Kara (6 page)

As soon as Kreitan seated himself, he heard
the door to the adjoining area open and then close.

Ahhh, the privileges of rank.
His
minions always jumped to do his bidding. Only the king had more
power than he in the kingdom.

“The willow night holds no rest for the
mortal souls,” the visitor whispered.

“But many are dead and sleep forever,”
Kreitan answered.

Silence.

“It has been awhile, Kreitan. I thought you
had forgotten about me.” The voice was smoky, exotic, feminine.

Kreitan ignored the seduction. “This matter
of mine has become complicated. I need someone of your
expertise.”

“But how can I help you, oh Master?” Kreitan
could hear the sarcasm dipped in honey. He was not amused.

“My quarry has entered into the
Territories.”

“That indeed is a complication for you. King
La’ard’s power does not reach so far.” The tone held humor, with an
edge of spite to it.

“Need I remind you that I still have my
little magic box?”

Silence fell again before the reply came
back.

“Need I remind you that you must sleep
sometime?” Her words contained icy steel without a shiver of
hesitation in them. Kreitan knew her threat would ring true.

Both parties stared at each other through the
grate, although neither could actually see their foe. Kreitan
gritted his teeth. He despised working with her, but she
accomplished what he could not.

“I need you to capture a human girl by the
name of Kara. She jumped into the River Kilarne and washed
downstream.”

“A girl?” The voice almost laughed. “She is
the one complicating your plans. Is she a playmate of
Euphoria’s?”

“Enough!” Kreitan’s temper flared. His fist
slammed down on the chair and snapped its arm off. He gave himself
a moment to compose his temper. “Will you take the assignment?”

The person on the other side of the
confessional remained quiet. For a second, Kreitan thought his
accomplice had left.

“I will. Do you have something I can track
her with?”

He pulled out a small envelope and slid it
through an opening in the grate. “You will find a detailed
description of her and some of her hair pulled from a brush.”

“So much to work with. And I thought this
would be difficult.”

Kreitan seethed at the sarcastic, snide tone.
Obviously, he needed to remind her who she was dealing with. One
day, when he got what he wanted, he would show her who was boss.
Then she would show a little more respect. “A human girl in the
Territories should not be difficult to find. Especially for one
with your talents.”

“Such a charmer.” The seductive tone was
back. With it came an aroma of vanilla and cinnamon.

Kreitan breathed shallowly through his mouth.
He knew her tricks all too well. “Payment as usual upon
delivery.”

“And how might I deliver such a package? Just
come up to the palace and drop it off? I work behind the scenes,
remember?”

“Contact me and I will arrange a pickup.” He
tired of this conversation.

“And probably arrange an ambush for me as
well. I’ll find the girl for you and then find a way to get her to
you safely on
my
terms.”

Kreitan heard the soft click of the door. She
was gone. If he hurried, he could catch a glimpse of her. Even
though they had worked together for years, he had never seen her
face.

Kreitan quickly made to exit, but found he
was bound to the chair. A thin bond of magic held him there. He
quickly snapped it and flung open the confessional door. Patrons,
who had been trying to eavesdrop, cringed back, apparently seeing
the anger and frustration on the captain’s face. He searched the
remaining patrons and alms givers, but none seemed to be his
accomplice.

Slamming the confessional door behind him,
Kreitan strode down the aisle. Bringing Kara in for questioning was
imperative. If his ‘business associate’ knew what was good for her,
she had better come through on her end.

Chapter Five

Kara screamed and pushed herself out of the
strange man’s arms.

“Who are you?”

Hambone chuckled. And the green glow
tittered. The fox had vanished. Kara backed up a few steps, not
sure why everyone was laughing.

“I do forget myself sometimes. I am sorry,
young lady.” The strange man apologized. His voice sounded very
familiar.

“Dante?”

“The one, the only. Charming, handsome…
Ladies tend to faint dead away in my arms.” Dante bowed
exuberantly. Grace twittered something in response.

Dante abruptly turned around and addressed
Grace. “It is not because I smell, you silly glow bug!”

“Enough, you two. “ Hambone shushed his
friends.

While the two ignored the dwarc, Kara got a
good look at the man. His hair was a cedar color like that of the
talking fox. Facial hair lined his upper lip and a patch of it hung
from his chin. And there were those same eyes she remembered from
the fox.

“I still don’t get it. This Dante looks
human. Where’s the talking fox named Dante?”

Hambone smiled. “He’s of the were clan. A
werefox.”

This bit of information still didn’t resolve
her confusion. “I’m sorry, but what is a werefox?”

Dante spoke up before Hambone could explain.
“I am of the prodigious clan of shapeshifters. We can change
form—like that.” He snapped his fingers.

Schunk!

And there was the fox she remembered from
before.

Grace twittered something, which made Dante
retort back at the green light. “Well, at least I have a
talent.”

The ball of light buzzed around his head,
chirping.

Hambone brought a stop to the fight before it
began. “All right. That’s enough. Kara’s has enough to deal
with.”

Dante took one final look at Grace, gave a
brief growl, and then turned to Kara. “So what’s a human like you
doing in our neck of the woods? Are you hoping to become a
slave?”

Grace chirped something.

Kara looked a bit confused. “Slave?”
What
have I gotten myself into?

“Don’t mind him. You have nothing to worry
about with us. We will protect you while you’re in the
Territories.”

“But I want to go home! I have to go home. My
father is in danger! The Witch Guard, remember?” She gazed directly
at Hambone, who looked away.

“The Witch Guard? They sound like a fun
bunch.” Dante said with a chuckle.

The sprite chirped angrily at the fox.

“Be nice, Dante. She is only a little
girl.”

Kara stood up, straightened herself, and
threw out her chest. “I’m twelve! That’s not
that
little!”

Dante and Hambone chuckled a bit, but Grace
flew right behind Kara and hovered in the air just off her left
shoulder. Both stopped and looked toward them.

Dante gave a wink. “So it is now ladies
against the gentlemen.”

Grace fired back with more jittering.

“Go on. Make all the snide comments you want,
but you are still just a green lantern light to me.”

This set Grace off again. She circled Dante’s
head chirping and twittering.

Kara laughed, which then infected Hambone
with giggles. Soon, Dante laughed and Grace twittered something
that sounded like merriment.

“But why is this Witch Guard after your
family?” Dante finally asked.

“I have no idea. But I need to get back to
the other side. The last I saw they were torturing my father!”

“Calm down and tell us what happened.”
Hambone said.

Kara told them what she had seen and heard
just before she washed ashore in the Territories.

“It sounds like that could have been magic.”
Dante muttered. Grace confirmed with a low twitter.

“What?”

“It sounds as if this Witch Guard used magic
to call you home.” Hambone said.

“But magic is banned in Faldoa. Anyone even
thought to be magical is taken away.”

Dante scoffed. “Well, it seems like the king
isn’t following his own rules.”

Suddenly, Grace went into a flutter. Light
pulsed and she uttered strange noises, other than the usual chirps.
A shower of small tiny stars fell around Kara. She looked at them
in amazement.

“Grace, you didn’t have to do that.” Dante
said softly.

“What…what did she do?” Kara felt
unchanged.

“She gave you the ultimate protection she
could. She bonded her life with yours, and gave you a barrier
against most magical attacks.” Hambone said with reverence.

“You mean, if I die, Grace dies?” Kara looked
amazed and frightened.

Dante and Hambone nodded.

“You can’t do that. You don’t even know me!”
Kara faced the green sprite, pleading. “Take it back Grace,
please!”

Grace twittered, sounding very exhausted, but
confident. Kara didn’t need a translator to understand the
sentiment.

“She couldn’t take it back if she wanted to.
Sprites bond for life.” Dante looked toward Grace with sorrowful
eyes, yet there was a gleam of respect too.

“Why would she do this?” Kara asked the other
two. Grace tried to speak, but her chirps faltered and Hambone
spoke for her.

“Sprites can see into the souls of mortal
creatures. I guess she saw that your heart was true.” He paused a
moment to look toward Grace who seemed to nod. “Your heart is
golden and true. She can trust you.”

A tear came to Kara’s eye. “Thank you.”

“So, what now?” Dante asked.

“I need to get back to Faldoa.”

“But I don’t think there’s a way. Do you know
of any, Dante?” Hambone asked.

Dante shrugged and Grace let out a low chime.
Kara’s hopes faded.

“But maybe someone at market might know.”
Hambone said

“Let’s go to Aladedas.” Dante said. “Even if
we don’t find an answer, Hambone will get some good food to feed
us.”

Grace twittered a rallying support to Dante’s
decision.

“What do you say, Kara?” Hambone asked.

With only a glimmer of hope sparking, she
hesitated just a moment. “Sure, why not? It’s our only hope.”

Hambone pulled a chest from under his bed and
flipped the lid open. “First, we will need to disguise you,” he
said. “Humans are very rare in the Territories, and you will stand
out like a sore thumb.”

They draped a shawl over her head and across
her face, allowing only her eyes to peer between the folds. Dante
gave her a pair of riding gloves to hide her hands. Grace also
twittered and chirped something while fluttering about Kara.

“What did she do?” Kara looked over herself
and saw no difference.

“She cast a weak illusion charm over you.
Anyone who sees you will not take any notice. Her spell will make
you blend in, as if you are one of the regulars. The market goers
will still see you, but pay you no heed.” Hambone explained.

“Can we get going or what?” Dante was very
anxious to go.

Hambone merely stared at him. “Do you want
her to get picked up by slave traders the moment we get in the
market?”

Dante dropped his head.

“Slave traders?” Kara’s eyes widened in
shock.

“Pay that no mind. You will be fine as long
as you keep covered.”

***

A smell wafted from the marketplace when the
party still had a quarter of a mile to go. Kara tried to determine
the different aromas and smells: the aroma of food cooking and the
smell of unwashed, dirty feet. Smoke thick with cedar wood, apples,
and maybe a hint of cherries passed by her after a couple more
strides toward the market. Her stomach grumbled as more delicious
scents floated by.

As they rounded the bend of a large maple
tree, Aladedas appeared. Kara’s eyes grew wide. “This place is
bigger than the village market!” she said.

And indeed it was. Row upon row of booths,
tables, and carts made up the center of the market. Around the
outside of the town were buildings, possibly other shops. Cooking
fires and blacksmith kilns plumed smoke from several places
throughout the rows.

Kara’s head turned to the left and then to
the right, trying to catch all the sights. Bright colors dotted
places in the sea of trading. There were flags catching some of the
morning breeze in the distant corners, and she could see streamers
of ribbons closer in.

It wasn’t just how large the place was that
caused her mouth to drop open. It was the inhabitants. She first
caught sight of a small wiry creature with green leathery skin. But
before she could ask about it, another creature, one that stood
over seven feet tall and was covered with hair, caught her eye.

Soon Kara felt she might burst from shock and
excitement. Each step they made toward the market, she saw
something new to focus on. Little men stood on stools looking over
a bubbling caldron. A laugh escaped her and they turned to look at
her, their expressions turning sour. When she quickly looked away,
Kara jumped back seeing a large snake. Or, at least what she
thought was a snake. It turned out to be part human.

“That’s an echidna.” Dante whispered, “You
might not want to be caught staring.”

“And the little fellows are gnomes, not as
temperamental as the echidna.” Hambone added.

Every which way she looked, Kara glimpsed new
oddities, her curiosity causing her to stare more. But instantly
her mind forgot all, because a new sight took its place. Apparently
run by sprites, one booth had glowing balls, similar to Grace. They
drifted about potted flowers that were just as colorful as their
caretakers. Kara felt drawn to them and didn’t realize she had
stepped away from the group.

“So pretty…” she muttered to herself. A
purple glow saw her coming and flew by a flower. It reminded Kara
of a stained glass window in the village cathedral.

Then from behind, someone grabbed her arm,
and pulled her away. Kara almost let out a little scream until she
realized it was Dante.