After my father left, we wander through the plants taking an inventory. Pixies flitter about, caring for each plant or tree. Thank goodness this is something I am familiar with having worked at our potions and divination store. Jadis knows more than I do and excitedly points out the rare species.

Frankincense, Sandalwood, Kava Kava and Bakuli are four that excite us immensely. Mugwort, Bats Head, Bloodroot, Mandrake, Belladonna, Sandalwood, Wormwood, Fleabane and so many more decorated the huge room. It must be the magic of Faerie that allows these plants to live in the same climate. Stairs lead to various landings to reach higher hanging plants. We spent a happy afternoon cataloguing our treasure of botanical supplies.

In our dark room oils, dried herbs, and other supplies sit on shelves awaiting our use. Jadis and I mix herbs for several types of teas, herbal remedies, and charms. I am familiar with some teas and remedies but Jadis teaches me more than our simple store provided. Circe immediately makes a Kava tea and we all exclaim over the immediate tingling of our lips and tongue. The potency of this Kava is premium.

This gets Jadis thinking of how we can make money. “There is a Kava bar in Cave Junction, but this blows away their stock. This will upset the hedge witches of Cave Croft, but I think the magical influence of Faerie ups the potency and we can sell some for higher prices.”

Interested I ask, “Cave Croft interacts with Cave Junction?”

Circe and Jadis nod their heads, “Oh, yes.” Jadis explains, “With the rise of magic, Damiana acceptance as the head of Magical Affairs in the U.S., and the influx of new mages and witches into our ranks, we have become very popular.”

I ask, “What do you mean, the influx of people?”

Circe shakes her head, “You really were sheltered from the news. Did you atleast hear about people learning they have magical powers?”

“I heard stories about people considered superb in their fields learning they have magic.” I answer.

Jadis gets excited, “Yes, it explains why certain doctors, nurses, scientist are better than their peers. Magic nows explains some miracles in our modern times. Many of these professionals have travelled to Cave Croft. They are here learning more about their powers.”

Circe sniggers, “We used to hide and now people want to move here. Damiana is letting tourist come from town on scheduled trips to shop and look around.”

I add, “Maybe that will lead to Cave Croft gaining certain niceties, such as electricity.” I smile with that remark. I don’t have to worry about that here. Everything is magical.

Getting back on track I ask more information about the herbalist in Cave Croft becoming upset with us. Expanding on her idea I suggest, “We can make money. Can you imagine how much a restaurant could charge by advertising Elven ingredients?”

Circe suggests, “Some of our own witches will want the plants and trees we grow in here because they are hard to get.”

Nodding my head, “I believe we have a way to make money for ourselves.”

Circe agrees, “I like your thoughts.”

“Well, I grew up selling potions and such. This seems like an easy decision. This isn’t a priority, but we should plan to start soon. We need independence and that comes with money.”

Jadis says, “We need to come up with a cool name.”

“J.C.G. Enterprises?” I ask.

“It’s a thought.” Circe murmurs.

Curious I ask, “When can we go into Cave Croft? I want to check it out.”

Jadis and Circe shrug, “Why not tomorrow? It's getting close to dinner now and starting to get dark.”

I reply, “Sounds good to me. Probably after training with Tamyson, he seems to prefer mornings for that.”

At breakfast the next morning I learn my mother is missing. The Spriggans believe that she is at Cave Croft Castle. They and Alizon discuss the layout of the castle with Circe, as she spent time with Damiana at the castle. While they work on ideas to find my mother, Jadis leaves to gather information from the Wiccans.

Tamyson and I leave to find Greenteeth's daughter. I work on easing my thoughts about meeting another hag. I try to keep thoughts of my mother out of my mind; I need to focus on the here and now.

I will not donate blood, I already went to that party.

Walking out of the manor together Tamyson explains, “You should know the lands here are changing. As the Fae come to you, they bring magic with them. A faerie mound has come to life. The Fae will come here out of curiosity, for the freedom of travel or their love of new things. Many will stay in the old lands. The lands of Europe.”

He stops to look at me, “You need to understand that your power will grow with your exposure to this magic. Learn fast, you have little time.”

All I can do is nod my head, “Sure, no problem. Easy peasie, right?”

Tamyson cocks that goat's head of his and then walks forward again. Reaching a hand out to me, he led us between.

We step somewhere close because I noticed a few redwoods in the distance. But this new place is swampy and off of a nearby river. I can hear it rushing off to my right. The black gnarled trees look nasty, and the area smells of mold.

Wet mold... yuck. I am so not walking through that!

Tamyson calls out, “Peg the Prowler come out and meet with us. Come meet with Gwen of the Fae as sworn by your mother.”

Waiting and listening to the water in the distance and the frogs and mosquitoes all around us, I feel nervous. A slopping of water alert us to her arrival. What came peering out from behind a scraggly oak was a mix of Greenteeth and what looked like a frog. The daughter, at least, has more hair which turns out to be the only good thing going for her. Stepping out from behind the tree I notice her skin has a greenish tint. The legs aren’t bone thin; they had a roundness to the thighs... kinda like a frog. This doesn't help her looks.

No clothes, again…

Her breasts hand down her chest and the hair flows over her. This provides some coverage. But her head and face doesn’t have her mother’s features. Peg’s head is wider than it was taller. Her mouth is wide like a frog and dark eyes peer at me. She has a human nose. An improvement on the two empty holes on her mother’s face. At least by our human standards. But in one area she matches Jenny, and that is the teeth. Those damned green pointed teeth.

With a grotesque smile and rasping voice Peg offers a greeting, “Awww, it is nice to meet with you Gwen of the Fae, Gwen of the Faerie, Gwen of the Elves. Gwennie Gwen, my mother says your blood is to die for.” Her smile grows with that last comment.

Slinking towards me, Peg came close enough to sniff along my skin. Not the side Cork stays on. It seems Jenny may have told Peg of my companion. She sniffs along my right arm and shoulder, practically pushing Tamyson aside.

The whiff I get off of her isn’t good and this close up Peg looks slimy. I shudder at the thought of her touching me.

In a rush I state, "We have an agreement Peg. I need the two runes."

With a rasping laugh, Peg walks back to the dead tree she arrived from. While sliding behind it I hear her whisper, “I have runes. I have lots of runes.”

Peeking her head out from behind the stark features of the dead tree she asks, “But do you want more?”

“Like what?” I don’t like the direction Peg is going with this talk of ours.

“I have knowledge. Much knowledge, more than druids. They think they are high and mighty with their runes.” She stops to peer harder at me, “They come to talk sometimes. They want to bargain for more. But what can they give me? Perhaps a tender baby?” Peg cackles over her little joke.

I hope it is a joke. I hope the druids won't bring her a baby to eat. Would Damiana? I shudder, thinking of what Damiana might do... she kidnapped my mother, her own granddaughter.

“What can you teach me?” I ask. If this was information others wanted, this might be a good deal.

“I will give you two runes, as promised, but you must power them yourself. That shouldn't be a problem for you.” She eyes me up and down like a dessert.

Yuk!

“I have knowledge of runes lost to time itself. The hags guard this knowledge, as knowledge is power, Gwen of the Fae.”

“What do you want for this knowledge?” I have a bad feeling I already know what she wants and she answers for me.

“Blood, what other coin can you offer? Later is different but, while I have the chance, I will get as much of your blood as I can.” Spit was drooling out of her mouth.

Tamyson steps forward, “You will not kill, nor harm her Peg.”

Cackling Peg asks, “Does not Gwen make her own decisions? Does she not own the blood I want? Should great knowledge come without some pain?” Peg looks at me gleefully.

“I can make my own decisions,” I blurt out.

Yeah right, I have had little control so far.

Tamyson steps back and waves his hand at me, “She can decide, I am here to council and help protect.”

I wonder at that. It was Cork who helped me when I fainted with Jenny, not Tamyson.

“Good girlie. Good. I want your blood and in trade I will give you a knowledge stone of all the basic runes. Everything I know about the known runes including how to make them, power them and even a basic understanding of using them in spells. The last is not much knowledge for I cannot cast, but I have knowledge from witches and druids of old.”

Watching me with a hopeful look Peg continues, “If you exchange blood with me weekly then, after each blood exchange, I will add to your knowledge of runes. Long lost runes, but Peg knows them.”

With a smile she adds, “If you give me blood now I will give you a knowledge stone of sigils and how to work them with runes. This is powerful knowledge that takes years to learn. This knowledge infringes on the druids influence. This gives you power over them. This knowledge is coin to barter with. Yes?”

Eyeing my arm again and still salivating she asks, "Gwen, what will it be? Will you trade blood for power and knowledge or do you want your two runes and leave? Run away and fear me?"

Ok, this is gross, but I survived it once. I could do this again, can’t I?

Tilting my head towards Cork I ask in a whisper, “Can you protect me?”

In his chirping voice I hear, “Treasure ok, treasure need, treasure learn. I protect.”

Looking at Tammyson I watch him nod. I guess that means it's a good idea.

Striking for the deal I lay down my conditions with hers, “Peg Prowler you will not cause permanent harm or scars. I receive the original two runes from your mother’s deal and our bargain includes knowledge today of all basic runes, how to make them and the basics of sigils and using the runes in spells. This is for today’s blood. If I come weekly, you will provide me with lost information, progressing my knowledge of runes and sigils. Do you agree with this?”

I hope I am making a good deal and don’t screw up this oath. I want her knowledge without Peg killing me... or hurting me too much.

“Yes. Peg Prowler swears to this agreement. I swear it, I swear it, I swear it. Three times binding it be.” And starts Peg towards me.

Holding out my left arm, the same her mother used, I wait for Cork to do his thing. As he scurries down my arm I look away, not wanting to watch this.

Before Cork cuts me Peg speaks, “You look away? Girlie, you had better watch this. Strength is what you need in front of the Fae. They will see you as weak if you cannot watch the taking of blood and so much more.” Peg is leering at me and smiling.

What does she mean by so much more? What else do the Fae do that is worse than taking blood?

Looking at Peg, I nod at Cork to make his cut and stare into Peg’s eyes. I will prove I am strong and can do this. It hurt and I know the pain is showing on my face as tears stream down my face, but I continue staring. While keeping her eyes on mine, she lifts my arm higher and sucks at the long cut.

It hurts!

I feel myself sway when Cork hurts my ear, “Think. Not hurt. I give new pain to think on.” And he does.

I yelp, “Cork what in the hell are you doing” The hag doesn’t bother to stop sucking.

As he continues to bite my ear I hear, “Think of ear. Breath.”

Before I can yell at Cork again, Peg stops sucking my arm. Tamyson gently grabs my right arm, leads me to a boulder and sits me down. Cork, the little monster, scurries down my arm to heal it. Looking at Peg I see my blood covering the bottom of face. I take a deep breath and try to not get sick.

Peg walk to the gnarled dead tree, pulls a pouch from behind it and walks back to me. Spilling the runes into her palm she points to each, “This rune is unpowered and is healing, it is “OO” the Wild Ox.” Pointing to another, “This is protection, “ZZ” the Elk. It too is unpowered, and that completes my mother’s bargain.”

“Now this one is “K” the Torch, and it holds the knowledge promised for today’s bargain.” Peg smiles at me. She hasn’t wiped the blood off and having her bend over, showing me the runes, puts her face close to mine.

Gross!

“Now, will you meet in a week’s time?” Peg asked.

“Yes,” I whisper and ponder giving blood every week.

Can I do this?

Putting her face closer to mine makes Tamyson squeeze my right arm tighter. She whispers, “Good, if you cannot make the appointed time, send a little winged one. They know how to find me and they can share the message. If I cannot make it, I will do the same.”

Standing and licking her lips, Peg flashing those nasty pointy teeth with her evil grin. Turning, she melts back into the dead gnarled oak.