Remys Story

"You really think they were –," whispered Claire, as she was cut off by a low warble from her master's horn.

The low melody sounded melancholy in the dusky glow. The old bard finished the phrase and looked at her.

"Don't call them that. Don't let them think we know. Those creatures prefer men don't know they exist."

"But they brought back Jamie!"

"And how," he replied, "did my grandson find himself spirited away in the first place?" Remy's long, white mustaches twitched in a grimace. "Whatever competition they play between their kind, it's we mortals that get the short end of it."

Remy turned his gaze to his daughter-in-law, cleaning the cook pot, and her husband. Jamie sat on his father's knee. Octave was asking the boy what he thought would be different about the new country from their usual route in Souzemarch, but Jamie was still too shaken to give much in the way of an answer.

---

"Are you sure it's him?"

Claire echoed his own worries. He'd never met a changeling in his travels... but how could he be sure?

"He seems himself," Remy answered, trying to project certainty.

"How could those, er, wanderers wear steel, anyway?" She said, changing the subject.

"I don't pretend to know, Claire. I grew up in the city after all. This lore doesn't reach there often."

He played a few notes, pondering. The forest began to waken around him, readying for another night of mischief.

"Maybe they were old Corey's lot. Mistress of illusions and all," Claire said.

Remy shushed her.

"What? I meant with the sneaking around and weird look they had..."

"Don't even say nicknames, here," he cautioned. "It gives them power. Maybe not so much as titles or names, but even so."

A chime sounded from with his wagon. His enchanted ward-clock.

"There. Three days, three hours, three minutes since they left. If they were mortal, they'd have checked in, or there's nothing left of them."

His son looked up, then at his wife. "Looks like the holly worked, Laur. That was good thinking."

She grinned back, weakly. "Just glad they didn't catch me. Hope they don't."

Remy stood up. "Enough time's passed. I know the way and the oxen are fresh. Let's get some distance before sunrise."

The small band loaded their wagons quickly, doused the fire, and set off into the night.