Magic Heist by Mary Karlik

Author:Mary Karlik [Karlik, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-943858-24-8
Publisher: Ink Monster, LLC

* * *

Layla hesitated again then flung her arm out straight with her fingers stretched toward the troll. “Reòth!” A blue streak shot from her fingers and splashed over him. He froze mid-step.

Layla landed on the walk, human-sized. She bent over with her hands on her knees and heaved in deep breaths. “Sorry. The fairy-healing drained me more than I thought.”

Ian stopped on the other side of the troll. He hunched over to catch his breath but kept his eyes on Layla. “Are you okay now?”

“Aye. I think this is the troll who was working for Fauth.” She straightened and inspected the man. “I’m sure of it.”

Ian pointed to the troll’s clenched fist. “It looks like he’s got something in his hand.”

Layla looked closer at his fist. “He’s definitely holding something, but I can’t tell what. I could pry it open, but there is a chance that his fingers would snap off like ice-covered twigs.”

“Leave his fingers. We need to talk to him anyway.” Ian swept his gaze up and down the High Street. “The street is empty. I reckon I could carry him back to the flat, but I’d just as soon you unfreeze him here.”

“Just be ready. No doubt he’ll try to run.”

Ian took hold of the little man. “Go ahead.”

Layla flicked her hand. “Neo-reòth.” A gold coin slipped from the troll’s fisted hand. He struggled against Ian’s hold to pick it up, but Layla got to it first.

The troll’s eyes bulged as he stared at the coin in her palm. “Let me go.”

Ian pulled the man’s hands behind his back. “Not likely. But you’ve got some answering to do.”

“I just want what’s mine.” The man tried to pull his arms away.

Layla held her free hand at the ready to throw another spell. “You’ll get your coin back after you answer some questions.”

“I’m not talking about the coin.” The troll sneered at Layla. “I want my magic back.”

Ian stared down at the man. “And how is breaking into my flat going to accomplish that?”

The troll twisted his neck to look up at him. He forced the words between clenched teeth. “Fauth took my magic. It’s in the Dragon Scepter. I only want what belongs to me.” The troll shifted his gaze to Layla. “But I couldn’t find it, could I? You’ve already sold it at the Magic Market, haven’t you?”

Layla’s wings fluttered. “Magic Market? You know where the portal is?”

“Portal? Not hardly. The market is here. Has been for centuries.”

Ian noticed the troll’s eyes staring at the coin in Layla’s hand. He pulled the troll away from her. “How? This world doesn’t have magic.”

The troll shot him a look. “Hey, you don’t have to be so rough.”

“Just answer the question.”

The troll looked at Layla. “Do you really think that when the fairies closed the portals, they made sure everybody was on the magic side? No. There wasn’t even a warning. One minute there was a passage. The next the doors had vanished. It was only after the fact that we were told what happened.

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