“I really need a press,” I told Lily and Carla.

“And all the other tools that Mohe promised to get us here,” Lily added.

“You don’t have what you need?” Carla asked. “Then how will you make the oil?”

“I’ll make a diluted version using the perennial flax since that is what we gathered,” I answered. I built a fire in the small firepit outside the cottage. It was located on the other side of the house opposite the metal door. I used a tripod to hang a small pot of water over the fire.

“How does this work?” Carla asked looking doubtful.

“Once the water boils, I’ll add the seeds. It’ll cook and thicken for about 10 minutes. After that, we let it cool for 20 minutes and I’ll transfer the oil to a jar for you.”

“How long will it keep?” Lily asked. She was fascinated.

“As long as you keep it cool, for about 10 days. It can also be frozen to keep for longer.”

“Neat!” Lily exclaimed 20 minutes later as the oil produced some whitish streaks as it cooked.

“What are those white streaks?” Carla asked.

“Just part of the oil,” I replied taking the pot off the fire. “Now we let it cool.”

“Looks like a lot in there,” Carla commented.

“Probably a couple jars worth,” I guessed. “Know anyone else that needs some?”

“I do. Same issue I’m having.”

“Ah. You can take all of it.”

“Jase, we have a problem,” Lily said.

“What’s that?”

“We don’t have jars.”

“You’re right!”

“You said this will take a half hour to cool?” Carla asked.

“Something like that.”

“I’ll go home and get two or three jars.”

“Thanks.”

“We never discussed price either,” Carla said.

“Eh…”

“Jase, you need money, food, or something else in trade,” Lily quietly told me.

“How about a couple of bottles of goat’s milk?” Carla asked.

“Sure. That’s fine since you helped gather the seeds and supplied the jars.”

“Great. And if this works, I promise I’ll tell Ama and Mohe to give you the tools you need.”

“I would appreciate that too.”

*

“Lily, are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” Yam asked a couple of hours before sunrise.

“It’ll be a blast!” Willow added.

“I’m sure. The biggest prank you guys have pulled on Stonecroft should be all you,” Lily replied.

“Ok,” May said.

“But if they keep withholding the tools and equipment that my Jase was supposed to get, I’ll not go with you to prank the village, I’ll lead the charge!” Lily promised.

“Hooray!” the other pixies shouted before flying off to perform their mischief.

*

Giggling could be heard throughout Stonecroft as the pixies used most of the can of WD-40 to spray surfaces, doorknobs, clothes, and inside shoes.

*

Howls and curses sounded throughout the village as people slipped, fell, came away with greasy feeling hands from touching doorknobs, or put on soiled clothing. Laughter erupted from the rooftops of houses as the pixies enjoyed the payoff of the mischief they had wrought before the sun kissed the sky.

*

“Mohe is coming,” April warned Lily and me. “We’re leaving him alone too.”

“Thank you, April,” Lily told the other pixie as I dropped one of the stones from the doorway that I had been telekinetically moving. I had decided to expand the firepit and repair it. The stones from the doorway made good material to do so and let me practice my telekinesis.

“Yes, thank you, April,” I said.

“You’re welcome!” April replied looking left to right. “And I’m off since it would probably be best for us not to be seen together.”

“What do you mean be that?” I asked suddenly concerned.

“Nothing!” April answered flying away.

“Lily, do know what she meant by that?”

“Nope,” my familiar answered as she turned lazy circles in the air. “The others did ask me to go do some pranks with them, but I declined.”

“Really?”

“Uh huh.”

“Why?”

“Do I have to have a reason?”

“Isn’t playing pranks one of the things pixies most known for?” I asked instead of answering her question.

“That’s a good point. We’re also known to help though!”

“That’s true,” I agreed. I held my left hand for her to land on. Lily did so and I gently rubbed her lower back with my right index finger to avoid her wings. “I wouldn’t be bad even if you had gone with them and pranked the whole village.”

“I know and love you for it.”

“You love me anyway,” I replied grinning at her.

“That’s true.”

“The others wanted to prank the whole village,” Lily admitted after a moment. “It didn’t feel right joining in on their big moment and I didn’t want to be there in case the village wanted to blame you and me for whatever they did.”

“Protecting me?”

“Always,” Lily answered flying up and hugging my cheek. Mohe walked into the yard at that moment.

“Am I interrupting something?” the chieftain asked with a raised eyebrow before eyeing the firepit.

“No. Just sharing a hug as best we can,” I answered. “I’m sure you and Kitty share loving moments too.”

“We do,” Mohe replied smiling and looking at the bushes to his right. I guessed his familiar was hiding in them.

“Is there anything you need help with, or do you need a remedy?” I asked as Lily landed and sat on my right shoulder.

“No, I don’t need your alchemical services. What I do need is to know if you or your familiar,” Mohe said staring at Lily, “had anything to do with the oily compound that we found covering surfaces and in our clothing this morning?”

“No. We were home all night,” I answered truthfully.

“Would you mind if Kitty questions Lily?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Familiars can’t lie to each other,” Mohe answered.

“You think Jase, or I would lie about being home all night?” Lily asked the chieftain.

Mohe shrugged. “You’re still outsiders.”

“That your wife insisted on keeping outside,” I muttered. Lily coughed to cover a laugh. I felt her mirth over our bond.

“What was that?” Mohe asked.

“Nothing.”

“Bring out your kitty cat and I’ll let her question me,” Lily said flying off my shoulder and landing on the stone I had dropped. A moment later Kitty came out and sat before Lily. A short while later, the bobcat looked at Mohe and then ran back into the bushes. Lily flew back up to sit on my shoulder again. “Happy now?”

“No, but I am satisfied,” Mohe replied as my eyes widened for a second as a can of WD-40, controlled by Willow, flew behind Mohe before disappearing behind a tree. Mohe spun around to look behind him. “What did you see?” he asked turning back to me.

“Just a big squirrel,” I lied. Mohe grunted.

“You’ll get used to them. They’re good eating by the way.”

“Ah, I think I’ll pass on eating squirrel.”

“Your loss.”

“I’ll take your word for it. Speaking of meat, does the village have a butcher?”

“We do. You should walk around and introduce yourself. You can’t depend on all the villagers coming out here to meet you.”

“That’s good advice. I’ll do so after I finish cleaning out the basement.”

“I see you have started to expand and repair the firepit. Where did the stone come from?”

“A covered basement door,” I answered pointing to the side of the cottage. “I’ve decided to put my shop and lab there and since it has a door to the outside, it makes sense to use it.”

“Good idea. That reminds me. Carol Shepard says to tell you that the lubricant you made her works wonders,” Mohe said.

“That’s good. It’s also one of the reasons you came out here to question us,” I said.

“True. That and your familiar is a pixie,” Mohe agreed. “That prank really ticked off my wife.”

“The pixies might help clean up,” Lily said. “We do help at times.”

“Is that so?” Mohe asked.

“Yep. It’s been pixies helping Jase with the cottage repairs,” Lily answered putting an emphasis on pixies being the ones to help with the repairs.

Mohe shrugged. “You two have done good work. Oh yeah, Carol reminded me we need to get you the alchemical equipment. Once you have the basement cleaned out, let me know, and I’ll have the equipment brought out here.”

“Do you promise?” Lily asked. “And will you keep it?”

Mohe frowned. “I do and will.”

“Good,” I said before Lily could say something else and sending her soothing feelings as I felt her anger about his previous broken promise. “I’ll have to get some peppermint and lemon balm to make a disinfectant cleaner to clean the equipment and basement once you deliver it.”

“Why those two plants?”

“Peppermint oil is great for keeping insects away as well as disinfecting. Lemon balm is known for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Mohe’s eyes lit up as I talked. “Ama would want that.”

“Probably,” I agreed. “I’ll be glad to supply the oil and cleaner once I have the equipment I need.”

“For a price,” Lily added.

“For a price,” I agreed as Mohe’s smile turned into a frown. “It’ll be a fair price.”

“That I can live with,” Mohe replied smiling.