Electrum dodged through the lower branches of a tall oak. His landing loosened a shower of red and gold leaves. A few were left clinging to the branch giving them a scanty cover.
Mist circled the trees like ghostly fingers, but didn’t extend into the clearing. Soft splashing noises came from the Passage River as two cloaked ships made their way around the rocks in the middle. Their full cargoes made them hang low in the water like broken, waterlogged branches covered with moss.
Silverthorn set the bundle down next to Electrum and leaned against it. “Now let’s see what happens,” he said softly.
Dry leaves rustled as someone approached the clearing.
“Brownie? Here kitty.” It was the boy, but his voice sounded weak and was muffled by the thick air. “Brownie?” His voice faded and the sound of his footsteps tapered off. All was still.
Silverthorn fidgeted making the tapestry shift slightly. He leaned his tense body forward watching.
A flurry of leaves flew up in the air as Brownie bounced into the clearing. After glancing around, the cat started digging in the leaves. His paw snagged something that sparkled. He sniffed it and sneezed several times. Then in two bites it was gone. He stretched and started washing his face.
“It’s not working,” Silverthorn muttered.
“Of course it’s working,” Electrum whispered. “They haven’t seen us yet.” He glanced at the river. The ships were passing under the footbridge. Safe for the moment, but where was the boy? A faint sound drew his attention. Silverthorn gripped his arm and pointed down at a small light.
The pookah squinted. Was that a sprite? A pollywog from one of the ships? It was carrying a glowstone. Something was wrong about the way it walked, and where were its wings? The cat turned its head and also spotted it.
Electrum stood up. He couldn’t let the cat eat the creature whatever it was. Without wings it was helpless. Then suddenly it spoke in a small, frightened voice.
“Brownie?”
It was the boy’s voice. Electrum felt dizzy and sat down hard landing on the bundle. Silverthorn steadied him.
“That wasn’t supposed to happen,” Silverthorn said.
“What do you mean supposed to happen?”
“Hello Trevor,” Brownie said.
Silverthorn poked him and whispered excitedly, “The cat’s talking.”
“I can hear him. Be quiet, I’m thinking.” His head was spinning.
“You can talk,” Trevor said.
“I guess I can,” the cat said.
“How did you get so big?”
“I was wondering how you got so small. The trees look the same size.”
“Do they? I thought they had become enormous.” Trevor’s voice shook and he looked close to tears. “You’re so big and powerful,” he said.
Brownie purred softly. “Don’t be afraid. You took care of me when the world was big and frightening. Now I will take care of you.” He stared at the oak tree.
Electrum turned his head slowly. Silverthorn’s wings glistened brightly in the last rays of the sun. They had been spotted. Something had to be done. In all his travels to the Tween World he’d never had an encounter with a human. But why was he so small? Best not to show weakness. He stood up.
Trying to keep his voice steady he said, “Ve-ry touching.”
Trevor let out a small squeak and dropped the glowstone. He dashed over to the cat and pushed up against his front legs. Brownie wrapped his tail protectively around him.
Electrum spread his wings and floated down to a rock a few feet away. He stretched his mouth into a grin and wiggled his nose like a rabbit.
“What is he?” Trevor said in a whisper.
“You smell familiar,” Brownie said as he leaned his head toward the pookah.
“Careful now – look out!” Electrum said as he threw his arms up and jumped off the rock. A shower of gold and silver dust slid off his hat’s brim. Trying to get his composure back, he took his time brushing the sparkles off his sleeve with exaggerated care. With a wary eye on the cat, he straightened his hat. “It’s not good manners to sniff before we’re introduced.”
“We didn’t mean any harm. My name is Trevor and this is Brownie.”
“Humph. He doesn’t look like a brownie. He looks like a cat. My name is Alkaid Alioth Megrez, but you may call me Electrum.” Using his full name always intimidated the young sprites. It was worth a try. He touched his hat releasing more sparkles.
Trevor dug his fingers into Brownie’s fur.
“I know your smell,” the cat said. “You’re the one that warned me about eating the poison firefly.”
A chuckling laugh came from a column of swirling green mist tinged with silver that floated above the cat’s head. It solidified and a face looked out.
“I thank you for not eating me, but I’m hardly a firefly. My name is Silverthorn.” He gave a slight bow. “You’ve obviously never met a pookah before.
“You’re a pookah?” Trevor said.
“No, no. I’m a sprite. He,” and he pointed to Electrum, “is a pookah.”
“I’m so confused,” Brownie said.
“Nevertheless,” Silverthorn said, “you’re all we have.”
“What are you talking about?” Trevor said.
Silverthorn landed on the rock. “We’re working on a rather tight schedule, and I was hoping you could help us out.”
When Silverthorn suggested this trip, Electrum had been encouraged. Now he decided it was a bad idea. The prince had ulterior plans. What was he up to?
“We’re looking for the Changeling Plant,” Silverthorn said.
Electrum choked and sputtered. “We are?”
“You said the problem was not being able to communicate with the cat. Well...?”
“You knew this would happen? You planned it?”
“It’s in the old scrolls.
“I don’t recall reading anything in the archives about animals talking.”
“It’s from the gold archives. There was sprite dust on the fish I buried in the leaves for Brownie last night. Once he ate the dust, at twilight, within a short distance from the gate, it would touch his vocal cords and he would talk. I wasn’t sure if we’d be close enough to the gate.”
“I thought you put this trip off so you wouldn’t upset Sterling. What you really wanted was time to come here last night and set this up.” Electrum’s fear had turned to agitation.
“But...” Silverthorn’s voice quavered a bit, “but I didn’t know about the boy.”
“What about me?” Trevor said.
“There was nothing in the scrolls about him shrinking. I didn’t expect him to follow us. It must have happened when he picked up the glowstone with your dust on it.”
“Things aren’t always clear cut, Ralphie. The scrolls aren’t an exact recipe like making bread. What do your gold scrolls suggest now?”
“I don’t know. You’re the expert.”
“I’m not an expert on humans!”
“Hey!” Trevor clenched his fists and jumped up and down. “What about me? What’s happened to me?”
Electrum took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. With a soft puff, he blew the sparkles and they settled on Trevor. The boy sat down on the ground breathing hard, but he was quiet.
Silverthorn grunted. “Thought dust,” he said. “Why don’t we just come out and tell them what we need instead of influencing their thoughts?”
“Now Ralphie, we have to win their confidence first. Twilight is fading. Let’s use wisely the time that is left.”