Chapter 12
Aldritch emerged from the small patch of deep shade, made by a cluster of tree boughs and bushes in the corner of the McCarthy's front lawn. Near the house, he saw the back of a Fair one, who was currently issuing a threat to curse the residents therein should the little one named Gideon not return from within.
Aldritch knew of the morpher in question, aware that he spent some time at the McCarthy house, and was a friendly fae with no malicious intent. But Gideon was not the elder's concern. It was the menacing Fair fae with the long blonde locks that had Aldritch's attention, and his ire.
As Devlin took a moment of silence to see if Gideon would respond to his dire warnings, he sensed movement behind him over his right shoulder. He snapped his head around to see an extremely tall fae with a large, crooked staff coming toward him. The closer the tall one came, the heavier it began to rain. Devlin turned to face the visitor, and took notice of autumn leaves swirling and fading in his wake as he strode forward with purpose.
A few steps away, the tall fae stopped, planted his staff, and said, "I am Aldritch of the Old Wood, and I would ask your business here before I send you off."
Crossing his arms, Devlin haughtily lifted his brows. "Send me off? Me? I am Devlin Ryder, magistrate on quest from the Circle of Nine for breaches of the Enigma in this area. While I'm here, I shall do as I please to complete my quest, and not even an elder such as you will divert me from that path. In fact, you are on my list of inquiry, good Aldritch."
"That was to be expected, but what brings you to the McCarthy home to search for the harmless Gideon? To my knowledge, he has no involvement in recent doings."
Devlin cocked his head in surprise. "This is the home of Cora McCarthy? Well, well, how fortuitous."
Aldritch leaned in. "It is her home, yes, and to hear you offering harm to the family will cause issues between us. I take exception to it, magistrate, as well to the coercion of innocent fae."
"That is all well and good," the magistrate said loftily, "and I appreciate your concerns. Fear not, the humans here will come to no harm. With that said, I do have cause to be here, and I also have reason to name you as a suspect in these matters."
"I expected as much."
"If you take issue with me, then you take issue with the Circle. Take your discontent to them." Devlin then offered a blatantly false smile, his teeth bright in the heavy rain. "What concerns me presently is what role your innocent Gideon plays in this matter. He leads me to a place of interest; a suspect arrives as well. How very interesting, very... coincidental. Do you have a special role in his welfare?"
After a moment's hesitation, Aldritch replied, "No, not I..." He then took a casual step backwards.
The magistrate scowled in bewilderment at the elder's reply and movement. And then he barely had time to dodge the swooping blur of a huge avian. As Devlin took his arm down from over his head, he saw a great eagle owl with mottled black and tan feathering stretch its seven foot wingspan before landing. The creature then abruptly morphed into the stout, blocky form of Kazimir.
The big morpher immediately walked up to Devlin, looked him up and down, then back up to meet his eyes. "Sorry about that," he said with gravelly voice and grim set, "I mistook you for a stoat."
Devlin, startled and then surprised at the implication from the stranger, had no time to put words to his indignation. The short, broad morpher quickly turned his head and sniffed, then walked up to the front door of the McCarthy home and blended through it.
Both Aldritch and Devlin looked at the door, and then back to each other. The looming elder leaned on his warped staff and said, "I know you have your duties, magistrate, and there are actions to make with respect to the Enigma's breach. But make no mistake; it will be I who will see to any fogging of Cora McCarthy's memories if sanction is not given from the Circle. Until I see what transpires here, though, I will take no actions nor answer any inquiries."
"You cannot simply -"
"And one final matter, Sir Ryder," Aldritch said over Devlin's protests. He gripped his staff tightly, and thunder rippled through the morning rain. "Should I find you once again attempting to harass these humans, or even their kin, then the Circle be damned. I will send you back to them as a cup of ashes."
With raised brows over half-lidded eyes, Devlin leisurely pulled open his coat, which revealed a long, hand-wrought iron blade with a thick handle strapped to the lining. "We shall see, elder."