Unicorn Bait (13 page)

“Other than provisions, a proper plan, and a few marbles, I would say no.”

Agatha grinned. “Good, let’s get moving.” She reached up and unlatched a ship’s wheel which swung down in front of her. Naomi hadn't noticed it before, but then who looked for a ship's wheel in cottage? The witch peered out the open front door and spun the wheel around one turn. The house swiveled in the air. Naomi suddenly feared she would be sick. Demerol was something else she missed from home, and while she adding to the list, she put vodka on it. She would have given her left arm for a bottle of vodka. She knew this whole situation would've made a lot more sense drunk.    

“Take a seat, ladies. We’ll be flying through the night,” Agatha said.

Naomi looked at their unconscious hostage. “Shouldn’t we tie him up?”

Agatha cast a glance at him and shrugged her shoulders. “If it makes you feel better, go ahead, but he would be a fool to attack me in my own house. A witch’s cottage is her sanctum. I have a lot of spells laid out in this place that would make even the most blood crazed berserker think twice before taking me on.”

She was glad Agatha felt so secure in her home, but since she didn't have any such assurances, she used the rope that had brought them up to tie him. By the time she was done, he looked like he’d been mummified with hemp.

Yula stood with her nose pressed against one of the windows. “Oh my lady, come look!” She looked over her shoulder at the land racing below them. “Isn’t it wondrous?”

“It is pretty amazing that the cottage can fly.”

“And us, we’re flying too!”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve been on airplanes. They fly even higher in the air and take people to distant places on my home world. Flying is pretty mundane there.”

“I don’t see how this could ever be mundane,” she murmured as she watched the racing scenery below them.

“As soon as anything becomes commercial, it’s mundane.” Feeling very tired, she lay down on a love seat and closed her eyes. Fighting with Tavik, carrying him down the passage, so much had happened in one day. She’d always had an easy time falling asleep on airplanes, and the same could now be said about flying cottages too.

She dreamed about flying. She was sailing through the air like Peter Pan. She loved it. She’d never felt so free. She looked down upon the dark forest flowing below her and felt like she was queen of the world. She looked up at the night sky and marveled at how close the stars appeared. Her eyes went to the moon, only it was not one of the ugly moons, but Earth’s moon. It was full and hung heavy in the sky. She thought it was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. A unicorn appeared on the face of it. She shot up to reach it, but the moon never seemed to get any closer no matter how far she flew and flew. The unicorn tossed its mane and whinnied. She called to it to come down, but the unicorn didn't listen. She was impure. The unicorn didn't listen to impure things. She screamed louder, but he continued to ignore her. She flew higher and higher. It didn't grow colder in the higher elevation. It remained toasty and nice, but the climate didn't matter. All she cared about was reaching the unicorn. She stretched out as far as she could in her desperation. The unicorn laughed at her antics. She grumpily wondered how she could have ever liked unicorns when she was younger. They were infuriating beasts. They were entirely too judgmental of a person’s lifestyle, but judgmental or not, she needed him if she were ever to see that moon in her night sky again. She reached further. She felt her fingers graze the unicorn’s tail. She lunged again and fell hard onto the floor. Unicorn, moon, and flight vanished. A wood floor, breakfast smells, and the sound of a crackling fire replaced them.

She sat up from the floor and looked over to the hearth where Yula tended a skillet with eggs frying on it. Agatha sat at the table studying a map with Mr. Squibbles, and Tavik had been moved to a chair across from her. He seemed awake, but it was hard to tell with the mask on and all of his limbs tightly tied.

“Good morning, milady. Breakfast will be ready shortly,” Yula said.

She nodded and got up off the floor. She went behind Agatha to look at the map. She noticed Tavik’s head swiveled to follow her. He was definitely awake then. She tried to ignore him, but goose bumps went up and down her arms at his silent stare. Maybe it was a good thing he had the mask on. His current expression was probably scarier than it.

The map was hand drawn. In the upper portion, there were the northern plateaus. “How’s it going?”

“We made good time during the night. If we keep this up, we'll reach our destination by early tomorrow.”

“So the cottage can fly several days without landing or anything?”

“It could, but I thought I would set her down midday to give ourselves a break.”

“Sounds good.” She scooped up Mr. Squibbles and walked across the room with him.

“Has Tavik said anything?” she whispered.

She had to hold the mouse to her ear to hear his hushed reply. “He said he was very disappointed with Yula. She didn't take that well.”

She clenched her jaw. “How dare him. He has no right to reproach her.”

“He watched you the rest of the time. I think if he ever gets loose, you're the first one he’ll go after.”

She nodded. She didn’t want to think about what he would do if freed. She slanted her eyes to him. His mask was pointed at them. She walked across the room and ripped it off.

“Lady Naomi!” Yula cried.

“He doesn’t need that with us. We’ve all seen his face. No point in hiding it, and it just annoys the hell out of me.” He looked up at her with cool blue eyes. He didn't say a word. Agatha’s eyes bobbed back and forth between them. A little smile curled her lips when she turned back to her map.

When the table was set, there were five places. One was just a small saucer for Mr. Squibbles, but Tavik got the same place setting as the women. Naomi realized that he would not be able to feed himself. She wasn't sure if they should feed him. Maybe it would be better to keep him weak with hunger, but Yula seemed steadfast on the dining arrangements. When she took the seat beside him and picked up his fork, she got a little thrill of revenge.

“You know to make this completely fair, I should blindfold you.”

He turned his arctic eyes to her, and they bored into her. “Would I get the same dessert as you did?”

Her back stiffened at the mention of past events. “No, I’m afraid that's not on the menu.”

He shrugged. “Then blindfolding me wouldn't be fair.”

She bristled at his reply. “And what the hell do you know about fair? Do you think it was fair to truss me up like a Christmas goose whenever it suited you! Do you think it was fair to force me to marry you! Do you think it was fair to draft Yula’s sons into your army?”

“The only people who ever believe anything can be fair are small children who have lived sheltered lives,” he replied.

She clenched his fork in her hand. She could stab him in the eye and say well fair didn’t exist. Sucked for you. Agatha circumvented her murderous plans by standing up from her seat and rapping him on the head with the wooden spoon for the eggs. Cooked eggs sprayed across his face. “I think it would be fair to say you shouldn’t make any of us angry. We are the three women who hold your fate in our hands, and we do not think much of you. Who knows what might happen if you were to upset one of us. You could end up riding outside dangling from a rope. It can get very cold out there, and permafrost can only be cured by amputation.”

He slouched back in his chair and cast a dark look at the witch. Naomi speared a piece of sausage and held it to his lips. He angled his eyes back to her, and she smiled sweetly. “Now open wide.”

Chapter 12

“A truly wise man never plays leapfrog with a unicorn.”--Tibetan proverb

Things were quiet now. She stood at one of the windows looking out at the passing scenery. She wasn’t sure why, but a sense of unease had settled upon her. Everything was going according to plan, what there was of a plan. No one could possibly be following them. Tavik was still tied up. Why she felt something wasn’t right eluded her. Agatha stood at the wheel holding it steady. Mr. Squibbles slept on the witch's shoulder. Yula was dusting. Tavik still sat at the table. No one had replaced the mask, and he had not demanded it back, which was good because if he had, Naomi would have pitched it out the open door. She was considering blindfolding him though. His unblinking stare followed her wherever she moved.

She got up and paced the room. She wanted to talk about the plan, but Agatha had dropped cues not to reveal anything to him. She had no idea how this whole thing was going to play out once they reached the northern plateaus. The only thing she could figure was they would tie him to a tree and hide till a unicorn showed up. It seemed ridiculous and highly likely to fail. She wasn't sure why keeping him in the dark was important but played along.

“If you’re bored, there are some games in that cabinet,” Agatha said.

She stopped pacing to check out what sort of games the witch would have. An assortment of odd shaped objects lay nestled in the cabinet. She began drawing each out to take a look. She pulled out a stone board that had checker squares scratched into it. There was a small tied bag with the pieces for it. It looked like the game might be similar to checkers. She pulled out a stack of cards in another tied bag. She shuffled through them. Odd pictures were drawn on each of them. It looked like none of the cards repeated. She pulled out a bowl with small round stones piled inside. There were toys in the cabinet as well: a stuffed bear with a lopsided smile, a blocky wagon with fat wheels, hand carved animals. A child had obviously played with these. She wondered where the child was now. She put the toys back and only kept out the items she supposed were games. “Any suggestions? I don’t know how to play any of these.”

Agatha bounced the shoulder the mouse slept on. “Mr. Squibbles, hop down and show her how to play Cirrant.”

“I don’t want to play Cirrant,” he mumbled as he turned over and tucked his nose under his tail.

She looked over at Yula, but she was on her hands and knees with a wash bucket and rag and hadn’t even looked up when they spoke. By the time they reached the northern plateaus, the cottage would sparkle and gleam if Yula had anything to do about it. Unwillingly, her eyes landed on Tavik. He was still staring at her. Agatha’s eyes shifted to him as well. She arched an eyebrow to her as if to say if she wanted to ask him, ask him.

She did not like that idea. Feeding him had been fine, and while playing games with him when he was tied up wasn't necessarily cruel, it was pathetic. She decided she would amuse herself with a tried-and-true Earth past time. She took the stack of cards over to the table. Tavik arched an eyebrow at her. She didn't pay him any attention. She set the deck on the table and picked up the first two cards. She balanced them on their edge to make a T. She would build a house of cards. No need for instruction or other players and it could take up hours. She couldn't believe she was this bored. She should relish the break in action, but in actuality, it made her antsy. She focused on the house of cards and blocked out everything else.

The house of cards was now a card castle with four stories and a bridge. Tavik had sat there silently watching her at her idle pastime without ever saying a word. She appreciated this as it allowed her to utterly ignore him. Mr. Squibbles had finally finished his nap and had taken on the daring enterprise of sneaking through the castle’s foundations. She couldn't see where he was currently among the cards.

She carefully began the fifth story of her masterpiece. She had never built one this tall. She was kind of impressed with herself. She grinned as she laid down another layer of cards. She sat back to enjoy her success. Suddenly the table lurched, and the card castle tumbled.

“Ack! I'm buried alive,” Mr. Squibbles cried.

Her jaw dropped at the total destruction of her idle past time. Not a card was still standing. She looked at Tavik. There was an evil smirk on his face. He had caused the ‘table-quake’. She narrowed her eyes as she glared at him. She would get him back for that.

“Naomi, clear that mess away so I can start setting out lunch,” Yula said.

She began picking up the cards and dug out Mr. Squibbles, who quickly scurried away to avoid any further calamity.

Yula laid out a large spread for lunch. Naomi retook her seat from breakfast for Tavik-feeding.

“Don't give Lord Tavik any of the soup. I put carrots in it, and he can’t eat those,” Yula warned.

“Why, would they kill him?” Naomi asked.

Yula shook her head. “Oh no, they just give him an upset stomach.”

She chuckled. “Shoot, I was hoping we could kill him with a carrot. I bet that would be fun to watch.” Yula gave her a nervous look and moved the pot of soup out of her reach.

“Tell me Tavik, how long have you been in service to the god Errilol?” Agatha asked.

He stared at the witch silently. Naomi poked him in the ribs. “Answer her, politely.”

He didn't even turn his head to glare at her. He seemed to be locked in a staring contest with the witch. “Your family must be so proud,” she said her voice dripping with contempt.

“I have no family,” he replied flatly.

“Then Naomi’s motivations must seem completely foreign to you. You see this is all spurred by her fervent wish to return to her family. She misses them. I bet her parents are very proud of her.” Tavik swung his head to look at her.

She hunched her shoulders feeling like a pawn in the argument and not liking it. “I don’t know if they’re like really proud of me. I mean, I guess they are because I have my own place, an okay job, and no criminal record, but I’m probably more proud of them than they are of me. I mean they raised me, gave me a good home, helped me get through college, and they never made me feel like I owed them for it even though I know it was hard for them sometimes financially.” She shrugged her shoulders not feeling like she was saying it right. “I miss them. They make me happy, and I love them.”

“You are a good girl,” Yula said softly.

“Damn, now I want to visit my mom,” Mr. Squibbles grumbled.

“Interesting because I still do not,” Tavik said. His face was unreadable. His eyes were again locked on Agatha, and she stared back with a grim look on her face.

“I miss my boys. They were good boys. Whenever I would go out to chop wood, one of them would pop up to do it for me, and the oldest didn't even live at home anymore. He was apprenticed to the blacksmith, but he still would come by to help around the house.”

“Do you know where Yula’s sons are?” Naomi asked.

He looked down at her for a moment. They stared at each other.  She tried to keep her face blank, but she really wanted to give Yula something for helping her, and nothing would be better than knowledge of her sons. He stared back at her, and she thought for a moment she saw his eyes soften, but then he turned away, and she couldn’t be sure. Yula stared at him with an open face. Her hope was clearly stamped on it.

He grimaced and shook his head. “I could ask one of my captains to check into it for you. I can’t offer a guarantee that they'll discover where they are though.” Yula deflated at this less than hopeful news.

“I have asked at the different camps, but could never get information. No one knew them.”

“Do you still have something of theirs?” Agatha asked.

She mutely nodded.

“Give it to me; I may be able to help you.” Yula’s face broke into a true smile. She rushed to her small bag and retrieved the stuffed rabbit.

“They both played with it. Is this good enough?”

Agatha took the toy and smoothed its ears back. She smiled and nodded. “Yes, but I need to collect a few things before I can try the spell. We'll do it tonight.”

“Oh thank you, thank you,” Yula said clutching the witch’s hands. Naomi smiled for her. She had high hopes that Agatha would be able to help her. The witch had shown how formidable she was; after all they were flying through the air in her cottage.

“There’s no need to thank me. Family's important. It’s all most people have.”

Naomi noticed that Tavik clenched up at the witch’s statement. It took him a couple of seconds to loosen his jaw to take the beef off the fork she offered him.

“I never met any of your family or heard anyone talk about them. Are they still alive?” she whispered.

His eyes looked to her with a coldness that made her instantly regret her inquiry. “I have no family,” he said again.

She nodded and didn’t ask any further questions.

The flying house settled in a small field after lunch. Everyone except Tavik exited swiftly to walk around and stretch their legs. Yula looked back at the cottage with pity.

“We should let him come out and relieve himself. I would think he needs it.”

Naomi looked back at the house too. She frowned. “It would be too easy for him to escape. He could overpower us in a snap.”

“He will not escape,” Agatha said.

“You can’t be sure. It’s too much of a risk,” she argued.

“So he should just piddle on the floor? That’ll be nice,” Mr. Squibbles said from Agatha’s apron pocket.

“What will we do to keep him from escaping?” Naomi asked.

“We could put a leash on him,” Mr. Squibbles suggested.

Yula looked sickened by the idea.

Naomi though was okay with it. “It could work. Who's going to leash him?”

Everyone looked at her. She began backing away and shaking her head. “Oh, no. I am not holding the leash on Tavik. He already wants to kill me first.”

“Come on, Naomi. He’s your husband, so you’re the one who gets to walk him,” Mr. Squibbles said.

“Oh, sure. Use the old matrimony argument: To love, honor, and imprison.”

Yula crossed her arms. “It’s either let him outside to relieve himself or mop up after him, and I just spent all morning on my hands and knees cleaning that floor.”

“You know no one asked you to do that. I keep a very tidy home.”

Yula pressed her lips together and turned away. Agatha’s eyes narrowed.

“Naomi, go, before these two start scratching each other’s eyes out,” Mr. Squibbles said.

“I’m going. I’m going.” She did an about face and headed back to the cottage.

Tavik lifted his head when she entered. She suddenly realized she had no idea what to do. Leashing him just insured he couldn’t run away, but he could still run at her. She planted her fists on her hips and glared at him. Her frustration seemed to amuse him if the twitching at the corners of his mouth were any indication.

“I’m supposed to take you outside so you can relieve yourself.”

“Very kind of you.”

“You only have to pee, right?”

He couldn't hold back his grin. “Yes, I only have to pee.” 

“Thank God.”

She found another long length of rope. She went over to him and put a hangman’s noose around his neck. “Stand up.”

He rose and stood straight with his shoulder’s back. He was still very large and intimidating. She was so dead. She tugged on the noose.

“Follow me, hop-along.”

He shuffled a couple of inches and stopped. “This is ridiculous.”

“Better ridiculous than dead.” She tugged on the rope. “Now come on.”

“Plan on holding it for me?”

“No, you can sit.”

“Untie my feet at least.”

She shook her head. “Uh, that's a big no. You could tackle me or something, and I would rather not find out what the something could be.”

“I give you my word of honor that I will not tackle you or something,” he said dully.

She shook her head again. “I don’t think I can trust you.”

“Have I ever broken my word to you?”

She tilted her head and contemplated his question. “You have kept it, but I don’t think you have any compunction to keep it now. We kidnapped you.”

“Naomi, I would never harm you. I gave you that oath and do not ever plan to break it.”

She gave him a speculative look. He seemed sincere, but she couldn’t believe him. If she were him, she'd be looking for any chance to escape. Wait. That had been her! And look, she'd escaped. He was bigger, stronger, and was from this world. His chances of escaping were much higher than hers. He wouldn't need a talking cat and mouse to help him. She looked at his bound feet. It would take them hours to get out of the cottage like this.

Knowing it was a bad idea, she went with it anyway. “Sit down.” He sat without another word. She knelt and untied his legs. She heaved a deep breath and placed her hands on his knees to push herself up. As she rose, he opened his legs, and she found herself pitched forward into his lap. Her face was level with his, and she froze.