My Sorcerer

Chapter 10

“From the look on Cora’s face, you refrained from explaining the reason for coming here. Why is that?” the queen questioned.

“I wanted her to enjoy looking around without the need to know that we were here to ask for your help,” he responded.

Part of her felt betrayed. She thought they had something, or at least they were becoming something. Or maybe at least they had honesty, but no. Nothing. She felt like she was just a project to him, and maybe that was all that she was to him. She didn’t know why she was expecting more from him. They hadn’t known each other for very long after all.

“Tell me, what do you want from me?” she asked as she lowered herself into her chair.

“I managed to find relatives of hers, but I seem to be struggling to get an exact location.”

“You want me to get the exact location, I assume.”

“Yes. I have narrowed it down to a pack land, but I can’t just go knocking on every door asking if they lost a pup at some point,” he responded. He didn’t once glance Cora’s way as he spoke with the queen.

“You need one of my trackers to find their exact location...” she said with a sigh. “But, I don’t think that is something I can do for you.”

“It can’t be because she is a werewolf,” he groaned, a little more dramatically than necessary.

She nodded. “Unfortunately, what the werewolves did to us isn’t so easily forgotten and forgiven.” He went to open his mouth to respond to her statement, but she raised her hand to stop him. “It will not matter to my fairies if she is not a part of the pack that attacked. It is a simple matter that she is a werewolf and that you are requesting my trackers to investigate pack territory.”

“There must be a way to persuade one of the fairies to help,” he pleaded with her.

“It is not they alone who you must persuade. I myself am not too inclined to help either,” she admitted to him.

She watched as his shoulders slouched in defeat. “There must be a way,” he muttered.

“We have talked enough by her instead of to her, so I would like to hear what she has to say on the matter,” the queen said. “My dear, your name?”

“Cora,” she whispered in response.

“It is quite nice to meet you,” she said as she bowed her head slightly to Cora, which felt odd since she was a queen and Cora was a mere wolf.

“You as well,” Cora quickly said as she bowed a bit more than the queen had, assuming she should show her more respect.

“Do you wish to also find your relatives?” she inquired.

“I suppose.”

“Suppose?” she asked with a raised eyebrow. “You aren’t sure?”

“I’m not. I don’t want to be a werewolf,” she answered honestly.

“That’s a first,” she chuckled. “You, I might be able to convince a tracker to help you, but not you,” she said as she looked back over at Pierceton.

“Feeling a little neglected,” he said with a sad sigh.

“Many of my fairies do not particularly like you or the idea of helping you.” He opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off. “You know very well why they feel this way. But let us not live in the past. Now, as I was saying, they may help her because she appears genuine in how she feels. As you know, fairies like it when someone is honest.” Her words felt as though there were a hidden meaning. What could he have done to make a seemingly kind queen dislike the idea of giving him aid?

“Yea, yea, honesty is the best policy,” he grumbled while waving his hand, dismissing the notion.

“Sorcerers aren't always honest,” she said as she directed her attention back to Cora. “Don't you agree?”

“I guess,” she responded. She did agree with her to some extent, but he had also saved her life and then offered to help. “But he is kind,” she quickly added.

“How so?” she asked, appearing intrigued.

“He saved my life and is now trying to help me find my family. He also saved my dog,” she told her, trying to think of what else good he could say for him. It seemed that if she could say the right thing, it might just ease the tension and start to repair whatever he had broken between himself and the queen.

“My my, he is helping a lot. I wonder what he will ask for in return,” she said with a knowing smile.

“He told me he didn't want anything. It was more for entertainment,” she told her what he had said to her.

“Did he now?” she responded with a raised eyebrow. “Pierceton, is that true?”

“I am a kind sorcerer,” he answered, appearing appalled that she was implying otherwise.

“Would a kind sorcerer start a little battle, pinning fairies against wolves and then swoop in to stop the battle, pretending to be the hero?”

“You noticed?” he chuckled as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his head a few times.

“Of course. I know all that happens within my realm. Now tell me, are you truly helping this child as an act of odd kindness, or do you have ulterior motives which you have yet to share with her?” Her gaze was hard; all the previous amusement vanished.

“If you must know, she intrigues me. Therefore, I wish to help and see if I can understand why,” he said nonchalantly.

“How does she intrigue you?” she pressed.

“She just does. Can we not leave it at that? It is getting late after all,” he said with a huff. Cora glanced over to see that there was more to his expression. He was trying to push the conversation past this part... was he hiding something... was it terrible?

“Not until I can understand your true intentions. I may have allowed for your false hero moment to go unpunished, but those you wish to receive help from will have not. Therefore, if I can present them with a reason and a good one, they may put aside their dislike for you and help the girl.” She appeared genuine in her desire to help, but was only reluctant because of Pierceton's involvement.

She waited, hoping that it was a lie. That he didn’t have an ulterior motive. That some part of him was genuinely helping her for the sake of just his enjoyment, as he had led her to believe.

“Alright, you caught me. I’m simply doing it because I’ve never met a wolf that didn’t know they were a wolf. You see, I've been bored recently and wanted some enjoyment,” he said with an amused smile, but Cora saw the falter in his smile. He was trying hard to cover up his reason. Why?

“Normally, I would believe you. However, this time, I do not,” she said with a sigh. “ Since you refuse to be honest, I believe we are done here.”

“Fine, I am trying to help her for a selfish reason,” he huffed, appearing agitated that she had forced him to reveal the truth.

“What reason would that be?” She seemed to relax ever so slightly, seeming pleased with this possible moment of honesty.

When he didn’t respond fast enough, she added. “Explain fast, or I’ll make sure you are permanently escorted from my land.”

“Can I explain in private?” he requested.

“I believe you owe it to this young lady to know your true reasoning,” she nearly snapped at him.

“Fine...” he grumbled as he took in a deep breath.