The Quicksilver Faire (10 page)

Fala chuckled. "Brother, our guests have not seen the faire, only its sad imitation on the Earthly plane. Let us guide them."

Coyote cleared his throat. He pointed to his pocket watch. "Midnight, boys, and I don't want Keelie to be late for her appointment with the queen."

"If it's midnight, aren't we already late?" Keelie spoke loudly, but the others seemed to ignore her. Instead, Fala motioned to a curious shop across the lane. It was a twostory hourglass, with a door set into the globular bottom half.

"Hello? We're running late. We don't have time for a side trip." Keelie was worried that the queen would be angry at them.

"The Timekeeper can stop time for us. This is an excellent move, Keelie." Coyote put up his pocket watch and led the way.

Keelie remembered her visit to Under-the-Hill. If time passed as strangely in Fairy as it did in Under-the-Hill, then she had a new worry. How much time would pass here, and would she return to her own world a hundred years in the future?

Knot jaunted behind Coyote, tail held high, as the fairies and elves followed.

The inside of the shop smelled like new and old at once. Keelie had entered carefully, avoiding the door's wooden frame, afraid of what she would sense in a shop that was outside of time. Despite being of rounded glass outside, the inside was a normal-looking rectangular room, with a sitting area to the right where a fire burned in a gigantic fireplace. The rest of the room was lined with clocks. The walls were covered in them, and their ticking vibrated through Keelie's body.

A long glass counter ran along the length of the room, and behind it, a golden retriever wearing an apron bent over a counter. He wore a large magnifying glass over his head, held in place by a leather strap. He held a screwdriver in his right paw, and Keelie noticed that he had an opposable paw pad that worked like a thumb.

He was tightening a part inside a small table clock which wiggled and kicked its little peg feet, giggling at the screwdriver that was tightening its innards. "I'll be with you good folks in a moment. Time waits for no one, and everyone waits for time." The dog didn't look up from his work.

Okay, a talking dog. Knot talked occasionally, when he wanted to, with a meowy accent. Like Coyote, the dog sounded human. Maybe it was a cat-and-dog thing.

Sean and Elia were examining the clocks that hung on the wall. There were cuckoo clocks, clocks made of gold, and plain schoolhouse clocks. Grandfather clocks stood in a row like paternal guardians of time.

Knot hopped onto the counter and sat down patiently. His tail twitched in time to the beat of the clocks, which had now softened. Their tick-tock sounded like a mechanical heart, which soothed Keelie. Even Coyote's tail wagged like a fuzzy metronome.

Fala and Salaca waited, tapping their feet in time to the irresistible beat.

When the Timekeeper finished his repairs, the clock stood up and ran back to a shelf and settled itself among a collection of other table clocks. The Timekeeper looked up at them, his doggie eye magnified many times over as his golden gaze took in the room. All the clocks showed five minutes till midnight.

"I have guests," he said. "It has been a long time since a child of Sylvus and a human have entered my shop." He gestured to the fireplace, which was now flanked by cozy chairs. Where had they come from?

Keelie whipped around to stare at the Timekeeper, and he winked at her. The friendly gesture reassured her.

Knot hopped down from the counter and sauntered over to the fire, and just as he was about to settle down on the rag rug, Coyote ran over and snagged the prime spot, settling in to toast before the flames. He ignored the cat and started biting at his tail as if a flea had just had bitten him.

Knot hissed.

"Let me make us some tea." The Timekeeper bent down and rummaged underneath his work counter, and when he rose, he was no longer a dog, but a man wearing a simple red robe embroidered with silver and gold thread. His eyes were gold, and on his long brown hair he wore a quicksilver crown adorned with an hourglass emblem. He smiled benevolently at everyone. Even Elia seemed to melt under his kindness. Keelie didn't sense anything dark or sinister about the Timekeeper, but she was still wary.

"Coyote, how is that gold watch working for you? I don't often make one from scratch, and it's one of my fawrites.

Coyote produced the watch. "Keeps perfect time."

"As it was meant to do." The Timekeeper poured strong tea from a white porcelain Chinese teapot with a blue glazed dragon swimming around its middle. He handed the first cup to Elia. She accepted, but her face reflected the caution that Keelie felt.

"The tea is from India. Nothing fae here. It's safe for you to drink, dear."

Fala and Salaca accepted cups when they were served. Then it was Sean and Keelie's turn. The Timekeeper moved at super-fast speed, then settled into his chair. Keelie watched in quiet surprise as the clawed feet sprouted toenails.

What kind of chair was this?

"What can I do for you?" The Timekeeper asked.

"We've come to ask a favor, Old One," Fala answered. "We are late for an appointment with Her Majesty, and would beg that you stop time for us."

"I see." The Timekeeper turned to Keelie. "You are the daughter of the Lord of the Dread Forest." His intense gaze fell upon her. "The forests speak your name. You are a cherished child of Sylvus."

"Do you know Sylvus?" Keelie asked, her voice sounding squeaky.

"Our paths have crossed." The Timekeeper's lips twitched. "He finds you most entertaining."

The elves swore by Sylvus, the powerful nature god they worshipped. And apparently he truly existed, and he found her entertaining. Keelie didn't know how she felt about that, especially the entertaining aspect.

"The queen is ever angry at those who are late," the Timekeeper added, smiling.

Salaca bowed, hiding his scowl. "Keliel and her friends are guests of the queen. She would do nothing to harm them-she has need of the girl's assistance. We simply ask that you allow her guests the time to visit our faire."

So the queen did want something from her, but what? Keelie liked watching Salaca humbling himself and inadvertently revealing the truth. Bet it didn't happen a lot.

"My Lord," Coyote said, wagging his tail as the Timekeeper turned to him. "I also have a request. I ask that you give Keelie and her companions a boon to allow them to slip back to their tomorrow, not many moons from now." He bowed his head and Knot lifted his paw Keelie had never seen the cat so supplicant to anyone.

When she looked at the Timekeeper again, she saw that his appearance had changed. Now he wore a dark cloak, and his face was hidden beneath the hood. A skeletal hand came out from the cloak and put the teacup down. Keelie forced herself not to react, although she wanted to step back.

The bony hand went back into the cloak, this time emerging with a wooden hourglass carved with moons and stars, the glass filled with black sand. The sands in the hourglass started to flow backwards.

"A boon has been requested and a boon will be given," the Timekeeper said in a deep voice. "When they return from the High Court of the Shining Ones, Keliel Heartwood and her companions will return to their tomorrow, more or less." He waved his hand, and a holographic image of the solar system appeared, and then it expanded to include the entire Milky Way. Keelie recognized the image from the Elven Lore Book. Who knew? "Keliel Heartwood, Elia Heartwood and her child, Sean son of Niriel, Knot, and Coyote Moondancer will be returned to Earth from Fairy, and all will be as it is."

The image disappeared.

The sand in the hourglass had emptied. The Timekeeper pointed a skeletal finger at Fala and Salaca. "The coyote's boon has been granted, and the travelers are under my protection."

Both fae smiled-forced grimaces that didn't fool anyone.

The Timekeeper leaned forward in his chair and looked at Keelie and Sean. "Stay together, be the touchstone of the other, and you shall travel the realm of Fairy in safety." He turned his gaze to Elia. "Your child will protect you. It is time for me to go."

Then the Timekeeper lifted his hand, and his chair began walking backwards. One of the grandfather clocks opened its door and widened, and the chair galloped through the doorway. The opening disappeared, and the grandfather clock closed its door.

The Timekeeper's voice boomed in the room. "It will stay five minutes until midnight at the faire until you enter the vortex. Anyone who visits the Quicksilver Faire needs a chance to shop." Laughter tumbled all around the room like a booming waterfall, ending in a short bark.

Keelie and the others found themselves outside. She turned around, and all was dark in the Timekeeper's shop.

"What did he mean by the vortex? That doesn't sound safe." Keelie moved closer to Sean.

Fala pointed down the lane. "Let's go this way."

Keelie linked her arm with Sean's. "I think I'll stick close to you.

He smiled, and leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. It was a sweet kiss, and Keelie felt her apprehension melt. His kisses made her feel warm and bubbly inside.

"So what exactly is the Timekeeper?" Keelie asked Salaca as he marched past.

"The Timekeeper is the sovereign ruler over time. Neither fae nor elf," Salaca said. "We shall take you to a few shops of our choosing, and then we will meet the queen."

Coyote trotted up alongside Keelie. "The Timekeeper is a god like Sylvus. Queen Vania has to listen to him."

"Thanks, Coyote."

He lowered his head as if he was embarrassed.

"Can I call you Moondancer?" Keelie asked.

"Do not speak my true name here." Coyote moved ahead.

"I like him." Sean said. "He's grown on me."

Elia had been quiet. Keelie hoped she didn't have any bright ideas swirling in her elf head that could lead to complications with the queen.

Salaca and Fala had stopped outside a shop that had a wide front porch with rocking chairs and carpeted cat perches. "Since you're fond of cats and vermin"-Salaca looked over at Coyote-"we thought you might like to see this place." He waved his hand for everyone to enter.

Keelie hesitated. "Are you sure the queen won't mind?"

"We bought time," Salaca reminded her. "And the Timekeeper asked you to shop."

Not shop, she thought. The wise old Timekeeper probably wanted her to get to know the fae before she met their queen.

Keelie touched the wood (aspen, from the ancient forest). She turned the quicksilver doorknob and entered the shop.

Inside it was warm and cozy. Quilts were draped on the back of cushioned sofas and cats purred in front of a fireplace. Aquariums cast sapphire light on the hardwood floors.

A loud splashing caught Keelie's attention. It was a manta ray. He waved his stinger at Keelie and dived back under the water.

She turned to Fala.

"Sea witches need familiars, too." He looked at her as if she should've known that simple fact.

She looked at the next aquarium and a big eye blinked at her. Then she heard a humpback whale singing. "A whale?"

"It's a dimensional doorway," a woman's honeyed voice said. "The humpback has to be able to view its potential partner. Would you like to fill out an application?"

Keelie turned around and gasped when she saw an enormous lion affectionately rubbing the woman's leg as if he was a big old house cat. He had the most beautiful mane she had ever seen. He had gold ribbons woven through it and in the candlelight it glinted with sparkling perfection. Laurie would've been jealous. She paid top dollar at an expensive salon in L.A. to get that sun-kissed look.

The fairy woman wore a blue corset, with sapphire ribbons laced between quicksilver grommets. "I am the proprietor of this shop. I match magical folk with their magical helpers," she said. "My name is Maemtri." Her eyes were almond shaped and greener than an elf's, as if some verdant light glowed bright from within. The skin around her forehead and down her neck was spotted like a leopard's.

She motioned a delicate hand to the lion, who lovingly beamed up at her. "This is my familiar, Henry."

Henry held out a giant paw, and Keelie shook it as she would a dog's. Henry's paw was soft as velvet and he purred happily. It sounded like a muted chainsaw.

"My name is Keliel." She couldn't stop staring at the lion. She wanted to pet him so badly she couldn't stand it. Knot glared jealously.

Maemtri bowed her head. "You and your companions are welcome, and if you do find a familiar, I think you will find the terms of our arrangements agreeable to all parties. I did not expect a visit from you, Milady Keliel, or I would have prepared. Are you here to purchase a gift for the queen, perhaps?"

Fala bowed slightly. "We're just visiting, Maemtri."

A gift for the queen. Keelie's heart stuttered. She'd never even thought of that. She looked around at the magical creatures, but even here, giving someone a pet was a bad idea. A companion animal was a very personal choice.

Henry was sniffing Elia's skirt, and she'd backed up against a wall. Every cat in the shop was standing at attention, looking at her with their eerily intelligent eyes, like an army of Knots.

Knot yodeled and jumped, sending a box to the ground. Its lid flew off and loud hissing erupted as a dark and icky wave poured out of it.

Keelie recoiled at the sight of huge and angry cockroaches scuttling on the floor. The roaches turned, as if sensing something, and headed straight for Elia. She screamed and jumped against Sean, who picked her up and held her above the floor.

Coyote snickered and then laughed, pointing his paw at Knot, whose fur was bushed out to the max. Henry the lion danced back when the cockroaches came too close to his paws.

"Naughty fairy," Maemtri said. "Serves you right, you curious creature."

The lion lowered his head and cast a menacing glance at Knot.

Maemtri held out the box and snapped her fingers, and the hissing cockroaches all jumped back into their container.

"Who would want hissing cockroaches for a familiar?" Keelie heard the squeak of panic in her voice and tried to calm herself.