Nelson sat in a corner of the Harbormaster\u2019s Hall, a cup of strong coffee cradled in his callused hands, and brooded. The large hall was light and airy most of the time, but the weather had turned grey and forbidding, and his corner in particular was gloomy. Not that he minded – to him, the entire world was gloomy, and had been for a very long time, and he had resisted any efforts to pull him out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not that the Cove wasn\u2019t trying. His scowl was usually enough to keep anyone away, but apparently the people in this town didn\u2019t know that a scowl meant leave him alone. Even here, there was a person coming towards the table, a cup in his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMind if I join you?\u201d the stranger asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Nelson said curtly. \u201cI\u2019m not interested in company.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re in the wrong town then, my friend,\u201d the other man said, sitting down across from him. He was tall and slender, with long white hair that fell in drifts over his shoulders. His plaid shirt and blue jeans were plain cotton, and sat easily on his rangy frame. The very tips of his pointed ears poked through his hair. \u201cOr maybe you\u2019re in the right one, to change your mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy mind doesn\u2019t need changing,\u201d Nelson said shortly. \u201cIt\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know how many people I\u2019ve heard say that?\u201d the stranger laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, and I\u2019ve no wish to.\u201d Nelson lifted his cup and drank. \u201cI wish to be left alone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you? Then why are you here, instead of at home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHard to be at home when you don\u2019t have one anymore.\u201d Nelson scowled again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The stranger\u2019s face transformed, his good humor metamorphosing into concern. \u201cYou are homeless? Then you must join me at my home! This is not a season to be homeless!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have a room to return to,\u201d Nelson said, and wondered why he was talking this much. \u201cI do not need your charity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHardly charity,\u201d the stranger said. \u201cAre you certain?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In answer, Nelson downed the rest of his coffee and rose. \u201cYes,\u201d he said, and strode away before the man could say anything else. He had no wish to continue the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<><><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Father Christopher raised his mug to his lips, his eyes wary. \u201cI\u2019m not sure about this, Molly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTrust me, Father,\u201d Molly said. \u201cI think you\u2019ll like it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI always trust you,\u201d he said, and sipped the tea she\u2019d poured into his cup. His eyes widened. \u201cWhat is this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a new spiced herbal tea that Yava sent me, and it\u2019s supposed to help soothe the lungs,\u201d Molly said. \u201cI remember how much you coughed last year, and thought it might help us to get ahead of it this year. Pneumonia is not fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d he agreed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She pushed a small tin over to him. \u201cYou\u2019ll want to do one mug of this before bed, steeped for 10 minutes in hot water. If your throat is bothering you, add a bit of honey. NOT whiskey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPerish the thought,\u201d he said piously, then winked at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Molly was going to respond when Kaylee, Lily, and Gideon came in, followed by Jack and Schrodinger. \u201cNo Zoey and Aurora?\u201d she said instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe wasn\u2019t in school,\u201d Lily said. \u201cMs. Temple said she was sick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I can confirm,<\/em> Schrodinger said. I went and checked – Aurora said she was running a fever and doing a lot of sleeping.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPoor Zoey!\u201d Molly said. \u201cI\u2019ll send over a care package for the family later today.\u201d She looked at them. \u201cWell, did you want to do the calendar now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m fascinated by this,\u201d Father Christopher said, joining them in front of the tapestry. \u201cThe Snow Queen and Jack have outdone themselves this year!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKitten, who are we helping today?\u201d Gideon asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The little cat, who had been frolicking in the snow in the back garden, now trotted into a glassed-in room that was full of tropical plants. He shook himself, shedding snowflakes that melted almost immediately in what was obviously warm air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat kind of room is that?\u201d Kaylee asked, her eyes wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Victorians called it a conservatory,\u201d Father Christopher told her. \u201cNow, you would call it a sun room.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt looks like the Gate Room at the Station,\u201d Lily said. \u201cYou know, with all the grass and plants, and the glass ceiling.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It does! Schrodinger said. I love how it\u2019s green all year round in there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMe too,\u201d Molly agreed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The conservatory was a riot of colors, as flowers bloomed all over the place. Molly saw orchids and poinsettias, lilies and iris, as well as plants she couldn\u2019t name. The taller plants had white lights twined around them, and there was a wreath on one door, the one that led back into the house. As they watched, the little cat stopped at a basket that held gardening gloves, snips, and other paraphernalia. He tugged out the gloves, and flipped over a hat that they\u2019d been hiding. The familiar smoke drifted up and turned into letters: \u201cBrighten the world with color. It goes so well with the snow!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kaylee cocked her head to one side. \u201cAre we coloring then, today, kitten?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In answer, the smoke seeped from the calendar and began to whirl around them before dropping something into their hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGloves?\u201d Kaylee said. \u201cWhat does that have to do with coloring the world?\u201d She looked at the others. Gideon had a hat, and both Jack and Schrodinger had scarves. Lily had a basket with a bright ribbon on the top of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, well, well,\u201d Father Christopher said, looking at their prizes. \u201cDo you know, that looks exactly like the baskets I have back at the church for the poor. Would you like to help me put them together?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat will definitely brighten the world,\u201d Lily said. \u201cWe\u2019d love to help!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <><><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know, it\u2019s been too quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jade looked up from the book she\u2019d been reading when Jack spoke. They were seated in their private living room, which had a large fireplace and comfortable chairs, as well as several magical statues and devices scattered about the room. Jack had been leaning over their scrying pool, a golden bowl set in a tripod that came up to his waist. Now he straightened up, shaking his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cQuiet is not a bad thing,\u201d Jade said, setting a velvet bookmark on her page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think it might be, given the circumstances this year,\u201d he replied. \u201cDid you know Percy\u2019s ship pulled into port yesterday?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, the Harbormaster told me.\u201d She closed the book and looked over at him. \u201cBut he\u2019s not a threat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, but it\u2019s one more thing,\u201d Jack said, shaking his head. \u201cI just wish I knew who had taken the Advent calendar. It\u2019s bugging me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She stood up and went over to him, slipping an arm around his waist and looking into the shimmering silver magic in the bowl. \u201cI know, my love. All will be revealed in good time, though. We have to trust the Eidolon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo we?\u201d He put his chin on the top of her head. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, do you have another idea?\u201d she replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot yet,\u201d Jack admitted. He sighed. \u201cI just don\u2019t like feeling that I\u2019m not in control.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTrust the Eidolon,\u201d Jade said again. \u201cThis Eidolon has never steered us wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat we know of,\u201d Jack said. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nelson sat in a corner of the Harbormaster\u2019s Hall, a cup of strong coffee cradled in his callused hands, and brooded. The large hall was light and airy most of the time, but the weather had turned grey and forbidding, and his corner in particular was gloomy. Not that he minded – to him, the …<\/p>\n