Myla didn't actually hate talking to her grandfather. He was kind to her, took an interest in her latest animated obsession and encouraged her to tell him more, and he always had advice ready when she needed it. But he could get cryptic when he thought she needed to learn something on her own. That was very frustrating when it was about an investigation. They parked on the side of an access road halfway into the preserve, before it turned into the exclusion zone. The trail to the clearing looked like a game trail, but she knew only supplicants looking to speak with the Leshy actually took it.
There were branches out from the trail that went to many places in the preserve and several that went into the exclusion zone itself. She could see dark things lurking on those paths, like they were waiting to be allowed onto the main path. Why? What was driving them to seek an audience with the old man? And why was he making them wait? What game was he playing? Thick underbrush and tightly packed trees offered privacy and a clear visual line between the protected trail and the wild forest.
The clearing where he conducted his business was fairly large and in the center was a collection of stones and logs surrounding a fire pit for large meetings or rituals. One stone was larger than the rest, meant for the Leshy himself to sit on when he came here. He was waiting for them on that rock, and that was out of character for him. He loomed even when sitting, a tall creature that appeared as an old man with a long and shaggy beard and unkempt hair that was a deep tree bark brown with hints of moss growing among the strands.
His ruddy skin was stained with dirt, she wasn't certain that he bathed unless the rain washed him clean, and long nails slowly drew odd shapes in the dirt while he pretended not to notice them. The others stopped well outside his reach but she approached fearlessly, “Hey there pa, you're here already. Were you expecting me?” He pulled his sharp blue eyed gaze up from the ground, “Mo spent half the morning calling for me. When he finally stopped, I knew he would fetch you next.” She crossed her arms, “If you just talked to him then it would already be done pa.”
He gave her a smile full of neat, tightly packed yellow teeth, “I wanted to talk anyway. How’s life treating you sapling?” She eyed him, “Fine. Just keeping busy with work. Speaking of, black truck, found it about three weeks back, the owner was a single male in his mid forties. Went into the exclusion zone alone and armed, a poacher we think. Do you know what happened to him?” He scratched at his beard and several small animals scampered into new hiding spots in it, “Straight to it, just like your father. He was always too impatient for manners.”
He shrugged and settled into a more comfortable position, “I know whom you speak of, of course. Should I give up on great grandchildren from you? Are you simply… hmm what are the new words for the sapphics again? I've heard so many over the ages and I do not wish to insult my favorite sprout with something offensive.” She sighed, “Lesbian papa. Or just gay. Not here to discuss my love life, New Breed Security is looking for him. They just want to know his fate and no one wants them to come looking on their own.”
He grinned, “They can try but it's pointless. He's dead. Eaten.” She nodded, “Figures, what got him?” The Leshy swung his head to look at the others, “Squirrels. They get vicious this time of the year. It's mating season, they're bulking up for shows of dominance.” She frowned, “Seriously pa? The corpos just want to know what happened to their guy. They didn't even ask for the body, just any personal effects we can get.” The Leshy considered it before slowly nodding, “Fine. But I only tell you. No secrets from my lips to your ears Mo.”
Mac scowled, “Now hold on, you can't just-” But Montok raised hand and stopped him, “That is acceptable. I trust Miss Lesnik to take careful notes. But really old tree, it is a petty thing to do over a hand of cards.” The Leshy scowled, “I still think you cheated. Next week we get a dealer that isn't also playing.” The sheriff smirked, “I did not cheat, but we can get a dealer if it soothes you. Good day Leshy.” He nodded and left the clearing, the chief following in his heels and chuckling, “He's just mad you have a better poker face than him sheriff.”
Mac gestured with two fingers between his eyes and her grandfather to indicate he was watching him. When they were gone she started to speak but he raised a finger to stop her. She felt him weave magic before finally speaking, “There. Montok left a listening rune, now he's going to be listening to us discuss the weather.” Myla crossed her arms, “You didn't wait for me to talk about a dead poacher, and you're being cagier than normal granddad. What’s going on?” He smiled, “Always quick on your feet. It's why you're my favorite sapling. The wellspring stirred.”
She blinked, “The… and you haven't told anyone? Are you mad, what if it fully wakes, hundreds could die! Thousands!” He waved it off, “It's settled already and it happened about four weeks ago. I took steps to quiet it without need of others intervention.” She frowned, “Then why bring it up?” He grinned at her, “First, tell me. Did you leave a good impression on the vampire?” Her eyes narrowed, “How's that related? Wait, better question, how do you know about her?” His smile didn't flicker, “It's only tangently related, but it's important for other reasons. Do you know what makes vampires interesting?”
She rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to snap at him, “Alright fine I'll bite, but then you tell me how you know about her. What makes them interesting?” He held up a hand palm up, “They grow in strength with age. It's interesting because most things don't, our power for example waxes and wanes with the health of our forest. Nine tailed foxes grow but stop once they run out of new tails. Everyone has hard limits, except them. And dragons, unicorns, a very few other rare breeds, but that's not the point.”
Myla frowned deeply as she listened, “So?” He examined his nails, “She was in my forest and heading away from the town on a blind trek. I just… directed her onto a better course. Her ending up in front of you was intentional. You ending up with her scent covering every inch of you is a pleasant surprise though.” She tried to fight a blush, “We danced together and she stayed at my place, I just didn't have time to take a shower this morning.” He reached and touched her shoulder. Right where a fresh hickey and two puncher marks were still a little sore.
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“Should I pull this back or are you going to remember who I am? Besides, you're just her type.” Myla blinked at him then glared and brushed his hand away before advancing with an accusatory finger raised, “You old bastard, you knew that we- if this is some kind of arranged- how do you even know her? She said she's been out for a century!” He raised his hands defensively, “I thought you might like each other! But I knew you would help her without needing to be asked and that you could talk her into staying in town. She could be a powerful ally.”
His grin widened unnaturally, “And vampires tend to enrich their homes over time, so it's good for the town and the preserve to keep her here. That was why I sent her your way, there's no arrangement or ulterior motive in mind. I swear on my forest.” She jabbed a finger into his chest, “It had better be or so help me, I will stop visiting old man.” She stepped back with a sigh, “So how do you know her? You have to know her if you thought we would like each other.”
He went back to playing in the dirt as he talked, “From the old world. Before the wars, she was a well known scholar of the occult and she came to me to trade secrets a few times. Honestly she was one of the best of her age, she wasn't specialized like most but she collected knowledge from everywhere in Europe and Asia. I heard rumors about her going to the dark continent even. And after three hundred years her archive of lore became the stuff of legends, though no one knows what happened to it after her disappearance.”
She blew out a long breath, “I see. So what, you put her in front of your granddaughter and hope she stays for me? I'm not a tool for you to use grandfather.” She rubbed her face, thinking back to Kasia mentioning the poacher, “How’s the poacher connected to this anyway?” He suddenly reached out and pushed her shirt back from her shoulder. She felt his magic healing the small but deep bite wounds. She was going to protests but relief flooded her and it became a sigh of relief instead. Had it really hurt her that badly?
He spoke casually, “I needed to quiet the mana well. He was an invader I wanted removed. Two birds with a single stone. Now the mana well sleeps sound in its stone grave.” Her eyes narrowed at him, “When you say stone grave do you mean a bunker?” She didn't expect an answer, the old man never talked about the mana well or where it might be. He was too cautious of the monster slumbering in it. But then he slowly nodded, “Yes. And if she was honest with you, then yes she came from there too.” She shivered at the answer, “Do you think she's a servant of the well?”
He snorted, “No. We were no bosom companions but I know Archivist Mazur well enough. She and her company took no commands but those from her stars, there's no reason to suspect that had changed. But the stirring did wake her I think.” She frowned, “You think?” He shrugged, “My authority ends where the stone grave begins. She came from there after the stirring, I need not see the puzzle to know that result. She will be valuable as an ally for both the town and our family, one we will need soon. I ask only that you not make her our enemy.”
She frowned, “Why will we need her?” His face grew serious, the air darkening around them and trees felt suddenly closer, as if they were huddling together for comfort and protection, “A storm is coming. It shall rage and rattle against wall and threshold, its torrent will wash away the unprepared and test the resolute. I have seen it, in dream and prophecy. Rain and hail. Trees that bend break and shatter. The strike of lightning to bring down walls too weak for it. And the stone that might offer shelter.”
She could smell rain, taste ozone on her tongue, “You… do you know when it's coming?” He shook his head, “I saw only that. You may say whatever else you like to your sheriff but the vision is for you and the star touched to hear. Tell others and you poison the mead before they might sup from the cauldron.” She studied his serious expression before slowly nodding, “Ok pa. I'll… I'll keep that part quiet. For now. And until I think it's important for the others to know.” He frowned but nodded, “That is… acceptable.”
He started picking at something in his beard, “There is one more thing. Something for your sheriff and chief should know. There was black magic wrought within my forest, a ritual of some sort. I am… uncertain of its exact nature, the ritual and the caster were both hidden from my sight by powerful magics.” She blinked up at the ancient forest spirit, “What? Hidden from- how? I thought you had complete dominion over the forest.” He shifted uncomfortably on his rock, “They did not challenge me directly and snuck in.”
He held up a dirty hand helplessly, “Dominion I claim, but I cannot see everything. And this caster was both skilled and powerful. Whoever it was did their work and left without my notice. I only found the remnants of the ritual when a dryad found it and alerted me to the problem, even now I cannot see it properly. I don't recognize the spellcraft involved, but I can smell the cruelty and offal. Black magic, darker than shadow and night. One of the unicorns is studying it, trying to figure out how to break the veil over the site, but it seems built to blind even them. That means outer plains help, and that's hard to deal with.”
Then he grinned, “But there is one person that might know of how to pierce the spell, and you have shared a bed with her. Mayhaps you inquire with her, hmm?” She sighed, “Is that another reason you sent her to me?” He shook his head, “No, I only learned of the ritual morning. The veil around it is strong and well woven. I fear the caster might still be lurking within my domain, but I haven't found them yet. I was rather hoping you could arrange for the ranger patrols to keep their eyes open for signs of people out in the exclusion zone.”
She chewed her bottom lip for a second, “Alright papa. I'll see what I can do. And I'll ask Kasia about it tonight when she wakes up.” He suddenly grinned, “Speaking of the Archivist, she is a worthwhile suitor for you. I would have liked more saplings to doat on, but getting her to join the family would be more than acceptable too.” She suppressed a sigh, “And I think you're assuming a lot about someone I met last night.” He leaned conspiratorially down to her, “Maybe I am but think of the benefits!”
Then his grin became more sly and lecherous, “And I'm certain she left an impression on more than your shoulder last night. How was she? I've heard rumors about her skill and tenacity, she was always well known for being ravenous. Rumor has it she might even be half nymph.” She blushed, “I don't want to talk about what's probably a one night stand with my grandfather! I don't really want to talk about it at all.” He laughed, “Ah so you intend to leave her cold tonight then.” She shoved him, “Stop! I don't know, I barely know her. It was just… it's been awhile and she was… why am I even talking about this?”
He chuckled, “Because you have few friends to discuss such with, you really should let me introduce you to some of the fair and foul folk from the glades.” She sighed heavily, “Yes because having your pa set you up on play dates is cool.” He gave her a mock stern look with his hands on his hips, “As is endlessly pining after one of the only friends you do have. If it helps with the appeal though, I believe a few of them actually know your ‘one night stand’ as you say. Mayhap they could tell you more of her hmm? In fact, on the new moon there's even going to be a celebration. You can meet them without me setting up a ‘play date’.”
She considered that before looking at him, “How about a trade? I go to the new moon celebration and you get me the poachers phone and wallet.” He grinned wide, “Done! I will have to find another to go in the grave so it might take time, but I will see to it. I do not know what condition his things will be in however, I don't know exactly how he died, only that he did.” She eyed him before nodding. If he knew then he knew, “Alright, it's a deal. Oh and um… thanks. For helping Kasia get to the party. She was pretty frazzled last night, and she doesn't speak English.”
He snorted, “Really? With how well traveled she is? Well the undead have always been odd things. I think time warps how their minds work. Ah, but your superiors look impatient now. That deputy Mac has been pacing since they returned to the cars but now even Montok is checking his watch. Travel safe with my love sapling.” She smiled at him, “Love you too pa. Stay safe.”
