6. A Puzzle
The next day, your black-clad new friend approaches you without a hoodie or cloak on the street as you walk back from the store.
The air is dense with mist and the man pulls his hat over his ears with a shiver. "For now, you can call me Bodach. Did you figure out the one word message I left you in the Malleus pages?"
You fall into step beside him and merely nod. Bodach has a reassuring air about him and you find yourself relaxing for the first time since this whole Fae business began.
"Good on you, my friend." He pauses, clasps your elbow, and turns you to face him. "Listen carefully to what I'm going to tell you. I know your curiosity has you wanting to follow Selina and that phooka to Sauvie Island, but don't you dare go."
"Why not? It's just a tourist trap."
"Was just a tourist trap. It's something far more sinister now. Even if you could set foot on that place, which you can't at least not without Fae help, you'd never be the same again."
You swallow hard. “What-"
Bodach cuts you off with the slash of a hand. "I'm going to tell you something, well, a couple of somethings. To be honest, my Order could use your help because you have the Sight. Long ago we swore to protect one of the last magical human bloodlines, one that is being hunted down and eliminated systematically by someone or something on that island. We need to figure out how to stop it or a lot more than an ancient bloodline will be lost. I can’t tell you more than that now.”
"I saw you in the Lodge. Why not recruit some Fae and go there yourselves?"
A broad smile crept across your new friend's face. "We may not be Fae ourselves, but we are not quite human either. Were we to go to Sauvie, our own magic would light us up like the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. My Order has never before welcomed in an outsider, but, times grow dark. Frankly, we're losing. It's unorthodox, but joining us could help us go where we cannot, and help you remain safe from unsavory Fae.”
Almost the same bargain Pangur Ban offered. “I’ve had about enough of magical beings 'protecting' me."
"Fair." Bodach tucks a slip of paper into your hand and steps into the shadows. "I know you're going to follow that phooka despite my warning. Stay a safe distance from Sauvie Island. When you tire of staring at the mist, go to that address. The password is the word you found in the Malleus pages. After you see what's inside, you can decide if you want to join us and walk deeper into this mystery."
Did you unscramble the word from the Phooka page of the Malleus?
The malice rolling off that island makes your skin crawl. Bodach's offer becomes more tempting by the moment. You unfold the little wad of paper he gave you.
You'll follow the instructions to enter the word you found in the highlighted text. Just in case here is a hint: return to the Malleus pages and look carefully at the Phooka entry.