifted in his chair. “Oh, aye. I just don’t know what they are.”

  “How could you not know?” Buzzard’s face reddened.

  “I’ve always used the coin. Besides, all she has to do is drop it in her left pocket, and she’ll pop out of there.”

  “And back here?” Finn eyed the man.

  “Not exactly. You see, I had the coin charged for a double trip. It cost me dearly, let me tell you.”

  “Where will she go?” Ian stood and flexed the dragon-scaled arm.

  The troll’s eyes grew wide. “To my flat. I’ll take you there.”

  Ian turned to Theo. “Are you good here?”

  “Fine.”

  Finn stood and almost fell back to his seat. “I’m weaker than I thought.”

  Ian started toward the door. “Rest. We’ll need your strength later.”

  Buzzard and Jack flanked the troll and lifted him from beneath his arms.

  “Lads.” Ian opened the door, and Buzzard and Jack carried the man across the threshold.

  The troll kicked his feet. “You’re not letting me down? That’s insulting.”

  “I don't have Layla here to freeze you if you run. So, until we get her back, we’ll do this our way.”

  The troll gave them directions as he was carried through old town toward Cowgate. They came to a halt beneath Southbridge and in front of a boarded-up archway. “Here we are.”

  Ian looked around. “Here? The troll lives under a bridge?”

  “Ha. Ha. Very funny. I live behind those boards.” He sm
iled exposing a row of jagged teeth and tipped his chin to the boarded-up building.

  Ian grabbed one of the boards and pulled but couldn’t budge it.

  The troll swung his feet. “Unfortunately, it’s protected. And I have no magic to release the ward.”

  Ian rounded on the troll. “I’m done playing with you, little man. How do we get her?”

  The troll’s grin grew. “You don’t.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Traveler’s Coin. Of course. Layla held her breath and waited for the spinning to stop. As soon as it did, she recognized the place where she’d landed—sort of. The Grass Market wasn’t far from Ian’s flat. But this version of the Grass Market was all wrong—as if she were looking at it through a mirror.

  She stood in the walk and scanned the row of pubs. Everything was a mirror image. Even the lettering. But unlike the closed pubs on the other side of the mirror, these were brightly lit and teeming with customers.

  A door on the White Hart Inn flew open. Laughter and voices shouting over one another spilled out. A kilt-clad elf stumbled from the inn and toward Layla. “Best deals in town. Third booth on the right. It’s not legal, but it’ll ease the boredom of being stuck in this place.” His speech was slurred, and his eyes ticked from side to side in rapid movements. He twirled unsteadily on one foot and staggered down the lane.

  Layla studied the white stag above the door of the White Hart Inn. Had the coin taken her to the Magic Market? She had to know. And if things got sticky all she had to do was drop the coin in her other pocket and she’d return to—well, wherever the troll had intended.

  She stepped up to the wooden door of the White Hart, shifted the coin from her right pocket to her left hand—just in case she needed a quick exit—sucked in a breath, ruffled her wings, and entered the pub.

  It was packed. Humans, elves, ogres, and pixies were jammed around the bar waiting for their turn to order.

  The bartender looked like a mix of human and ogre. He was taller than Buzzard and had a huge, protruding belly. His lower jaw hung open like an ogre’s, but he spoke with a human accent.