Oory was sitting at the edge of the property, at a desk with screens.“Come here.She’s starting already.”
There was a tent canopy to shield the computer from the sun, and the divided screens showed that Izzy was walking through the house until she found the centre.She flicked her hands, and something small rolled up against the outside walls.Izzy stood and was motionless while the screens got blurry.
Hannah asked, “Oh, she’s taking in the smoke?”
Oory watched.“Wow.She’s meticulous.”
They watched as Izzy absorbed the smoke, and then she grew saplings that sistered against the framework, and as Izzy stood there, the trees and burned wood became one.
Four hours later, Izzy was floating above the floor, and the saplings began to take the place of the damaged wood.They absorbed it, and new, clean wood was soon in place.Hannah got excited.“If this passes inspection, I have barns, old sheds, haunted homes, and a bajillion other projects for her to work on.”
Oory said, “She was certain to mention that it was only the framework.No sheathing or cladding.”
Jennel pulled up and got out.“She’s still going?”
Hannah nodded.“Yeah.She said five hours, and she’s nearly done.”
Jennel stared at Izzy.“Dark fae?”
“At least half, but yeah, she said she leans dark.”
“What is the combination?”Jennel stared at the video of Izzy.“Dark elf?”
“No.It’s dryad and something blue-black with a shadow fae overlay.”
“Oh, Reymark said that could happen.I suppose she’s living proof.”
Hannah said, “She doesn’t know what she is either, and she’s a foundling, so do you know anyone who can do genetics?It is out of my client roster.”
Jennel smiled.“I think I know someone.A friend of a friend of the family.They are a genealogist who uses blood to determine origins.If she is interested, it will be my tip.It looks amazing in there.”
Izzy’s voice came to them, “Okay, get the inspector here.I am done, and the wood has been disconnected from my life force.It is solid and will take a pounding.No magical residue.”
She lowered herself to the floor and walked out, slowly and carefully.
The ward disappeared, and the hatch of her car opened up.Izzy sat in the hatch and grabbed her bag with shaking hands, opening a carafe and drinking the liquid directly from the bottle.She looked in the bag and grimaced.“Damn it.”
Hannah walked over.“What’s wrong?”
“Forgot to put an ice pack in my cooler.It was tuna.In a hot car.I will have to grab something on my way home.”She grabbed a clipboard and scribbled something on it.She handed it to Jennel.“Here.It is a warranty for my work with all of my guild registration numbers.The frame is good for standard wear and tear for fifty years.”
Jennel smiled.“Thank you.Wow, you are quick with the glamour.”
“Stranger danger.Hannah and Neekil caught me at home, so they got the ninety percent me.”
Hannah blinked.“There’s more?”
Jennel nodded.“Her style of dark fae uses glyphs to bind and focus their energy.It is a personal thing.If I weren’t part orc, no one would see mine.”
Jennel let her glamour down, exposing her marks.“Thank you so much for doing this so quickly.”
“No problem.The timing was good.”
“Uh, we haven’t been introduced, but Hannah says you don’t know your origins?”
Izzy smiled.“No.I don’t.I can read Neekil back to his parents fucking, but I don’t know who made me.”
“May I offer you a chance to learn?I have an acquaintance who studies genealogy and loves a challenge.I think he would have a great time with you.”
