Gertine went over her words. “Seems good. We can try that.”
“You need to apply some magic on these bells, making them sound. Then, recite that chant. Remember, you are calling for someone that moves between worlds.”
So she’s letting me do it on my own, nice.
Velvet stood outside the bell circle, applying some magic. The bells seemed made for that, starting to jingle.
“These are good, where do you get them?”
“You can buy some at the Mergifari. Focus.”
The summoning was a bit similar to the demonic one.
“From the center… to between.”
“From the earthbound…to the fae that travels unbounded.”
“I’m Velvet Consestella Dobastro, and I call for a helpful and pleasant, non Lothrigern faerie that can safely deliver this envelope to Madam Dorna, in Casrey’s orphanage, returning it to me if they can’t find her.”
She was going to try with just one.
The bells kept on making that pleasant jingle. After a few seconds, the space in the middle of the circle twisted, letting someone out.
It… looked exactly like a bear, Velvet thought. Brown, hairy and big, standing on two legs.
“Hi.” Said Velvet.
The bear nodded, as if he was also saluting her, but kept looking towards the envelope in her hands.
Do I just give it to him?
“You heard what I said? I need to deliver this envelope to Madam Dorna, on Casrey.”
The bear nodded again, so Velvet gave him the envelope. He grabbed it and disappeared.
Velvet turned to Gertine, and she gave the signal to end the summoning, so Velvet stopped giving magic to the bells.
“Now what?”
“The fairy will deliver it, and then he will come back. You’re not supposed to thank them, but gifting them something is okay. Remember, it's a gift, not a payment.”
“What do they like?”
“Milk, sweets, children’s toys made of wood…”
“You talked about having a contract with them, how do I do that?”
Aren’t you asking too many questions? It isn’t free, you know?! Gertine’s mouth twitched imperceptibly.
“First, you need to be friends with one. That takes time, but once a faerie is interested in you, some type of deal can be made. Some are more friendly than others, but don’t forget they are wild.”
“Got it, so I need to go find a gift…” Velvet went to the bathroom, picking up and putting her things back. “Then I’m leaving you now! Thanks Gertie!”
Velvet left, leaving Gertine alone in her room, who sighed, taking out a flask with liquor and drinking a bit.
“Building relationships is too draining…”
…
Velvet went back to her room after picking a few things. She had finished the gift a few seconds before the bear fairy came back, with an envelope.
Velvet flinched, if he couldn’t find Madam Dorna in Casrey, maybe she was…
It wasn’t the same envelope, she realized.
“Oof, you scared me, is that for me?” The bear nodded, giving her the new envelope, and waiting.
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He is looking at my pocket, where I have the other letters… Does he like delivering that much?
“I have some other letters I want to deliver,” She confirmed. “But I need to check them first. Oh! I made some roasted goat cheese and honey canapés, feel free to eat them.”
Like that, it wasn’t a payment, it was a gift, a tasty and easy to make gift.
While the bear ate, she finished the other envelopes.
“This one is for Viroa, she is on a ship called The Algae, on the Whispering Sea. Can you deliver this envelope safely to her?”
The bear nodded.
Velvet asked about the other envelopes, giving them to him after confirming that he would deliver them.
…
Casrey, in the orphanage director’s room.
Madam Dorna slid her fingers through the page, reading it again. She had taught Velvet Braille when she was younger, so they had no problems communicating with letters. Dorna had even written an answer, making whoever brought that card wait for a bit.
They were so silent, only grunting… Velvet, what kinda friends are you making?
Still, she offered the sender some tea to ease the wait, and it seemed they accepted, the cup now empty.
The letter read:
Madam Dorna, it’s me, your favorite kid, Velvet! I’m good, and had zero problems arriving. Well, only having to change routes, but I’m fine.
I’m sending you 20 auris. Fix the roof and the pipes. Use the change for whatever breaks.
Fix the pipes, Dorna.
I also put several charms to make water drinkable.
Use the charms, Dorna.
At this point she had to sigh. Velvet’s way of writing was…
Something she didn’t teach her!
I may send more letters soon.
With love, your best kid.
Velvet Consestella Dobastro.
Madam Dorna put the letter down, taking a sip from her cold tea.
…
Whispering Sea, The Algae captain’s room.
After the initial fright caused by a bear coming out of nowhere, who threw the letter at her and disappeared before getting shot, Viroa was reading the contents.
Shrike, I found you.
She squinted upon reading that, gripping the page.
Just kidding, it’s me, Velvet. So, Viroa, I killed a man.
Put a gun behind his head, now he’s dead.
Viroa cursed in a low voice. That damn kid managed to scare her twice!
Well, I killed two, but one was dead already. I also found Saliman Ramis without problems.
I didn’t know you were such a pirate hunter! Really, he was terrified! Oh, also, I have the gun I used to kill that guy, but I have no bullets, and it seems guns are forbidden at the Mergifari. Swords aren’t.
So you’ve probably seen the revolver in the envelope. I don’t need it, and the owners didn’t ask for me to give it back, hahaha!
I want you to sell it, you know several guys that like guns, so fetch me a good price. You can take a 10% commission!
Give the money to Madam Dorna.
PS: I haven’t found anything about that Valdimari guy.
PS2: Oh, I could have put the pocket watch inside the envelope, giving it back to you, but I closed it already!!! So sorry!!!
Viroa’s mouth twitched. “This damned brat.”
Your youngest talent, Velvet.
She looked at the revolver in her table, leaving it there for the moment.
…
Casrey’s orphanage, again.
Celia and Couger, who had a free day, looked at the stack of charms that arrived. The letter said:
Hello, it’s Velvet.
I don’t know how you’re faring against our enemies, so I’m sending reinforcements. Use those charms to your own discretion.
Couger, I’m sure you’re doing great, I’m proud of you.
Celia, I know you aren’t eating your veggies. Did you see the bear that delivered that letter? If you keep not eating your greens, I’m sending the Cauliflower Man to make you eat them.
Do not test the Cauliflower Man.
Your big sister, Velvet.
Couger watched Celia’s face grimace.
“The cauliflower man is not real, right?”
“Well,” Couger started, “She did send a bear.”
Celia whined. “Even when she is not here, she keeps on bullying me!”
“But you should eat your veggies… Velvet is right on that…”
“Shut up. One day I’ll get magic and will take my revenge on her! I will become the strongest mage ever!”
Couger didn’t know how to answer that, staring at her in silence.
“I'm sure the strongest mage isn’t afraid of vegetables.”
“Shut up!”