Izzy’s smile grew as she noticed the woman and man walking right behind Ama. She ran to them. “Aunt Gabby! Juan!”

“Izzy, it’s good to see you!” Gabriela replied as she and her niece hugged.

“Where are your familiars?” Isabella asked as she broke the hug with her aunt so she could hug Juan.

“With the wagons a few minutes outside the village,” Juan replied as she hugged Izzy. Isabella gave him a questioning look as they separated. “The wagons got stuck.”

“Oh. Guess you two came looking for help to pull them out?” Izzy asked.

“Si,” Juan replied. “Offering yourself and your boss to help us?”

“I asked what is the meaning of… this!” Ama screamed as she pointed to the banner before Isabella could reply. “Who put that up there?”

“It looks like someone wanted to congratulate my niece and… her new familiar to me,” Gabriela replied. She smiled at Izzy. “Isn’t Willow one of the pixies?”

“Yes!” Izzy answered, forgetting about Juan’s question, and ignoring Ama’s outburst. Willow flew to her and landed in Isabella’s cupped hands. Willow waved as Izzy happily said, “This is my Willow.”

Lily flew to Ama. “What do you mean what is the meaning of this? It’s a banner congratulating a newly bonded couple.”

“Get away from me, you little flying abomination!” Ama shouted.

“Well, I never!” Lily hissed. Though she mock glared at Ama, I felt her humor over our bond. She found that particular phrase hilarious for some reason.

Ama ignored my familiar and turned her glare onto Isabella and Willow. “So, you’ve joined this outcast and bonded with one of those little abominations too?”

“Pixies are not abominations,” Izzy protested as she cradled Willow to her chest. The pixie giggled.

“Noooo!” Yam cried from the rooftop. The other pixies giggled. Isabella blushed as she realized what she had done, which made Willow’s giggle turn into a laugh.

“Ama, perhaps you should back off,” Gabriela said.

“Don’t you start with me merchant! Your niece didn’t even go through the ceremony and she’s claiming she bonded with that…thing!” Ama retorted. My temper flared.

“Don’t let her get to you, my Jase. Ama is a hateful woman and not worth it,” Lily telepathically told me.

Ama turned to face me. “Get out of my village you outsider filth!”

“Last I checked, it’s not your village,” I replied as several villagers muttered something. I didn’t care if they agreed with me or not. “In case you’ve forgotten, Stonecroft needs my services.”

“Is that a threat?” Ama hissed. I shrugged my shoulders in reply. The murmuring of the villagers increased as the gathered crowd grew. She stepped into my space and slapped me. “Your slut of a mother couldn’t even find a true mountain man to bed her and had to settle for lowlander trash.”

“Ignore her my Jase. They’re just words,” Lily pleaded as she felt me start to lose my temper.

“Jase, maybe we should go home,” Izzy said. There must have been something in my eyes because Ama backed up. Izzy and Gabriela grabbed my hands and pulled me back from Ama.

“Let’s go Jase,” Gabriela commanded. Lily started to follow us as the merchant and her niece pulled me along with them.

“What’s going on here?” Mohe shouted as he forced his way through the crowd. They parted to let the chieftain in and allow us to leave. Lily turned back to face Ama with anger on her face.

“You’re just a hateful old hag,” Lily told Ama.

“And you’re just flying vermin,” Ama spat. My pixie shot the woman with a ball of water. The pixies laughed as did a few villagers as Ama fell to the ground.

“Ahhhh!” Lily screamed. I felt her pain and snatched my arms from Izzy and Gabriela. I turned to see what had happened to my beloved pixie.

“Lily!” I yelled as I spotted Lily in a crumpled heap on the ground. She wasn’t moving. The other pixies screamed. Standing over my familiar holding a shovel was Jansen Beers. The guard lifted the shovel like he was going to smash Lily. “Get away from her!”

Jansen looked up and froze. The crowd backed away in fear as did Jansen himself. The guard asked, “What are you?”

“Jase,” Isabella called.

“What is with him?” Gabriela asked Izzy.

“Dios Mio,” Juan muttered, crossing his chest.

*

“Well, the poo has hit the fan now,” Willow said as Yam joined her sitting in Isabella’s hands.

“Yep,” Yam agreed. “This will change most everything.”

“The cat is out of the bag, and I don’t mean Sara,” Willow said.

“Oh! That’s a good one,” Yam replied.

“What do you mean?” Gabriela asked.

“Jase is showing everyone his magic,” Willow answered.

“Duh!” Yam added. “And you humans are supposed to be smart.”

“Aren’t you concerned about Lily?” Izzy asked.

“Nah,” Willow said. “Lily will be fine.”

“She’s tough. She’s a harbor chick,” Yam said as if that explained everything.

“What does that mean?” Izzy asked.

“Your education is so lacking. We have a lot of work to do,” Willow sighed. Gabriela’s and Isabella’s lips twitched, but they fought down the smiles.

“Just watch,” Yam said pointing towards Lily.

Izzy, Juan, and Gabriela exchanged a look, but didn’t speak. The pixies shrugged and turned back to see what was happening.