A Thousand and One Alibis: The Alchemical Tales, #7

Welcome

Long, long ago, a coven of witches created a world just beyond ours—a realm of fairy tales.

In Beyond, humans rub shoulders with mythical creatures, and magic mixes with science.

There are only three rules:

Happily

accept that we share the same home

Ever

remember that what you take, you must also give

After

struggle will always lead to new beginnings

So, if you are ready . . . you are welcome here.

Chapter One: Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Dearest Cinnabar,

Everyone’s so looking forward to your visit. We could use some practical alchemy around here. Turns out the island is awash with strange visitors—not that you are strange, of course, daughter, but a handful of strangers washed up on the western beach just yesterday. I’m sure you’ll meet them; you’re bound to get here before they’re in any condition to leave. As it is, none of them seems able to talk sense yet. They’ve been sharing the most extraordinary stories of shipwrecks and sabotage—quite outlandish, that’s what we thought, frankly. Too much seawater is never good for the imagination. Time will tell the truth.

And in any case, there’s no need for that to color your trip. We have so many things to show you; too many for a mere seven days, I fear. But we’ll make the best of it. You’ll probably say it all looks exactly as it did when you left twelve years ago!

Now, because I know this will reach you just before you set off, let me just add . . .

I hate it when she does that, I sighed, as I skimmed through the rest of the letter.

Does what? My long-suffering boyfriend, Luca, poked his head around a precarious pile of books. In the cozy gloom of his bookstore, his green eyes shone bright.

Pulls the divination thing on me, I said. I passed the letter to him, pointing out the sentence halfway down the page.

Luca cocked his head as he read it. I watched him in the silence. The sight of him was reassuring—the black scholars’ robes he always wore, the hood thrown back to reveal dark skin and deep green tattoos disappearing under close-cropped black hair. I even loved the ghostly, twisted horn that rose from the crown of his head—a mark of an old curse, usually hidden under his hood by magic. It made him look like he’d be more at home deep in the shadowy forest rather than in his quaint bookstore, but Luca could never be considered out of place. Through mystery and life and business, he was a pillar of positive thinking.

And even though a trip home is often considered a positive thing, I needed Luca’s cheer more than ever. I pulled my knees up to my chin and waited for his thoughts.

I don’t know, Red, he said, when at last he looked up. "Maybe she was just guessing what time the letter would get to you because she deals with the postal service a lot. You do send lots of things back and forth, and the post offices are getting better and better about predicting when things arrive."

I stuck my tongue out at him and snatched the letter back. Who gave you permission to be so rational? I thought you were supposed to be on my side.

"Usually your side is the rational one, Luca replied, his wide grin warming my heart. Are you sure this isn’t just pre-trip jitters?"

No, I’m not sure, I grumbled back. Have you picked out which books you want to bring yet? Because if you haven’t, and we miss the boat, that’s probably fine . . .

It’s not fine, Luca told me firmly. We’re going. I’m excited. I think you will be too, once we’re on the road. He disappeared behind the stacks of books again, sorting and mumbling as he read the titles to himself. In the midst of this, he added offhandedly, Did you read the rest of the letter yet? I think you’ll want to see what she goes on to say. It sounds like they might need—

Luca was cut off, unfortunately, by the chime of the bells on his shop’s front door. Before the bells had finished ringing, the interloper—William, of course—was already talking.

Just finished up with Thorn, he announced, trotting over to where we sat beside the sales counter. William, a magical creature who looked like a big black dog, was brisk and matter-of-fact. She’s going to keep an eye on Rhys and the shop for you. Because we all know how you worry, Red.

Technically I had only asked William to remind Officer Thorn that we’re going out of town for a short trip, but I should have known that would become a gossip-about-Red session. William and our local police officer were alike enough that they often butted heads, but just as often ganged up on me.

Before I could speak up in my defense, William plopped down beside me and rattled on. "Actually, she said she’d look after the shop starting now, this evening. I tried telling her we don’t leave until tomorrow morning, but she said she’d swing by anyway. I said she’s only doing that because then she has an excuse to head in the direction of Magica’s, and she said she doesn’t need an excuse to do that."

Maybe she’s just feeling left out, Luca suggested, smiling. Seeing as she has to stay behind in Belville this time.

"Too bad. Unlike the rest of us, she’s assigned to Belville, William sniffed. She can’t just go gallivanting across Beyond. Especially when it’s not to investigate a crime."

About that— Luca began.

But I was already talking; something William had said bothered me. Is it not enough that Rhys will be running the shop while I’m gone? He always does just fine. Why does she feel the need to be swinging by?

Rhys was my assistant at the shop—technically, William might count as an assistant too, but Rhys was actually interested in potions. He refused to make any without my supervision, but he knew enough to sell them and keep the books, and no doubt the store would be even cleaner when we came back than when we had left it. Plus, William adored Rhys; I found it odd that he wanted Thorn to double-check Rhys’s work.

"Because if she feels like she’s doing something here, she won’t show up in Oasis," William informed me.

Luca and I exchanged a glance before breaking into laughter. Since William and I had settled in Belville, we hadn’t managed to leave it without our friends tagging along in one way or another. When we’d gone to Seaside for a friend’s wedding, Officer Thorn had been called there too, to solve an unusual crime. And more recently when Luca had gone to a conference in Brass, Thorn had managed to have us all brought in as consultants on a big-city murder.

I doubt there’ll be any need for her to visit the Blue Desert Islands, I said, relieved. Luca, were you trying to say something earlier?

Um—I forgot, but it’ll come to me. Luca was dabbing at his eye with his sleeve, still grinning at William’s stubborn determination to have a vacation without Officer Thorn.

Can it come to you over dinner? William wagged his fluffy tail, ignoring our mirth. If you take any longer, all the good seats at Lavender’s will be gone.

You mean the corner seats at the bar, from which you can spy on everyone else in town? I winked at Luca, who was chuckling again. I could eat, definitely. Did you finish with your books?

Done, Luca declared. This was slightly worrying, because both his piles of books were equally tall. Unless he had some kind of charmed luggage, he was going to be carrying around a lot of extra weight—and volume. But, I reminded myself, that’s his choice. I’d only slipped one book and a journal into my own knapsack. I knew I’d be a little too nervous on the journey to read anyway.

"Then let’s go," William reminded us. Luca, seeing my glance at his books, was grinning at me, and I was staring back like a lovestruck ewe. Normally we managed not to be too cutesy, but that was mostly because William was there to bring us back to the real world.

William bounded out into the street, which was darkened in the twilight but alive with townsfolk walking to and fro in the summer heat. Some looked curiously at the bookstore, which had closed several hours ago. Before they could get any hopeful ideas, Luca pulled me out the front door and locked it.

As we stood on the front step, he handed something to me—the letter from my mother. He’d carefully refolded it. "Make sure you do read it, he told me kindly. You’ll be glad you did."

I sighed as we set out toward Lavender’s Tavern. You’ll be glad you did sounded more like a threat than a promise.

Chapter Two: Under Way

Now, because I know this will reach you just before you set off, let me just add a warning. One of the changes around here might shock you. Do you recall the estuary preserve on the other side of the island? An heiress from the mainland bought it just six months ago. No one has met her yet, but she is making her presence felt! I need hardly tell you, her imperious ways have not made her popular in Wellspring. She outright banned the stranded sailors from her property, which has raised more than a few eyebrows, I’m sure you can imagine. And no one can quite figure out how she bought the preserve in the first place, since no one will admit to selling the land. Some believe she’s committed some kind of fraud. With all your worldly experience with crime these days, don’t be surprised if our neighbors ask your opinion—just mind you’re careful what you say! She must have piles of money, and whenever such treasure is involved, even the smallest mistakes can lead to disaster.

But enough of my doom and gloom. Aly and I are so looking forward to your visit, dearest daughter. You need but say the word and we’ll be at the marina to meet you—but, failing that, we’ll be eagerly waiting at home!

Love,

Zady

Ididn’t really focus on the second half of my mother’s letter until we were on the train, rattling toward the coast.

Our friends in Belville had ended up throwing us an impromptu farewell party at Lavender’s the night before, and then—naturally—Officer Thorn had insisted on marching us down to the docks herself. (Fortunately, she’d also brought us breakfast pastries and liquid caffeine, so I could only roll my eyes and smile at her enthusiasm. I think William spent those ten minutes in terror that at the last second, she’d announce she was joining us!) From little alpine Belville, we took a ferry to Pine. Pine, right across the lake from our home town, was the Pastoria County seat and therefore busy. It was still by no means a city, but it was a useful transportation hub. We’d had just enough time to run through town to the train station, where we managed to catch the brand new high-speed line to the eastern coast.

It may have been powered by magic and smooth as glass, but on the inside, the train felt old-timey and comfortable. Luca, William, and I had a compartment to ourselves. Luca sprawled across one padded bench with his chin in his hands and his nose pressed against the window. I leaned against the window opposite him, while William had opted to curl up on the burgundy carpet between us and go back to sleep. Our luggage was stowed safely on the racks above our heads, but I still had my knapsack at my side—and, therefore, the letter.

Luca must have felt my eyes on him when I finally lifted my head. He turned my way. Did you just now read it?

"I did skim it before, I protested vaguely. But there were so many other things to think about, setting up the shop and cleaning the apartment and all. So . . . Yes, I just now read it."

After considering me for a moment solemnly, Luca swung his feet around and sat up, leaning back against the wood-paneled wall. Want to talk about it?

No. Yes. I sighed over the word, smiling ruefully at him. We both knew I had trouble talking about my feelings, and he had been supportive as I tried to work on it. "I’m not sure what to think about it. All the ‘doom and gloom’ and heiresses and mysterious shipwrecked sailors. I never would’ve thought that estuary could be bought. But I also don’t want to know about any of that. I don’t want to get involved in local politics. This is just supposed to be about you meeting everyone, you know?"

I know, Luca agreed, green eyes warm and understanding.

I just—it’s just a lot. And maybe it’s nothing. Like I said, I don’t know what to think, I admitted.

Maybe it’s not something you need to think about, Red, Luca suggested. "Sometimes we just feel things."

I let my eyes drift out the window, to the sunrise-kissed forests passing in a gilded green blur. There was not a cloud in the sky. Another gorgeous summer day. When I looked back at Luca with a sour face, he chuckled.

His amusement made me laugh, too, at my own stubbornness. I get it. That’s something Zady would say, by the way. You all are going to get along like a house on fire.

Preferably with no arson involved, Luca quipped lightly. You know I’ve been looking forward to this trip forever, Red.

Yeah. Still, it made me blush. Luca told everyone that he’d liked me from the moment we met. It had taken me considerably longer to understand my own feelings for someone I thought of as a best friend.

It wasn’t like I’d eschewed relationships and feelings when I’d taken up science and alchemy. I prided myself on not filling the stereotype of lofty, arrogant, lonely scholar. And yet . . . leaving home to become an apprentice, and then traveling for years as I honed my craft, had been lonely. I’d had William with me during my traveling years, of course, but he could be just as reserved as I often was. Luca’s unprepossessing charm and kindness had been a blessing to us both.

Ironic, perhaps, since Luca himself had lived most of his life under a curse. But I didn’t think of him as cursed at all. In fact, I felt the opposite as I said impulsively, "Luca, you don’t—you don’t think there’s something wrong with me? With me being away for twelve years, I mean?"

On the floor between us, William stirred. You mean with you studying a craft, working nonstop for nearly a decade to build up savings and a reputation, and then pouring your energy into achieving your dream of setting up a shop? He rumbled.

Luca leaned forward over his knees. What he said. You’ve been busy. And also—

"If anything’s wrong with you, it’s that you never take any breaks. Let alone a week to cross the continent and an ocean," William added.

I thought you were sleeping, I told him, sticking out my tongue even as I grinned. "Clearly you still manage to take breaks."

Someone here has to, he grumbled.

And also, Luca repeated firmly, amusement clear on his face, there’s nothing wrong with you, Red. You just are who you are, and we love you for it. And we all know what it’s like to have a complicated past. William and I especially.

Over the past winter, we’d had a dramatic run-in with someone from William’s past. Reminded of it, I bent down to ruffle his fluffy ears. He endured the affection, proving that he also felt the emotion in Luca’s sentiment.

There’s nothing wrong with them, I said, meaning my family. It’s just . . . a legacy that I’ve never been a part of. The Seer thing, it’s a big deal. And I could never do it.

"But you can see things others don’t," Luca said very softly.

I met his gaze gratefully, and with another blush. The odd ghost-like creature or creative solution, I will grant you. But that hardly counts as divination, and you know it.

There’s a lot of kinds of divination, William pointed out. He seemed focused on a spot on the floor.

Luca lit with a scholarly interest. I’m familiar with the idea from books, of course. Seeing into the future—there are a lot of ways people have tried to do that, historically speaking. I’ve never wanted to press you on it, he added, but seeing as we’re on the subject, would you mind explaining exactly what your family does, Red?

He’d never pressed me on it because he was literally the sweetest person I knew. The truth was, I wore all my secrets on my sleeve, and I saw now how frustratingly tempting that might be for those closest to me. Underneath my alchemical goggles and lab coats, I had the bronze skin and straight black hair of the Blue Desert Islands—hair interspersed with iridescent strands, mind you, which I avoided ever mentioning, thereby forcing my friends to do the same. They’d also tactfully avoided ever pressing the fact that, despite my claim to having no magic, I was incredibly fleet-footed. All to do with my heritage . . .

Now it was my turn to lean back and be thoughtful. "You’re right, now is definitely the time. I don’t want you to be caught off guard, either of you. It’s just been a long time since I tried to explain it.

It helps if you know about the islands, too, I decided. "There’s a group of them, the Blue Desert Islands—obviously, that much you knew, since we’re headed there. But, what I mean is, they’re culturally linked, not just geographically. So, everyone who lives there is probably a Seer in one way or another—or at least, that’s how it used to be, before Oasis became a popular tourist destination.

In any case, I went on, doubling down on my effort to be concise, on each island, there’s a clan of families, and they all will practice one type of divination. So on Oasis, the big one, the clan calls itself ‘Tamers of the Dragon’—

William snuffled. I poked him with my foot, grinning. "Get used to it. They’re all into the esoteric language and metaphors."

Glad to know it isn’t just alchemy that made you that way, Luca said cheerfully.

"Anyway, I said, not deigning to respond, the Dragon folks, their big thing is fate—like telling people ‘oh no, you’re going to kill your father and marry your mother,’ that kind of thing. Mostly they do palm reading and talk about lengths and endings of lives."

And people go there specifically to have their fate told to them, Luca said, not quite asking—because it was common enough knowledge—but still looking for confirmation.

"Yeah, they’ve made a whole industry around it, more than any of the other clans have. If you remember Clare, from a few summers ago, she was from the Followers of the Sphinx, which tends to be more watching pendulums or going into trances and delivering these huge, vague prophecies. ‘Cycles’ and rise and fall of empires, that kind of thing. They’re on one of the smaller islands. My family, and basically everyone on Kairoi, they’re called the Spring of the Unicorn. It’s hard to explain, but basically, they’re about . . . just wisdom, is how they would put it. They do a lot of meditating and fire gazing and gossiping amongst themselves about how they think certain ‘signs’ or portents are going to play out."

Fascinating, said Luca, unnecessarily. His whole attitude conveyed scholarly excitement over learning something new.

And yet Red here barely has a sense of direction, William commented.

Wow, thanks, I retorted, nudging him with my boot again.

I’m just saying. You could hardly even cross Market Square blindfolded—

And that’s why we have you, right? Luca beamed down at William, who grumbled a little but seemed pleased. He was our resident magic expert, as he often liked to remind us. Luca looked up at me and added, Did you know from a young age that you weren’t having the same experience everyone else did? Is it an innate power, like a sixth sense, or is it more of a skill that gets honed? How would your family feel about divination aids, like tarot or runes? Did you ever try using those?

"Wow, I repeated, laughing. Hold up. I had no idea you were so interested. Uh, let’s see, yes, I always knew there was something everyone else knew that I just didn’t get. But I really wanted to."

That’s why you went into alchemy instead, Luca smiled. "Solving scientific mysteries