Page 19 of The Witch & the Tiger

Significant dates. What was significant about the third of June? That day, there was fog. It was a Saturday. He remembered that because there were no lessons, everyone was available, and they left around midday. But if it was a day of interest, he had no idea.

“The third of June,” Willow repeated, brow wrinkling. “I may as well type it in.” She did, and he watched as she entered the question into the search bar, asking what was important about the day.

Before them, one of the most prominent results revealed it was a full moon. “Huh, it was a Strawberry Moon. I guess they give names to each full moon of the year.” They gaped at the data. Neither had ever heard of the Strawberry Moon.

“Surely that can’t be right,” Martin said. “I don’t think it was a full month ago that Yannick thought we should go and visit.”

“Technically, the moon looks full over three days,” Willow replied absently. “It’s why the werewolves need to take medication. The true full moon is only really full for a few minutes, but it’s more noticeable on one day than on the others – but overall, it looks full to us in this period. So, if your friend had found this place a day before… then it’s possible.”

Martin considered the information. “I’m sure I’ve checked under a full moon as well. I went every day. I’d notice.”

“Ah, hmm.” Willow deflated slightly. “Yeah, okay, that’s a good point. Drat, I really thought we were on to something.”

“It might still be related to the moon.” Martin folded his arms, thinking for a moment. “You also said something about the weather?”

“Yeah. Oh!” She perked up again. “What if it needs to be foggy and a full moon?”

“Maybe!” he said, catching some of her excitement. “That could make sense, but… that would mean we have to wait for both a full moon and fog.”

“Well, It’s something. We should pass on this information and see what the others think of it.” Already, she hunted for her email, and he smiled at her enthusiasm. “Okay, done. Now I actually have to go to my lesson. Sorry. Will you still be here later?”

“Maybe. Text me.” Honestly, he’d planned to go back home after this, but Willow’s hopeful expression made him discard that idea. Of course, he’d wait for her. He wasn’t a monster. And, if he did plan to wait, staying in the academy he’d abandoned five months ago, he may as well see if there was anything else to be done.

He browsed a bit longer after her departure, but his heart wasn’t really in it anymore. The information they’d found – the idea of the full moon – there was something to it. He felt it deep in his bones. The last thing he checked was how the courts tended to treat full moons. He learned that their powers were stronger when the moon presented its full, reflective face. The fae courts liked the dark side of the earth with the moon at its brightest. Something about it enabled and unlocked their strange, otherworldly magic.

He didn’t pretend to understand all of it, but at least he knew they were on to something.

A reply email from Professor Z’Hana looked promising.

I think you’re on to something with this, Z’Hana wrote. I have a fae contact. A true fae, not one with diluted blood. They are… not always the most reliable sources since, as you know, the true fae just doesn’t regard life and morality the same way we do.

The fae has confirmed that some of the strongest realm crossovers happen on dates of sacred importance to mortals – even if those dates might be more recently invented. It’s the power of expectation and belief that has some pull on them. Weather can also play a role, sometimes leaking through and providing a path.

He said that the Unseelie Court has been even more secretive as of late and harder to contact. Some of the ambassadors of the Seelie Court to which he belongs have not returned from what should have been purely diplomatic missions.

Whatever’s going on there, it is of enough concern for some of the other courts to break their silence and start reaching out to us to perhaps do something. Fae don’t really like to ask for help, so I’m a little concerned that the issue is a lot bigger than what my liaison was willing to admit.

Another thing – it may not actually have to be foggy and a full moon. There’s some evidence that the fog is directly from the coastal location. I would recommend trying to find out if Yannick practiced some kind of ritual that brought the fog. He was a wind-based magician.

Martin’s heart raced after he finished reading the email. A ritual from Yannick?

The only way to find out anything about that was to try to contact his family. But they were less than willing to talk to the person they believed was responsible for the accident.

That left only one thing to do…

Chapter Six – Willow

Willow faced the rather reticent family alongside Professor Umber. Umber smiled, offering to buy drinks for Yannick’s parents, Alfred and Helga Tarn. However, they both looked like they’d rather be anywhere else but there.

“Let’s not waste any time,” Alfred said, waving aside the offer for drinks. They were crammed inside a tiny village bar in the deepest, darkest corner it offered, allowing them to talk freely without the risk of being overheard. “We all know why we’re here.”

Helga’s lip wobbled as if she were about to burst into tears.

“Okay,” Umber said, glancing toward Willow. Willow was here because she looked young, pretty, and kind, and her type of magic was likely to convince the parents that the academy was finally making an effort to find their son, while before, both the police and academy had put off the search and had not updated them on their progress for two long months.

Sit still and look pretty and friendly.

Willow tried to squelch her nervousness. Martin couldn’t come, for obvious reasons. The family wanted nothing to do with him.

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