Best I could figure, they didn’t stumble into Faery. The kids were watched more than most political officials. Which meant they were taken without Rite of Claim, no Fae had claim within the city itself. That was the good news.
The bad news, my next stop was in Faery itself. The heart of the Earth Court. Nine times out of ten missing children were taken by the Earth Court. Cheap labor. Renewable resource. I’ve tangled with the Earth Court’s fetch maker before, sometimes I won and found she had no claim, sometimes she won. And I left empty handed.
I picked up a couple things from my office before hailing a cab to the freeway that led into Faery. Some time ago, a few Fae and Notion City scientists figured out how to make small permanent paths. I didn’t understand how they did it, but it meant I wouldn’t have to pick up a Cartographer’s map. Last time that thing sent me to the heart of the Fire Court. And I was told it was the latest version.
Weather may be strange in Notion City, but you head to any Court held area and you can pretty much bet how to dress. Autumn was taking over, I had the proper coat to keep the brisk wind at bay. And sure enough, after we were through the Threshold all I saw were the golden brown leaves of the trees. Ripe fruit could be easily picked from them. In fact it was, Fae and human, fetch and changeling, were out taking apples from the trees and reaping the fields of fresh wheat, it’d all be on its way to Notion City soon.
I tried not to watch for too long, there were quite a few children in the fields. Those that had stumbled in Faery and fell under rites of claim, and I couldn’t help in the slightest. Not with out breaking a number of old laws and probably never crossing the Fog again.
The car pulled to a stop outside of the town, they weren’t allowed inside. You had to get around by cart. The Earth Court’s realm looked much like something you’d expect from old Roman or Greek times. Most of their lower class lived in very simple farming houses, spaced far and abroad from each other to allow plenty of field.
I flagged down a suitable cart. Ass pulled and goblin driven. The other way around might have made for a smoother ride. My driver was hardly paying attention to the road, and shiny things off in the distance drew him too many times off the clear paths through the city. If nothing else at least we were making good time.
As the city approached, buildings of stone clustered together. High arcs and columns, great halls instead of office buildings and apartments. For a moment, I wish I was like the tourists visiting for the changing of seasons. That I could actually enjoy it. But it was another day in the office.
The goblin driver pulled the ass to a halt, and jolted me back into reality. I hopped off, and a little green hand extended as the goblin await his tip. I came with the best in Fae low class currency and offered the little guy a cloth button. He bit down into it then smiled with glee as he kicked the ass into gear. If you can make somebody’s day…
Corrigan’s office, they were trying to modernize, stood before me. Columns of marble stretched upwards, higher than most buildings in Fae. And every place you could fit a pedestal and statue, she had. Each of them were young, her ideal of beauty. Boys and girls it didn’t matter each in their prime, just before they lost most of their baby fat, were out and on display.
A young girl, a temple maiden wrapped in a toga greeted me at the top of the stairs. She kept her eyes downward, never meeting my eyes, “hello sir, is Mistress Corrigan expecting you?”
"Probably not,” I said moving right past her, “but it’s usually better if I get the drop on her anyway.”
I moved through the interior of the great hall, passing statue after statue. My pace kept me ahead of the little legs of the temple maiden. At least until I hit the doors. Stone. Large. Heavy. And magically enchanted to keep anyone not wanted out.
“I’m sorry sir,” said the temple maiden as she caught up with me. “But you can’t go any further. Mistress Corrigan is busy.”
“She has time to see me,” I said.
“If you’d please make an appointment. The mistress is quite busy.”
“Yea,” I said looking down to the girl. “Snatching little children off the streets can be time consuming.” I quirked my head to the side, “you know you look familiar. I think I’ve seen your missing persons flyer. But that one has gotten old. What are you? Almost thirteen. And Corrigan is still keeping you around?”
The color flew from her face, “wait here sir, I’ll tell her you’ve arrived.”
And with that she stepped up and pulled the door open enough to squeeze her way inside. She watched me the whole time and used the stone door like a shield. A shield from the monster.
I hadn’t finished the swig from my flask before the doors flung open in a dramatic display. I might have dribbled a little, but Corrigan was always theatrical.
“Elroy Reardon!” the voice called from inside, strangely light hearted. “Come in my dear!”
I took another gulp of the whiskey, if a Fae greets you with open arms it’s only cause they’re looking for a good place to stick the knife. Nonetheless, I made my way inside.
Her inner chamber went beyond grand. It’s always a pleasant reminder of how much better than Daoine Sidhe have it than the lower classes of the Fae. Elaborate reliefs were worked into the walls and domes, each depicting scenes throughout both mortal and Fae history. I can never seem to help myself but to enter her chamber with my eyes skyward. She probably did it to keep her guests from focusing on her, and catching her eye.
“Why, Mr. Reardon, you’ve seen that all before and yet your mouth still reaches to the floor. And you haven’t said a word about my newest statue.”
I followed the voice, but was sure not to look into the eyes of the speaker. It wasn’t hard when I got a look at her newest statue. A young girl in a toga, on her knees in with her hands cupped, pleading.
“I’m afraid it just isn’t as perfect as the others, this one had aged a little too long.”
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