"Nice to meet you," Glenna said, offering her hand.
The woman took it, shaking it solemnly before sinking into the chair by Atterberry's bed. Her purple eyes looked troubled as she gazed at him. "Oh, Atterberry," she sighed.
"So you'll wait with him?" Glenna asked again. She wanted to be sure Sibella wouldn't leave him alone.
The woman nodded slowly. "I won't leave his side. If I'd known sooner, I would have come straight over." Sibella knelt over Atterberry, clasping his hand in her own. "Flutter's waiting for you outside. She didn't want to see Atterberry like this again. But please... please, Glenna. Find a way to cure him."
Sibella, choked by tears, pressed her fist to her lips as she stared at Atterberry.
Glenna nodded before going to the door.
She left the house reluctantly. Flutter was waiting on the windowsill outside, her thin legs crossed at the ankle and swinging in the breeze. She appeared to be carefree, but Glenna could see the worry on her tiny face.
Flutter took a deep breath. "Where should we look first?" Her shoulders came up in a shrug.
"The pavilion," Glenna said decisively.
"I'll lead the way," Flutter shouted as she rose into the air. Instead of turning down the narrow path with the gloomy trees that they had just taken, Flutter started down the gray path. Glenna soon realized it led to the pavilion as well and that Flutter had simply taken a shortcut earlier.
As they neared the pavilion, the lane became busier. Dancers performing an intricate routine came down the lane towards them. Gliding around Glenna and Flutter slowly, they wound through the crowds of people, separating and merging as if in an English country dance. Flowers fell around them as their hands twisted in the air, and the dancers continued on their way.
Glenna felt as if she had been in a tornado of color. Their brightly colored gowns flashed by as they twirled and spun. These swirls of colors combined with splashes of tossed flowers dazzled Glenna's eyes. She felt dizzy as she continued.
A gray-haired man with a large dingy over-shirt and brown breeches screeched at the top of his lungs as he wandered by, banging two large pans together. Glenna backed away instinctively and received shouts of warning as she almost stumbled into the hot red glow of glass the glassblower was using to spin his wares. Flames leapt into the air, licking savagely above as his assistant pumped the bellows.
The fairies laughed at her from their perches in the branches overhead. One fairy was weaving flowers into another's long wavy chestnut hair to form a crown. She found the sight so mirthful she tossed a red flower down to Glenna.
Glenna picked it up cautiously. She didn't trust the fairies. Beautiful as they were, they didn't seem to be very kind. The flower twinkled and shone with a golden light for only a moment before dulling down to its usual ruby color. Glenna straightened warily, staring at the flower and then at the fairies before tucking it carefully into her satchel.
"Be careful of a fairy gift," Flutter warned. "You never know what secrets or curses it can contain."
"I will," Glenna promised. She met the gaze of the fairy who had thrown it for a moment and watched as the fairy smiled. The fairy's dark hair tumbled over her shoulders, and Glenna recognized her suddenly. It was the fairy she had seen before, when she was at the show with David.
As Glenna watched, the fairy leaned forward, staring at her intently before a slow smile spread across her face. For a moment, she seemed almost evil. Glenna broke the spell by hurrying away to catch up to Flutter.
The pavilion was deserted and desolate. The glittery stones that had captivated her the first night were gone, swept away by either people or magic. Glenna walked inside, her footsteps echoing in the emptiness, slow with caution. The shutters covering the skylights were open and the sunlight warmed the floor beneath.
"Where do you suppose he left his cloak?" Glenna asked as she struggled to remember if Atterberry had told them.
Flutter flew quickly around the room before settling on a spot. "Here. This is where he left it." She lowered herself to the ground and marched around, studying the area intently.
Glenna joined her, and the two combed over the ground for several minutes before finally giving up.
"It's no use." Glenna sighed as she sank onto the floor. She felt a soft brush of air against her cheek as Flutter settled on her shoulder.
"We only have one clue left, Flutter. And I don't know what it means," Glenna said, her voice low. She reached into her satchel, pulling out the orange tuft of hair. As she held it up to the light to get a better look, a noise startled her.
She turned hurriedly, peering through the window nearest the trees. The slanted, shifty eyes of a fox stared back at her.
CHAPTER NINE
Foxhunt
It was no ordinary fox. It was a human boy, for all intents and purposes, who sported fox ears and a long mane of red hair. His pointy nose and dark brown eyes twitched in alarm as he met Glenna's gaze. She saw the swift flick of his bushy tail as he disappeared from view.
"Flutter!" she exclaimed. "Follow him!"
Flutter flew into the air and out the window like a shot, intent on her quarry. Glenna rushed out the huge double doors in time to see him disappearing from view. His furry red vest and brown breeches blended in with the trees just enough that Glenna struggled to keep in him in sight.
As she ran, people threw themselves from her path and then, seeing something was occurring, quickly fell into step behind her. Glenna heard the bellow of a horn and a troop of knights galloped from the woods on horseback.
"My dear lady and traveler, how may we assist you?" the lead knight addressed her from behind his large helmet. His voice sounded muffled underneath all the metal.
"The fox... the boy... I need to talk to him," Glenna struggled to gasp out.
The knight tipped his head to her before spurring his black horse on. The rest of the knights followed him, the clanking of their metal armor and the pounding of the horses' hooves creating a din unlike any that Glenna had heard.
She tried in vain to follow, but found it was impossible to keep up. She stopped on a low hill and shaded her eyes as she watched the knights in the distance gallop onward, the lead knight blowing on his horn. They appeared to be glowing as the bright sunlight reflected off their metal armor.
It looks like a foxhunt, Glenna thought before realizing it was exactly that. A foxhunt!
* * *
Glenna waited on the hill for some time. People, centaurs, therions, and sprites gathered around her while the fairies stood watching from afar. A lady in an empire-waisted dress offered her food. Glenna refused it. Her stomach was a bundle of nerves, and she didn't feel as if she could eat anything.
"It's alright, Miss," the woman assured her. "They'll bring the fox back."
"I don't know," Glenna replied. "I just... I need so desperately to talk to him."
"I know," the woman said. Her curly blonde hair was tied away from her face, and her blue eyes held just enough sympathy for Glenna to feel her own eyes well with tears.
"What's your name?" Glenna asked as she accepted the offered apple.
"It's Tara." The woman smiled at her. She squeezed Glenna's hand with her own, and Glenna tried to smile in return.
"Here they come," Flutter shouted from high above. She was fluttering so far above them in the sky that she looked like a speck to Glenna. "I see them."
"Do they have the fox?" Glenna asked as she rose to her feet. She stood on her tiptoes, trying in vain to spy the knights.
"I don't think so," Flutter replied before descending to Glenna's shoulder.
As the knights approached, the crowd cheered. They slowed their horses as they reached the throngs and, as one, the knights halted before her. Glenna could see the dip of their helmets as the knights lowered their heads in shame. She felt an angry stirring in her chest towards the fox.
"Madam," the lead knight addressed her. He lifted his visor to reveal a sweaty face. Strands of black hair clung to his
cheeks and his blue eyes looked tired and sad.
"We ran the fox down, but he slipped through our clutches. I'm afraid he has gone to hole, and we will not be able to get him out easily. We cannot locate him. I would say, for now, he has escaped. I am sorry we have let you down."
Glenna thought for a moment before replying. She wanted to be careful to say the right thing. "You did not let me down. You tried your hardest. All of you," Glenna raised her voice to address the rest of the knights. "You came to my aid as a true knight and gentleman. I could not ask for more." She tried to include everything she had heard during many of the fancy speeches at the festivals.
A grin broke across the face of one of the stern knights in response. The rest nodded slowly, but Glenna could tell by the looks on their faces they were both relieved and happy she was proud of them.
"You should rest," Glenna added before turning to the people and animals gathered nearby. "If anyone sees the boy, please bring him to Flutter. We desperately need to talk to him."
A murmur of agreement ran through the crowd, and Glenna bid them good day before making her way back towards the trail. She turned once to see the mass of creatures and people were lingering on the knoll. A group of girls had joined hands and were dancing in a circle. A minstrel troupe had appeared out of nowhere to provide music and already the knights were dismounting to join the revelers.
"What are we going to do now?" Flutter asked. "It could be days before the fox resurfaces and we're able to catch him."
"Here it might be days, but at home he might not know that we know," Glenna said.
"You can't!" Flutter gasped. "I won't be there to help you."
"I know," Glenna sighed, "but it's alright. I'm going to fix this and save Atterberry. And Roger, too."
"You'll have to be careful," Flutter said. "Since he has escaped here, he'll have an easier time escaping in your world. It takes a lot of work and luck to change events once they have begun. You'll have to find a way to get near him without making him suspicious."
"It's going to be difficult," Glenna said. "And I don't even know how to find this kid. What if he is just a visitor to the faire? By the time I get back, there will only be a couple of hours left. What if he leaves with the cloak? I'll never be able to find him and bring it back." A horrible thought came to her. What if he's already left?
The two of them spent the remainder of the journey to the bridge in silence. Flutter paused at the entrance, perching on the edge of a wooden vine. Glenna sat on the bridge railing next to her, and they rested as they discussed their plans.
"First, you need to find out who he is. Then you can solve it and find a way to get the cloak back. He may not have it with him. He may have hidden it somewhere. Just be very, very careful, Glenna," Flutter warned.
"I will," Glenna said. She took a deep breath, clutched her necklace in her hand, and stepped onto the path.
The smell of freshly baked bread and roasting meat was the first sign Glenna was back home. As soon as her feet touched the path, she began running. She was out of breath by the time she reached her parents' tent. David and Sam were playing on the ground inside, constructing a fortress out of an extra cardboard box.
Glenna tugged at her mother's sleeve. "Mom, Mom, have you seen a kid dressed as a fox?"
"What? Glenna, I'm speaking with a customer," her mother replied. Her voice held the warning that said Glenna was being rude.
"I'm sorry, Mom, but this is an emergency." Her mother ignored her pleas.
"Glenna, we will talk about this later. I'm busy right now," she replied in a low voice before turning back to the woman inspecting one of the leather bracelets.
"Dad, have you seen a fox?" Glenna asked him.
"A what?"
"A fox!" Glenna sighed. She pulled the tuft of hair from her satchel. "His fur would look like this?"
"Have you been playing with a fox, Glenna? Those things could carry rabies!" Her father looked alarmed and Glenna rolled her eyes.
"No, Dad! I mean a kid, a boy, dressed up like a fox. Have you seen him?"
Her father wrinkled his forehead in thought. "No, I haven't." He shrugged. "I've been working all day, though. I haven't really left the tent. Is he a friend of yours?"
"No," Glenna said. "I think... I think he might have Roger's cloak."
"Well, if you think that then we need to keep an eye out for him. But we can't just accuse him with no evidence. Why don't you let Roger know, and he can handle it?" Glenna's father asked. She could tell he didn't think she was right and was just humoring her.
"Dad. Roger needs his cloak. He can't do magic without it. I told him I would find it. Don't you understand? He's going to be fired. There won't be any more magic if we don't get his cloak back!" She felt tears prick her eyes and she gulped them back.
"Glenna," her father said softly, laying one hand on her arm. "Calm down. Roger is a grown man. He'll be fine." Mr. Tate smiled kindly. "He can always buy another cloak. Besides, I'm sure he won't be fired. You're overreacting. And you're scaring the boys." She turned to find the two boys had ceased playing and were staring at her, their eyes wide.
Glenna only nodded in response. It was clear her father didn't realize how important this was. He didn't understand Atterberry's life depended on it. If Roger stopped believing he could do magic, if he stopped believing in himself as Atterberry, then Atterberry would cease to exist in Otherworld.
Glenna stared at the ground, dejected. Her thoughts raced as she tried to plan her next move. Roger's show is coming up soon, and I need to find that cloak.
She didn't bother saying goodbye as she left the tent. The boys were whispering to each other. Glenna assumed they were already playing again. Her father and mother were busy with customers and barely noticed her leaving.
"I've got to find that fox," Glenna whispered to herself. She had never noticed before how much harder it was to do things in the real world. She missed Flutter.
"If Flutter was here, she could fly high enough to see him," Glenna muttered. She pulled out her map and studied it. She didn't know where to start.
"Are you looking for something?" a mysterious voice asked.
Glenna twirled, scanning the people passing her for the source of the voice. Their faces remained carefully blank as they walked by.
A tinkling laugh drifted lazily over the crowd. "I can help you find it," the voice repeated.
As the voice spoke the second time, Glenna was able to pinpoint the direction from which it came. She turned to face it and found herself standing in front of a wide white tent. It was low and the interior was dark. Glenna squinted.
Two eyes glowed in the darkness as a bright ball of light appeared. It shone brightly in the dim tent before two hands covered it. The lit-up eyes went dark.
Glenna swallowed anxiously. She found herself moving forward, curious. "Who are you?" she whispered.
The throaty laugh was louder this time. "Don't you recognize me? I knew you the minute I saw you."
The voice sounded familiar to Glenna somehow. An itch at the back of her brain told her she had seen or heard this woman before. Glenna stepped over the threshold and into the tent.
The floor was covered in wood chips and the smell of incense and perfumes clogged Glenna's nose. She struggled to take a deep breath as she waited for her eyes to adjust to the gloom.
An older woman was kneeling by a large trunk. In front of her, on a table swathed in brightly colored fabrics, a large ball rested on a silver stand. Deep purple material featuring designs in gold thread fell in waves to the ground. A red cloth bunched around the globe and trailed away like a river of blood.
"What do you think of my crystal ball?" the woman asked from her position on the floor. Glenna recognized the woman instantly as she reached over and tapped a button on a cord attached to the ball. It lit up once more and revealed her in its stark light.
Her dark wavy hair was wrapped in a scarlet cloth, and her skirt pooled around her on the ground. Her jewe
lry clinked loudly in the tent as she reached into the box once more.
"I like it," Glenna said. Her throat felt dry and scratchy.
"I'm glad." The woman laughed as she turned to face Glenna. "I spent a lot of money on it."
The woman was the fortune-teller.
CHAPTER TEN
The Fortune-Teller
Glenna stared at the fortune-teller in shock.
"How did you get here?" Glenna asked. Maybe she's a traveler, too, she thought. Maybe she can help me!
"Oh, I drove down this morning. I was supposed to be here on time, but my car broke down so I ended up getting stuck. Can you help me with this sign?"
Glenna's heart sank as the woman lifted a sign from behind the open trunk. It pictured a fortune-teller staring into a crystal ball with streaks of lighting exploding behind her. The name Sibella was written across the front in large, looping letters.
"I would ask my daughter-in-law, but she's too busy. Her expo is going better than we thought it would. It's only her third one," Sibella explained.
"How did you know who I was?" Glenna asked as she lifted the edge of the sign and helped the woman to carry it outside.
"I know your parents. I used to do this all the time, when I was younger." Placing her finger on her chin, Sibella thought a moment. "I would say you were about five years old then. But I stopped for a long time."
"Why?" Glenna asked. She held the sign in place as Sibella stepped back a few feet and surveyed it. She looked older, much older, in the harsh sunlight, but no less mysterious or beautiful. As Glenna studied the woman's face, she realized the Sibella in Otherworld looked exactly the same, only much younger. The younger version of herself still lived on in Sibella's mind and so she did in Otherworld. The older, real version now stood before Glenna.
"Tilt it a little to the right. Perfect," Sibella said. "I stopped because we traveled as a family. When my son left for the army, I couldn't imagine traveling by myself and leaving my grandkids. Besides, his wife needed help taking care of them. I felt like it was important to be there for her. But now, the kids are older and...." She shrugged. "We need the money. So we're back. She's no longer my assistant, though. Now she's selling her art. I'm doing this again. I must say, I've missed it. I just wish my son was here, too," she said. Her voice sounded sad.