“We better get back for that town meeting,” Bert said grimly. “We need to finish this.”

“One sec,” Bell said and tapped on one of the speakers on the dash, “Wendy?”

“Yes, Mum?” Wendy called.

“We need Bud and the Patrol to come over and cover the other exits from the village,” Bell said.

“Okay, but can it be Scruff and the Patrol? Bud is… dealing with something.”

Bert and Bell exchanged looks.

“Sure,” Bell said. “But remind everyone we want anyone who runs alive!”

“You got it, Mum!” Wendy signed off.

“Let’s get this over with, then.” Bert sighed.

They got out of the cab, and Bert shut up their camp, putting it all back into the fold-out on the Express.

“Bert, why did we come out here?” Bell asked finally.

“Honestly?” Bert smiled guiltily. “I was seriously thinking about flattening the town.”

“Really?” Bell beamed. She put her arm through his as they walked back toward the village gate. “Stick with me, and I’ll have you flattening towns in no time!” She giggled, leaning into him.

Bert chuckled, feeling a little better. There was still a cold pit of fury in him, but Bell’s antics pushed it a little deeper. He hadn’t been willing to admit to himself how much control it took for him not to climb into the cab and just flatten the place. Feeling the anger pull back, he had to face it.

He really wished Libby was still around. He could use a little therapy.

As they entered the gates, he heard the Express move off. They turned back, seeing the Exo suit waving as it drove off towards the Waystation.

“That is Wendy, right?” Bell asked.

“Yeah,” Bert said. “She really did well with that thing.”

That last hour before the town meeting was tense. Bert and Bell walked the village, keeping an eye out for anyone trying to sneak away. They felt better once they saw a green head pop out from behind a tree and wave as they checked the other gate.

Their people were in position.

That tension only climbed when the guards called everyone to a town meeting. There had been no ‘murder’ that day, so everyone was confused. As the sun set that evening, most people were already in the hall.

Bert and Bell posted up next to the door. It was, unfortunately, far from the nearest window. A point that Bell made repeatedly.

Finally, VanPeters and Ten’son arrived and took the stage with the village healer, who was in floods of tears.

“Good people!” VanPeters started, “We come to you today to tell you we have been the victims of a vile treachery!”

Bert scanned the people, looking for their reactions.

“Where is the Mayor?” Someone called.

“He collapsed earlier today after being told what we are about to tell you,” Ten’son said levelly.

There were mutterings around the hall, all eyes turning to the new bride of the Mayor. She stood and nodded to them all. “My husband is yet to wake; it is true.”

VanPeters led the explanation. He was a great public speaker and held their attention as he guided them through the whole story.

“Why?” Someone called. “Why would someone do this?”

“Because we turned a blind eye,” Ten’son took over. “That first murder, that was the only real one.” His eyes raked the crowd. “Failing to get justice, whoever it is… they took their own.”

“Murderer!” A man stood. “They murdered us!” The crowd took up the chant, and the accusations started.

“SHUT! UP!” Ten’son roared. “Have you not had enough of killing each other?” He stood in the center of the stage as the noise fell away. “Didn’t you listen?” He snarled. “Any of us could have discovered this! Yet we turned on each other instead!”

“Except for you,” The Mayor’s wife said. “You never stopped trying to get justice.”

“I failed,” Ten’son said bluntly. “That is all that matters.”

“The Mayor caused this!” A call came. “He refused to let you arrest that fat bastard!”

Things went downhill a little from there. The crowd began to get riled up, demanding the death of the Mayor.

“Very well,” Ten’son said. “But only if everyone who accused, lynched, or otherwise encouraged any of the killings is punished as well.”

Gasps came from the crowd.

“Then what do you want?” Another villager asked.

“First, no more killings!” Ten’son said levelly. “That ends now. Then, we have a real investigation. Each of us will be questioned, including me. Then, those that pass may remain. Any others, they leave the village. Never to return.”

VanPeters seconded the motion, and the mood changed in the Hall. Things went quickly after that. VanPeters was nominated to replace the Mayor, who no one was quite willing to forgive, even if they were just as guilty. He took the job with a wave of applause. Next, Ten’son got himself a promotion from guard to official Lawman.

“If you will excuse me,” The former Mayor’s wife said, standing stiffly. “I will return to my husband,”

Ten’son waved a hand in acknowledgment. She brushed past Bell on her way out, tears in her eyes. Bell hesitated and then waved for Bert. They followed her, watching her walk a winding route to the village gate.

She slipped out into the night, and they followed.

She was less than a dozen meters from the gate when vines wrapped around her feet, trapping her in place.

“Let me go, whoever you are.” She called calmly into the night. “I have no wish to harm you.”

Scruff lowered down from a tree, suspended by her vines from the branches.

“Sorry, I can’t do that. Some people want a word with you.”

The girl shimmered and changed. Gone was the mousy Mayor’s wife. In her place was a woman about three and a half feet tall with large dragonfly-like wings.

She sighed in frustration, finding her change of form had not freed her. “Last warning, human.” She said in irritation. “The matters of the Fae are not yours to interfere with.”

“True,” Scruff shrugged. “It’s theirs.” She pointed as Bert and Bell arrived.

“Fae Hunters?” The half-pixie paled.

“Wait, are they a thing?” Bert asked.

“Yes,” Bell sighed. “But I doubt they will exist for long; now the Fae have returned.”

“What?” The half-pixie’s eyes went wide.

“The Fae are back,” Bell grinned. “And we are here to stay.”

“We?” The woman started to shake.

“Bert, show her will you?” Bell asked as she changed back into a pixie.

Bert let the mana tides flow, his knotwork shining with a dull glow.

He took a moment to Analyze the half-pixie, finding she was only level fifteen with a single class as of yet. She was something called a Mesmer. The Analyze also told him she was too low-level to affect him.

“Oh, thank the Old Gods!” The half-pixie laughed. “I thought I was in trouble there.”

“There is the matter of thirteen deaths,” Bert noted.

“Ha!” She laughed. “They deserved even more!”

“We’ll have to see what they deserved,” Bell said. “For now, you’re coming with us.”

“How about I don’t?” She snarled and launched herself at Scruff, who had released her once Bert and Bell arrived.

Vines caught her in mid-air, bundling her up and hanging her upside down.

“Rude,” Scruff said.

“Ugh, wild Fae are the worst!” Bell said. “We better get her back to the Waystation.”

==============

“So, who wants to explain this?” Bert asked as he looked down at the fuming dwarf, all but his head covered in a snoring Slothy’s claw. It appeared they would have a lot to sort out tonight.

Bell was not helping matters as she was still busy rolling on the floor of the Barn, laughing her ass off. Every time she recovered enough to look up, she saw the glowering dwarf and lost it all over again.

“It’s a bit of a long story,” Bud sighed. “Can I deal with it, please?”

“Short version?” Bert asked.

“Slothy went off somewhere and came back with a vine and a dwarf that she seems to think are her pets,” Bud said. “I’m not sure what happened exactly.”

“Is Slothy okay?” Bert asked. He sensed their connection, feeling her happy, contented, and proud. There was also a sense of ownership.

“The big bastard’s fine!” The dwarf growled. “What about me?”

“Slothy is a she,” Bert said. “I’m really sorry about all this… but call her names again, and I will become much less interested.”

“Oh, aye?” The dwarf mumbled. “I’ll jus’ mind me fecking manners then, eh?”

“All yours, Bud.” Bert sighed. “Best of luck!”

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Bert shook his head as he scooped up Bell and carried her with him.

“The look on his little face!” Bell giggled as she rolled on his palm. “He’s so pissed!”

Bert tried not to smile but failed.

“Any suggestions about what to do with the half-pixie?” Bert asked.

“I do, but I’m not sure it’s fair to you,” Bell said.

“Never bothered you before,” Bert grinned.

Bell bit his hand and laughed.

“Okay, I won’t tell you!” She fluttered away.

“Oh, come on!” Bert chuckled. “I’m sorry!”

“Fine!” Bell said. “Okay, so it’s about your title. Have you looked at it yet?”

“I’m getting to it,” Bert sighed.

“Just do it now!” Bell gave him a look.

Bert blanched. Since when was she able to do that?

Shrugging, Bert opened his title and asked for more information.

Lord of the Fae (Court of the Travelling Lands)

You have been appointed a Lord of the Fae.

Your Court of the Travelling Lands encompasses all areas under the control of you, your bonded entities, or subjects.

May appoint Lady of the Fae(Court of the Travelling Lands)

May appoint a Champion(Court of the Travelling Lands)

May have subjects.

Subjects: 0

“Holy shit!” Bert whistled. “I have my own court?”

“Finally!” Bell shivered with released tension, “I’ve been itching to point it out. Seriously. It was killing me!”

“I was getting around to it,” Bert shrugged. “I just thought it was a regular title.”

“It.Is.Not.” Bell said, poking his forehead with each word.

“Got it!” Bert laughed. “So, how does this help?”

Bell gave him an amused expression. “You’ll see, come on.”

Scruff and Wendy waved as they came into the Bear’s Fall. To his surprise, Bell flashed back into her human form. Wendy gaped at her mum in shock.

Scruff reached over and closed Wendy’s mouth with an amused smirk.

The Half-Pixie was sat at a table, fidgeting.

“How did you know?” She asked.

“You didn’t stink,” Bell grinned at her. “Everyone stank except you.”

“I got caught by good hygiene?” The Half-pixie groaned.

“Yep,” Bell said smugly. “Pixies are kind of uptight about cleanliness.”

“Really? I thought it was just me and Rose?” Her lips thinned, and she looked away. “So, what are you going to do to me? If it’s kill me, then make it quick. I miss my sister.”

“Tell us what happened,” Bert said. “In your own words.”

“As opposed to someone else’s?” She sneered before remembering how much shit she was in. “Sorry, old habit.”

The half-pixie, Lily, told them how she and her sister, Rose, had been alone for as long as either remembered. Their parents had dumped them at some kind of freak show the moment they were born. Or parent, she guessed.

Neither of them knew.

They both had a talent for magic, with Lily becoming a Mesmer while her sister Rose became a Thief. They traveled around, scamming and stealing to survive. When the Civil War broke out, they hid in the nearest village, but there was nothing to steal, and they began to starve. Being Half-Pixies meant they couldn’t make money through manual labor, so they started crafting simple charms.

That led to the argument and her sister pulling the prank that got her killed.

“They ignored that corporal,” She seethed, “Just let him go.” She flushed with anger. “The only way I could get revenge was this.”

“Well, you could have just made the fucker kill himself,” Wendy offered.

“The point was to make all the others who stood by pay,” Scruff said.

“That’s right,” Lily said. “And now look. I’ve lost everything and can’t even bury my sister properly.”

“We have her body, don’t worry,” Bell said kindly.

“After you kill me, will you burn us both?” Lily asked. “They say that gives the best chance of finding each other in the Summerlands.”

“They?” Bert asked.

“There are a few Half-Fae in any world,” Bell explained. “It’s a quirk of nature. Trying to fix itself, I guess.”

“Fix itself?” Lily asked.

“Long story,” Bert said. “In short, Fae keep the mana of a world healthy.”

“Look!” Lilly slammed her hand on the table, “If you are going to kill me, just do it!”

“You said we were going to kill you; we didn’t.” Bell laughed.

“But you are, right?” Lily asked.

“Maybe,” Bell shrugged and grinned.

“Bell!” Bert said.

“Spoilsport!” Bell stuck her tongue out at him. “Fine! We were never going to kill you.”

“I killed thirteen people!” Lily said. “They may have been humans, but it was still murder. Even if they did deserve it.”

“Well, we didn’t say we were letting you go, either,” Bell smirked. “Tell Bert why you didn’t follow your sister into the Summerlands.”

“Because half-Fae don’t come back,” Lily said. “We only get one go at life.”

“Unless?” Bell prompted.

“What?” Lily looked confused. “Unless we join a Court.” She laughed bitterly. “As if that would ever happen.”

“Are Courts that bad?” Bert asked.

“No!” Lily squeaked. “But they don’t take Half-Fae.”

“Really?” Bert asked.

“Yeah,” Bell grinned. “The old Courts used to have this thing about the half-Fae. They saw it as something to be hidden. And the tradition just kind of stuck. No Court is willing to be the first to accept half-Fae.”

“Ah, I see.” Bert grinned.

“What?” Lily asked. “Why are you two fucking smiling? It’s not funny to be stuck out of the Courts.”

“Because Dad’s a Lord of the Fae,” Wendy called. “And he actively doesn’t give a shit about traditions.”

Lily turned to Wendy. “Your Dad is a Lord?” Her face was a picture. “You’re Fae?”

“I am,” Wendy nodded. “I’m half pixie and half fae-touched human.”

“You’re a half-pixie!” Lily looked faint. “And you were allowed into a Court?”

“Actually, I have my Dad’s name,” Wendy grinned. “So I am technically part of the Lord’s Family.”

“Not technically,” Bert clarified. “You’re my daughter, end of story.”

“Yes, Dad.” Wendy grinned.

Lily turned, stared goggle-eyed at Bert… and promptly passed out.

Bell laughed and clapped.

===============

Bert sat at the table, waiting for Lily to wake up. The others had gone to try and convince Slothy to release her new pet dwarf. Bert just needed time. He was a Lord of the Fae and had his own Court.

It was all complete bollocks, of course. He was as far from a Lord as could be. But they gave him the title anyway… and his own Court.

Then sent him out this way, telling him to look out for Fae.

If Bert was a suspicious man, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a more bitterly cynical person in this or any other world, he’d think Karl had this in mind all along.

Of course, he probably did.

Someone had to be the first Court to take in half-Fae. Why not make a new one and then put someone like Bert in charge? He was also willing to bet Karl knew he would figure it out.

So Bert had a choice. He could chuck this half-Fae out on her arse and refuse to dance to someone else’s tune… or do exactly what they wanted him to.

What made it all worse was that Bert actually wanted to do what they wanted him to do… it was just his obstinate nature getting in the way.

Bert sighed and let go of it all.

Karl did or did not set him up to do this.

“Who cares if it is what I want to do anyway?” Bert said out loud.

Lily woke up a few minutes later, finding Bert waiting with a couple of plates of Bison steaks.

“Oh, shit!” Lily said. “That all really happened, didn’t it?”

“It did,” Bert said. “Eat.” He put the plate in front of her. “Now listen, and don’t interrupt.”

Lily nodded around a mouthful of steak.

“So here is what I’m thinking. I’ll accept you and Rose into the Court of the Travelling Lands, but I have conditions.” He waited for Lily to nod. “First, we don’t just randomly kill people… everyone gets a fair deal with us. If they push us too far, then fine, they get done. Okay?”

Lily nodded again.

“Second, we don’t attack each other, cheat each other, take advantage of each other. Got it?”

Lily nodded again.

“Okay, any questions?” Bert asked.

“Umm, just one,” Lily said. “When someone first accepts someone into their court, they can summon them back from the Summerlands. Can you do that for Rose?”

“If I can, sure.” Bert nodded. “I have a couple of things to do; we’ll do it in a bit, okay?”

Lily nodded dumbly as he got up and walked out of the Bear’s Fall.

Bell found Bert standing in the Control Tower. He was looking out the giant windows, looking thoughtful.

“What’s up?” Bell asked.

“I asked Gwen to meet me,” Bert said simply. “I got a vision, or whatever it was, of this room. So I’m waiting.”

“How’d you ask her?” Bell asked, too curious to stop herself.

“Out loud,” Gwen’s image said as it appeared behind Bert. “No, you stay.” She said to Bell as she went to fly away.

“So, what’s up?” Bert asked. “I offered you the Lady of Fae title for the Court, but you rejected it?”

“I already have a title,” Gwen shrugged. “I joined the Court of the Autumn Wind.”

Bert saw Bell’s jaw drop.

“Didn’t you know I had a Court?” Bert asked.

“Yeah, of course,” Gwen said.

“But you joined another anyway?” Bert asked.

“Of course,” She said again. “But let’s be honest; it’s not a real court. The Autumn Wind is powerful, huge, and connected.” She gave him a look, and he noticed it didn’t work anymore. “Yours is more of a startup kind of thing.”

Bert was too stunned to speak for a moment.

“It could have been OUR Court; we could have built it together.” He said eventually.

“Spare me,” Gwen said. “Last time I checked, you were still bitching because I didn’t choose to stay on this shit heap world with you and your pet pixie!” She snorted a laugh.

“Pet pixie?” Bert said. “She’s my best friend, Gwen!”

“Oh, spare me!” Gwen said. “I saw you the other night, cuddled up in bed together!”

“It was cold!” Bell said in outrage.

“I bet!” Gwen said dismissively.

“Where were you when I was almost burned to death?” Bert asked coldly. “Because she was there, doing everything she could to save me.”

“You did that to yourself because she fell!” Gwen got in his face. “You saw her fall and lost your rag!”

“Of course I did!” Bert raged. “So what? You see a friend fall, and you just shrug and move on?”

“And you expect me to come and sit by your bedside while you recover?” She laughed. “I was hoping you would kick the bucket and get to the Summerlands like a real Fae!”

The room was silent for a long moment as Gwen panted.

“You wanted me to die?” Bert asked.

“Grow up!” Gwen said bitterly. “It’s no big deal. You were in a hurry to die for me before; now it’s a big deal?”

“I was in so much pain I could hardly think!” Bert said. “I waited for you to come every day and every night. I waited!”

“Oh, for the sake of the Gods!” Gwen said. “I don’t have time for this shit!”

“Don’t you shout at my Dad like that, bitch!” Wendy came out of nowhere, and none of them had seen her arrive.

“Spare me your little halfbreed,” Gwen said. “I’m not interested in teenage histrionics.”

“Fuck off!” Bert snarled. “She’s my daughter; get used to it!”

“She called me a bitch!” Gwen said.

“Can’t imagine why!” Bert said sarcastically.

“You are the one who went off and had a kid with some random pixie whore, not me!” Gwen growled. “You’re the one spending all your time pissing about on a half-dead world instead of butching up, jabbing a knife in your neck, and starting to learn to be a real Fae!”

“Wow,” Bell said.

“Right?” Bert asked. “Gwen, when did you become this… twisted?”

“I spent my whole life weak!” She snapped. “I’m not weak now! And I won’t be with someone that is!” Gwen held up a hand. “If you ever manage to grow a pair of balls, give me a call. Otherwise, I don’t want to hear from you again!”

“Bye, Gwen!” Wendy waved. “Hope you die in a fire!”

Bert just stood there, staring at the spot where she had been.

Wendy and Bell just waited.

“She’ll calm down?” Bell tried eventually.

“How could I have been so wrong about someone I knew so well?” Bert asked.

“Death changes things,” Bell said gently. “She’s in the first flush of her power. I’m sure she’ll regret that one day and come back to you.”

“No, she won’t!” Wendy said. “She hates me and Mum!”

“Wendy!” Bell snapped.

“She’s right,” Bert sighed. “Even if she does change her mind about me later, is that what I want? Someone to settle for me?”

“Wendy, go down,” Bell said.

“But!” Wendy started, only to hurriedly vanish down the tower as she caught sight of Bell’s face. Mum was not suggesting it.

“Bert,” Bell called. “What can I do?”

“Nothing,” Bert sighed. “It’s sad, but… that isn’t Gwen. Not my Gwen. Not anymore.” He sniffed a bit and wiped his eyes. “It’s time I stopped mourning the Wife I lost and ignoring what she is now.”

“You still have us,” Bell said.

“That means more than you know,” Bert smiled sadly at Bell.

On instinct, and before she could think about it, she changed form and hugged him. He cried a bit while she held him.

“Thanks,” He said eventually, “Let’s go start a proper Court.”

Bell was almost at the elevating platform when the prompt flashed in front of her.

She turned.

“Really?” She asked.

“Yeah,” Bert nodded. “No one could be better.”

Bell smiled and accepted.

The Lord and Lady of the Court of the Travelling Lands rode down the tower together.