All characters etc are the property of Alex Greene...

Chapter One

Dix pushed the swamp sucker out the back door with his foot, avoiding a spray of swamp water. He walked back to the table and picked up the assignment Perry had given him that morning. It only said "Meet Tella at the Twice Told Tale." Since the only thing Dix was any good at was mob control and bees it had to involve one or the other.

Izby breezed in with her arms full of serum ingredients.

"5 sleep serums and a calming brew," Izby said, rolling her eyes as she got the ingredients ready to use.

Dix left through the back door and hiked to the Twice Told Tale. Inside was filled with fog from the stuffed fish. Dix waved his way to the back and looked around. How would he know who Tella was?

He spotted Flynn in a back corner standing near two large, burly men glaring at each other over tea. Dix started to get up but Flynn motioned for him to stay away. Dix sat back down. The fog had cleared some and he took another look around.

A tall, thin woman in rich clothing entered the dark, foggy tavern. Dix watched as she ordered a tea and walked across the room to his table. Without hesitation she sat down.

"I'm Tella," She introduced herself.

A server plopped a tea down in front of her. Dix had to wonder how Tella knew he was the one she was looking for. Perhaps Perry had given her a description.

"I can't tell you why but I need you to come with me," Tella said, not touching the tea.

Dix nodded. He wondered if Perry had told Tella the limit to the spells he knew. If he hadn't they might both be in for a bad surprise.

Tella stood leaving the tea untouched and walked out of the Twice Told Tale with Dix behind her. Dix cast a glance back at Flynn but she was busy watching the two glaring men. Dix sighed. He had to wonder where Perry found these assignments.

Tella climbed into a dark, red lined carriage leaving the door open for Dix. Dix climbed in and found a spot on the hard seat trying not to breath the dank, musty smell in too deeply. Tella turned to the window where she watched as trees and swamp passed by, her attention on something else ignoring Dix completely.

Dix turned to watch out the window as well. He wondered if it would do any good to ask for more details. He wished he'd been up in time to get more details from Perry that morning. Perry had been rushing out to another assignment when he handed it to him.