Through the Fairy Ring

Chapter Thirty

I backtracked down the hall, Drostan in my wake.

"So, where's Arden? You said he's here too."

"He went the other direction. He thought he might find help in the living quarters."

"He's going through our rooms?" Drostan's flinty voice further irritated me.

"You know, Drostan, I don't think you're getting the sense of urgency needed here. There is a scared little boy in a cage. Where Arden may or may not be isn't that important right now."

His frown deepened, but he quit talking. I understood he didn't want to believe the Pixies—most especially the Queen—were capable of such things, but his protection of the Pixies at all costs was really getting to be annoying.

I stopped at the door and waved him into the room. Drostan laughed. "You're kidding. I was just in there."

Huh? "Even in the back?"

"Yep." He crossed his arms and gave me a smug look.

"Did you see Frederick?"

"No, Hazel. I didn't see a cage, either.

I pushed past him and jogged to the back room. There they were, the boy and Frederick, in the small cage. Frederick lay on his back in the boy's lap and batted at the boy's fingers as he tried to tickle the cat's stomach. The boy glanced up, the smile dropping off his face. When he recognized me, a hopeful light returned to his eyes. I waved Drostan over. He'd been so certain he was right he hadn't moved from the door. The moment the boy saw Drostan he gasped and pushed himself into a corner of the tiny cage, dumping Frederick onto the floor. The cat rolled onto his feet and shook his fur into place before shooting a grumpy look at the Pixie.

Drostan's eyes widened. "What's that noise?"

I huffed out a snort. He certainly was good at playing dumb. I dropped to my knees and smiled at the boy. "It's okay. He's here to help us. He's a...friend."

Drostan's voice came from behind me. "That's enough, Hazel. Quit messing around."

"You're the one messing around. Will you get in here and help?"

"I don't know what you're wanting me to help with. There's nothing there."

"You can't see them?"

"What is it? A cover story for why you're really here?" One glance into his face clued me in. He wasn't kidding. He really didn't see the cage.

It must be a spell. Was it on all the Pixies or was it a special spell for Drostan? But he'd heard them.

"Frederick, meow for the gentleman. Let him know where you are."

Frederick licked his lips and yawned before giving a restrained meow. Drostan looked around the room. "Where'd you hide the cat?"

"Oh, for goodness sake. Will you just come over here and feel the cage."

Drostan complied, taking a couple of steps toward me. The boy's eyes widened and he hid his head in his arms, whimpering.

Drostan froze, his mouth open.

Without taking my eyes off Drostan, I said, "Frederick, come out of the cage, okay. Just for second."

Frederick stepped his upper body out of the cage, leaving his hind end behind the bars. "Do you see him? Well, the front half?"

Drostan nodded and looked like he'd been punched in the stomach. "I...There really is a boy in a cage?"

"You must be enchanted to not be able to see it."

"Or the cage is."

"Has to be you, because I can see it, and so can Arden. Who knows about other Pixies, though."

"Besides me, the only person who could pull off an enchantment this big is Queen Amena."

It was the Queen! The more information I got on her, the more I knew Edlark was right. She was a selfish nut-case.

"Do you think the other Pixies know he's here?"

He slowly shook his head. "The Queen and I are the only ones allowed back here. She's offered to do the ritual preparations herself for a while now, probably to keep me out. The enchantment must have been an extra precaution." He grimaced.

"Can we get the boy out without her reversing the enchantment? I'm assuming Pixie magic is like Fairy magic, and can only be undone by a Pixie or Fairy." Oh, no. What if the lock was enchanted, too? The only person who could let him out would be the Pixie Queen.

"I can't believe she did this." Drostan set his gaze on Frederick's body, thrust his arms outward, palms forward, and whispered words I couldn't understand. The outline of the cage began to glow a rosy pink color. He dropped his hands, and the outline faded from the cage. "Damnation from the Gods, what was she thinking?"

"Can you get him out?"

"He's lucky. I'm the only one who can."

"Why's that?"

"Because I'm her son. Pixie magic is familial, so I should be able to reverse any of her enchantments."

My mouth dropped open. "You're her son? Why didn't you say anything before?"

"It didn't seem necessary." He squatted on his heels, facing the cage but keeping his distance. "Hey, there. I'm going to get you out, all right? I'm just going to sing you a song, like a lullaby, to help you feel safer."

The boy didn't respond, and Drostan began to sing a simple melody, a lovely timbre warming the words. I found myself eagerly listening for each successive note. I didn't feel safer, but I started to feel drowsy. I rested my elbow and forearm along the top of the cage, and laid my head on my arm. The next thing I knew, someone shook my shoulders, and my head slipped off my arm, pitching my whole body forward. Strong arms caught me and pushed me upright. I forced my eyelids open. Drostan looked back at me. "Sorry. I didn't think you'd go to sleep."

I blinked at him. "You did that?"

Drostan knelt beside me and placed his hand on the lock. "If the boy is asleep while I get him out, he won't have to experience any fear. Based on the sounds he made when I came in the room, he would have freaked out if he was awake.Now let's see what spell she used."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. And another. Then his eyes opened and he glanced at me.

"Something wrong?"

"I'm having trouble concentrating with you so close."

I gave him a wicked grin. "Didn't know you felt that way, Drostan."

He lips drew into a straight line. "I didn't mean it that way. Look, could you just back up a little?"

"I'll do better than that. I'll see if I can find Arden."

His attention back on the lock, Drostan only nodded. I unfolded my legs and rolled onto my knees. Pain lanced through my ankles as punishment for keeping them crooked at an odd angle. I hobbled off, not bothering to say anything more to Drostan. It'd only be distracting.