The more Garm tried to explain the FAFO to List, the less interested she became in it, which Garm was relieved to observe. Instead, it seemed she enjoyed the activity of asking as many questions as possible, regardless of the topic.
“What color is your hair?”
It was brown, just like hers.
“Why are your ears in such a weird shape?”
They were pointed… just like hers.
“Why do you wear clothes?”
Garm stopped in the middle of the field. “List.”
She turned and looked at him.
He forced a smile. “How far away is the village?”
She screwed up her face, and then answered, “I dunno.”
Garm slumped. “Is there even a village?”
List nodded. “Yep. I haven’t been there in a long time, though.”
Garm understood the ageless nature of pixies. Long lived, like himself, though perpetually childlike. A long time could indeed be a very long time.
He winced as he asked, “How long has it been?”
List started pacing back and forth through the air, counting imaginary numbers with her finger. “200 years.”
Garm took in a long breath and let it out slowly. “That is a long time.”
List ignored him. She was focused on something in the distance, unseen and over the hills. She turned her head, listening to it. Garm cupped his hand over his ear and listened as well. There was a noise, some rhythmic, deep drumming.
A thunder of hooves broke the stillness, and over the hill charged a figure in gleaming steel, their horse kicking up a plume of dust as they closed the distance.
“Eeep!” List yelped and vanished into thin air.
Garm shook his head.
The rider came up, slowing as they approached, hand confidently on the hilt of their longsword, straddled atop a dappled mare. Garm was piecing it together. The shining half-plate and polished sword told him one thing: this knight wasn’t far from a keep. No one willingly rides for days fully armored like that. And since they were alone, they were probably some kind of sentry.
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Garm raised a hand in salute to the rider, and the rider returned the gesture. As they approached, they removed their helm with their free hand. It was a young man, human, with red hair and a day’s growth worth of beard.
“Ho, there!” The man steadied his horse. “Good day, traveler.” His voice was controlled and mature, much more mature than his face let on.
Garm nodded. “Good day to you, too, knight.”
“What brings you into my lord’s lands?”
Garm smiled, “What has already been established. I am traveling, and I meant no trespass. I am simply looking for lodging for a few days, and then I shall move on.”
The man nodded. “Very good. The village is just beyond the hills, not two miles hence. You’ll find lodging and food.”
Garm graciously nodded. “Thank you, good knight. I’ll be on my way, then.”
The knight drew up his reins, but then stopped. “Traveler, have you seen any Pixies on your walk? Any of the Fae?”
Garm swallowed. “Can’t say that I have.”
“I see. Watch out for them. They’re crafty and born thieves. We have had a rash of them through these parts lately. If you do come upon one, it is best to ignore them, and tell the watch when you arrive in town.”
Garm nodded solemnly. “Thank you, I will.”
The knight nodded once more and returned their helm to their head before riding further along, leaving Garm in a thin haze of kicked up dust.
After he was confident that the knight was out of earshot, he spoke. “You can come out, List. He’s gone.”
List sheepishly appeared in front of him, arms crossed behind her back.
Garm started walking as though nothing had happened. Casually, he began talking. “So, when I meet a knight on the road, I expect them to warn me of dangers in the area. Bears, wolves, lions, even dragons.”
List didn’t make a sound.
“Usually, whatever is the largest threat in the area, so that I am prepared for the dangers. So, I think it’s funny that this one went out of his way to warn me about pixies.”
List remained quiet.
“Is there something I should know, List? Maybe it hasn’t actually been 200 years since you were here?”
List gasped. “I’m not a liar.”
“Uh-huh.”
She fluttered up in front of his face. “I’m not! It’s not me. I don’t go to the village any more.”
“So, there are other pixies causing a ruckus?”
List turned her back to him.
“Do you know these pixies?”
She sighed, “Yes.”
“Were you going to tell me about them?”
No response.
“List.”
She turned back to him. “They weren’t going to hurt you or anything.”
Garm crossed his arms. “Oh no? What were they going to do with me?”
“Play games,” she said sheepishly.
“Games mean tricks, doesn’t it?” His tone was chastising.
List huffed. “Maybe. Probably.”
“So, when I made you promise not to steal from me, you meant to lead me to your friends that would?”
List looked to the ground. “I’m sorry.”
Garm chuckled. How much trouble could a handful of pixies be? They were there most dangerous when you didn’t know they were about. With that information, he was already one up on them.
“Come on, List. Let’s get to town.”
List’s wings fluttered. “You still want to go?”
Garm picked up the pace. “Of course. Let’s go meet these friends of yours, shall we? Maybe we can all be buddies.”