Outside, Tende and Ania waiting for them on the church steps with disapproving looks. "I can't believe you two did that." Ania shook her head. "The whole thing gave me a really bad feeling."
"Well, it should have since your grandpa tore apart a hell-bag with a well-placed exorcism." Sadie sounded like an action movie fan talking about an epic climatic battle. "Don't worry, he is disposed of now. I can't wait to do that exorcism stuff and begin my lessons in demonology." She looked at Tende. "Speaking of which, I still can't believe you turned down Sir Jason's request for your squire-ship. Killing demons and all that stuff is so cool. Not to mention, Sir Jason is hawt."
"Yeah, as if that was part of my decision process." Tende scoffed. "To get Sadie a date with a knight that is twenty years older than her, right."
"Hey, I'll be twenty in six years, then it won't matter." Sadie batted her eyelashes.
Callen rolled his eyes, but he wouldn't admit that Sadie talking about a crush bothered him. "Tende," Callen asked, moving the conversation towards something more important than a crush. "Grandpa said the demon he had surgically altered himself...do you know anything about that?"
Tende nodded. "Demons tend to severally alter their appearance to suit their needs, from what I understand. Surgery is common, but there are other means that are more disturbing."
"Like what?" Ania asked with a forbidden curiosity lingering in her voice.
"Infection with viruses or diseases and manipulating them with magic." Tende shook his head in disgust. "I've seen pictures of ones that are pretty gross...and ones that are extremely beautiful."
"I don't get it, why would they alter their bodies?" Ania asked.
"I've never had a chance to meet one, let alone ask one."
"Yeah, so demons are gross," Sadie interjected. "Anyway, Sir Jason..."
The church door creaked open.
"What's so great about this Sir Jason?" Callen asked with an air of irritation in his voice.
"Sir Jason be your uncle." Corth exited the church. "On yer dad's side that is, actually yeh look very much like him."
"So, I guess he's pretty good looking then." Callen shot a half-grin at Sadie.
"I didn't know we had an uncle..." Ania scratched her head.
"Actually, yeh have two." Corth sighed. "Me blood son, Balkor and your father's brother." A look of pain hung on the old dwarf's face when he mentioned his own son. However, it wasn't the look that came from any depth of permanent loss. The look on his face read Balkor was still alive, but whatever choices he made pained Corth dearly. "But, both be long stories...and Jason is happy you two are ok." He looked at Tende. "He expressed his disappointment to me at our last conference for yeh not accepting his offer. He said his offer still remains if yeh change yer mind befer he picks a new candidate."
"Will he pick me, Sir Corth?" Sadie asked.
"Lass, yeh know yer still got some time left befer yer approved," Corth answered. "But, if he doesn't choose someone by then I'll ask fer yeh."
"Really?!" Sadie's excitement was overbearingly exuberant, as if she meant it to dig at Callen. "That would be awesome."
"Lad," Corth looked at Callen. "Do yeh remember anything about fairies in Boston?"
"Ah, no." Callen shook his head. "I don't think I would know one if I saw one, even now."
"What do fairies have to do with anything?" Ania asked. "And what exactly are fairies...considering everything we have learned thus far...is well..."
"Twisted?" Callen offered.
"Well, yeah." Ania agreed. "Fairytale definitions need not apply."
"That be a fair assessment, lads." Corth nodded. "Unseelie fey are a sinister, alien lot. I don't have enough information to even determine the type, let alone motivation at this point. " He rubbed his beard. "Well, I guess I don't know a better way of putting it. If you define good as white and evil as black, then unseelie fey usually come in the shade of dark green. Their goals tend to be...elusive."
"What does that mean?" Callen asked.
"Unseelie fey aren't all bad, but there be a reason why people say pointed ears be the mark o' the devil." Corth clarified. "Interaction is more often than not, harmful." Corth nodded and rubbed his beard. "But, that be nothing fer yehs to worry about lads." He took a deep breath. "Now, I have a something to ask yeh four. There be some bad things going on in the city, so I want yeh to remain in the hallowed ground around the Church until I get a chance to figure everything out. It should only take me a couple of days."
"Does that include The Heavenly Pint?" Ania asked.
"Aye." Corth nodded. "The Heavenly Pint is safe."
"Damn. No cheesesteaks." Tende grumbled. "Can we still go to Helga's?"
"Aye, but only in daylight." He looked at each one of the children and noticed Tende and Sadie's disappointed faces. "Since I don't want yeh four going out, and I guess I ruined yer fun tonight, I'll cook yeh all up some o' me chili. How's that sound?"
"That's the only thing that I love more than cheesesteaks!" Tende licked his lips.
"Good, let's go to the kitchen and I start cookin...and yes Ania...I'll make a pot o' vegetarian chili fer yeh...though the thought curdles me stomach."