Fairy Vespers, those eccentric incomprehensible spirits, work off a logic all their own. Despite spending lifetimes trying to understand it, the human race has come nowhere close to finding any kind of internal consistency to their reasoning. Why these sprites and spriggans did what they did was often a complete mystery. But Londra thought the local Fairykind's refusal to cooperate had a more mundane explanation.

She and Konas pounded the dirt roads and cobblestone streets of Cordon Heath, seeking any hint of Siffa and the Lady of Rags. But no matter where they went, every Vesper they spoke with gave up nothing. Not the pale moonchildren dabbing the grass with fresh dewdrops. Not the domovoi cleaning the taverns after last call. Not the gargoyles out catching their dinner. None of them would give her any answers.

Thus stonewalled, Londra would flash her Magician's Guild badge, insisting upon her own authority, but the magical denizens of the night paid her position no mind.

"Are you aware what this stands for?" she would say.

"Aye miss, I do. But what's it got to do with you?" The Vespers would say back.

"I am a representative of the Guild!"

"And what's this Guild got to do with me?"

The interrogation would go like that until Londra's frustration got the better of her. Nearly two hours had passed since she left the farmhouse, with Siffa no closer to coming home. And Londra no closer to finding this Lady of Rags.

With time growing short, she decided to go over the Vespers' heads. Konas in tow, who had remained uncharacteristically quiet so far, she marched up the winding stairs through the cedar forest to Cordon Heath's central temple. A squat and simple building, the local god who resided there essentially served as mayor of the village's Vesper community. Perhaps they would be able to open some doors, or loosen some lips, for her.

Outside the shrine, Londra dropped two coins into the donation box. A little good will wouldn't hurt her chances. She removed her shoes at the entrance and ritually washed her hands. Formalities complete, she entered the sparse temple and knelt before the huge tree at its back.

Softly, she intoned, "Great Spirit of the Cedars, please speak with me. You would honor me and my Patron by doing so."

Konas departed his perch and bowed his head as well.

A moment passed, filled only with cricket song. Then the thick, ancient tree's bark split and cracked apart, forming into a furrowed brow and frowning face. In a voice with the timbre of falling lumber, the god of the cedar forest spoke to Londra.

"I accept your request Guildswoman. Why have you summoned me?"

"Great Spirit, a girl has been absconded with this night. The Lady of Rags plots to whisk her away to Fairyhome by sunrise. I must find her or the gate before then, but none of this village's Vespers will talk to me."

"Because they do not know you."

Londra lifted her head. "I'm sorry?"

"To the Vespers and Fairykind of Cordon Heath you are a stranger, Guildswoman. Because you are unknown to them, they do not trust you."

"But I am the representative of the Magician's Guild."

"That carries less weight with them than it does with humankind," said the old god. "To mortals, you are a master of the arcane and unknown. To my fellows, you are a child demanding to be taken seriously."

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Inwardly, Londra rankled. She squeezed her pocketed charm.

"Did they not respect my predecessor?"

"Winnakin earned their respect, over time. You are new here and must do the same Guildswoman."

How am I supposed to do that in four hours? She mentally screamed.

"I am sorry I can do no more for you," said the revered deity, "To reveal the gate to Fairyhome means that gate being barred to you. For that reason, more than any other, do the Vespers' lips remain silent. Give the child's parents my regret. I wish you well, Guildswoman."

"Great Spirit, wait!"

Her words were of no use. The god of the trees receded into the huge cedar trunk, its bark rearranging into shape. She pouted at his departure.

Fat lot of help he was.

With a swish of her blue cloak, Londra donned her shoes and left the shrine. Her white-furred Vesper scrambled to follow on his tiny legs.

"Back at square one Konas, with two hours wasted. And with who knows what done to Siffa by the Lady of Rags in the mean time. This is so frustrating!"

She huffed and kicked a rock into the woods.

"Take a breath Londra. We're not defeated yet," her contractor said.

The Guildswoman decided to take his advice and parked herself on the temple steps. From her pocket, she took out that cherished bit of childhood cloth, her good luck charm. She unrolled the fabric square and ran her fingers across the stitching of the sigil. It comforted and mocked her in turn.

Konas' bushy tail brushed against her hands. He looked up at her, sympathy clear in his eyes. His mistress gave a sad smile and rewarded him with a scratch behind his ears.

"The Great Spirit has a point, Londra. Waving your badge around may work with mortals, but Vespers need more persuasion."

"Then what do you suggest, Konas?"

"Think back to when we made our contract. How did you attract me to your window?"

"I left out an offering and waited to see what came biting. But that was different, more formal."

"The principle remains the same. We've tried the stick, now let's give the carrot a shake."

Londra rolled the suggestion around in her head. It couldn't hurt. They certainly weren't making any headway acting as they were.

"Let me show you," said her Vesper "Is there anything in your bag that might make a good fairy bribe?"

"Maybe."

"Excellent. Follow me."

Uncertain of his strategy, she did so.

Leaving the shrine behind, the pair headed to Cordon Heath's village green. There, manicured perennials slept in their garden boxes. Konas knew they could find some Vespers they had yet to speak with in that greenery. In his words, "Shake up any bed of flowers and some ought to come loose."

The Guildswoman and her contractor approached with care.

"Okay, now be ready Londra."

The white-furred Vesper hopped up into the blossoms and slithered his way through their stems, tail raised like a flag. His movement shook up clouds of dust and pollen, and a few of the people they were looking for. Tiny pixies, no bigger than butterflies, fluttered above the petals trying to regain their senses. Londra pinched one between her fingers.

"Gotcha!" she exclaimed.

"Let me go, you big bullhead!" demanded the pixie, "Peri Pinkle will not be handled this way!"

The small pink and blue sprite struggled in Londra's light grasp, her ladybug wings beating furiously. The Guildswoman glanced at her contractor, who motioned for her to go on with his paw. She rolled her eyes, but followed his suggestion.

"Very well, I will release you," she said letting the Vesper go, "I merely wanted your attention, noble pixie."

Peri Pinkle pouted, turning her back on them.

"I've heard what you want, Guildswoman. We Vespers talk to each other you know."

"I'm aware, but I thought I might try changing your mind."

"No doing! I would rather be bottled than reveal where Fairyhome's gate is! And nothing will sway Peri Pinkle's opinion."

"Not even a sweet?"

The mention of sugar caught the pixie's attention. She turned, skeptical but intrigued, and hovered closer. From her bag, Londra pulled a tin of cream candies and snapped it open. The sight made Peri Pinkle's eyes literally light up.

"You're correct, I do want to find the gate to Fairyhome. But I'm also Cordon Heath's new Guildswoman. I'll be here for a while yet, so I should forge good relations with the local Vespers. Take a candy Peri Pinkle, whether you want to help me or not." All Konas' words, but they were working so far.

The pixie zipped toward the tin with obvious hunger, but stopped short. Her glance shot from the candies, to Londra, and back again.

"No trick?" she said with clear skepticism.

"No trick."

"And I don't have to answer any questions?"

"Nope."

Mollified, Peri Pinkle dove in. Picking up a round white chocolate treat bigger than her head, the sprite rubbed her cheek against it like a long-lost lover. She zoomed out of the candy tin on her insect wings hugging her prize, but didn't return to her flowerbed. Instead, she turned back to the Guildswoman.

"I can't tell you where to find the gate. But I can tell you where to find someone who might," she said.

Londra smiled and looked at Konas. He smiled back, a look that said, "Told you it would work."