Fae for the Holiday Read online

  For My Boos

  I Love You

  1

  The blood was warm and tasted of copper, like the money of the old people. I didn't have time to spit it out before Maher is coming back towards me swinging his curling blade over his head. I held up my shield, swallowing the blood. I vowed to myself that he will not do that to me again.

  "You threw down your sword in the middle of practice", I breathed heavily, "and attacked me with your Urumi. This is your idea of training?"

  He laughed. Laughed! His Urumi is 7 blades. Each blade no less than 5 feet and as long as 6 ft. It made my 2 blade Urumi look a little sad, but I can't handle 7 blades...yet.

  "Aww, poor Dyana. Do you expect your opponent to fight you fairly?" Maher mocked in his itty-bitty-baby voice. His words echoed off the walls of the practice chamber.

  Still dancing, snaking, worming around me and towards me with his Urumi whipping and lashing, seeking to get around my shield and at my unprotected legs, Maher came. "When they are trying to kill you, will they be so chivalrous?"

  His mocking smile, that echo, and the whipping sound of the Urumi breaking the wind around us was maddening. I felt myself losing control. I am in control. I am in control. I think to myself. The constant attack making it hard to concentrate.

  "They will try to kill you in the rudest of fashions, I'm afraid". He twisted his face in mock sympathy. The 3 seconds I took to glare at him cost me an almost direct hit to my right thigh. My reinforced fighting leathers softened the blow, but there would be a bruise there later today. "That is the ultimate and most important lesson."

  I scampered away from him. Trying my best to keep out of range of the whip action of his Urumi and not become mesmerized by it. It wasn't so hard to become fixated on the quickly lashing blades - the noise that they make when they slash through the air, the way they curled and danced in the hands of their user. Using the Urumi is more like a deadly dance than a straight up fight. Twirling, short and long steps, dips, and jumps become involved when the wielder is well trained.

  "Come, my dear. Surely, you have something in your arsenal. I can't believe that the Council would choose someone who is so easily defeated."

  "I. Am. Not. Defeated." My right leg feeling heavier than my left, leaving me off balance. I need to wrap this up or I will be defeated. No affirmation is going to change that.

  "Oh?" He let the Urumi rest. It's 7 slim blades trailing on the dirt floor. The brass hilt of his Urumi pointed at my head, Maher shrugs, "Well, let's see. You're running away. To be accurate, you're running away when you're not cowering. It looks to me like you've lost."

  I stand as solidly as I can muster, forcing my chest to stop it's heavy panicked heaving, and throw my sword on the ground next to his.

  "Yes", Maher thrashes the blades of his Urumi against the ground. "Your choice of weapon must change as the fight changes." He allows me to drop my hands to my waist, unlatching the hilt of my Urumi.

  The blades of the Urumi are so slim and flexible they can be worn as an accessory. Whip thin and sharp on all sides, they are dangerous even to the wielder. Even those who train for years can cut themselves quite seriously. I've taken to the curling blade but know better than to call myself master.

  "What is it that you call your curling blade? Your Urumi?" Maher presses me. Knowing how annoying his chatter is during our lessons. I've told him a thousand times. He always counters with he'll be quiet when I can beat him.

  "Speedy." My hilt completely unfolds with a soft touch to the latch. Drawing Speedy from my waist, I flick my wrist allowing it to uncurl. Speedy comes in at 5 feet long at full extension each blade 3 inches wide. She feels just right in my hand. I chucked my shield at his face and follow it. Whirling and whipping, my blades swinging as I rush him.

  "Was I supposed to tell you I was going to throw that?" I force my injured right leg to support me, drawing back to kick him in his chest. The force of the blow running up my leg and into my hips.

  Maher's arms flailed at his sides as he tried to regain balance. His own Urumi no longer swinging ungracefully from his thrashing hand. The smug look on his face replaced by one of near panic as he struggles to find balance and regain control of his curling blade at the same time.

  Strapping Speedy back around my waist with a quick snap of my wrist, I shift into a tiger and fall on him. My massive left paw holds his right hand down while my right paw crushes into his chest. I roar into his face watching as the saliva from my maw drips from the whiskers around mouth slowly onto his chin.

  It's not in any of the literature I have read on tigers - I study up on all the forms I shift into - but I'm pretty sure this tiger was smiling. Catching his eye, I slowly turn my eyes towards his trapped Urumi hand and begin extending my claws. He drops it. Good boy. I think to myself shifting back to my human form and allowing him up.

  "Took you long enough." Maher makes a big show of straightening his clothes as the beginnings of a grin grow. He gives me one of his patented Maher winks and opens his arms "Bring it in, Dy. I will advise the Council that you are ready."

  2

  I couldn't wait to meet Tamra, my Council appointed mentor, for our regularly scheduled Tuesday after training lunch. The streets of New Delphia are normally pretty empty, but today they're full of people getting ready for Christmas. As one of the few holidays of the Old People that we still celebrate - no longer religious, strictly for gift giving and receiving - it brings folks out of their homes into the streets and into an interaction with each other that is as unusual as it is welcome.

  I catch a little girl's eye as she approaches with what's probably her Mommy and older brother. Her lips pull back in a huge smile, brown eyes bright, as she almost screams "Merry Christmas" at me. I return her smile full force and wish her the same. She waves her pink mittened hand at that and I slap her 5 as we pass each other. The little girl lets out a squeal of delight that brings laughter from both the mother and brother as they move on.

  The shopping bags and the crush of people result in my taking longer than I anticipated to reach my favorite meeting place. I know Tamra will be on time. She's fanatical about punctuality. These extra few minutes were likely to buy me a 15-minute diatribe about the importance of time as a resource. Not even that could bring me down today. After years of training, I am finally ready to accept an assignment.

  The catch sight of Tamra in the window of my favorite little pub, The Light Fantastic. This pub was the antithesis to other pubs, at least all the ones I’ve been to, it's bright and airy with windows on 2 sides of the bar, lots of mirrored accents and the best selection of tunes in the city. The place was less of a pub and more of a coffee shoppe with stiff mixed drinks, an impressive selection of Scotch when you were in the mood for dark and Vodkas when the occasion called for light. All of that and they somehow also managed to have some of the most delicious comfort food I'd ever had.

  My stomach gurgled quietly in anticipation of one of their hot chicken sandwiches. That soft bun and the ranch dressing on top of the spicy fried chicken breast dressed so simply with a bit of tangy slaw was on my menu 3 to 4 times a week. Don't forget to add the crispy shoestring fries. It would be just like Tam to have ordered for me.

  She has a way of anticipating my needs. I guess that's what being a mentor is all about. She was paired with me from the start. A veteran member of the Council and the first Mage I had ever met, Tamra was my rock and probably my first healthy relationship.

  Tamra caught sight of me, or maybe my scent. She insisted that everyone even those with no magic other than their sparkling personality had a unique scent. She waved and smiled, holding up her drink as if to say cheers. I wonder if she knows already.

  I was just a little disappointed Tamra
hadn’t ordered the food yet, but that gave me time to share my good news.

  "You, my dear, have some very good news!" Tamra says as soon as I get close enough to hear.

  "Who told you?"

  "Do you mean who told me that your status is being changed to active or who told me about your first assignment?

  I shook my head. I must not have heard correctly. "Come again?"

  Tam just grinned, putting her finger to her lips.

  "Seriously, Tam. If you know something-” I plopped onto my stool not even bothering to take my coat off.

  "Something", Tam looked around quizzically. "Let me see" She drummed her fingers lazily on the table. "Do I know something?"

  I narrowed my eyes letting a bit of my tiger out. I could feel the color changing to amber and the figures around me sharpening.

  "Take it easy" Tam laughed. "You will be called within 24 hours to be offered the assignment. Do not forget that you can always say no if you don't want to take it. There is no penalty."

  I raised my eyebrow which was slightly bushier than it had been a few moments ago. Why would I say no. I had been itching for some action. My training is amazing. The Council has the absolute best teachers in the Realm. The best in all known Realms if you ask them. The curriculum goes from the mundane like understanding the hierarchy of royal courts to the magical arts and everything in between.

  "Look, Dy, I know you are rearing to go, but things can get strange on these operations. You should select them carefully based on your strengths, the research you can get your hands on, and whether or not you will have support."

  "Seems like you know a lot about this mission and you're not on board." I studied Tam as she suddenly found her snifter to be incredibly interesting. "Why don't you just spit it out?"

  "You know that is against the vows."

  She's right. I did know. I also kind of didn't care at this moment, but I know she does. I'm likely to be in for a long and boring speech about the importance of our vows and what it means to be blood sworn and blah blah blah.

  The waitress interrupted our silence asking if I'd like a drink and were we ready to order. I looked up; my eyes still amber. Her green eyes met my amber eyes and didn't flinch a bit. I toyed with the idea of letting my incisors grow to see if she would even register it but knowing Tam would go crazy I decide to just ask for another Scotch neat. "Double Midnight Scotch Purple Label* and a Hot Chicken Sandwich. Extra crisp on those fries, please." The girl nods her understanding and takes Tam's order.

  Tam meets my eyes as the girl walks away. "What are you doing?" Her voice is nearly imperceptible amongst the other noises of the pub. While I'm still trying to decide between playing innocent or ignoring the question altogether, she asks it again. This time I only hear it in my mind. I know she's serious.

  "Tam," I say in my most soothing voice, "they never notice anything. That's why we live amongst them. Unbothered."

  The incredulity in her gaze causes me to rush on, "If there's one thing you can trust, it's that the Giftless will be blind to what's in front of them."

  Tam shook her head. "You don't know what to trust and that makes you dangerous."

  "To myself?" I asked playfully.

  "To everyone." Tam's flat reply resonated in my ears for the entirety of our lunch. It nearly spoiled the taste of the sandwich. Nearly.

  3

  The air was still chilly when we leave The Light Fantastic. It's not quite as enjoyable as before Tam's commentary about trust, but it ain't bad. That's for sure. Despite what Tamra thinks, I'm up for whatever the Council has to offer me. It will be my first and to top it off it must really be something special if it's got Tam's panties twisted. It's not like her to be snippy, at least not with me.

  I'm not going to let Tam change my mood today. What I need is some time to think and most definitely a nap. I'm too excited to sleep now, a run would take care of that, but I can feel that my body is tired. The run might actually need to be a fast paced walk. I head for Sweet Park. It's my favorite public place.

  We learned from the Old People how important it is to preserve the natural environment. Since the establishment of the New World Administration, the Realm-wide government that replaced the disaster that presided over our Realm for the previous 200 years, almost everything is made of organic materials. There is very little concrete in our parks, the benches are made of renewable products, the facilities are impeccable, and there is always staff on hand ensuring that the park stays that way.

  The park is already decorated for Christmas and is full of people enjoying them. There are couples holding hands, gazing at one another as often as they gaze at the holiday tree lights and just as fondly. There are kids and adults on the small ice-skating rink which to me is the real draw during the winter. The poor teens working their holiday jobs as Santa's Ice Skating Elves must go home with bruises from head to toe.

  The staff decked out in their festive holiday costumes bustle about on the ice helping those who have fallen and trying to keep collisions from happening. All of this while attempting to maintain their own footing. I grab a seat on one of the benches and prepare to take in the show.

  "May I join you?" I hear from a voice next to me. From the feel of the bench settling, it seems that was a rhetorical question. His scent was strong a cool autumn night - crisp, clean, and laden with freshly fallen leaves. I could scent him without even trying. A magical being then, and a powerful one. This would be interesting.

  "Doesn't seem that I can stop you." I only half joked trying not to allow my body to tense. I spare him a look over my shoulder and decided to engage a bit more when I laid eyes on him. Sun kissed skin, dark brown eyes, and thick sexy lips wrapped up in a black wool coat, creamy bone colored hat and scarf. His hands were in his pockets, but I was certain that he wore matching gloves. He was put together. No doubt about that.

  He gave me a little nod of concession before turning his attention towards the main attraction out on the ice. I don't think anyone would pick such a public place to come after me. This was something else entirely. I wanted to know what, but I was in no rush. We could play this little game for a while.

  One of the elves was in the middle of a fallen skater sandwich that was directly in the way of a group of wobbly skaters.

  "This is not going to end well." My new companion commented flatly bringing a smile to my lips before I could suppress it.

  It looked like the wobbly skaters were trying their best to navigate around the sprawl of arms and legs on the ice in front of them. The first three were safely going by on the left side and the fourth one was approaching the flank crossing her left leg over her right in attempts to change her trajectory. She wasn't moving fast enough and three others in her group were right behind her and a bit more adept at change. The first skater tripped over an outstretched leg and started the tumble chain for her group.

  The poor elf got the brunt of it. On top of her legs were the original two, on top of her torso was a new one, and on top of that one another one was coming windmilling arms not withstanding it was going to end with that one on the very top. Somehow the skater under the elf had managed to escape and was trying desperately to get out of the new melee. The windmill caught him as he tried to break away toppling him to the ground achingly close to the poor elf's head.

  "She might want to rethink her Holiday job." I managed to choke out between laughs.

  My stranger/friend was also laughing. His laugh was wonderfully deep and full. Full in the way that little girl's squeal had been. It was full of joy. "I don't know if we should be taking this much joy in this."

  He shrugged, "It's Christmas. 'Tis the season of joy." This brought a new peal of laughter from both of us.

  I guess it wasn't so bad to have a stranger's company on a cold day at the park even if it wasn't strictly a coincidence.

  "I'm going to grab a hot cocoa and come back for more of the show." I stood up never taking my eyes from what was now boasting 3 elves to 8 very poor i
ce skaters ratio. I waffled on whether to extend the invitation and decided what the hell, "Want some?"

  "Sounds good."

  I watched as he lifted what was probably 230 lbs of solidness packed into a 6'3" frame from the bench. He moved easily and confidently, extending his left arm then crooking it into a nook for my arm.

  "I think I'll keep both arms free until you tell me who you are." I said amicably.

  I was impressed by the way he held his face. He neither looked surprised nor disappointed that his little jig was up.

  Straightening his arm, he bent his head in an as-you-wish gesture, gave a quick flourish with his right hand and said, "I am called Tomas."

  "I am sure you already know what I am called."

  "You are called the OmniShifter by power, Dyana by name, and beautiful in my estimation."

  "And what is your real name Tomas?" I rolled my eyes both before and after asking the question.

  "Would I tell a stranger and let them weild the power of my secret name over me."

  "You would tell an ally."

  "Now, now, Dyana. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

  "And let's not play anymore games."

  I was beginning to get a bit impatient. This dude was encroaching on my me time with this nonsense and I could see from here the pile up on the ice was getting worse and I was missing it.

  "While we're at it. Are you going to let me see what you really are? This is not your true form is it?" He had the nerve to look pleased by my assessment.

  "Not at this time,Dyana. Not at this time." He again crooked his arm, looking pointedly from it to me and back again.

  I stepped forward taking his arm the wool of the coat prickly against my bare fingers. His scent was intoxicating. I fought not to shake my head. I couldn't let this guys see the way he was affecting me. I don't think he's even trying.

  "Way to ruin a great afternoon." I grumbled.

  "On the contrary, I think you will find this afternoon much improved." Just as he said it, I recognized what was causing this feeling of intoxication and knew it was too late to let go. I might be lost between the Realms forever if I did. Tomas was a World Walker and we were going for a jaunt.