“Mohe is outside his home cleaning fish,” Lily told me as I approached the small gate. “Gate is locked too.”

“Is there anyone watching it?”

“Nope.”

“So, I have to walk all the way around the wall and hope the main gate is open or that they will let me in,” I groused.

“Yep. It’s open by the way.”

“I don’t think they like us,” I muttered as I started walking to the left of the gate.

“My Jase?” Lily called out.

“Yeah?” I said turning my head to look over my shoulder since Lily hadn’t moved.

“This way is the better choice,” Lily replied holding a sign that pointed to the right.

“Where did you get the sign from?” I asked turning around walking back to my familiar. Lily just stared at me. “Yeah, yeah. You got it from the getting place.”

Lily flew to me and kissed my forehead. “You’re learning!”

“The blinking lights are a nice touch.”

“Yeah, I like them!” Lily agreed while giving me a huge smile.

*

“Mohe,” I said instead of a normal greeting. The chieftain looked up from the fish he held.

“Wondering why no help showed up?”

“Yeah. You gave your word.”

“And I kept it too,” Mohe replied before shrugging his shoulders. “I asked for help and others agreed. Not my fault they didn’t show up.”

“Is this because we are lowlander outsiders or because of me?” Lily asked.

“Mostly the former, though my wife as stirred up some that hate pixies as she does.”

“Why does she hate pixies?” I asked holding my hand out for Lily to land on. She complied. I lifted her up and kissed her head before holding my shirt pocket open. Lily jumped into it and looked out.

“Why does anyone? They are viewed as pests and thieves,” Mohe answered with another shrug. “Perhaps some stole some ribbon or a doll she cherished as a child.”

“That…that is possible,” Lily conceded.

“Still, to hate all pixies for years,” I replied.

“One thing you will learn as you grow older is that people need very little reason to hate and even less of a reason to keep hating,” Mohe advised me.

“You guys have been that way for so very long,” Lily muttered quietly to me. “Some things never change.”

“What am I supposed to do about the stone house?” I asked getting back to the subject at hand.

“Remember what I said about how independent mountain folk are?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s your answer.”

“So, I do all the repairs myself?”

“Well, at least start on them and do what you can,” the chieftain replied. “That will show others you’re independent and wanting to be a part of the village.”

“And my wares?”

“What about them?”

“Do the people here really want or need them?”

“Of course. You shouldn’t have to ask that.”

“Will people pay a fair price or trade fairly for them?”

“Yeah, they will. That said, if you were to give some to the village folks would see that as a positive sign.”

I felt a nudging from my pixie. “Yeah, I don’t think I’ll be giving away anything. I wouldn’t want to encroach on people’s independence.”

Mohe laughed. “You’re learning. I’ll help you with the roofing in a day or two since that pitch is too much for someone to do on their own.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Is there anything else you need?”

“Yeah, there is. Is the cottage part of the village?” Lily asked.

“Honestly no. We don’t even claim the land it sits on.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“Folks say it’s haunted.”

“Ghosts?”

“Yep,” Mohe answered shrugging his shoulders once more. “I’ve never seen or heard anything whenever I’ve been near it though.”

Lily grinned and I felt her amusement. “Pixies?” I silently asked.

“Uh huh,” Lily answered just as silently.

“Why did you ask about the house being part of the village?”

“Does anyone own it or claim the land?” Lily asked instead of answering.

“Well, no,” Mohe answered after giving it some thought. “Again, why do you ask?”

Seeing where Lily was going, I answered with a question of my own. “Since the village doesn’t own the cottage or land nor anyone else, can I claim the house and land?”

Mohe grinned. “I don’t see why not.”

“I’ll stake out the land I want around the house then,” I replied. Another thought occurred to me. “Will people respect my claim?”

“Most will since it is outside of our normal hunting and farming areas. Some may test you though.”

“Can we get a deed?” Lily asked.

“Deed?” Mohe asked.

“Yeah, a deed.”

“What’s that?” the chieftain asked. I was curious too.

“It’s a legal document that says someone owns land, house, or both,” Lily answered.

“Why would you want something like that?” Mohe asked looking at me.

Lily answered as I didn’t have a clue. “Because we want it known that the cottage and surrounding land Jase stakes out are his. And then we want the village leadership, that’s you and any elders, to honor the document saying that the cottage and land is Jase’s if anyone wants to dispute his claim.”

“Ah. I think I see,” Mohe replied. “With your status, that is a sensible precaution. Draw something up and I’ll sign it on behalf of the village.”

“Alright,” I agreed as Lily flew out of my pocket and then started waving her arm around in the air. Colors appeared in front of her.

“What are you doing?” I asked. Mohe looked on in amazement.

“Drawing something up,” Lily answered.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Mohe said looking from the pixie to me.

“I know,” Lily replied. Mohe and I looked back to my familiar. She had changed clothes and wore a dark blue fancy looking coat and pants. The little spiked heel shoes were on her dainty feet. Lily also had her hair up in a bun and was wearing glasses.

“What are you wearing?” I asked. Lily could feel my amusement.

“How did you change?” Mohe asked.

“This is a business suit,” Lily answered me. “And pixies can change at will if we have the clothing or suitable material to work wth.”

“Oh,” Mohe said. His eyes widened in shock at paper and a pen appeared in front of Lily. The pen started rapidly moving across the paper. “Impossible!”

“Nothing is impossible,” Lily replied. The pen stopped moving and Lily looked over the paper. “This will do nicely.” She turned to me. “Sign beside the X at the bottom Jase.”

“What am I signing?”

“Your life away,” Lily cackled. Mohe’s grip tightened on his knife.

“That’s not funny Lily,” I said.

“Sorry. This is the deed for the cottage and any surrounding land that you claim by putting up colored stakes. Both will stay in your possession and that of your family until given or sold. This includes any improvements, gardens, mines, or whatever as well as furnishings in the house,” Lily answered. “Please read it to make sure you agree.”

I read the magically made document and signed. The pen and paper floated over to Mohe. The man dried his hands on a towel.

“I need to read and sign as well?”

“Uh huh,” Lily agreed. All this triggered something I had read in a book once.

“Shouldn’t we have witnesses?” I asked as another paper and pen appeared. The pen started writing. “And what are you doing now?”

*

“We’re your witnesses,” Yam and Willow chorused from Mohe’s home’s roof. I smiled and shook my head. Mohe shook his as well and signed the deed. It didn’t cost the village anything and it kept the young alchemist close. They would just have to check on him from time to time to make sure nothing ate him. Mohe sort of liked the young man though he didn’t know him yet.

“I’m done,” Mohe said after signing his name.

“Sign this one too,” Lily said. It is a copy of the first.

*

“Why a copy?” I asked after signing it.

“So, the village has a copy and we do too,” Lily answered.

“Makes sense,” Mohe said signing the copy. The first one floated up to Lily, folded itself, and disappeared into a small case that my familiar closed. The case disappeared.

“Thank you, chieftain!” Lily said. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.”

“Yes, thank you,” I said as well.

“You’re welcome. Both of you,” Mohe replied. “I’ll make sure the back gate is unlocked from now on during daylight hours. It’ll always be locked at night though.”

“Thanks,” I replied turning to walk back out the front gate.

“Jase, wait. Come on and I’ll unlock the back gate for you.”

“Thanks,” Lilly said wearing shorts and a pink shirt. Mohe looked like he wanted to say something but shut his mouth and shook he head before walking away. “Yam, Willow, come on! We got work to do.”

“We do?” Yam asked.

“Yeppers!” Lily replied. She turned to me. I had a questioning look on my face.

“Why do I feel this won’t be good?”

“It’ll be great,” Lily replied. Yam and Willow looked just as excited as Lily did now. “You’ll see my Jase.”