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“You’ve been too stupid to even notice that I’ve been tripping you for over a week. I needed to dosomethingto get your attention.”
“Well, now you’ve got it. Come out and see me.”
A tiny head poked out from under the bush. The face reminded me of a gnome’s—round with big brown eyes. But his mouth was turned down in a pronounced scowl. Dark brown, scraggly hair hung around his face.
“I’m not going to send you away,” I said. “I just want to ask you a few questions.”
He stepped away from the bush and I could see the rest of his body. My first impression had been correct: he was a tiny person. He looked to be the same height as those American Girl dolls a lot of tourist girls brought into the restaurant, but I was sure he’d be offended by the comparison. An animal-skin tunic covered his stocky body, though his slightly hairy feet were bare.
“I’m Ellie,” I offered, hoping it would introduce itself.
“You are Curse Keeper, daughter of the sea and witness to creation.”
So much for my plan working. “And you are?”
“Tsagasi.”
“Tsagasi.” I let the name roll off my tongue.
He shook his head in disgust. “You are careless. Some of the salt on the threshold of the western window isn’t thick enough.”
“How do you know that?”
“Don’t insult me,” he said, sounding annoyed.
“Who sent you?” If he was one of Ahone’s lackeys, I was going to send him away as soon as I was done getting information from him.
He curled his upper lip in disgust and took a step toward me. “No one sent me. I came on my own. You’re the Curse Keeper, are you not?”
“Yeah, one of them. So, what are you protecting mefrom?”
“The baddies. The ones who want to see you gone forever.”
A chill shot through my body, making me shiver. “Does that mean you’re a good spirit?”
He gave me a smile, but it was more ornery than friendly. “I’m not a demon or a god. Many people consider me to be a fairy, but that’s not true either. I prefer little person.”
“You still didn’t tell me whether you’re good or not.”
His grin grew wider. “I’m not going to harm you.”
“Why do I find that hard to believe after you tripped me?”
“For being the Curse Keeper, you’re remarkably dense.”
I released a sigh. Great. Now I was being insulted by a good spirit. “How long have you been watching me?”
“Two weeks.”
“You say you’re here to protect me. What do you plan to do?”
“I’ll know when another spirit is close and I have some magic of my own I can use.”
“Okay,” I said, still trying to process this in my head. “Whydo you want to help me?”
“You are the salvation of the world.”
And we were back to the Raven Mocker’s prediction. I was in big trouble, all right.
