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I need to hide froht You’re practically invisible Just a floating head
I haveattacks, I can scare it aith ear
With rubber bands?
I have a whistle I have a hter I have firecrackers They’ll think I’m a wizard
Do you really believe that?
And I have this He pulled out the little skull in the crystal globe from Grandpa’s desk That should make them think twice
A skull the size of a peanut?
There probably aren’t even any monsters, Seth said
Whatthe truth this tiood job You blew it Congratulate yourself I can’t go now
I’ to blow it every tiet hurt
Seth kicked a stone, sending it skidding into the woods What aarden full of fairies?
I already did I can’t catch theical creatures that nobody else even knows exist Come on
He reluctantly joined her
Oh, look, another fairy, he et to put the skull back
When they responded to the call for dinner, a stranger sat at the table along with Grandpa and Dale The stranger stood when they entered He was taller than Grandpa and much broader, with curly brown hair The layers of furry skins he worethe bottom of one earlobe
Kids, this is Maddox Fisk, Grandpa said Maddox, randchildren, Kendra and Seth Kendra shook the ered hand
Do you work here too? Seth asked
Maddox is a fairy broker, Grandpa said
As, Maddox added Call fairiesa seat
Trap them, buy them, trade them, sell them All of the above
How do you trap them? Seth asked
Aa bite of pork roast Leta fairy is no easy task Slippery critters The trick usually involves appealing to their vanity Even then, takes quite a bit of kno
Could you use an apprentice? Seth inquired
Hold that thought about six years Maddox winked at Kendra
Who buys fairies? Kendra asked
Folks who run preserves, like your granddad A few private collectors Other brokers
Are there lots of preserves? Seth asked
Dozens, Maddox replied They’re on all seven continents
Even Antarctica? Kendra asked
Two in Antarctica, although one is underground
Harsh environh
Kendra sed a bite of pork What keeps people fro the sanctuaries?
There has been a ide network of dedicated people keeping the preserves secret for thousands of years, Grandpa said They are backed by ancient fortunes, held in trust Bribes get paid Locations are changed when necessary
Helps that most folks are unable to see the little critters, Maddox said With the right licenses, you can get butterflies through customs When you can’t, there are other ways to cross borders
The preserves are the final refuge for oal is to prevent these wondrous beings fro out of existence
Aood haul this season? Dale asked
Far as trapping goes, pickings are getting sli finds in the wild One you won’t believe I picked up several rare specimens from preserves in Southeast Asia and Indonesia I’ I’ll tell you more e adjourn to the study
You kids would be welcoht! Seth cheered
Kendra took another bite of the succulent pork roast
Everything Lena cooked was outstanding Always perfectly seasoned, typically served with delicious gravies or sauces
Kendra never had any co, but Lena was in a class all her own
Grandpa and Maddox discussed people Kendra did not know, other individuals involved in the secretive world of fairy aficionados She wondered if Maddox would ask about Grandma, but it never ca star
Grandpa seemed to focus on this neith particular interest Ruain
A wo star tried to recruit her
Chapter Eight
Whispers of an attack by the evening star
Kendra could not resist interjecting What’s the evening star? It sounds like you’re using it as a code word
Maddox glanced uncertainly at Grandpa Grandpa gave hianization that we all hoped had gone extinct decades ago, Maddox explained Over the centuries, their relevance has waxed and waned Seems like just when you think you’ve seen the last of theain
They are dedicated to overthrowing preserves in order to use theuided purposes, Grandpa said Members of the Society consort with de to attack us? Seth asked
Not likely, Grandpa said The preserves are protected by powerful ic But I lend an ear to the news all the sa star? Kendra asked It’s such a pretty naht, Maddox said