by Helen Savore
For a moment the only sound was dust, which flew back up into the air as the stone settled. The scene was surreal. When the dust settled, it became apparent; no one moved. She suspected at first it was interference from Moralynn or Adhomai, but people were stunned still, or feared to move. Most others were far away. Luckily that one lady had continued walking away. There was nothing to be done about Jamie and her. The stone, still somewhat a wall, just a shorter, squatter, messier one that should have bowled them over, curved unnaturally round them.
A clap echoed as someone finally moved towards them. Another tourist, though she didn’t recall seeing this curly haired Scot earlier.
“MORALYNN!” Alexandrea shot out her arms, summoning the winds around the site. One, two, four, six people, besides them. She held them in place, except for the single man striding, still clapping. Why didn’t the wind hold him?
She faced him. “Sir, this isn’t safe, stand down.”
“What were you thinking?” Moralynn reached them and laid a hand along the stones. They twitched, not reforming the wall, but seeming to settle into a more stable pile.
Jamie scrambled off the ground. “Moralynn, I was searching, I thought I found something—”
A bag flew out of the debris, dropping gemstones as it shot into the clapping man’s hands. “Some colorful stones? I should have known Moralynn looked for more, but you finding it has proved eminently entertaining.” The man’s skin and hair slogged away to be replaced by scintillating blue. “Dinas Bran? San Isidore? What are you searching for, Moralynn? These are two very different places.”
Jamie nudged Alexandrea “Should I know this guy?”
She shushed him, “Quiet, or I’ll still you, too. Leave it to them.”
Moralynn strode to Raebyn and swatted the bag away, spilling more small stones. “How dare you come here and disturb these people’s monuments?”
Raebyn’s mouth pulled into a too wide grin. “That was your boy there, not me. You should be more careful with your folk, Moralynn.”
“You are present. I trust nothing.” She pushed her face right into his until there was barely any space between them. They both breathed a beat, but nothing happened. She spun to Alexandrea. “Can you do it?”
She didn’t need to be more specific; Alexandrea knew what she meant. “Without my torc psyche foci, it’s too many.”
Jamie blinked. “Do what?”
“Hush.” This was not the time for questions. He was whole, they were all whole, and Raebyn hadn’t struck yet. They were safe so far, but this was delicate.
Adhomai coughed. “I can do it. What do you want them to see?” The diadem on his forehead glared.
“We were never here.” Moralynn’s gaze shifted to Raebyn. “A freak earth shake?”
“See?” Jamie spun. “You change what they see? What they remember?” His eyes bulged, and he grabbed her arm. “Drea?”
Raebyn laughed. “Do not worry, young one. I will not let them leave so easily. You continue to dodge my gentle inquires, Phoenix Sparked.”
Jamie glanced from him to Alexandrea, then to Moralynn.
Moralynn cocked a finger at him. “You will do nothing, because if you do, then you are truly to blame.”
“Then assign the blame. I will not leave until things fall where they are due.”
Jamie tugged at her arm, but she refused to look at him. “Drea, this happened at the store?” He swung in front of her, and she turned away, so he grabbed her other arm. “Drea, could you have gotten everyone out?”
She shook her head. “Jamie, this isn’t the place.”
“Oh, do not be so demure on my account,” said Raebyn. “I shall wait. This sounds like a most interesting avenue of conversation.” He tilted his head to Moralynn as his body continued to shift to a more typical form. “Interesting how you manage your family, Phoenix Sparked.”
Moralynn glared. “Jamie—”
“Big, bad, blue guy said I can keep talking, so I’m going to.”
When everyone remained silent, Alexandrea stopped struggling. Strange, at the moment she barely regretted it. There had been a brief thought, and certainly regret, but she never considered it outright wrong. But now that Jamie’s eyes latched onto hers, she could see it as nothing else.
She did not look away. At least she could own up to this. “Yes. I tried, but in the end I kept the stragglers. I could not explain why the teashop would be empty midday.”
Jamie let go of her and nodded, his face hard, still, with an edge to his jaw. He was almost unrecognizable. He walked back to the stone fall and lay down, hands poised, but did not move yet. “At least you stayed.”
Alexandrea blinked, confused. Why did he get on the ground to say that? What did he mean to do? “I tried to protect them. Yes, I kept their bodies, but I buffered them as much as possible.”
Jamie’s breath slowed. “It almost didn’t work. Luckily this time, only the two of us were near the rock fall.” He pointed down the slope. “Go, take them all away. I will stay.” His gazed turned to Raebyn. “I won’t hide from this. I won’t hide from you.”
A smile crept across Raebyn’s face. “I stand corrected. Perhaps I shall not bother you further.” He waved a hand. “This alone has been entertainment enough. But next time, Moralynn…” Raebyn jumped into the air and burst into a blue haze that zipped away.
Alexandrea rushed to him, letting go of her wind walls, but before she reached Jamie, the rock wall reformed and fell, bludgeoning him. Part of her cried for the injuries, and the other for the precision. When had he gotten so skilled? She knelt and moved rocks with only her hands, digging Jamie out.
The tourists shook as if waking from a daze. They then pointed, some scurrying away, others dashing towards them.
“Foolish,” Adhomai muttered. “We had to hide the supernatural activities anyway, there was no reason to get hurt.”
One eye of Jamie’s looked back at her. The other was swollen shut. He reached the hand of his left arm, relatively unscathed compared to the rest.
Alexandrea took it. “Jamie, I’m sorry.”
His face crinkled, probably in a smile. “Well, I’ll try to let the injuries linger; sympathy will help. You’ll say it was an accident at least, right?”
But it wasn’t. This was the culmination of their choices, and she would carry that guilt. “Of course.”
34
The floor plan held Alexandrea’s complete focus. She looked down at a single sturdy table in the middle of the chaos that used to be her bookstore. Dust swirled and the pungent smell of fresh wood filled the air. She wanted to keep an eye on progress, but hated the environment, so she concentrated on the interior plans.
Until someone tapped her shoulder.
She sighed. “Do you think that’s the best way to capture my attention?”
“Lighten up, Drea.” Jamie grabbed her shoulder and tried to spin her around. “Is that really how you talk to people?”
Alexandrea faced him and flashed a wicked smile, but it fell away. She shouldn’t try to sound pompous when displays of it annoyed her. She leaned into the design table, tipping it upward. “You won’t believe me if I said I knew it was you?”
“So just me, then?” Jamie shrugged. “Don’t tell me you’re still upset about that ruins incident.” He raised his eyebrows, one of his ways of indicating Shaping, Healing, and other mystical things when they were in public. Which was happening more and more. “Have I thanked you enough for the cash for the fines?”
They were lucky it was only fines. If people had been injured, it would have been different, with three Druids though, settling the nearest of the crowd had been simple.
A little life, not enough to notice death drawing closer. Alexandrea knew the exchange well, and made the choice for herself many times. Making it for others was harder.
“Of course I would help,” she paused, considering saying more. They were in public, though, this was already Jamie trying to cover up fantastical things. It didn’t
matter, not here.
Jamie had thanked her privately, and publicly, many times. Though there was an edge every time he said it. It wasn’t just what happened there, it was what he realized. They weren’t past this yet, though it had been weeks, but what else needed to be done? To everyone else, Jamie looked like the fool, horsing around the site, causing the wreck, and though he hurt himself, and that earned some sympathy, he still ruined part of an historical site. He accepted it; he didn’t try to hide, and he glared any time Alexandrea’s wrist shook, eyes darting to the psyche foci. He even allowed his wounds to heal almost naturally.
It still amazed her, which caused her to laugh. Surrounded by magic and mystery and it was the simple actions of her friend that she couldn’t believe. Where had this Jamie come from? Or had he always been there, and she never noticed?
“More than enough. You were kind to accompany me sightseeing.” Alexandrea laughed. That almost sounded like a line. “What brings you here, today?”
“I hadn’t heard from you in a few days.” He rubbed and rotated a shoulder blade. “My injuries from that damn rockfall are shaping up well. Feels like I haven’t had a proper workout in ages.”
“Rhys and Bobby still hiding the footballs from you?” She couldn’t help but smile. Rhys had called her with explicit instructions to make sure to stash any footballs when Jamie visited. It was strange to for Rhys to include her in prank. She almost felt like a kid again when the three of them would tear across the countryside.
Jamie grumbled, but it turned into a laugh. “Yes, but they claim only for a day or two more.” He raised his brows again. “That wasn’t what I was thinking about.”
“I was trying to give you some time.” She nodded towards the front entrance. “We shouldn’t talk about this here, you’ll make the contractors talk.”
“Let them.” He smiled and dropped an arm around her shoulders. “Just go have a nice chat with the manager over there. I am certain he will feel more relieved when you aren’t here hawk-eying his work and driving up his insurance premiums. Then come on out with me for a nice stroll.” He let her go and took exaggerated strides about the space.
Alexandrea tilted her head in mock exasperation, but he had a good point. She trotted to the site manager to check out. Jamie made a slow circuit through the shop, but she couldn’t quite tell why or what he was looking at. Walls were coming up, but there wasn’t much to note unless you understood construction.
Perhaps he was strutting about. Despite her objections, he seemed to like having folk seeing him around her, knowing he was in her life. Was he keeping an eye out for her? Protecting her in the modern world as she minded him in the fantastical one?
“So, where should we pick up training?” he said as she met him at the front.
She brushed passed him, heading towards the town lot. “Jamie, I’m not Moralynn pushing you to the limits. You don’t have to keep this up. She must attend to her business in Annwn and will be away for at least another week. Why don’t you use this time to reengage with the modern world?”
“I haven’t disengaged, Drea.” Jamie rubbed the back of his neck. “I spend my hours on call. I’m watching football in person and on the telly, I hang with the guys, and even give Rhys’s pug a good belly rub at least once a day. Things are fine.”
Alexandrea stopped on the sidewalk, raising her head to the sky, listening to the wind currents above. Did she really have a right to stop him now? What if he tried new things without support and supervision?
“Look, Drea,” he said, turning around to face her. “I don’t mind the training. I decided to do this after what we’ve been through.” His eyes darkened, and he took in a deep breath. “Even after understanding…” He shook his head.
He wasn’t looking at her. It was almost like he wasn’t angry at her, but at the situation. They’d talked about this, but he still couldn’t say it.
“I want to be prepared for the next incident. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”
Alexandrea looked around anxiously. They were discussing this on the open sidewalk. No one appeared to be paying attention, but this was a small town. Some confused person could be listening. She grabbed Jamie’s hand and tugged him along, jogging along the streets until they were on the edge of the fields. Alexandrea spotted the rock circle and released a sigh of relief. She dragged Jamie over to it and hummed a haunting tune, summoning a veil to surround them.
Jamie let go of her hand and stalked around the rim of the stone circle.
“You did something?” He raised his hands in the air, tentatively pushing forward, as if waiting for it to be blocked. Nothing stopped him.
“We’re not hidden, like Moralynn and the fae are, but this can obfuscate things a bit.” She settled on one of the taller stones. “There’s a lot people can’t accept without a proper imagination. But words, people can misinterpret those from here till Sunday.”
Jamie frowned. “I guess I could be more careful.”
Alexandrea shook her head. “You shouldn’t have to. Look, this is all an acquired taste, and you’ve been adapting fast.”
“But?”
She blinked.
Jamie took a seat on another stone. “Don’t try to say there isn’t a but there.”
A frown pulled at the corner of her lips. “Jamie, I think maybe you’re still panicked? It’s been some time since you have had a fae incident.”
“What about Raebyn at Dinas Bran?”
Drea started to protest, but Jamie cut her off. “Ah ah ah, you always try to deflect.” Jamie stood and paced. “Now that I know, I can’t forget about this, Drea. I can’t help but do something about it. Be grateful I’m not stupid enough to be taking this to them. I realize how dangerous the Marrow is, and I know I don’t have a chance against these magic people. So I’m here learning first.”
Alexandrea’s gaze drifted out to the pitch. “You’re only learning these things for the fae, right? Nothing for football?”
Jamie groaned and ran a hand through his hair. “Nothing beyond being a bit more fit. No, seriously, Drea. Does anything I’ve been doing resemble football or any other sport?” He pranced on his feet. “No kicking, or is that later in the curriculum?”
Drea laughed. “I’m not aware of any foot styles. Most would rather use a longer weapon to sweep someone than a good ankle tug from a foot.”
“Now that sounds interesting. Moralynn pegged me with a staff last time.” He mimed the strike, jerking back. Then he raised an eyebrow. “Maybe we should practice sweeping each other off our feet?”
“No. Sorry, Jamie,” she said with chuckle. “Like I said, I’m not stepping into a ring with you. That’s not where my abilities lie.”
Jamie laughed and pointed at the stones. “You know, this is kind of a ring.”
She rose. “You know what I mean.”
“Come on, Drea. I bet you could run circles round me. Don’t you want to spend time chasing me?” He turned, putting his back to her, but still glanced over his shoulder, keeping his eyes on her.
She gave him a good, hard look. He was teasing, but in a complimentary way. She was missing something. “Oh, I get it, you don’t want to be beaten for once during a lesson.”
“Like I can break through your currents, Drea. No, not like that.” He swung back around. “I thought it’d be fun to dance around you.”
“So it’s dancing you want to learn?” Alexandrea stepped forward and placed her hands on his shoulder and hip. “That is a lesson I can teach.” Then she backed away. “But I suspect that’s not where you’re going with this.”
“You’d be surprised.” He slid back to her. “Don’t run away so fast, Drea.” He turned them both in a simple circle. “Haven’t I proven I’m open to many new experiences?”
Alexandrea’s pulse quickened, but she took in deep slow breaths to bring it back down. She didn’t want to make too much of it when Jamie was just fooling around.
She let her hands drop and stepped away. “Do y
ou want to dance or Shape?” She jerked her head back. “I think I know somewhere nearby we can safely practice.”
35
Jamie twitched. “Here?”
“Yes, here.” Alexandrea twirled, arms outstretched. If it were summer, she would have been slapped by leaves, but the overreaching limbs were bare. They were not quite ready to bud, though she felt them stirring. It would be soon.
They were in the little woods near Jamie’s flat. They weren’t her trees, but she still liked them. Nature anywhere calmed her. Not that she was a Shaper like Moralynn or Adhomai, but there was still something to be said for being in one’s element. Quiet, peaceful, with plenty of material to work with if something terrible happened.
“I know you were attacked here, but look around, it’s a small, beautiful forest, one that most people ignore. We could turn a bad memory into a good one, right?”
“Sure.” Jamie stepped off the trail and swung his gaze around. “I wouldn’t mind taking a closer look.” He raised his hands in dramatic upswings, and the earth turned over. Mounds rose, fell, and shifted as Jamie pulled the ground off the path.
Alexandrea half rolled her eyes. “Try not to disrupt the entire ecosystem.”
Jamie replied with an edge to his voice. “That thing burst from the ground somewhere around here.”
“Jamie, it’s long gone.” She reached for his arm. “Fae don’t live in the ground waiting to strike. Whatever that was, it did what it meant to do and is gone.”
He still frowned, but he set the ground to right.
Alexandrea helped by getting most of the plants he uprooted back into place. Perhaps a little mixing would help the land as it waited for spring. She slipped off two rings.
“Now that I have your attention,” she said, “I want to do something a little unconventional. This is a rose quartz, and this is psilomelane.” She handed them to him. “Both gemstones have elements to make them useful air foci. I thought this might be a good time to touch on more elements.”
Jamie eyed them, sitting in his palm. “Rings?”
