Judgment of the Elders Read online

  Magolyn was also flummoxed. She’d only loaded up the refrigerator a short time ago and now her produce was at risk. “Jamil, where are you?”

  The Speaker wandered into the kitchen with a glowing ball of fairy fire floating above his hand. “I was trying to write a restaurant review when the word digester stopped working.”

  “Word processor, and I hoped you saved it.”

  “How? You can’t give mouth to mouth resuscitation to a machine.”

  Magolyn buried her face in her hands, but took pity on her bondfast by not correcting him. “It looks like the neighbors still have lights so the problem must be with us. Go to the cellar and find the fuse box. Once the power comes back on, Cass and I will help you with the computer.”

  Jamil tried gamely to switch breakers back on. Every time he engaged one, sparks flew and the circuit would break again. “The cursed thing keeps spitting at me.”

  Magolyn sighed. “That means we need to call an electrician. Bring up the cooler so we can store the food for the night.”

  “What’s a cooler?”

  “It’s an insulated plastic chest for keeping things cold. All American families own one so they can take beer to tailgate parties.”

  “What’s a tailgate?”

  “Just bring up the cooler.” She turned to see Cass putting on a jacket. “Where are you going?”

  “I’m going to find a Wi-Fi enabled coffee shop so I can do my homework. The laptop has battery life left and I can probably plug in at the counter.”

  “Well, take James’ notes for his article. You can type that up for him too.”

  “I’ll just post it to his blog.”

  Maggie smiled at Cass. “You’re such a good daughter.”

  “Very funny. You love this domestic goddess thing, don’t you?”

  Magolyn winked at him. “Be a good girl and get your father’s notes.”

  Wigout watched Cass leave while crouching in shadows on the front lawn. He’d inconvenienced the two Alfarans, but the human didn’t seem bothered at all. The girl walked down the street, so he correctly guessed Cass didn’t drive yet. Unless his target started using machines, he was at a loss for ideas. The Mistress would be unhappy and that wouldn’t be good.

  Of course, the girl might use or encounter mechanical devices in the cross bearers’ school, but Wigout considered that too terrible an option to contemplate.

  ##

  Cass just finished typing up the review of China Palace from Jamil’s notes when Rodger and another boy walked into the café. He waved and the two male students sat down at his table. The new boy winked at Cass. “Hello, gorgeous. Come here often?” This earned him an elbow in the ribs from Rodger.

  “Our power went out and I needed to finish a homework assignment. Who’s your friend with the wildly out-of-date pick-up line, Rodger?”

  “Cass, this is David Schuler. David, this is Cassandra Forest, my chemistry lab partner.”

  “And is there any chemistry or should I make my move? Cassandra is a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.”

  Cass wondered if this Schuler boy had much success with this approach. He turned his attention to Rodger. “You should probably help him with his technique. He sounds more creepy than flattering.”

  Rodger was already nervous and avoiding eye contact. Cass’s comment forced him to focus. “Me? Oh… no, I don’t know anything about… that is… I would never flatter a girl just to get her to… I need some coffee. Do you want coffee?”

  “Never mind. Neither of you can talk to girls.”

  David bristled. “It’s hard talking to girls. Sometimes you want sullen and broody. Sometimes you want cute and funny. Should we be good listeners or good conversationalists? We don’t know what you want.”

  Cass sympathized with that. When he was an innocent youth of only seven decades, he too was confused by what human women wanted, but he’d spent a lot of time working that out. Of course, now that he was a young human woman, he was starting to doubt many of his prior assumptions. Being human and female was tricky business. Perhaps that explained boys being confused about him.

  He took a shot at an explanation. “We’re all just teens. We don’t know what we want. Well, maybe in the short term. You want grilled cheese for lunch or you want to pass history so you don’t need summer school. The big stuff is a mystery, however. What career do you want? What’s the best college? What do you believe about religion, philosophy, or politics? We don’t have a clue about those yet. As boys, you ask those questions, but you put off answers in favor of sports or games or other entertainment. Young women, however, worry about this stuff. Therefore, we always seem confused and we don’t understand why boys aren’t more confused. Your confidence is confusing. Oh, and we can get pregnant and you can’t. Also, lipstick comes in way too many colors.”

  David stared with open-mouthed awe, but Rodger responded. “I think I know what I want. I want people to appreciate me for my brain. I want to be proud of what I’m good at without being labeled a nerd. I want people to like me.” He took a deep breath. “I want you to like me.”

  “That’s still mostly short-term. Grown-ups appreciate your brains.”

  “Not all of them, but I see your point. Still, it would be nice if I was bright and popular.”

  “Well, you’re in luck on one score, because I do like you, at least in the short-term. I don’t know you that well, but I like that you’re smart and you’re really not good at talking to girls. That is, until you have something important to say. I guess I could use that coffee.”

  David leaned over. “Do you like me?”

  Cass shrugged. “The Council is still in session on that.”

  “Excuse me, but what?”

  “Um, I mean, the jury is still out.”

  ##

  Relying on candle and quill, Magolyn set about taking notes on the progress of the assignment. It was technically Jamil’s duty, but his adjustment to the Mortal Realm was proceeding slower than Cass’s. The power outage hadn’t helped matters. Maggie could handle the writing and have her bondfast review it later for additions or corrections before he formally presented it to the Elders.

  Cass, at least, was a recent visitor to the Mortal Realm and retained some notion of how computers, appliances, and bank machines operated. As far as Maggie could see, however, he remained very clueless about how humans viewed the world they’d created.

  Maggie was considered an expert on human culture in the Realm of Fae. She’d studied it for close to three hundred years; visiting the Realm of Mortals and interrogating hapless humans who accidentally stumbled into the Great Grove. I’m one of those hapless humans, but she never interviewed me. I suppose I should be insulted.

  Maggie’s opinion, shared by many Alfarans, went like this. Since our days as hunters and farmers, humans demonstrated remarkable cleverness with tools and the sciences, but each discovery or invention drove us farther from the natural world and the sources of life. It was hard for Magolyn to admire our intelligence when we seemed so unwise. Humans perpetually made things complicated while trying to make life easier. It was, for instance, human fascination with machines that led to the formation of Grimel Kin in the Realm of Dreams. She considered those creatures a pestilence.

  But that line of musing suddenly gave her something new to consider as she pondered what caused the blackout.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Officer Cleghorn was a rookie cop on the relatively small police force. He’d drawn foot patrol around Palmer Park this lovely Thursday morning and was expecting a pleasant stroll greeting familiar faces. Truant children and homeless squatters were the only problems he normally encountered. Then he spotted a strange woman sitting cross legged on the grass staring into a crystal ball. A knot formed in his stomach and his right hand moved of its own volition toward his holster. He stopped himself and took several deep breaths while choosing a course of action.

  Esmeralda spent the prior evening casting divinations for humans at Luca
s’ occult shop. Most of the mid-week patrons were college students stopping by precisely because a fortune-teller was present. She’d made a small pile of paper currency. Some of her customers also bought books from the store, so Lucas was happy. Everything was going well. She just needed a report from her Grimel Kin.

  Officer Cleghorn strode over to Esmeralda in his most officious manner. “Excuse me, ma’am. Might I ask what you’re doing?”

  Esme turned to see a man in a blue uniform looking down at her. He seemed to be a guard of some sort so she adopted a respectful tone.

  “I’m just contemplating images in my crystal, good sir, while enjoying the autumn weather in this pleasant green space. Have I violated some rule?”

  Officer Cleghorn hadn’t come up with an actual infraction to complain about. Sitting in the park wasn’t technically loitering. Still, he was uneasy about strange women in cast-off clothing doing crystal gazing on his turf. I shudder to think how he’d have felt about my remote observation of his activities.

  “Fortune telling is illegal, ma’am.”

  “As it is my own future I am contemplating, I fail to see the harm. When I consult the crystal for others, it is strictly for entertainment purposes.”

  Cleghorn knew when he was defeated. “I see. Well then, I’ll leave you to your… contemplation. I remind you that the park closes at seven tonight, so don’t stay after dark. Good day.”

  Esme gave a self-satisfied smile. She would sleep here after dark, but the officer would not harass a hawk sitting in a tree. She lifted the sphere again, but was startled by a gravely whisper.

  “Does Mistress want the policeman’s gun to jam? Wigout knows about guns. They can be quite amusing.”

  “Antagonize law enforcement on your own time. What have you accomplished with the girl?”

  The disembodied voice continued. “The power is out at her house. So many wires are crossed it will take repairer man days to fix. All food is packed in cooler box. Digital clocks are all dark, which is what they deserve.”

  Esme frowned. “That sounds very inconvenient, but how did it bother Cass?”

  “Human girl walked out to find plug for computing box elsewhere. By the way, why she living with Fae?”

  “That’s not important. You need to make your attacks more personal. Go to her school this afternoon.”

  Leaves flew up from the ground, disturbed by an invisible foot. “Wigout cannot go to cross bearer school.”

  “Do it or you get no toys.”

  I couldn’t see Wigout, but his voice was shaking. “No get to play with toys if black hoods cast magic on me.”

  Tired of her minion’s defiance Esmeralda said “I will banish you back to the Realm of Dreams myself if you displease me. I assure you, I’m more likely to succeed than a human nun.”

  There was a long pause before the Grimel Kin answered. “Wigout will try to find girl at school.”

  “Good. It’s about time you showed me a little respect. I’m a powerful air mage and you’d be wise not to defy me. Understood?”

  There was no response. She waved her hands through the air, but encountered no resistance, leading to the conclusion he’d departed invisibly. Without a conspicuous display of magic she couldn’t be certain. She decided it wasn’t worth the risk. Invisibility was the primary reason Grimel Kin survived.

  She was unsatisfied with the rate things were moving. The next new moon must find her back in the Realm of Fae. She’d found a way to make a bit of coin and a place to store her supplies, but she needed more information about this Realm, and Cass’s position in particular, in order to craft a truly monumental revenge. Wigout was just an annoyance to her quarry. Still, she had the whole day to think of something. Maybe things would look up as the day progressed.

  “Esmeralda, is that you?”

  Or, perhaps, things would just fall apart. Magolyn Olcort was crossing the park toward her. Esme had seen the scholar before in the company of Willowwalk’s Clan Speaker, but the woman looked odd in her flower-patterned blouse and khaki slacks. Magolyn had cosmetically applied streaks of grey in her hair, which surprised Esme. Magolyn was in her prime at 530, but the scholar still insisted she was 499. Artificial aging with makeup seemed out of character.

  Esme tried to look innocent and unconcerned. Magolyn, of course, got right to the point. Members of Clan Willowwalk pass through bushes rather than beat around them.

  “Did you follow us to watch Cass’s punishment in progress?”

  Esme attempted to deflect suspicion with politeness.

  “Good morning, Magolyn. It’s so nice to see you.”

  Deflecting a Willowwalk was like deflecting an oncoming tornado.

  “Esmeralda, you aren’t doing anything rash, are you?”

  “If anyone has a right to witness Cass’s humiliation, it’s me Magolyn. He and I were very close before he left me under false pretenses. He pled duty and honor as excuses to break off with me. Instead, he betrays his oath duping human companions. You can’t blame me for taking some satisfaction from his demotion.”

  The older Alfaran adopted a sympathetic expression, but offered little comfort. “I know he hurt you, Esme, but the two of you were partnered decades ago. This is about him learning a lesson and returning to the Realm of Fae a better man. You have a good position within Clan Glenhollow. The Defender has his eye on you. He sees your promising talent with air magic. Don’t throw that good will away to be petty.”

  “I’m not a petty person, Magolyn, and I’m nobody’s fool. I’ll be gone at the next new moon.”

  “Good. I hope you can find enough amusements here to keep busy until then. The Mortal Realm does have its fascinations.”

  Esmeralda knew Magolyn was right. She did have a reputation to maintain. She had plans to meet with the Defender when she returned to Glenhollow. Seeking revenge shouldn’t be allowed to spoil all that. So she resolved not to get caught.

  ##

  Maggie continued up the street, determined to fulfill her promise by purchasing white or beige bras for Cass. She located a likely boutique selling clothes for young women, but as she reached for the door a male voice addressed her.

  “Excuse me, ma’am. Do you have a minute?”

  Maggie turned to see a policeman who I recognized as Officer Cleghorn. She smiled warmly, but her mind began racing. The last thing she wanted was attention from local authorities. As far as she knew, she’d done nothing wrong.

  “Can I help you, officer?”

  “I noticed you speaking with a younger woman earlier. She had long, black hair and a flowing skirt. Do you know her?”

  Maggie considered her response, wondering what trouble Esme was stirring up. She initially thought this might be an opportunity to keep the air mage under observation, but realized that the risk of exposing the whole Realm of Fae to human attention was too great. Humans were a bigger potential threat than Esme. “She’s an old acquaintance. We talk occasionally.”

  Cleghorn remained impassive. “Has she ever told your fortune?”

  “Um, no she hasn’t. Does she do that now? I knew her back in Canada from years ago.”

  “She’s Canadian?”

  “Oh yes. Her, me, my husband… we’re all Canadian.”

  The policeman nodded sagely. “I see. That explains a lot. Thank you.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  I located Cass wandering about after his second period class. He was wondering where study hall was held. As luck would have it, he spotted Peter talking with two of the senior girls in cheerleader uniforms. He walked over and waited for a break in the discussion, which happened as soon as one of the girls spotted him.

  “Oh, look at this. It’s the new pixie. What do you want?”

  The girl was rather pretty, offering Cass the chance to test his inclination toward females. He reacted to the hated nickname rather than the girl’s appearance, however, ending any chance of attraction. Blushing, he responded. “My name is Cassandra and I was looking for Peter.”
>
  “You know this munchkin, Peter?”

  “I seem to remember helping her find a locker. Are you lost again, Cass?”

  “Um, yeah, I kinda’ am. Can you tell me where sophomore study hall is held?”

  The cheerleaders giggled and Peter hid a grin. The girls departed after delivering looks that conveyed utter distain for inexperienced newbies. Peter wiped the smile off his face and answered. “It’s a free period, Cass. You can spend it in the library, computer lab, music room, or out under a tree, if you’re so inclined.”

  Peter’s return to condescension flustered Cass, but frontloading social awkwardness was all part of his plan, and Peter was back to helping with that. Cass gathered his dignity and asked another question. “Can you tell me where the computer lab is?”

  Peter was looking over Cass’s head down the hallway. “I can do better than that.” He raised his voice a little. “Trina, could you come here?”

  Cass recognized the slender blonde from homeroom as she hurried over to them. She was almost Peter’s height, but she hunched and kept her eyes down. “Hello, Peter. How can I help?”

  “This is Cass and she’s new here. Please help her find the computer lab.”

  “I’ll be late for… I mean… sure. I’d be happy to help. Follow me, Cass. It’s down this way.” She hurried off without even looking back. Cass picked up his pace to catch her.

  “This is very nice of you. I think we have homeroom together.”

  “It’s okay. It’s not a problem. I’ve got to get to history.” As she said this, the late bell rang and she took off like a bullet. Cass made a mental note to talk to this Trina girl. Any knowledge she had about Peter might assist in maximizing contact with the senior and getting the “broken heart” thing out of the way. Peter, it seemed, was very hard on other people’s self-esteem.

  ##

  Joan strode swiftly down the corridor making her way toward the senior lockers. The task before her was unpleasant, so she planned to get it over with quickly. She reached Amanda Lipton’s locker and stood her ground silently until the senior finished exchanging books.

  Amanda spared Joan a brief glance, before turning to walk slowly away. “Look what crawled out of the pit of despair.” She directed her comment at Joan without making eye contact. “What do you want?”