Gillian Summers - The goblin's curse

Keelie gently removed the little goblin and sat it on the ground, where it proceeded to munch on the plastic bottle, chewing busily.

“He eats plastic. Huh.” Finch studied the goblin. “He can have a job in clean-up. Walk with me, Heartwood. We have things to discuss.” She turned to Vangar. “You get this machine monstrosity out of here.”

Vangar winked at Finch. “If that is your desire, I shall surely comply. But babe, I’m going to need to drive my motorcycle out of here. You gonna have a cow if I do?”

“If I have a cow, then I roast it and eat it,” Finch said under her breath. She glanced at Keelie. So the faire admin knew Keelie was onto her secret.

Finch straightened. “You can drive it out,” she said to Vangar, “but if I see it by the forge again, then it’s going to be impounded for the duration of the faire.”

“Well, I’ll be. I’m growing on you.” He flashed her a debonair smile.

Finch’s face flushed red.

If Keelie didn’t know any better, she’d think there was a thing going on between these two. She thought of her bruised arm. All that squeezing-maybe it was excitement, not anger, that Finch was feeling. She wondered what other ghastly and dangerous surprises awaited her in dragon courtship.

Vangar was looking at Finch through hooded eyes. “You’re no longer threatening to kick me out. You’re falling for my charm. Before this faire is over, you’ll be wanting to date me.”

Finch laughed, then wiped the tears that had squeezed from the corners of her eyes.

Vangar didn’t seem insulted. “You’ll see. No one can resist me.”

“Always a first time.” Finch grabbed Keelie by the arm and tugged her away.

“What was that about? I didn’t say anything about protesting against the forge,” Keelie hissed at her.

“You’re with me, and when you’re with me, you agree with me,” Finch said matter-of-factly.

“This is the United States of America,” Keelie said, rubbing the circulation back into her bruised arm. “You can’t make me agree with you.”

Finch looked over at her. “For the humans it is, but not for us.”

Keelie rubbed her sore arm. “It’s going to be days before I have feeling again.”

“Quit being a drama queen. I have other matters to discuss with you.”

“Like what?”

“Let’s take a walkabout to the meadow. There’s something I want to teach you.”

“Teach me? What?” Keelie frowned. The last thing she wanted was more lessons. But you didn’t say no to Finch.

As they left the clearing, shop owners and performers cleared the way for them. They passed Hob, who inclined his head. Finch returned the acknowledgement with a slight tilt of hers.

“How do you like your new neighbor?” she asked Keelie.

“He seems nice.”

“Do you sense anything different about him?” Finch asked.

“No,” Keelie said as they headed down the hill. “He’s been friendly.”

Finch stopped and watched Hob make his way back to his shop. Her eyebrows knitted together as if she was focusing on something.

“Why are you so curious about Hob?” Keelie asked.

“I can’t read him,” Finch squinted at the retreating figure of the mask shop owner.

“Read him?” Keelie hadn’t heard that one.

Finch lifted her face, and her eyes were dilated like big black moons. Then her pupils contracted back to normal.

Keelie inhaled. “Are you okay?” Maybe Finch had the hots for the handsome mask maker as well as for Vangar. What fickle games the dragon heart played.

“Yes. And you’re going to try to read him too, using the To See Truly spell.”

“To See Truly?” Keelie hadn’t heard of that one, and she quickly rearranged her thoughts. It seemed Finch was suspicious of Hob.

“Yes.” They had reached the bridge, and Finch stopped to gaze down at the flowing water rippling over the stones. Keelie wondered if the sprite would be splashing about, and if it would irritate the dragon.

“To See Truly allows you to see through layers of magic, down to a person’s essence. I’ve been using the spell to see the faire folk and their true form, but with Hob-nothing. A blank.”

“You think he’s using a glamour?” Keelie toed a loose board on the bridge (oak from New Hampshire).

“I’m not seeing a glamour,” Finch said. “I can see straight through a glamour.”

“What do you see if he’s just a human?” Keelie looked into the distance, where shop roofs peeked through the trees.

“I see their intent. But with him, I see nothing.” Finch nodded. “It’s possible he’s human, but I have this feeling something isn’t quite right, and the To See Truly spell hasn’t ever failed me, which is why I want another perspective.”

Keelie didn’t know whether to be thrilled that Finch wanted her opinion, or to be scared. What if she failed? But since it was Finch, you had to do what she said.

“What do I do?” Keelie swallowed.

“Look at the water and concentrate. What do you see?”

Keelie gazed down. “Water flowing, stones, and green ferns growing on the embankment.” A gentle breeze flowed through her hair as she inhaled the loamy scent surrounding her. She held her hands toward the water. “The minerals in the water tell me that the stream’s spring isn’t far away.”

“Good. You’re a natural. You’re feeling the Earth magic of the place, and now I’m going to teach you something dragons do naturally.”

“Teach me what?”

“Angle your head fifteen degrees to the right.”

“Fifteen degrees?” Keelie stared at Finch. “How will I know I’ve angled my head fifteen degrees? What if I angle it seventeen degrees?”

“It takes practice to work with light refraction and Earth magic to allow you To See Truly. When you feel the presence of the Earth, like you did with the minerals in the stream, then you’re on target. Dragons have a natural predilection for this spell.” Finch’s voice reflected pride. “Have you ever caught a quick glance of something in your peripheral vision? Then it was gone?”

Keelie nodded. “Yes, especially with the fairies.”

“That’s To See Truly. You’re glimpsing through layers of magic. As you become better at using it, you’ll be able to see the true form and the essence of all beings. At first, you’ll see glimmers of magic, like the ripples in a pond. Next, you’ll pick up on different kinds of magic, like when someone is under an enchantment. Then, when you least expect it, the spell will work, and when it does-kapow! An overwhelming sensation of magic flows through your body, and you’ll feel like you’re swimming in a lake of light, but you’ll see truly.”

“That’s powerful,” Keelie said. She thought about Tavyn and Bloodroot in the Redwood Forest-if she’d been able to see through the bad elf’s magic, then she would have been able to stop him sooner. “I angle my head fifteen degrees, and then what?” She was anxious to learn more.

Finch gestured toward the embankment. “Call upon Earth magic. If you’re not making the connection, pick up some dirt and hold it in your hands, which usually helps. Next, concentrate on the light around the person, and then repeat these words: Allow me to see truly. It doesn’t have to be out loud, but that’ll help at first.”

“Is that all you say? Allow me to see truly?” Keelie had recited some complicated elven spells, and this seemed so simple. As far as she was concerned, it was in the bag.

Finch arched an eyebrow and chuckled. “You think it’s easy, but it takes practice. Try, now, and tell me what you see on the embankment other than ferns.”

Keelie stood on the bridge, angled her head, and called upon Earth magic. She felt it zing through her, then focused on the embankment, narrowing her eyes to see something hidden within the sun light. “ Allow me to see truly.”