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The bridge was old, rickety, and ready to fall into the river at any moment. No one would dare to step out onto it in fear of falling through. I was able to breathe in the rot and wetness that had taken over the wood. It made sense that there were signs all over to stay off and also a barrier to keep people out.
They’d have to cross at their own risk.
Despite needing to be torn down, the bridge had character. Night had fallen hours ago, and the bridge became the perfect horror story setting. Weeds grew around it, vines trying to get a strong foothold along the side. Moonlight filtered through a hole in the ceiling.
Definitely not a place many humans would come to, unless as a bad dare.
Are we meeting a troll? Berry asked, the disgust clear in his voice.
“Know any other fae who like bridges?”
I do not think there are any fae who would like this bridge.
“Apparently, there is one.”
We walked down the bank, careful of the slipperiness of the dead leaves on the ground. With the snow melting, everything was wet. The temperatures had dropped, and I only remembered to wear a jacket because Berry had reminded me.
They are gathering around.
“Leave ’em.”
I’m hungry. Berry managed to sound like a two-year-old.
“And you’ll be able to eat. After we talk to Judah’s friend.”
“You know Friend Judah?” A deep rumbling voice came out of nowhere. The ground practically shook with how deep his voice was.
“He’s helping,” I responded, refusing to let his theatrics scare me. There was only one thing in the human realm that could scare me, and it wasn’t anything fae related. While they’d be the perfect nightmares for the humans, they didn’t compare to anything I came across in Faerie.
“Then that makes you Friend.” The voice wasn’t as booming. Twigs snapped and leaves rustled before a dark shape rose from the river. It rose up and up. My eyes slowly adjusted to the new level of darkness. Details appeared. The fae did nothing to hide his true form. The more human-looking a fae’s true form without the work of glamour, the more powerful they were. It was like the magic knew that the real form of a fae’s body needed to adapt to look like a human’s and it helped the fae to blend in more.
This fae had the basic shape: two legs, two arms, a torso, and a head. But that was all. His arms were long, bending at two different places. His feet were the same. Two crystal blue watery eyes blinked at me as he unfolded himself and stood tall. The troll was easily five times my height. Tall and gangly. Skin wasn’t something he had, instead looking to be put together with twisting red wood. Greenish-brown vines wrapped around his limbs, moss covering his chest and head. Long pointed ears, a long snout, a wide mouth, no lips.
Not a troll at all. Something else.
“Hello,” I said.
“Hello.” He leaned over me.
Berry growled in warning.
“Puppy cute.”
“Puppy protective,” I answered and rested my hand on Berry’s head to keep him from attacking. This was Judah’s connection? “Judah said you can help me.”
“I help Friend Judah often.”
That wasn’t really an answer. I frowned, wondering how to go about this. “You said I was a friend?”
“Friend Judah’s Friend is my Friend.”
The way he said it made it seem like Friend was a title, like Queen or King.
“That makes me happy.”
The fae tilted his head to the side. “Really?”
I smiled. “Really.” Granted, it was because that meant he was more likely to help me than eat me.
“What do I call Friend?”
“Josie. And what may I call you?”
“Alder.”
Something ancient and heavy blanketed over me. Alder wasn’t a simple fae, not as simple as I thought he’d be. Not of high bred but there was age to him. If I cut his body, would I see the rings of his age like a tree? I looked at the way the red shown through the cracks of his skin. As a human, I had been working toward becoming a history professor. Funnily enough, I had specialized in Celtic history. So I knew that alder trees had a deep meaning. I just never thought I’d see a living one.
“Judah spoke highly of you. He said that you know all of what is occurring in the city.
Alder motioned to the water that glistened black. “Water connects everything. I know what Water knows. All elements are Friend. We talk. Especially Water”
“I see.”
“You wish to know something.”
“I do. I’m looking for someone. Laikynn.”
Alder didn’t say anything for a long time.
I don’t like this.
I curled my hand into Berry’s fur to comfort him.
“Water does not know Laikynn.”
“Okay. Does the water know what is wrong? What would be bad for the fae?” My question was too vague. I wished I knew what Laikynn was really up to so I could narrow it down.
“Do you mean the disruptions, Friend Josie?”
That caught my attention, and I straightened, trying my best not to look too interested but failing. This sounded like something I’d be interested in.
“What are the disruptions?”
“The walls are weakening. Spots all over the city. So many of them.”
“Spots?”
“Faerie will come if this continues.” Alder shuddered. “Faerie must not come. She is not kind. Nature and Faerie should never meet again.”
I definitely agreed with him. He continued to repeat himself, becoming more distressed as he continued.
“Alder,” I said in a calm voice. I didn’t want to know what kind of damage he could do if he was distressed and panicking. “Alder, that is why I am here. To help. Will you let me help? I need more information.”
That did the trick and Alder fell silent. His eyes were so round and large as they blinked back at me. It felt like I was taking a dive into an ocean as I stared back at them.
“What exactly is going on with these weakening spots?”
“New ones appear every couple of days. Different spots,” Alder finally answered. His voice sounded distant. “Yesterday, a tear appeared.”
“Do you know what is making them?”
“Water does not. So I do not.”
“Okay. That’s okay.” I dug through the bag I brought with me, pulling out a map. I used a little magic to create a dim light source. “Can you tell me where the tear is and where the other weakening spots are?”
“You will go?”
“Yes. I will go.”
“You are Friend. Friend Josie, I help. Faerie must not come here.” There was something haunting in that last sentence. What did Faerie do to Alder?
“I agree. I don’t want Faerie here either.”
The next half an hour, he helped me mark on a map all the spots of interest. I starred where the tear was. It was in Central Park, a spot off the beaten path that not many humans went to.
“How do you know all the locations?” I asked.
“Nature is important. Nature is what keeps Faerie away. If Nature is hurt, Faerie can slip in.”
A weird image of Faerie and Nature fighting for control formed in my mind. It wasn’t as amusing as it should have been. In fact, it was downright scary. The two existences could be seen as sisters. But they were sisters with a very bitter rivalry going on. In the human realm, Nature won. In the fae realm, Faerie had. While they were different, they were also the same, which was why the fae felt comfortable with Nature. She was the kinder sister.
“So weakening Nature where she is the strongest will help?”
“Yes.”
I rubbed at my right eye, exhaustion making my thoughts sluggish.
“Make enough cracks in the strong foundation and it will all tumble down,” I muttered.
A shudder ran through my body. That didn’t sound pleasant at all.
“Alder, you are a smart fae.” I folded the map, already having it committed to memory. My first stop was to see the tear in Central Park.
“Find the spot that flourishes. It will be there. Faerie disrupts the flow. Takes it, makes it her own, and adds more to it. Faerie likes beauty.”
Heh. He is smarter than he looks.
“Faerie is big on aesthetics,” I said diplomatically. “Goodbye, Alder.”
“Will you return, Friend Josie?”
“I will try.” I didn’t want to make promises I wasn’t sure I could keep.
“Then until next time.” He receded back to the river, folding into himself. He disappeared completely, but I didn’t hear the splash of water at all. It was like he’d melted into it.
I am going to find food. I will return before you make it out of here. Do not get lost.
“You know I will be fine.”
I know nothing.
He loped off, using the darkness to shield his presence. I smiled, deciding to make fast work getting back out. The chances of me making it out before he returned were low. Berry wouldn’t take his time knowing I was on my own surrounded by unknown fae.
