Part 6 (1/2)
The bad smell diminished as the creature trudged on, its stench replaced by delicious smells that wafted from a cafe-one very similar to the Crystal Cup in Big Nugget. Red-checked gingham tablecloths covered the wooden tables (rather than wrought iron tables, since most fae found iron toxic), and the cafe chairs had twisty backs, the wood embellished with crystals. It looked like the furniture Keelie's father made. A woman with fuzzy ear tips, like a cat's, sticking up through her dark hair exited from the restaurant. She carried a tray loaded with glistening pastries, and when she turned around, Keelie saw that she had a cat tail, too. She felt her mouth drop open, and closed it.
The cat-tailed girl turned around and smiled at them mischievously. ”Would you like to eat a bite of me cakes? One bite, and you'll never want for food, again.”
Knot hopped on the table and glared at the girl, tail whipping back and forth.
”You.” The girl's smile vanished and her own tail started to swish angrily.
”Yeow,” he replied. They glared at one another.
”You never returned after Beltane. Is she the one?” the cat-tailed girl almost shrieked, pointing at Keelie.
”Let's leave them to work this out.” Coyote herded Keelie, Sean, and Elia away from the cafe and down the path.
”But those pastries looked good. I'm hungry.” Elia rubbed her stomach. ”I love faire food. Maybe we can find turkey legs like the ones at the mundane faire.”
Coyote motioned toward the pastry shop. ”My lady, I must remind you once more that if you eat fairy food, you will hunger for it always, as will your child. No human or elven food will nourish your body or your soul, and eventually you will die of hunger.”
”Oh.” Elia protectively placed her hand over her belly.
Even though she was a major pain in the b.u.t.t, one thing Keelie knew for sure was that Elia would be a good mother.
”Let's get this meeting over with,” Sean said. ”I've had enough of this world already.”
”Why elf, you've just entered our realm. Is that any way to treat your hosts?” A tall, slender fae wearing a long black robe had appeared before them. His hair gleamed silver and his eyes glowed with an alien tint.
Despite his unusual looks, Keelie felt drawn to the fairy-an immediate physical attraction that made her feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, as if she'd had several cups of mead.
He bowed elegantly. ”My Lady Keliel.”
She knew she was falling under a spell of enchantment, but she didn't care. It felt so good. ”Who are you?”
He rose from his graceful bow. ”I am Fala. Your guide to the queen.”
The whispers of beware floated to the forefront of her mind until Coyote's wet nose nudged her hand. The enchantment lifted.
Fala frowned, as if he knew that the glamour magic he'd spun to entrap Keelie had been broken.
Another fairy laughed as he appeared next to Fala. He turned toward Keelie. His skin was eggplant purple and his gorgeous, long white hair was woven through with strands of silver, which glinted in the light of the lanterns. He carried a quiver of arrows and a crossbow on his back. He reached for Keelie's hand and kissed it. ”My Lady Keliel. I am Salaca, your escort.”
A frisson of delight skipped up her spine and she had to repress a silly giggle. The drunk feeling returned, but this time she called upon her magic to create a s.h.i.+eld. It pushed Salaca's magic away.
His lips formed a predatory smile. ”I'm a hunter, my lady, and I've always enjoyed a good chase.”
Sean stepped in between Keelie and the elves.
Fala laughed. ”She is safe, elf. For now.”
”Speak for yourself. I find her quite intriguing for a human hybrid.” Salaca eyed her like she was a used car.
”I'm here to see the queen,” Keelie said, in her grandmother's ”obey me” voice. She doubted it would work on the fae, but it helped bolster her courage as she faced these dangerous and beautiful fairies.
”We ask safe pa.s.sage to and from your lands.” Sean forced the words out past clenched teeth. Keelie could see that it was an effort for him to remain polite.
Knot ran toward them, meowing loudly, covered in icing with bits of cake clinging to his fur. His meeting with the cat girl apparently hadn't ended well.
Coyote stepped in front of Keelie and confronted Fala and Salaca. ”Lady Keliel is under my protection as well.”
The two fae laughed in unison, and Keelie lost a little confidence in her furry guards.
Salaca stopped his laughter, then lifted his head as if he caught the scent of something, his eyes narrowed. ”The Dark Hunt. We need to alert the guard.”
Through the door they'd entered, which was still open a ways behind them, Keelie heard the baying of hounds once more. She remembered the horned figure on the horse. Herne. Salaca gestured, and Keelie heard the door slam shut.
Fala grinned at Keelie. ”The queen will find this most intriguing. Is it a coincidence that the Wild Hunt rides when the little elf comes to call?”
”Mayhaps Keliel Treetalker has secret surprises for us, and I'm sure the queen wants to know each and every one,” Salaca said as he circled Keelie.
She felt the buzzing of magic against her skin.
Knot stood on hind legs and reached up with his forepaws, as if snagging a thread, and Salaca drew back with a curse.
Keelie had thought her diplomatic status would protect her, but the fairies didn't seem to obey any rules at all. She was suddenly afraid-not for herself, but for her friends. What had she gotten them into?
Keeping her eyes level with Fala's, Keelie called upon her magic to create a s.h.i.+eld once again. She wouldn't let him enchant her. Emboldened by her determination, she knew she couldn't let him see fear in her eyes. Dad said that the fae liked to intimidate and force their opponent to submit to their orders and worst whims. If they detected a hint of fear, then their snare was as good as sprung and their victim caught.
Fala bowed. ”We shall continue our game later, Lady Keliel.”
This was just a game to them. Maybe, instead of fearing for her elven and fae friends, she should be afraid for her own big streak of mortal.
Elia sighed and rolled her eyes. ”Speaking of games, what is that booth over there?” She pointed.
Salaca scowled. ”You were not spoken to, elf. Do not speak unless we give you permission.”
Elia raised her chin and took a step forward. ”I'll have you know that I bear the child of the Unicorn Lord of the Dread Forest. He's part fae and he outranks you.”
Fala and Salaca stared at her belly as if a unicorn would pop out and gore them. Then they looked at each other and shrugged.
”Look at all these people,” Keelie said. ”This faire is much bigger than the human ones I've been to.” Crazier, too. Time to steer the conversation to a safe place.
Fala chuckled. ”Brother, our guests have not seen the faire, only its sad imitation on the Earthly plane. Let us guide them.”
Coyote cleared his throat. He pointed to his pocket watch. ”Midnight, boys, and I don't want Keelie to be late for her appointment with the queen.”
”If it's midnight, aren't we already late?” Keelie spoke loudly, but the others seemed to ignore her. Instead, Fala motioned to a curious shop across the lane. It was a twostory hourgla.s.s, with a door set into the globular bottom half.
”h.e.l.lo? We're running late. We don't have time for a side trip.” Keelie was worried that the queen would be angry at them.
”The Timekeeper can stop time for us. This is an excellent move, Keelie.” Coyote put up his pocket watch and led the way.
Keelie remembered her visit to Under-the-Hill. If time pa.s.sed as strangely in Fairy as it did in Under-the-Hill, then she had a new worry. How much time would pa.s.s here, and would she return to her own world a hundred years in the future?