By the Enchantment of Moonlight (The Forbidden Realm #2.5)

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P
imma fluttered through a sunbeam and came to light on the soft moss that carpeted the gathering place in front of Council Hall. A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves in the tall trees overhead, making familiar music all around. Here on the ground, though, the air was calm and silent. Enormous oak trunks sheltered their little village and the scent of earth and new blooms made everything fresh. The day was exactly as it should be and all seemed well in Fairyrealm.

Except for the fact that Pimma had nothing to do. Not that she was complaining, of course. She'd gladly accepted the promotion to Chief Advocate. She just hadn't expected her new duties to be so…well, boring.

Until ten days ago, rumors and whispers had run wild through Fairyrealm. There had been talk of conspiracy and evidence of fairies engaged in unthinkable crimes: carnal desire, lustful behavior, sexual interactions, and the worst offense of all—co-mingling with humans. As Pimma well knew, this sort of behavior put everyone in the Forbidden Realm at risk because it weakened the Veil that protected their magical world from detection by humans. Humans who would wage war on them as they'd done millennia ago, before the Veil was established.

The world as Pimma knew it seemed to be falling apart around her.

Naturally, then, she'd been thrilled when she was assigned to work with the council's top enforcer. Swift was the best of the best. There was no question about his dedication to the Fairy Code, and Pimma was honored to work with him. She was slightly intimidated by his commanding demeanor and impeccable record, but honored. No one was more admired in Fairy Realm than Swift.

They'd gone together to bring in a rogue fairy named Kyne. As Advocate, it was Pimma's duty to see that Kyne was subject to Fairy Code and that he was handled appropriately through interrogation and subsequent sentencing. If he was innocent, that would be duly determined. If he was guilty, however, the council would find out who he was in league with and put an end to their illicit activities. She'd been looking forward to learning just what dastardly things he'd been doing and who he'd been doing them with.

What a shock, then, when the prisoner escaped before they could learn anything.

At first the council leader questioned Pimma. Had she helped her charge get away? Was she one of the fairies engaging in carnal activities and putting everyone in jeopardy? But Swift had stood up for her. He assured Council Leader Dorn that she was loyal and above reproach and, of course, his word meant something. So, instead of suspecting Pimma, Dorn had promoted her.

Swift had been sent off to hunt for the escapee, and Pimma thought she'd get busy hunting down other unfaithful fairies. In her new position, she would be able to make a difference for their Realm. Apparently, though, when Kyne disappeared, all the danger to Fairy Realm did, too.

She was more than a little surprised when nothing else happened. Dorn did not assign her other prisoners to represent, none of Kyne's connections were brought in for interrogation, and somehow the rampant rumors and whispers simply stopped. For more than a week now, it was as if nothing unsettling had ever happened. Fairy Realm was at peace.

So why wasn't Pimma?

Because she had seen the concern in Swift's eyes. When Kyne escaped, he hadn't been merely angry about it, he'd been concerned. Whatever Kyne had been involved in, Swift believed it was a real threat. When he met with Dorn behind closed doors and was tasked with going off after Kyne, Swift wasted no time. He left without word to anyone.

And now he'd been gone ten whole days, and Pimma had heard nothing. Surely if Swift had found the fugitive he'd have sent word back. Dorn would have told her to prepare for their return. But so far, Dorn had said nothing. Pimma's requests for an update had gone unanswered. All she could do was sit around and fret.

Because if Swift had been worried, then so was she.

Why wouldn't the Council Leader tell her what was happening? So far, he wouldn't even tell her where Swift was. Had he left Fairy Realm? She had no idea, other than the fact that he'd been gone so long, she could only assume he was far away. That meant Kyne was far away. That meant if Kyne truly was involved in some sort of conspiracy, it could be bigger than they'd thought.

Someone should be investigating this.
She
should be investigating this, but Dorn kept insisting that was not the duty for his new Chief Advocate. Maybe it wasn't, but by the Skies, she'd like to know what
was
her duty. So far, it seemed Dorn would rather she didn't have one.

For lack of anything better to do, she settled into a shady spot under the heavy fronds of a fern. It was time she make a list of her grievances and present them to Dorn. She couldn't sit idly and do nothing; not any longer. If only she could think up a way to present her concerns that would finally get Dorn's attention.

She plucked up a dried leaf from the ground and sprinkled a little dust over it. Instantly the leaf became supple and smooth, the perfect writing surface. A little dust tossed over a twig turned that into a pencil. Pimma leaned back and began jotting her list.

Item 1: Why is there no ongoing investigation into Kyne's escape?

Item 2: Why was I promoted and given no duties?

Item 3: Where is Swift?

She stopped there. Although it felt like she had a hundred questions for Dorn, in fact all of them could easily be answered by just these three. She read over the list again to tweak the wording but decided it was clear and direct enough just as she had written. There was no way Dorn could skirt around the issues and not give a solid answer.

From her comfy spot under the fern she noticed the back door of the Council Hall—a heavy flap of weathered oak bark—swing open slowly. At first she thought nothing of it, but when Dorn's assistant, Wain, stuck his head out and glanced suspiciously around, Pimma could hardly help but wonder what was going on. Wain exited the building, followed by Dorn. It was obvious they hadn't seen her in the shadows of the fern, even though they both peered around the area nervously.

“Things are progressing as planned?” Dorn asked.

“Yes, sir,” Wain replied. “No one suspects anything.”

Their voices were hushed, but Pimma was just close enough to make out what they said. She'd been about to cough, or jostle the fern to announce her presence, but this stopped her. The whispered words, the nervous postures…Dorn and his assistant were
not
engaged in regular council business. What were they up to? She couldn't help but listen carefully and stay as silent as possible.

“And the shipment will go out as planned?”

Wain nodded. “It's supposed to be ready this afternoon.”

“I know it's
supposed
to be, but
will
it? We've had entirely too many delays and interferences lately.” Dorn's voice was heavy and gruff. “I need to know our efforts are worth the trouble.”

“They are. It's all for the good of the Realm, right?” Wain said with a brightness that seemed a little bit forced. “Once this shipment goes out, you won't need to worry about anything.”

“With all that's been going on, nothing is certain.”

Wain continued to sound optimistic. “My contact at Sandstrom Industries assures me we are on track. This last shipment will solve everything.”

“I hope so,” Dorn grumbled. “With fairies like Kyne out there engaging in all sorts of disgusting behaviors, I need to know for certain the Veil will be safe.”

Pimma wrinkled her forehead. Had she heard Dorn correctly? It sounded like he still considered Kyne to be a threat of some sort. But why hadn't he been doing more to find him? Why had Dorn ignored all her questions and concerns?

“Let me go back to the warehouse,” Wain said. “I'll find out for sure where everything stands.”

“I thought you said you
were
sure.”

“But
you
aren't, sir. Let me go back and confirm with my contact.”

Dorn hunched his shoulders and shook his gray head. “I don't like this. None of it seems right.”

“It
is
right,” Wain insisted. “You'll be a hero in the Realm once this is over.”

“It had better be over soon,” Dorn said. “I don't like sending you to meet the humans so often. I still don't trust them.”

Humans?
Dorn and his assistant were working with
humans
? This was getting more and more unbelievable by the minute.

“These are difficult times,” Wain said grandly. “But my contact in the city won't betray us. I trust her completely.”

“So you say,” Dorn replied, clearly unconvinced. “I've heard there is Dark Magic involved.”

“What? No, that's ridiculous. More rumor, that's all. Let me go back and I'll double-check everything.”

“You're in grave danger each time you go, Wain. I can't ask it of you.”

“I'm honored to risk my life for the Realm. So…do I have your leave, sir?”

“Very well, if you are certain your contact is worthy, then go back there. And let's hope to the Clouds that Swift returns from Iceland soon. I'm more than a little anxious to hear what he has found there.”

“Yes…aren't we all,” Wain said. This time his cheerful enthusiasm was notably gone. “It does seem odd, doesn't it, that he hasn't at least sent word to you by now. Are you certain that he can be trusted?”

What?
Swift had been sent all the way to Iceland? No wonder there was no word from him. And how ludicrous that Wain trusted humans, yet expressed doubt about Swift. Did he really question the enforcer's loyalty? After all the years of Swift's upstanding service to the Realm? By the Skies, strange things were getting stranger. What had the council gotten involved with?

At least, what had Wain gotten involved with? She'd only seen him stand in Dorn's shadow and agree with everything the Council Leader said. Now he was bold enough to question him. To fly off meeting humans and cast aspersion on Swift. Something was really not right here.

Dorn seemed blind to it, though. He tipped his gray head, raised his chin and assessed his assistant.

“You are wise to be skeptical,” he pronounced. “I will look into matters regarding Swift. In the meanwhile, I give you leave to travel to the human city. Go now. Be safe, but make sure that shipment is on schedule.”

“Yes, sir.”

The leader patted his assistant on the shoulder and stepped aside. Wain took a deep breath, as if he were about to embark on something noble and grand, then spread his greenish-blue wings to flutter up into the leafy canopy above them. Dorn watched after him, a sort of paternal pride washing over his face. But Wain was heading off to meet with a human. Since when did the Fairy Council condone something like that? The very idea of it nearly made Pimma sick.

Fairy and human interaction was highly monitored. Yes, there were legitimate reasons for fairies to intervene in human life. Wish Fairies, for example, worked in close proximity to humans, granting wishes as a means of keeping humans occupied, content, and blind to actual magic. Other fairies were tasked with manipulating humans and obstructing any activity that might result in their discovery, but they never actually interacted with them. Wain, on the other hand, spoke as if he were on a friendly basis with one of them!

This couldn't be good. Whatever was going on, it was clearly much larger than Pimma had guessed. Maybe she ought to add a few more questions to her list, after all. It seemed she had nothing but questions right now.

It was very unlikely that Dorn would answer her. He and Wain seemed to be intent on keeping their secrets. She couldn't simply drop the matter, though. Their Realm—their very world!—was at stake. What could she do? Who could she turn to with something like this?

Only one fairy, of course. Swift. He was at the heart of it, somehow, and if Dorn and Wain weren't sure they could trust him, then that meant Pimma probably could. At least she hoped so.

Of course, it would be a little difficult to discuss this with him while he was in Iceland. Surely he had to come back soon. Dorn seemed to be expecting him. By the Skies, she would have a few questions for the busy enforcer when he returned.

If
he returned.

Another fairy came through the back door of the Council Hall. Dorn was still standing there, gazing up after Wain. The young intern stood nervously, then cleared his throat to get Dorn's attention. Dorn turned to him and grumbled at the interruption.

“But, sir,” the intern protested. “You left specific instructions to be informed when Swift returned.”

“Yes, I did.”

“Well, he's back.”

Swift paced the length of the Council Hall. His wings were taut, ready for flight, if needed. He hoped it wouldn't be, but his time spent in Iceland totally ruined his ability to trust anything. Where he stood now, this protected structure at the very heart of Fairyrealm, should be a haven. He should be more at ease here than anywhere else. He wasn't.

In fact, it was just the opposite. He was standing at the very core of the shocking conspiracy he'd discovered in Iceland. It was orchestrated by forces right here, trusted and respected members of his own Fairy Council.

Swift simply needed to find out exactly which members they were. How many of his so-called friends and associates were conspirators in the plot he'd uncovered? How high up the chain of command did this corruption go? All the way to Dorn?

It seemed too much to hope their great leader might be ignorant of the truth behind the conspiracy, but Swift still clung to the possibility. He really, really didn't want to believe Dorn had it in him to destroy the Veil and throw the Forbidden Realm into war with mankind.

And what of Pimma? She had been Dorn's prime suspect in Kyne's escape, but Swift had defended her. Was she really as innocent as he thought?