Kerri stays with me overnight again, Sofia offers but I tell her it’s ok. It’s not, but that’s not her problem. Everyone is sad about Liam but they keep trying to cheer me up. That makes me feel worse, it’s not their job to make me feel better. I do eventually check my System messages.

  *DING*

  Pyrrhic Circuit Upgraded

  Advanced Pyrrhic Circuit

  I know pain, sometimes I like to share it with someone like you. Enemies are unable to break away from you and take quadruple damage, damage to yourself is further reduced by vitality.

  *DING*

  Level 29 Gleaming Tatzelwurm Defeated

  Experience Rewarded

  Level Up

  Skill Points Awarded

  I wonder if that level would have made the difference between Liam living or dying. I check my stats. It’s been a while since I cared enough to look. Not that I care now, it just feels like something that has to be done. Something to keep me moving. That’s what Liam wanted right? For me to keep going?

  Name Marie

  Species Human LVL 0

  Class Master Autological Mage LVL 32

  Stats

  Strength 199

  Dexterity 182

  Intelligence 337

  Wisdom 330

  Vitality 231

  Health 462

  Mana 675

  Skills

  Natural Linguist

  Class Quick Learner

  Greater Mana Manipulation

  Basic Space Magic (Gravity)

  Basic Spark Step

  Free Form

  Advanced Identify

  Advanced Mana Sense

  Hexagon Buckler

  Water Magic

  Advanced Pyrrhic Circuit

  Mana Walking

  Flame Magic

  Basic Air Magic

  Basic Earth Magic

  Voltaic Railblaster

  Psychokinesis

  Basic Mana Firecracker

  Scales of Ma'at

  Basic Electromagic Aura

  Waterfall

  Blessings

  Permanent

  Disciple of Hecate

  Touch of the Fae Queen

  Temporary

  Boon of the Newly Integrated

  Titles

  World's Weakest

  Child Prodigy

  Over Achiever

  The bonuses for intelligence, wisdom and strength were starting to really mean something. I need one for dexterity and vitality I guess. We’re setting out for the city tomorrow. The idea seems less shiny in my head than it did before. Everything seems less shiny.

  Kerri and I don’t talk much. She tries to ask me questions but I mostly answer with one or two words. I know they said he was looking for death but I still feel so guilty. Not just because he died but because I didn’t. I think I blame myself for not saving my family. I know that’s stupid, there’s nothing I could have done. That’s hard to accept considering what I’m capable of now. I decide to write in my journal. Not about this, but about the accident and the beginning of the System. I erase what I had and start again. I use a thesaurus and writing tips from different books. I try to make it as real as I can. I feel like an author for a minute. An author writing about their life before they die. I don’t want to feel like this. I don’t know how to stop.

  The sun comes up in the morning the same as it does every day. There are barely any clouds in the sky, and it’s warm. That seems disrespectful. Where are the angry stormclouds? Where’s the chill that won’t leave my bones? Why have all my books lied to me? Kerri only has to tell me twice it’s time to get up. I don’t want to but I don’t want to cause more trouble. I don’t want to be a burden.

  “We shoulda brought a wagon,” Brede says. “If we were plannin’ for success we oughta brought somethin’ to cart this thing off.”

  “An’ what wee beastie wouldnae of run off at the sight of the dragon, even dead?” Kerri asks. “I ken make a stone sledge but it’ll be hard work between us. That dragon’s clearly a hefty sort.”

  “I can make it lighter,” I say. “If I help push I’ll still be training.” I could do that. Be useful. As long as I’m useful maybe things will get better.

  “Don’t forget about me now,” Sofia says, flexing her arm muscles. “I can use the exercise too.”

  “Yes we could do that, or we could make something much lighter and still have Marie use her gravity magic. Luckily for the rest of you I have a better idea,” Agnar says. “I have tarp and rope and there are plenty of trees around. Marie, help me make a sled like the one you have in the forest if you will. That will be a lot lighter than stone, and your gravity magic is getting stronger every day, we can pull it to Ingenberg pretty easily I think. We’re only maybe a day and a half out from there I think.”

  “Ok,” I say.

  Agnar talks to me while I work. He doesn’t ask me any questions. I’m glad for that. He tells me about the city. There are multiple levels to it. The whole thing is part of a big mountain. The “ground” floor is where everyone lives. The floor above is made of stores and restaurants. The next one is government offices. I try to listen about the mining and forging below it all and how there are shafts funneling smoke up and fresh water down. I think I get it. I was nervous and excited to go there just yesterday.

  The sled takes a little over an hour once I explain to Agnar how I made the last one. Unlike me he uses a real knife but has been doing this a lot longer than I have. We make the same holes for mana ropes as the last one. As soon as it’s finished I pull it over to where we left the tatzelwurmand and tie it down with some rope from Brede’s bag. Agnar helps me cover it with some canvas. No one tries to take it from me. I haven’t said anything but I’m carrying this thing back, this is my job.

  Brede and Sofia take the lead, Agnar and Kerri walk behind me. I don’t make it lighter. I have to train, don't I? I don’t understand what Liam was talking about, the look in my eye. It’s not the first time I’ve seen a phrase like that but I’ve never understood it. Eyes don’t really change so he has to mean my eyebrows and stuff. But still, was he trying to say there’s a specific face that you can pull that means “I’m trying to die”? I’m not trying to die, I just don’t know why I’m still alive. Mom and dad and Benji were all stronger than me. Smarter than me. Liam was older than anything. If anyone should have made it out it was him. I keep pulling.

  On the second day they ask me to play music. I do, but I don’t pick any songs. It seems wrong to listen to music when someone’s dead. Right? Liam died and we’re just living like we would if he was still here. Nothing’s changed, but there’s like a great big hole in reality. Do they not see the hole where he should be walking? Or am I walking in it? Kerri tells a story about a man who finds a genie. It’s a joke. I realize at the end I’m not supposed to have gotten it. A twelve inch pianist. I understand the joke just fine, sex ed was part of 4th and 6th grade homework.

  Everyone but Kerri kind of looks at me as soon as she finishes and I laugh. I feel terrible for laughing but I do. Not at the joke, but because Kerri told a dirty joke and didn’t even stop to think it might be inappropriate to tell in front of me. I like her a lot. Her and I get along like Sofia and I fought when we first met. Not that we’ve been fighting. I can’t believe she did that ritual with me right after we met. She even wanted to adopt me. I smile at her for a second and then remember I’m supposed to be sad. Something’s the matter with me, and Liam just died.

  I’m being childish.

  Dammit this is hard. I guess there’s no sad music going to play while I look thoughtfully to the side. This isn’t tv. So when you lose someone you really are supposed to just keep living. There’s so many shows and movies where the main character loses someone they care about and it destroys them and they never smile again. Until one day. So was I expecting to just be sad Marie 24/7 from now on until something crazy happened? Oh my goddess, I was. I catch myself rolling my eyes at myself. I’m glad no one’s watching me, I probably look crazy. I probably am crazy. Brede’s right, I might need some help figuring out how to deal with all of this.

  It’s quiet after the joke. Kerri may have thought everyone didn’t think her joke was funny but me. I think I have everyone else worried. I need to do something. I don’t want them acting like they're walking on thin ice around me. I have to say something.

  “What do you call a fish with no eyes?” I ask.

  “Blind, I suppose,” Brede says.

  “I think it’s a joke,” Sofia says.

  “Easy pickins then,” Brede replies.

  “What DO you call a blind fish?” Agnar asks.

  “Fsssssssssh,” I say, finishing my dad’s favorite joke.

  “Oh that’s right terrible,” Kerri laughs. Sofia and Agnar both laugh too.

  “I’m not pickin’ up what you’re puttin’ down,” Brede says.

  “Spell it dear,” Sofia says. This makes us all laugh.

  “F - I, ah,” Brede says. “That’s a good ‘un. I think we ought to tell your father that one.

  “I think we should let Marie tell him,” Agnar says.

  “I get to meet you father?” I hadn’t realized I was going to meet anyone other than his sister.

  “Assumin’ they’re in the city, you can meet the rest of their family and my Ma. She’s been runnin’ my branch of the family business out here so Agnar and me could do some other business. My pa is still in Mogantiacum unless he got tired of bein’ without her and rode down. That’s possible of course, he does love her somethin’ fierce. Passion runs in the family I suppose,” Brede says waggling his eyes at Sofia. She rolls her eyes but then smiles at him. I can’t imagine looking at anyone the way she looks at him.

  “Kerri,” Sofia says suddenly. “Are you going to hang around with us when we get there? We clearly work pretty well as a group, and I know I’d be glad to have you.”

  “Me too,” I say quietly. I didn’t mean to say it so low, something caught my voice in my chest.

  “Aye, where will I find a group off kilter as you lot? Promises to the dead aside I was hopin’ the wee one would drag me into some fun. Or I’d do by her. I was actually hopin’ to bother ye for some lodgin’s in the city. Why spend good coin when you have a mucker with a sofa?” Kerri winks at me when I turn to look at her.

  “About the promise,” Sofia says, “It’s up to Marie but if you’re going to tie yourself to us anyway...” She stops like she’s not sure what to say next.

  “Spit it out then, what madness did I miss out on afore I came?” Kerri asks.

  “Marie and I took a blood oath to be sisters forever. I don’t think it would be legally binding but magically something happened. If you’re really in this, it only seems fair to ask. If she’s ok with it. I could always use more sisters.”

  “Hell yeah! Dragon slayin’ sisters for eternity. Ye can sign me right up. What’a ye say Marie, care to have me followin’ ye in ta trouble forever?” Kerri asks.

  “Yes please.” I say. It’s hard to get that out.

  Kerri moves up to walk beside me while we walk. She wants to know about the ritual and where it came from. Then she wants to hear about Cindi and Mia. And James. Soon I’m telling her about school. That leads to the homework I’ve been doing on my own. She thinks studying and doing homework like that makes me crazier than fighting the tatzelwurm. I don’t know how she gets me really laughing but she’s good at it. Sofia looks back at me and we both smile. Real, big grins. I guess I’m gonna keep living.

  *****

  I’ve read Tolkien now. I’ve seen the movies. The real Fae make his cities look like Lego. Brede tells me that there are huge parts of the city that no one uses. When they get bored of the city they just move to a part of the mountain that hasn’t been worked on and start over. It’s a long chain of mountains and Agnar calls it a tapestry of history. There are sections that have giant statues of elves and dwarves and things I don’t recognize. There’s a mermaid with two tails. A hedgehog with wings. Hundreds and hundreds of things I don’t know anything about. That’s just one part of it. There’s stuff like the Greeks and the Romans had. Then there’s designs I’ve never seen, crazy flowing lines that seem like they must be describing something I can’t even imagine. Some are like water and air and remind me of the way mana flows in my body. Some are really sharp angles and the lines seem angry. I forget to breathe and Kerri pokes me in the side.

  There are a lot of roads leading to the mountain. Some of them are almost completely covered in grass and rocks and stuff. They have trees growing out of them. The only way I can tell which way to go is the lights coming from the undercity. This section is like highrise apartments made of that thing Brede told me about. Stucco. There’s a curved wall coming out of the mountain around the section. The gates are huge and have a cool blue and white kind of strip pattern. Brede tells me they’re made out of gneiss and weigh more than a dozen elephants. Agnar says that just because I’m American doesn’t mean we have to use American measurements. Seventy-five thousand pounds. He said I could open the gates because they’re so well balanced.

  This place is amazing. I can’t believe I stopped being excited even for a second. There are two guards in front of the gate, both of them dwarven men. They’re wearing silver chestplates and helmets. One has a giant axe with two blades on his back. He’s pale and has red hair. The other has a sword almost as big as mine strapped to the same place. He looks kind of like Brede with a wider nose and more brownish hair. There are only about ten people in line ahead of us. Brede says this is about as busy as it gets. It makes sense, they live for a super long time and don’t have a lot of kids. Agnar says there are still millions of dwarves and elves but Fae is a lot bigger than Earth so they’re really spread out. This city only has about thirty thousand people in it, and most of them don’t travel often. I guess it makes sense to not rush to do stuff when you have forever to do it.

  The next part is the hard part. Brede told me to let him and Agnar do the talking. I get it, they actually do travel all the time. There’s still a knot in my stomach that makes me think they won’t let me in. They’re both giving me weird looks before we even get to the gate. The one with the sword smiles at me and I smile back. The other guy doesn’t really make much of any kind of face. His eyes feel like they’re looking right through me though.

  “Hold,” the darker one says when we reach the gate. “No disguises by rune or otherwise allowed in the city.” He looks at me, “And if she is as she appears to be you’re going to need permission for her to pass. We haven’t had a human in these halls in centuries. I don’t think they’re completely outlawed so you might have a chance.”

  “We’re askin’ for special dispensation, on both counts,” Brede says. “We’re gonna need a private audience with watch command and a private inspection booth for the cargo. And to explain our friend here.”

  “Brede, I would expect this nonsense from Agnar, but you know the watch command isn’t going to come out for a human child. You can go into the city and make your case but you’re likely looking at a six month wait for a permit at best,” he replied.

  “What’s under yer tarp?” The other one asked. He sounded a little like Kerri, but a lot calmer. “I’m guessin’ ye killed somethin’ and wanna use the prize to get yer wee friend in the city. Whatta ye got?”

  This time Agnar jumped in, “You wouldn’t believe us if we told you. Let’s just say the reward for it could by us an earldom. Now if one of you could take us to a private booth we could give you a peek and expedite our entry into the city. And let me say this, you’ll be fighting over who gets to deliver the good news to the watch command.”

  “On yer honor?” he asks.

  “Zeke, if I’m underselling the import of what we have I’ll make you a whole set of cooking runes for free.”

  Zeke looks at the other guard and holds out a fist. The other guard holds out his. What are they doing? They each shake three times before holding out their hands palms down.

  “Paper,” they both say at the same time. Rock, paper, scissors. Two dwarves playing rock paper scissors to see who gets to go get someone who can let us in. I try not to giggle but fail. Zeke winks at me. Eventually he wins with scissors and runs off into the city. The other guard kind of frowns as he watches his friend leave.

  “I have to stop letting him get me to make decisions like that. I don’t know if he’s cheating, or I’m just really bad at it.”

  “Didn’t you say the same thing about flipping coins?” Agnar asks.

  “I swear that thing was double sided. And you know how Zeke is. “Konfer, I swear on me life I’d never cheat you so lowly” Can’t ever get him to say it without adding that last bit. The problem is he likes to get on people’s nerves. I assume that’s how the two of you became friends.”

  “How can you cast such aspirations upon my person?” Agnar asks.

  Konfer laughs, breaking the stone look on his face. He has a nice smile. “I thought that lady was going to stab you. What was it she accused you of? High crimes against the baker’s guild?”

  “She wrapped two of my runes together and nearly burned the place down. Then she comes screaming at me for a refund. She somehow decided that two runes would cook the bread twice as fast.”

  “What is it the humans say about making something idiot proof?” Konfer asks.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  “You can’t,” Brede says, “They’ll make a better idiot.”

  Everyone laughs at that.

  “Alright,” Konfer says. “I can’t stand the waiting. There’s no one in line and it’s us. What did you kill? And what’s with the girl? I can tell you’re doing something to my ability to identify her. I must be crazy though because I could swear you’re suppressing how powerful she is.”

  Agnar looks back at me, “And this Marie, is why I made you the necklace.” He looks back at the guard. “What if I told you that little girl is the only reason we were able to kill a tatzelwurm?”

  “You’re havin’ a laugh,” the guard says. “Wait, is she not really a little girl?” He kind of straightens up when he says that.

  “Oh no,” Agnar says. “She’s every bit of a little girl. With a tragic backstory, and enough power to have walked in through these gates whether she was allowed to or not.”

  The guard looks at me, then Agnar and then the covered sled. “The heroes j-”

  “Hush you,” Agnar interrupts. “She’s already marked a friend of the Fae by someone with a lot higher authority than the two of us. This ought to at least her marked as hero of the realm.”

  “You, her and anyone else that fought. I can’t believe you all fought a damn dragon and walked away,” Konfer says.

  I think we all must have had the same look on our faces.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you lost someone. One of your regulars?” Konfer asks.

  “Elf named Liam. Or at least he went by Liam, he said he couldn’t remember his real name. He was old to be an adventurer. He was chasing The Morrigan,” Agnar replies.

  What does that mean? I’m not sure if I want to know. Maybe Kerri will tell me later.

  “I’m not familiar,” the guard says. “Sorry for your loss, but I’m glad you all made it.” He looks at me. “That had to be hard, watching a warrior at the end of their journey while you’re at the start of yours. Don’t let it drag you down. He had a whole life before he joined your party, you want to think on something? You keep your mind on all the things he must have done. You started off taking out a disaster, just imagine what you’ll do next.”

  What do you say to that? I’m glad he didn’t seem to be expecting an answer. How could I imagine everything someone did in three thousand years? Did he get married? Have kids? Oh no, what if he has kids and they’re waiting to see him again and we don’t even know who they are? I was doing such a good job not thinking about it. Why did he say all that? Breathe Marie. They keep talking but I’m not listening. I’m trying to just think about breathing and sensing my mana flow. Then Kerri elbows me in the ribs.

  “Whatcha go yer serious face on fer?” She asks.

  “You think Liam had kids?” I whisper.

  Sofia looks over her shoulder at us and slowly walks away from the conversation. “He didn’t,” she says quietly. “He lost someone he loved early in his life and vowed to never love again. Which is stupid, people think that’s romantic but especially with people long lived as elves you shouldn’t make vows like that. Funny enough I think he kind of had a thing for my husband.”

  “Aye, and who could blame ‘em. Quite a piece ye got yerself there,” Kerri says.

  Sofia rolls her eyes. “Don’t I know it.” She turns to me. “There’s no one who needs to be told. When someone joins our party that’s a standard question. Brede got all of that from him before I met up with them. Death is always a possibility when you’re a warrior, so we prepare for it as best we can.”

  “Do you think anyone will miss him?” I ask.

  “I think ye’ll miss him more than he deserves,” Kerri says. “But yeah, there’s bound to be a few. Strange he didn’t mention anyone though. Didnae he mention a friend that was still livin’? In that story about meetin’ that tatzelwurm, the one usin’ ice?”

  “I keep forgetting you’re more than a pretty face,” Sofia says. “That’s a good question. I’ll ask Brede later.”

  “Oh more than a pretty face am I?” Kerri winks at me, “I bet she says that to all the young lasses.”

  I think for a second. “She did!” I say. “She called me pretty lady when we first met.”

  “Oh, ho,” Kerri says. “Watch it now heart breaker.”

  “Thanks for that,” Sofia says to me. “I’m sure she won’t bring that up constantly for the next ten years.” We all laugh again, getting a side look from the guys. I can see Zeke coming up the road with some woman. She’s definitely a dark elf, thin but muscled. She’s wearing a similar outfit to the guards with two curved swords on either side of her waist.

  “Speakin’ of pretty ladies,” Kerri says.

  “I would ask that you not get us in trouble with the watch commander but I’ve jinxed myself before,” Sofia replies.

  “Alright you lot,” The woman says as she walks up to us, “What kind of nonsense have you brought me today?”

  Agnar half raised a hand, "Sergeant, if I may, we should take this off the r-”

  “Right, come to the side,” she says walking off to our right. “Everyone, closer to me now. I swear to me mum Agnar if this is a trick I’ll ban you from every pub this side of the Eternal Falls. You won't have a glass of wine for the next century.”

  “Come on now, that’s personal,” Agnar replies.

  “Damn right, you stand a girl up for a date by literally leaving the city she’s likely to take it personally.”

  “Hesta that was a-”

  “Don’t tell me it was a misunderstanding again Agnar. If you didn’t want to go out you should have been a man and told me. The only misunderstanding was the one that you caused by saying “I could see myself doing that”. Why in the hells did I take that for answer?” Hesta asked angrily.

  “Excuse me,” Sofia says, “Can you do this after we get through?”

  Hesta takes a big breath in and starts saying something too quiet for me to hear. “Ten,”

  she says at the end. “You’re right, I apologize for my unprofessional behavior. I’m finished, I need to let it go anyway.” Kneeling she places a hand on the ground. Vines with thorns on them rip their way out of the ground and into the air. They’re as thick as my arm and twice as high as Hesta is. I don’t know how many they are but I can’t see out of the circle at all. They keep growing until they come together over us. It’s like if someone made an upside down bowl out of rose stems. No one reacts but me, I guess this isn’t an attack. I try to relax, but it’s getting dark.

  Darkness, I can fix that. A light comes on above us. The vines grew a big yellow flower and the middle of it’s glowing. Don’t stare into the bright light Marie. I look away before it hurts my eyes. It’s bright enough to be daylight inside our sharp upside down salad bow. Agnar starts untying the ropes and I help him.

  Hesta and Zeke both kind of jump when the tarp comes off, Konfer just stands there. “What in the hells?” Hesta says. “How in the hells? Did you lot do this? You promise me you didn’t find this thing dead. I don’t want whatever killed it coming to the city.”

  “We fought and held it down until Marie could kill it. We take credit for the assist, but the kill is hers,” Sofia says.

  Hesta looks at Kerri, “You’d be Marie then?”

  “Kerri, actually,” she says. “The wee one would be our Marie.”

  Hesta looks at me, “I don’t get it. What’s the trick here? What am I missing? I believe you killed it but you’re not telling me something.”

  “She’s runnin’ somethin’ maskin’ her actual power. Brede, Agar, time to reveal yer secrets now. No more a playin’,” Zeke says.

  “I want to be very clear that Marie is, in fact, a child.,” Agnar says. “She has had a very rough time since the System came and I hope she’ll forgive me, she scared the shit out of me when we met. I made her a rune necklace to conceal her power because my first assumption was she was something else pretending to be a little girl. She is not. If you make her cry like I did I will be very upset with you. Marie take off the necklace.”

  “Did you really have to tell them I cried?” I ask. “Rude.” I take the necklace off and look to see how they react. Zeke’s eyes go really wide and his mouth opens a little. Konfer just stands there. I guess he’s too cool to react. Hesta’s hands start moving towards her waist before the jerk up a little and then relax.

  “I suppose that oughta do it, yeah.” Hest says. “Zeke, Konfer, one of you will need to go back to guarding the gate. Figure out which one. Then I want to hear the whole story.” She looks at me. “From you. I’m not completely convinced you aren’t something powerful enough to fool the whole group. You’re going to convince me.”

  Zeke wins the coin toss.

  *****

  I don’t know how long it takes. The longer I’m in this trap the less I like it. The light has started flickering every few minutes, and I swear she asks me to repeat what I just said every time it does. She also keeps pulling out a flask and drinking out of it. It’s making me thirsty but I really just want to get this over with. I try to just give her the facts but she keeps asking me how things made me feel. I don’t want to talk about that. Or think about it. Finally we get to the fight and…what happened.

  “Do you feel guilty?” Hesta asks me.

  “Yeah,” I say. “I messed up during the fight. Then he wouldn’t let us help, but what if the poison did that? This thing is so scary you didn’t think they could beat it, right? What if that black gas made him all sad and ready to die?”

  The others look at me, They look sad. Maybe they didn’t think of that.

  “Well I believe you, you’re a human alright, “ Hesta says. Only a little tyke like yourself would twist things around so it’s your fault instead of looking for reasons that it isn’t. I don’t know why the others didn’t tell you this but there’s no poison in existence what can make Fae lie. If he said he was looking to die he was, so quit thinking you're so important that a millenia old elf could have died on account of your inattention.” The light suddenly seemed more stable. She turned to Sofia and I grabbed my flask. I was so thirsty.

  “How do you want to play this?” Hesta asks. “You’ll be getting a reward for sure and I can get Marie added to the list of honored guests easily. I would suggest though that you keep it quiet outside of that. I don’t doubt what she can take care of herself but that’s a level of trouble none of us want. Someone will look at her and see personal power or wealth and think they’re the ones to get it. Just my two cents. And nothing personal, but if you lot cause enough problems I’ll ban you myself for the peace of the kingdom. That’s my job.”

  “That’s why I made her the necklace,” Agnar says. “There’s no way that we can keep her existence a secret. We might can pass her off as an adopted daughter or something. Her and Sofia did some kind of ritual making them “blood sisters” but I still don’t know what that means.”

  “Nothing legal,” Hesta replies. “What about someone actually adopting her?”

  “She ain’t ready for that,” Brede says. “It’s been asked and answered.”

  “Maybe she should reconsider,” Hesta says, looking back at me.”

  “Asked and answered,” Brede says.

  “Alright, Sofia?” Hesta asks. “If I put her down as your sister will your parents later decry it? No one should investigate further than that, but you need to be sure.”

  “My mother would have a thousand children if she could get away with it,” Sofia says. “The real problem will be stopping her from trying to run off with Marie all the time to play games and have tea parties.”

  “Give me your word you’ll do your best to keep Marie out of trouble, if it does look like trouble I expect you to take off of your own accord until such a time that the excitement has passed,” Hesta says.

  “I promise,” Sofia says. She looks around and everyone else says it too.

  “I’ll stay out of trouble,” I say. “But, uh…Kerri was going to take me on some jobs. Is there a way to make sure that I’ll be allowed to do that? Like only tell the people who need to know.”

  Hesta and Zeke both laugh. “The right people will know, you don’t have to worry about that. You have any more news to drop on me, or are we done here? That paperwork for this is going to keep me busy for days.”

  “Well, yeah, there’s one more thing we’ll need some help with,” Brede says.

  “Just spit it out. It can’t be bigger than this,” Hesta says.

  “Marie made a stable portal, that’s how she got here. We can send an expedition on over now. I know the elders were lookin’ for a way across. We have the right of first passage,” Brede replies.

  “Why didn’t you lead with that?” Hest asks. “If you’re not planning on staying then at worst you’ll have to leave a little early. Thank Brigid. I was being optimistic and if I’m being honest the secret won’t keep more than a week. I was ready for a whole world of shite, but most of the trouble makers would take a year or more to try and plan out some trouble. More trouble than it was worth.” She looks back at me, “Still though, you killed a tatzelwurm. Good job heroes.”

  Hero. It’s starting to not sound like a real word. It’s still echoing in my head when we walk into the city. We threw the tarp back over the tatzelwurm and left it with the guards. They say they’ll get my sled back to me. I’m not worried about it.

  The city opens up as we walk into the mountain. I was expecting everything to be made out of rock, and I guess a lot of it is. Big Columns as wide as the grocery store near our house go all the way up to the ceiling. They have wild designs all over them. Literally wild, like flowers and vines and trees. That’s what I thought I’d see. The fields and hills full of blue and purple grass, flower gardens and creeks with small wooden bridges surprise me. The ceiling is covered in bright blue glowing mushrooms. It feels like that time at the end of the afternoon right before it becomes night. It makes me yawn.

  Brede and Sofia lead and the rest of us follow. The houses aren’t all close together like I was expecting. Also all the houses are, like, really big. Mansion big. There are people around, all kinds of them. At least they’re staring at me so I don’t feel too bad about doing the same. There are elves and dwarves of course. I see pixies flying, and there are some really little people about as tall as my knees running around. There are also some weirder things. Something that looks like a solid shadow stops and lets us pass at an intersection. A woman with five big bushy fox tails stares at us from an outdoor patio while her friend who looks kind of like a Ninja Turtle without the bandana thing drinks from a teacup. The turtle doesn’t even look at us. A mermaid with wings lays back on the shore of a pond, hands behind her head and tail in the water. So many different people.

  Eventually we come to a carved wall that’s three times as tall as me. Brede brushes his fingers along it as him and Sofia walk by. I can feel the mana coming off the wall like steam coming off the road on a hot summer day. It feels like the first time you hear a song that becomes your favorite. That weird jump your heart does. I’ve never seen that much mana move like that. The gates are made out of dark wood and the wall arches over them. They’re covered in runes and connecting patterns. I bet Agnar made it.

  “This is it,” Brede says looking back at me and Kerri. He puts his hand on the door and it opens on its own. “Agnar, you’ll have to do that thing where they can get in on their own later.”

  “Keying their mana to the runes?” Agnar asks.

  “Whatever it’s called,” Brede replies.

  We follow him through to see a big house that looks like it’s made out of big white rocks. There’s another section of it that’s almost the same size connected on the right side. The windows are big and open up from the middle and bottom. They look kind of weird, I’m used to windows opening the other way. The front door is big and dark blue. Oh, I bet that’s midnight blue, Brede’s favorite color.

  “Sofia, what’s your favorite color?” I ask. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought to ask her before. That’s a bad Marie, you’re supposed to be blood sisters.

  “Green,” she answers. “What’s yours?”

  “Purple.”

  “I guess no one cares to know my favorite color,” Kerri says.

  I feel bad until I see that she's grinning at us. I start to speak but Sofia beats me to it.

  “Kerri dear, what is your favorite color?” She asks.

  “Lovely of ye to ask, Sohpia dear. I’m particular to nice midnight blue meself. Whoever chose the door has great taste,” Kerri replies.

  Brede laughs.

  Sofia looks at Brede and then back to Kerri, “Did you two plan that?”

  “Plan what? I told ye my favorite color. Not my fault if I share it with ye love. Besides, clear he has a good taste, he chose ye didn’t he? Right pretty lady, I reckon.”

  “I bet you say that to all the lasses,” Sofia says, making us both laugh.

  “Agnar, will you get them settled into rooms? I’ll go fetch my mom to let her know we’re back. Soph, you wanna go by your parent’s house or are you thinkin’ of waitin’ till tomorrow?”

  “I’ll show them to their rooms and then send my mom a message,” Sofia says. “I’ll wait until she comes by to tell her about Marie. Fair warning, she’s going to be a handful. All I want is a nice long bath and to sleep in a real bed. We can deal with the family tomorrow. What do you say girls? A hot bubble bath and dinner, followed by bed?”

  “Aye, point me the way and I’ll be wet and nekkid before ye can blink,” Kerri says.

  I giggle. A bath though, a real bath. “Yes, please,” I say.

  “I think I’ll come with you, Brede,” Agnar says. “I want to see if my order of cut quartz has come in. You were right, I am glad I ordered extra.” He looks at me when he says the last part. Rune training?

  They drop their stuff in the hallway the front door opened up to and then went back out. Kerri and I follow Sofia through the hallway to a big open room. There are stairs that go up to a second level, and doors leading in every direction on both levels. The floors, stairs and bannisters are all polished reddish wood. There are big square logs all across the ceiling with sparkly glowing stones hanging from them. A high voice I don’t recognize makes me jump and stop staring at the ceiling.

  “Well now,” it says, “What in tarnation did the two of you get into this time? I see Brede and Agnar have left their things to be tidied. And who do you suppose will do that with nary a thank you? Good old Audrey will of course. I came to work for his mother, but I spend more time cleanin’ his mess than attendin’ my rightful business.”

  There’s a little woman, a head shorter than me staring at us with her hands on her hips. Her hair is light brown and tied up behind a light but tanned face. She’s got an apron on over what looks like a maid outfit from an anime.

  “”Good afternoon Audrey,” Sofia says. “You know you can tell Brede to clean up after himself when he gets home. In fact if you leave his things right there I bet you Adelheid will tell him off as soon as they get in.”

  “Good evenin’ to you missus,” Audrey says. “I better not leave it sittin’ I don’t want my mistress havin’ a fit on a count of his lack of manners. I don’t want her to take to blamin’ herself. Or worse, me. You bet I’ll grab him by the ears once I get the chance though. That Agnar’s a bad influence, pardon my sayin’. I’d hoped to teach him some good manners but his ears are hard to grab from way down here.”

  “Just wait for him to trip over his own mess,” Sofia replies. “Don’t let go though.”

  “I just might at that,” Audrey says. “Now pardon my rudeness, it’s nice to meet you both. You can call me Audrey and you let me know if you need anythin’. It’s no trouble at all. I heard somethin’ about you all wantin’ a bath. Go ahead and get settled and I’ll heat up the bath house for you.”

  “Hi Audrey,” I say. “I’m Marie, and I would really appreciate a bath.”

  “We met once before,” Kerri says. “At Brede’s store, ye was tryin’ to get him to put his mam’s name on the deed and ye was both arguin’ and carryin’ on and fit to be tied.”

  “Of course,” Audrey says, “apologies. I love that boy like he were my own, but he ought to do better by his mother.”

  “I think she’s pretty proud of him,” Sofia says.

  “O’ course she is. He’s a good boy most of the time. Made a right good name for himself around these parts. I just think he oughta bring his ventures into the family business instead of keepin’ it separate. Listen at me go on. I’ll get your bath ready, you all skidaddle up and get settled.”

  “One thing, Audrey,” Sofia says. “Marie doesn’t have any changes of clothes. Can you have some run out to us? She needs everything, night clothes, under things, socks and shoes.”

  “Of course missus,” Audrey says. “Does she have the coin now or are we runnin’ a tab for her?”

  “Actually, I have her money. What do you think, 50-60 silver?” Sofia asks.

  “For a whole set? You better give me a gold piece unless you want her dressin’ in potato sacks. Extra for enchantments.”

  Sofia looks at me, “You have 4 gold from the job in Nahenburg, but I know we’ll get more from the ta- from this last one. I suggest getting some regular clothes now and we can go shopping for some more specialized gear when we get paid.”

  “Here now,” Audrey says before I can answer. “What sort of nonsense are you draggin’ this girl into that she needs specialized gear?”

  “I’m a witch,” I say. “Or I will be with some training. Also Brede and Agnar promised they would teach me some of what they do. I’m already learning all about runes.” I lean down and whisper, “Don’t worry I’m a lot stronger that I look.” I make a muscle with my left arm and then pat it.”

  “Well, alright I suppose,” Audrey says. “Long as they ain’t gettin’ you into trouble.”

  “Don’t ye worry none,” Kerri says. “We couldn’t make her get in ta trouble if we wanted.”

  “There’s a trick here I ain’t catchin’, but I guess you all know your business. Now go on, I’ll get everythin’ taken care of.” With that Audrey walks past us and grabs the stuff Brede and Agnar laid down and walks off with it.

  “Come on, let’s go,” Sofia says.

  She leads us up the stairs and to the added on part of the house on the right. Kerri and I are given rooms beside each other. The rooms are so big. There’s a round table with four chairs and a couch and the bed has a canopy like it’s for a princess. All of it is super white. I set my bookbag down and try not to touch anything, I’m pretty dirty for a princess.

  Then Sofia takes us down and behind the stairs. There’s another set of stairs, these are made out of stone and go under the house. They have an entire bath house down here. Audrey is waiting for us with towels and washcloths and a whole bunch of soap. It’s everything I wanted it to be. I don’t think any of us wanted to get out, but eventually we were risking falling asleep. I never saw her come back but there are clothes my size waiting for me when we get out. They’re purple, I guess Audrey heard us talking.

  We march back up stairs and go right, that’s where they keep the huge dining table I knew had to be somewhere. Brede is sitting at the head of it, with Agnar on one side. On the other side is a woman who looks a lot like him. Minus the beard. She looks as young as Sofia but there are stripes of white in her hair. No way am I asking anyone about stuff like that right now. The three of them are arguing.

  “Agnar, I do wish you would stop dragging Brede off on these adventures. He’s a lover not a fighter,” Brede’s mom says.

  “Please don’t say nothin’ like that again,” Brede says.

  “As you wish dear,” She replies.

  What? She doesn’t sound anything like him. If anything she sounds fancier than Sofia and Agnar. So why does Brede talk like a cowboy?

  “Dinner ought to be ready here in about half an hour. I didn’t want to get it started with the ladies still in the bath. Marie, those clothes fit you alright? I’m a pretty good judge but I ain’t clothed a child since this one was in diapers.” Audrey says entering the room.

  “Oh. Duh.”

  “They’re great,” I say.

  “-Supposed to stop me from making terrible decisions then, Adelheid?” Agnar asks, I missed part of what he was saying. “Besides, we kept him out of the real dangerous fight.”

  Sofia goes and sits beside Brede’s mother and Kerri and I go to the other side with Agnar. The seats are really cushy, they have dark blue cloth with diamond patterns on them. The table is a little high to eat off of though.

  “And I suppose getting strangled by a redcap is just some harmless fun?” She asks. “Hello Sofia, I don’t suppose I can count on you to keep my boy out of trouble either? What’s this about a Knuckelavee?”

  “Keep him out of trouble? I wouldn’t know where to begin,” Sofia replies. “He didn’t fight the Knuckelavee though, that was Marie.”

  “That’s somehow better?” Adelheid says. She looks at me, “You poor dear, I won’t let them put you in dangerous fights anymore. Don’t you worry, you can come work with me if you want. I’ll teach you how to make some real money.”

  “But I like fighting,” I blurted out. Oh well, might as well just keep going. “Plus I promised to get Kerri into all kinds of trouble, and she’ll be really disappointed if I just sit around the whole time we’re here. Plus I have a snake to kill, so I need to get ready for that. Also a witch is supposed to teach me some stuff and Agnar is showing me how to do runes and Brede is gonna show me how to work metal. I can come by and visit though, right guys?”

  That was a lot for me. Well maybe not when I was mad. I’m just so tired of people treating me like I can’t make decisions on my own. Where were they when I was killing to eat and wearing home made leather armor? I’m not even mad at her, just kind of tired.

  “Course ye gotta drag me into it,” Kerri says. “Don’t ye worry ma’am I ken make sure she gets out of whatever trouble she drags me into.” She winks at me, “Ye little shite,” she whispers. The real question is where was she when I couldn’t get out of bed.

  “Oh wonderful,” Adelheid says. “I see you’ve found another lunatic to add to the group. Why can’t you ever make friends with responsible Fae who mind their parents and don’t run off to fight monsters.” She shakes her head and laughs, “Oh well, welcome madwomen, to the clan Undervought. Don’t mind me, I just had this crazy notion that I might keep my only child alive.”

  “Come on now,” Sofia says. “I haven’t let him get hurt yet.”

  “Too true dear,” Adelheid says. “Now, enough fussing from me. A little business before dinner I think. Miss Marie, I’m to understand that you can source mushrooms from your human world?”

  “Yes ma’am,” I say, trying not to laugh. Just like Brede. “I know where a whole bunch are. I took a lot of them but never all of them from any one place.”

  “Smart, we’ll do well I think. Do I also understand correctly that you have knowledge of how to grow them in the human world?” She asks.

  Brede gives me a weird look. Like he’s trying to tell me something with his eyes. Why would he tell her that? I’ve never grown mushrooms. I guess I could look it up. Oh yeah. “Yes ma’am, I have the information on how to do it but I’ve never done it before.”

  “Very good. I’ll need a list of supplies needed to grow mushrooms and relevant information on how to set up the correct environment before the excursion team is ready to depart. For that information and locations I will give you 10% of profits in perpetuity on mushroom sales. We can work out similar deals on other goods starting at 2%.”

  Audrey comes back out with a cushion, “Hold the trade talk a moment ma’am, let me get Marie saddled up right. I stand up and she puts the cushion down. “Ask for fifteen,” she whispers before walking away.

  “Fifteen percent,” I say.

  Adelheid narrows her eyes at Audrey as she walks by but doesn’t say anything to her. “Fifteen percent is highway robbery. You think we can’t find mushrooms ourselves?”

  “Can ye grow ‘em though?” Kerrie asks.

  “This is between Miss Marie and I,” Adelheid says.

  “Can you grow them?” I ask.

  Audrey enters the room again with glasses.

  “Eleven percent,” Adelheid says.

  Audrey stands behind her and mouths “fourteen”.

  “Fourteen,” I say.

  “Twelve,” she says.

  “Thirteen,” I say.

  “Twelve and a half,” She says, “and that’s final.” Audrey holds up two thumps.

  “Deal,” I say.

  “Deal,” she says.

  “Dinner is served,” Audrey says, bringing out trays. “No more of that business talk now.”

  Audrey sat down next to Sofia and ate dinner with us. Everyone acted like that was normal. I’m glad, I don’t like the idea of servants and people not being treated equal. Kind of like being a kid. Agnar and Brede talked about the woods where they found me and I got asked a few questions. Adelheid didn’t seem to care about fighting monsters or anything like that. She wanted to know how much money she could make from Earth. Dinner was a roast with potatoes and onions and carrots. The best part though was the fresh rolls. I love bread so much.

  I’m yawning and half asleep when Sofia takes us to our room. “We’re all exhausted,” Sofia says. Let’s get some sleep and tomorrow we’ll add Kerrie to the dragon killing sisters.”

  “OK,” I say.

  “Hey Marie,” Sofia says. “That whole thing was planned from the beginning. Don’t let Adelheid fool you, she’s not anywhere near as grouchy as she pretends to be. That was her way of bringing you into the family. I guarantee Brede told her absolutely everything that happened before we came up.”

  “Why?” I ask.

  “She worries about Brede when he goes off with Agnar. She knows she can’t stop him so she tries to make sure everyone around him has a reason to keep her happy. It’s kind of sweet, honestly.”

  “If she’s payin’ cold hard coin I’ll tuck him in every night with a teddy to boot,” Kerri says.

  “If you’re willing to come with us across the portal I can guarantee a sizeable contracting fee,” Sofia says.

  “Oh aye, I’ll be goin’. Can’t let my soon to be blood sisters have all the fun.”

  “Let’s do it tonight,” I say suddenly. “It just takes a minute anyway.

  So we did. We all piled into my room and cut our hands and mixed our blood with magic. We promised to be blood sisters forever. The mana fought us like it didn’t want to change but we got it. I think that’s it though, just three of us. Now I have two sisters! Dragon slaying sisters. Kerri said it was too lonely in her room so she stayed with me and mine. I fell asleep with an arm across her. It was the best sleep I’d had in weeks. I’m so happy I’m not alone.