Witching Time (The Wild Hunt #14) - Yasmine Galenorn Page 0,36

as Llew pulled the scarf off of the goods and opened the booth back for business.

Five minutes later, Kipa appeared at the booth. I asked him to find Rain and help her close off the maze, and to also make certain nobody was still in there.

“I’m glad she’s agreed. There are things in there that you don’t want anybody running up against. I’ll go now.”

I wanted to ask him what he found, but the sooner he and Rain closed the maze, the better. Meanwhile, a line was forming for Llew, and I had four more appointments for the next hour.

As we settled back in to our work, the clouds began to sock in again. Lightning streaked across the sky, and not far behind, thunder rumbled. My stomach knotted, and I had a hard time focusing on my readings. I wondered what Kipa had discovered, and what we would find when we started looking into the history of the house and land.

It was almost six—we were closing up, even though the fair ran until eight—when I finally finished up my last reading. I had been reading the cards for five hours straight without a break, and while I had made a buttload of money, I was exhausted, both mentally and psychically. Reading for strangers was draining, and always left me feeling hollow.

I gathered my tablecloth, cards, and candle as Llew began to secure his wares. He didn’t dare leave them out overnight. A good storm could send everything flying, the rain could destroy some of his more delicate packets of herbs, and Rain and Marigold couldn’t ensure that thieves wouldn’t be out and about. And—given we knew there were some questionable entities around—who knew what they’d do to magical supplies.

Kipa had spent the day combing the land, sneaking around through the ravines and trees and fields that made up the acreage. He shook his head when I started to ask him what he had found. I started to ask why but then saw Marigold and Rain headed our way. Evie and Dray were right behind them.

“I still say the coyote would be too frightened of the crowds. We put money into that corn maze and while we can still sell the corn, I want to utilize it.” Marigold was arguing with Rain.

“There are little kids coming here, three and four years old. They’d make perfect coyote-sized snacks. You’ve seen how lax some of the parents are. I sure as hell don’t want to get sued. We have insurance, but it doesn’t cover everything.” Rain took a stance, hands on hips, glaring at her wife.

It occurred to me that Rain would have made a good actress, because I knew full well this was all an act. Marigold let out a disgruntled sigh. She looked hardened under her sun-kissed skin, and there was a taut feel to her, as though she had been stretched too far and was ready to break.

“Fine, but if we come out of this year with less money than usual, I’m blaming you. Word will get around that we didn’t come through on what we offered.”

“For heaven’s sake.” Rain shook her head. “People come here to have a fun day and to shop. We offer the best autumn farmers market around, and most of them are here to let their kids pet a llama, and to buy produce, preserves, and quilts. Very few actually enter any of our contests. And the corn maze—we didn’t have it last year and we had the best year to date. If money means more to you than a child’s life…” She let her words drift.

Marigold blushed, then turned to us. “Of course it doesn’t. I’m just… I feel so tense lately. I guess all the news about dragons and those…what are they? Vikrods?”

“Vrykos,” I said.

“Right, vrykos—the news has been wearing on me.” She wiped her eyes and for a moment, I caught a glimpse of the old Marigold. A caring, loving woman.

“I say we just forgo the maze and sell the corn. We can start harvesting it tomorrow morning and sell it this week. That’s better than letting the rain have another week to drench it.” Rain wrapped her arm around Marigold’s waist. “What do you say?”

Marigold shrugged. “Fine. I’m good with that, but who’s going to harvest it? The kids have school during the week and we’re all exhausted.”

Kipa cleared his throat. “I can bring a few of my men with me and we can make short work of it for you