The Cases

John and Bae lowered the still-unconscious Robin onto the grass before the Greenwood Tree. Morraine scanned their surroundings but found nothing out of place, and once she was sure she could, she asked, "So, who is this Merlin gentleman that he mentioned?"

"Another wizard," John replied, "Very much like the one we know."

"Has our wizard ever given his name? I know Bae knows his face."

John looked at Bae, who nodded in confirmation, and then turned back to Morraine. "No, he hasn't. In his land, names are powerful."

"They are here, too, at least, as far as magic is concerned," Bae said.

"And in all honesty the same can be said for politics. If you have the right name and blood, you can get nearly anything you want."

"Sounds like home," Morraine said with a smile. "Bet you can do anything you want, too."

"In essence."

"Merlin is supposedly trapped," Bae said carefully. "According to Robin he's in a cave on the west coast."

"We'll have to wait for him to wake up and confirm his story," John replied, "but at least there were several witnesses to this event."

"So you don't trust him, either."

"Do you have a good reason why I should?"

"Sadly, no."

"Then we're all of one accord."

"Indeed we are."

"Now that that's settled," Morraine said, "we have more practical matters to deal with, or rather, just one: Gisborne."

"I'm glad you brought him up," John said.

OUAT

D snapped the rifle barrel closed and lay it against the table, letting the rag she was using fall to the table. It had been a long time since she heard that motorcycle, and she knew exactly who was riding it. She walked onto the porch and leaned against the door frame, arms folded, as August parked the bike and removed his helmet. "Let me guess," she said. "You haven't been a good boy."

"I'm afraid not," August replied. "I'm here on behalf of someone else, though. His name's Peter, and he says he lost his travel companions somewhere between the Enchanted Forest and here."

"That could be damn near anywhere."

"Exactly. I hope you don't mind my asking you for help."

"Actually, I don't, but I don't know this Peter kid from a hole in the wall. How do I know he didn't lie to you?"

"You don't."

"Do you?"

"I'm relatively certain."

"Relatively certain?"

"I'm not completely sure, but being a liar myself, I kind of know what to look for."

"And you don't think he's a liar."

"I think something about him is a little off, but I don't think it's that."

D nodded. "You still got the spare helmet?"

"Yeah."

He passed the helmet to her, and she mounted the bike behind him. "Let's go check this case out." August nodded and turned back to the road.

OUAT

Zoso had watched these developments play out just as he watched his mentor's relationship with the Water Witch unfold. They both moved like dramas, though he was certain they would have very different results.

After all, he already knew how the witch's story played out.