Chapter Four
Chapter Four
“Thanks for the demonstration,”
Ryn said, ducking his head as the carpet he was sitting on zoomed in through the shop door and glided to a halt on the floor. He and the green-haired shopkeeper stood up and walked off the carpet, which promptly rolled itself up and moved to a corner of the shop.
“As you can see,” the shopkeeper said, his words accented to the point where Ryn could barely understand him, “the carpet made no attempt to throw us off at any stage. A recent breakthrough in carpet-flying magic.”
Ryn nodded. “And it seems fairly easy to steer.”
“Very easy. So you are happy with it?”
“Yes, this is exactly what I’m looking for.” Ryn leaned on the counter and signed the agreement the shopkeeper had drawn up for him before taking him on a test ride. “So you’ll meet me there just after sunset tonight with the carpet?”
“Yes. I know how to get there now.”
“Great. Thanks very much.” He shook the man’s hand and strode out of the store. Once outside, he opened a faerie paths doorway on the nearest wall. He was already late for his next meeting—with the specialist who’d installed the glow-bug lighting system throughout the Guild—and he didn’t want to keep the woman waiting any longer.
Half an hour later, after Ryn had explained exactly what he wanted and Marlia, the glow-bug specialist, had written and altered and rewritten a spell for him, Ryn allowed himself to start getting excited about his plan.
“That should do it,” Marlia said, rolling up the paper and handing it to Ryn.
“And it’ll work even if I’m not right next to the bugs? If they can’t physically hear me?”
“Yes, but it will obviously take longer for the call to reach the ones that are farther away.”
Ryn nodded. “Got it.”
“So.” She sat back in her chair, tucking her sleek white hair behind one pointed ear. “Are you going to tell me why you want all the glow-bugs in the whole of Creepy Hollow forest to fly into the sky at the same time?”
Ryn smiled, remembering what Vi had said the night they’d discussed impressive stunts.
Jeez, I don’t know, Ryn. Like a gazillion glow-bugs lighting up the night sky with their tiny glowing butts or something.
He’d laughed then, but he hadn’t forgotten her words. If that’s what it took to make her realize how serious he was about his feelings for her, he would do it. “Call it an impressive stunt,” he told Marlia. “To prove myself to someone.”
She raised an eyebrow and muttered, “Young people.”