[2]

"That sparkles!" Tina said as she slammed the device on the booth.

"Sparkles because he actually picked up or he actually has good advice?" Kurt drawled as he studied his nails.

"Both," Tina retorted.

Mercedes knocked on the booth's door.

"What's going on?" she asked urgently, "what did he say?"

"Schue wants us to pick up a package from a friend of his." Tina said as Kurt frowned.

"What kind of package?"

"Nothing dangerous," Tina said tugging her hair, "although he does say that about a lot of things. But it's a bookshop so it can't be that bad."

Kurt and Mercedes exchanged glances. "Lead on."

Looking at the address she written down, they followed the signs leaving the ramshackle house and shops for old fashion architecture with quaint sloped rooftops and fancy brickwork. The further she went however she had faint sense of déjà vu as there was something particularly familiar about the route.

"Here we are," Tina said, stopping front a quaint little shop with a sign written in neat handwriting, "There's a Book for That".

"Lovely," Kurt muttered as he opened the door, the tinkle of the bell alerting their entrance, "a bookshop."

Tina trailed in after them, but her eyes were taken with the series of books on the sleeves. Picking up one she read:

"Radon: The Silent Killer"

What an odd book. She was flipping though it when a voice caught her attention.

"I was expecting you." A petite red haired woman stood by the counter, a feather duster poking out her apron. She was dressed bright coordinating colors that made Kurt's approval as he nodded after taking a second glance at her shoes. "I'm Emma Pillsbury."

"Schue sent you a letter?" Mercedes asked.

"Oh no, he usually doesn't," the bookkeeper said with a bright smile, "He mentioned his students were on quest and I summoned you here. I hope you don't mind," she added oblivious to the looks Kurt and Mercedes were exchanging.

The bookkeeper waved the feather duster around and the books stacked on the counter zoomed around to their proper places. Tina jumped as one politely coughed before joining its companions. "You're welcomed to read it just make sure you put it back. My assistant just alphabetized them by author and color." She smiled as Tina shut the book almost shoving back on the shelf. "What'll you'll need is in the back."

Nodding at her, Mercedes and Kurt followed Ms. Pillsbury into the back, leaving her surrounded with a stack of books.

Idly Tina ran her fingers along the titles. It had been far too long since she had book to read. Although she had learned how to read Common to be able to decipher maps and labels, she had yet to read a lengthy novel as she did back home.

The thought of home made her flinch for a moment as she fought back the memories of what caused her to leave.

"If you're looking for light reading there's always the Chronic Lady, it's a swashbuckler."

This time Tina truly jumped bumping into the bookshelf, but luckily the shelf was so weighed down by books it didn't even budge.

As she turned her head to see the source of the intruding voice, she found her facing a vaguely familiar face across the shop.

"Sorry," he said pushing his glasses up with one hand as he shifted the box of books in his arms. "It's you again," Artie gestured wildly at one of the stacks, "the books of magic are over there."

He disappeared once again into the backroom, leaving quickly as he came. Tina replaced the book in her hand and continued to look around the rest of the shop with even more interest than before.

She moved purposely to the stack Artie had gestured to and stared it down. While many of the books were quite unusual in both title and subject matter, Tina couldn't help but think with there was more. Books as she knew from experience hid more than they revealed. No one looked at books and there were far too many unusual titles for them to be just here. Real bookshops didn't hold such novelty titles. They had thick histories, and long sagas, and their shopkeepers were definitely not witches. But that was clearly what Ms. Pillsbury was given by the careless way she waved the feather duster around and given that Artie was here.

Picking up the title Artie and recommended, Tina discreetly began to look behind the books, and a pulled out a smaller palm size novel that despite its lack of title revealed exactly what it was by the pentagram engraved in it.

"It was very nice of you to come by. Can't you stay for the night? It's the least I can do for summoning you so."

Tina quickly shoved the smaller book in her bag, and replaced the other on the shelf as the voices grew nearer.

The witch masquerading as a bookkeeper smiled over at Tina, as her friends entered behind her. "Did you see anything you like? You can take them without cost since you're Will's student."

"No need," Tina said shaking her head, the small book burning a hole in her bag "I didn't see anything interesting."

"Artie," Ms. Pillsbury said reprovingly to her assistant. He had reappeared at the door, a notepad in hand, "when there are customers you need to interact with them."

He frowned pushing his glasses up, "you said because we hardly ever have customers that you wanted me to rearrange-"

"What would you like for dinner?" Ms. Pillsbury interrupted clapping her hands, "I love having company over!"

Behind her, Artie leaned against the doorway turning over a page in the pad priming himself to write.

"We'll have lamb, or maybe goose, unless you don't eat meat, which I can perfectly see since I don't eat beef-"

"Goose is on sale," Artie interrupted quietly, "and won't take that long to dress."

"I'm so glad I bought that new tablecloth, it's the exact shade of periwinkle as my curtains," Ms. Pillsbury added, "oh and since you're staying the night the guest rooms will be made up."

"Actually-" Tina started but Kurt stepped on her foot.

"Thank you very much for your kind offer."

As Ms. Pillsbury gave her assistant further instructions on what to get from market and how to prepare the house, Tina pulled her friends back into a more discreet corner.

"What are you doing, didn't you just say you didn't want to stay too long?"

"It's free food and board," Mercedes interjected, "I'm not arguing that."

Tina crossed her arms looking between the pair. Mercedes was meeting her gaze, while Kurt as looking off at the books, mouthing some title.

"What happened in the backroom, what did you learn? What did she give you?"

"This and that," Kurt said airily.

"There some serious twat going on," Mercedes confided, "She's a Witch."

"I knew that," Tina said offended. She was the one who had to constantly remind them what they can and can do due to the elemental typologies.

"Not just a witch," Kurt added, "a Witch, as in one of the Four. The Good Witch of the South."

Tina slowly felt her patience draining. "The Good Witch of the South owns a bookshop, and," Tina watched as their bubbly hostess absently wiped clean a doorknob before entering, "is neat enough to be cursed?"

"I know people," Kurt said, "and I know people who know people. I met the Good Witch of the North-"

"Who gave you a dodgy wand," Mercedes interjected.

"And I'm fairly certain she's the one for the South, despite the fact she's not in her domain. Schue knows all the witches personally."

Tina laughed, "When you say it like that you make it sound like he's some kind of Casanova."

Kurt quirked his eyebrow, and didn't answer her letting his silence answer her questions.

Dinner was a pleasant affair, and over roasted goose and various foods that Tina was vaguely familiar with. She was struck however by the fact none of the food was touching on the plates as if there was invisible barrier locking even the most liquid of foods in place. She tempted almost to test it, but given the glare Kurt gave her decided against it.

Ms. Pillsbury chattered on, so much that they needn't interject too much into the conversation. Tina did however notice that Artie didn't join him despite Ms. Pillsbury trying to convince him.

He claimed he had to finish up the setting up the rooms, but Tina thought there was some else, given how he walking gingerly around the room with the staff as he went up the stairs.

"Your assistant," she asked Ms. Pillsbury as she placed dessert on the table, "he didn't stay."

"He tries to stay busy," Ms. Pillsbury said at once, "He lost him memory some time ago, and he's staying with me until he gets some of it back." She smiled brightly in a way that put an end to the conversation.

"How do you know the Grand Vizier?" Tina persisted, ignoring her friends looks as Ms. Pillsbury's expression melted into bliss.

"From a long time ago. I helped him when word got loose someone was shipping drugs across the border."

"The Vitamin D scandal?" Kurt said impressed.

"Vitamin D?" Mercedes asked.

"You didn't hear?" Kurt said surprised, he leaned back in his chair, reveling in being the keeper of the tale. "It raises the performance ability on those who take it. It has a particular effect on magic users creating great power but damages the body along the way."

"It's contraband," Ms. Pillsbury replied, "because of the other kingdoms strong in the powers of Glee. Particularly Carmel."

"You knew?" Mercedes said.

Ms. Pillsbury nodded resting her chin on her hands, "I knew the moment you stepped in. It's very dangerous at the border, I'm surprised Will set you on quest during this time with that distasteful Sylvester trying to change things."

"We're more than competent," Mercedes said as Kurt added:

"We're just dead weight anyway."

"Explain," Ms. Pillsbury said through the awkward silence.

"Schue has a very focused idea of how he wants to use magic in the kingdom," Tina said quickly.

Kurt scoffed, "that's putting it generously." As he spoke, Artie reappeared taking the plates of the table, going one by one trying not to let his feet drag. "Schue wants us to find Rachel Berry, the most powerful enchantress McKinley had ever produced. Her skills apparently is greater than the three of us combined and making her ideal not just protect the king, but save the kingdom from whatever forces of evil that decides to bully us.

"Actually Schue's designs are around neutral magic," Tina persisted. "From what I read in his notes, Rachel has an affinity with neutral and we're too unbalanced with elemental, if we had water affinity on our side we would have to…"

"This Vitamin D stuff," Mercedes interrupted hastily, "it hadn't happened long ago?"

"About four years ago, but still it's quite the news," Ms. Pillsbury said, "given with what happened with Ryerson it's enough to motivate Will to do something."

"And what would that be?"

Ms. Pillsbury eyes widened even more if it was possible, "to look at internal politics. Black markets. Wizard mercenaries. Foolhardy youths."

"Or decimate their magicians, and lessen the need for McKinley to have their own," Mercedes whispered. "This stuff kills too doesn't it?"

"All it has is the potential for trouble," Kurt said thoughtfully, "but anyway it'll make the magic users look bad and push for a focus on full militia support, even if it already didn't have it. And don't forget anti-magic bill in the works. Sylvester can benefit a lot from that. It's like slicing the apple fully with one cut, genius."

"Not necessarily, it might make the army vulnerable to attack."

They all looked up at Ms. Pillsbury's assistant, who turned and quickly apologized taking the dirty dishes out the room.

Ms. Pillsbury placed her folded napkin on the table and rose to her feet. "I'll show you where you'll be spending the night."

Mercedes went straight to bed, citing she was going to take as much advantage as she could about the bed. She was such a sound sleeper it was no surprise to Tina that it was not very long until her friend started muttering about colorful zebras. After listening to the diatribe that went on for some time, Tina turned the light back on.

Ms Pillsbury had given them a farseer. It didn't appear to be enchanted at all, as neither her initial probing spells yield results, not even when she foolhardily held it up to her eye.

Sighing, she tucked it away just as she heard a knock on the door.

Meeting Kurt on the landing, she folded her arms watching as he paced a bit.

"Her assistant looks familiar," Kurt blurted out.

Tina blinked. "You know lots of people though."

Kurt waved his hands not even meaning the gestured as he brushed his hair back. "You weren't looking. He walks funny, talks weird, and dresses like an old man. There aren't many people around like that."

"Again with the clothes," Tina joked and when Kurt failed to crack a smile she asked, "what's really bothering you? Who does he remind you of?"

Kurt shook his head. "I don't know. I'm going to get some fresh air."

He swept down the stairs, and Tina followed hesitantly after him to the dimly lit main floor. Even though the door gently slammed after him, Tina hesitated as she heard a crash behind her.

The doors to the kitchen where slightly ajar and water pooled out to the carpet only to be retracted at the last moment.

Tina pushed opened the door to see Artie tossing the pot back into the sink while a water ball hovered over his head. He whistled softly to himself as he guided the water slowly back into the sink.

"I knew it! It was you who slipped up those goons!"

The water bubble popped over his head, and he slipped grabbing onto the counter.

"Sorry," She said, "can I help-"

But he shook his head, "It's just water," he said looking at his wet sleeve, looking at her unblinkingly, "you're hair's blue. Mostly that is."

Absently, Tina touched the blue streaks in her hair, realizing her hair had fallen from her customary bun. As a hereditary symbol of her clan that no amount of dye could hide, Tina had taken to painstakingly arranging her hair to hide the streaks to better protect her identity. For a moment she panicked wondering if Kurt had noticed, hopefully had been too agitated and the hall too dark.

"It's nice, your hair I mean."

Tina's lips twitched a bit into a smile, until she caught herself. "You hung around when we're talking about Glee," Tina said as she quickly put her hair back up, "I think you know something."

"Not really." He pulled up a stool, and picked up the staff resting against the counter and began to twirl it. "I don't really remember much of anything before I arrived here. But I do remember," he stopped spinning the staff pointed an end at her, "you took a book from the shop." Tina stiffened, "I was reading that one. Have you started it yet?"

As Artie smiled, Tina slumped in relief.

"You're not going to tell Ms. Pillsbury?"

"She wouldn't notice. She actually has been sending them out."

"Where?"

He shrugged.

"You don't know do you?" Tina asked.

He didn't say anything and they settled in the silence that he seemed not inclined to break. In an effort to get conversation started at again she looked down at the slightly damp floor.

"Can you sing?" Tina asked in a rush, "you were doing water magic."

He stopped spinning the staff once again, his expression hard to read. "I'm familiar with the Power of Glee, but shouldn't you ask the others if you wanted to add a fourth member first?" Artie asked gesturing with the staff.

Tina spun around to see Mercedes standing in the doorway, her face set in an unreadable expression.

"Excuse me," Tina muttered as she went out to hall.

The door wasn't slid shut when Mercedes went off.

"What did you tell you Kurt? He woke me up!" she hissed

"Nothing, he's acting odd, like he has secrets."

"We all have secrets, but don't start him up on something. I'm not a happy sleeper. Besides," she added glancing at the kitchen, "what are you doing down here are you that desperate to recruit someone?"

"I'm not desperate," Tina said quickly, "I saw him manipulate the water, he could round out group. Not to mention he seems to know about other sources of magic-"

Mercedes wasn't impressed. Her eyebrow lifted up the same way she had when Kurt revealed what he spent his portion of his share of the money on an exotic feather boa. "You said that with the juggler."

"I did."

"The dishwasher."

"I know."

"And the homeless man-"

"I know Mercedes!" Tina interrupted before her friend could add anything else, "but I have a good feeling about this. You and Kurt were saying Ms. Pillsbury is the Good Witch of the South. If she's that good with magic certainly she would have other motivations for taking him in?"

"Can he sing?"

Tina hesitated. Mercedes grinned impishly as she dragged her back into kitchen. "Let's find out."

Artie was still seated on the stool and didn't look to surprise when Mercedes asked him about magic.

Tina just stood back and let Mercedes plow on, as she gave him the summary of their quest and the problems their group faced having three elements that were unbalanced. As Mercedes talked, Tina just watched for Artie's reactions and a suspicion began to form that he might have been stretching the truth about not being from McKinley, or anywhere it seemed on the continent.

"You never heard about the Cherrios?" Mercedes said slowly, "have you been living under a rock?"

"Actually," he began only to stop, rubbing his neck. "I don't remember."

Tina opened her mouth to intervene when Mercedes said instead, "If you don't remember that, then it's pointless to tell you to sing something." She began to snap her fingers to a beat, "repeat back what I'm going to sing, alright?"

She began and Tina's felt the usual rush of power whenever Mercedes sang, but it was purposely toned down as she sang quietly to not to rattle the pots.

Without waiting for the indication to start, Artie sung back the verses.

Tina would like to stay to say the pipes bursts, or Mercedes was shocked enough to stop snapping, but the truth was that his more than serviceable baritone wasn't a shock but felt a like puzzle piece falling into place. It felt right, elemental compatibility aside. Seamlessly she joined into the song, twisting the magical structure into a lock, acting as a barrier to earth and water magic streaming about.

Mercedes was smiling as she kept singing, the exercise long turn into something else, that smile enough to seal the deal.

"I feel like I'm being left out."

Or not.

Kurt was in the doorway, and although he wasn't aiming an arrow at any of them the look of he was giving them was sharp enough.

"It seems like he has an affinity with water." Mercedes said quickly.

"I heard." Kurt narrowed his eyes at Artie. "What's wrong with your legs?"

"Kurt!"

"It's a perfectly good question," Kurt said nonplussed. "He'll be traveling with us, and I don't like horses, one once mistook my cashmere sweater for hay." He shook him looking down at Artie, "So?"

Artie obliged him, hopping off the stool, holding both hands up as well as the staff in his left, "I can't dance without tripping over my feet, but I won't slow you down. You don't sound much in a rush to find this Rachel person anyway."

"She's the definition of a Diva but by Gaga, she's talented," Kurt grumbled.

Artie sat back down, and Tina was certain she was only one who say him grab onto the stool a bit tighter than he needed to.

"Why did she make herself so hard to be found?" Artie asked.

"A few years ago," Kurt began, "Schue brought in new students, including the Duke of Hudson, Lady Fabray. Rachel, well she fell for the Duke despite her being the daughter of Berry harvesters. Magic doesn't really matter to nobility."

"Love triangle," Artie said with a laugh.

"Love square," Mercedes corrected, "the Duke's had a knight companion that might have hooked up with one or both of them."

"Probably both, wouldn't put it pass him, "Kurt remarked.

"Why didn't I hear about this?" Tina asked.

"Do you even care about it?" Kurt pointed out.

"No, but the way you're throwing their titles makes it sound like you know better than you said you did."

Kurt's eyes darted away, "I'm just a gossip."

"They did always talk to you in a very familiar way," Mercedes said thoughtfully.

"The Duke of Hudson is a very powerful name," Kurt said firmly, "everyone knows it."

"I don't." Artie said raising a hand.

Kurt rolled his eyes, "you don't count-"

"Artie."

"Right," Kurt said breezily, "we'll leave in the morning. Ms. Pillsbury told me to expect an addition to travel party soon, so you must be it. Pack and be prepared to leave. If you have any more of those sweater vests I will burn them."

As Kurt flounced out, Mercedes added good naturally, "he will too, his element if fire."

"You're earth," Artie said gesturing to her and then turning to Tina, "and you're air."

They nodded.

"That's very interesting," Artie said thoughtfully, "I read a book on elemental theory. This could be fun."

Tina perked up, "by which author? Because there is some that don't have a clue about what they're talking about."

Behind her, Tina heard Mercedes chuckle, "looks like he'll fit in just fine."