[Expected Scene[Bestow, Enemy]

  Two attacks and I still haven’t even seen the real enemy, how can I draw out Mistralyn? What is it he wants from me? Is it just the song? If that song is so powerful, perhaps we should lean into that. What if Lu and I are seen to be openly working on a song together. Will that be enough to draw him out? Well I can’t just lie here all day, might as well get up. I have the beginnings of a plan anyways. I’ll just get up quietly. Lu still has time to sleep.

  “Goodmorning Rose, where are you sneaking off to?”

  “Goodmorning Lu, I wasn’t sneaking off, I woke up early, and didn’t want to wake you. But I failed at that task. Sorry.”

  “You tossed and turned all night, I’m a light sleeper and you usually sleep like a log, you’re worrying about Mistralyn aren't you.”

  “Yes, but I’ve also been working on a plan, which I have just a glimmer of. I see how to start it if you agree to help, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten with it.”

  “I agree.”

  “Well I have to brush my teeth, then I’m going to come back in here and kiss you good.”

  “Let’s say we brush our teeth together that way we’ll both enjoy that kiss.”

  “That’s already better than the plan I was working on.”

  We brushed then kissed then I told Lu what I was thinking.

  “First I have to get my mother and granny somewhere safe, I think the tower is the safest place for them. Next you and I pretend to be collaborating on another song. I think the fountain in the town square would be the best place. I’ll just say random words you repeat them like you agree it’d make a good verse in the lay and throw Mistralyn's name in the mix. If he thinks you’re composing a song about him and I’m helping, he may assume it’s some sort of attack spell or binding spell. That’s about as far as I've gotten so far.”

  “That’s smart Rose, run it by Sparky maybe he can help you brainstorm it past us in the park.”

  “Well I thought of a strategic withdrawal from Emain Albach into Juliet’s world. I have a lot to lose there but I’m also in control of the narrative there. I want to talk to Juliet and try to get her to work the narrative in her world as well.”

  “Do you think that’s possible?”

  “Yes she’s already done it, she took control of the narrative when I dropped the ball on what was going to happen to the church after the preacher and head deacon were removed.”

  “You better hurry, you don’t want to be late.”

  “Don’t you want me to help you move our stuff to the tower? Do you even want to live in the tower? We could probably find an apartment around here or the Jack in the Green.”

  “No thank you I don’t need any help moving our stuff, yes I do want to move into the tower. I like the idea of being in the same building as you when I change. Why pay for an apartment when Sparky is offering free lodging. I’ll move the first batch of stuff over if I hate the place or think that you will, I’ll stop and come find you at the bookstore ok?”

  “Thank you, so do I, and I love you. Bye.”

  “I love you too, bye.”

  “So your ‘plan’ is to give Mistralyn, an opening shot at you in the town square, then retreat to Juliet’s world where you expect her to help how?”

  “Well I want to teach her Bibliomancy so she can defend herself and her world.”

  “First off, that's never been done before. I don’t even think that’s possible. Second if it is possible I’m not sure Juliet would be my first choice. Let’s say she has a very forceful personality and Bibliomancy isn’t about forcing your will onto your character, it’s giving them agency.”

  “If it’s never been done, maybe it’s never been tried. Juliet is very opinionated but her opinions are that people should be allowed to make their own mistakes.”

  “She never would have handled Salome like you did and you know that.”

  “Well… Alright, do you have any bright ideas.”

  Just then Lily ran in the door. “Salome is missing.”

  “She wanted to go out gathering again by herself. She left early this morning. I checked with the gate guards, and she passed through the gate just after dawn. I checked all the fields for her. What if something happened I was supposed to protect that sweet girl after everything she's already been through?”

  “Ok, let me try locate. I get a vague direction, over to the northeast. “Sparky you try.”

  “Something’s blocking it but I too get a vague sense toward the north, north east. Get Lu, whoever is blocking us won’t know to block scent.”

  “I’ll go get her, she was headed to the tower so when I find her we’ll start to search immediately, Lily go back to the bakery in case she comes back. Lu and I will find her. I won’t come back until I do.”

  “Rose, whatever happens, be yourself, fight on your own terms, by your own principles. Do you hear me?”

  “Yes Sparky, I hear you but I’ll do whatever I have to do to bring her home. I can’t do any less, no matter the consequences.”

  I found Lu by the gate. She was headed back toward the apartment, but I turned her around, both of us now heading for the field where she always started. I inquired at the gate if Salome had returned. The guards shook their heads, said as soon as they were relieved they’d gladly help in the search, they pointed to the field Salome started in and then the next field she’d gone to. Lu casually loped to the second field, starting to look for Salome scent, there was no way I could keep up.

  I vowed to walk more and jump less. But vowing couldn’t make me any faster. I told Lu not to wait for me. I'd follow as fast as I could. If you change directions just leave a sign. She took off at double the speed, and I tried to go faster, but even if I was in excellent shape I’d never been able to keep up with a werewolf. The path I was on split one path leading vaguely north and that’s where Lu had left the sign, so I hurried on. It dawned on me that this was a trap, and I’d sent Lu into it. But I didn’t know what else I could do, besides struggle to keep up.

  A few minutes later I saw Lu jogging back.

  “I’ve found her Rose, she’s bound, hands behind her back with Mistralyn or some other fey. Just up ahead in a clearing, I think it might be a trap because they are either waiting for us or someone else.”

  “I’m sure it’s a trap, you go back and tell Sparky what’s happened and I’ll just wait here watching. Ok?”

  “You’ll just wait?”

  “Of course I will, I’m not going to try and take that guy on.”

  “Don’t you have a Portal Muffin?”

  “No, I completely forgot them this morning. Bring some when you come back ok?”

  “OK, I’ll be back in twenty minutes.”

  “I’ll be right here.”

  Good I had twenty minutes to try and rescue Salome without putting Lu in danger.

  “You know you’re dead when Rose shows up here, you’d be better off just letting me go and I won’t tell anyone that you kidnapped me.”

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  “Kid, just shut up. If Rose shows up here I’ll just trade you for her or kill you. So keep your smart mouth shut.”

  “I’m here, if you want me let her go.”

  “I’ll let her go when you swear you won’t use Bibliomancy powers to jump away.”

  “I swear but you have to let me say goodbye to Salome. Now let her go.”

  He released Salome. “I left a Portal Muffin by the path I came in on, portal to Sparky. No arguments, now. I’ll be OK. I love you, go.”

  She hugged me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see him coming. It’s all my fault.”

  “No it’s not, I’ll be fine. Pretty soon Mistralyn and I are going to be fast friends.”

  “Wait, how do you know my name?”

  “Please those two sexist jerks you sent after me, you didn’t expect that they’d rat you out. I thought the fey were known for their cunning, I guess it’s just Puck who has any brains.”

  “Don’t mention that clod’s name.”

  “Clod, that’s the best you got. No wonder Shakespeare didn’t bother mentioning you name.”

  “That hack playwright, who cares if people don’t know who I am.”

  “Have you even seen the Faerie play?”

  “Of course not, why should I waste my time on human entertainment, when I have the entire city of Quintessence to entertain me.”

  “So you got me where are you taking me or are you just going to kill me here.”

  “I’m taking you to see the queen, she wants your power, I want my banishment to end, you are my ticket home.”

  “And you had to kidnap an already traumatized girl to achieve that and the Queen doesn’t even know you’re after me huh. I guess you are brave if a bit stupid.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well anyways this part will go great in the book.”

  “What book?”

  “I’m writing a biography of her Majesty. I’ve been researching it at Sparky’s bookstore. From the overthrow of that tyrant Nuada to the gracious reign of Oberon and Titania. Don’t worry, I’ll tell Titania your meddling only sets me back a month or so. I’m sure she’ll be patient, what’s time to an immortal being am I right. She’s known for her patience right, at least that’s what I’m putting in the book about her. When did she banish you, this great material for the book. What did you get banished for?”

  “It was a misunderstanding.”

  “So you’re saying that Titania made a mistake when she banished you. This is great stuff. I couldn't find anybody else brave enough to say that Titania made a mistake during her reign. After you’re done turning me over to her I’d love a chance to sit down and interview you about the King and Queen. I heard you were their spy so you must have dirt on everybody in the place. Not to worry I have that Bibliomancer power Perfect Recall, any conversation I have related to my literary efforts I can recall word for word. She’ll know that you said a misunderstanding not a mistake. How about the King, what sort of things has he screwed up?”

  “Nothing, neither one of them has ever made a mistake since ascending the throne.”

  “So was your misunderstanding with Titania before they ascended?”

  “There was no misunderstanding, I misspoke in the heat of the moment. You are free to go.”

  “No, no, no pal you’ve attacked three of my friends to get to me. I demand you take me to Titania right now. If I don’t have the queen’s blessing how will I know you won’t start this all over again.”

  “You have my word.”

  “Look pal, I’ve only known you for fifteen minutes and you expect me to believe your word, when you already ‘mispoke’, you must take me for a real rube.”

  “What else do I have to offer, I’ve been banished, I have no home, no friends. I thought Tatania would reward me, now I’m worse off than when I began.”

  “How did you confer Bibliomancy skills on a cretin like Damon?”

  “I have a magic wand that grants Simple Bibliomancy skills, it doesn’t actually make them Bibliomancers, but they learn Jump and a Bibliomancer has no power over them except in a world they authored.”

  “But they can’t author anything?”

  “Only in the sense that they can write a story but they can’t enter any stories on their own they’d need a Bibliomancer to actually jump into a world they created.”

  “How many charges are left on the wand?”

  “Six.”

  “Give me the wand, your word, and the reason you were banished and I won’t seek Titania’s vengeance on you for all the trouble you’ve caused up to now.”

  “That wand was expensive.”

  “Yeah and if what you say is true and you’re done attacking me, you also won’t need it anymore. Hand it over.”

  “Here.”

  “Now your word.”

  “I swear that I will not attempt to harm you or any under your protection, on Titania’s name I do swear.”

  “The reason.”

  “You promise not to tell anyone.”

  “Yes I promise.”

  “I spied on Titania and her ladies-in-waiting in the bathing chamber.”

  “Creepy”

  “No I thought they were plotting and I wanted in on the mischief. But I was caught and the queen banished me.”

  “If you do right by me, and I ever have the queen's ear. I’ll put in a good word for you, explain it was done out of love, not lust. But if you cross me or mine again, I’ll tell her you said she looked fat in the bath.”

  “I won’t, I won’t thank you, thank you.”

  “Ok but you better make yourself scarce. My friends will be here any minute from now, and they were pretty mad you kidnapped a little girl.”

  “Yes I’m sorry, I’m going.”

  I was only about twenty feet down the path, before a very angry werewolf appeared before me.

  “You told me you didn’t have a portal muffin and that you’d forgotten them. I think these were your exact words.”

  “Yes, I lied, I had one portal muffin that I wanted Salome to use.”

  “I know she told everyone that you swapped yourself for her.”

  “You’d have done the same thing and don’t try to deny it. I know the woman I love.”

  “Here we go, now you’re trying to sweet talk me.”

  “If it works I’ll let you do that thing you like to do with the pleasure stone to me, and I’ll do it backkkk.”

  “Rose, I'm supposed to protect you.”

  “And you do and you did, do you know what would have happened to me if anything else happened to that sweet kid, because of an enemy of mine. I’d be utterly devastated. When I needed help, who did I call, who do I always call, you. You saved Salome because you're the only one who could find her. When I was trying to keep up with you it dawned on me that Mistralyn was an idiot. He kidnapped Salome to get to me. But the idiot used a cloaking spell to mask his location, which you’d do if you kidnapped the person you wanted not for a trade you have to make the location known where the trade takes place.”

  “Well the sweet talking worked.”

  “So you do want to do that thing again.”

  “Of course I do, but it’s not like you, talking about stuff like that out in the sunlight, and you weren’t even blushing.”

  “I’m too tired after all the running to blush, all the blood must be in my feet.”

  “I brought a portal muffin if you’d like to portal back.”

  “No, I’d rather walk with you. If I learned anything today it's that city life is making me soft. I want to go on more walks with you.”

  “Me too Rose.”

  “So tell me now that you and Sparky don’t need to protect me, do you still want to move into the tower.”

  “Oh yes Rose, and so will you. Wait, what do you mean?”

  “I knew we were moving for protection, five hundred snails. Sparky wanted to do work at the bookstore, expanding as if. Sparky’d downsize before he’d expand, I know I work with him. Well if you like the tower that’s good enough for me.”

  The magical bakery must have been in customer service mode because Lily, Salome and Sparky were all waiting for us at the bookstore. After hugs all around, I asked Salome to fill us in.

  “I was gathering and I’m really focused when I’m doing that so I don’t make any dumb mistakes, I was squatting down, trying to catch a wandering thyme. I heard a footsteps behind me, got up and turned around. That guy put a bag over my head and tied my hands behind my back and marched me to that clearing you found me in.”

  “Lu found you in, I’d still be lost in the woods. Lu tacked you and left signs for me which way to go.”

  “I told him you were going to kick his butt, what did you turn him into? A toad, a weasel, a frog.”

  “No honey, I let him go, I got the information we needed out of him and a little surprise for you for making you walk so far. If he deserved punishment for anything it was for making us worry about your safety. Tomorrow I’m making you a junior Bibliomancer, you’ll be able to jump and have protection from other Bibliomancers.”

  “Really I’ll be able to jump.”

  “Yes but it’s for emergency use only and you’ll have to be trained so you’ll be an apprentice’s apprentice, Juliet will too so you can train together. Ok”

  “Ok, that’s great Rose”

  “Rose, thank you so much for finding her, I don't know what I’d have done if you weren’t here.”

  “No need to thank me, I’m just glad it worked out so well in the end. I thought I was going to have a heart attack when you told me and when I was traipsing across those fields.”

  Salome hugged me, kissed me on the cheek and said, “I knew you’d save me so I wasn’t even scared.”

  Then they went back to the bakery.

  “Sparky, I’ll tell you the whole story tomorrow but I’m tired, are we still welcome on the third floor now that I don’t need protection.”

  Sparky said to Lu.”You told her, you promised me…”

  “She didn’t tell me, you told me when you sent me to find your dinner and I came back to ambitious plans to expand the book store and Lu and I are moving to an impregnable tower. I know I’m naive, and gullible sometimes but come on, give me a little credit. For now I just want to go upstairs, have some dinner and fall into bed I have promises to keep.”