“May we come in?” an older feminine voice asked.

“Sure,” Lily answered without even looking at the door.

“Lily, you just can’t invite people into your house like that,” Izzy retorted as she turned from the stove to look in the direction the voice came from.

“Why not?” my familiar asked. “Elder Trillium is always welcome in our home.”

I laughed and sipped from my chicory.

“Jase, maybe you can explain to Lily why it’s a bad idea to invite someone into your home without knowing who it is first,” Izzy said.

“Please come in and make yourself at home elder,” I said “Lily, why don’t you tell Isabella how you knew that the elder was calling on us.”

“Ok! We pixies sense each other,” Lily explained. She wiggled her fingers at the young woman. “It’s a spooky part of our magic.”

“Lily don’t tease the girl like that,” Trillium said as she entered the kitchen and landed on the table. Yam, Willow, April, and May followed her.

“Yes, elder,” Lily replied.

“Wow! You’re regal looking,” Izzy blurted out making the pixies laugh.

“That’s because she is essentially a queen,” Yam said.

“Thank you, child,” Trillium replied ignoring Yam’s statement. “I am Trillium, pixie elder, and you must be Jase’s new apprentice.”

“I am,” Izzy replied. “My name is Isabella Almas.”

The two chatted for a few minutes and I noticed that the elder put my apprentice at ease a lot easier than Lily and I could.

“That’s just all those years of experience,” Lily told me through our bond.

“Must be nice,” I replied making Lily giggle. Trillium smiled and shook her head. “Can she hear us?”

“I don’t think so,” Lily answered.

“I don’t need to hear your private communications to know what you’re thinking,” Trillium suddenly said. “Age has its virtues.”

“What are they talking about?” Izzy asked.

“Not much knowing those two,” Yam said.

“Hey!” Lily objected. “That’s not nice.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Yam replied dismissively while giving Lilly a wicked grin.

“That’s enough children,” Trillium said. The two younger pixies fell silent before muttering apologies. Trillium nodded in satisfaction.

“Will you teach me how you do that one day?” I asked her.

“You have a long time to go before you’ll have the experience to pull it off,” Trillium laughed.

“Did you come to check on the remodeling we’re doing?” Lily asked her.

“No. The others will help as they can and I’ll only check out your progress if you ask me to or need my assistance,” the elder replied.

“Remodeling?” Isabella asked.

“For your bedroom,” I answered.

“The house had been remodeled many years ago and only had the one-bedroom Jase and I use,” Lily added. She glanced at the other pixies. “Don’t even think it!”

“Too late,” Willow replied.

“But we won’t say anything,” April added to nods from the others. Trillium and I shook our heads.

“Don’t think the other thing either!” Lily said.

“It’s much too late for that,” Yam replied to more nods including a nod from the elder.

“Et tu elder?” Lily asked.

Trillium laughed and shrugged in reply.

“What are they talking about?” Izzy asked me.

“I don’t know, and I don’t want to find out,” I answered. “Going by the feelings Lily is having, whatever it is would be embarrassing for us.”

“Ah,” Izzy replied. “Do you want me to help? I am your apprentice after all.”

“No. Enjoy the time remaining that you have with your aunt. We’ll handle it just fine,” I replied. I had no desire for Isabella to learn about my abilities any time soon. Her learning about the ancient tech was enough of a shock for the time being in my mind.

“Ok,” Izzy said. “Thanks.”

“Jase, that is sound advice,” Trillium said. “Stonecroft will be doing their bonding ceremony in a few weeks. Isabella, will your aunt stay that long?”

“No,” Izzy replied shaking her head. “Aunt Gabby said she would be sure to return in time for it though.”

“Huh. I assumed Stonecroft would hold the ceremony in the spring like Beau Ferry does,” I said.

“You know what they say about assuming my Jase, it makes an as…” Lily trailed off as May covered her mouth.

“Don’t finish that saying,” May told my familiar.

“Here in the mountains, they have always believed in doing more fall festivals than spring ones,” Trillium told me.

“That’s true,” Izzy agreed. “But Asheville holds ceremonies in the fall and spring due to the town’s size.”

“Jase, I’ve noticed you haven’t found a compass plant yet,” Trillium said changing the subject.

“Compass plant?” I inquired. “I don’t think I’ve even heard of such a thing.”

“It’s a plant that grows its foliage on its north and south sides,” April said. “So, following the direction those flowers and leaves are on will lead you north or south.”

“Hence, you’re following a compass of sorts,” Yam added.

“Interesting. That name now makes a lot of sense,” I replied. “Does it have health benefits?”

“Some,” Trillium said. “Though, most people have used the plant’s sap as a chewing gum.”

“Is the sap tastier than maple gum?” Izzy asked.

“That depends on one’s taste buds,” Trillium answered.

“Maple gum?” I wondered. “I’ve never thought of using maple for that.”

“You haven’t?” Izzy asked. I shook my head and she looked at me in disbelief.

“Jase, you still have things to learn,” Trillium said.

“Elder, do you want to show us where those compass plants are?” Lily asked.

“Eager to try the sap?” she asked in return.

“Oh yes,” Lily answered. The other pixies voiced their agreement.

“Then once Jase has gathered his things, we can be off,” Trillium replied.

“What about the remodeling?” Izzy asked.

“When the elder wants to show us something, we go,” Lily answered.

“The remodeling can wait a day,” I added. “Do you want to come with us?”

“Yes!” Izzy quickly answered.