Copper Ravens(29)

Ack. What had I gotten myself into?





10

The tea shop did indeed offer a vast selection of teas, along with eggshell-thin tea services nestled on hand-painted trays. Micah indulged me by purchasing a different blend for every day of the week and a set of pink and green teacups shaped like lotus flowers. That led to the agreeable problem of how we were going to transport this many awkward and breakable items, being that most shops in the Otherworld didn’t stock those annoying plastic bags. Turned out we didn’t need them, since the shop’s proprietor readily agreed to have them delivered later that day. Actually, he practically begged for the privilege of bringing our purchases up to the manor himself, which gave me the impression that only a select few were allowed to visit Micah’s home.

“Not so,” Micah replied when I asked. We had left the village and were enjoying a leisurely walk home. “Any one of my people may approach me at the manor. All in the Whispering Dell are aware of this.”

“Then why did he act like it was such a big deal?” I pressed.

“Perhaps because he has never been to the manor before?” Micah would have said more, or rather he would have answered more of my questions, but our attention was captured by a group milling about before the manor’s front door. They were led by my favorite Elemental, Old Stoney.

“Farthing Greymalkin,” Micah barked. “What misfortune has caused you to darken my door?”

“Lord Silverstrand,” Old Stoney greeted with a mocking bow, completely ignoring me. Good. “I have been instructed to escort you to the Golden Court.”

Micah eyed the assembled guards. “On whose authority?”

“Why, the Gold Queen’s authority,” Stoney replied. “Late yesterday evening, several iron warriors were found near Oriana’s court. They had been attacked and were terribly maimed. One looks as if he will never speak again.”

“Oriana bears no allegiance to iron,” Micah stated.

“She does not,” Old Stoney conceded. “However, she wishes to know if you were somehow involved in this event. It seems that vigilante acts disturb her most delicate constitution.”

“Why would Oriana suspect me?” Micah demanded. Micah trusted the old rock about as far as he could throw him, and Old Stoney was made of granite. “And why has she sent her guard?”

“Oriana suspects you because very few Elementals possess the strength to defeat a single iron warrior, much less several. As for the guard, that was my suggestion. For the queen’s safety, of course,” he sneered.

Great. So in a lame attempt to suck up to the queen, Old Stoney had decided to play the hero and round up Micah like a common criminal. I was about to run inside and get Mom, to show Old Stoney how intimidation was really done, when Micah spoke.

“Allow me a moment, Farthing, to speak with my consort,” Micah said. “Then I will accompany you to the Golden Court and explain my actions directly to our queen.” With that, Micah ushered me inside the manor and shut the door, while I stared at him in disbelief.

“You’re going to go somewhere with that maniac?” I demanded. “He could hurt you!”

“He will not,” Micah replied. “Oriana’s guard will not allow it, and Farthing is still begging her favors. I will simply explain what happened, and the queen will understand.”

If only life really were that simple. Aloud, I only said, “Are you sure you’ll be safe?”

“Of course. He is only of stone.” With that, Micah kissed me goodbye, and I tried not to look too pathetic as I watched him walk off with Old Stoney and the goon squad. Consorts need to be strong, you know.

“Where’s he going?” I turned and found Max standing behind me.

“A pile of mangled iron warriors turned up at the Golden Court, and Micah needs to go and explain himself to the queen.” Max’s face remained impassive, which was no surprise. In Max’s world, his judgment was always correct, regardless of any unintended side effects. Understanding that continuing to discuss the iron warriors would only lead to an argument, I opted for a subject change.

“All that stuff you said about Juliana’s uncle,” I began, “how do you know what he’s been up to?”

“Newspapers, mostly.”

“Which you get how, exactly?” I pressed. I’d experienced a lot of weird happenings here in the Otherworld, but home delivery of the Daily Bugle wasn’t one of them.

“The newsstand.” I pulled back to smack him. “You know, the one where we used to buy slushies and ice cream.”

My hand hung in midair, the threat of violence forgotten in light of my brother’s apparent insanity. “You didn’t.”