Enchanted Ever After (Mystic Circle) (13 page)

“You will do well,” he said, and she
felt
his confidence in her.

With a little mental push, she sent gratitude...and affection,
back to him. “Thank you.”

With a tip of his head he vanished.

“Off we go to the Air Palace,” Airsprite squealed.

“Watch out for the banshees,” Jenni said.

* * *

“Kiri, end of the workday,” Jenni warned through the visor as
Kiri had just stepped onto the thread-thin invisible bridge to the Air
Palace.

“I’m almost there!” Kiri cried.

“All right, but Lathyr and I are needed in the small conference
room to report on the project. I’ve set the server to disconnect you at the end
of a half hour. If we aren’t back by then, meet us there as soon as you get
done, to the left at the end of the hall. We need to discuss things with
you.”

Kiri fell off the bridge. Her levitate spell failed.

She hit with a splat and watched all but one of her health
points vanish.

Damn, she’d have to use the last of her flying spells to get
back up, but she did nothing until she heard Jenni disconnect from the program.
Maybe Jenni hadn’t seen her mistake.

Yeah, right.

Sighing, Kiri began the spell preparations, keeping an eye out
for the very nasty banshees. The airsprite whistled encouragement and Kiri
hummed so she couldn’t hear it.

* * *

Lathyr sat straight in his chair, his face expressionless.
There were only the three of them in the conference room, Aric and Jenni
Emberdrake, and himself. A chair had been left for Kiri.

Jenni had brought her handheld computer that ran on Meld and
was logged on to the game to monitor Kiri’s progress.

“How is our applicant doing?” Aric asked.

“Really well.” Jenni grinned and her hair lifted and snapped
with the static electricity of her optimism.

Aric glanced at Lathyr, and gestured to an object on the table
that Lathyr finally recognized as some sort of monitoring device, so someone or
someones
were listening in to this report. The
dwarfem receptionist, the Lightfolk Meld staff, perhaps even a royal or two.

“Exceedingly well,” Lathyr said smoothly, projecting his voice
to the monitor. “We are conditioning her to accept her magical potential, and
hoping to discover beforetime what element she might be best suited for so that
we can ensure her survival during the transformation.” He reached over to the
portfolio that Jenni had brought with them, glad he’d glanced at her charts, and
pulled out the top one that showed Kiri’s progress. “If you will note the
anticipated learning curve, in green, you will see Kiri’s development in the
game.”

Aric’s eyes widened and he gave a low whistle. “Nearly twice as
good as you’d wanted.”

“That’s right.” Jenni beamed. “She’s an ace student...not that
I think she understands that.”

“It would be good not to inform her of that,” said the voice of
the Air King, Cloudsylph, from the monitor.

Jenni hesitated, frowned, then replied, “As you wish.”

“Earth was chosen for her as her first element?” asked the
royal.

“That’s what the program determined her best element might be.”
Jenni cleared her throat. “The game
is
weighted to
steer the applicants toward an elemental form that they might be able to
master.”

“A dwarf or brownie, then,” the Air King, Cloudsylph, said.
“Or, since she seems to be a likely candidate for transformation, and she might
keep her human mass, a merfem or naiad of water.”

“Um, more than likely,” Jenni agreed. Her gaze flicked toward
Lathyr. He nodded and continued the report.

“I’ve been observing Kiri Palger during her games,” he said.
“As she is playing, her mind is being affected by the Meld and magical energy in
this building, I believe that she is a strong prospect to be transformed into a
true magical Lightfolk being—and, most possibly, into a major Lightfolk
elemental.”

After a moment, Jenni broke the silence. “So far, she’s
indicated that her wish is to be an elf.”

Lathyr winced.

“Is that at all possible?” asked Cloudsylph, King of the
Elves.

“Possible,” Lathyr confirmed. “Though I feel...I believe...that
her mind in that particular matter doesn’t agree with her emotions or her
heart...or soul.”

“She doesn’t have the soul of an elf?” Cloudsylph sounded
almost amused.

Lathyr wasn’t so stupid as to insult the elf by stating Kiri’s
emotions were warmer than most elves. “I don’t believe so.”

“Ah,” Cloudsylph said. “Keep me informed.”

“We will,” Jenni said. “I’m transmitting my files regarding the
project to you.”

“Thank you,” Cloudsylph said. The lights on the monitor flicked
off.

Three minutes later Lathyr and Jenni were back in the computer
room, watching Kiri bob and weave in her gloves and glasses, fighting
banshees—and swearing. The airsprite was whistling encouragement. Kiri was at
the far end of the invisible bridge to the Air Palace.

On one of the large monitors, they saw her take down several
banshees.

“She is doing very well as that cross between a magic user and
melee fighter,” Jenni murmured. “Not as strong as a magic-less warrior.”

“She likes the magic,” Lathyr replied, sensing it from the
woman more than seeing it on the screen.

“Indeed.”

The last banshee succumbed with a shriek and Kiri ran swiftly
and nimbly across the invisible thread bridge and rang the bell on the arched
and pointed glass door, the main entrance to the Air Palace.

A distinguished elf answered the summons. “Welcome, Mistress
Kay. The King and Queen of Air, the Sylphs of the Clouds, await you.” Bells and
whistles sounded and jewels clicked into a pile at Kiri’s feet along with
several scroll spells as Kiri gained two levels.
First Goal
Achieved in the game of Transformation! Congratulations!

She’d done it! Pride surged through Lathyr...and, he thought,
affected Kiri as he noted a small bond had formed between them.

Chapter 14

“CONGRATS,” JENNI SAID.

“Thank you!” Kiri nearly sang as her hips swayed in an attractive manner. “Logging off.” Her hands moved in the closing spell, then she took off her visor and smiled at Jenni, then Lathyr. Small tendrils of hair stuck to her temples with perspiration and she seemed to glow with pleasure and excitement.

As she peeled off her gloves, she whisked her lips with her tongue, squared her shoulders and said, “What did you need to talk to me about?”

Jenni raised her brows and gestured to Lathyr.

He said, “You have exceeded our expectations.”

“Whew, good to hear.” Kiri sat suddenly in her chair, then glanced at Jenni. “I have a couple of requests.”

“Yes?” asked Jenni, taking her seat at the end of the counter as usual.

Lathyr decided he shouldn’t stand and stare at the beauty in front of him and took his seat next to Kiri’s empty one.

Kiri pushed back her damp hair, her face falling into serious lines. “The way we have this set up, I’ll have only two days to master each elemental level.”

“Two business days, that’s right,” Jenni said.

Kiri’s body tensed and words rushed from her. “Is there any possibility that I can take the software home for the weekend...or, if I need to, come in and work at the game here?”

Lathyr stared, but understood from Jenni’s posture that the question hadn’t surprised her.

Jenni folded her hands. “You’re that interested?”

Kiri nodded. “Oh, yes. The game is fun, but I’ve made some notes and I want to explore the world more.” Her voice got softer and trailed off.

“We are not allowed to have nonemployees on the floor without supervision,” Jenni said matter-of-factly.

Kiri’s face fell.

Opening a hidden drawer in the counter, Jenni brought out a tablet computer with a tiny piece of hardware in one of the slots, and something that had Lathyr staring again. It looked like a truncated version of a human’s idea of a magic wand. Jenni slid the computer down the desk, using mostly magic.

“You can take this. Only the Earth Realm of the game and a notes program are loaded on it. You can make either spoken or typed notes with regard to the world of Transformation.”

“Wow.” Kiri leaped toward the counter and picked up the tablet, eyes gleaming. “That’s wonderful!”

Jenni lifted a finger. “You are not allowed to show the tablet to anyone. No one on Mystic Circle, and no friends of yours.”

Kiri swallowed, nodded, though he saw a hint of disappointment in her eyes. “Okay.”

“And the computer is connected to our servers, and the servers will be recording the games, as these have.” Jenni waved to the monitors. “So be aware of that, and you must agree to have your games monitored and recorded.”

“That’s fair,” Kiri said.

Jenni waved. “All right, we’re done for the week.” She smiled. “Take some time for yourself over the weekend. Don’t play too hard.”

“No, I won’t. And...I have something else to ask.” Again, anxiety flashed through Kiri’s eyes.

“Yes?”

“I want you to let me know immediately if I have failed the prologue at any point.”

“Beyond redemption?” Jenni asked.

Kiri nodded. “Yes. Please let me know as soon as possible if I wash out of the application process.”

“Easier on you if we don’t string you along,” Jenni said, and nodded. “That’s fair, too. All right. Done.”

Lathyr stood and offered his arm to Kiri. “Would you allow me to see you home?” As soon as he made the gesture, said the words, he knew his old-fashioned human manners had betrayed him again.

But Kiri chuckled, put the tablet down on the desk only as long as it took to shrug into her jacket and pull the canvas handles of her bag over her shoulder, then slid her arm in his.

Wonderful.

* * *

Kiri got a call Sunday morning from Shannon, reminding her they were meeting for brunch at the dim sum restaurant on the west side.

Kiri was deep in the game and grumbled about it, but Shannon insisted.
They
wanted to talk about house hunting. Kiri wanted to continue exploring the game. It had her hooked, even in just the Earth Realm.

Then, of course, Shannon said she and Averill were worried, wanted to check up on Kiri after the terrible bus thing.

But the morning away from the game was just what she needed to get perspective, and Kiri felt really confident that she’d get the job—a buoyancy that reassured her friends.

They all headed out to look at a house Shannon and Averill were interested in, southwest and at least an hour from Kiri when traffic was good.

The place was a charming two-story Victorian with a pretty paint job, large yard, and within walking distance of Shannon’s work and a highly rated elementary school.

Kiri made a pitch for the couple to buy one of the empty houses in Mystic Circle, said she’d talk to Rafe Davail about the two he owned, but Averill and Shannon just shook their heads, so Kiri had to let it go.

Monday, at Jenni Emberdrake’s request, Kiri loaded one of the Earth Realm characters she’d developed over the weekend into the main game computer and played her. The toon was a configuration that Jenni hadn’t anticipated and the woman was full of praise.

It was also great to see Tanna the brownie again.

Tuesday and Wednesday Jenni requested Kiri explore the Air Realm thoroughly. She nailed it and even led a team Jenni had provided with no losses.

Though Kiri loved being an elf, she wasn’t too fond of the realm itself, or the spells, and she really, really loathed the banshees. Not to mention the airsprite.

Kiri thought she was doing fine, had the job, the career she wanted, in the bag. Though she had noted that the energy drain increased and a few odd things continued to happen, like sore muscles, a bruise on her knee when she fell down a bank. Had she fallen in the room, too?

Yes, she was sure she was doing well. Until she reached the Fire Realm on Thursday. With Jenni Emberdrake.

She made it fifteen minutes at the max before dying. Ten times. She’d even tried a couple of missions on her own after Jenni and Lathyr had been called to one of their meetings. Then Kiri’d just given up and requested—and got—permission to leave by email. She felt like she’d slunk out with her tail between her legs, her dreams smashed.

Kiri fumbled her key card and keys as she unlocked her front door, grunted as she kicked it behind her, and dropped her bag, hoping she didn’t have anything in it that would break. Her mind was so fried with exhaustion that she couldn’t recall what was in her tote.

All she wanted was bed, but as she shuffled toward her bedroom, passing her computer set up in the window, big red letters seemed to pop in front of her eyes, as if she still wore the visor. “It’s THURSDAY.” Thursday. She was scheduled to play Fairies and Dragons with Shannon for an hour, then hook Shannon in with the Mystic Circle group team.

For a minute Kiri wondered if she could log on to her online email account after turning off her monitor, her eyes throbbed so at the idea of looking at more bright light. The firespells had really done a number on her optic nerves. Squinting, she got to the mail, composed.

To: Gothicperky. Sorty cn’t makee tonigght. Gam wiped me tt. Love, Kii.

With a few last lunges, she made it to bed and fell facedown onto the futon. OWIE! Whimpering, she passed out.

“Kiri, Kiri, wake up!” The voice was Shannon’s. Hell, Kiri wasn’t going to be late to class
again
, was she? She had to stop the last-minute wee-hours essay writing.

“Yo.” She jackknifed up and moaned as every muscle in her body protested the movement, then blinked at the bright light. Bright light, dark night. Pale yellow walls. Bedroom. Her bedroom in Mystic Circle.

“Kiri.” Shannon sat down onto the bed next to her. “Oh, Kiri, you look bad. How on earth did you get so sunburned?”

“Fire Realm?” Ouch, her dry lips cracked open. Damn.

“Doesn’t look like virtual burns to me,” Shannon said tartly.

“Seriously, Kiri, you look like shit,” Averill said from the doorway. He was holding a sopping washcloth that dripped water onto Kiri’s wood floor.

She held out an imperious hand for the plush terry square. “Thanks a lot. Gimme.”

But Shannon intercepted the cloth and dabbed at Kiri’s face. Cool, delightful, soothing water.

Kiri whimpered again, her mouth felt better. “Thanks.”

“We haven’t heard from you often enough,” Shannon scolded. “And you misspelled your email. You don’t do that. Oh, your poor eyelids, they look swollen.”

From the inside out, they felt swollen, too.

“Figured you were working too hard on the game,” said Averill with a grin and a wink. He tended to be a workaholic. “We brought Thai food.”

“Nom,” Kiri said reflexively, just as her stomach rumbled. She sniffed and, sure enough, smelled Pad Thai. Her mouth watered. “Lemme grab a shower, and you’re always bringing me food, lately.”

“It’s the nesting mother, here.” Averill walked over and kissed the top of Shannon’s head.

Shannon said, “All right, you can have a shower. But I’m sitting on the toilet seat to make sure you don’t fall.”

“Most household accidents take place in the bathroom. We’ll be babyproofing ours to the nth degree,” Averill said cheerfully. “I’ll set up the card table and stuff.”

After a cool shower, Kiri felt much better, but still put on her oldest, softest sweats before she sat down on a folding chair with a plateful of rice noodles and chicken with peanut sauce...including real peanuts.

Shannon still frowned at her as she ate. “What happened?”

Since Kiri had a little time to think about it, she offered a logical explanation. “I had a long lunch break and ate on the top of the building. Fell asleep. Got sunburned.”

Shannon shook her head and tsked.

Averill paused with a forkful of twined noodles. “I think you should have stuck with the Fire Realm injuries, myself. More exotic.”

“Yeah?”

Lips pursed, Shannon scanned her. “You weren’t moving well, either. Sitting at a desk so long isn’t good.”

“Nope,” Kiri said. Neither was getting trampled on by a few heavy, muscular djinn, but her body felt like that had happened.

“But, other than that, how’s it going?” Averill grinned.

Kiri deliberately relaxed her shoulders that had tensed and risen again, and grimaced. “I don’t know. I did okay for a newbie in the Earth Realm, then went back and nailed it, complete with a companion and a team.” She smiled, then took the lip salve from Shannon and rubbed it on her mouth. “I think I was above average in the Air Realm.” She sighed. “But I really wiped out in the Fire Realm.”

“Today?” Shannon asked sympathetically.

“Yeah.” Kiri wiggled her shoulders again. “I don’t think I could have done much worse. I suck at being a djinnfem. Just couldn’t get the hang of it at all.” Hadn’t mastered the movements and her spells had misfired more often than not.

“Sort of like Shannon being a squishy ranged magic user,” Averill said. “And thus the reason why the game shouldn’t assign characteristics. Will they let you repeat, you think, play to your strengths somehow?”

Just the idea of entering the Fire Realm again made Kiri shudder. “After ten times? I don’t know.”

Shannon pointed a fork at her. “You did all right as a dwarf and...what was air, elf?”

“Yes.”

“Surely all of the realms must be visited by every form of magical elemental critter,” Shannon said. “Maybe you can redo fire as a dwarf or elf.”

Kiri let the tang of good food explode in her mouth, comforting. Just eating was helping with her attitude—when she didn’t remember lying facedown on tiles and djinn running over her poor body, mashing it. “That would be good.”

“What did Jenni Weavers say?” Shannon asked.

“Just looked appalled, at first,” Kiri managed between mouthfuls. She didn’t want to admit she’d been a little cowardly and hadn’t hung around. Cowardly, yes. Human, yes. She’d have to do better, though.

“So Weavers might be better at fire than any other element,” Averill said.

“I hadn’t thought of that.” Kiri drank the iced tea they’d ordered for her.

“And her being good at fire doesn’t necessarily mean that you should be,” Shannon said.

“True.”

“And you still have the last element, right? And you’re learning as you go—”

Averill took over, “And the last element is water, so if you sucked large at fire, maybe water will be easy-peasey and you could ace it.” He grinned. He was one amazingly handsome guy with the light brown skin and dark brown eyes and black hair; Kiri had always thought so. But now Lathyr’s paleness seemed to be more of her standard for men. She winced at the thought that she hadn’t seen him before she left, either, but she hadn’t wanted to face a man she was beginning to have feelings for with failure in her eyes.

Yes, changes were happening.

“Thanks for the support,” Kiri said.

“You’re still one of the best game writers I know,” Averill said. “Don’t give up.”

“Don’t give up,” Shannon said at the same time as her husband, and they shared a smile.

“I was creamed,” Kiri said, then, “Nope, I was fricasseed, in the Fire Realm.” And she was glad she’d managed to find the humor in the situation.

The others laughed and she rose with only a few twinges of her abused body and cleared the paper plates. They’d demolished the meal. “So, thanks a lot for coming over to check on me.”

She blew out a breath, sent Shannon an imploring gaze. “Jenni Emberdrake and Lathyr Tricurrent promised to let me know immediately if I washed out of the program.” Kiri pressed her lips together, then sent a stare in the direction of her workbag. “I didn’t hear my phone. Can you check it in my tote? And my email, too?” Pitiful that she didn’t want to look herself, that she was using her friend to find out and face the music. Her pregnant friend.

“Sure.” Shannon rose and went toward the door where Kiri’s bag was, pulled out her phone. “There’s a call here from Jenni Emberdrake.” Shannon walked back with Kiri’s phone.

Kiri had to drink some iced tea before she had enough spit to answer. “Go ahead and put it on speaker.”