Going to a Harmonics meeting was never a good idea. But I was never one to shy away from bad ideas, and Stiggers knew that. Even though my uncle lets her stay, it is with the understanding that she keeps me out of trouble. Unfortunately, my uncle was never fully aware just how mischievous badgers can be.
I’ve done this before, sneaking into a meeting of the Harmonics. I followed my uncle one day when I thought he was summoned to discuss my latest antics. But instead, the head Harmonic, Sennen, sent for him to discuss his continued insistence that trouble is coming.
“You must stop this campaign, Shayde. You’re scaring the others, and I won’t have it. Our job is to bring a sense of peace and harmony among the clans. Not to rile them up with rumors they will only use as an excuse to attack each other.”
My uncle paced, as he often did when he was thinking what to say next. “I hear your concerns, but what I speak to the others is truth. If we don’t fortify—“
“ENOUGH!” She shouted, slamming a closed fist into the palm of her other hand. “If you don’t cease bringing this up immediately, I will move to have your wings clipped.”
It was the one and only time my uncle was at a loss for words. He hurried out of her office so quickly that I hardly had time to hide. In the moment, I had two choices: follow my uncle and make sure he was alright or stay and see what Sennen would do next. I followed my uncle. And that was probably a mistake.
I found my usual hiding place rather easily. Everyone was there, and it seemed as though the meeting had already started. I spotted my uncle hovering quietly as the others shouted back and forth at each other so quickly I couldn’t quite make out what they were saying.
Sennen raised her hand, and everyone went silent. “I cautioned Shayde that this line of concern was not to continue as it is unfounded.” She cast darts over at my uncle before continuing. “That being said, if there is unanimous concern, I cannot stop you from doing what you must, if only to prove what I’ve said all along; we are safe here.”
I leaned in closer to try and get a better look at my uncle when I felt something sharp hit me in the back of my head. Backing away from their meeting, I saw Stiggers down below, readying another acorn to throw at me.
“Cut it out!” I shouted in as soft a whisper as I could.
“The guests are arriving!” She said. I had completely forgotten about the craft fair. I quickly climbed down to get on Stigger’s back, and she scurried away towards the sky faeries.
***
I’ve been to my share of craft fairs. They are usually held on the ground and near the docks. It’s where ships that port unload exotic items they’ve smuggled in, and fish-maids sing the many fish they have for sale as faeries and humans alike barter. It’s loud and smelly, and I’ve had some of the best times there.
But then there are the sky faeries. Behaving well above their station. They are too good and clean to be seen anywhere near the docks to purchase items. But they are a greedy sort. And so, working out deals with sea faerie merchants who sneak on board many of the ships will often save the more high-end items they know us lowly earth faeries could never afford and bring it to a private craft party. Only sky faeries are allowed.
Unfortunately for them, I’ve learned the art of sneaking and I’ve attended plenty a craft fair in the sky in the past. They are still trying to uncover the culprit who sabotaged their last craft fair, and Stiggers and I laugh till we’re in tears just thinking about it. I hear the stain wouldn’t come out of their fancy rug so they had to get rid of it altogether. I thought leaving behind Stigger’s calling card on their rug in the shape of a heart was all in good fun. How was I supposed to know her excrement would be impervious to any spells, even the Harmonics tried on it!
Ever since Stiggers has refused to let me play a similar trick ever again. Which meant I’d have to improvise what I would do this time around. But first, I had to get inside.
Stiggers left me at the base of one of our tallest trees. The one this particular sky family liked to use when entertaining a large number of fellow faeries. It was perfect for me because it had plenty of branches, which meant it had plenty of places for me to hide.
Stiggers was right. They had already started. Fancy-dressed sky faeries danced around looking at all of the exotic items laid out on tables. Every now and then one of them would ask how much an item cost. Pretty soon, the room would get loud, filled with the sound of arguing about authenticity and value.
I noticed a large bowl filled with liquid that guests were helping themselves to and I realised just how badly I needed to use the bathroom at that point and it gave me an idea. I hesitated, wondering if that would be just a bit too far when a girl bumped into me, not looking where she was going. I should’ve seen her coming, but this wasn’t an area where I’ve ever been seen before let alone bumped into.
“So sorry,” she said and kept on going as if I wasn’t even there. Watching her sneak away from the craft fair, I didn’t realize I had been spotted. The shadow cast over me, and I remained very still, hoping maybe they hadn’t seen me yet.
“What are you doing here?” My shoulders relaxed when I recognized the voice.
“Uncle Shayde. How’d you get here so fast?” I asked, then realized I wasn’t supposed to know where he’d been. “I mean, what are you doing here? I thought these craft fairs were for sky faeries only.”
Uncle Shayde bristled at my question. “Yes, well, there are some things even Sennen can’t control. Harmonics are always welcome. But nosey nephews of Harmonics are not.”
He stared me down and waited, arms folded, until I relented and left the way I came. There was no speaking to Stiggers when I told her I’d been caught, and she couldn’t stop laughing so there was nothing to do but return home.