Chapter Five

 

Kara screamed and pushed herself out of the strange man’s arms.

“Who are you?”

Hambone chuckled. And the green glow tittered. The fox had vanished. Kara backed up a few steps, not sure why everyone was laughing.

“I do forget myself sometimes. I am sorry, young lady.” The strange man apologized. His voice sounded very familiar.

“Dante?”

“The one, the only. Charming, handsome… Ladies tend to faint dead away in my arms.” Dante bowed exuberantly. Grace twittered something in response.

Dante abruptly turned around and addressed Grace. “It is not because I smell, you silly glow bug!”

“Enough, you two. “ Hambone shushed his friends.

While the two ignored the dwarc, Kara got a good look at the man. His hair was a cedar color like that of the talking fox. Facial hair lined his upper lip and a patch of it hung from his chin. And there were those same eyes she remembered from the fox.

“I still don’t get it. This Dante looks human. Where’s the talking fox named Dante?”

Hambone smiled. “He’s of the were clan. A werefox.”

This bit of information still didn’t resolve her confusion. “I’m sorry, but what is a werefox?”

Dante spoke up before Hambone could explain. “I am of the prodigious clan of shapeshifters. We can change form—like that.” He snapped his fingers.

Schunk!

And there was the fox she remembered from before.

Grace twittered something, which made Dante retort back at the green light. “Well, at least I have a talent.”

The ball of light buzzed around his head, chirping.

Hambone brought a stop to the fight before it began. “All right. That’s enough. Kara’s has enough to deal with.”

Dante took one final look at Grace, gave a brief growl, and then turned to Kara. “So what’s a human like you doing in our neck of the woods? Are you hoping to become a slave?”

Grace chirped something.

Kara looked a bit confused. “Slave?” What have I gotten myself into?

“Don’t mind him. You have nothing to worry about with us. We will protect you while you’re in the Territories.”

“But I want to go home! I have to go home. My father is in danger! The Witch Guard, remember?” She gazed directly at Hambone, who looked away.

“The Witch Guard? They sound like a fun bunch.” Dante said with a chuckle.

The sprite chirped angrily at the fox.

“Be nice, Dante. She is only a little girl.”

Kara stood up, straightened herself, and threw out her chest. “I’m twelve! That’s not that little!”

Dante and Hambone chuckled a bit, but Grace flew right behind Kara and hovered in the air just off her left shoulder. Both stopped and looked toward them.

Dante gave a wink. “So it is now ladies against the gentlemen.”

Grace fired back with more jittering.

“Go on. Make all the snide comments you want, but you are still just a green lantern light to me.”

This set Grace off again. She circled Dante’s head chirping and twittering.

Kara laughed, which then infected Hambone with giggles. Soon, Dante laughed and Grace twittered something that sounded like merriment.

“But why is this Witch Guard after your family?” Dante finally asked.

“I have no idea. But I need to get back to the other side. The last I saw they were torturing my father!”

“Calm down and tell us what happened.” Hambone said.

Kara told them what she had seen and heard just before she washed ashore in the Territories.

“It sounds like that could have been magic.” Dante muttered. Grace confirmed with a low twitter.

“What?”

“It sounds as if this Witch Guard used magic to call you home.” Hambone said.

“But magic is banned in Faldoa. Anyone even thought to be magical is taken away.”

Dante scoffed. “Well, it seems like the king isn’t following his own rules.”

Suddenly, Grace went into a flutter. Light pulsed and she uttered strange noises, other than the usual chirps. A shower of small tiny stars fell around Kara. She looked at them in amazement.

“Grace, you didn’t have to do that.” Dante said softly.

“What…what did she do?” Kara felt unchanged.

“She gave you the ultimate protection she could. She bonded her life with yours, and gave you a barrier against most magical attacks.” Hambone said with reverence.

“You mean, if I die, Grace dies?” Kara looked amazed and frightened.

Dante and Hambone nodded.

“You can’t do that. You don’t even know me!” Kara faced the green sprite, pleading. “Take it back Grace, please!”

Grace twittered, sounding very exhausted, but confident. Kara didn’t need a translator to understand the sentiment.

“She couldn’t take it back if she wanted to. Sprites bond for life.” Dante looked toward Grace with sorrowful eyes, yet there was a gleam of respect too.

“Why would she do this?” Kara asked the other two. Grace tried to speak, but her chirps faltered and Hambone spoke for her.

“Sprites can see into the souls of mortal creatures. I guess she saw that your heart was true.” He paused a moment to look toward Grace who seemed to nod. “Your heart is golden and true. She can trust you.”

A tear came to Kara’s eye. “Thank you.”

“So, what now?” Dante asked.

“I need to get back to Faldoa.”

“But I don’t think there’s a way. Do you know of any, Dante?” Hambone asked.

Dante shrugged and Grace let out a low chime. Kara’s hopes faded.

“But maybe someone at market might know.” Hambone said

“Let’s go to Aladedas.” Dante said. “Even if we don’t find an answer, Hambone will get some good food to feed us.”

Grace twittered a rallying support to Dante’s decision.

“What do you say, Kara?” Hambone asked.

With only a glimmer of hope sparking, she hesitated just a moment. “Sure, why not? It’s our only hope.”

Hambone pulled a chest from under his bed and flipped the lid open. “First, we will need to disguise you,” he said. “Humans are very rare in the Territories, and you will stand out like a sore thumb.”

They draped a shawl over her head and across her face, allowing only her eyes to peer between the folds. Dante gave her a pair of riding gloves to hide her hands. Grace also twittered and chirped something while fluttering about Kara.

“What did she do?” Kara looked over herself and saw no difference.

“She cast a weak illusion charm over you. Anyone who sees you will not take any notice. Her spell will make you blend in, as if you are one of the regulars. The market goers will still see you, but pay you no heed.” Hambone explained.

“Can we get going or what?” Dante was very anxious to go.

Hambone merely stared at him. “Do you want her to get picked up by slave traders the moment we get in the market?”

Dante dropped his head.

“Slave traders?” Kara’s eyes widened in shock.

“Pay that no mind. You will be fine as long as you keep covered.”

 

***

 

A smell wafted from the marketplace when the party still had a quarter of a mile to go. Kara tried to determine the different aromas and smells: the aroma of food cooking and the smell of unwashed, dirty feet. Smoke thick with cedar wood, apples, and maybe a hint of cherries passed by her after a couple more strides toward the market. Her stomach grumbled as more delicious scents floated by.

As they rounded the bend of a large maple tree, Aladedas appeared. Kara’s eyes grew wide. “This place is bigger than the village market!” she said.

And indeed it was. Row upon row of booths, tables, and carts made up the center of the market. Around the outside of the town were buildings, possibly other shops. Cooking fires and blacksmith kilns plumed smoke from several places throughout the rows.

Kara’s head turned to the left and then to the right, trying to catch all the sights. Bright colors dotted places in the sea of trading. There were flags catching some of the morning breeze in the distant corners, and she could see streamers of ribbons closer in.

It wasn’t just how large the place was that caused her mouth to drop open. It was the inhabitants. She first caught sight of a small wiry creature with green leathery skin. But before she could ask about it, another creature, one that stood over seven feet tall and was covered with hair, caught her eye.

Soon Kara felt she might burst from shock and excitement. Each step they made toward the market, she saw something new to focus on. Little men stood on stools looking over a bubbling caldron. A laugh escaped her and they turned to look at her, their expressions turning sour. When she quickly looked away, Kara jumped back seeing a large snake. Or, at least what she thought was a snake. It turned out to be part human.

“That’s an echidna.” Dante whispered, “You might not want to be caught staring.”

“And the little fellows are gnomes, not as temperamental as the echidna.” Hambone added.

Every which way she looked, Kara glimpsed new oddities, her curiosity causing her to stare more. But instantly her mind forgot all, because a new sight took its place. Apparently run by sprites, one booth had glowing balls, similar to Grace. They drifted about potted flowers that were just as colorful as their caretakers. Kara felt drawn to them and didn’t realize she had stepped away from the group.

“So pretty…” she muttered to herself. A purple glow saw her coming and flew by a flower. It reminded Kara of a stained glass window in the village cathedral.

Then from behind, someone grabbed her arm, and pulled her away. Kara almost let out a little scream until she realized it was Dante.

“Stay close by. This is a big place and you could easily get lost. Plus, you don’t want anything at that booth.”

Grace flew down next to her with a chirp and a shake. The sprite looked to be agreeing with the werefox. Kara mumbled an okay. With the flowers forgotten, she quickly went back to taking in every sight and sound.

Down the first main aisle, non-humans crowded around a weapons booth. Swords and axes hung from the sides of the booth, while mannequins in chain mail stood in the corners. A half goat-half man was busy haggling with several people at once. At one point, the proprietor jumped up on a stool and pointed. “Sold! No deal! How about twenty? Get lost, ya’ bother me, kid!”

Kara found herself rooted to the spot watching the spectacle. Hambone tugged on her arm to move her forward. They huddled in a group just up from the weapons booth.

“We should split up. Maybe an idea will come to us about getting Kara back home. Grace, you go with Hambone. I’ll take Kara. Kara, is that okay with you?” Dante asked, his voice hardly registering.

She was busy looking back at the booth with the goat man, his funny voice echoing and baying while he bargained.

“Kara?”

“What?”

“We’re splitting up. Hambone and Grace and you and me.”

“Okay,” she said, not caring about whom she was with but who was around.

After they set a meeting place and time, the group split. Dante guided Kara by the arm, almost dragging her. He seemed eager to get somewhere. Kara wanted to stop and look at it all.

They passed an old woman selling apples. Her smile revealed a toothless grin. The woman called out to them, holding her product out. “Apples for sale. “

Dante held up his hand and shook his head as they passed by.

“Dante, she looks human. Maybe she knows how….”

“She’s a witch. They resemble humans but are not quite human. Some can be very powerful in magic, but for some reason it takes a toll on their body. The older they are, sometimes the stronger with the gift they are. Best we leave her in peace.” Dante whispered and pulled her along. Kara stared back at the witch and the apples, which were so red they made her mouth water. The witch caught her eye, gave a smile, and then a wink.

A sudden chill went through her. She knows!

“Dante?” But he ignored her and he pulled her along. The chill passed and new sights distracted her mind.

They passed a large pig-headed creature that appeared to be a butcher. It talked in snorts and grunts while it hacked at something with a cleaver. There were some smaller creatures that she recognized now as gnomes selling plants and vegetables. These tiny men reminded her of the ones she first saw staring into the bubbling caldron.

Next she saw some orcs. Dante identified them for her, plus they were similar in size and shape to Hambone, plying crudely made furniture. Two were trying to set out a dining table that had five legs. A couple of the chairs also looked mismatched.

Kara wished she could stop and watch everyone, take it all in, but Dante seemed to have an agenda. Where was he taking her? Maybe he knew of someone who knew a way back to Faldoa.

Dante slowed, then stopped, and Kara bumped into him. The booth in front of them looked like the forest itself. A canopy of intertwining branches sprouted several leaves and one pink flower ever so many feet, covered the top of the store. Green vines traveled from the grassy floor to the natural canopy. Kara watched as these vines moved on their own, caressing and curling around the supports. Their movement drew her in closer.

Not much could be seen further into the booth, as a curtain of shimmering silk hid whatever was behind the curtain from view. As the breeze blew, the curtain caught waves of light and sent an electric light show through the fabric. Just one more thing Kara could have stared at for hours, had it not been for Dante.

“Lyllianna. The most beautiful nymph at the market,” he murmured, as he let go of Kara’s arm. He sketched a small bow right in front of the booth.

“Master Dante, it is a pleasure.”

Kara stared wordless when she caught a glimpse of this Lyllianna. Birch-colored locks fell softly on her shoulder where they floated as on clouds, for they barely moved. In her hair, she wore a garland of leaves that were as bright green as the ones on the booth. Emerald eyes gave Kara a brief glance and then turned back to Dante.

She looks human?

“Here with a friend?” There seemed to be a tinge of jealousy in her words.

Dante broke out of his momentarily dreamy state to mumble, “No, this is just a Bedouin friend of Hambone. He’s off with Grace doing…something…shopping. I don’t know.”

A smile, that magically completed Lyllianna, formed on her face. “So, since you shook off the dwarc and the little green speck, you just happened to be close by…” Her words trailed off and Dante leaned in closer. She took her finger and pushed him back by the nose.

“I suppose…” The woman said, drawing out the word in anticipation. “I could squeeze you in. But your friend needs to wait out here.”

Immediately, Dante dipped down on one knee in front of Kara. “You stay put. Don’t move or touch anything. I’ll be back soon.”

“But where are you going? Does she know how to get back to Faldoa?”

“Shhh!” Dante shook her and looked back up at Lyllianna who was twirling a finger through her hair. “No one is supposed to know you are human,” he whispered.

“But where are you going?”

“Don’t worry. You will be fine. Your illusion still works, so no one will bother you. I won’t be gone long.”

“But…” Panic rose in her voice at the thought of being trapped here along amongst all these races.

“Oh, Dante…” Lyllianna parted the curtain and crooking her index finger beckoned him in.

Dante stood up. “Just stay put. You’ll be fine.” He patted Kara on the head then quickly dashed to the nymph. They disappeared behind the curtain.

Kara stood there stunned. What just happened? What did this booth sell? It had no sign. Then again, most of the booths around here had no placards. When at the village market, all the shops announced what they offered through signs. Some even had pictures of their wares. She began to feel uneasy and awkward. Were people staring at her? How long was Dante going to be gone?

In the booth several other women, just as beautiful as Lyllianna, were talking to customers. They also wore garlands in their hair and their long white dresses tied at the waist with a cream-colored braid of rope. All the customers appeared to be male, or what Kara could make out to be male from their long unkempt hair and beards. She had no idea what was going on. No one from the booth approached her.

“Excuse me?” she called to a woman in the booth. A blonde haired beauty looked her way, gave a brief scowl, but floated over.

“Yes ma’am.” The tone was sullen and nowhere near as charming as Lyllianna had been with Dante.

Now what?

“Um, what do you sell here?”

A laugh escaped the woman, but she quickly composed herself. “Why, beauty of course.” The nymph continued when she saw the confused look. “We are beauticians. We groom, pluck, cut, massage, tone, et cetera., our customers, so that they will look their best. Males usually need the most work. Excuse me. Duty calls.” And with a wave of her hand, the beautician glided off to another customer.

Dante left me alone to get a haircut! Kara felt anger for the first time since she had arrived in the Territories. Her emotions dictated her actions. She made a move toward the curtain to pull Dante out of there.

Suddenly, a wall of coarse fur blocked her way. Kara looked up, instantly afraid. A huge bull-headed man stood in front of her, arms crossed, glaring down at her. Steam huffed out of his nostrils.

Kara backed away wordlessly, stunned, ready for the thing to attack her. Once outside the booth, the bodyguard relaxed.

Maybe I should wait here.

The roar of the crowd passing down the aisle grew. She turned to watch, her curiosity and awe hindered by the nagging fear that Dante would not come back before someone recognized her as human.

A quad of dwarves stumbled by. They carried large steins filled with an amber colored liquid that slopped over the rims and dripped onto the ground. The four seemed to be in very good spirits. Their good humor was infectious. She smiled to herself.

Creatures of all sizes, colors, and even smells passed by her. A wolf creature, walking on two legs, smelled like cinnamon when it passed. A small scrawny reptile creature with big eyes, carrying a spear smelling of peaches.

Kara’s stomach growled. She wished Dante would hurry up, so they could get some food. She glanced back at the booth but there was no sign of him. The bull man caught her eye, and she quickly looked away.

A tickle at her ankle made her swat with her hand. She connected with something, and jumped back. Panic pulsed through her and her eyes grew wide. The animal sniffing her looked like a cross between a dog and… She wasn’t quite sure what else.

“Graaach!” Its mouth opened revealing rows of pointed teeth and a blood-red tongue.

Kara bolted into the flow of traffic, instantly running into someone or something. She quickly apologized to something large and hairy. But in doing so, bumped into someone else.

Kara became a bobber in a sea of creatures. The crowd bumped her around turning her several times until she lost sense of which direction she headed, until she finally ditched into the booth opposite the nymphs’. She fought to tamp down the panic that beat inside her. She paused a moment to get her bearings.

She looked back at the stream of races and tried to catch a glimpse of the booth Dante had gone in, but she couldn’t see it.

Did I just get lost? A frightened voice asked inside of her, but she willed it away. Kara turned back to the nearest booth, a canvas tent, where several tables of jewelry and trinkets sat displayed. Farther back, it looked as if there were swords that had gems infused in the hilts. Maybe the shopkeeper here would be able to point Kara in the right direction.

But as she started in, her eyes caught sight of one table and one object on that table, a necklace. It held an amazing blue stone. The stone set in a crystal pendant resembled the shape of a bat, wings outstretched, but no head.

“Pretty.”

She jerked back, startled by the voice. “I’m sor—” Her words trailed off as she saw the creature looking at her from the other side of the table. It stood only about three feet tall, its chin just about resting on the tabletop. Two huge pointed ears laid flat against its greenish head and rose two inches higher than the balding dome.

“I, Goblin Skrag.” The thing stepped back from the table and did a mock bow to her, one of its thin bony hands waving the air in front of him. The voice reminded Kara of coins rattling around in a tin cup. The beautiful jewelry he was selling was very much in contrast to the ugly thing running the booth.

“How I help you?” Skrag’s speech broke like that of a little child who had newly learned to speak. He paused in between his words when he didn’t have to.

Kara couldn’t take her eyes away from Skrag’s saucer-sized, yellow eyes. His almost nonexistent nose reminded her of a skull she once saw.

“Um…I’m just looking,” she said dismissively, hoping that he would go away. Her eyes focused back on the necklace.

“You look good. Very pretty.”

At first, Kara didn’t know if Skrag flirted with her or told her that the necklace was a good piece. She hoped he meant the latter.

“Yes, it is. It just caught my eye. Did you make it?” Her hand so wanted to touch the stone, but Dante’s Don’t touch anything still echoed in her head.

“Not Skrag. He no make. My mistress. Yes, she make. Make all.” His speech became rapid as he spoke of his employer. It sounded to Kara that if Skrag talked any more about his mistress his heart might explode.

“Oh,” Her hand hovered at the table. Her eyes drifted over the other objects on display. They were all beautiful, but none caught her eye like the bat pendant.

“You like. You take?” Skrag tapped the table with a stone-like, ancient nail.

Kara stared at his finger. It repulsed her.

“Try on.” Skrag insisted. He pulled his hands back and stared up at her. A smile, which made him beyond creepy, graced his face. Jagged, crooked teeth poked out. She wanted to run, but the stone, the necklace, the invitation to try it on held her there.

She removed her glove, laid it on the table, and picked up the necklace. A tingle raced up her arm at first contact.

Kara glanced at Skrag and noticed his eyes widening. What was that all about? He was the one who’d told her to try on the necklace.

“Human….”

My hand!

Kara dropped the necklace on the table and quickly snatched back her hand, snagging the necklace and glove on her sleeve. She bolted from the booth. She ran in a blind panic, dodging the oncoming traffic. All these monsters surrounded her. The slave traders would capture her for sure. She had to get out of there.

The crowd did not take notice of her as Kara skirted around them, but she was positive they all saw through her disguise. She needed to run, run, run!

At the end of one aisle, she headed left looking for a way back into the forest and maybe even a way back home. Tears filled her eyes. Home….

Her foot caught on a stone and she tumbled face first into the dirt.

Kara remained there a moment, knowing that any minute something would grab her and lock her away. The market goers looked at her lying on the ground at first, but soon glanced away. Some huddled in groups, while others just ignored her.

Someone or something tapped at her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

The voice sounded normal enough. And kind. Whoever it belonged to offered help. But when she turned around, Kara saw to her dismay that it was a talking rabbit.

Beyond her realm of reality, Kara blanked. Emotions froze within her, not sure what to say or do. Most of the onlookers now bustled by her, but the rabbit stayed.

Kara covered her eyes again and choked back the sobs that threatened to overwhelm her. “I-I just…want to…go home.”

Schunk!

Hands lifted her to her feet. Kara wanted to look, to thank her rescuer, but she was too scared to peer through her fingers. But, the helping hands felt human. They felt like her mother’s, so she let them guide her away from the market. No one stopped them along the way. Soon the noise died down from the market.

Slowly, Kara felt a bit more in control of herself. But still fear lingered, as well as a touch of hopelessness. Would she ever find a way home?

Her helper guided her to a bench under a large chestnut tree. Once seated, Kara wiped her eyes and nose with the shawl.

“You should rest here. The market is not a good place for a human girl to be.”

“You know? But….”

“Shhh….”

Kara took in her savior. A young woman with vibrant red hair sat next to her. A gold ribbon held her hair back in a ponytail. The talking rabbit had been red too.

“My name is Snowbell, or just Snow. But please, not Snowball. I get enough of that from my brother.”

This lady looked like a good soul, kind enough to help a human out.

“I’m Kara.” Taking to the different races was getting easier for her. “Are you a wererabbit?” Kara remembered how Dante explained his changing.

“I prefer ‘werehare,’ but yes I am.” Snow smiled at Kara.

“So, everyone in your family are hares?” It sounded rude the moment she asked, but her questions helped ease the panic.

Snow shook her head. “The were clan is a race of shape shifters. At birth, we are able to shift into an animal, but only that animal. As we grow, so does our animal-self. If I was to have any children with another of the were clan, they would be able to shift too but not necessarily into hares. Does that make sense?”

Kara nodded. “Then do you know Dante?”

“Yes, of course. He’s my brother.”