“I figured we could start here. I’m no engineer, but from what I’ve observed, I think the other lights all feed back to this one,” Gage explained.
Zoe exhaled and called on a small portion of her magic. Very gently, she sent it into the tree to check the crystals. Each line was still intact and, to her surprise, well maintained. She expected, at the very least, some fractures, but they were in pristine condition. “There’s no damage at all.” She turned to him. “Have they been serviced?”
Grinning, Gage nodded. “The Eirlindol family was asked by the queen to maintain the lights after they were installed when the city was being formed and built. They have been fulfilling that role ever since. Amongst the fae, they are called the Lightbearers.”
“That will make things so much easier. Can I meet them?” she asked.
Gage hesitated for a moment. “I can take you to House Eirlindol, but you may not receive much help from them,” he admitted, his eyes sad.
“And why not?”
“That family recently lost one of their sons. The older fae who resides there was always a bit crotchety, but now, he’s downright antagonistic.”
Zoe felt tears form in her eyes. “That poor man.”
“The rest of his family live in a separate estate from the main house, so he’s been alone for quite some time,” he warned.
“We have to go see him now.” Zoe pulled her magic from the tree and set her shoulders. If this family had diligently maintained the grid for thousands of years, she needed to speak with them.
“Are you sure?” Gage asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Yes. Oh, and can we stop somewhere to purchase some pastries?”
She looked around the glittering market area for a shop that sold sweets.
“If you’re hungry, we can go to Dav’s first,” Gage started.
She shook her head. “No, it’s for the head of House Eirlindol. I can’t just show up empty-handed when meeting for the first time.”
Gage shook his head, smiling. “I know of just the place.” He held out his hand.
She took it, and he guided them through the throng of people shopping and eating their midday meals. When he stopped, she looked up and blinked. “It looks like a brick oven,” she exclaimed.
Gage chuckled. “It’s supposed to. The owner wanted something different. It caused quite a stir when it was first built as it didn’t go with the elegance of the city at all, but it quickly became an iconic landmark.” He opened the door and held it for her. “After you, my lady.”
Smiling, she stepped quickly inside and inhaled deeply. The scents of cinnamon, vanilla, and chocolate washed over her. “Gods, I could live here,” she said before taking another deep breath.
“If I had a dollar for every time I heard that, I’d be able to afford the espresso machines I want,” a deep voice said.
When she looked up, she blinked. Then blinked again. “You’re quite an imposing fellow,” she said, still staring.
The man looked down at her before erupting into peals of belly laughter. “And you, my dear, are right. I’m Peter Lindon, owner of the Brick Oven. Now, what can I do for you?”
She stepped up to the large glass case. “I was purchasing for someone else, but I may have to get a few things for myself too.” She looked back to Gage to see if that was okay.
He rolled his eyes and nodded.
She took that to mean she was being silly for asking, but, to her, it would have been rude to assume he’d pay.
“Have a hankering for something?” Peter asked.
She took in all the colors and glazes. The sprinkles and the bits of fruit shined like jewels. “I’m not sure. I’ve never had sweets like this before.”
Peter frowned. “They’re not exactly exotic.”
“At home, cook only ever made vanilla cake.”
He stared. “That’s it?”