The Faerie Trader by J R Castle

Author:J R Castle [Castle, J R]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Castle Book Creations
Published: 2020-04-22T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Jael woke the next morning to the sound of furious twittering and arguing. Somehow, he’d managed to crawl beneath the cart after setting up the last cage. A pointless pursuit, he feared. But he had to try. If the dwarf king didn’t get more healing powder, he’d surely die. If he died, his mate would come after Jael’s clan.

And if he returned home with no powder, his mother would have him cast out of the clan, leaving him a complete nomad.

The noise persisted, reminding Jael of the pixies he’d caught the day before. Where had he left the cage? He peered out through the pine boughs used to camouflage his cart to make sure the coast was clear. Each movement brought a wince of pain from the many welts covering his body and the bruises from tumbling into the pond. Slowly, he rose to his hooves and looked around.

He found the pix cage still hanging inside the cart where he left it. Three of the pixies clung desperately to the edge of a wooden swing suspended from the top of the cage. They were covered in welts from touching the metal. The fat leader had taken up most of the swing.

Jael found a couple of thin branches and threaded them across the cage, giving the little bugs something to sit on and avoid the cursed bars surrounding them.

“I’d feel sorry for you if I weren’t stinging over every inch of my body. What do you coat those darts with? Blasted little pests. I’ll be glad to trade you lot to the elves. I assure you.”

The leader scowled, his little face turning a bright red. “You’ve cursed yourself, Jael Azazel. Yes, I know exactly who you are. Vagabond. Thief. Upstart! You should have your hooves shaved for this. Wait until Lady Emmalyn hears of your misdeeds. I say you’ll regret ever being born, you scoundrel. Scrounger. Sycophant!”

“Oi, now, ease up on the name-calling. I’m just doing a job. Trying to help my family and friends, you see? The elves have something I need and their charge is a few able-bodied pixs and faes.”

The younger pixies let out whistles of indignation. The leader asked, “Why have they need of us? I’ve always considered the elves a commendable people. Upright and hospitable. Gracious in their ways, though they, like us, tend to keep to themselves. An admirable policy. To each his own and all.” The little pix straightened his hat made of woven grass and perhaps silken webs. It came to a point, high over his head, adding an extra inch to his height.

“I don’t know!” Jael grabbed a couple of apples from the supply bag. “Don’t care, neither. I’m off to check my other traps and will be back shortly. Mind your manners. There’s no escaping these cages, lads. You’ll have to bide your time and ask the elf king yourself about his reasons.”

The leader shook his tiny fist. Jael chuckled as he tossed in a few scraps of bread leftover from last night.

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