The Last Fairy Tale (22 page)

 Bren laughed loudly. “Well, that’s a fine start, my girl! But to light our way you’ll need a much stronger flame. How ‘bout I show you a thing or two to help you focus a better flame?”

 “Sure, that sounds great,” said Olivia. She wanted to learn the art of emberology, but what she wanted most of all was to sit down and rest.

 “First, you have to know how to control your flame,” Bren said. “Fire is destructive. If it gets out of hand, it can consume everything!” He made a circle in the air with his hands. “But bein’ a dwarf, who is naturally skilled at shapin’ stone and craftin’ different materials, I’ve also become somewhat skilled at fire magic. Helps with runnin’ the forge, you see?”

 Olivia nodded. She strained to keep her mind on what Bren was saying and not on the fact that her legs were becoming wobbly.

 “In those old tales, the humans recreated fire by burnin’ wood and coal and such,” Bren said. “Is that true, Olivia?”

 “Yes, actually,” she said. She hadn’t thought about the fact that when she created fire to light the candle, she hadn’t used any resources.

 “That’s so hard to believe!” Bren laughed. “Well, fire can be used in that way, but it’s destructive and wasteful. Flame can be willed into being from the Stream.” Suddenly he held his hand out and a ball of fire appeared above it, lighting the trail before the group. Then Bren closed his hand, and the flame went out. “You see? Fire isn’t hard to will into being. Actually, it’s really easy, unlike some of those deeper magics like those hjorthovin perform. But anyway, that’s why it’s extremely important to know how to handle it once it’s willed. You got it?”

 “Yes,” said Olivia, still dazed by the ball of flame Bren had just created.

“Good,” said Bren. “Now, I’m gonna light the way for now, but I want you to be lightin’ it before we get to the Nocturnal Archives.” He reached into his beard and pulled out a large jar. He removed the lid and held the jar upside down above his hand. Then, like before, a bright ball of flame suddenly appeared, but this time, it was trapped inside the jar. He placed the lid back on the jar and hung it from a loop on his belt. “There! That should light the way good enough. That is, until
you
 make us one.” He chuckled.

 For a while, Olivia walked by Bren, clutching her staff with both hands and focusing on the fire in the jar. Bren explained again and again how to control the flame after she willed it into being. After a while, Olivia was forming a much better understanding of emberology and managed to make the flame in the jar burn a little brighter. Bren was right; it wasn’t difficult.

 The staff that Locke made for her was also much easier to work with than the Great Fairy’s old cane, which felt foreign and unfamiliar. Unlike the cane, the staff felt as if it were a part of her and she could focus her will through it much more naturally. She focused again, this time blocking out all other thoughts. She saw a flame in her mind and willed it into being with all the focus she could muster.

 Bren’s jar suddenly filled with a white flame as bright as the afternoon sun. The jar expanded and made loud cracking sounds as if it would shatter. Everyone in the group, including Olivia, yelled and shielded their eyes. After a moment, the flame died down and the jar returned to its normal shape.

 “My, my, Olivia! That was the hottest flame I’ve ever seen comin’ from a child!” Bren shouted. “By me beard, I’d say that was just about as powerful as mine at the forge. You almost shattered me jar!”

 “I’m sorry,” Olivia said, putting a hand to her mouth.

 “Don’t be sorry, my girl,” he said, thumping her heartily on the back. “But you have to remember that if it wasn’t in this jar, it would have engulfed this entire group in flames! Let that be a lesson to you!” Olivia nodded in understanding. The rest of the group stood frozen behind them, wide-eyed with fear.

 As the group recovered from the scare, Olivia looked ahead. In the distance, she saw a forest of tall birch trees. Their path continued toward the forest and ended at a tall building with many windows, all of them giving off a warm yellow glow. To the left of the building was a gigantic lake. Its placid surface clearly reflected the moon and the stars, making the lake look like a fallen piece of sky.

 “Ah, I’ve never been so happy to get a glimpse of home!” Rufus said, looking at the lake.

 “Wow…Stonehaven Lake is beautiful at night,” Locke added.

 “It’s beautiful in the daytime, too.” Holli said.

 “Well, I’m no big reader, but I’d say I’ve never been this happy to see the Nocturnal Archives,” Bren said.

 “Same here,” Jin said weakly. His normally rich and vibrant complexion had become dull and he struggled to stay upright. “Let’s go, we’re almost there.”

 Soon the group arrived at the entrance of the Nocturnal Archives, which was a tall circular tower that rose into the moonlit night sky. At its base was a large stone staircase that led to two massive wooden doors. Bren knocked heavily on one of the doors, and after a moment it slowly swung open. A shadowy figure stood in the doorway, only a silhouette against the warm light coming from within. After her eyes had adjusted, Olivia saw that it was an owl-like creature, wearing a long red robe and a pair of golden spectacles.

 “Welcome to the Nocturnal Archives,” the owl creature said in a low voice. He bowed and moved to the side, allowing the group to enter.

Chapter Thirteen

The Nocturnal Archives

 “Right this way,” the owl creature said, leading the group forward to a large round room. The smooth stone floor glinted as the soft light from floating orbs hit it. Wide columns of stone were interspersed around the room, holding up the many floors above them. Around the room were wooden doors that lead to smaller rooms, some of which contained beds for travelers in need of a place to stay while they studied.

 Strange creatures, resembling deer but with oddly human faces, lay all about the floor. The creatures had a certain majestic and unapproachable air about them. A few of them had great, intricately branching antlers that gleamed in the light. Some of them were huddled in groups on the stone floor, while others were wandering by themselves, deep in thought.

 Soon Olivia and the group passed into the center of the tower where the ceiling suddenly ended, revealing floor upon floor of books, scrolls, and documents. Olivia stared at the shelves in awe. She had never seen so many books in her entire life. She wondered what information they held and what she could learn from them.

 The owl creature stopped in front of a circular desk, where he bowed and then walked away. Another owl creature was standing behind the desk. This creature looked much older than the one that had welcomed them inside, and it stared at her through a pair of golden spectacles with an intimidating glare.

 “So, the human has come,” the creature said in a deep voice. “This is good news.” He moved his gaze from Olivia to Jin. “You have come quite late. Is there a reason for this?”

 “We were attacked by Morragin the arachon on the way,” Jin said, moving his hand to show his wound.

 “Oh, my,” the creature gasped. “Tell me, did she seem…out of her mind, at all?”

 “Yes, she definitely seemed insane,” Jin said. “She insisted that we follow her to the Grimoire.”

 “So it is true.” The creature shook his head. “The hjorthovin have been telling me some very disturbing things. Your encounter seems to prove them correct.” He paused for a moment, inspecting Jin’s wound. “I suppose you will want to find an antidote for that venom.”

 “Precisely, Walter,” said Rufus. “We should like to act as quickly as possible, if you don’t mind.”

 “Is that you, Rufus?” Walter asked, peering over the desk and down at the gnome.

 “Indeed it is, old friend.” Rufus looked up at Walter and smiled.

 “Well, let’s waste no more time,” Walter said. “I’ll bring you all that we have on the subject of arachons. In the meantime, you and your companions may find a place among the hjorthovin refugees to rest.” He threw back his long red robe and spread his massive wings. He burst into the air, flying up through the center of the tower in search of the books Rufus needed.

 Bren scouted out an area next to a fireplace that wasn’t occupied by hjorthovin with a few soft chairs, a couch, and a plush red rug. Bren immediately plopped down on one of the chairs and exhaled loudly. Jin lay down on the rug, tucking his hooves close to his body. Olivia, Locke, and Kai-Tu sat on the couch, while Thunc and Kili found a vacant part of the stone floor to rest on. Grimwitch and Gauntlet wandered around, curiously looking at the hjorthovin. Rufus and Holli found a desk not too far away where they sat waiting for Walter to return.

  “What’s wrong with the hjorthovin?” Olivia whispered to Locke. “Jin said earlier that they rarely leave Whitewood.”

 “I don’t know, but I’m positive it has something to do with the Lich King.”

 “Do you think I can go talk to them?” Olivia asked, not quite believing what she was saying. A few days ago she would have never voluntarily approached a creature as strange and majestic as the hjorthovin. But things were getting worse with each passing moment, all because of the Lich King. She needed to know more about him.

 “You can definitely try,” said Locke. “But, from what I hear, they’re unsociable and hard to understand.”

 “I think I’ll give it a try,” Olivia said.

 “Okay, I’ll come with–”

 “We request an audience with the human,” a soft voice said from behind the couch. Locke and Olivia jumped and spun around. Staring at them with large almond-shaped eyes was a hjorthovin. Its human-like face was pale and fair, and its features were delicate but pronounced.

 “Uh…sure,” Olivia stammered nervously.

 “Follow me, please,” said the hjorthovin.

 “Don’t you be gettin’…too far…group…” Bren said, his head nodding as he fell asleep.

 Olivia looked around at the others. Kai-Tu had also fallen asleep. Jin had his eyes closed, resting. Thunc was sprawled out on his back on the stone floor, while Kili rested on his stomach. Grimwitch and Gauntlet were nowhere to be found. Walter suddenly swooped down, carrying four large books in his claws.

 “These should help,” he said as he gently laid the books on the desk for Rufus and Holli.

 “That was fast!” Rufus said, thanking Walter.

 “Old age doesn’t slow this scrowl down, I assure you!” Walter chuckled and turned to the other group members. “Oh, my! I wager that these poor folk have been through quite a day.”

 “Indeed, we have,” Holli said. “I’m about ready to have a good rest myself.”

 “Well, you shall have nice beds this night,” said Walter. “The hjorthovin seem to never sleep. How long do you plan on staying?”

 “A day, perhaps,” Rufus said. “We need to let Jin recuperate. It also may give us a little time to gather some information about this Lich King character. The things that he has already done frighten me.”

 “Yes. The hjorthovin have been worried as well. It is very unsettling,” Walter added.

 Olivia looked over at the hjorthovin that had spoken to her. It was staring back at her, waiting for her to follow. Just then, Olivia heard a voice inside her mind.

 “What the scrowl says is true. You must come so that we may speak with you.”

 Olivia inhaled sharply. She knew the voice came from the hjorthovin, but she was aware that the hjorthovin hadn’t actually verbally said anything. She walked slowly to the hjorthovin with Locke following, a confused look on his face.

 The creature led them to a circle of hjorthovin on the other side of the room. The group of hjorthovin eyed Olivia as she approached until one of the largest stepped forward, his elaborately branching antlers rising above Olivia’s head. Moss hung from the antlers and a long white beard trailed from his chin.

 “So it is true,” the creature said in a soft, deep voice. “The counter does exist.”

 “I’m sorry. I don’t understand,” said Olivia.

 “Nor do you need to. Names are not relevant, but if you so choose, you may call me Celestim. However, that is not my true name, for you would not be able to understand or pronounce it.”

 “Thank you, Celestim. I’m Olivia Wickworth, and it’s nice to meet you.”

 “Yes, I share the same sentiment, Olivia,” Celestim said. “Our meeting will be brief. You require rest, like your companions.”

 “Don’t worry about that. I’m fine,” said Olivia. She was more tired now than she ever remembered being, but she wanted to find out if the hjorthovin had any information about the Lich King.

 “Although your dedication is admirable, I shall not keep you. Tell me, Olivia, do you know the threat that lies ahead of you?”

 “Yes,” she replied. “An evil human.”

 “Correct,” he said. “But do you understand the meaning of this threat?”

 “I don’t…” Olivia said, confused.

 “Olivia, the Fabric tells me of a man,” Celestim said, his eyes narrowing. “A human whose time has been strung out over many ages. We condemn ourselves for not recognizing it sooner, but why should one begin to suspect such a thing?” He paused, looking at Olivia’s baffled expression. “I realize I do not communicate well in your language and at your level of understanding, but please try your best to understand.”