Chapter 4

Tom stood frozen in shock, running his hand through his salt and pepper hair. He tried to think of a way out of this.

“Frilly, you mean to tell me I’ve made an enemy of the council?” Tom asked, still a little shaken by this turn of events.

“Well,” Frilly started, “I wouldn’t say you made an enemy, but you’ve certainly gotten their attention.”

Shit, Tom thought. Just what I need. Bad enough I’ve got a bunch of power-hungry bastards after me, but now I seem to have alienated the good guys too.

“Is there any way I can meet with just one of them, on my terms?” Tom asked.

“I can try to arrange a meeting, but I can’t guarantee their reception,” she said, looking back at Tom with a slight smirk, “or their reaction. After the other day, they won’t be caught off guard like last time. Though, from what I was feeling, they would have still been hard-pressed to escape what you did.”

“You know,” Tom started, “you can really be a smartass at times.” Smiling, Frilly disappeared with a slight giggle.

About an hour later, Tom was sitting in his recliner, still trying to calm down when he heard Frilly in his head.

Sir? Making Tom jump up in a defensive position. I apologize, sir, I forgot you weren’t used to thought talk yet. What have you found out? Tom asked. They have agreed to almost any condition you set, but they won’t come alone. Malamon is still out there, and they are no match for him alone, she replied.

Alright, in an hour, the park where we met before. No tricks, Tom said.

An hour later, Tom was standing near a tree when the one he knew as Azel appeared with a man Tom could only describe as a Merlin look-alike. The long flowing purple robes almost had Tom snickering, but out of respect, he held his tongue. Feeling around, he was satisfied until he felt a small magical spike behind him. Reaching out, he motioned, and the sprite appeared frozen next to him, a look of genuine shock on its face. Azel and the other with him also were befuddled. Who was this man? It seemed he had the power of the old and new spirits along with the powers of a mage.

“I told you to come alone!” Tom shouted, throwing the sprite at them. Holding up their hands, the sprite slowed and settled near them.

“Please release me,” a pitiful begging came from the sprite. “I meant no harm. You are of interest to all magical beings. I was only sent to observe, t’was all. Please, sir, I will die if I can’t move soon,” the sprite said, now with tears falling from its face. Looking at it hard, the sprite was freed. Flittering in front of him, it bowed to him.

“Thank you, sir. As I said, I meant no harm. I am here on behalf of the numerous other magical beings that inhabit this world. I owe you a life and that of my family. If you have need of an ally, call upon us. May I be permitted to stay?”

Tom stood as still as a stone, contemplating what had just been said. “You may stay. Next time, though, I will be told before another interrupts,” Tom stated sternly. “Now then, for the real reason I called this meeting. Just what do you want?” Tom asked, looking at the two open-mouthed older men. Azel spoke first, “We were hoping to enlist your aid.”

“My aid? I am no match for all of you together. It took me days to recover from the last time I met just six of you. Frilly told me that those six were the weakest of the twelve on the council,” Tom replied.

“Excuse me,” the other man with Azel said, “Who is Frilly?” Laughing, Tom forgot they didn’t know everything.

“Frilly!” he called. Appearing, she floated next to him. “This is Frilly, the spirit of my talisman.” Again, the men’s mouths dropped open.