The Junkyard Druid Box Set 1 by M D Massey

Author:M D Massey [Massey, M D]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Modern Digital Publishing
Published: 2020-04-06T22:00:00+00:00

I expected Maeve’s great-granddaughter many times removed to saunter into view, but the foyer was empty. That was unusual, to say the least. On every previous visit, Siobhan had greeted me, escorting me to wherever Maeve might be in her great big shifting maze of a home. But today, I was greeted by silence, and the faint scent of lavender and rain.

I grabbed both sides of the doorframe as I craned my head right and left to view the scene inside. I was careful not to step across the threshold uninvited. No telling what wards and spells Maeve had protecting her front entrance. I saw nothing but a vaguely familiar parlor and hallway beyond the foyer.

“Hello! Anyone home?”

A pale globe of light popped out from around a corner and floated down the hall toward me. It stopped at the entrance and bobbed up and down a few times, then floated back down the hall. It stopped once more, then bobbed up and down again, more insistently this time.

“I assume you’re to take me to Maeve?”

The light bobbed once.

I hesitated. Will-o’-the-wisps were known to be fond of luring travelers into traps, or leading them deep into swamps and forests and leaving them to find their way back again. But I was in Maeve’s demesne, and so long as she was this wisp’s regent, I doubted I was in much danger—much being the operative word. I decided to play along.

“Fine. But if this is a trick, you should know I’m armed.”

The faint tinkle of childlike laughter echoed from somewhere nearby, and the will-o’-the-wisp floated down the hall. I sighed and followed close behind. We walked for an unreasonably long period of time, much longer than it had ever taken me to get to Maeve’s study or kitchen on any of my previous visits.

I cleared my throat. “Siobhan never brought me this way on my previous visits.”

The light paused, and bobbed gently as if to say, “Go figure.” It continued, and I had no choice but to follow. Each room and hall we passed was entirely foreign to me, and currently we were in an area full of deep shadows and dark spaces. It was just the sort of place where unseelie creatures from the Underrealms might cross over and decide to have a snack.

Finally, we emerged into a familiar room, which was Maeve’s study. She stood leaning over her desk, holding a large scroll open with one hand while examining it carefully under the bright light of an antique lamp. I found it odd that the queen of the Austin fae should be using such mundane means to illuminate her workspace. However, most fae readily adopted whatever modern technology and conveniences caught their fancy. I got the impression they found human craftsmanship to be endearing, if somewhat crude. Maeve seemed to be enamored with Victorian era architecture, art, and furnishings, and the lamp she currently used was no exception. It had been converted from gas to electricity, but still evinced that same regal charm that was a hallmark of the style.

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