2. Pangur Ban Offers You a Bargain

Glowing tendrils of smoke coil around flickering bulb above the very strange bar you’ve found yourself in.  A jet black cat’s head and forepaws begin to materialize from the formless vapor.

White teeth, far too many of them, gleam in the lamplight. "Delighted you've opted to assist me." 

The Fae cat leans over the counter. "Allow me to introduce myself. You may call me Pangur Ban. I am a cait sith."

As you inhale to share your name, he lifts a wispy paw. "First names only. Never give a Fae your true name."

Your shoulders drop. Still you eye him warily, and offer your name. Hopefully, the information he shares will be worth the trouble.  And maybe, just maybe it’ll help keep you far from treacherous Fae business. 

"Well, my friend, I need your help.  You see, I fear that I am in the exact middle of things. Big and important things, and I do not wish to be.”

Typical cat. You suppress a smile.

The cat continues, “At first all the magic swirling on that island seemed harmless enough. But lately… it emanates something with, shall we say, more gravitas.”

Your forehead wrinkles. “Gravitas?”

Pangur Ban twitched his tail deftly changing the subject. 

"If you worry about my bona fides, I've worked for the Seelie Court, the god Nuada, and most recently the Fianna. Despite my best efforts, I'm cursed. Always getting swept up into wars, god's scheming, magical shifts, and various other catastrophes that change the world.  Frankly, I'm exhausted. I’d rather be lounging on a beach somewhere.”

Wars? Gods? This situation keeps getting more bizarre. What could a Fae cat possibly need from you? 

He seemed to read your mind.

"What I need is for you to go where we Fae cannot. Seek Selina at the Wyrd Sisters Apothecary, get a tarot reading. Try to discern whether she is truly gifted. If she is, she’ll know whether my sense of gravitas is misplaced, or if I’m doomed.” 

He pauses, running a paw over his ear. “Perform this and any other small tasks I assign, and I’ll share secret knowledge of the Fae with you."

Your face must betray your disbelief, because Pangur Ban emits a low growl.

"Only a human would sneer at such a precious gift. I'm offering you pages from the only accurate book about the Fae, Malleus Tenebrarum Sidhe. Penned by the Celtic gods themselves, to protect humanity from our predations.  Only three copies exist."

You remember: Fae can't lie.

Which means this knowledge is real, potentially dangerous, and might just be worth the risk. If you want to avoid your own Fae entanglements, understanding Fae habits and weaknesses could be invaluable. 

You agree to Pangur Ban's bargain. 

His maniacal grin widens. "I knew you were smarter than the average human.  This will be a lucrative partnership. 

“Your first task: to go to the Wyrd Sisters Apothecary. Get a tarot reading from Selina. Watch for anything unusual, and use your own instincts to discern whether she is as powerful and trustworthy as they say."

For a moment, the cait sith becomes fully solid and his green eyes bore into yours. "This is important. As our partnership grows, secrecy is everything. we must operate under cover of secrecy. I cannot stress this enough: do not reveal our plans.”

“Under no circumstances ask Selina directly about Fae or the Veil between worlds.”

“ Never, ever mention Sauvie Island. You never know whose eyes are watching or who she knows among the Folk. Some of the Fae eat humans."

A chill skitters up your spine.

With a wave of his paw, a business card materializes from the smoke.  He slides it toward you. "Go now. I'll find you in a couple of days for your report."

Click the business card to visit Selina and get your tarot reading:

___

P.S. Hi, I'm Molly

Happy to have you on this journey.  I just wanted to pop in and share some of the inspiration for various things in the story world.

The Wyrd Sisters Apothecary was inspired by a real place, though it's not in Portland, and it no longer exists.  The "real" shop was in Bethlehem, PA and was called Ostara*. This little witchy metaphysical store was like stepping into another world. From the ornate antique shelves to the Loreena McKennitt music that played and even the rich scents of the spell ingredients, it was a little slice of fantasy in the Christmas City.