As they got to Glendale, the road changed from dirt to cobble as they passed through a brick arch. Around it—above and beside—was a building, perhaps a watchtower. The buildings beyond were a kind of Tudor style, all cream with brown accents. The street widened into two full lanes and, for a few blocks, were separated by a row of red maple. As Falcon had said, it was definitely bigger and better than Jaida Grove.
Having camped another night, they made it to town in the morning, and were able to make Cadin’s delivery to Rosie’s Emporium immediately. Her shop was almost a mirror image of Cadin’s except the building itself was nicer and looked more like a small warehouse. With a stroke of luck, Rosie happily bought Julia’s bracelet and ring for 1,200 gold pieces. It seemed that both gold and diamonds were not that common in Kelstone.
Since the stables were nearby, they stowed the cart and horse and took a cab back to the center of town. It was just a horse and a buggy with a friendly driver.
“So, since I’m going with you now,” Falcon said, talking over the clapping of horse hoofs as they trotted along. “I’m going to go buy some more supplies.”
Julia nodded. “I want to go check out the Mages Guild here.”
“Good idea. Ask around about anything suspicious going on―maybe anything more about this king,” he told her. “We can meet back at that tavern we saw on the way in.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
When the driver pulled back on the reins and brought the carriage to a halt, Julia gave Falcon half her gold, and they went their separate ways.
The Glendale Mages Guild was just a block east. It was much bigger and more lavish then the one in Jaida Grove. Mahogany shelves filled with books lined the walls, and smooth wooden tables with plush, blue chairs were set in groups around the room. Along the walls, here and there, were reading areas―cushioned benches that were nestled between the shelves with embroidered throw pillows, and brass lanterns hanging overhead.
Julia started when she suddenly realized someone was standing next to her. A very young girl―no more than six years old―was looking up at her with an angelic face. Her big, lavender eyes literally sparkled. She had wispy golden curls, and on her back were translucent, purple-and-gold butterfly-like wings. “Hello and welcome,” she said in a soft voice. “I am Nissa.”
Julia bent over slightly and spoke in a gentle, condescending manner. “Hello.” She smiled kindly. “I would like to speak to the person in charge here.”
Nissa returned the smile, revealing dimples in her rosy cheeks. “I am she. I have been waiting for you,” she said. She had a bit of an accent: there was a gentle, rhythmic lilt to her words, and her I’s were said as if there was a soft y after them. “Come. Let us go to my office and we will talk.”
Julia was led around a corner, through a magic shop, up some stairs, and into a large room with lots of fabric that was mostly white and sheer like the long dress the girl wore. Nissa offered her a seat and then hopped―more like floated―onto another chair. She rested her small hands in her lap and waited.
“I’m a little confused,” Julia admitted.
Nissa nodded. “I know. You come from far away and have never seen my kind before. But rest assured, I am an adult,” she said with no trace of annoyance at Julia’s ignorance. “I am a fairy.”
An actual fairy! Julia thought, then asked, “How do you know about me?”
“I see things,” she said simply, and then added, “You have questions, and I will do my best to answer them for you.”
“Um… yes. I wondered if you knew of any… uh, bad things that are happening.” Julia inwardly groaned at how lame she sounded.
“I do,” Nissa said, and her sweet face grew solemn. “Do you know anything about Xavien Barrowmont?”
“A bit.”
“This reign of terror is only beginning.”
“But he’s so young.”
“He is not the one you must worry about,” Nissa told her. “Although his ambitions are of evil intent, he has no true power. There is a woman behind him. I do not see everything, only what visions come to me, so unfortunately I do not know her name, nor who she is. But I see dark times swiftly approaching. She must be stopped before it is too late.” The fairy gazed intently at Julia for a moment. “You are the one,” she said. “But not you alone. Stay close to him.”
Julia just nodded, not knowing what to say.
“In a vision I saw the orb of Gahala Dune,” Nissa continued. “It is a powerful object, the only one of its kind. The pieces of it are kept hidden away, but if you seek them and unite them, the orb will give you what you need to defeat her. Speak to the old mage Ikoris, and you will find out more. Travel northwest from here, through the forest, to find his cave.”
Julia nodded again.
Nissa looked pensive for a moment, then went to her desk and returned with a scroll. “Here. To light your way,” she said, handing it to her.
“Thank you,” Julia replied. After a minute of silence, she realized it was her cue to leave and stood.
“Julia,” Nissa said, stopping her and surprising her further by knowing her name. “Do not ignore your instincts. They will lead you where you need to go. They will help you make the right decision.”
“What decision?”
“You will find out in due time,” she answered. “But know that it was not chance that brought you here, it was Fate. You are chosen,” she said again. “You both are.”
Julia shivered; all this clairvoyant stuff was seriously creeping her out. She thanked the fairy again and left, heading downstairs to the magic shop they had passed through.
She paused at the bottom of the stairs to learn the light spell. As the scroll disappeared, she saw a small child—maybe three or four-years-old—running toward her. Halting to a stop two-feet away, she started twirling a finger around a lock of her long blond hair. “What spell you got?” she asked, her freckled face looking up with keen interest.
“Light,” Julia answered.
The girl’s blue eyes grew wide. “I can do it!” she exclaimed happily. “Look!” She pulled a small candy from the pocket of her blue dress, then squinted at it intently for a moment before it began to glow. She held it up proudly. “Wanna mouth light?”
Knelling before her, Julia smiled. “A what?”
She popped the candy into her mouth. “Mouf ligh,” she said around it, then opened wide to show her, now bright, mouth.
Julia giggled, but before she could respond, a woman came over and took the child’s hand. “Cassie, you know not to wander off,” she chided, then to Julia added, “Sorry.”
“It’s no problem,” Julia assured. “She’s adorable.”
The mother nodded and walked away.
Heading into an adjoining room, Julia browsed through a glass case of tiny potions, then a wall of scrolls, each cubby labeled with a different spell. There was levitation, but she was told—the woman’s voice touched with disdain—that it was for a much more advanced mage. Other spells seemed useful for everyday living, like stitching, timer, and one that mimicked a hair dryer—basically a continuous stream of warm hair from your hand. They were tempting, but she only had so much money, so she focused on what might be helpful for their quest.
When she finally left the guild, she passed by Cassie. The little girl was banging a cup on the table. It looked as though the contents were frozen.
“Knock it off,” the mother grumbled.
“But I gotta break the juice!” the child insisted.
She sighed heavily and looked at the man beside her. “I told you the ice spell was a bad idea.”
Julia held her laughter until she made it outside.
She walked north on Main Street and found the tavern they had passed earlier: the Fancy Ferret. How a ferret could be fancy, she didn’t know, and the plain wooden sign hanging above the door gave no indication. The inside had the feel of a mid-priced restaurant. She scanned the place for Falcon.
Everything was made from lacquered oak, including the floor. The walls, though, were a cream-colored stucco, matching the outside of the building. Tables were set sporadically around wood posts that connected to the rafters. Potted plants hung from the overhead beams, interspersed with brass oil lamps that were currently unlit, the tavern’s many windows let in plenty of afternoon sunlight.
She almost asked the lanky man behind the long bar for help, but then spotted Falcon sitting in a booth. She wove her way past several empty tables and a few with families. Sliding onto the padded leather bench across from Falcon, she skipped saying hello and asked, “I thought taverns were like bars. But this one and the one in Jaida Grove have bars but otherwise…”
He set down the menu he was looking at and smiled that warm, kind smile of his. “Taverns are one of the things here that’s like fantasy games. They’re more like a restaurant, bar, and hotel mixed into one.”
“Oh, okay.”
“So it’s late for lunch and early for dinner. What do you feel like eating?”
She shrugged. “Whatever. I guess I lost track of time. The guild was interesting.”
“Oh?”
She told him everything, pausing when a waitress came and Falcon ordered two bowls of corn chowder and cheddar rolls.
“So Nissa said it’s destiny that we’re here,” Julia finished.
“A lot of people take all that fate and destiny stuff seriously here. Even more so than on Earth, I think.” He shrugged. “Just a bunch of crap in both places, if you ask me.”
She gave a shrug of her own. “Oh, I also found a shield spell and two healing potions. I ended up spending the rest of the money I had on me though.”
He nodded. “Magic’s expensive, but that’s well worth it,” he told her approvingly as he started digging in his bag. “Here, I got you a dagger. It’s nothing fancy, but it’ll work.” He handed her a simple blade with a smooth, walnut handle. “And these.” He pulled out a book that was a foot long and ten inches wide. The cover was made of thick brown leather, with a few swirly designs engraved in the corners. Then handed her a pen with a slim wooden handle and metal quill tip. On the side in read: Enchantment Manufacturing Company. “The pen cost most my money, but you don’t need ink, and there’s nothing to leak, so it’s good for traveling. Last about ten years too. And since I know you like making 'pros and cons' lists,” he teased.
“Thank you!” She took the journal and smiled widely, the dagger sat ignored on the table between them. “You’re so sweet.”
The waitress returned with their food then. “Someone’s getting brownie points,” she said, smiling.
“Oh! Are there brownies here?” Julia asked hopefully.
Falcon laughed. “Yes,” he told her, then to the waitress said, “Bring one, please.”
She laughed as well, then nodded and went to fetch it.
