Call of Brindelier (Keepers of the Wellsprings Book 3) (27 page)

Hesitantly, I move close to her as the others watch in fascination.

“Whoa,” Rian breathes.

“Flitt?” I whisper. It isn’t like the other times when she grew herself to my size to look me in the eye or give me a quick hug. This time is different. It’s difficult to describe. Somehow, she’s more solid, more present, more visible and important.

I glance back at the others. Mum and Da. Mya, Elliot, Cort, Bryse. They’re all looking at her. Not only can they see her, but they all seem utterly enchanted by her. Even Uncle is agape.

I shake my head slowly and walk around her, taking her in. As a fairy, Flitt has always been a little on the full side, probably due to all of the sugar cubes. Her round cheeks and soft shoulders gave her a child-like quality. As a human, she’s more slender and dainty. Her face is slightly narrower. It’s pleasing, but also strange to me. Something I can’t quite put my finger on proclaims her very un-human.

“What did you do?” I whisper and bend to peek beneath her cloak. At first I thought it was meant to conceal them, but they would never fit under there. “Where are your wings?”

“Oh, it’s only temporary, thank the Light,” she chuckles and looks over her shoulder at me. “I know how you all are with appearances. Imagine if I went to meet the king looking the way I usually do. Could you imagine? Though it does feel strange. You really are all so very hulking. I don’t see why my feet must be as large as a mountain troll’s nose. No offense of course, Bryse,” she says and blinks up at Bryse with a sheepish grin.

“What?” Bryse huffs. “I’m no mountain troll! And how do you know my name?” he scowls.

“Oh, of course not! No, no. Mountain
giant
. Forgive me.” Flitt laughs nervously. “Not that there’s much difference,” she utters under her breath.

“Stone giant,” Bryse grumbles.

Flitt shrugs apologetically and reaches for the tip of a wing that isn’t there. Her hand then drops to her skirts. Her skirts. That’s something else that’s changed. The frayed ribbon scraps are gone, replaced by a gown of shimmering iridescent fabric that floats around her legs in a mesmerizing shift of color.

“Perhaps introductions are in order?” Mya’s voice cracks at the suggestion as she eyes the crest of Kythshire. Everyone else nods, wide-eyed. Even Da stands speechless.

“Not really,” Flitt says with a dismissive wave of her hand. “I already know everyone.”

“Perhaps, then,” Uncle clears his throat and looks at me, “for our benefit?”

“This is Flitt,” I say a little uneasily. “She’s…”

I glance at her for guidance. I have no idea what’s going on or how much I’m supposed to say.

“
Help
?” I push to her.

Flitt rolls her eyes impatiently.

“Honestly, so typical. Always needing to over-explain everything.”

She does a little hop like she’s about to lift off, and then seems to remember that she can’t do that, so she just bounces a bit. “I’m Flitt. I’m from Kythshire. Azi’s known me for a while. Lisabella, too. And I’ve been around all of you, so no need to tell me who you are. I was sent ahead to let His Majesty know there’s going to be a procession in the morning. Lots more are coming. Mostly my kind, but elves from Ceras’lain, too. At dawn.” She gives me a meaningful look.

Everyone continues to stare in disbelief. I can understand why. Though Cerion has long opened its gates to people of all nations, this is unheard of. Only the Academy’s occasional secretive contact keeps the fairies from fading into legend. Even then, many have lost faith that they exist. So, to have a woman show up at the hall proclaiming herself a representative of Kythshire is quite a lot to wrap one’s head around. It’s undeniable, though. The magic that twinkles from every pore of her skin is proof enough. Flitt, who is obviously tiring of being stared at, crosses her arms impatiently.

“I heard Tib got hurt,” she says. “Is he around? I told Ki I’d check on him for her. Then I’m to go to the palace. You know, to let them know we’re coming, so they can make all those important preparations that you people seem to feel are so necessary.”

Rian is the first to speak. His voice seems to jolt everyone out of their dazes.

“He’s in the guest house,” he says. “Azi, could you show her? I need a word with Master Gaethon.”

His voice is shaken, and it’s not from Flitt’s transformation or her presence in the hall. I don’t need to read his thoughts to know his mind is on the boy he failed to rescue.

“Of course,” I say quietly. Flitt rests a hand on my shoulder, right on the spot where she usually perches.

“
See if he’ll give you the coin
,” Rian pushes to me.

As I lead Flitt out of the hall, I look back over my shoulder at Da, who stands shaking his head in disbelief.

I don’t need to look at his mind, either. I’m just as shocked and amazed. I don’t think any of us would have imagined our lifetime would be the one in which fairies would return publicly to Cerion. It feels unreal. Like a dream.

“Ugh,” Flitt says as she stumbles in the hallway over her own feet. She leans heavily on my shoulder. “Really. I just don’t see the point of it. Being this humongous. Walking everywhere. And I honestly didn’t think it was possible for this place to smell even
worse.
”

She wrinkles her big human nose and pinches it closed with a scowl. “How do you live like dis?” she asks with a high-pitched nasal whine.

Tib

Pink light splashes the wall. Across the room, Maisie moans. I try to sit up and look, but Saesa pushes me down gently. I hold in a groan as my head pounds. Don’t want to draw attention to my own pain. Even with the potion Mya gave me to take the edge off, it hurts. I feel strange, too. Like I’m floating. Without thinking, I reach for the bandage over my eye. I test it gently with my fingertips.

“Don’t touch,” Saesa whispers and pulls my hand away. She’s being annoying. Really annoying. She has been ever since Rian brought me back. Raefe even had to go get the healer because she wouldn’t leave my side. I kept telling her don’t worry about me. Worry about Maisie. Worry about Errie, who we failed. The thought of him in that place makes me seethe. I want to jump up out of this bed and run to free him. To get back to that keep and finish every last one of them.

“He’s almost done,” Saesa murmurs in my ear as she watches the healer work. “You’d better rethink things, Tib. What good will you be getting Errie back with one eye? If he can fix it, you should let him.”

I swear, sometimes Saesa acts more like a mother than a friend. She’s right, though. If I’m going to fight against the Dusk, then I’ll need both eyes wide open. I make my mind up to agree with her. I’ll let him heal me.

Across the room, Maisie gasps and screams and cries out, “Errie!”

I want to go to her and swear I’ll get him back, but my head is too heavy. Saesa’s hand on my shoulder is like a pile of bricks. The healer murmurs something. A rest spell. Like Lisabella’s peace pulse, but stronger. Maisie quiets.

“She lost a lot of blood,” he says to Saesa. “She’ll rest for the night and feel much better in the morning.”

No she won’t
, I think to myself as he comes to my side.
Not without her son
. Even with my good eye closed I feel him near. He’s a powerful healer. One of the best at the Conclave, I bet. They know the Elite there. They respect them. I wonder if he’d be so willing to help me, knowing I’m the reason Maisie’s heart is broken. Knowing I let an innocent boy get taken. Maybe I won’t let him heal me after all. I deserve the pain.

“Tibreseli Nullen,” he sighs and his hand rests on my chest. I open my good eye and look him over. “Turn your head this way.” My jaw clenches and I scowl. “Come, now. You are not the first to try to martyr himself for his mistakes, my child. By the Lady, I urge you to use reason.”

He leans over me like he’s looking into me. I can feel the insistence in him. I remember the pure white conclave. The statue of the weeping mother. The words the old man said:
Key to the Skies. Do not tarry in your work.

My heart quickens. My contraption. If I can get it working, we can fly there. To the keep. I imagine the look on Dub’s face when he sees me. How shocked he’ll be when I glare at him with both eyes as I throw my knives right into his filthy heart. The thought fills me with urgency.

“Hurry,” I say, pulling at the bandages. “Please. I have things to do.” Saesa takes my hands away and holds them. The healer unwraps the bandage and lets his magic flow into my wound and I allow it.

It’s a strange sensation. Not at all like the healing I got in the Sorcerers’ keep. This time it’s much more pleasant. I focus on it. I feel the bone and muscle pulse and knit back together. My eye mends itself slowly, filling up round and cool to fit perfectly in the socket. I blink and roll it from side to side, testing it as the pink light fills the darkness.

“Will the color come back?” Saesa asks as she leans over me, watching.

“Curious,” the healer peers at me.

“It’s a nice gray-blue,” Saesa offers.

“Look around, Tibreseli,” the healer says. “How does it seem?”

I scoot up in the bed with ease. My healed right eye seems quicker than my left one. It flicks around eagerly. I glance to the far wall next to the door. Outside, there’s a hallway. In the hallway, I can see beyond the wall, the shape of two figures coming closer. Women. I see their outlines like they’re painted on the wall. One in armor, one in a gown. That one stumbles a little and bumps the frame of the passage.

“Oof! Wall,” she says. Her voice is familiar. Like Flitt’s, but not as squeaky. “Really! Why does it need to be so closed up and twisty in here? If you’re going to insist on being so big, you should make everything more open so you can get around without—ouch!”

The woman trips on the runner rug just outside the door. I see her outline stumble into the armored woman.

“I can see,” I whisper to the healer. “How can I see them? Two women?”

“Sometimes,” he answers as he turns toward the door. “The Lady of Peace bestows gifts through healing as a way of rewarding us, or preparing us.”

“What?” Saesa whispers. “You can see them? It sounds like...”

“It is,” I say quietly. Flitt. I always know when she’s around. She’s got that bright magic that tries to creep in and make you feel better. Happier. Lighter. This time, it’s a little different. It has some influence to it. Like it’s trying to make her instant friends with everyone.

“Oh, hello,” Flitt’s strangely deeper voice comes out of the woman in the doorway.

Beside her, Azi looks at the group of us with relief.

“Victer!” she strides across and offers the healer a hug. “Thank you so much.”

“Of course,” the healer hugs her back. “This one was stubborn, but we convinced him in the end, hm?”

He smiles and pats me on the shoulder. I try to look grateful, but all I can think about is getting out of here. Unfortunately, the sudden appearance of Lady Flitt and Azi tells me that’s not going to happen any time soon.

“I’ll be on my way,” Victer says. “Unless you have something more?”

“No, thank you, Victer. Mya will settle up with you.” Azi turns to look at me while Flitt wanders around the room and Victer shows himself out. Her brow furrows as her eyes meet mine.

“Can you see well?” Azi asks me.

“Oh, your eye!” Flitt gasps. She tries to skip over to me but her feet get tangled and she stumbles into Azi again. “Honestly!” she groans.

“What happened to you?” I ask her.

“Well, I grew myself up,” Flitt whispers conspiratorially, “but I think I got the feet wrong.”

“Flitt has come to talk to His Majesty,” Azi explains.

“Right!” Flitt agrees as she scowls down at her feet. She screws her eyes tightly shut and we all watch as they shrink a size or two. “That’s better, I hope,” she murmurs. Then she sniffs her shoulder and wrinkles her nose. “Can’t do much about the smell, though, I guess.”

Azi gapes at her for a moment, blinks, and then turns to me again.

“Apparently there’s going to be a visit in the morning from an assembly of them…” she trails off and looks to Flitt again.

“Yes. The Ring chose a whole group to come. They’ll be arriving at dawn to meet with His Majesty. I was sent ahead to give some notice. I just wanted to check on you first. I promised Ki,” Flitt nods. “So if you’re okay, I’ll be on my way.”

“Yeah,” I push myself up. Test my feet on the floor. Stand up. I feel amazing. Not just healed, but like I could do anything. I glance across at Maisie. I know exactly what that anything’s going to be.

“There’s something else,” Azi says. “That coin. Do you still have it? Rian was asking after it.”

I shove my hand into the pocket of my crusted, tattered short pants and pull out the coin. It glints in the light that Flitt gives off. I inspect the tower in the cloud design and remember the floating land in the clouds.

“I’ll give it to him,” I say to Azi. “If that’s all right. I need to ask him something.”

She looks at me like she’s trying to determine something.

“Do you know what it’s for?” she asks. I shake my head.

“Well,” she glances at Flitt, who shrugs at her. “All right. We left Rian in the hall. We’ll take you there, and then Flitt and I will go to the palace. Saesa?”

“Lady Knight?” Saesa perks up after being mostly forgotten.

“Will you please let Mouli know to check in on Maisie? Then meet us in the hall. I’ll need you by my side at the palace.”

Saesa’s eyes flash with excitement. She gives me a quick hug and then rushes out looking proud and excited.

When she’s gone, Azi turns to me.

“Rian,” she says quietly, “is just as distraught as you are about letting the boy slip through his fingers.” She glances at the coin. “While Flitt and I are at the palace, I hope you two don’t do anything reckless.”

She waits for me to agree, and then we go off together to the meeting hall.

When we get there, Cort and Bryse are gone and everyone else is just mulling around. Mya’s strumming her lute, Elliot’s sleeping. Lisabella’s tucked in a corner with Benen. Her peace pulses over him. Toward the back, at the table, Rian and Master Gaethon are bent over that wand. Everyone looks up when Flitt comes in. They all smile softly. Like they’re relieved she came back. Flitt doesn’t seem to notice.

Azi crosses to Rian and bends to kiss him.

“You have a stinky Mage stuck to your face again, Azi,” Flitt giggles. Everyone else laughs, too.

“We’re back to Stinky, are we?” Rian teases her without looking away from Azi.

“Oh, so much more so, now that my sniffer is the size of a burrowing mole,” Flitt pinches her nose shut.

Rian smirks and rolls his eyes.

“
I see her charming personality grew with her
,” he pushes to Azi, who laughs and shakes her head.

“There’s nothing left but to go to the palace, now,” Azi says quietly. She turns to the others, looking nervous.

“We’ve discussed it,” Mya says with a nod. “Gaethon and I will escort you. If His Majesty intends to question you, I think its best if I’m there. And if they hold you for some reason, Flitt will need another escort.”

Gaethon smiles warmly at Flitt. She pretends not to notice. Instead she clings to Azi’s arm, looking impatient. She only lets go when Azi and her parents exchange hugs. Benen looks like he’s definitely unhappy with the plan. Lisabella looks worried. So does Azi. Nobody argues, though. It must have been some discussion they had.

Saesa comes back while Azi and her parents and Rian and Gaethon are whispering conversations. With nothing else to do, she comes over and hugs me. Really tight. I pat her arm with one hand and wriggle free as she kisses my cheek.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” she whispers.

“Don’t do anything rash,” Gaethon’s words to Rian echo Saesa’s.

I watch Saesa go with the group. She looks small beside the rest of them, except for Flitt. Small, but determined. Beside me, Rian chuckles.

“What?” I ask him with a scowl. He shrugs and grins.

“She’s pretty, don’t you think? Saesa?” His brow goes up. When I don’t reply, he grins and shakes his head. “Don’t look at me like I have two heads, Tib.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” My fingers curl around the coin in my pocket. “She’s Saesa.”

“Aha. All right then.”

Beyond him, Lisabella and Benen laugh. I don’t get the joke.

“We’ll be off as well,” Lisabella says quietly. She stands up and offers Benen her hand. I wonder if he knows how much power she has over him with that pulse of hers. Wonder how much his temper would control him if she let it.

After they leave, Rian glances at Elliot, who’s been asleep this whole time. I know why. He’s the same as Margy and Zeze, except for him, he’s a fox. I wonder if she told the king yet. I wonder if she’s safe.

Beside me, Rian clears his throat. He leans down and looks me in the eye.

“That’s new,” he says.

“Yeah,” I rub my eyelid absently.

“The healer did a good job. Not even a scar,” he looks harder. “So what’s it do?”

“Is it obvious it does something?” I ask. He shrugs, and I tell him how I could see Azi and Flitt through the wall.

“That’ll come in handy,” he exclaims.

“I’m going back to the keep,” I whisper. “I have to get him back.”

To my surprise, he gives me a slight nod, then tips his head toward Elliot.

“Now, Tib,” he says loudly for Elliot’s benefit, “you heard what Master Gaethon said. We mustn’t act rashly. We must go about this with caution. I’m to interview you about what you saw in there. I’m to write it all down so there’s a reference for later. Then we’ll go to Nessa’s and fetch Loren and wait for Master Gaethon to return. Those are my orders. Do you feel up to it?” He glances again at Elliot.

I nod. I get it. He’s got to do this first. We huddle at the table together. I tell him as much as I can remember about the keep. Everything I saw, both inside and out. He asks good questions and gets more out of me than I thought I knew. It doesn’t take long.

“Well,” Rian leans back against the wall and takes a deep breath while he looks over the notes. “This should be enough.” He looks at me with a glint of mischief, then glances at Elliot and leans closer. “Do you have the coin?” he mouths.

I pull it out and show it to him. He nods.

“Let’s hurry to get Loren,” he says loudly again. “I hope it’s not too late to call.”