By Any Other Name Part 6
"Are there any real wizards here?" Abby had asked before leaving Madame Mim's teashop and returning to her booth with the note tucked securely in her pocket.
"They tend to gravitate towards these things," Colin said. "Usually they're the ones who look like they belong in their persona--in the true sense of the word."
"And they wouldn't be willing to help you," Abby had asked.
Colin had smiled at her; the same smile he'd used when Madame Mim had told him the Hunter would have to get through her first. "Not without something in exchange, and I have nothing to give them in exchange for their help."
"Not unless they need the services of a vampire who can juggle razor sharp silver knives while blindfolded," Matt had added.
But their words had stayed with her all the way back to her booth, where she found Toby sitting with a little girl, showing her how to spin yarn on one of the drop spindles while her mother looked on, delighted.
And in fact, out of twelve drop spindles, there were only three left.
"It's been busy," Toby said after the girl made her purchase and left with the spindle spinning beside her as she tried to draft the fiber and walk at the same time. "You've sold quite a bit, actually; I wrote it all down."
"Thank you so much," Abby said, and wondered how much she should tell him. "That's kind of surprising, since I haven't sold much yet, except to the vampire hunter."
She hadn't quite meant to say that out loud.
"Um. Do I owe you anything for watching my booth?"
Toby was staring at her. "Say that again," he said, and it wasn't a question, it was more of an order.
"I probably shouldn't have opened my mouth," Abby said. "Sorry; it's been a long day and an even longer weekend."
"You said something about a vampire hunter," Toby insisted.
"I--" Quite suddenly, he wasn't the slightly goofy looking guy dressed in a leather vest and breeches and his long hair tied back with a leather cord anymore. He looked almost--dangerous. Abby decided to throw caution to the winds. "I said that most of my sales have been to the vampire hunter who is trying to kill someone I met last night."
"And the someone you met last night is a vampire?" Toby asked.
"I only just found out," Abby said. "The Hunter tried to stake him with one of my phangs."
"Well," Toby said. "The--um--shape is a little suggestive."
"It's a traditional shape!" Abby said, bristling.
"For more than one kind of tool," Toby said. "Okay, then. There's a vampire here--this is neutral ground, doesn't he know that?"
"Who? The vampire or the hunter?"
"Both, really," Toby said. "The Hunter shouldn't have been hunting here; there are too many people who could see something they wouldn't be able to explain."
"Like me," Abby said.
"Exactly." Toby stood up, then poked his head out of the back of the tent. He said something to Grey--Abby heard the word vampire twice, but she couldn't catch everything he'd said. When he came back, his face was grave. "You friend--the vampire--he was wounded, you said?"
"Yes," Abby told him. "How is it that you know all about this?" She wasn't sure she should call Colin or the others her friends, since they'd only just met the day--night--before. But it was as good of a word as any. And then, because she couldn't help it, "You're not Hunters, are you?"
"Not a chance," Toby said, not surprised by her question. "How far into this do you want to go? It might be smart if you just left it at vampires--"
"Well, they told me werewolves exist, and so does magic, evidently," Abby said.
"I see," Toby said. "And you know they're not lying because..."
"I saw his blood burn in the sunlight," Abby said. "And the phang the Hunter used was burned as well."
Toby nodded. "Okay, then. He had humans with him, I presume?"
"Yes," Abby said, not quite sure she should be telling him all of this, but unable to decide on a reason to stay silent. What if Toby and Grey could help? "They're planning to confront the Hunter tomorrow at noon--"
"Grey should hear this," Toby said. "Wait one minute, and I'll fetch her."
It was more like five minutes before he returned with Grey, who was dressed like a more somber version of a gypsy, in well-patched clothes and a vest that looked like a feminine version of Toby's vest. She had ribbons in her hair, and a sprig of rosemary tucked in the brim of her hat.
"I hear you've had an adventure of sorts," she said in greeting. "Are you sure you're okay with all of this? It can be somewhat of a shock."
"I have a choice?" Abby asked, only half-joking.
"You could walk away," Toby suggested. "Forget about the vampire and the hunter, and let us deal with this."
"Who, exactly, are you?" Abby asked. "Not just maskmakers, I presume."
"No, not exactly," Grey said. "And we don't intend anyone harm. You didn't say the vampire's name?"
"Should I say it?" Abby asked, still not quite sure she should give them that.
"I'll need his name if I'm going to help," Grey said simply. "You can trust me, Abby. You know you can."
She was right. Abby didn't sense anything bad about Toby or Grey; they had been very--comfortable to be around from the very start. "His name is Colin. He used to--"
Toby grinned. "Juggle, right? Razor sharp silver knives while blindfolded?"
"I thought he was dead," Grey said. "Almost a year and a half ago, he just dropped out of sight. Canceled all his appearances, and vanished."
"You know of him?" Abby asked, surprised.
"The Faire circuit is actually a pretty small world," Grey said. "People travel from Faire to Faire, but word get around. Colin was starting to make quite a name for himself. I can see why he didn't want the publicity."
"What are they planning to do?" Toby asked.
"Put on a show," Abby said. "Confront the Hunter. I'm supposed to deliver the invitation if he stops by again."
"Put on a show?" Grey asked. "What kind of a show?"
Abby explained her idea.
"And they were just expecting this Hunter to play along?" Toby asked, frowning. "That's not very likely--"
"If they leave without notice, Carmen said they wouldn't be hired anywhere else," Abby said. "I think this is their only income."
"It probably is," Grey said. "That's the way thing are, if you travel the Faires. We might be able to help."
"How?" Abby asked. "Why?"
"Why--because this is neutral ground, and Colin should feel safe here," Grey said. "How--by forcing the Hunter to abide by the story. The only drawback there is the ending--we can't control endings. The audience will do that."
"And if the audience isn't sympathetic to vampires, that could be a problem," Toby said. "I can make it so your spindles remain spindles, as well. They were not created to harm, and I can ensure they won't be used against anyone ever again. But I'll need the spindle the Hunter used on Colin."
"It's--I left it with him," Abby said. "Why would you do this? He said wizards demand payment, and he didn't have anything to give you. And I'm not sure what you could want from me--"
"You'd be surprised," Toby said grimly. "Although I wouldn't say what you said to anyone else."
"We're not wizards," Grey said. "Not exactly wizards, at least."
"But this is our Faire. And neutral ground," Toby said. "Would you mind asking your friend if he'll give you back the phang? Grey can take charge of the Hunter's invitation while you're gone--"
"I think you should go with Abby," Grey said. "I can watch both booths."
"But what if he refuses to see you?" Abby asked.
"He won't," Grey said, sounding far too certain of Toby's reception.
"Okay, then," Abby said uncertainly. "We went there in a roundabout way before--"
"The Hunter won't be able to follow us," Toby said. "Just tell me where we're going and I'll make sure of that."
"Madame Mim's," Abby said.
In unison, both Grey and Toby laughed and said, "Fort Knox!"
After a moment, Grey said, "A wise choice. He's very safe there."
"Let's go," Toby said. "The quicker we get there, the better. This is going to take a little preparation."
"Wait," Abby said, and gathered up the display of phangs. "I know you said you could make it so he can't use them to kill anyone, but even so. I'd rather he not have any at all." She set the whole display behind the checkout table.
"Good idea," Toby said. "Grey? Be cautious--a Hunter can be unpredictable."
Grey nodded solemnly. Abby glanced back at her as they exited the tent, and saw that she'd taken off her hat and slipped on a mask that looked like a fox.
"Abby?" Toby asked, and she saw he had a similar mask on, only this one was a white fox. He held out his hand. "Will you wear this?"
It was another mask, but not another fox. This one was leaves, and twigs, expertly fashioned out of leather and dyed natural colors. Two leaves framed the eyeholes; the twigs almost looked real.
The world looked different, while wearing a mask. Abby watched as people noticed them, and wondered how the Hunter couldn't track them if everyone saw them and not the other way around.
"They see the masks," Toby said, as if she had asked. "Not you. And masks can be removed, and thus not tracked."
"I see," Abby said. "That's--kind of neat."
"You can keep the mask," Toby said. "As a gift, from us. No strings attached, no payment needed, although Grey wants to talk to you about some handspun silk."
"Oh, I love spinning silk!" Abby said.
"Then you two should talk." They walked up the stairs to Madame Mim's, which had a steady stream of customers, going both in and out, laughing and chatting and drinking Mim's teas. But as soon as Toby stepped over the threshold, the chatter died away. The people were still talking, but Abby couldn't hear them anymore.
"A little dramatic, don't you think?" Toby asked to the store in general.
"Not if it works," Madame Mim said from the other side of the counter. "Why are you here? I think I've only seen you in here twice in twenty years." But then she spotted Abby, and nodded. "Ah. I see. Upstairs. First door on the right. But I'd knock first. They're all in with him right now."
"Thanks," Toby said. "Can I order some tea? For everyone?"
"I'll have someone bring up a tray," Madame Mim said. And then, softly, "On the house."
Toby did not question this, but started up the stairs. Abby followed him, but not before noticing that the noise had returned, just as loud as before. She did not remove her mask because Toby hadn't removed his, but he did remove it before he knocked on the door.
Carmen answered his knock. For a moment, she just stared at Toby in shock, and then she saw Abby standing behind him. "What--why are you here? Abby? What have you done?"
Abby's stomach lurched. Had she made the wrong decision to confide in Grey and Toby? And then, from inside the room, Colin said, "Let him in, Carmen. I don't think he means us harm."
"That's true, I don't," Toby said evenly. "I have no reason to wish you gone from here. This is neutral ground."
"Oh," Carmen covered her mouth with her hand. "Is there a process, then, since Colin was attacked on neutral ground?"
"I believe you've put the process into motion already," Toby said, and stepped inside. "I can help with that."
"How can you help?" Colin asked from where he lay, propped up on pillows now, but looking no better.
"I can make the story take it's proper course," Toby said. "You'll have to rely on the audience for a satisfactory ending, but as long as you paint the right picture in their minds, the Hunter won't be able to deviate from the part you cast him in."
"Oh, I see," Colin said.
"I don't," Matt said from the other side of the room. "How can you do this?"
"Each Faire is neutral ground," Toby said. "By decree. The Hunter should have known this, but he chose to ignore it. Also by decree, the victim of the attack gets to choose retaliation. You've chosen yours."
Colin looked at him steadily. "I wasn't aware that the Queen's decrees included vampires."
"The Queen?" Seth echoed. "You mean--the Queen here?"
Both Colin and Toby ignored him.
"You're on her payroll, as such, or you would have been if you hadn't stopped juggling," Toby said. "And she might have a word with you about that, by the way; she's seen you perform."
"Really?" Colin asked in surprise. "Surely I'd have noticed a Queen in the audience--"
"The Queen doesn't have to sit in the audience to see you perform," Toby said. "That's one of the advantages of being the Queen, after all." He smiled at Seth. "We're obviously not talking about the human Queen who dressed up like Elizabeth."
"Obviously," Seth said dryly. "There are two Queens?"
Toby's smile broadened. "Surely you've noticed the trend towards fairy wings and elf ears," he said.
"Of course," Matt said. "We all have."
"And you never once thought there might be a reason for that?" Toby asked.
"They're--real?" Abby hazarded, because although it sounded stupid, it was really the only obvious answer.
"Not all of them," Toby said. "But quite a few, yes. Not the wings. The ears."
"Elves," Carmen said, sounding stunned.
"We're very close to the Veil that separates the human world from Faerie," Toby said. "And the Queen decreed this to be neutral ground for that reason and that reason alone."
"And the decree includes vampires," Colin said. "Does the Queen know her decree includes vampires?"
"Will you just shut up and allow it to be so?" Carmen snapped.
"I'm not even going to answer that question," Toby said to Colin, who looked slightly embarrassed. "There are two ways this can go, if you step inside that tent. Either you win or you lose. Once inside; once the story has begun, none of you will be able to leave. If you want out, now is the time to make that decision."
"And if we want out, what happens then?" Colin asked.
"We can provide you protection through the end of the Faire," Toby said. "But that's all--the Hunter has violated the Queen's decree, but if we retaliated, so would we. You are the only one who can retaliate without a violation."
"Then I have only one choice, especially if I want to be able to travel to other Faires," Colin said. "Are all Faires neutral ground?"
"They tend to be, yes," Toby said. "And your friends? They have a decision to make as well."
Colin stared at the others. They stared back at him. And then, mildly, Carmen said, "I'm in."
"Me too," Matt said, and Seth echoed his words.
"Me too," Abby said, surprising herself.
Toby nodded. "Then let it be so," he said softly. "I'll leave you to your preparations. Oh--I need the spindle Abby brought here. The one he used against you."
"It's on the table," Colin said, sounding a bit stunned. "Why do you need it?"
"To ensure the others made by Abby's hand cannot be used against you," Toby said, and picked up the bloodwood phang. "It would be best if you rehearse; stories are powerful things, once they get started."
Colin nodded. "Okay."
"And get some rest," Toby told him. "You look terrible."
"I feel only marginally better than terrible," Colin said just as Victor arrived with a tray that contained a teapot and six cups.
Six cups? Could vampires drink tea?
"This will seal the bargain between us," Toby said, and poured each of them a cup. "If you drink, you will not be able to back out of this. If you try, the Queen won't be happy. Stories are not simple magic."
Perhaps 'won't be happy' was code for instant death, Abby thought, and wondered why she wasn't more afraid. She looked into her teacup. The tea smelled like gingerbread.
Colin drank first, then Carmen and Matt. Toby nodded to Seth, and they drank together, leaving Abby the only one with a full cup.
She hesitated. "What does 'the Queen won't be happy' mean, exactly?"
"You would not be welcomed here ever again," Toby said, and Seth looked as if he'd wished he'd asked before he drank. "Neutral ground, at least in the Queen's domain, would no longer apply to you."
"And if we fail? If the story has an unhappy ending?" Colin asked.
"This is your choice," Toby said softly.
Colin nodded. "Yes. It's my choice. But I just wanted to know for certain."
"You are in this together," Toby said.
"Okay, then," Abby said, and drank.
"They tend to gravitate towards these things," Colin said. "Usually they're the ones who look like they belong in their persona--in the true sense of the word."
"And they wouldn't be willing to help you," Abby had asked.
Colin had smiled at her; the same smile he'd used when Madame Mim had told him the Hunter would have to get through her first. "Not without something in exchange, and I have nothing to give them in exchange for their help."
"Not unless they need the services of a vampire who can juggle razor sharp silver knives while blindfolded," Matt had added.
But their words had stayed with her all the way back to her booth, where she found Toby sitting with a little girl, showing her how to spin yarn on one of the drop spindles while her mother looked on, delighted.
And in fact, out of twelve drop spindles, there were only three left.
"It's been busy," Toby said after the girl made her purchase and left with the spindle spinning beside her as she tried to draft the fiber and walk at the same time. "You've sold quite a bit, actually; I wrote it all down."
"Thank you so much," Abby said, and wondered how much she should tell him. "That's kind of surprising, since I haven't sold much yet, except to the vampire hunter."
She hadn't quite meant to say that out loud.
"Um. Do I owe you anything for watching my booth?"
Toby was staring at her. "Say that again," he said, and it wasn't a question, it was more of an order.
"I probably shouldn't have opened my mouth," Abby said. "Sorry; it's been a long day and an even longer weekend."
"You said something about a vampire hunter," Toby insisted.
"I--" Quite suddenly, he wasn't the slightly goofy looking guy dressed in a leather vest and breeches and his long hair tied back with a leather cord anymore. He looked almost--dangerous. Abby decided to throw caution to the winds. "I said that most of my sales have been to the vampire hunter who is trying to kill someone I met last night."
"And the someone you met last night is a vampire?" Toby asked.
"I only just found out," Abby said. "The Hunter tried to stake him with one of my phangs."
"Well," Toby said. "The--um--shape is a little suggestive."
"It's a traditional shape!" Abby said, bristling.
"For more than one kind of tool," Toby said. "Okay, then. There's a vampire here--this is neutral ground, doesn't he know that?"
"Who? The vampire or the hunter?"
"Both, really," Toby said. "The Hunter shouldn't have been hunting here; there are too many people who could see something they wouldn't be able to explain."
"Like me," Abby said.
"Exactly." Toby stood up, then poked his head out of the back of the tent. He said something to Grey--Abby heard the word vampire twice, but she couldn't catch everything he'd said. When he came back, his face was grave. "You friend--the vampire--he was wounded, you said?"
"Yes," Abby told him. "How is it that you know all about this?" She wasn't sure she should call Colin or the others her friends, since they'd only just met the day--night--before. But it was as good of a word as any. And then, because she couldn't help it, "You're not Hunters, are you?"
"Not a chance," Toby said, not surprised by her question. "How far into this do you want to go? It might be smart if you just left it at vampires--"
"Well, they told me werewolves exist, and so does magic, evidently," Abby said.
"I see," Toby said. "And you know they're not lying because..."
"I saw his blood burn in the sunlight," Abby said. "And the phang the Hunter used was burned as well."
Toby nodded. "Okay, then. He had humans with him, I presume?"
"Yes," Abby said, not quite sure she should be telling him all of this, but unable to decide on a reason to stay silent. What if Toby and Grey could help? "They're planning to confront the Hunter tomorrow at noon--"
"Grey should hear this," Toby said. "Wait one minute, and I'll fetch her."
It was more like five minutes before he returned with Grey, who was dressed like a more somber version of a gypsy, in well-patched clothes and a vest that looked like a feminine version of Toby's vest. She had ribbons in her hair, and a sprig of rosemary tucked in the brim of her hat.
"I hear you've had an adventure of sorts," she said in greeting. "Are you sure you're okay with all of this? It can be somewhat of a shock."
"I have a choice?" Abby asked, only half-joking.
"You could walk away," Toby suggested. "Forget about the vampire and the hunter, and let us deal with this."
"Who, exactly, are you?" Abby asked. "Not just maskmakers, I presume."
"No, not exactly," Grey said. "And we don't intend anyone harm. You didn't say the vampire's name?"
"Should I say it?" Abby asked, still not quite sure she should give them that.
"I'll need his name if I'm going to help," Grey said simply. "You can trust me, Abby. You know you can."
She was right. Abby didn't sense anything bad about Toby or Grey; they had been very--comfortable to be around from the very start. "His name is Colin. He used to--"
Toby grinned. "Juggle, right? Razor sharp silver knives while blindfolded?"
"I thought he was dead," Grey said. "Almost a year and a half ago, he just dropped out of sight. Canceled all his appearances, and vanished."
"You know of him?" Abby asked, surprised.
"The Faire circuit is actually a pretty small world," Grey said. "People travel from Faire to Faire, but word get around. Colin was starting to make quite a name for himself. I can see why he didn't want the publicity."
"What are they planning to do?" Toby asked.
"Put on a show," Abby said. "Confront the Hunter. I'm supposed to deliver the invitation if he stops by again."
"Put on a show?" Grey asked. "What kind of a show?"
Abby explained her idea.
"And they were just expecting this Hunter to play along?" Toby asked, frowning. "That's not very likely--"
"If they leave without notice, Carmen said they wouldn't be hired anywhere else," Abby said. "I think this is their only income."
"It probably is," Grey said. "That's the way thing are, if you travel the Faires. We might be able to help."
"How?" Abby asked. "Why?"
"Why--because this is neutral ground, and Colin should feel safe here," Grey said. "How--by forcing the Hunter to abide by the story. The only drawback there is the ending--we can't control endings. The audience will do that."
"And if the audience isn't sympathetic to vampires, that could be a problem," Toby said. "I can make it so your spindles remain spindles, as well. They were not created to harm, and I can ensure they won't be used against anyone ever again. But I'll need the spindle the Hunter used on Colin."
"It's--I left it with him," Abby said. "Why would you do this? He said wizards demand payment, and he didn't have anything to give you. And I'm not sure what you could want from me--"
"You'd be surprised," Toby said grimly. "Although I wouldn't say what you said to anyone else."
"We're not wizards," Grey said. "Not exactly wizards, at least."
"But this is our Faire. And neutral ground," Toby said. "Would you mind asking your friend if he'll give you back the phang? Grey can take charge of the Hunter's invitation while you're gone--"
"I think you should go with Abby," Grey said. "I can watch both booths."
"But what if he refuses to see you?" Abby asked.
"He won't," Grey said, sounding far too certain of Toby's reception.
"Okay, then," Abby said uncertainly. "We went there in a roundabout way before--"
"The Hunter won't be able to follow us," Toby said. "Just tell me where we're going and I'll make sure of that."
"Madame Mim's," Abby said.
In unison, both Grey and Toby laughed and said, "Fort Knox!"
After a moment, Grey said, "A wise choice. He's very safe there."
"Let's go," Toby said. "The quicker we get there, the better. This is going to take a little preparation."
"Wait," Abby said, and gathered up the display of phangs. "I know you said you could make it so he can't use them to kill anyone, but even so. I'd rather he not have any at all." She set the whole display behind the checkout table.
"Good idea," Toby said. "Grey? Be cautious--a Hunter can be unpredictable."
Grey nodded solemnly. Abby glanced back at her as they exited the tent, and saw that she'd taken off her hat and slipped on a mask that looked like a fox.
"Abby?" Toby asked, and she saw he had a similar mask on, only this one was a white fox. He held out his hand. "Will you wear this?"
It was another mask, but not another fox. This one was leaves, and twigs, expertly fashioned out of leather and dyed natural colors. Two leaves framed the eyeholes; the twigs almost looked real.
The world looked different, while wearing a mask. Abby watched as people noticed them, and wondered how the Hunter couldn't track them if everyone saw them and not the other way around.
"They see the masks," Toby said, as if she had asked. "Not you. And masks can be removed, and thus not tracked."
"I see," Abby said. "That's--kind of neat."
"You can keep the mask," Toby said. "As a gift, from us. No strings attached, no payment needed, although Grey wants to talk to you about some handspun silk."
"Oh, I love spinning silk!" Abby said.
"Then you two should talk." They walked up the stairs to Madame Mim's, which had a steady stream of customers, going both in and out, laughing and chatting and drinking Mim's teas. But as soon as Toby stepped over the threshold, the chatter died away. The people were still talking, but Abby couldn't hear them anymore.
"A little dramatic, don't you think?" Toby asked to the store in general.
"Not if it works," Madame Mim said from the other side of the counter. "Why are you here? I think I've only seen you in here twice in twenty years." But then she spotted Abby, and nodded. "Ah. I see. Upstairs. First door on the right. But I'd knock first. They're all in with him right now."
"Thanks," Toby said. "Can I order some tea? For everyone?"
"I'll have someone bring up a tray," Madame Mim said. And then, softly, "On the house."
Toby did not question this, but started up the stairs. Abby followed him, but not before noticing that the noise had returned, just as loud as before. She did not remove her mask because Toby hadn't removed his, but he did remove it before he knocked on the door.
Carmen answered his knock. For a moment, she just stared at Toby in shock, and then she saw Abby standing behind him. "What--why are you here? Abby? What have you done?"
Abby's stomach lurched. Had she made the wrong decision to confide in Grey and Toby? And then, from inside the room, Colin said, "Let him in, Carmen. I don't think he means us harm."
"That's true, I don't," Toby said evenly. "I have no reason to wish you gone from here. This is neutral ground."
"Oh," Carmen covered her mouth with her hand. "Is there a process, then, since Colin was attacked on neutral ground?"
"I believe you've put the process into motion already," Toby said, and stepped inside. "I can help with that."
"How can you help?" Colin asked from where he lay, propped up on pillows now, but looking no better.
"I can make the story take it's proper course," Toby said. "You'll have to rely on the audience for a satisfactory ending, but as long as you paint the right picture in their minds, the Hunter won't be able to deviate from the part you cast him in."
"Oh, I see," Colin said.
"I don't," Matt said from the other side of the room. "How can you do this?"
"Each Faire is neutral ground," Toby said. "By decree. The Hunter should have known this, but he chose to ignore it. Also by decree, the victim of the attack gets to choose retaliation. You've chosen yours."
Colin looked at him steadily. "I wasn't aware that the Queen's decrees included vampires."
"The Queen?" Seth echoed. "You mean--the Queen here?"
Both Colin and Toby ignored him.
"You're on her payroll, as such, or you would have been if you hadn't stopped juggling," Toby said. "And she might have a word with you about that, by the way; she's seen you perform."
"Really?" Colin asked in surprise. "Surely I'd have noticed a Queen in the audience--"
"The Queen doesn't have to sit in the audience to see you perform," Toby said. "That's one of the advantages of being the Queen, after all." He smiled at Seth. "We're obviously not talking about the human Queen who dressed up like Elizabeth."
"Obviously," Seth said dryly. "There are two Queens?"
Toby's smile broadened. "Surely you've noticed the trend towards fairy wings and elf ears," he said.
"Of course," Matt said. "We all have."
"And you never once thought there might be a reason for that?" Toby asked.
"They're--real?" Abby hazarded, because although it sounded stupid, it was really the only obvious answer.
"Not all of them," Toby said. "But quite a few, yes. Not the wings. The ears."
"Elves," Carmen said, sounding stunned.
"We're very close to the Veil that separates the human world from Faerie," Toby said. "And the Queen decreed this to be neutral ground for that reason and that reason alone."
"And the decree includes vampires," Colin said. "Does the Queen know her decree includes vampires?"
"Will you just shut up and allow it to be so?" Carmen snapped.
"I'm not even going to answer that question," Toby said to Colin, who looked slightly embarrassed. "There are two ways this can go, if you step inside that tent. Either you win or you lose. Once inside; once the story has begun, none of you will be able to leave. If you want out, now is the time to make that decision."
"And if we want out, what happens then?" Colin asked.
"We can provide you protection through the end of the Faire," Toby said. "But that's all--the Hunter has violated the Queen's decree, but if we retaliated, so would we. You are the only one who can retaliate without a violation."
"Then I have only one choice, especially if I want to be able to travel to other Faires," Colin said. "Are all Faires neutral ground?"
"They tend to be, yes," Toby said. "And your friends? They have a decision to make as well."
Colin stared at the others. They stared back at him. And then, mildly, Carmen said, "I'm in."
"Me too," Matt said, and Seth echoed his words.
"Me too," Abby said, surprising herself.
Toby nodded. "Then let it be so," he said softly. "I'll leave you to your preparations. Oh--I need the spindle Abby brought here. The one he used against you."
"It's on the table," Colin said, sounding a bit stunned. "Why do you need it?"
"To ensure the others made by Abby's hand cannot be used against you," Toby said, and picked up the bloodwood phang. "It would be best if you rehearse; stories are powerful things, once they get started."
Colin nodded. "Okay."
"And get some rest," Toby told him. "You look terrible."
"I feel only marginally better than terrible," Colin said just as Victor arrived with a tray that contained a teapot and six cups.
Six cups? Could vampires drink tea?
"This will seal the bargain between us," Toby said, and poured each of them a cup. "If you drink, you will not be able to back out of this. If you try, the Queen won't be happy. Stories are not simple magic."
Perhaps 'won't be happy' was code for instant death, Abby thought, and wondered why she wasn't more afraid. She looked into her teacup. The tea smelled like gingerbread.
Colin drank first, then Carmen and Matt. Toby nodded to Seth, and they drank together, leaving Abby the only one with a full cup.
She hesitated. "What does 'the Queen won't be happy' mean, exactly?"
"You would not be welcomed here ever again," Toby said, and Seth looked as if he'd wished he'd asked before he drank. "Neutral ground, at least in the Queen's domain, would no longer apply to you."
"And if we fail? If the story has an unhappy ending?" Colin asked.
"This is your choice," Toby said softly.
Colin nodded. "Yes. It's my choice. But I just wanted to know for certain."
"You are in this together," Toby said.
"Okay, then," Abby said, and drank.