They were home. How they did not know, but they were home. The snows still covered the ground, but in the distance, the wyvern Charles flew over the Western Pass to the Lower Calder Valley and Uzek beyond. Hardby a hunting lodge could be seen with much activity.
Elemix, when he took one step grew two months of hair, beard and nails. A similar thing went for everyone else, including Morgan. She took Emmeline aside for a moment and they talked while Elemix and Typhon got their bearings. Typhon knew the area. They had went through this area last year on that mission for Magus Alix. South of here, she new the home of Renee’s family once stood. Renee hoped it would be rebuilt by early spring. Elemix quickly realized that that was the former Duke’s lodge, now owned in whole by Magus Alix. He checked the sun, made some calculations in the snow and rapidly determined that they were late morning of the 29th of March. 12 days after the equinox and a day before the spring conclave. It was impossible to believe that so much time passed.
Morgan looked like her old self. She and Emmeline walked back. “I’m glad I shared that adventure with you. Now I must return to my path. Yours is there.” she said pointing to the lodge. We will see each other again.”
She turned and began walking away.
Emmeline said her farewell to Morgan and looked at the lodge. A deep sense of anxiety was creeping over her and gripping her heart. She’d been away from her children months! How were they? Was everything all right? And the Margrave. She’d visited him every week in dreams since autumn and now she had been suddenly missing for who knows how long. What must he think? What would Rivanon think. She wanted more than anything to change into a great eagle and fly home but she didn’t even know where she was.
With thoughts like this, she slogged through the wet snow toward the lodge.
Elemix stood and said, “That is Magus Alix’s lodge. By my calculations it is the 29th of March. The conclave is supposed to be tomorrow. So much time has passed. I wonder if this was all for naught. I mean we don’t even know if Magus Vorn still alive and unharmed?” I will have to wait until after I have rested to try and communicate with him.
After the conclave we can make haste to return to Uzec. Until then, I can send some magical notifications to the Baroness and others if any of you need me to do so in the morning. I do hope nothing bad has occurred while we were in the other world.”
Emmeline paused and looked at the others. “I’ll speak with people personally tonight. They deserve more than a couple sentences of explanation.” She figured she’d be raked over the coals for this but figured she probably deserved it for not taking the time to warn her friends and loved ones what might happen.
She turned back toward the lodge and kept marching. There was at least one thing she would be able to get done even if she’d lost the entire winter.
They approached the entry and a pair of guards were there. Also there was a man of impeccible clothing, bearing, and looks. Elemix knew him – the ‘other’ Redcap from Giselle. Mr. Tibault Sayles. He greeted the group.
“Friends, please show your staves, wands, or rods to enter. Sister, “he said looking at Typhon Né, “I’m afraid you cannot enter this conclave; however, as we are not cretins you may stay with the apprentices, guards, and staff at the guest house.”
Elemix did as instructed. He was anxious to find out anything they may have missed, and to get out of the cold.
Emmeline showed her runed rod then quickly stowed it again in the special pocket of her cloak.
Tibault signaled an attendant to take care of the Sister. Meanwhile he gestured Elemix and Emmeline into the lodge where they saw staff scurrying to ready everything. Winter stepped up and greeted them, “Oh my my. You are early! So much to do still, but no matter. The Tribune will be pleased to see you are alright. Yes, yes. She will. But she is casting now, preparing for tomorrow. Magus Xavier and Magus Calvet are here now, in the drawing room. Do you wish to see them?”
“It would be good to see them yes. Thank you,” replied Elemix.
Winter turned to Emmeline and Elemix and said, “Follow me.”
In the drawing room were three people. One was a bald dark-skinned man, likely from beyond Savonia. He wore a leather cloak with numerous metal pieces attached along with strange clockwork devices. His staff was short, like a walking cane, but with a jeweled pommel. He sat in a chair reading one of the books in the room’s small library. A clockwork owl paced on the table next to him, every so often reading along with his book. The other two were by the window looking at the snows come down. One was a gentleman, perhaps in his mid-30s with a white and silver cloak over tunic and pants and a silver clad smallsword at his side. He wore a short beard, had tussled blonde hair, and was slightly above average height. Talking to him was a woman of near similar height wearing a matching silver clad sword with a wand at her side as well. She wore a white fur-lined cloak over a black dress. At her side was wolf who watched Emmeline and Elemix warily.
“Magi of the Tribunal, may I announce the arrival of Magus Elemix and introducing Magus Alix’s apprentice and petitioner to this Tribunal, the young Witch of Cerisey, Emmeline.” Winter said.
Emmeline’s little bow was in Thalassan style. “Pleased to meet you all.”
“Magus Xavier and Magus Calvet. It is good to see you both again. It has been a long time,” Elemix said as he nodded respectfully to them both.
He then turned to the newcomer and asked. “And who may I ask are you good sir.”
The raven-haired woman also approached, saying, “He is my husband and companion, Sir Balian du Cairentan. May I be the first to say it is good to see you both are safe.” She turned to Emmeline, saying, “My lady, I am Magus Sigolene Messier du Cairentan, Advisor to the Duke, Lord Arles and Conjurer of Beast and Spirit.”
The bald man said in a distinct Savonian accent, “Greetings to you.” He stood up and approached Emmeline, took her hand and kissed it with a bow. Looking to Elemix he said, “My good friend Elemix, I did not know that they made such beauty. She has been a secret for far too long. I am deeply honored to make your acquaintance my lady for I am Magus Xavier, Master Artificer and Creator of Things of Wonder and Ingenuity. I took am pleased you both are safe.”
“We have been indisposed to say the least,” replied Elemix. “But we are in good health.
What have you been up to since last we spoke Magus Xavier,” Elemix asked?
“Crafting,” he said. “Defensive armaments in Adera primarily. One of my more mundane skills but one of great value in this day.”
Magus Sigolene interjected, “but Magus Elemix. Where have you and your cousin been for these eight weeks? We were told by the Baroness d’Uzec that you were on a mission of some kind, but she would not divulge the nature of it.”
Elemix turned to Emmeline. “My cousin here can speak to that.”
He thought she could tell them the truth that they were in the other world speaking with Mara and to them a mere day had passed. They were just as surprised as everyone else when they returned and so much time had passed. But he thought it best for such to come from Emmeline.
Emmeline was surprised first that they called her my lady, then at the genteel greeting, and finally that Elemix wanted her to explain. But she recovered gracefully.
“My cousin wanted to see a dwarven runemaster, but of course they are all deceased centuries ago. All but one that is. So we spent a day in faerie to see him, managed to narrowly avoid a theft, a grisly fate, and came out slightly the better off for material gains, a bit better off for the knowledge, but it seems we have lost two months. To us, it is the nearly the same day as we left.” She smiled. “It would have been much better to have remained near to the place we crossed over and thus lose far less time, but then we would never have found Magus Elemix’s runemaster. To be honest, my heart is in my throat for discovering I’ve lost so much time with my children, and the Margrave will be greatly concerned.”
Xavier went, “ah, that is interesting. When you play with faerie time is like a dream, hours become seconds and seconds hours. But not all the Runemasters are gone. There are some in Raksmine, a dwarven land south of the Tauran Wilderness. Those dwarves have an ancient tradition of their own. It is also said the dwarves of Riom, the rivals of the Rakith have such as well. But that is a conversation for another time.”
Segolene added, “Perhaps my lady speaks of the Runemasters of Azenkuul? I’ve read the legend of their destruction. Sad really. But have joy, for things are not that bad. You went for a shallow dip into faerie and only lost two moons. Consider yourself lucky. Had you went deeper, stayed longer, or ate of faerie banquets, who knows when you would have returned to us – if ever. This conclave is as much for you as it is for the rest of us dear one. We can send a message to your children as the pass north is just now open. The danger passed with minimal fuss.”
Both Emmeline and Elemix realize that Segoline seems to speak of faerie with confidence.
Segolene’s apparent knowledge of the otherworld impressed Emmeline. She also nodded to Xavier. “Both of your insights are spot on.” She smiled.
“Magus Segolene, I thank you for your gracious offer. But I will speak with them directly at the earliest possible moment. They deserve at least that from me, as do Margrave Roland and Baroness Rivannon. But perhaps one day, if you are interested, we could have a sit and talk about Faerie. You … probably will not be surprised to learn that elves and the fae are of particular interest to me.”
“From what I know of you, no I am not surprised. Yet breeching the veil between worlds is quite dangerous. You never know what follows you.” she said.
“It was fascinating there, but I think we all know it is also exceptionally dangerous. I was glad to go, but I am also very glad to be back.
Have we missed anything of note while we were away? Have there been any attacks or incursions to the north?”
Emmeline had to agree. She nodded. “Unfortunately. We attempted to avoid trouble as much as possible by using a place where the veil between the worlds was thin — yet also well guarded. But your point is well taken. Some beings can move between worlds on their own without having to trace our path exactly. We attempted to make as few ripples there as possible, didn’t use our names, and similar precautions.”
She paused to listen to Elemix’s question. She was keenly interested about news from Calder and Uzec as well.
“Here in the North?” asked Magus Segoline. “There were a number of goblin raids. Nothing that couldn’t be handled by the local forces. Besides the local noble levy and gentry there arrived recently a garrison of troops. A company of rangers and dragoons plus supporting staff has been garrisoned at Calder Keep under the command of Captain Louis-Charels La Salle. Newly arrived from Thalassa.”
“That is very good news,” replied Elemix. He turned then to Magus Segoline. “I should congratulate you magus on your appointment in service to the Duke. I have no doubt you will do an excellent job.”
“We will see. In any event, the Duke has been most generous. My former liege Lord Piet will need someone when he returns. Faou has some similar challenges to Uzec with its isolation.” she said.
Xavier added, “yes. Many places have felt an increase in raids and unrest with the bulk of forces gone. Only recently have newly trained reinforcements began arriving while the veterans lead and reinforce the legions. They say their are now eight full legions deployed in the East, with another two in reserve and another two being parceled throughout the League.”
“That is a lot of soldiers to support,” Emmeline remarked.
Xavier nodded, “Yes. The League is not stressed yet, but it is a worry. There is a sense of nervousness the further you go east and a sense of unfairness as you go south and west.”
There was a bell heard and Tibault returned. “Magi. Thank you for coming early. The four of you are the only early arrivals. All else are due here tomorrow. Rooms have been set up for all of you.” Four small candle flames appeared in Tibault’s hand. “The flames will guide you to your assigned rooms. Magus Segolene, you have the main suite for yourself and your husband. If any of you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. We have several redcaps at the ready for messages, plus Ms Aubrey-Alix is available should you need something delivered that is an emergency.”