3

My possibilities bag included kevlar chicken-plate armor for my torso, cold-iron nails, a fully charged paintball gun, a silver-plated machete, various pieces of rope, glass, and aluminum, a couple of small dolls, sprigs of oak and mistletoe, some charged pebbles, wooden stakes, and an ash baseball bat. Don't laugh, a wooden bat will hurt most anything magical, and I had training in its use as a defensive weapon from my sister Fawn. I added a bottle of water consecrated at a local catholic church, and some snack bars and chips in case I didn't get a chance to eat for some reason, like being carted away to Underhill.
Mr. Cobb watched all of this in imperturbable silence, reacting only slightly to the iron nails. His lack reaction let me know again that he was a powerful fae, and not to let my guard down just because his daughter was in danger. Fae are not human, and don't react to things like humans do. I would do well to remember that.
I called ahead to Larry and Fawn, and Larry picked the telephone up on the second ring. “Potter Emporium” he said cheerfully. “Hi Larry, how are you two?” “Pretty good Ferny, you wanting a locater spell?” I just sighted and shook my head. Larry was extremely astute and talking with him sometimes is like a chat with Sherlock Holmes, always a step behind even though it's your conversation.
“Yeah, a locater spell, but it's going to be a different sort. I want it to track down a rabbit.” There was a long silence, then Larry chuckled. “So it's going to have to be pretty specific then, only about 90 gazillion rabbits around Halifax, let alone the whole of Nova Scotia. This a person changed into a rabbit is why you want it.” It wasn't a question.
“That's the reason, and no I don't have any personal items for you to use, but her father is here with me and should be willing to help.” “So he's fae. Christ Ferny, they know how to pick you.” Like I said, a step behind even when it is your conversation. I didn't even bother to ask how he knew, I'd just feel sillier after he explained everything to me.
The trip over to Larry's place of business was quiet. Literally. Mr. Cobb just sat in the car, a statue except for the slight rise and fall of his chest. He didn't offer any conversation, and after two tries to talk with him, I gave up and stewed in silence. I hate silence. We pulled into the small parking lot in front of Larry's “new” place. About a year ago someone had firebombed his old one. A police investigation never caught the perpetrator, nor could anyone find a reason why. Larry, being Larry just shrugged and found a new place in a few months.
Larry came out of the Emporium as we drove up. He had his smock on over his robes, which probably meant he'd been laying down a magick circle, or some such thing as we were driving over. “Hey sis” he said. “You gotta come over more, you bring interesting company.” He looked at Mr. Cobb, and performed a slight bow, hand to forehead, and eyes downcast. “A pleasure sir, please be welcome and freely enter.” Mr.Cobb cracked a slight smile and returned the bow, bending slightly at the waist.
We all went inside and Larry led us back to his 'work' room. This was a twenty by twenty room. Larry had a silver four pointed star-and-circle cut into the wood floor. Outside of the circle and at each star point, there were a series of runes or sigils, I'm not sure which. Larry laid at the western point of the star a plastic rod with a string attached to it. He bade Mr. Cobb stand at the eastern point of the star. Larry stood at the North point, and asked me to stand at the south.
Once we were in position, Larry spoke in a tongue that I had heard before. Rynun, the Geowludmosiseg had uttered a few of them once. A wind sprang up in the closed room, running from Mr. Cobb to the plastic rod. A pale yellowish mist arose from the fae's skin and wafted to the rod. The rod began to glow light a lightstick, a greenish yellow, and brightened. The light pulsed once as Larry chanted, and then collapsed into the rod, reducing to a tiny pinpoint of light. Larry finished the last few words and the wind ceased.