The Troll -- Grint -- gave a dejected sigh, and the teeth disappeared behind his thick, dark lips.
"Damn. I had hoped I had it this time. It looks like such a handy cultural tool for dealing with humans."
"I'm not human," I offered.
"Ah, maybe that's the problem." He looked me over. "Powerless Fae? Exile? But brave. You would have tried to protect Con --"
"Grint, what are you doing here?" Con said with a touch of tried patience.
"I suspect much the same as you. Looking for the Veil."
"Ah. I had hoped you might be here to take me back," Conaire admitted.
"Alas, no. Are those pretzels? I've smelled them, but never --"
I handed mine over to him. He took dainty bites. By the time he was done, a half dozen tiny pixies had followed him out of the bushes.
"I'll get more pretzels."
I went and bought a dozen more -- it says something about my diet that the woman only nodded and put them in a box.
But by the time I went back, they were gone. I stood with the box in my hands, feeling a little touch of magic. For a few brief minutes, I had felt part of my old life --
"Keylis?"
I turned to find Conaire to my right. I looked at him, mistrusting.
"We moved to somewhere more secluded and easy to shield," he said with a wave toward the bush. "It seemed wise before someone spotted Grint and his friends."
"Yes, of course. Take them." I held out the box.
"Trust issues," Conaire said with a nod. He took hold of my arm. "Come on. I'll walk you through."
I was going to argue. I had no place with this group. I could see that now. I started to pull away, but Conaire didn't let go, and I was swept through the magic wall.
I passed out the pretzels. We had a feast. I sat and listened, still thinking I had nothing to offer -- but they didn't know much about the human world and misjudged some of it. I provided a few pointers, and before I knew it ... I was one of them.
It turned out the biggest problem was the scattering of a vast number of Faeland creatures across the landscape. Most of them had, wisely, moved out of populated areas, but they were still enough of them that we were lucky not to have drawn too much attention. Grint apparently read whatever newspapers he could find and had a few clippings about strange lights and odd people. I wondered if a tale about Conaire in the bar was going to turn up.
"All of the reports point toward the north and Boston," I offered.
"Do they?" Grint said. "I had no idea of the direction. If that is so, it is probably where we should go, right?"
He turned that question on Conaire. The bard was already looking toward the north with a steady gaze. His hand lifted, and he gave a nod. I could feel the power gathering around him.
"North," he agreed. "Some are already hiding in tunnels there, but there are too many of us."
"Subway," I guessed, though that meant nothing to the others.
"If there is rock, I can make more places," Grint said. "There might even be more rock trolls."
So we went north, and primarily by their magic. I would have felt useless, but I did have the ability to deal with humans and get us food.
The Boston subway system is enormous. Several hundred of our people were hiding there already, and two rock trolls had started a small cavern. Grint went to work with them, and it quickly expanded. This was good because we found far more in need of shelter than we'd expected, and that was before Con put out a special call for any who could hear the magic.
We'd been out earlier securing food which involved magic, money, and more magic. We stuck to fresh vegetables, and I paid for them. Granted, most of the money came from magic, but it would still be useable by humans. We just had to be careful not to draw too much attention.
Con and I went out near midnight on a blustery, cold night and made our way up to Bellevue Hill, the highest natural point in Boston. He took out his harp, and I could see his frown.
"There is something dark in the air, Key. I can sense it, and I worry that my music will draw it to us. Take my knife. It is the best protection we might have."
"Except for me," Grint added.
We both jumped, and Grint laughed, a sound like a minor earthquake. Car alarms went off, but Con silenced them with a wave off his arm. He'd learned that trick fast.
"What are you doing here?" Con asked, but I had the feeling I knew.
"I don't think he trusts us off by ourselves," I said.
Grint grinned. It still didn't help.
"Two guards are better than one," Grint said. The smile disappeared. "You aren't alone in sensing something dark on the move. Call our people in, Con, my friend. You are the only true hope they have."
Con nodded and pulled the harp from the case and braced his legs in a way that told me this was not going to be easy for him.
Grint reached down to a boulder, stuck his fingers into it, and drew out a long, stone sword with a wickedly sharp edge.
I reminded myself to never mess with rock trolls. Ever. And I was thrilled he came along to help guard.
Con began to play. The tune tried to take my attention, but I forced my mind away from it before he began to sing.
A good thing because things immediately began to change.
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