“Marie,” Brede said slowly. “If you’re playin’ a trick I don’t see it. You ain’t a liar that I can tell. So let me tell you, you really shouldn't repeat that to no one else. Fae has its share of villains just like you humans have and there are some that would kidnap you and keep you in a dark hole to use that power.”

  I get not wanting me to tell other people, but I’m not helpless. “I wasn’t planning to. And they would try and kidnap me.

  “Strength isn’t everything. If someone knew enough about you they could make a trap that prevents electricity and hit you from an ambush. But Brede is wrong about keeping you in a dark hole. They’d come after your mind, tie up your soul. You’d be eating out of their hands and thanking them for it. They’d keep you comfortable and happy and you would never realize you were their slave,” Agnar said.

  I don’t answer for a minute. Is this what my life is going to be? Fighting and trying not to die and making sure people aren’t trying to turn me into a slave? It makes me mad, that mad I’ve been trying to avoid. It just goes around and around in my head until I say something I don’t mean. “How do I know you’re not going to do that to me?”

  I almost say sorry. That was mean and they’ve been really nice to me. But didn’t he just say I wouldn’t even notice? And now I’m about ready to leave with them to Fae. I haven’t even known them a day and I’m so scared of being alone I already agreed to go kill some monster. I wasn’t supposed to agree to anything for the future but they showed up and listened and promised me everything I wanted. Friendship and help learning and somewhere to belong because I’m worth something not just because I’m somebody they feel they have to take care of.

  Brede’s laughter stopped me from spiraling. What’s funny about this? “You mean aside from the fact that Morrigan is liable to kick our asses up between our ears? Fae and humans ain’t as different as some of us like to believe. We got some bad apples and some downright villains. For that matter we have some species that are entirely rotten. I don’t think Agnar and I are the bad sort. You can’t know this but we’re treatin’ you like a partner. That ain’t something Morrigan caused, that’s somethin’ you did. You decide after a while you don’t want nothin’ to do with us anymore the worst we’ll do is try and convince you otherwise.”

  “Sorry,” I say. I kind of forgot my godmother can do a lot more to them than I can.

  “That’s the other thing. You gotta stop bein’ so sorry about stuff all the time. Hopefully we can break you of that by stoppin’ you from feelin’ so lonesome. What happened to you ain’t fair or right, but that’s the world. You got a right to be mistrustful and ornery. That said, I think you need to sleep on it. You been about ready to fall over for a bit now. Look, we ain't in that big of a hurry. So how about this, you take yourself a nap and I’ll get to workin’ on a blade and a sheath for you before we head out.”

  I start to say I’m fine when I’m hit with another yawn. I am pretty tired. Are you kidding? Am I just grumpy because I need a nap? No, he said I have every right to feel this way. Still, I’m pretty tired.

  “How about this?” Brede said. “You know we can’t knowingly tell falsehoods. I swear you’ll be safe. We ain’t goin’ nowhere until you’re awake and if you decide not to go with us we won’t force it.”

  Ugh, I do want a nap. And Morrigan said they couldn’t lie to me. I yawn again while thinking it over. Fine, if they kill me in my sleep I guess I deserve it.“You’re right,” I say, rubbing my eyes with my fists. I know how it looks but thinking about it is gonna make me mad. “I am tired. I want to talk about this some more after I take a nap.”

  “Yeah I figured you might. Go on and get some sleep and we’ll try to think of a way to prove we ain’t tryin’ to take advantage of you anymore than each other. I ain’t about to lie and say I won’t try to make all of us some money with your skills, but I don’t intend to try and make you do anything you don’t want to.”

  I go to grab my tent zipper but remember they won’t have a way to wake me up. I guess if I’m going to trust them enough to go into Fae I have to trust them enough to make sure nothing gets me in my sleep. Actually wait, what if I just leave the zipper open? Since the closet is already cleaned out and I don’t know how well they climb trees I just climb inside and use my tent there. I think I hear myself snore before my face hits the pillow.

  *****

  “Are you sure about these guys?” Hecate asks sitting cross legged and sideways in her chair.

  Morrigan is laid out in her recliner with her hands behind her head. “Yes. If for no other reason than I tend to scare the Fae more than anyone else. Nevermind that most of the time I show up to help them. If I choose you to die I generally only show up if you really deserve it.”

  “And you think they can help her get rid of the snake?”

  Morrigan sighs, “I think that she could take care of that snake right now but it’s level is probably making her think twice. If she did the math based on previous classes she’d realize it’s a pushover. Relax Hecate, we sent her some help.”

  “That’s another thing though, a full moon falling on summer solstice? How lucky is that? We thought she’d take months getting those ingredients and they practically fell in her lap.”

  “I disagree, the only one that fell in her lap was the cat, and I don’t think she’d agree to that being fortuitous. But honestly? Coyote and Anansi can both bend luck to a ridiculous degree. I just don’t understand why they sent her after the Ouroboros. But enough, she has help now, I can send them a message next solstice if I have to. Let’s relax and see what else is going on. Too bad Melinoe left so quick, I’m sure she’d be happy with the news.”

  “Ugh. OK fine, you’re right, sitting around worrying isn’t going to do anything and she’s safe enough now,” Hecate says standing up. “You wanna watch a movie or something? We both have archive access.”

  “Maybe later, I was thinking we’d check around and see what the other humans are up to. With Pan still around I’m a little concerned about whether he’ll leave them be or not,” Morrigan replies.

  “Now I’m the one telling you not to worry. As mad as he gets he never just goes around murdering people. I haven’t found him yet but I have seen a few places where the woods are completely out of control. I think he’s just pushing them into settlements.”

  “Well alright I suppose. What about humans, any interesting ones? Looming powers we should take an interest in? Other wayward children to adopt?” Morrigan asks.

  “Nothing too special. The psychopaths are leading the way in strength but you know how that goes, they’ll get taken out by teams sickened by their behavior soon enough. A couple of sociopaths with hero complexes, they might do ok as long as they don’t let the power go to their heads. Or start acting like lunatics. Several people completely disconnected from reality, they’re probably more a danger to themselves unless someone like Melinoe takes an interest. Middle of the pact has some interesting fighters, swords, axes, fists and bows. Nothing super stand out yet. And of course there are almost no good mages. At best there are some spell swords, but most of the mages stand at the back of a party and shoot mediocre spells. I’ve seen enough magic missiles to last…Hey wait, why am I telling you all this? You’re usually better informed than me.”

  “Honestly I’ve been so busy with this Marie business I haven’t really done much else. Remind me to thank her, I can’t remember the last time I felt so fulfilled, and I suppose I should thank you for dragging me into this.”

  “Are you trying to teach her bad habits?” Hecate asks.

  “Is it a bad habit if she can survive it?” Morrigan asks back.

  “Please don’t use my disciple to clean house,” Hecate says.

  “Just looking for some return on my investment,” Morrigan replies. “Besides those two should keep her fairly safe from the stuff she doesn’t know how to handle for now. Let her have a fun adventure in the local Fae lands and come back all the wiser. We’re doing it again, you know. What is it about that girl that demands our attention?”

  “That time was your fault. You want some ice cream? I want some ice cream. I assume you want mint chocolate or something. Why you people insist on making chocolate taste like toothpaste I will never understand,” Hecate says.

  “Says the woman who likes pineapple on pizza,” Morrigan says. “And yes if you’re conjuring I’ll take double chocolate mint cookie dough.”

  “Thank us we’re not mortal. We’d get so fat so fast.”

  “Without a single regret.”

  *****

  I wake up to someone messing with my hair.

  “Hold on, I’m almost done,” Agnar says.

  “What are you doing? Why are you in here?” I ask as calm as I can. I try not to move, and I’m kind of tempted to just relax, but this is weird. I think he’s braiding my hair?

  “I got bored and we were going to wake you up soon anyway. I saw you sitting here and you reminded me of my younger sister. I used to braid her hair for her, and I kind of miss it. She hasn’t let me do that in at least a century.”

  I start to tell him he should ask permission but curiosity interrupts me. “You have a sister? How old is she?”

  Agnar doesn’t answer at first, just keeps braiding. “There, all done. I have a sister and a brother, I’m the oldest of three. And let me tell you, that’s rare. I’ve met maybe six other Fae with siblings and none with more than one. Most of us are like Brede, only children that our parents took dozens of years to have. My sister was a happy surprise. My mother swears my brother could be a gift from Titania but she always makes it out to be a joke. I honestly can’t tell if he is or she just likes picking at him a little. Father’s no help either, he says he thinks we all might be gifts from the goddess.”

  I sit up and look at him. “You really should have asked me before messing with my hair.”

  “You’re right, I’m sorry. You looked your age and you were upset earlier. Braiding Beri’s hair always made her feel better when we got into a spat. I’ll tell you what you don’t want to hear. It’s hard not to think of you as a child, even with all that power. Brede under sold how much the Fae like kids. We spoil them rotten, even the human ones. When we take humans for work it’s always people like midwives, or someone with a profession we don’t have. We’ve never had so many kids in Fae that someone could do that as a job. I’d be surprised if there were more than a handful across all our lands,” Agnar finished kind of staring off into space.

  “Do you have kids?” I asked.

  He looked down at me, “Me? No, I’ve never had any interest in women, and any relationship I’ve had has been too short to think about stealing one of you. No, I likely will never have any. Enough about me now, would you like to see your hair?”

  “Sure,” I say.

  He holds his hand up and the air sort of waivers for a second before showing me three pictures. My face, the top of my head and the back of my head. The first thing I notice is my hair is lighter than normal. I think it’s from spending so much time outside. My now brownish hair is braided in two rows which curl up around the bottom. It’s definitely out of the way like this but also it’s really pretty.

  “Agnar, next time-” I start to say.

  “Next time I’ll ask,” he interrupts.

  “Just wait till I’m awake. Also, my hair looks great,” I say.

  “My pleasure.”

  I get up and stretch while walking outside to see if Brede is done. Agnar follows me and moves out of the way so I can zip the tent up and put the zipper back on my backpack. I flip on Mana Walking and Scales of Ma’at and almost immediately get a System message.

  *DING*

  Strength +1

  Dexterity +1

  Uh ok. Sure. This feels so weird. It’s like taking a nap when your parents have company, waking up and they’re staying for dinner. Or taking a nap on vacation. I don’t know what to say or do. I was so tired and lonely and just plain done last night and now I have to wake up and remember all the things tired Marie did. Like the Marie that went to bed was irresponsible and the one that woke up has to deal with what she did. That makes sense, right? Maybe I'm still kinda asleep.

  It’s weird for something good to feel kind of wrong but I’m not used to gaining stats in front of other people. I guess a lot of things will feel weird for a while though. Like, it’s weird I didn’t think any of this last night, but I guess that was just sleepy Marie doing sleepy Marie things. You know, like breaking a lot of my rules and just telling them everything. Like trusting them immediately because I was so scared to be alone. It’s weird I’m not mad at Agnar right now, he made me so upset last night and now he’s braiding my hair and I don’t even mind. Him and Brede feel like the cousins I didn't know I wanted and a part of me wonders if they’re using magic to make me feel like that. I have an idea but it still relies on Morrigan and Hecate being for real, for real. Well here goes nothing.

  Brede is sitting on a rock sewing with the bear leather. I can kind of see one of the mantis blades on the other side of him, sitting flat. The blade looks really shiny and sharp. As I walk up he looks up for a second before nodding and going back to what he’s doing. The back of the blade is dark and dull. It now has a handle for me to grab on to and I start to reach for it, but I need to do what I was planning before anything else.

  “Hey guys, uh, I need you to do something. I’m going to do it first though, cause I think that’s fair. I swear I won’t ever hurt either of you on purpose or do anything bad to you, and I won’t use magic on you unless you say it’s ok. Or if it’s an emergency. Or I guess in self defence,” I say.

  “Most of that is covered by you being a friend of the Fae,” Agnar says. “But I have no problem agreeing, especially since we keep telling you to be more careful. I, Agnar, promise to do you no harm, outside of sparring or emergencies and then only within acceptable terms. I will not use my magic on you unless you are in grave danger or have agreed before hand. Good enough?”

  “Yes, th- perfect.”

  Brede takes a minute, having his needle stick out of the leather in a way that seems to be keeping what he’s been doing tight. “I’ll be done here shortly,” he says. He looks up at me. “I promise I ain’t gonna use any skills or magic on you unless you say or I can stop something from hurting you. I’ll tell you if that last one is the case. I promise I don’t mean you any harm and actually I think we can benefit each other quite a bit. If I train you in somethin’ that’ll cause harm I’ll warn you and try and keep the harm to as little as possible. I’ll only do you harm if it’s necessary to stop something worse. You gotta understand how careful we gotta be with sayin’ stuff like this. I say I’ll never cause you harm I can’t push you out of the way of somethin’ that might kill you over skint knees. And I don’t take any offence. Now let me finish this sheath for you, I don’t like bein’ interrupted when I’m workin. Take that blade and go see how it swings. Oh and take this,” He reached behind him and moved some cut bear skin. Under it was a small round shield with straps on the back of it.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “Awesome, I’ll try not to interrupt you when you’re working,” I say.

  I walk over and pick up the blade by the handle. It’s a little heavier than I remember. Weird again. OH, I’m still using Scales of Ma’at, duh. I turn off the skill and walk away from Brede, making sure there’s no way I’m going to hit him. I hold the sword in the air with mana while I strap the shield onto my right arm. It has a hexagon in the middle of it, with six wavy lines that go all the way around to meet on the back side. I push mana into it and get a Hexagon Buckler on top of it. Cool! I make a gauntlet in my left hand and start swinging the sword when Agnar interrupts me.

  “Ok stop,” Agrar says.

  “What?” I ask in confusion.

  “I know you’re not supposed to make deals for future tasks, but just agree to read a book out loud or something while we travel and in exchange I’ll give you some basic sword instruction so you don’t cut your own legs off,” He says.

  “Um, sure. Actually if you can make that thing you said that can play thoughts I think we can listen to audio books. I can let you choose first?”

  “Done, although it might take me a couple of days to make a portable one, I haven’t done that before. In the meantime will you consent to read as we travel?”

  “Sure.”

  “OK, so first things first, you have to learn how to stand.”

  That’s how I started my first training session with a real teacher. Turns out you shouldn’t swing like you’re trying to hit a baseball. Or stand ‘flat footed’. Also my posture was bad and my swings were uneven and I left myself open when I tried to hit things with my shield. Apparently it looked like I was trying to fight with an axe instead of a sword. Once I started to do things right he made me turn Scales of Ma’at back on. Apparently he didn’t trust me to turn it off in a fight. Probably a good call since I keep forgetting.

  It goes on for a while, he shows me how to do something like a simple sown swing and I repeat it until he says I got it. He makes me adjust my feet, slow down if I go too fast. At first I keep thinking how awesome it is to have a teacher and someone to talk to. That goes away as I really get into what he’s showing me.

  “Alright you two, take a break,” Brede calls. “I want to make sure this harness and sheath fit.”

  I don’t know how long we’ve been practicing but I’m sweaty. Somehow Agnar isn’t and that doesn’t seem fair. Maybe it’s an elf thing. Would it be rude to ask? I’m asking.

  “Don’t you sweat?”

  Agnar chuckles. “Absolutely, when I exert myself enough. But I didn’t do the work you did. When I show you how to do something, that's me moving exactly where I want to go, exactly as fast I want to do it and breathing correctly. You’re still moving too far and swinging too hard. You’re only just starting to work on breath control. The one thing you seem to be pretty good at is blocking but we have to break you from trying to use your shield as a weapon.”

  “Is it always a bad idea though?” I ask. “I mean it’s gotten me out of some bad situations.”

  “Just trust me, once you get better at fighting you’ll realize there were better answers for those situations. There are a few use cases for a shield bash but you really have to learn the basics. I expect you to practice what I showed you whenever you have time. If you want to fight two handed you should use two weapons. Before you get your hopes up I don’t suggest it. At least right now you’re not coordinated enough to duel wield.”

  “No that’s ok,” I say. “I like having a shield arm. I guess I can practice this during the day and you can show me rune stuff before bedtime.”

  “I- completely forgot about that. I’ll come up with some kind of lesson plan. When we get to Ingenburg we’ll try to find you some real teachers.”

  “Is that where you’re from?”

  Brede stood up and walked over. “It’s where we have our business. Now hold still for a minute and let me make sure this fits you.” He holds up the sheath. I’ve made clothes, I was even really proud of them. I had sewed before with mom, a little. Compared to this though, I was terrible. It was kind of square with a one pointy end, he had turned the leather inside out for most of it and put some kind of clear paint or something over it. Around one edge, the pointy part and maybe a third of the other edge, another piece of leather had been sewn to keep the whole thing together. Strangely the top had similar stitching but it wasn’t sewn together. Instead it seemed like that part was weighted all the way around to hold the sword.

  Gently, with his rough hands, Bred strapped the top of the hilt around my shoulder and then the bottom into a belt. It felt pretty cool. He grabbed my sword hand. “This is how you sheath the weapon. He guides my hand and the sword, it goes in kind of sideways and then slides down. When it’s all the way down it feels like the top of the sheath is squeezing the sword. I jump around a little and Brede just looks at me.

  “Sorry,” I say.

  “It’s fine, can’t be expectin’ you to sit still too long.” He replies. “Besides, now I know what needs adjustin’.” He starts pulling on the straps a little and moving the sheath around a little. It almost feels like it isn’t there. “Alright final test, can you still put that back pack on?”

  Oh. I didn’t even think about that. I grab it and throw it on. OK, that's tight. This time I’m the one adjusting straps until it’s snug but not pulling on my shoulders. I move both my arms around a little and then give them a thumbs up. “Perfect!” I say.

  They both laugh at me.

  “What?” I say, sounding kind of whiny.

  “The juxtaposition between your capabilities, stature and aesthetic is funny.” Agnar says.

  “You’re too damn cute to be the menace we know you are,” Brede adds.

  “Hey!” I protest. I think I got that. I look up the word juxtaposition. I guess they weren’t insulting me, just saying it was weird that I was dangerous. I’m going to make Agnar teach me so many words. “Hey Agnar, what’s a grownup way of saying stop picking on me?”

  “Do not insult in my honor,” He says.

  “You don’t want to hear my version?” Brede asks.

  “Is it gonna be something with curse words?” I ask.

  “Might be,” he says looking side to side.

  “Then definitely,” I reply.

  “Quit your shit talkin’.” he says.

  I giggle. I kinda forgot I did that. “Don’t worry guys I won’t tell you to quit shit talking, I’ve had enough quiet to last me for a long time.”

  “She’s a natural,” Agnar says.

  “This is gonna be a long trip,” Brede says. “Speakin’ of, ya’ll bout ready to hit the road? Since I’m gonna make you another sword and I’m takin’ most of the materials on your sled I’m gonna suggest you leave it. It’s gonna be annoying to haul along with us.”

  I didn’t have to think much about that, I had really just used it to bring those materials. I don’t want it messed up though so I just nod and shove it in the closet I made at the bottom of the tree. Actually I have some room in here. I also put my jerky rack in and close the door. It kind of feels like cleaning up my room.

  “You forgettin’ anything? Change of clothes or anything up in that tree house?” Brede asks.

  “Nope, everything is in my bag or my tent. Although, my extra clothes might need some fixing. The ones I was wearing during the tutorial are pretty much done for, and the leather armor I made is only kinda ok. ”

  “Well that explains the smell.” Agnar says.

  “Hey!” I say. “Rude.”

  He just laughs, “You did give us permission. Don’t worry we’ll make sure to get you some extra clothes. If you’re so rough on them though how have those survived?”

  “They heal themselves with mana. Mor- godmother gave them to me,” I say

  “Good girl,” Brede says. “Try not to talk too much about her but if you do gotta do it that’s the way. Maybe don’t tell anyone those self-repair, they’d be worth quite a bit. Alright if y’all are ready I’m ready.”

  With that we set off back towards the quarry and the portal to Fae.

  *****

  I guess everything was still asleep this morning because we run into enemies that Agnar wants to fight on the way back. Two level 21 water bunnies. Or Aqua Hares. They’re basically just bunny versions of that wolf I fought. Agnar asks me to help him fight them, but he just wants me using the sword. He also makes me keep Scales of Ma’at on. Well, maybe not makes me, but he does tell me that’s how I’ll learn best. He takes the one on the right and I take the one on the left.

  OK, here we go. Feet apart, solid foundation. Move forward towards the bunny, making sure to keep my stance. This feels kinda silly. I’m creeping up on the bunny like I couldn’t just explode it with a single shell. The bunny notices me and screams. Ugh, I hate that sound. It only does it for second before it turns and starts hopping away. Crap.

  I see Agnar take a single stab making shish-ka-bunny out of his rabbit as I run after mine. I manage to stop myself from calling after it. This isn’t fair, my sword isn’t made for stabbing. I finally chase it between some tree roots before it turns around and jumps at me. Marie slice! I try to get into the right stance and swing with my back instead of my hips. I kinda do it but I hope Agnar didn’t see that because it was super awkward. I’m still down a bunny though.

  *DING*

  Level 21 Aqua Hare Defeated

  Experience Rewarded

  I use water magic and clean the blood off my sword. Then I fling the water off before putting it back in my sheath. Sword maintenance is very important, I learned that when I was thinking about trying to make one myself. I need some sword oil, I wonder if Brede has any? I’ll ask him later when we stop for a break or something. Agnar tells me everything I did wrong before we start walking again. I guess he did see after all.

  I can see the portal when Brede stops us both with a whispered “wait.” This is much quieter than his pretend whisper this morning. Agnar seems to take him seriously and he ducks down until he’s our height.

  I look around and see someone just on the other side of the portal. Someone scary looking. He’s a little taller and than me and Brede but skinny like Agnar. His skin is like glue, way too white and almost melty looking on his face. He’s got a pointy nose and ears but his mouth is what I can’t stop looking at. It’s full of needles. He’s wearing a red toboggan and what looks like nice black pants and a flannel shirt. He reaches a hand out of the portal and I realize his hands are huge. Not thick and calloused like Brede’s but long and bony, like three times the size they should be. He scratches at the ground with a broken fingernail. All of his fingernails are broken, and gross looking.

  “Shit,” Agnar says. “What is he doing this far north?”

  “No tellin’ I ain't seen one of those in a kitsune’s age.”

  “Do you know him?” I whisper.

  “No, but I know what he is. Trouble,” Brede whispers back.

  I use Advanced Identify.

  Level 25 Murderous Redcap

  HP: 212

  Distance: 612 feet

  “Its class is ‘murderous’?” I ask.

  “I told you we had species that tend towards evil,” Brede says. “That right there’s one of the worst. I ain’t never even heard of one that won’t strangle you and dip its hat in your blood.”

  “What do you think?” Agnar asks, “Wait it out, or try to lure it away from the portal some how? Maybe we can catch something for it to chase.”

  “Wait a minute,” I say. “Are you saying this guy is definitely evil? Like completely, one hundred percent, no joke, no lie, will kill babies, evil?”

  “Yeah, that’s about the size of it. These things are bad news. I wouldn’t want to tangle with them without a full team. Maybe two just to be sure. They can strangle somebody in seconds. And they’re fast.”

  “He’s mine,” I say.

  “Marie wait a minute, I know you’re strong and all but this thing is a killer. I don’t think you understand what you’re facing.”

  “No, you don’t understand,” I say a little too loudly. The Redcap doesn’t seem to have heard me but I lower my voice. “I’ve been here for months forced to fight animals just going around being animals. They aren’t mean or evil, except maybe that Lynx but it did fall in that trap I made. You’re telling me that guy is evil and will kill people and there’s nothing good about him? Plus it’ll be a hard fight? You can’t stop me from taking him out. He doesn’t get to live in the world if my family doesn’t.”

  They both look at me like I’m crazy. I think this is the first time they understood that I might be a little crazy. Or a lot. I don’t care, there’s a real life bad guy right there. You know what, just to be safe I identify his name.

  Murderous Redcap

  Choking is what you do when you eat too fast. Ill tempered and cruel Redcaps strangle their victims to death and dip their hats in the blood made from the ragged neck wounds.

  That settles it. I don’t know why I said all that about my family but it was true. No. You don’t get to be alive, going around killing people. And dipping your hat in their blood? Gross. I turn off Scales of Ma’at and look around to see if there’s anything I can use.

  “Marie, seriously this is a bad idea,” Agnar says.

  “He should have thought of that before he came here,” I say.

  “Dammit. If I die I’ll never forgive you,” he replies.

  “What are you talking about?” I ask. “I told you he’s mine.”

  “Not gonna happen,” Brede says. “You’re with us and we take care of our own. If you’re fightin’ we’re gonna help.”

  “Brede, that thing is higher level than both of you. You’re barely high enough to be out of the tutorial. Plus my attacks are not really good for fighting with other people.”

  “I know that young ‘un, we ain’t wet behind the ears. If we can get him out in the open I think we can slow him down. Agnar, what kinda runes you got ready?”

  Agnar silently takes off his rucksack and sits it down. Reaching in he starts pulling out different sized and types of rocks with runes on them. “Fire, fire, earth trap, that’s a maybe. Here we go, ice. This might work,” he says, pulling out a blue rock with a single line on it. “Marie, can you shoot this out of your blaster?”

  I take the stone from him, it’s really cold like actual ice. It’s also small, not even half the size of my shells. I form my blaster with it in the center. “Yeah, no problem.”

  “OK, here’s the plan. Marie, get in the air, behind the portal. As soon as you’re in place I’m going to get his attention. When he runs out, weigh him down and shoot him with this. Brede, how long do you need to lock him down?”

  “I oughta be able to do it in about four seconds.”

  “As soon as it can’t move, bombard him with lightning, everyone got it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yeah.”

  “OK, go!”

  I make myself lighter and jump straight up. I’m above the lowest limbs when I run out and above the cliff. I turn around and look down as Agnar walks out in the open talking loudly at the Redcap.

  “Well if it isn’t the red headed step child of the unseelie court. Putrid little Redcap, why don’t you go home before some misfortune befalls you?” Even when he’s playing he sounds cool.

  The Redcap comes out of the portal slowly, looking around. “A mud-chile and dirt-fairy? Are ye so tired o’ livin then? I’d thankee for this door and leave at that if you weren’t so stupid. If ye want death, who am I to naysay ye?” His voice is almost musical, not at all what Marie expected.

  “Really?” Agnar asks, “You would have let us go?”

  “O’ course,” the redcap replied. I’d much rather to send ye off in your sleep after ye stopped bein’ so wary o’ me. Stupid elf, I’ve strangled a hundred o’ ye, and ten times that o’ dwarves. Come add ta me tally.”

  I cast Scales of Ma’at before he starts running and he actually stumbles. Awesome. I shoot the stone at him. It hits him on the back and knocks him flat on his stomach. SMACK. As he starts to get up a thin layer of ice covers his back, arms and legs. I hear Brede saying something but I can’t hear him well enough to understand. Then the redcap starts sinking into the ground.

  “Not bloody likely!” He screams. He pulls his arms up and slams his fingers into the ground in front of him as fast as he can reach. He starts pulling himself out and I shoot off four shells. C-C-C-CRACK ZACRACK the shells hit faster than I’ve ever hit before.

  “AAAAAH,” he screams. Unfortunately the shells knocked the ice off of him and he’s up. He ignores me and Agnar and runs toward Brede.

  “No!” Agnar and I both speak at the same time. I drop to the cliff and make myself lighter. As quick as I can I run and jump off the cliff. A rock shield pops up around Brede but the redcap runs right through it. I can feel my mana still on him and I reach out to it. I use it and mana from my body to make a rope and jerk myself towards the redcap. He stumbles back for a second and then leans forward again. His hands go around Brede’s neck.

  I land on the redcaps back and put him in a headlock. Then I jerk back while pushing on his back as hard as I can. “Get off him!” I yell. Something snaps loudly and I fall on my back. I ignore the System message as I push the body off of me. “Brede, Brede, are you ok?”

  He’s standing over me with a hand out. I take it and he pulls me up. He has a real serious look on his face. “I’m ok young ‘un. The worst part was me thinkin’ the whole time that this was why the Morrigan picked me. Like I was destined to meet my end at the hands of that damned shitheel. I think the next time you tell me to stay out of a fight I oughta listen.” Then he smiles a little but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I ain’t too upset over the 2 levels you got me though.”

  “Two levels?” Agnar says angrily. “Two levels? I didn’t even get any credit for the kill.”

  Brede seems to relax at that. “Well what do you expect? All you did was talk shit at him.” His smile seems more real.

  “It was my rune!”

  “That Marie shot.”

  “It was my plan!”

  “That Marie and I carried out.”

  “It was supposed to come for me,” Agnar said sadly.

  Brede clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Well you know what they say, plans never survive first contact with the enemy. I’m sure that Tatzelwurm’ll try and eat you.”

  Agnar just looks at him grumpily. “Thanks.”

  “Anytime.”

  Seeing that they were ok I check my System messages.

  *DING*

  Level 25 Murderous Redcap Defeated

  Partial Experience Rewarded

  Level Up

  Stat Points Awarded

  “Ooh, I leveled up too!” I say.

  “Rub it in, why don’t you,” Agnar replies.

  “Come on Agnar, don’t be a grumpy butt. We can go fight some bears if you want.”

  “Sure enough,” Brede joins in. “We’re not in that big a hurry. Let’s go on and find them bears and you can have a go till you catch up with Marie here. Then you two can take the next redcap we run across.”

  “Ha ha, everyone make fun of Agnar. I was so heroic too. I’m the one who drew him out, why didn’t he run at me?”

  “Maybe because walking at you got his face in the dirt, covered in ice and shot with lightning?” Brede says.

  “Fair. I should have ran over and kicked him in the face or something.”

  “You’ll get them next time,” I say.

  “Next time?” He says. “I forgot who I was working with here. There probably will be a next time.” He stands up straight. “On the plus side I’ll either die a noble death or become the most famous hero to ever walk the Fae lands. Hell you might just get me knighted.”

  “I’m knighted,” I say remembering what Morrigan told me. “Or something kind of like that.”

  “Of course you are,” Agnar says, shaking his head.

  “You know young ‘un,” Brede starts, “I thought the Queen just took a shine to you, but I’m startin’ to think she just wanted to claim you before anyone else could.”

  “I don’t know,” I say seriously. I don’t know why her or Hecate decided to help me. I should be dead right now. I should be dead a bunch. “I don’t know why they helped me, but I’m glad they did.” And I meant it.