It hadn’t taken that long to get everyone together. Even Icy and his mates, since they were inside the village already, working on the stands in the square. The main hall was almost uncomfortably full. Word had gone out that something was up, causing almost every elf in the village to turn up. The only elf who Lacey knew that didn’t come, was Elf. But, it was Gatherday and Elf had been feeling sick the past few days. He was probably resting at home, the poor, sulky thing.

  Albyrne looked around, nervously tapping his shillelagh on the floor. ‘So, Peter, what’s this all about? Why did I have to get up and come here on a Gatherday?’

  The hall was silent, elves expectantly watching Peter, waiting to hear what the reason for the sudden gathering was.

  ‘Well, Albyrne, this is the thing, you see. You all know that Jinxy is missing.’ Peter stated to the crowd. The elves nodded.

  ‘We’ve searched the village, the wilds, and Lacey and I even searched a part of the Wasteland this morning.’

  Shocked gasps rung out.

  ‘Peter, no!’ Mathilda gasped, before looking firmly at Lacey. ‘I’m locking you in the cottage, first chance I get,’ she said grimly.

  If the situation wasn’t so serious, Lacey would’ve smiled at that. As it was, she just gave Mathilda a small nod to acknowledge the sentiment.

  Peter held his hands up, calming everyone down. ‘We still haven’t found her.’

  The room sighed.

  ‘And now, there’s been a second disappearance.’

  The villagers’ eyes widened, searching each other to make sure their loved ones were present.

  ‘Not one of us,’ Peter assured them. ‘But something very dear to Santa and our village.’ He paused a moment, before he said, ‘The five golden rings.’

  A roar rose up from the assembled elves. Danji dashed out the door, into the display room. A moment later she gave a shocked cry. Coming back, she confirmed, ‘It’s true! The rings are gone!’

  That caused a mass exodus, as everyone wanted to see. Peter waited patiently until all the elves had checked for themselves and were back in the main hall.

  Lacey, however, had been watching Albyrne. She was almost sure she caught something on his face when Peter had brought up the golden rings – a quick flash of fear, or guilt? It was hard to tell. She too waited patiently to see what came next.

  ‘And now, there are questions to ask and to answer, and I expect full honesty from everyone. That’s the only way we can solve these mysteries and put things to rights again. Therefore, I invoke the rite of truth over all who are present now.’

  A reverent hush fell over the assembly, while Lacey couldn’t help but notice Albyrne’s eyes flickering around. There was something there.

  ‘By the Rite of Truth,’ Peter intoned, ‘I ask only what must be asked, and you must answer only with what is true. No evasion, no embellishment – only the truth that sits in your heart.

  He turned to face Albyrne. ‘Albyrne, is it true that you have been painting four-leaf clovers these past few days?’

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  ‘Why yes, Peter,’ he answered, lightly tapping his shins with his shillelagh. ‘Everyone here knows that Santa always wants extra luck for Christmas.’

  ‘And you use this green paint to do it?’ Peter asked, lifting up a can of paint that had been sitting by his feet.

  Albyrne bent forward to study its label. ‘Yes, this is so.’

  Peter turned to face the assembly, holding up the can of paint. ‘Is there anyone here who have also been using this paint?’

  A sea of heads shook. No-one else.

  Going back to Albyrne, he stated, ‘You have been the only one to use this paint.’

  ‘I, uh, suppose so.’

  ‘Can you explain to me why there is a smudge of this paint on the bottom of the pedestal that held the rings?’

  The room was silent enough to hear a Christmas mouse skitter through.

  Albyrne’s face fell, leaning forward on his shillelagh with his shoulders slumped.

  ‘I suppose I touched it. Is that a crime?’

  ‘By itself no. But I will remind you of the rite of truth which binds your words now.’

  Albyrne closed his eyes and nodded.

  ‘Especially now, for the next question I’m going to ask.’ Peter paused. He took a deep breath, and pulled the fragment of Jinxy’s coat out of his pocket.

  ‘Do you all recognise this tatter?’ he asked, holding it up to the assembly.

  ‘Jinxy’s!’ Melo cried out, pushing through the crowd until he was at the front of the room. ‘That’s Jinxy’s!’

  Peter nodded sadly. ‘And so, Albyrne, this is a piece of Jinxy’s winter coat that we found on the edge of the village, bordering the Wasteland. There is a smudge of this green paint on it.’

  The room burst out in an uproar. Albyrne gasped, physically stepping back in shock.

  Peter nodded, handing the fragment to Lacey and once again motioning for quiet.

  ‘Please explain yourself,’ he said to Albyrne.

  ‘No!’ Albyrne cried out, falling to his knees most piteously. ‘No, I would never hurt anyone in the village! I confess, yes! I confess I took the rings! They were so pretty and there was a slight space left in my pot of gold and I wanted it to be full. I only borrowed them, I promise! I was going to bring them back as soon as I had more gold to fill the little hole! I would never do anything to Jinxy! I love all our village elves, please, you have to believe me!’

  And looking at him, even setting the Rite of Truth aside, Lacey found that she did. But, there was another question that needed to be answered.

  ‘May I ask something, Peter?’ she requested.

  Peter nodded, giving her the go-ahead.

  ‘Albyrne,’ Lacey said, before turning to face four other elves in the room as well. ‘And Icy, Tinsel, Blinky, and Huey.’

  The four’s eyes widened slightly, surprised at their sudden inclusion.

  ‘What were you all doing the night of Reinday at Albyrne’s house?’

  Their demeanour immediately became uncomfortable, shifting around and glancing at each other.

  ‘Tell her, just tell her,’ Albyrne sighed, kneeling with tears running down his face.

  ‘We, ah, we,’ Icy began, stopping to take a deep breath before blurting out the full sentence. ‘We were playing poker.’ He broke off, a red blush creeping up his collar and clashing with his blue eyes. The other three were staring at the ground, shame written all over them.

  ‘Poker?’ Peter asked. ‘What is that?’

  ‘It’s a game of chance and gambling,’ Lacey responded.

  That caused quite a stir.

  ‘Gambling?’ Cynthie echoed in shock.

  ‘Not much gambling,’ Huey added. ‘Only a little. Just a few coins, here and there.’

  But Lacey wasn’t done yet. ‘You were angry when you left Albyrne’s house. It looked like you had an argument.’

  Blinky and Huey turned to stare at Tinsel, while Icy rolled his eyes.

  Tinsel ground down on his teeth, then said, ‘I was trying to cheat and Icy got mad about it.’

  ‘Yes,’ Icy said. ‘Because you were cheating,’ he added, emphasising the last word.

  ‘Oh come on, it’s just a game,’ Tinsel said, clearly annoyed. ‘How else am I supposed to learn the skill if I’m not allowed to practice.’

  At this point, Peter interjected, clearly having had enough.

  ‘Gambling and cheating? You are elves of Santa! You ought to be ashamed of yourselves!’

  Mollified, the four drooped their heads, staring at the floor.

  ‘Just to clarify,’ Lacey added. ‘None of the five of you knows or had anything to do with Jinxy’s disappearance?’

  They all shook their heads.

  Peter gave a heavy sigh. ‘Albyrne, you know I have to tell Santa about this.’

  Albyrne dolefully nodded.

  ‘Icy, Tinsel, Blinky, Huey. I don’t want to hear about gambling or cheating ever again. Have I made myself clear?’

  They nodded.

  ‘All right, we’re done here.’

  ??????

  Who would’ve guessed? ??

  which one would take all your coins, and who would be the worst at bluffing?