“If we can release the kitsune, we can bring them to Neverland,” Kalaakaar said. “That would back up our claims fairly well.”
“Great!” Mücahit said in his gravel-filled voice, then added dryly, “Howdo we do that?”
“Does Tam know about the kitsune? He lived in Fanostrin until he was about eight,” Maaka pointed out.
“Bring him here, please,” James requested. Maaka left to do so. “We also have this.” The heavy volume he placed before Wendy required both his hand and his hook.
She brushed her fingers over the dark leather cover. “What is this?”
James inclined his head toward Smee before sitting beside her again. “Smee here has been faithfully researching and compiling every account of Pan’s crimes that we can find. He’ll add yours soon.”
Wendy turned sad eyes to her tablemate. She could only imagine the toll that would take. He dipped his chin in solemn acknowledgment.
Tam and Maaka appeared in the doorway. “You wanted to see me, Cap’n?”
“Yes, thank you.” James pointed toward the opposite end of the table. “Have a seat, please.”
Tam squashed a grin when he saw Mirai snoozing in the head chair. He sat in his designated spot, straightened his back, and lifted his chin. Wendy bit the inside of her lip. He was just too adorable.
“We’re hoping you can tell us about the kitsune Pan enslaved, or stories you know of them.” James leaned his right elbow on the table and gave the boy his full attention.
Wendy suddenly wanted to hold his hand, but since it was on the table in plain sight, she slipped her fingers around his hook instead. James kept his eyes on Tam, even as the corners of his lips inched upward.
“Peter didn’t let me get close to his kitsune,” the boy said. “And he didn’t like questions about it.” He hunched his shoulders.That must have been shortly before Peter turned on him.
James kindly moved the discussion along. “What do you know about the kitsune in general?”
Tam rolled one shoulder. “The older ones are really wise. Young kitsune can be lured in with food.” The way his body shifted, Wendy guessed he had begun to swing his legs under the table. “Well, more like babies.”
“So you think Pan trapped this one as an infant?” Kalaakaar asked.
“He had to. Kitsune are too smart otherwise.”
Wendy absently rubbed the smooth metal between her fingers. “Peter told me the kitsune messes with time when ships land.”
Tam made a face and bobbed his head from side to side. “Kitsunecanmess with time, but usually they mess with people’s perceptions, give ’em dreams and stuff.”
A sigh left her lips. “Another case of me filling in what Peter wanted me to think, no doubt.”
The more experienced members of the group, which boiled down to . . . everybody, made expressions of sympathy. Smee patted her shoulder.
“Assuming Pan caught this one as a baby, how is he controlling it?” Gharza wanted to know.
Tam’s chin rose in the air. “The only way to control a kitsune is with magic.” He emphasized his words with a sharp nod.
“Wait, Peter can work magic, too?” Wendy asked.
Maaka answered, “That’s how he does the shadow thing and part of his persuasion, among other stuff.”
“He’s not a faery in disguise, right?” she demanded in jest.
James took the question seriously. “Not as far as we know. He’s somethingother, though.”
A weight settled in her stomach.
“What defense do we have against magic?” Kalaakaar asked. The lines around his mouth and eyes deepened.
“There’s somethin’ about salt,” Mücahit volunteered.
