Chapter Two

"Rowan. Hey, Rowan! What's with you? Who was that?" A tiny stick woman clothed only in leaves stood at his knee and pulled his pant leg for attention.

"Pardon? Oh, just a girl that came for tea. Come on in, Ambra. How's my favorite Otherling?" Rowan held the door for Ambra, who scooted past him.

"Come on, Rowan. That was a mortal! What was she doing here?" Ambra scowled fiercely, but Rowan just laughed.

"Are you green eyed, Miss Ambra? There’s no need. She merely stumbled upon my door. It’s rare, but it’s happened before. Now, what can I help you with this fine evening?"

" I want to dye my hair green-the very green of summer leaves." Ambra dyed her spiked locks a new color about once a month. Added to her kaleidoscope eyes, she made a colorful sight.

"Ah yes. I have just the thing." As the only wizard in the Seattle area, Rowan met the needs of a large community of Otherlings with potions and spells to satisfy requests large and small. He had served as a beloved leader in this community for many hundreds of years, growing younger over time, and now in his magical prime. A wizard among men, human yet Other, he provided a vital grounding for these ethereal beings.

The doorbell on the fairy door tinkled, and  in flew Cillia and two other fairies. They flitted between the bookshelves and the cases of trinkets and filled the shop with the sparkle of fairy dust. The fairies hovered above their heads like large translucent butterflies turned into girls.

“It’s almost solstice. I’m ready to party!” Cillia said, and wove circles around Rowan and Ambra. She then perched on the edge of a counter, daintily crossed her legs and mimed a beauty queen pose. Her white eiderdown hair was a miniature copy of Ambra’s, but her lavender and blue gossamer gown was all her own.

“We can see that!” Rowan and Ambra laughed at her antics.

“But solstice isn’t until tomorrow. You’re rushing things.” Rowan seemed almost cranky as he added, “I’m not ready yet.”

“You better get ready, old wizard!,” Cillia said. Trissa and Lilli giggled, their high fairy laugh adding a teasing edge.

Rowan raised his winged brows to a deep V. “That will be quite enough from you three. Did you just come to harass a poor old man?” His stern schoolteacher demeanor was met with another chorus of laughter. “Ah, you young ones have no respect,” he smiled at their game and shook his head. “What brings you to my shop this afternoon, ladies?”

Lilli, a very young fairy, full of enthusiasm and joy, flew forward. Her buttercup gown played softly against her emerald green wings and hair. She hovered before Rowan, a flower dancing in air,  to proudly report, “Illianna sent us. We’re to remind you to bring the Book of Solstice Rites to the hill tomorrow night. You know, the Holy Hill. Do you know where that is? And also, Trissa has a list of ingredients we need to bless the fire and the grounds, and to weave
the special veil…”

“Whoa, slow down, little miss. You overwhelm me! One request at a time, Lilli. First, yes I know where the holy hill is, thank you. I have been doing this for millinia. Unless the queen moved it?” He peered from under his brows questioningly. Lilli blushed, nodded her head and flew back to hide among the hats.

“Mhm, I thought not.” Rowan smiled reassurance, and then turned to Trissa. “Now Miss Trissa, may I see the list, please?” Trissa came shyly forward, handed Rowan the list and zipped away to watch through the hanging herbs. Her spring green and brown marked her as a wood fairy, rarely seen in the city streets. While Rowan busied himself filling the fairy queen’s list, Ambra and Cillia found the green dye for Ambra’s hair.

“Green suits you. You’ll look just like a leaf in the wind.” Cillia stroked Ambra's hair gently.

Ambra’s eyes shifted from green to a deep sky blue, reflecting Cillia’s praise. “Did you spend all day preparing for tomorrow night?” Ambra asked.

“Oh goodness no! Today we played with spells for belles. We enchanted a pretty mortal. We wove a love knot in her hair. She just thought it was the wind.” Cillia, Lilli and Trissa giggled, and drew a heart of sparkles in the air.

“It was such fun! She went wandering today, but I doubt she thought she’d find love! Isn’t it romantic? I wish we could have followed her to watch the spell unfold. I’ll bet she had a very nice day,” Lilli danced flowers around their heart, dreaming of romance.

“Cillia! Those spells are potent. I sure hope you were careful!” Ambra said.

“Peace, little mother, don’t worry so! The winds will blow our spell away  before it has any effect. Besides, it’s fun. And also, done.” Ambra knew Cillia was right. She did worry too much, and so she let it drop. Soon all their business was complete and the fairies were on their way back to the hill to help Illianna prepare for the celebration.

“Rowan, I’ll see you tomorrow night at the celebration, okay?” Ambra tugged the wizard’s beard toward her so she could give him a kiss.

He sighed. “Aye, that you will miss. That you will.” Rowan gazed into the shadows of the shop, lost in thought. Ambra let herself out through her own small door, which chimed her goodbye, and headed home.

I wonder what’s bugging Rowan? She mused. Well, whatever it is, I hope he cheers up in time for the party. Heading north along the evening quiet wharves, she watched the trolls of the waterfront fishing along with the seals. A human watching would have seen only seals, playing in the waves. The trolls bobbed and played, their slick hides and webbed feet giving them an advantage in the water. Several trolls waved to her from the peer. Ambra waved back at the troll family as they headed to their burrow to fix dinner. Beyond the wharf district came a section of old houses that had seen better days. The area was home to the homeless, with shelters, soup kitchens, and flop houses lining the streets. Many Otherlings also bedded here, in alleys and abandoned buildings. Sprites could find shelter in storm drains and under stairways, and trolls frequented the alleys. Shape changers often frequented the human taverns undetected, and slept beside the winos in the street.               

Ambra’s home was in an old neighborhood pocket park, bordered on one side by beach and the other by street. She lived in a tree house that was well hidden in the tall branches. It was draped with leaves and moss which made a cozy nest. Her views were of the bay and the city skyline. The warm, rich smell of summer, of  green and growth, blue skies and white puff-ball clouds, filled her home. She leaned against the rough bark. She could feel the sap pulsing through her tree. The hum of bees added a drowsy touch. Ambra felt more kinship with this old oak than any person she’d met. When people called her a stick girl, she felt pride. She was part of the woods she loved, a dryad at heart.

Looking north and east, she could sense the Holy Hill where preparations were underway. A thrill of anticipation tickled her tummy and brushed her arms with goose bumps. Everyone would be there, from the city elves to the mountain shape changers. Ambra dreamed of meeting another Otherling like her someday, and solstice celebrations were perfect times to hope. With Otherlings gathering from all over, surely another stick-person would show up someday. Everyone loved Ambra and included her, but she felt odd and lonely at times. Just once she’d like to meet another being like her. Maybe tomorrow would be the day.