spells.
“All right, then,” Filo said , stowing the Block in his bag. “I think we’re done here. Nice doing business with you.”
The hob stalked back toward the overturned trash bin, muttering in Old Faerie, a language in which Filo was fluent. He distinctly he ard the words “filthy human boy ” and “no respect,” as well as a few more colorful phrases.
Smirking a little , Filo turned toward the sidewalk. A piece of litter -covered ground gave way un der his foot , and a moment later, he found himself face-down on the ground. Behind him, the hob’s victorious cackling was distorted and tinny, enclosed by the trash bin.
Filo’s face warmed as he stood. Gritting his teeth, Filo stalked out of the vacant lot. It didn’t matter which creature he was dealing with, or why—it was always too early for this.
* * *
The sky was clearing up, and the sun stood high and bright when Nasser stepped from the winding trail, working his way deeper into the woods. He’d only been walking for about ten minutes when sharp, shrieking laughter from somewhere among the thickening trees reached his ears. Music drifted through the air, and a tingling, electric chill washed over him.
It was unmistakable.
Nasser moved slowly, turning in a small circle, trying to pinpoint the direction of the music. Only when he spotted blue and green will-o’-the-wisps flashing between the trees did he settle on a direction. He picked his way carefully among the greenery, following the lights.
Nasser pushed his way through a veritable wall of shrubbery, then stopped abruptly. Beyond the thick foliage, a huge clearing had opened up , ringed by tall trees with knotted bark that formed vague faces on their trucks. Fallen-tree tables, covered with tablecloths of lichen, were piled with strange food and drink. Huge dragonflies flitted over the tables and among the vines. It was warm here, windless and clear, an October day turned June.
Many faerie revels weren’t in the mortal world, not quite. They were in Otherworld—the realm of the faeri es, just beyond the human world, past borders so thin they could simply be walked through. When Nasser stepped into the clearing, he had stepped out of his own world an d into the other one, the world from which magic and supernatural creatures first came.
Nasser’s eyes flicked back a nd forth , trying to take it all in. Strange, exotic flowers crowded over the ground and up tree trunks. All manner of creatures ambled over the grass.
Faeries milled about everywhere ; Nasser searched for his brother’s face, trying not to draw any attention to himself . If he was quick and kept his head down , he might be able to slip in and out of this revel unnoticed.
Two green-skinned pixies sat on a grass mat, one playing a flute and the other strumming a guitar , coaxing a fast-paced reel from their instruments. Nearby, a group of faeries with antlers and hooves instead of feet danced and clapped. Nasser had to hurry past to avoid being drawn in by their music. When he was out of earshot, he stepped carefully around the faeries that lounged on a pile of mossy mats, half-dozing in the late morning sunlight.
Inhuman eyes studied Nasser closely as he passed a large oak tree , gli nting in the half-light with curiosity and mischief. Feathers and insect wings stirred in the shade, and Nasser shivered, a tingling cold spreading through him. Some of the faeries were covered i n matted fur; some had weeds for hair; some wore beautiful dresses and tunics woven from the rich colors of autumn.
Jason was not among them.
Nasser turned away from the faeries, disappointed. They had begun to whisper amongst themselves, and he knew he h ad already stayed too long. Faeries were dangerous at the best of times, especially the more powerful Court faeries. The last thing Nasser needed was to be hassled any Summer Court faeries in a revel.
He sighed. If Jason wasn’t here, there was nothing to do but return to Bridgestone
“All right, then,” Filo said , stowing the Block in his bag. “I think we’re done here. Nice doing business with you.”
The hob stalked back toward the overturned trash bin, muttering in Old Faerie, a language in which Filo was fluent. He distinctly he ard the words “filthy human boy ” and “no respect,” as well as a few more colorful phrases.
Smirking a little , Filo turned toward the sidewalk. A piece of litter -covered ground gave way un der his foot , and a moment later, he found himself face-down on the ground. Behind him, the hob’s victorious cackling was distorted and tinny, enclosed by the trash bin.
Filo’s face warmed as he stood. Gritting his teeth, Filo stalked out of the vacant lot. It didn’t matter which creature he was dealing with, or why—it was always too early for this.
* * *
The sky was clearing up, and the sun stood high and bright when Nasser stepped from the winding trail, working his way deeper into the woods. He’d only been walking for about ten minutes when sharp, shrieking laughter from somewhere among the thickening trees reached his ears. Music drifted through the air, and a tingling, electric chill washed over him.
It was unmistakable.
Nasser moved slowly, turning in a small circle, trying to pinpoint the direction of the music. Only when he spotted blue and green will-o’-the-wisps flashing between the trees did he settle on a direction. He picked his way carefully among the greenery, following the lights.
Nasser pushed his way through a veritable wall of shrubbery, then stopped abruptly. Beyond the thick foliage, a huge clearing had opened up , ringed by tall trees with knotted bark that formed vague faces on their trucks. Fallen-tree tables, covered with tablecloths of lichen, were piled with strange food and drink. Huge dragonflies flitted over the tables and among the vines. It was warm here, windless and clear, an October day turned June.
Many faerie revels weren’t in the mortal world, not quite. They were in Otherworld—the realm of the faeri es, just beyond the human world, past borders so thin they could simply be walked through. When Nasser stepped into the clearing, he had stepped out of his own world an d into the other one, the world from which magic and supernatural creatures first came.
Nasser’s eyes flicked back a nd forth , trying to take it all in. Strange, exotic flowers crowded over the ground and up tree trunks. All manner of creatures ambled over the grass.
Faeries milled about everywhere ; Nasser searched for his brother’s face, trying not to draw any attention to himself . If he was quick and kept his head down , he might be able to slip in and out of this revel unnoticed.
Two green-skinned pixies sat on a grass mat, one playing a flute and the other strumming a guitar , coaxing a fast-paced reel from their instruments. Nearby, a group of faeries with antlers and hooves instead of feet danced and clapped. Nasser had to hurry past to avoid being drawn in by their music. When he was out of earshot, he stepped carefully around the faeries that lounged on a pile of mossy mats, half-dozing in the late morning sunlight.
Inhuman eyes studied Nasser closely as he passed a large oak tree , gli nting in the half-light with curiosity and mischief. Feathers and insect wings stirred in the shade, and Nasser shivered, a tingling cold spreading through him. Some of the faeries were covered i n matted fur; some had weeds for hair; some wore beautiful dresses and tunics woven from the rich colors of autumn.
Jason was not among them.
Nasser turned away from the faeries, disappointed. They had begun to whisper amongst themselves, and he knew he h ad already stayed too long. Faeries were dangerous at the best of times, especially the more powerful Court faeries. The last thing Nasser needed was to be hassled any Summer Court faeries in a revel.
He sighed. If Jason wasn’t here, there was nothing to do but return to Bridgestone
Similar Books
Sliding Void
Stephen Hunt
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Sean Williams
Man On The Run
Charles Williams
Thunder in the Blood
Graham Hurley
The Hindi-Bindi Club
Monica Pradhan
Riverkeep
Martin Stewart
Absolution - The First Book Of The Vampire Immortalis Trilogy
Elizabeth Mitchell
TITAN
Kate Stewart
Trouble In Triplicate
Rex Stout