Page 17

Crystal did her best not to knock anything over as she moved to sit.

She wondered how Maggie was able to get through the narrow walkways between the furniture without disturbing anything, but it was almost like the room moved around her, which was strange to contemplate.

She felt stupid for thinking that Maggie might be Jamie's secret lover, because obviously this woman was much much older than she'd thought when they'd discussed her earlier.

Then remembering that Maggie had heard her while yards away from the cottage, she wondered if Maggie could also read her thoughts and quickly tried to make her mind blank.

"What brings you by for a visit, then?" Maggie asked as she handed a cup of tea to Crystal.

"Thank you," Crystal murmured.

Maggie's gaze shot up and she looked from her to Jamie then over to Elena and Melanie. "You haven't told her?"

Crystal frowned, confused. "What?"

Maggie gave Jamie a fierce look then turned back to Crystal. "Never, ever thank a fae. They'll take advantage of you and expect a favor."

"Wait… what? I don't understand."

"I'm fae, well part fae, so you don't have to worry about me askin' you for your first born, but others, oh yes, don't be thankin' the fae, you understand?"

Crystal really didn't know what to say, but nodded her understanding.

"Jamie boy, I expected better of you! And of you two as well!" Maggie's gruff voice was full of disappointment.

"Sorry, Maggie. We should have explained better," Elena said, her voice filled with contrition.

"Now, let's begin again, what brings you here?" she asked.

"We need to know if anything's escaped from the Burgh lately," Jamie replied.

"I'd hardly call Crystal's arrival an escape." Maggie cackled as she passed around the shortbread.

"Aye, though I meant anything other than Crystal."

"I am aware of what you meant, Jamie Grant. Nothing else has come through."

"You're sure?" Jamie questioned.

Maggie gave him a look of disdain. "You know better than to question my knowings."

"Aye, I do." Jamie sighed and drank his tea.

"Why come all this way for such a question?" Maggie asked.

"You've likely heard about Maeve's murder. It was a brutal attack," Elena said nibbling on a piece of shortbread. "We're afraid it might have been goblins," Melanie added.

Maggie looked thoughtful for a moment. "Hmm, have not seen goblins in these parts for almost six months now, not since that battle with Nellie," she said.

"Aye, I expected as much seeing as we haven't had any livestock go missing, nor any reports of their usual mischief.

Could it be there are still bands of them further out who've made their way back toward the Burgh?

" Jamie asked. "Anything is possible as always," Maggie said as she poured a sixth cup of tea.

Suddenly the door opened and a creature entered that made Crystal's mouth fall open.

She blinked her eyes to make sure that she wasn't seeing things.

Although this creature was strange to look at, she could tell that there was a sweetness to him and she didn't want to offend him by reacting with shock.

His skin was gray with scales and his ears were pointed and furry.

The left arm was withered and blackened and the hand was missing.

"Oh aye, you've not met Darter yet have you? Don't worry. He's a goblin but he won't harm ye," Maggie said, looking at Crystal.

"Goblin? But?—"

"Not this one," Jamie said. "This is Darter Hob of the Seelie Court. Darter meet Crystal Corwin. She's our newest arrival from the future," Jamie said.

Darter bowed a quick bow and then scampered over to Maggie's side where she offered him a piece of the shortbread and a cup of tea.

"I'm a Glashtyn, a water goblin. I live on this side of the Burgh with Maggie," he said proudly.

"I see," Crystal said, still feeling a bit shocked.

Crystal drank her tea and listened to Jamie talk to Maggie mostly giving her updates about the castle keep and village.

There was no more talk of the murder and she could sense that Jamie was turning their visit from one of gathering information to a social one where they spoke of people that Crystal had yet to meet.

While they spoke, Crystal couldn't stop looking over at Darter with curiosity.

She had now seen a goblin and had no choice but to believe that they were real and she truly was in a different world.

It was a shock to her system but seeing was believing.

Darter ignored her for the most part as he continued to eat the shortbread as quickly as Maggie.

After they finished their tea and had enjoyed their visit, Maggie escorted them to the door. "You are welcome here anytime, Crystal Corbin. I like having visits from those at the Keep."

"Oh, but I'm not at the Keep," Crystal started to explain.

"You will be, mark my words." Maggie cackled again and waved them off.

Jamie handed her the dagger again, and then put his weapons belt back around his waist. He lifted her up onto the horse and then swung up behind her. "Send word to me at the Gatehouse, if you learn of anything that might be of help to our investigation, would you, Maggie?"

"Aye, you know I will, Jamie Grant. Safe travels," she said.

"And Crystal, I think you will soon find your forever with our Jamie here. Enjoy yourself."

Her words startled Crystal. "What? What do you mean?" Crystal asked, confusion strong in her voice.

Maggie responded with a cackle and then returned inside her cottage.

Jamie cleared his throat and his face was slightly red as he said, "Ready to go?"

"Yes, I'm ready," she said, still feeling confused. Maggie's words echoed in her mind the entire ride back to the village. Something told her to take her words seriously. If only she knew what she meant..