“I think that does it.” Aminria shut the paint can and wiped her hands on a cloth.

  A layer of silver paint obscured the mirror. As it dried, the color transitioned to clear and crystals sparkled on the surface. Erador’s distorted reflection was the spitting image of what he wanted Hawth to look like when he was done with him. He set Medina’s crystal orb on a round table and adjusted it until the largest hole was aligned with the center of the glass.

  Erador checked the clock. “Hawth should be here any minute.”

  Aminria nudged the can under the table with her boot. “I hope this works.”

  “Do you think Baubie is his father?” Erador asked.

  “Baubie doesn’t look like him from what I remember.”

  A door groaned open. Footsteps tapped across the floor. Hawth stepped past the mirror and emerged into the light. He adjusted the collar of his red jacket. “Am I early?”

  “You’re late,” Erador growled.

  If Hawth’s father was a witch, he would know plenty about crystals. Erador dug his nails into the chair to maintain himself from lashing out his suspicions.

  Hawth pulled a leef from his pocket. “I’m never late to a party.”

  “You were to this one.” Erador gritted his teeth. “By five minutes.”

  “But no one is here.”

  “We are,” Aminria said, rearranging the candles on the table. “And it’s been quite lonely.”

  Her voice contained its composure, but it wasn’t like her to let someone get away with being tardy. Hawth aimlessly twisted the paper end of his leef. His eyes followed her and then found the crystal orb on the table.

  “What are you doing?” Hawth said, with an uneasy voice.

  “It’s for the party.” Erador lifted a lit candle toward Hawth.

  Hawth brought his leef to the flame and twisted it to light it. He took a few puffs and blew out a pillow of smoke. The sweet smoky smell overtook the air. He sat. His eyes drifted over the painted mirror and landed on Aminria, leaning her shoulder against the frame. Her arms were crossed and fingers tapping.

  He began to rise. “Maybe I should—”

  Erador forced Hawth back in the chair and rubbed his shoulders roughly. “Don’t ruin the fun.”

  Hawth winched, shoulders curling in. With a shaking hand, he stuck the leef in his mouth. “I’m not feeling well.”

  “Don’t play stupid,” Aminria said, swiping the leef from him. She threw it down and dug her boot into it.

  Hawth’s eyes widened as his palms slammed on the table. “Why did you do that?”

  “I knew a singer who ruined her voice smoking, and I’m not going to let you do that to mine.”

  “You better pay for that. It’s not cheap, you know!”

  “Remember when you broke my vase?” Aminria said, thin eyebrow raising.

  “That was an accident!” Hawth gestured at the remnants of blackened leaves on the floor. “You did that on purpose.”

  “I have a better idea,” Erador said, patting Hawth’s shoulder. “How about we replace your leef with a nice trinket... from your old man.”

  Hawth tried to run, but Erador slammed him down.

  “No you don’t. So Baubie is your father?”

  “He... might be,” Hawth said, in a high pitch as he tugged his collar.

  “We know he sells teleportation crystals,” Aminria said.

  “Lots of witches make those.”

  Erador leaned down. “That doesn’t explain why you didn’t tell me about him in the first place.”

  “My father didn’t free the Raven.”

  “We didn’t say he did.” Erador gave him a fierce look.

  “Wait!” The smell of keid leaked from Hawth’s mouth as he opened it. “You think I did it?”

  “You bring the Raven his meals and your father sells crystals,” Erador said, crossing his arms. “And you acted like you knew nothing about them.”

  “Aminria!” Hawth’s wide eyes found her. “You know it wasn’t me, right?”

  She shrugged.

  “If you didn’t do it, then you’re going to have to prove it.” Erador pulled the teleportation crystal from his pocket and tossed it on the table. “Starting with this.”

  Hawth groaned. “I don’t like my father. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.”

  Erador snorted. “That’s a poor excuse.”

  Hawth slouched in the chair and mumbled, “If you knew him, you’d understand.”

  “And mine is dying, spits blood several times a day. It’s depressing, but I’m not embarrassed.”

  “Your father’s worshiped.”

  “In Lucrethia. He’s wanted everywhere else.” Erador rubbed his chin. “But yours is a black market dealer.”

  Hawth lifted his hands. “Don’t be surprised when he tries to force you to buy something.”

  “Well, then,” Erador said, looking at Aminria. “Why don’t we get to it?”

  Aminria took out the paper and held it towards Hawth. “Read.”

  He groaned and leaned toward the crystal orb. “I need some wares to buy today. Send Baubie’s Baubles catalog my way.”

  The orb hummed and erupted in a bright silver glow. A beam of light shot from a hole in the glass ball and spread throughout the glass like spilled ink, to form a silver glowing surface. A message flashed across.

  Welcome to Baubie’s Baubles where we strive to meet your accessory needs.

  The words faded. Different categories of trinkets, statues, figurines, plate ware and the like appeared on the mirror.

  “How does this work?” Aminria asked, examining the mirror.

  “Tell it what you want,” Hawth said. “Show me vases.”

  The mirrors flickered and displayed different colors and varieties of vases.

  Aminria’s lips parted. “This is a collector’s dream.”

  “So, Hawth,” Erador said. “How do we speak to your father?”

  “You have to request a custom order, give your name, reason for buying, and verbally sign a nondisclosure agreement.”

  “Where is it?” Aminria asked, searching the mirror.

  “You have to wait two weeks for a response.” Hawth leaned back, kicking his feet on the table. “Guess you didn’t need me after all.”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  If Baubie talked to his most loyal costumers, he knew who placed orders and when. And Hawth would be one of the most important people to him.

  Erador threw Hawth’s legs down, ripped the chair around and slammed his hands on the arm rests. “I want to talk to him now.”

  Hawth tugged his collar. “I... can’t”

  Erador smacked the table and pointed in his face. “Don’t give me shit, Hawth. I need to see him now.”

  Head down, Hawth dragged his hands through his hair. “Fine, but I’m warning you, it’s not going to be pretty.”

  Erador moved back and Hawth placed a fist to his mouth. He leaned toward the glowing crystal and coughed.

  “Baubie’s best is not a pest. He’s here to prove that he’s blessed and ready to be with the rest. Now take him to his nest.”

  Aminria and Erador exchanged amused looks.

  “Don’t say anything,” Hawth grumbled.

  The ball hummed and glowed. A whirling silver light escaped the hole and drifted to the mirror. As the silver faded, a new image materialized. It appeared like a window looking into a room. Colorful crystals were strung down like beads over a doorway, behind an armchair.

  “It’s like a painting,” Aminria said, reaching toward the mirror. “How does this work?”

  “Don’t touch it,” Hawth said.

  She looked back. “Why?”

  “You’ll fall into the Reflection Realm and you won’t be able to get out.”

  Aminria stepped back.

  Erador studied the mirror. “Is this like Gillian’s element?”

  “It’s a bit different,” Hawth said. “Baubie knows more than I do.”

  The hanging crystals clinked as a man stepped through them. His head reached nearly to the door frame. He wore an emerald green suit and a black high-necked shirt was underneath his unbuttoned jacket. Erador had little chance to see the man before he moved out of view and back again with a teacup. He settled in the armchair.

  Aminria was right. Baubie looked nothing like Hawth. He had a thinner face, sharp cheekbones, and larger eyes. His long fingers laid on his crossed knee. A shimmering scarf of feathers rested across his wide shoulders.

  Baubie outstretched his arms, delight on his face. The skin wrinkled around his eyes when he smiled. “Rauny!” A voice erupted from the orb’s smallest hole and sounded like he was in a well. “It’s been too long!”

  Hawth dropped his head and mumbled a greeting.

  “He sees us?” Aminria said, waving slowly.

  “In a way, but this isn’t quite me,” Baubie said, pointing at himself. “What you see, is a copy created by a mimic. Everything I do, everything you see and hear… it displays it to you and vice versa.”

  “But… we didn’t use a reflection element,” Erador said.

  “The orb has activated the element for you.” Baubie crossed his leg. He leaned an elbow on the armrest as his bony finger dragged across his lips. “Who’s your friend?”

  Aminria flicked back her red locks. “Aminria.”

  “The one in the back.” Baubie blew a blond hair from his eyes. “I didn’t know you had such an alluring friend. Who is he?”

  “My name is irrelevant,” Erador said.

  “Hard to get, I see.” Baubie leaned forward and squinted. “Wait... tall and dark. I know who you are. Hawth told me he—”

  “Admires your element.” Hawth nodded, arms tucked in his armpits. “He’s got a great element. Wish I had it.”

  Erador craned his neck at Hawth, eyes narrowed. “You told him about me?”

  Hawth scratched his neck. “Only about your element.”

  “What about me?” Aminria cut in. “You’ve had to bring me up.”

  Baubie tapped his fingers on his knee. “What made you invite your friends? Are they interested in my wares?”

  “Oh, I’m very interested,” Erador said, angrily. “One in particular—teleportation.”

  “Ah... that’s a highly sought crystal,” Baubie said cheerily, dismissing Erador’s blunt attitude. “Funny how it's not the repercussions that make buyers lose interest. It's the price.”

  “How much is it?” Erador asked.

  “It’s priced in Griths.”

  Erador raised his chin. “Morgo currency, huh?”

  It had more value than New Akthelian or Odinatin currency. A Lucrethian couldn’t afford such a luxury. Could Yuni?

  “Many of my customers are from there,” Baubie said, twisting the ring on his finger.

  “Who do you sell to other than northerners?”

  “Where did you find this friend?” Baubie chuckled lightly. “He asks a lot of questions.”

  Hawth opened his mouth, but Erador shushed him. “I have more. I need to know who sells those crystals.”

  Baubie laughed with a bark. “You expect me to have a list?”

  Erador lifted the gray crystal from the table. “The person who used this has malicious intentions. I want to find out where it’s from. I was hoping you can lead me in the right direction.”

  Baubie picked up a metal file and scrapped it against his nail. “My clients sign a non-disclosure agreement. I can’t release names.”

  Erador sighed and looked at Aminria who lifted her shoulders. He wouldn’t break. Not easily. The first greeting of Baubie replayed in his head. How delighted he was to see Rauny. Hawth sat in the chair, picking at his teeth.

  “Your son has been incarcerated for treason,” Erador said.

  “What?” Baubie dropped the nail file and shot up. “Is this true?”

  Hawth leaned toward the orb to speak but Erador tipped his chair back so he fell into the backrest.

  “Unless you want to see him with broken limbs, a bloodied face, and thrown in the pit of the unworthy to die, you’re going to help me.”

  Smile thinning, Baubie dropped in his chair. Hawth’s mouth quivered in shock and Aminria gave an approved nudge in Erador’s side. A threat, and this time, it worked.

  Baubie rubbed his eyebrow. “Can you show me the crystal again? Bring it closer to the mirror.”

  Erador moved the crystal closer.

  “That’s too large to be my creation.” Baubie grabbed a satchel by his chair and dug through it. He pulled out a handful of clear crystals, barley wider than his finger.

  “Do you have any idea who makes them like this?”

  “Witches usually make them unique to their style and engrave an etch on the crystal to avoid being labeled under cheap copies. I can guarantee you that crystal is not purchased from me. Some witches make poorer quality crystals that fail.”

  Erador looked over the crystal to see if he missed an etch, but it only had scratches.

  “Fail?” Aminria frowned. “How?”

  “It varies by crystal. Some don’t hold enough power. Sometimes the element can leak from small cracks.”

  Erador pressed his fingers into his abdomen and shivered. “Do you know any witches near Lucrethia?”

  Baubie let the crystals slide down. They rattled as they fell back into the satchel. “That would be New Akthelia.”

  Erador shut his eyes. It was what he was afraid of.

  Aminria cursed. “Anywhere else?”

  “Not unless you want to travel miles. At best you might run into a witch caravan but their routes are unpredictable.”

  Aminria leaned toward Erador. “What do you want to do?”

  “I guess we’ll have to try New Akthelia.” Erador grabbed Hawth from behind and forced him to stand. “You best hope we find an answer or I’m coming back to you.”

  Baubie lifted his hands. “Of course... What did he do, if you don’t mind?”

  “He released a prisoner. That’s all you need to know.”

  Aminria tapped Erador’s arm and mouthed the words ‘green brooch’. Baubie didn’t seem like he was a part of this, but Erador wouldn’t trust him enough to tell him.

  Erador leaned toward her ear, a red curl, brushing his nose. “I’d rather not give him more information.”

  Aminria nodded.

  “Stay in touch?” Baubie said, rising. “And please, don’t hurt Raun. If he’s harmed...” Baubie cocked his head. “It’s not going to fare well for you.”

  Baubie looked one last time at Hawth, before he reached forward. The images in the mirror faded as the orb flickered and died. A reflection of the room returned. Silence drifted through the room and everyone stared at Hawth.

  Hawth faked a grin. “You weren’t serious about that torture were you?”

  “Maybe,” Aminria put her hand on her hip. “Unless you find us a way into New Akthelia.”

  “And I know it?”

  Aminria looked at the stomped leef. “Where do you get these?”

  Hawth shifted his gaze away.

  “The closest place keid can be purchased from is New Akthelia,” Erador said.

  Hawth picked at a splinter on the table. “I don’t use the main entrance. They check everyone who comes through. Ask your name, element... location.”

  “We could lie,” Erador said, leaning down. “You seem to be good at it.”

  Rolling his eyes, Hawth ripped the splinter and flicked it with his finger. “Why do you think they sketched every Paradin after we signed the peace treaty?”

  “How can they keep track of that?” Erador said.

  “If you look suspicious, they’ll hold you in a cell for a few days and question you thoroughly before they let you in. Since you’re Lord Judgment's son... I bet they know exactly what you look like."

  Erador didn’t want to suggest using Shade, not that they could. New Akthelia upped security after the Queen’s Death, including in the Shadow Realm. Orbid was in the surrounding stone wall, except the entrance but that was the most guarded.

  “Then how do you get in?”

  “I take a back route,” Hawth said. “It’s long, but it’s the safest.”

  “Well then,” Erador said, pushing the mirror aside. “Lead the way.”