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Glenn’s legs were beyond tired. He, Ron, Kirby and Derek spent the late afternoon and early evening stopping at shops and taverns that might be of interest to a typical NPC dwarf, as determined by Ron, Derek, and Kirby. No success, unless expended effort counted. If he’d been tracking Fitbit progress, he would’ve surpassed any reasonable goals. Maybe unreasonable, since his legs required about thirty percent more effort to keep up with Derek, who he’d teamed with.
The sun was well below the horizon. From his spot on the bench in front of the Glade House, Glenn watched the pole men, as he called them, using their hooked poles to lower the slats of the scattered streetlamps. The magical glow didn’t work as well as the streetlights outside his dorm room, but they didn’t cost anything in electricity. You just had to pay a high-rank magic user an outrageous sum of gold coins to get a reasonably bright light that lasted, well, until someone destroyed or dispelled the enchantment.
Most of the city’s night lights ranged between seventy-five and one-hundred watt strength. Lower-rank spell casters charged less, but the magical light they created was proportionally weaker. A streetlamp with a fifteen watt bulb would hardly be worthwhile, to humans. Glenn wasn’t sure about Stephi as a fairy but he, Ron and Kirby could see well enough as long as there was a smidgen of light. More illumination, of course, was better since it added color, along with additional depth and detail.
Startling the gnome healer out of his reverie, a blue jay landed next to him atop the bench’s backrest. Its warbling chirp announced, “Home. Home.”
It was Petie. Stephi must’ve sent him, knowing Glenn understood her familiar.
The weary gnome hopped off the bench and clambered up the stairs like a distance runner catching his second wind while closing on the finish line.
Petie flew off, presumably to find Ron, Derek and Kirby. They’d staked themselves out at nearby intersections. Blue jays didn’t see too well at night. But with the streetlights and the note left in their room for Stephi, the familiar would find and round up the rest of the party in short order.
Keri shot Glenn a brief smile. She was playing chess in the parlor with a merchant that sold exotic feathers. She certainly recognized why the gnome was hustling toward the stairwell. His boots sounded a quick clap, clap clap, instead of their normal, slower-paced clomp, clomp, clomp.
In the room Stephi sat on the edge of her bed. Her iridescent wings were at rest and her feet dangled far above the floor. “Jax,” she said, excitement in her voice.
Glenn didn’t know how to respond. What to say. He still expected her voice to be higher pitched to match her miniature body size. It remained her voice, tone and all, just a little quieter. Even though he’d rushed into the room, he decided to play it calm and cool. It was the only way he could pull off hiding his worry. “Hey, Marigold.”
His words came out flat and monotone, which didn’t match the way he came into the room.
Stephi had ditched the crappy, makeshift sarape. Instead, she wore leaves and bits of bark formed into a dress. It had broad shoulder straps and its length reached mid-thigh. The plant material making up the garment appeared seamlessly glued together. Being green and brown, it was far less colorful than the one the garden’s fairy had made from flower petals. The design of Stephi’s dress used thin bands of flexible bark to support her breasts, sort of like a built-in brassiere. The leaf material remained supple and flexed like it was still attached to the plant. That was probably part of the magic incorporated when making it, because Glenn just didn’t see Stephi or Emma sitting down with a tiny needle and thread, let alone a sewing machine, to make the dress.
“Jax, you’re such a dork.” She stood on the bed and spread her arms wide. “Don’t pretend like you’re not happy to see me.” She flew up and plastered herself to his chest in a big hug. Well, big for her.
Glenn hugged back. Sort of. He pressed his hands below her back to avoid her wings. He yanked them away, realizing he’d cupped her bottom.
Stephi let go and fluttered back. She put her hands on her hips, but couldn’t keep a straight face and laughed as he tried to explain, “I didn’t want ta...” He gestured a hug with arms and hands. “...ta crush your wings.”
“Me being a fairy, Jax, it’s going to take some getting used to. For me, and looks like for everyone.” She fluttered back down to the bed and tapped it with a hand, signaling for him to sit next to her. She turned to show him her wings. “Really, they’re pretty sturdy but flexible. Like memory plastic or something.”
Glenn sat down, leaving a half foot between himself and Stephi, and stared straight ahead. Her breasts still bounced when she flapped her wings, but only a fraction of what they did without her new dress. Glenn tried to think about anything but Stephi in a desperate bid to avoid getting fully aroused. He wondered if this was what it’s like for someone who gets off on midget porn. Then he groaned, remembering that, by most standards, he pretty much was a midget himself.
“I’ve never seen anyone frown quite like that. And blush at the same time,” Stephi said. “It’s hard to tell with your skin color, Jax, but I can see it.” She slid over and put a hand on Jax’s thigh. “What’s wrong?”
He didn’t know what to say and stumbled for words, then gave up.
“It’s okay, Jax. Emma’s going to talk to the gardeners, who are friends with some of the guards and workers. They’re going to help find that dwarf, Benxcob, and we’ll get that gold coin back for that jerk leprechaun.”
That news, and the fact that Stephi was in better spirits, and far more confident, helped Glenn focus and organize his thoughts. “That’s great.” He turned to face her. “Gurk called in a favor with that barber. So the local thieves’ guild is going to be looking for the dwarf. Lysine talked to some of the guards he knows and Kalgore, some of the folks at the stables and the farrier. So they’ll be on the lookout for him, too.”
Glenn sighed, some of the excitement draining away, realizing there hadn’t been anyone he could get to help. “Keri, downstairs, put the word out, too. Everyone is supposed to be careful about it. Not spread the word too much so that it gets out and the dwarf knows people are looking for him.”
Kirby arrived, followed closely by Ron and Derek. They all piled in and closed the door. Derek and Ron sat on Ron’s bunk. Kirby sat on the other side of Stephi, on her bed.
Ron and Derek were pretty quiet, their eyes examining Stephi. Seeing her in a diminutive stature with flashy wings was quite a contrast to her normal, elven, six-foot eight with her boots’ two-inch heels.
Stephi gave them a second, and then said to Kirby, “Sorry, Gurk, but I got rid of the outfit you made for me.” She laughed. “I looked like Homeless Hobo Barbie.”
Gurk gestured at her leaf dress. “That looks a million times better.”
Derek stared up at the ceiling in frustration. “And you guys gave me crap.”
“About what?” Stephi asked, her wings beginning to flutter.
Derek’s gaze shifted from Kirby and Glenn to Ron. “I said you probably looked like Bimbo Barbie.”
Stephi moved her jaw from side to side in thought, then admitted, “That’s better than Homeless Hobo.” She ran her hands down her dress while panning her gaze across all the men in the room. “No way am I making this into a shorter mini dress showing major cleavage. So don’t even ask.” Her words weren’t harsh or angry. They held a teasing playfulness.
Ron cleared his throat. “It would appear that you have acclimated to your situation far better than I would have.”
Glenn silently agreed. Probably something to do with the game world aspect. Glenn had gnomish impulses, and things like sleeping cramped up under a bed didn’t bother him at all. Maybe Stephi’s new fairy nature helped her feel at ease despite being so small.
“Oh, Lysine,” Stephi said, “I’m not happy about it. But Emma gave me some tips on being a fairy.”
“Emma?” Kirby asked.
“She’s a real fairy,” Stephi said. “She doesn’t, like, advertise she’s in the city since most people blame fairies for the tricks and pranks pixies do.”
Ron nodded his head knowingly.
Stephi pointed at everyone. Her finger lingering longest on Derek. “Don’t any of you say one thing about Emma or there being a fairy—or even hint about any in this dumpy city.”
All four men nodded and voiced agreement, including Glenn.
“Emma taught me how to make this dress and a lot of other things.”
“Like what?” Glenn asked.
“Close your eyes,” she told everyone. “I’m going to go over by the window. When I say, open your eyes, see if you can see me.”
Everyone did as she asked. Glenn felt the slight breeze caused by Stephi’s wings as she flew away.
After about ten seconds she said, “Okay, open your eyes.”
Glenn did, like the others, and peered at the wall around the window. The only thing Glenn saw was Petie sitting on the sill.
“If she’s over there,” Derek said, “she’s being like a Super Ninja Barbie.”
Kirby laughed. “Camouflaged,” Kirby corrected. “A natural fairy ability.”
“Green Beret Barbie then.”
Ron stared intently at the wall. “Gentlemen, train your efforts below the window, near the floor, eighteen inches to the right.”
Glenn did and, after twenty seconds of scrutiny, he spotted Stephi’s outline. “I see her.”
“Where?” Derek said, squinting.
From her concealment, Stephi asked, “Can you see me yet, Gurk?”
Stephi’s voice redirected the half-goblin thief’s focus a little lower. “Now I can. It’s like she’s the universe’s best chameleon. Like the Predator in those movies.”
Stephi said, “I like Super Ninja Barbie better than the Universe’s Chameleon Predator.” She stood, dropping her fairy enchantment. She’d been sitting cross-legged, motionless as a stone.
Upon seeing Stephi, Derek’s eyes widened. “Make that Super Boobs Ninja Barbie.”
Stephi rolled her tiny eyes. “I need to practice hiding, but I’m getting better. Just like flying.”
“Despite novice skill,” Ron said, “if you had not previously directed where I should look, I would have been incapable of identifying your location.”
That drew a broad grin from Stephi. Her wings brushed against Glenn’s sideburns as she settled back between him and Kirby. That threatened to get him excited in the wrong place. To stop that from happening he bit down on his lip, hoping the pain would cause sufficient distraction.
“Did your sister fairy instruct you in casting a Dazzle Spell?” Derek asked.
“She did. I use my wings for that, too.” Stephi’s wings became motionless. “Emma also said my ability to hide is better outside the city, unless I can find a group of trees or bushes.”
Stephi’s face lit up. Glenn looked away so he wouldn’t be set off again. He wondered how the other men were managing. Glenn knew for sure he was going to miss the times she wore her formless cloak and concealing hood.
“I can summon pigeons too,” she said. “If they’re nearby.”
“Pigeons?” Derek asked.
“What’s wrong with pigeons?” Stephi asked, tilting her head up to glare at Derek. “They’ll listen and do what I ask, unless it’s, like, suicidal. Like attacking a lion or flying into a burning building.”
“Did you get to pick?” Kirby asked. “Sort of like a skill? Or were pigeons assigned to you?”
Stephi turned to Kirby. “Petie gave me the idea.”
“Your familiar?” Sarcasm flowed from Derek’s voice. “You took the advice of a bird?”
Stephi started to say something but bit it back. After a huff, she said, “We’re going to be in this city, and there are pigeons everywhere. The only thing there’s more of is rats.”
“Rats might be more useful,” Kirby said, then leaned away from Stephi, who expressed a look of outrage.
Glenn thought about bringing up wererats in the city, but thought that moment wasn’t the time.
“Rats?” Stephi asked.
“Let me finish.” Kirby raised his hands between Stephi and himself. “Spiders, bats, rats and snakes pretty much brand you as Black. Which isn’t what fairies are.”
Glenn wasn’t sure where Kirby was going with that.
Ron cut in, saying, “In an urban environment, pigeons would be one of the most numerous avian species.”
“Crows would’ve been better,” Derek said.
Stephi’s wings halted mid-flap. “Petie doesn’t like crows.”
Glenn sensed things might turn into an argument. “Marigold said Emma would get some people looking out for the dwarf.”
Everyone turned to Glenn, making him feel defensive. “Well, finding the dwarf’s what’s important.”
“He’s right,” Kirby said. “We should be out looking for him now.”
“While the probability is minute for us to locate him by scouring the streets,” Ron said, “determining Benxcob’s location while remaining within our rented room is so infinitesimal as not to be worth mentioning.”
“What happens if we can’t find him?” Stephi asked. “I mean, before he leaves the city?” A wide-eyed look of concern spread across her face. “Then we’ll never find him.”
Kirby leaned close and started to put an arm around Stephi. Then, having to contend with her wings, and her size, he pulled his arm back.
“I don’t want to stay like this,” she said. She looked at the party’s leader. “If we can’t find him, there’s something you can—we can do, right?”
“While searching for the dwarf in question,” Ron said, “I contemplated what might be attempted, should he manage to evade our efforts.”
When he didn’t go on, Kirby said, “So, dude, what’d you come up with?”
“The spell the leprechaun, Bataí Fidil na Maidine, cast upon Marigold is susceptible to a counter enchantment.” His voice trailed off.
“We could hire someone to cast a Transmorph Spell to fix things back the way they were,” Derek said.
Ron turned his head to face Derek. “I had not considered that solution as viable due to the inherent risk being greater than what I would propose.”
“Dude,” Kirby said. “She’d have to survive a System Shock Roll for the shift to her elf form. And if the spell caster’s spell proved unable to override the leprechaun’s enchantment, she’d revert right back to fairy form. And have to make another System Shock Roll.”
“Those are bad,” Stephi said, eyes going wide. “That’s what killed Byeol.” She looked at everyone, seeking confirmation. “When that priest cast a Revive the Dead Spell on her.”
Stephi shook her head and leaned back, clearly frightened. “I don’t wanna do that.”
Ron rubbed his chin. “Then you will not be in favor of my solution.”
“Which is?” Derek asked.
“A Dispell Enchantment Spell. It would have to be powerful as well, to have a reasonable chance of success.” He frowned. “And success would entail a System Shock Roll. But only one, should the Dispell Enchantment prove effective in overcoming the leprechaun’s enchantment.”
Stephi shook her head.
Kirby stomped his soft-soled boot on the floor. “We forgot. Elder leprechauns can cast Retaliatory Contingent Spells.” The thief shook his head. “Those suck, and he’s probably tough enough to do that.”
Glenn asked, “What is a Contingent Retaliatory Spell?”
Derek’s face was scrunched up, like he’d swallowed a mouthful of spoiled milk. “Blowback,” he said, “against the spell caster trying to get rid of the Transmorph Spell on Marigold. About as bad as a Skipping Curse.”
“What’s ‘blowback’ mean?” Glenn asked, concern heavy in his voice.
“A counter spell directed at the individual attempting to foil the Transmorph Spell,” Ron explained. “Greater Lighting Bolts or Greater Curses are commonly selected.”
Kirby threw his hands up in the air. “Or a Fireblast Spell, to pay back anybody nearby, including Marigold.”
“Can you tell if he did that?” Glenn asked. “If he cast some sort of blowback spell?”
“A Detect Enchantment Spell would address the concern,” Ron said. “It may also trigger the Contingent Retaliatory Spell, if it indeed exists.”
Stephi pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “I don’t want to do that.” She closed her eyes just as tears began to form. “And I don’t wanna be like this, either.”
“You already made your System Shock Survival when you got Transmorphed,” Derek said. “So stop being a Crybaby Barbie.”
“Dude!” Kirby said, jumping to his feet.
“Let me finish, thief.” Derek growled. His gaze returned to Stephi. “You don’t have to make one, if the leprechaun dismisses his own spell.”
Kirby balled his hands into fists. “Then what we gotta do is find that stupid dwarf.” He sat back down. His yellow eyes focused on Ron, the party’s leader. “And get that leprechaun’s stupid gold coin.”