[4]
There was some benefit in being an exile in the kingdom, particularly when then was small group of them. They become your family, your support group, and easy to procure favors from. In this case even though they hadn't talked in quite some time, Matt Rutherford was more than willingly to open both his home and resources to her when she dropped by unannounced.
"Missy M," he said as embraced her warmly, "it's been much too long. You never should have left to learn under the Grand Vizier, I miss your visits. How have you been?"
"Well enough, friend, well enough." Mercedes said returning his fond gesture. She looked back at her friends standing in the parlor. Tina's eyes were respectively glancing down at her feet, Kurt was closely surveying the imported carpets and furniture, while Artie was poking around with absently with his staff. "These are my companions. I hope they won't bother you."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Rutherford," Tina said as they shook hands.
"Please," he said with grin, "any friends of Mercedes are friends of mine, call me Matt."
"Well then Matt," Artie gestured to where a door opened to the library, "mind if we poke our heads-"
"Not at all," Matt said quickly turning to Mercedes, "my house is open as long as you plan on staying."
"Depending on how you can help me," Mercedes replied. She hooked her arm into his walking along the hall, leading to where the double doors opened to the garden. "You painted portraits for most of the noble families in the kingdoms surely you know some event or ball occurring."
"I have," Matt replied, "and I told you more than once if you wanted to paint portraits as well you're more than welcome."
"I'll consider it," Mercedes said, "but at the moment I'm interested in any free tickets you have to a ball."
"It depends," Matt said, "on who you're looking for."
"You know me," Mercedes tightened her grip playfully, "the more extravagant the better."
"Then you'll be interested in that Lady Fabray is holding a holding a Masquerade Ball in a week. Her estate is south of here off of Lake Slush. You may have seen the decorations coming in."
Mercedes grinned, "I wondering why the town was in a frenzy. I thought there some kind of spring festival going on."
Matt returned her smile adding, "It's an elaborate affair worthy of Raindance, and the masks and costumes at work mean you don't even need the help of someone like the Duke of Hudson's brother to get in."
Mercedes laughed, "Don't be silly, I studied with him, the Duke doesn't have a brother."
Matt just smiled, "Just rumors then."
He clapped his hands together, "I see your other companions have taken interest in my library, will you join them or can I show you to your rooms? And perhaps I can word to my servants what you like for costumes?"
"No need," Kurt interrupted from behind, "I can manage on my own."
He stomped off disappearing from the house, slamming the door behind him.
Mercedes tried not to flinch as she glanced over at Matt, who seemed unaffected by the show. If anything his eyes twinkled with amusement by the whole thing. Mercedes made a note to attempt to pry it out of him, though given his record of keeping quiet about things it might be rather difficult.
"Shall we-"
She shook her head and followed Kurt out to the garden where he stood in front of the sundial lost in thought.
"Is there something wrong?"
"His taste in sculpture is of suspect," Kurt said as he stared at the fountain, "I wouldn't trust him with costumes."
"You don't trust him at all." Mercedes countered.
Kurt shrugged, still not looking at her as he made the pretense of studying the garden as he walked along the brick path that cut between the interlocking flower bushes. "He imports flowers from around the kingdom, even a few outside of it. Such a waste."
"He's an old friend of mine," Mercedes replied, "and I trust him with my life."
She waited for Kurt to ask about what could have happened to gain her trust so. Closed mouth about his own past, Kurt respected her need to keep quiet about her own. But judging how bad he reacted after learning that Tina was the Dreamwalker of the Kochikaze Clans, Mercedes figured it didn't matter unless it was important.
As for Mercedes's own past she may not have glamorous past to run from, but she did have some secrets that might infringe her chances of getting a position of power in McKinley. Given the magic restriction bill the sooner they brought back Rachel, the sooner it could lead to make sure her position in the kingdom could never be shaken. She wanted security in her life even if it meant using the people she called friends to do it.
"How did an exile become the most well connected person in the kingdom?" Kurt asked finally, "I assume this is the contact you have mentioned in the past who aided us in mysterious ways."
Mercedes nodded, recalling the safe houses, and supplies, and even the insider tip that allowed them infiltrate the guard some time ago.
"I guess that mean I can trust him then,' Kurt admitted, "But not about the costumes. You recall Fabray's tendency for a spectacle, she'll probably feed doves glitter again."
"I think you tired to do that," Mercedes said as he hooked his arm into hers. "You think they'll be anything left in the stores?"
Kurt tapped his nose, "Never doubt my ability to find things, Mercedes, never doubt it."
Picking up the knives she left on the nightstand the night before, she sat on the edge of her bed and began to sharpen her sword. The blade rung each time she struck it, the sound of her childhood echoing back at her. Mike hadn't tracked them since they left that last time, and she was no longer afraid he'll do it again. If anything was made clear from their confrontation the ball was in her corner now, and it was her actions that mattered.
The clans need you.
Something flew past her window, and thinking it birds, Tina ignored it until it came back around again. Dropping the weapons, Tina leaned against the windowsill glancing out towards the garden. It was cloudy like the last three days when it rained in a steady pattern that didn't quite put Mercedes and Kurt off from going to the village shops. But there wasn't a drop of rain today since Artie sitting in the center of the garden. An orb of light circled him and occasionally he would hum out a spell striking the orb with a jet of water. Each time the water struck the light inwardly collapsed but not before rebounding the water back into in his face.
Tina watched trying to convince herself she was watching him go through the steps in remembering a spell but when he grew frustrated and limped off back to the house shaking the water out of his clothes, Tina realized she trying to delude herself.
Is he the reason you're still here?
Outsiders were frowned upon in the Clans. Even her just adapting to Outlander ways meant she risked ostracization even if she was their Dreamwalker. It was unthinkable to even consider…
She shook her head forcibly controlling her strain of thoughts. Besides none of them had a clue who Artie really was. Kurt may have mention recognizing him in the vaguest of fashions but Kurt knew lots of people and traveled as far Mercedes did, and Tina herself wasn't that good of judge of character. She was just being silly.
A knock came at the door, and jumped ripping the curtain off the ring.
"Tina," Artie called through the door, "they're back with more boxes. I thought it was just a party, we aren't staying at manor are we?"
Tina untangled herself form the curtain. "They tend to go overboard, and Matt did give them the full use of his purse. I'll be down in a bit."
She was just being silly too, she thought replacing her weapons away, silly like that little girl she thought she left behind when she ran away from the clans.
Coming downstairs, the noise from the parlor room told her friends were there waiting for her, and Kurt had already started indulging in the theatrics he channeled into other venues since they left the capital.
He stood in the middle of the parlor with boxes scattered around him, holding a leafy green outfit explaining the details of his design choice. Mercedes had a very patient expression as she fingered a beaded mask actively trying to stay quiet. Artie watched with undisguised bewilderment, mouthing along the more extravagant phrases. Settled in an arm chair adjacent to them Matt watched on with amused silence at the show.
"I thought the idea was to blend in," Artie said as Tina sneaking in grabbing a spot on the couch with her friends, "going as a wood nymph-"
"Dryad!" Kurt said crossly.
"It's just a marginally higher rank," Artie continued on waving his words aside, "but isn't a bit much to have feathered boa, it doesn't really go with it."
Kurt placed his costume to the side, and held up a plain white domino mask, "this is your costume," Kurt said pointedly to Artie, "your wardrobe is a costume itself anyway."
"Kurt, don't be like this," Mercedes chastised, but Artie didn't seemed too upset accepting the mask with a smile.
Tina had feeling it might have been the outcome that would have occurred in the first place.
"For you," Kurt turned to Tina holding up a blue dress, "I was inspired by the streaks in your hair. I would show them off, it's no use hiding your unusual heritage anymore. Most people aren't smart enough to know about it anyway. I have a box of accessories I will show you how to use accentuates your person properly."
"This is lovely," Tina cried out as she stood hold the dress against her. It was easily the most non book related expense in her possession from just holding it as well as Kurt's taste in things. "You didn't have to go through all the trouble!"
"It has to be elaborate enough to fit in with the nobles," Kurt replied. He sat down on the arm of one of the parlor's spare chairs. "We can't stand out since Quinn knows us."
Artie looked up sharply. "The way you said that, suggests bad blood."
"Why wouldn't Quinn want to talk to us?" Tina asked, "She knows us, it's not like we're going to assassinate her or something."
"Apparently," Kurt replied flatly, "news of our quest has spread, and she doesn't want us to find Rachel."
"That means she won't talk to us," Artie concluded.
"No," Kurt corrected pointing at Artie, "she'll talk to you."
"Cool your dragons," Mercedes interrupted before Tina could protest. "This sounds awfully like the time you got us to dress up in parachute pants. If Quinn's so against it, she'll probably lie no matter who talked to her."
"We're better off snooping in her rooms," Tina joked, only to grow alarmed as Kurt's eyes lit up.
"Not a bad idea."
"We're not thieves, I'm not slinking into her desk drawers for information," Mercedes grumbled.
"If we're wearing masks," Artie offered, "why would it matter?"
"Quinn studied with us," Kurt said brusquely, "she'll be able to see through any enchantments we used and have a few up her sleeves."
"What kind of friend is this?" Artie asked undertone to Tina who just shrugged.
"It's complicated," Kurt answered as he began to pace nervously in the parlor, "Quinn's threw her loyalties with the Cherrios."
"Shards," Tina swore, "Stars and shards!"
"I heard that," Mercedes said slowly, "but I didn't think it's true."
"It is," Matt said from his corner. "I heard she's one of Captain Sylvester few confidantes."
"But she liked studying with Schue," Mercedes said shaking her head, "I don't see how she could switch loyalties."
"The Lady has a reputation to think of," Kurt replied, "nor was she any good at singing."
Tina scowled at him, and he acquiesced, "Well she has a certain quality in her voice to say the least."
"You know this makes this much harder," Mercedes said, "we can't use magic as easily there. And there's bound to some guard lurking around."
"You can bet there will be guards," Tina retorted, "I never like her that much to begin with anyway, but I never expected she do this."
"The politics over the bill are dividing," Matt interjected calmly. "Given her status it's unsurprising."
"It just makes the probability of actually working out very low," Artie remarked.
"My friend," Kurt said as he rose from his chair, "you haven't been traveling with us very long if you don't know improbability is just a small matter in the grand scheme of things."
Artie narrowed his eyes watching as the golden lights floated around the garden shifting around fluttering about the costumed guests. There were werelights instead of wards, and their presence more than anything were annoying reminder of him mixing up the spells.
The lights cast a glow along the many mythical creatures, animals, gaudily dressed nobles lounging around the fountains and flowerbeds of Lady Fabray's impressive estate. He hadn't ventured inside yet, but the grounds were magnificently decorated with only a faint usage of magic. It glittered and shone with pride that reflected its owner, continuing to dazzle the guests that nibbled on the snacks provided.
Given that he wasn't running after trains or battling witches out for hire, the spells that improved his movement were holding up wonderfully enough so that as he walked through the crowd of overdressed nobles with some ease.
"Would you like a drink sir?" a servant wearing a pair of ornate horns asked as he walked by with a tray of drinks.
Artie curtly shook his head. Tina had expressed rather firmly before they left that there was high chance the drinks were laced with potion to either severely disable user's use of magic or make bright purple spots appear on their skin. How she knew of their effects was something she was tight lipped about, though Kurt told a completely different story.
He took a seat at the fountain in the center of the party watching as it revolved around him.
Kurt passed by, the leaves and greenery of his costume still a bit too flamboyant for Artie's tastes, though he had to admit it gave the other man the perfect excuse to carry his quiver of his arrows. Kurt was in the company of a dark haired young man seemingly dressed in a uniform. The ill match of his shirt and trousers indicated he wasn't one of the household and navy of the outfit pointed he wasn't one of the guard. As they walked past him Artie he thought he heard something about "red vines" though he wasn't quite sure what it meant. He never heard of a plant called that before.
Mercedes was across the garden, easily visible by the glittering golden tunic she wore. She looked quite diminutive next to a giant of a man dressed in a bright red dress of sorts. From the whispers he heard from the guests cajoling around him, that man was the Duke of Hudson, a surprise guest at the party. Although he has ties with Lady Fabray, he was the last one to weigh in on the anti-magic bill, though his stance against it was not firm. His presence at this party put to question his opinion as well as the potential sway in the bill's favor.
The Duke laughed, at something Mercedes said and she gently placed a hand on his arm leading him out the garden to inside the building.
"I'm surprised Kurt didn't mention he'll be here," Tina sat down next to him, holding a small plate covered with bits of crackers and cheese. She wore the dark blue dress that Kurt had bought for her and a beaded mask that hid half her face, which only served to enhance her quiet beauty. She popped a cracker into her mouth gesturing where Mercedes and the Duke stood. "He was the friendliest out of the four despite being the only one with a landed title."
"Kurt knows him," Artie said stretching to make a grab for a cracker, but she absently jerked the plate away.
"We all know him, you know that."
"He knows him," he repeated placing emphasis on the word. With his staff he gestured to Kurt who looking remarkably jittery as he kept craning his neck around. "Or the Duke knows something about him he is unwillingly to reveal given his reaction."
Tina nudged him in the arm, smiling beneath her mask, "you're being silly."
A curly haired man wearing a lion for a robe moved blocking their view. Although he looked utterly ridiculous he wore an expression that looked both bitter and miserable at the same.
"What would be silly," the man said, "is to dream."
Tina stiffened up, nearly dropping the tray.
"Why would you say that sir?" she asked politely.
"Dreams are highly unrealistic artifacts to place faith in," the man continued, "consider they come from the depths of the mind."
"I disagree," Tina retorted.
"Ah," the man said, "you're of those people from the Clans. I heard your dreamwalker is missing, don't you know by now it's a folly to dream?"
Tina stood up without a word, tossing the tray into the man's face before she stormed across the garden.
"Sorry," Artie said hastily as the man sputtered in distress, "it was a waste of good cheese."
He found Tina sitting in a boat at the lake's edge, absently tapping the edge with the sheathed edged her dagger.
"Be careful you might damage it."
She didn't look up before she put the dagger away, slipping it into the mysterious folds of her dress.
"You don't think I overreacted did you?"
Artie gingerly climbed into the beached boat, settling the staff at the bottom as he sat next to her. "A tad."
Tina made a face and grabbed an oar, holding it aloft for a moment too long before she pushed it against the bank sending them into the lake.
"You're trying to drown me?" Artie joked trying to keep cool as he grabbed the other oar steering them deeper into the lake.
"Not exactly, look over there."
Artie surveyed the horizon for a moment before he saw what she was gesturing to "there are people on the other bank."
"Walking from the party," Tina added, "they might be up to something."
"Or something else because people often sneak off on their own," Artie replied his words stumbling out awkwardly as she looked at him confused, "to do sneaky things."
Tina continued to stared and he abruptly looked away
"I've been meaning to ask," Tina said breaking the silence, "your pendant what does it mean?"
With his freehand, Artie pulled at the chain around his neck. When Kurt and presented him with a lack of costume, Mercedes had jokingly suggested that he wear some of the jewelry they had only when Artie remembered the necklace he had. It wasn't a diamond or any similar clear stone that was recognizable, but about the size of his thumb it was a remarkable jewel.
"It's doesn't have enchantment on it," he remarked as they continued to row, glad for the excuse not to meet her in the eye. "Miss Pillsbury ran a few tests on it, after mine turned the kettle into a cat, I stopped worrying about. It's the only thing I had with me of value but I don't have the urge not to sell it, though it's not worth much."
"My people believe that value you place in items creates an attachment to the item."
"Sentimentally?"
"More complicated than that," Tina frowned, as she stopped rowing, Artie hastily followed in suit. "It ties with the dreamweaving the item is connected to your sense of the real world, your memories even."
"Dreamweaving, you haven't mentioned that before."
Tina shrugged, "I only have a small affinity with it all things considered."
"You're probably better than you think, at least better at your shielding charms."
Tina elbowed him in the ribs, "I appreciate the compliment, and ignore the insult thank you very much."
They began to row in silence again, only to stop when a shadow fell over them. Or rather more precisely, Artie jumped dropping the oar into the lake as the boat slid underneath the bridge.
Tina bit her lip trying not to laugh, and Artie tried to awkwardly chuckle as he thought of spell to bring the oar back. As he did so, Tina suddenly jerked at his arm causing the boat to dangerously rock.
"What's wrong-"
She slapped a hand over his mouth as she gestured wildly above them.
A mere moment latter when a yell filled the air.
"You think that's hard! I beg to differ my annoying companion, I beg to differ. You try keeping the kingdom free of trolls, goblins, and lawyers! That's hard!"
"Oh my, that is difficult!"
The boat gently floated beyond the bridge and Artie had a brief glance at the women on the bridge. One woman had the pinched look of someone who tried too hard to stay perfectly coiffed and was drowning in silks and jewels of her extravagant costume. The other was a bit older but unlike most of the guests there was clearly not dressed for the party as she stood in a bright red uniform and carried not just a sword but a bullhorn as well.
Tina let go of him as she quickly began to row in a small circle keeping them under the direct center of the bridge. As the conversation continued it was clear neither woman was aware of them.
"You said you hit Fabray with a curse, Wicked Witch."
"Enchantment," the witch replied, "and my proper title is the Witch of East Quarter, I don't see what's so difficult about that."
"Can it baby snatcher, I'm counting on the strength of this estate, and your influence on its Lady. She's been showing resistance to my directions which will throw off not only my plans, but your future of luxury and relative peace. We cannot allow that sniveling curly haired excuse of a former husband of yours to gain Figgins's ear. One Sue Sylvester has claim on that ear since I need a few new cannons. Tell me about this curse you placed on the little…."
Their voices began to fade as they continued along bridge their footsteps indicating their departure.
"Saved," Tina dropping the oar as she sunk down into the boat.
"The Captain of the Cherrios I've been hearing about?" Artie asked, he recall the oar with a spell. It swatted him on the side of his head. Luckily Tina was staring up at the bridge and didn't notice.
"She's the most dangerous person in the kingdom. She's power hungry, manipulative, and hates magic, particularly glee influenced. And," she glanced up, "I heard she could smell fear."
"More than reason to leave the party," Artie replied.
"Without asking Quinn about Rachel?"
"Apparently there's either a curse or Quinn's being blackmailed, which makes the extraction process highly unlikely."
Tina considered his words for a bit and then nodded, "They might have been able to find something of use about this."
She went to stick the oar back into the water, but Artie stopped her. "What about the rest? The Captain sounds like she wants to force the bill into her favor."
Tina gently moved his hand off the oar. "It's not our concern. At least it's not mine. The objective is to find Rachel, politics are too messy to get involved with."
"True."
Artie picked up his oar and looked over at the bank where the party was still proceeding. "Rowing back will take too long, unless we had a boost."
Artie whistled a tune, and the water leapt up into rolling waves sending them sailing across the lake.
To give her credit, Tina didn't scream, though Artie was quite sure she nearly pushed in back into the lake when they got to the other side.
If anything in their absence the crowd had grown thicker, and livelier.
"Looks likes everyone's drunk," Artie remarked.
"That's good for us," Tina said hooking her arm into his. "No time for the staff, lean on me, we'll get through this faster."
If he had stumbled at first, Tina didn't seem to notice more than usual, as they made their way through the crowd to the main building. Artie coughed as a puff of smoke blasted into his face from the few other nobles who had migrated similarly inside, but as the bottles and clouds of smoke indicated otherwise, not for benign purposes.
Wordlessly they split up, checking the various interlocking room for any sign of their friends. The first few times revealed empty rooms, and one with its occupants in a comprising position.
"Sorry didn't a see a thing," Artie said as quipped quickly as the men tried to the duck behind the sheets, "though I didn't think that was possible." He shut the door as the shoe was thrown at him.
As Artie was putting enough distance between him and the room, Tina came up to him with a defeated expression on her face and dark stain on her dress.
"I can't find them at all, and I got punch thrown at me. I'm starting to think," Tina "I was think it might be better to go outside and cast a flare."
"Wouldn't that draw attention from Sylvester because of the magical backwash?"
"I think it's a chance we have to take, if the Witch of the East put a spell on Quinn and that means they might be in trouble."
"There can't be a problem, there wasn't any-"
Artie's words trailed off as he recalled the ride back across the lake.
"That was a miscalculation." Artie muttered as Tina moaned.
"No kidding," Tina crossed her arms looking at him sternly, "something could have happened to them around that time and if something did-"
"Your friends are upstairs."
Artie recognized the man that Kurt was conversing with earlier, though he was missing the hat he was sporting with at that time.
"You are Kurt's friends right?" he added hesitantly, "he seemed concerned, said something gone wrong with a spell."
Tina nearly knocked the man over as she took the stairs two at a time despite her heels.
"I'm Artie, she's Tina." Artie added as he hurried the best he could up the stairs.
"Blaine," The man said as he followed.
"Delighted."
Artie found his friends in a small bedroom overlooking the garden.
Mercedes was looking slightly stunned from her perch on the bed while Tina waved her spoon necklace in front her. Kurt paced in the room, looking less and less like a careless wood nymph.
Pulling the mask off his face, he readjusted his glasses as Artie asked, "How bad is the enchantment?"
"Bad enough," Kurt said through gritted teeth, "It's poorly done though, I felt the ripple effect and came running."
"Quinn's has a weak voice," Tina said as the spoon began to glow from her ministrations, "I can mess with it easily."
Artie nodded and he went to look at the courtyard. He quickly spotted the Duke Hudson and Lady Fabray at the edge of garden, and Guard Captain Sylvester making a beeline towards them.
He wondered if the spell meant that Quinn knew they were there and was either going to unleash the bag of pixies or she try to spare them the wrath of the Guard Captain. Either way the distance lessening between them was as alarming as red attired figures slowly infiltrated the grounds.
"I'm fine," Mercedes mumbled, breaking Artie's train of thought. Kurt darted to her side, joining Tina.
Blaine stood by awkwardly by the door watching them.
"You're not fine, you're still in a bit daze, I got most of it off but-"
"I'm fine!" Mercedes exclaimed jerking away from them, "I don't need your help, and stop trying to get me to eat you!"
"Hold up," Artie said looking away from the window, "did she just say she wants to eat us?"
"It's the spell talking," Tina said placing her hands on Mercedes's shoulders, "but she'll be fine in a few moments."
"I don't think we have time," Artie glancing back at the window, "I think we're about to have a raid."
Kurt swore softly under his breath with a quite a few colorful terms that seem in contrast to his impeccable exterior, as he joined Artie by the window.
"You two need to go," Kurt said nodding to Blaine, "we'll get Mercedes out."
"We'll make a distraction," Tina said firmly, "we're not leaving you behind."
"You better not," Kurt replied, as he opened the window, "go and make your usual grand entrance."
Artie looked skeptically at the window at Tina kicked off her shoes. "Are we going to jump?"
"Fly."
"Is that a bit risky-" was all Artie managed to say before she pushed him out the window.
The first occasion in which Tina had found her in a tight spot with the Cherrios she had faded into the background letting Mercedes take of things. She had the talent for such things and people tended to respond better to brute force anyway. But now it was time to return the favor.
The moment her feet touched the ground, she spun around sending a rush of wind into the air. Several of the guests were gently buoyed to the exterior, but more importantly it was like she set off fireworks in the middle of the party.
"Pardon me, excuse me," she muttered and elbowed her way through the crowd holding on to one of her daggers, and not drawing them as she jumped up hardening the air under her feet as she leapt over the crowd. Even as she dodged the first arrows sent her way, she remembered she wasn't doing this alone anymore.
She needn't worry though, the crowd parted as a wave of water sent them running as the fountain exploded.
"Very good idea," she said to Artie as he strolled through the water, looking out of sorts.
"That was an accident." He muttered at his drenched clothes.
"A very good one we just got ourselves-"
Tina flipped her knife out as she caught sight of the rotund man standing before them.
He looked slightly out of place with the dark smock and badge over his clothes holding a broomstick in front of him like a sword. But there was something about him that stopped Tina from taking him out like the rest of the guards.
"Terri said not to let anyone pass," he said slowly.
"But we're not anyone," Tina said quickly putting a finger of the vague sense of where she knew him from at his words, "we're someone."
The guard lowered the broom, and stood aside, "you can pass them."
Tina calmly made her away around Howard Bamboo going into the blocked off path.
"He's not too bright," Artie remarked as the passed the garden wall.
"It's part of his charm," Tina began only to stop short, finally throwing her knife into the air.
"You little blue haired witch!" Terri hissed as she held a hand to her face, "you cut my hair!"
"Good to see you remembered me," Tina replied already reaching for her second dagger, "move away or you'll get wet." She nudged her head at Artie who belatedly took an offensive stance.
Terri laughed as she stepped away revealing Quinn and Finn. Quinn's eyes were glassy as she sat on the bench her head resting against Finn's shoulders who looked even more ridiculous with his boggled expression.
She tapped her wand against her hand, "Don't think I'll let you get off easy this time, I don't care who you work for!"
Flipping her hair over her shoulder Terri raised the wand, just as a small downpour unleashed over her head.
She screeched and she stamped her foot as she covered her face with her hands. "Howard get the carriage, my clothes are ruined we need to get out of here before I start to melt! Howard get over here!"
Terri stormed off, her helper lurking at her heels dragging the broom behind him.
"That actually worked," Artie remarked surprised. Tina didn't bother asking if it was about the spell or getting rid of the witch as she went over to Quinn and Finn.
She sung softly piercing the loose confines of the spell.
Finn sat at once, his eyes lighting up nearly knocking Quinn over.
"By George it's a beautiful day. I got a really good feeling about this. Let's run through the spell, and after that we can build a home for gnomes!"
"Bacon," Quinn murmured beside him as she stirred, "she wouldn't let me have bacon."
"Dear gods," Artie muttered, "what with all the delusion spells!"
"Lady Fabray, Duke Hudson," Tina said formally, "are you alright? What did the Witch of the East do to you?"
"Nothing," Quinn's eyes grew hard a she drew herself up, shaking of the remnants of the spell "and as kind as is for you three-"
"Four," Artie corrected as he half raised his hand. She glowered and he looked away poking his staff at the ground.
"…to visit," Quinn finished crisply as if she was never interrupted in the first place, "as I told Miss Jones it's best you forget about finding Enchantress Berry, she will not be welcomed back."
"That's pretty firm coming from the person who just cast a spell on a guest," Tina retorted.
"And I'll do it to you next," Quinn said, "but you're expecting it."
"Not exactly, placing that spell on Mercedes was taxing," Artie observed, and Tina nodded along flashing a smile of triumph at Quinn, "it's why the witch got both you and the Duke."
Quinn's eyes darted over to Artie once more, this time with interest, "Who is this? He wasn't with you before but he looks familiar."
"None of your concern," Tina said, "Tell us where Rachel went or what made her leave."
"I don't respond to threats, nor would I tell if you asked politely."
"I made her leave," Finn said sluggishly. "I told the truth and lied at the same time."
"About what?" Tina pressed pointing a knife at Quinn before she could shush him. "Lied about what?"
If she had time she would have worked harder to lessen the spell she could have instead she let him painfully drag the words about.
"I told her that her voice was all that mattered. But I was wrong she would have never gone with Puck if she did."
Puckerman. Tina almost groaned as Finn fell backwards onto the grass in a dead faint. She was hoping they wouldn't have to go looking for him. That's all the information they'd get from here. Guess she figured wrong.
Quinn smirked. "Good luck finding that failure, and get off my property before I alert the Cherrios." She gestured at the pendant at her throat. "Sylvester had been itching to get Mercedes and Kurt ever since they deflected."
Tina lowered the knife slightly. "Deflected?" she asked, "when were they on the Guard?"
"They didn't tell you?" Quinn asked sweetly. "Well we all have our secrets," she leapt to her feet knocking the dagger out of Tina's hand before she could react, "I strongly suggest you get out of here since even your blades of equality won't save you. Or your friend."
She dragged the word slowly, and if their history and her title weren't enough Tina might have turned her into a frog.
"What do you mean Ladyface is here!"
The roar sent both of them flying, but Tina moved quicker running back grabbing her knives and she shoved Artie forward.
"That's –"
"I know!" she interrupted, "I told you she could smell fear!"
She urged him on, but he stopped clapping his hands together, humming a spell. An ice wall formed along the hedges, right as Sylvester ran up with her miniature version of herself at her side . From the yell on the other side about greasy haired wizards, it seemed to be holding up.
"It's not going to last," Tina said as they turned away.
"It'll be enough until we find the others-"
A motored powered car roared through the gate, and spun sharply to a stop in front of them.
"Don't ask questions," Kurt said leaning his head out the window, "get inside!"
They scrambled inside squeezing next to Mercedes who while not as spell shocked as before lacked her particular brand of fire.
"What's going on?" Tina said as the car reared backwards just as Captain Sylvester caught sight of them.
She peered over the bench to see Blaine at the wheel, seemingly unperturbed by the fact of the Cherrios guard was after them.
"I can go as far the town limits, but after that you're on your own," Blaine said pulling a lever. A blast of light appeared out the trunk striking the guards. "I would sit if I were you," he added to Artie who was looking out the window in interest, "I can't see."
"There's a charm on this car isn't there?" Artie asked as blast took better aim and he ducked barely missing it.
Mercedes had rolled her eyes. "For the love of the divine powers that be you're going to be death of us! All this fool masquerading- wait!" She leaned forward tapping Kurt on the arm, "go back, we have to go to Matt's!"
"I know he's your friend," Kurt said quickly, "you said yourself he knows how to disappear."
"Not that you idiot, our stuff is there, including the wardrobe you nearly killed me to get!"
There was sharp intake from the front and Kurt quickly gave Blaine directions of the house.
"And after that?" Blaine asked spinning the wheel, causing the car to title sideways as the rolled between a wagon and fence. "Where are you going?"
"To find," Tina said, "the knight errant."
"You better not be talking about who I think you are," Mercedes said vehemently. "He's an ass, and a cheat."
"Not to mention," Kurt said dryly, "he threw me in rubbish bins when we were younger."
"You said knight," Artie asked, "but it doesn't sound like that to me."
"Puck was a Knight housed in the Hudson duchy," Mercedes said, "until certain events-"
"Robbing a bank and hijacking a caravan, placing a noble in danger, plowing through the female population at court, and apparently he got someone with child-" Kurt cut in breezily.
"…meant he left in disgrace," Mercedes continued, "but his notoriety makes him easy to find."