"Fairies are tiny, supernatural beings who flit around like hummingbirds on

gossamer wings and hang out with Peter Pan," said Wyrdrune. "If this guy's

got

wings, they must've come off a pterodactyl!"

"I heard that, Melvin," said Makepeace, scowling and pointing an accusatory

finger at him. "You know, a thousand years ago they would've burned you as a

witch. They would've said you communed with spirits and ate babies! They

would've said you were afraid of silver and could be burned by holy water!

They

would've said all sorts of nonsense because they didn't know any better!"

His face started turning purple. His eyes bugged out. His voice kept rising

until it reached a maniacal crescendo.

"Who the hell told you that fairies are tiny creatures who have wings?" he

screamed. "Where did you get that crap? Hans Christian Andersen? The Brothers

Grimm? Walt-bloody-fucking-Disney! What the hell do you know about fairies?"

"Right. That's it. We're leaving." Wyrdrune took Kira by the arm.

"Don't!" she said, jerking away from him. "You're not going to do it to me

again! I don't give a damn even if he does say he's a fairy! He could say

he's

Snow White for all I care! We're going to listen to what he has to say!"

"Kira, for God's sake—"

"Listen to her, Melvin," Makepeace said. "You're going to need my help."

Wyrdrune stopped and glanced at him sharply. Makepeace stood there with his

arms

folded, staring down at him imperiously.

"This had better be good," said Wyrdrune, pointing at him. "Otherwise you're

going to wish that squid had drowned you in the fountain."

Makepeace raised his bushy eyebrows. "Are you threatening a fairy?"

"All right, I'm going to count to three, Tinkerbell," said Wyrdrune, scowling

at

him. "One..."

"You're awful sure of yourself, aren't you?" Makepeace said.

"Two..."

"What the hell. Go ahead, kid. Take your best shot."

"That does it. Three!"

Wyrdrune gestured at him violently with both hands... and nothing happened.

He

frowned, mumbled a spell under bis breath, and repeated the gesture. Nothing.

"Was this more or less what you had in mind?" said Makepeace, and Wyrdrune

suddenly started to float up into the air.

"/fey!"