In addition to the novel this book has a coloring pages in the back for the ultimate cozy experiance. Find it on Amazon
Chapter 5
We sat in numb silence. I wasn’t even aware of the exact point when Mrs. B. handed me a tea or when I’d started petting a pair of her cats who had made their way into my lap. Noreen was perched on the mantle above the fireplace with her own pair of cats.
Mrs. B. was seated in her large rocking chair and kept glancing nervously at the door.
“My cats were very aware that something was wrong,” she said. “So, what do you think, was it Spriggans?
I shook my head. I’d rather doubt it. There wasn’t a struggle, so it was most likely someone he let his guard down around, and it was someone he knew.
“I don’t understand who would want to kill Reeve Humphry,” Noreen said. “We’ve been the most peaceful county since he came. Even the mundane folk have less crime. Who wouldn’t want that?” she asked, as her lower lip quivered.
Mrs. B. rocked more earnestly, likely as an outpouring of her thinking. “There is more glory for some in turmoil than peace, and much more wealth involved.”
I grunted and took another sip of my tea. “Reeve Humphry was far too comfortable with too many, I think. He harassed me almost every week. I can see how that could make some people furious with him, but he never had his guard up that high.”
“Because he didn’t think of you as much of a threat, dear,” Mrs. B. said.
I bit my lip. I’d kept it under wraps of just how potentially dangerous I could be. It was such a secret that Larkin even knew not to make my family aware of it.
Could I have taken out someone like Reeve Humphry so quickly, even with the element of surprise? I wasn’t certain. It was something I’d need to mull over with Noreen later.
“My point is,” I continued, “there had to be a lot of people who hated him.”
“Hello, in the house! It’s Larkin,” Larkin called from outside, letting us know that he was about to walk across the roof. Normally, this wasn’t necessary, but given the tense times we’d found ourselves in, there was a lot more risk of misunderstandings. I likely wouldn’t be able to simply walk up to everyone’s home to make deliveries without calling out first either, I realized.
I said goodbye to Mrs. B., presuming her nerves were likely too frazzled to trust strangers she’d just met the day before, then paused with her lip quivering as I got up to leave.
“You can seek refuge in my family’s keep until this blows over,” I told her. “I’m certain my parents would be thrilled to put you up.”
I wasn’t certain how true the last part of that statement was, but it was my family’s responsibility in times of danger to provide a safe haven for others. Of course, there were far too many to offer this to everyone, but Mrs. B. was far less able to defend herself than many of the others.
“Thank you, dear. I might just send word to a few of my neighbors and take you up on that offer.”
Of course, she would. I smiled internally at the thought of Mrs. B. showing up with 20 other fairies and witches.
“So, anything interesting?” I asked Larkin the moment I left Mrs. B.’s home, closing the door tightly behind myself. I was happy to see the rain had let up and the sun was actually shining through broken clouds.
“Nothing you’d much like to hear, other than that you have an alibi. It happened while we were together, after the dance,” Larkin said.
“I’m guessing the deputies think it had to have been my grandfather?”
I said, as Noreen gave a snort of derision and shook her head.
“The lack of any struggle is what’s truly disconcerting. By all accounts, Humphry was a very guarded person,” Larkin continued.
“He never had his guard up around me– not that I could tell,” I said. “Mrs. B. says that’s because I wasn’t a threat.”
Noreen snorted again, but this it came through as a laugh. “B doesn’t know how well you actually scored in Dueling.”
I nodded. “So you think I could have taken him out without anyone noticing.”
Larkin pursed his lips thoughtfully, but Noreen shook her head. “Maybe with enough of a drop on him you could have won, but not without a struggle. His luck was dialed far too high. There aren’t many who could have pulled it off.”
“Which is the problem,” Larkin said, “’cause that short list either has an alibi, no apparent motive, or is your grandfather.”
“Let’s just see if we can find a witness before you arrest my grandfather,” I scowled.
“Of course,” Larkin agreed. “The others don’t seem to think anyone lives that close to the crime scene, though.”
I rubbed my teeth along the back of my mouth. I knew of a few somebodies who may have seen something. Most of whom preferred their privacy and had houses that were hidden, even from their fellow fairies for a reason.
The froglike Darin lived less than a hundred feet from the place the body was found and would have been out last night helping frogs and other animals cross the street in the rain. He was a private curmudgeon, private enough that he might have remained virtually invisible to Humphry and his killer and not bothered to tell anyone if he had seen anything. He would have figured it was none of his business, but he wasn’t likely to lie if asked about it.
Larkin was now blindfolded and wearing my cloak over his face to boot, all to keep him from seeing anything. I knew that Darin would be furious if I showed someone else where he lived. If it weren’t for his need to get food made by a human once every few months or so, I doubted anyone would know where he lived. I knocked on the large rock that acted as the door to Darin’s home and felt a strong hum of protective magic threatening me if I tried to enter without permission.
“Is that normal?” Larkin asked.
“No,” I said as my eyes narrowed. “Darin might be obsessed with privacy, but he usually doesn’t have such a dangerous spell to keep out intruders. Those spells might be noticed by a passing wizard and he prefers to keep a low profile.”
I knocked a little more urgently this time, worried that something might have happened to the fairy, calling out his name when I did. “It’s Winifred Gaveston,” I added for good measure.
“You shouldn’t be out and about, don’t you know how dangerous it is?” Darin called up.
“I need to talk to you,” I said urgently.
“What did I order from you last time?” the voice called up in a type of challenge.
“Stewed crab apples,” I said. “But you would be so much happier if you tried something sweet instead of insisting on only eating sour foods.”
He gave a grouchy grunt in response. The rock slid aside a second later, revealing the dark tunnel below.
“Don’t just stand up there waiting to catch flies in your slack jaws,” Darin said. “Get inside, quickly if you please.” I squinted to see if I could see him in the dark tunnel, but he wasn’t simply hiding.
He was invisible. It took a lot of power to be invisible to someone you were talking to. Why would he waste so much energy? He had to have seen something that terrified him beyond all measure. I took some heart in knowing that if it had been my grandfather who had scared him, he likely wouldn’t be letting me in. Still, his fear got to me and after guiding Larkin to the latter, I scrambled down the ladder as quickly as I could behind him. The rock slammed shut the moment we were both inside, leaving us in darkness.
“Who’s that tag-a-long?” Darin asked, either invisible or so shrouded in darkness I couldn’t see him.
“Larkin,” I said. “He’s the one I hunted down the medusa with while at school.”
Darin grunted. “Have a habit of sticking your nose into dangerous situations, do ya,” he said. “I’d wager that’s what you’re doing here.”
I shrugged. “What’s out and about that’s dangerous now?” I asked.
“Can this one be trusted?” Darin asked me.
“Yes,” I said.
“Can you?” Darin asked more slowly. “Your grandfather’s dirtier than a pig in a cocoa factory. He’s had contacts with the Spriggans in the past. Bought stolen goods from them, maybe used them to steal things he was interested in, if rumor is to be believed.”
My mouth went dry and throat tightened. Another rumor I’d never heard about my grandfather. I wondered if it could be true. Fairies like Darin didn’t knowingly lie very often, but they loved good stories and sometimes ignored what was likely true to share those tales.
“Who knows how big this thing is,” Darin said. “I suppose that you being here means you know that Humphry is dead. Whatever did that could likely swat me like a moth.”
His voice trembled. I’d never thought I’d see the day when he was afraid. It didn’t help my own nerves.
“Did you see what happened to Humphry?” Larkin asked.
“Errant might be dirty as dropped toast in a farmyard,” Darin grumbled.
“My family,” I stopped myself, for he was afraid of half my family.
I began again, “My father, the Gaveston’s, can offer you protection.”
“You can take me there straight away?” Darin said softly. Meaning unlike Mrs. B., he wanted an escort there.
“As soon as you share what you know,” I said.
There was a deep breath in the darkness. “Saw the Pixie prince last night, ‘bout 11 o’clock. Definitely a little before 11, because I saw the time a little after.”
“The prince killed Humphry?” Larkin asked.
“They argued something furious, but then the prince left, angry. Angrier than I’ve ever seen. Humphry was furious too. So furious, I thought he would kill the prince right there, laws be damned.”
Larkin and I exchanged a look. The time was off, since Humphry had been killed hours later, but perhaps the Prince might have come back, or, more likely, hired someone to do the deed.
“War’s brewing,” Darin said. “Raids will begin, Pixies and Fareesee will blame each other for the death, and Spriggans will rove the country.
“I meant what I said, you can stay with my family for a while,” I repeated.
“I need to go report this,” Larkin said. “See if I can find some record of exactly what the Prince and Humphry would have been arguing about. I’ll come by your house later tonight.”
“Not going to say where you heard about the Prince’s disagreement with him?” Darin asked.
“I have no idea where I heard it. Lady Gaveston refused to give me your name, or your home,” Larkin quipped.
Darin smiled at me.
My home had turned into something of a whispering party by evening. Those fairies who felt vulnerable living alone, or many who had small children, had gathered together as they had during times of danger for a thousand years. They spoke in hushed voices, often about what might have happened and what was going to happen now that Humphry was gone.
I’d warned Darin not to add fuel to the fire just yet by telling them that the Prince of the Pixies might be involved, for such rumors could lead to war. Of course, I probably didn’t need to say anything. Darin found a large desk and hid under it. I told my parents everything, of course. Whatever happened, I imagined my family would have to mitigate it.
I escaped to my kitchen when most of them had settled in and finally nodded off to sleep, except for the few who were still whispering nervously, and the children who were having too much fun sneaking about with each other. Noreen perched on the windowsill above the sink while I melted chocolate on the stove.
Fretting about what had happened had put me in the mood to do something, so I was starting early on tomorrow’s orders. And anyway, the whole raspberry and rhubarb cordial bonbon that I was working on would benefit from an overnight stay in the cooling case. I stirred the chocolate shavings over the double-boiler as we chatted, waiting for the perfect moment when the chocolate was just the right consistency for dipping raspberries filled with rhubarb cordial. It would have been far easier at any point to use magic, but the food gave the Fey more benefit if it hadn’t been touched by magic beyond that of a normal person.
“I think one of the big concerns right now is what Lord Wymond might do in his search for revenge,” Noreen said.
I shuddered as I wiped some chocolate from my fingers. “I hope someone’s checking on him to make certain he isn’t already marching across the countryside issuing threats.”
It was late when Larkin finally arrived at the kitchen window. I was thankful he hadn’t gone to the front entrance – the house fairy who acted as our butler was cranky when someone came during unexpected hours, and he would have woken the entire household.
“How did you know where to come?” I asked as I let him in. He looked worn out, and on instinct, I went to get some tea.
“You could always find me if you wanted,” he smiled. “You never turned off your end of the locator spells we swapped when we went hunting the medusa. Do you mind that I used it?”
I chuckled. How could I have forgotten about that?
“Not at all. I’m thankful you did. I could just see our butler, Crouch, bringing down the house because you rang the bell,” I grimaced.
“Your butler is named Crouch?” his eyes twinkled.
“Yes, although Grump would be a better match. He’s a drama queen of the highest order. He missed his calling– should have been on the stage,” I said, taking a breath and pouring the tea. “Never mind about Crouch, what did the deputies say about Sir Humphry? What are you going to do?”
I handed him the cup and he sipped it while looking out the window, clearly thinking about what he was going to say.
“I didn’t get to do much. It was a very busy day. The Spriggans did make three raids, so I was chasing them around the countryside for a large part of it. I did capture one group, but they wouldn’t say anything. Even so, the deputies are pretty certain your grandfather was involved somehow, and his showing up to the party yesterday didn’t much help his case, since it made it look like he was plotting something big. And Humphry had reams of notes on him.”
He turned from the window to see the scowl on my face. “I have to look into him, Winifred. You must understand.”
“My grandfather would not murder anyone, much less the Reeve who has been keeping peace in this area,” I said matter-of-factly as I folded my arms across my chest.
“I’m sure that’s the case, and if so, he’ll be left to go about his way. But I’m bound by the laws to investigate anyone on whom suspicion could be said to fall. I would be remiss not to follow this up.” His jaw was set, but there was a look in his eyes, as if asking me to understand.
“What did they say about the Prince?” I asked darkly.
“Arresting or investigating a Prince is complicated. There is a lot of politics involved, not to mention the danger of war.”
“So, you’re not going to look into it?”
Larkin looked resolved. “You know me better than that. I can’t just go strolling up to the castle first thing, especially without a good excuse.”
“I’ve been invited to the Palace by Prince Mugdel already,” I reminded him. “I can also claim that Prince Therot ordered some whisky-filled chocolates. He likes those.”
Noreen grinned at the idea of this conspiracy. “I’ve missed this.”
“Missed what?” I asked.
“The excitement of scheming adventures, slaying medusas, or in this case, the far uglier spoiled prince.”
“Nobody’s slaying anyone just yet,” Larkin said. “We have to appear to be doing this by the books. Winifred is just going to introduce me, that’s all.”
“Exactly,” I said.
“In the meantime, you can help me with something truly important,” I told Larkin. We need a hundred black sesame seed truffles and some whisky truffles before we leave first thing in the morning.”
“I’m no better at cooking than I was in college, which, as you remember, led to disaster and indigestion.”
“Ah, the incident of the long night,” Noreen said with a grin. “I remember it well.”
Larkin raised an eyebrow questionably, and I shook my head. Noreen was exaggerating for effect, but I’m not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t been able to mix a potion to settle my stomach after consuming whatever it was Larkin had tried to make. I still wasn’t certain.
“I’m here to instruct you, and I’d rather not drag my family into this. It’s well past my brother and sister’s bedtime, and my mother will only fuss. Still, you don’t have to stay and help, but if you don’t help, you need to go.” I lifted an eyebrow at him.
“I’ll stay, you can give me orders,” he said before pausing. “Just nothing too complicated.”
“Nothing that requires you to mix ingredients or put anything over a fire,” I agreed.
I pulled a package of black sesame seeds and a food processor from the cupboards and set them in front of him. “Grind these into a paste. You may have to add some sesame oil, but don’t do that unless they turn gritty, and ask Noreen before you do. I’ll get started on the chocolate.”
We worked well together. Larkin was great at smashing things, at least. I had my suspicions that he was a far better cook than he claimed. After all, when camping as often as he did, he obviously cooked his own meals. It did help to have Noreen hovering over him, giving him directions, telling him how much oil to add.
I cooked them next while he cut the butcher paper to put them on. We used honey and maple syrup for a more natural flavor. Then we rolled the paste into balls, and I dipped them in chocolate, sprinkling a few whole seeds on top as garnish, and added a sprinkle of a few spices to bring out the rich, nutty flavor of the sesame.
I sighed when they were finished and resting in the cooler. It was late, far later than my usual work schedule, but I didn’t have to get up extra early to get the chocolates done. Larkin was sitting at the farmhouse table, licking the filling from his fingers. He looked tired too, but the drawn look had gone from his face. The worry was lifting.
“Cooking is somewhat relaxing, isn’t it?” he said. “I can see why you like it.”
I sat beside him. “More than that,” I said. “I realized long ago that artists have an influence over people that no one else can truly match. An influence I can use for good.”
“Like helping us trick our way into the palace so that we can spy on a Prince who has been arrested by Humphry recently?”
“What?” I asked, jolting upright.
He rubbed his temple. “I guess I forgot to mention that. Some of the deputies are certain Prince Therot was arrested by Humphry, although they aren’t certain of the reason and they don’t know what came of it.”
“See, there’s no way he’s not guilty,” Noreen said.
Larkin sighed. “He may have been wrongfully arrested in the first place, which would explain why he’s already out and there isn’t a lot of rumors going around about what he did.”
I hated admitting that he could be correct, so I shifted the subject to our time at college. We talked and laughed about this, and a little about local gossip for another hour.
“Time to go,” he said when the clock rang that it was one in the morning. “I imagine I’m going to need to hunt down some more Spriggans tonight.
“I suppose I should get some sleep. We have to be at the castle early, and then I have to do my regular deliveries. I’m a working girl,” I said as I opened the window for him to step through. “Go get some sleep, too. Tomorrow will be a long day.”
Larkin stood in the window, looking at me. “Thank you, Winifred. I’d be lost without your help.”
“No, you wouldn’t,” I said. “You know very well how to maneuver in the world. You’re just tired and in shock. It has to be difficult to lose your boss and immediately have to investigate his death. You’ll be back to your normal self in the morning.” I opened my eyes wide, ushering, “Now, go!”
He stepped from the platform and was gone. I assume he floated down like he was on a wire, like in a movie or something, but as I’d never seen him do that trick and it was dark out now, I didn’t really know.
I didn’t bother going to sleep. I could use magic to enhance my wakefulness during the day, and it would be easier than waking myself up after just a few hours of sleep. How much sleep did I get the night before? I couldn’t remember, but I’d be okay as long as I slept the following night.
I busied myself with scones and tea cakes, some for delivery at daylight, others to go in the freezer for delivery the following day.
My advantage over mundane bakers was that I could defrost a tea cake, add a little magic, and it would taste as if it just came out of the oven. I didn’t like to push it too far, but a day or two worked just fine. And I didn’t know how busy I might get in the future.
As the day began to dawn, I enchanted my basket to hold more than its volume would allow, much like Mary Poppin’s carpetbag. The process of loading it took almost half an hour, as not only did I need to fit everything in, but I also needed it to be in the right order. There was nothing worse than searching in a bottomless basket for a particular treat hidden under piles of parcels.
Noreen sat up and stretched just around the time I finished. “What’s for breakfast? And why did you leave me to sleep on the windowsill? I’m all crumpled now.”
“If I’d gone up to sleep, I would have taken you,” I said, “but I didn’t. So, there you are. Come have an egg and bacon, it’s almost time to leave.”
We sat at the table and ate our breakfast sandwiches, with Noreen drinking black coffee (that I worried wasn’t healthy for her), while I had black tea. Magic worked wonders, but a little caffeine wouldn’t go amiss as a pick me up. It was going to be a long day.
In addition to the novel this book has a coloring pages in the back for the ultimate cozy experiance. Find it on Amazon
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