I would tell you everything about the way it all happened, if only I understood what it was. It had been hotter than any day in fall should have the right to be hot. The birds had went on singing for the hours we have gone on and on. Neither Master Elmer or Romont have had much to tell me besides to keep moving. It has been Master Elmer and Romont speaking about how not to leave much of a trail. Or they have discussing lessons I have had with Master Elmer about the forest and herbs. My whole job had been thus far to keep up and keep track of my own things. Master Elmer and Romont walked behind me a good couple of paces. I hung my sack over my shoulder as Inky followed at by side. I left the hood of my red cape down.

The woods here were barren of leaf and greenery. All the plants were ready to go to bed for the long winter yet to come. We were at a steady pace with the declining sun. I could hardly name the trees as we went along the path. Some of them were hardly a memory from when I studied with Granny Willow. I crossed my arms as Inky jumped about on the path and returned to idlily following the group. I wanted to turn around and speak with them, but as soon as I glance back Romont gave me such a look. His eyes were like daggers. I frozen for half a second as Master Elmer appeared to be exhausted and disapproving. I moved to try and speak with them, but you, Inky, have stopped me.

It may be a truth that I cannot speak with the fairies, see the shadow people, or even feel the same level of magic as before. I know you can understand this my little friend. We may not speak as we did before. I may even feel like there is someone else behind my actions sometimes as a puppeteer, someone different. Yes, the others believe it is the Light God. But before he came to live within me, if you will get my meaning. I understood vaguely that there was another. Someone who I grew up with. Someone who understood my heart and my desires. Now, it all felt force like in the mayor's office. Inky, I don't know when this new puppet master will come again.

Still it remains a lingering sense of being damned by for my own choices. Inky, you peered upon me in with your muted eyes and just knew. I turned just ever so slightly as they were back to whispering to each other so softly that I couldn't hear them. But their eyes burn with their secrets just below the surface. I felt a small hiss in my ear trying to get my attention. Kinda like a buzzing sound. But with a meow from you, Inky. It was gone. I stopped in my tracks and waited for Master Elmer and Romont to pass me on the pathway. Afterall, I have no clue really we are headed. Master Elmer had just pointed ahead of us. So we walked and we walked.

Here in the heat of the fall day, I have shed my cloak. I have beads of sweat on my head as I pressed through all the trouble on my mind. There had been so much happening and very little time to be said or why and how it all happened. But my own brother mustered ahead of me to lead us on the path. He huffed and puffed, "No one ever listened to me anyway. It is not my fault any of this happened. . . I did what you had told me to. . ."

Master Elmer sighed heavily and ran his fingers in his hair. He peered directly to me and he softened his express. His dropped his tense shoulders and said, "Serenity come back here for a bit. I have spoken a while with him. . . But there is a whole lot to be said now with you."

I hesitated, "Master, what if someone else is listening to us?"

"I will deal with that. You have forgotten I am more than just a mere healer," Master Elmer leaned on his staff.

"My brother. . . Is he mad with me? He only looks at me like that when he is really mad. This one time I broke his bow and he was so mad! He stormed out of the house and yelled so loud!"

"No, Serenity. . . He is just confused. . . He hasn't trained like you. Not that I planned to train him to be hero. . . His teacher. . . His teacher was to be Master Hammer. You remember him?"

"Hammer, the dwarf? The one who I had tea with all the time?"

Inky laughed the way only a cat could.

"Yes, Master Hammer was to be your brother's teacher in handling his sword. But it appears now your brother has a bow. Not the sword of myth. The Light Sword is now a bow. And well your brother doesn't have all his skills like he is supposed to."

Romont snarled a bit, "Yea!"

"Romont, we have been speaking about the subject together. You watch the path. We will talk," Elmer commander.

"Two-bit healer. . ." He grumbled as he picked up a stick and swung it around.

Master Elmer shook his head, "My student, we will have much to discuss with your brother once we get to lunch. But I have a feeling that we ought to review your lessons on herbs. I believe the last herb we talked about was the Goddess Breathe."

It was then I felt just the small pricks of magic. The world grew quieter in sound. Romont and his grumblings were muted and the crunching of the path was gone. Aw, I simple mute spell. A key word to make an unwanted listener disinterested. I should have known. You already did, huh. I watched as Master Elmer continued to walk, "Well, let us talk."

"I have told you already what happened!"

"Serenity, you do tell me parts of what has been happening. Tell me the whole truth. Don't leave things out. I know you have been drifting. I know that Granny Willow was teaching you about fortune telling. You must tell me what I don't know. You aren't the same girl that I left on our last lesson."

"Master, what good will come of us talking about the whole truth?"

"For one I can get your brother to understand what is happening here. It can give me some insight into how fate is deciding to be fickle," Master Elmer fiddled around with his staff. His roughed-up cloak was neatly tucked away into his sack. It was now that I finally noticed he wore a silken tunic and pants. Nice than anything back in town. His face was even less wrinkled. His hair was more of a fine silver rather then graying. His eyes even seemed brighter then normal. It was like they shimmered like amber.

I dropped my jaw as I pointed to him, "Master. . . What is with you?"

"I see . You have managed to change mantles, hmm? The Queen Mother changed for the Light God . So you change skill. . ."

"I asked you something! What is with you?"

"Um. . . I am not exactly all human, my dear student."

"What are you, Master?"

"I am half human and half something I do not understand fully myself."

"Oh. . ." I said, "Master Elmer, I have been meaning to tell you. I have been feeling like someone else . . . Well, it is like this. I have always felt like I have had an extra part of me. You know like since I have all this magic. There is someone else just right . . . Right. . ." I pointed to my head and heart, "It is like a dance between me and this other person. We share me. I don't know."

"I was afraid of when you would figure that out," He sighed deeply.

"What do you mean?"

"How well do you remember that day I found you by the river?"

"Not too well. I was four and I hurt myself pretty good when I slipped into the water. It was amazing that I was even alive. Father was so happy I was found. Romont was beside himself that I got hurt. Mother said it was a god send I was found alive. . . You know you were there I was found alive. . . Alive?" I left that word alive all bent in my mouth. I had remembered the waters all around me. I remembered the cruel joke of Romont and the spider. Then I was back home. But how could I forget everything in between.

"You didn't find me alive, did you?" I covered my mouth.

Master Elmer quietly looked away. He rubbed his neck, "No. . ."

"You did something you were supposed to!!"

"You weren't meant for death! I had foreseen you doing great things as a bringer of peace! I had made promises and plans to see you through your life! But then that happened! It was never meant to be like that! I thought I would make it out there before it got that far! But somehow I was late! I swore I would get to you on time! I had seen it properly!"

"You brought me back to life. . ." I muttered.

"Well . . . Death had not yet come for you. You were meant to be alive. I had managed with what Everblossom taught me. I never thought I would have to use it. Yet somehow even that went wrong. Your fate was not right. It was denied even more. A god-"

"Gemma. . .Spider. . . They made a deal. . . Gemma she chose me. . ."

"How do you know of the Queen Mother Gemma and Spider? I have never taught you of the elfish gods. Nor did the fairies."

"I-" I  rubbed my arms, "I have known just in the last day. I just learned about Queen Gemma from Spider. I have meet Spider years ago."

"Have you been hiding this from me? Serenity?"

"Not purposely. I have been . . . I have been thinking that because the fair folk have been asking me not to tell in about the drifting. Well, there were other things, too. But I was afraid if I told you everything you would stop teaching me. You won't trust me to handle it all. You had wanted to bind me once you found out that I could drift several times."

"Serenity. . . I only want to bind you so that the Dark God won't come. Without any source of a magic, he won't have a reason to make you a target. You could have gone off to the priestesshood with ease. But he is coming faster now."

"WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! What priestesshood!? I never agreed to such a thing! I have been training to become an herbalist and a seamstress! When were we going to talk about that!? My family never once said anything about me being a priestess!"

Elmer looked aside, "Well, I had a plan where since Everblossom kept talking with you. The fairies could take you to a temple. You would finish your training there with the Sisterhood of the Moon."

"Master Elmer! I don't even really celebrate the Light God! I won't leave my family behind to go to the fairy land to become a priestess! Besides, what is with everyone trying to determine what I want to do before I do it! I hadn't even heard Granny Willow talk to me about this!"

"Well. . . I did have a feeling that your magic was growing stronger. I would have had to bind your skills to keep them in check. Then I would have had to brought you to the temple. I had a young man chosen to be your bodyguard. Once you were of age of course-"

"Master Elmer! You were going to take my brother and give him over to Master Hammer for training just like that to fight some evil force. Then you were going to take me to a temple to be a priestess. So basically my brother was going to fight this guy all by himself. No one was going to help him and there was going to be a big war. So what was I going to do? Study the whole time!?"

"Ahhh, yes. . ." He covered his face, "It sounds like a strange plan when you say it out loud. . ."

"It is a daff plan! Send a mere boy into battle against some great evil! You were going to hand him a sword and say there! He's learned how to hunt and track things! He barely likes to kill deer!" I started to scream, "I have trained for years as an herbalist! I have studied all sorts of magic and fortune telling! I even know how to make a fine dress! I am more suited for battle then him with some evil wizard or whatever! But my brother was going to do all the defeating of evil! And me? I get books and more magic!"

"Yes. . ." Meekly he said.

"And you knew all about these evil things! And your best plan instead of trying to find it and stop it before hand was to relay on my brother! My brother who has never fought a man! Romont! He doesn't know about the magical world! He does not know any spells!"

"I know! I know! Why do you think I have been working so hard to stop it!" Master Elmer yelled over me with tears hidden in his old eyes.

"Stop! You made it worse! You could have been teaching my brother this whole time!" I paused with my anger steaming, "N-No better yet you could have been raising an army or something! You could have been training a hero to fight this big evil! Not my brother! You know-know what!? Better still not a child, never a child! This is a job for an adult and armies! An adult-t-t like a king! Or the Emperor! Or even a god!"

"Serenity-"

"ALSO I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE WHOLE PRIESTESS OR SEAMSTRESS OR ANYTHING ABOUT MYSELF! I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE WANTED FROM ME!!" I stomped my foot, "NO EVEN BETTER NO FIGHTING AT ALL!"

"Serenity, just let me explain!" Master Elmer gentle said with tears running down his cheeks.

I lose all the heat in my anger. The old healer who has been my teacher for all of my life wept so deeply. I bit my lip and felt small. I said, "D-Does he know all the details you are just telling me?"

"Yes. . ." Elmer wiped his eyes and coughed to gain his composure.

"Does he know his fate? Does he know how many times we have danced this dance?"

" I don't know what . . .Oh. . . I see. . . No . . ." He painfully answered.

I was disheartened as I said, "Does he know about the pains that have been suffered? Does he know the price we have all had to pay for these gods to pay their childish games?"

A whisper came into my ear, Or what of the pathways you have walked?

I covered my ear and resisted the urge to spill out the words on the tip of my tongue. I won't let the puppeteer take over again.

Grimly Elmer sighed, "No. . . He has been spared all the details. But you have started to awaken it would seem, Serenity."

"You want to know what I have been dealing with! Fine I will tell you!" I tightened my fists, "I have been with more than just drifting to different realms and the fair folk. It is true I dealt with some goddess of Fate! I have been putting up with versions of someone names Queen Gemma! It just started like today! I don't know how long it has been like this all together! But now when I did what I did with Romont's blessing from the Light God. . . I don't know. . . I think I did something wrong there. And now I have been told that I am not really alive!"

Master Elmer remained silence for a long time then, he quietly asked, "Indeed, what do you think you did there?"

"I think I lost whatever link you must have gave me to Queen Gemma and gained a new connection to the Light God. . . It is like he is using me. When Queen Gemma was with me she acted with me. I feel like a play thing now," I sadly said.

"Okay. . . Okay. . . Oh dear. . . What have you done, Serenity?!" Master Elmer rubbed his head and stopped dead in his tracks, "Please understand. . . I . . . Serenity. . .You are telling me you have undone the ritual I did to keep you alive."

"Huh. . . And what ritual do you speak of, Master?" I raised my eyebrows.

The old healer quietly stared ahead of us as Romont kept walking on. My brother was busy whacking the bushes with his stick. It was clear he was still steaming. But he remained unaware of the world around him. Master Elmer said, "I borrowed the life of the Mother Queen of the Fairies to keep you alive. I had intent to just ask her to keep you alive. But it was done in such a way you know serve as a vessel to the gods."

"Meaning?"

"Well," Master Elmer swallowed and closed his eyes, "You are different then any human. You are made to serve the gods' wills now. Your soul is their soul."

I ponder this for a moment, "Are you saying I don't really have my own soul?"

"No, no! You have a soul! It is just the gods can now sense you are a vessel. Think of it like a priest when they pray. . . Just you take on the gods' will and words. You even have all your magic from them. So with the Queen Mother you were able to see the fair folk, drift, and perform different kinds of magic."

"So I am like a pot?"

"What?"

"More of some kind of jar?"

"You mean you contain things?"

"Yea. . . You see I figure a normal person has stuff inside. Like here is your jar, Master, your soul and everything is inside. My own jar has been emptied in a way. So I gods can pour in their own essences to fill the jar. The outside of the jar is always the same as normal. But the inside can change."

"Serenity, it is not exactly what I am trying to say-"

"Or more or like a transplant."

"How so?"

"Well, there are plants out there that you can transplant to a new plant and it keeps growing. So you took part of me and graphed me onto a new tree so I could live," I paused as I heard faintly a snicker from Inky. I stopped, "But then that wouldn't work as I would be dead if it was done again. Maybe it is more like a jar?"

"We will stick with the jar I suppose. Just think of it this way you never stop being you really. You just get a special connection to the gods."

"And the one that I have now is one that I am not supposed to have. . ." I stopped, "What happens to the gods once they are part of me?"

"Whelp, that is the complex part," Master Elmer rubbed his hands together, "You see since the ritual was done incorrectly and now Queen Gemma has left you. It could only mean that the Light God is trapped in you in a way sort of . . . But Queen Gemma or Spider has done it is a way I don't understand."

"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ME!?"

"I-I was hoping if we took you to the capital the priest could help us undo this and put things right," the old healer nearly cries.

"I am sorry, Master Elmer. . ." I took a deep breathe, "W-Why can't be go to the fair folk?"

"It is complex. We need to speak with the Emperor first there is a lot to be done once we arrive there."

I closed my mouth with all my thoughts in my head. Romont still swinging his wood branch around. His silver bow sat well upon his back as he grumbled to himself ahead of us. I muttered, "Romont is mad at me isn't he? And you are, too?"

"He has much on his mind. Don't hold it against him . . . As for me, Serenity, just keep in mind I was only trying to do right for both of you," Elmer snapped his fingers and the spell was over. All the volume of the world returned to normal.

Elmer patted my shoulder as he went on to reach the front of our little group. I asked no more questions for fear of what Romont might add to the painfully discussion. I shook my head and you, Inky, were left with me. I reached down to pick you up. You happily purr in my arms. In a secret way your pleased with all of this. I don't know if we can talk like we did for that short while, but it is clear you know what is going on. Still why has Master Elmer never about you? And what did Everblossom want to tell me about you? Huh, God of Seasons and whatever else you do. I guess only time will give me my answer.

The normal sounds of distant birds returned. My brother's mutterings were loud with the swoosh of his branch. Master Elmer's staff scuffled the rocks on the path as he went ahead to be with Romont. I closed my eyes as I carry Ink in my arms and we continued down on our path for many more hours of muted walking. The tension in the air remained my campion as we finally came to the limits of the Noble Wolf lands. Truly it was so as now the plants were just from the drawings I had studied. The birds were strange to me and their song was much different. I stopped in my path as the others went on. I looked at the foreign forest and its weird sounds. The sun was well up to its peak and the swelling heat was now too much on top of everything else. I hadn't even bother to notice the amount of sweat dripping from my forehead.

Master Elmer turned to us with his ruby face, "Why don't we take a break for lunch."

"We should keep going! We have to make good time!" Romont huffed.

"We must take care of ourselves, if we are going to do what must be done," Master Elmer smiled.

Romont said, "Fine. . ."

I just nodded as we came to a large tree. It provided some shade from its large truck. Master Elmer sat down and took out a loaf of bread. He cut pieces and handed it to me and Romont. My brother held his piece and ate it his endless and bitter silence. I took the plain bread and let Inky jump off to the bushes to try and find his own meal. The bread was fair enough and had hints of butter. Master Elmer for the lack of wrinkles and amber eyes now, still went on as one might expect. He fanned himself and drank deeply from his bottle. His cheeks were redden and that odd youthfulness from earlier from gone. He seemed more of an old man than ever. Master Elmer rested his back on the tree. Calmly he peered at both of us and said, "Romont, do you wish to speak with your sister about what we discussed?"

My brother with beads of sweat on his head chewed on his bread and crossed his arm. He looked around his crossed expression and finally rolled his eyes. He said, "You know I could have defended out home with the power of the Light God, right? I could have done it! I felt it!"

I held the bread between my fingers. What justice could I give him? Could I tell him all the truth? You, Inky, stared at me with your glowing eyes from the bushes. There was a very clear message. I swallowed my bread and coolly told him what I knew. I peered at my brother, "Please listen to me, Romont. There are truths I have longed to tell you for a long time, but . . . I haven't said them because . . . Because Granny Willow and Master Elmer warned me against it. . . Not to forget Mother said she would be upset if I did. It would be heretic talk."

"What do you mean?"

"I know you didn't believe me when I told you of the fairies. You did not take me seriously about the mermaids or the dwarfs. I stopped telling you all of that because everyone warned me not to. Plus, you always have thought me queer."

"Well you are queer!"

"I . . ."

Master Elmer sighed, "Romont, remember what we talked about."

My brother's shoulder drooped, and his face softened. He rubbed his arm and wiped the sweat from his head, "You are still my sister no matter what happens and I will always love you. So just say what you need to say."

I took a deep breath and that when I told him everything. I told him about the tea parties and the fair folk. I told him of my lessons and herbs. I told him about drifting and the other visions I had. I made sure I left nothing out. Master Elmer just nodded along as I went on. Oh it took some time as the sun sank lower. My brother patiently sat through it all. It was then I reached the end with the three guardians and the Light God his expression changed. As I spoke of Spider and tried to explain how we have been in the cycle his face was blank. At last, Romont let the last of my words go out. (Thankfully where ever that Light God was he wasn't trying to speak for me.)

He said, "You were trying to help me this whole time?"

I nodded.

"And you are saying this whole event has happened many times before?"

Master Elmer mumbled, "This grass. . . I know it very well. . . Oh. . . What was it called?"

I ignored him and said, "Yes."

"And we keep going in this cycle no matter what happens?"

"Yes, my boy, that would be the short of it," Master Elmer yawned and closed his eyes, "What you must look at . . . Look at the grass. . . It is so green. . . I remember it is. . ."

"You both knew of all of this!" Romont frowned as he suppressed his own yawn.

"Just starting to understand it to today," I folded my cloak into my lap. The heat was making me tired. Inky stretched out from beyond the bushes. He laid his head down. I could smell a rich cider-lemon scent. I looked down at the grass for a moment to see it shimmer in the sunlight.

Romont shouted between a yawn, "A whole cycle! We are stuck in it! We have done this how many times?!"

"Serenity, we ought to-" Master Elmer tried to get up from the grass, but instead snuggled up against the tree. He sank deeper into a comfortable position and his walking staff seemed further away from him.

"I don't know. . ." I felt my eyes get heavy as I spotted Inky lay his head down in the bushes. The cat drunkenly stumbled out and crawled over to Master Elmer's staff.

Master Elmer started to snore. I found myself curling up on the grass as Romont shook his head. I was so tired. He rubbed his eyes, "Is there any way to escape the whole thing? I know the land needs saving and the evil must be pushed back. . . But if it is not working. . . Serenity. . . What do we do?-"

I closed my heavy eyes in the grass with the songs of the birds and the gentle snoring of Elmer. Inky started to purr among the grass. As I opened my eyes another eyes I saw the grass was spouted tiny white flowers like sea shells. I searched my memory for the plant. It was on the tip of my tongue. Brother took out his bow and notched an arrow to it. I didn't feel much else, even as Romont shook me. There was something inviting about the shade under the oak tree. It was intoxicatingly comforting. Romont must have made a thud sound on the ground. Although I didn't have sleep right away, I saw him down on the ground his eyes closing. There was a little smile on his face.

A dream of many dreams did I have. I stood in the rows of the tapestries hung about in the air. They each flattered softly with a small breeze. I stood there with the tapestries before me with the neat work, which must have been done from the careful hands of Spider. I studied the one closet to me. It was of Master Elmer with his staff just beyond his fingertips. Inky curled up by the staff. My brother held his bow in one hand and slumbered on the ground. I asleep in the forest under the big oak tree. There under the oak tree was the rare Night-Night Time Weed. It was rare among the forest of Noble Wolf Forest. The Night-Night Time Weed problematic nature is that it commonly appeared like everyday grass, but when it blossomed around twilight. I ran my hand through my hair. Again I studied the tapestry. The sky had turned into night in the piece. I reached out to touch the tapestries when I noticed a person standing next to me. I narrowed my eyes and said, "Spider?"

"Hmm, her work is really good. I didn't know what was happening in the realms. Or I least I didn't until now," Their voice was warm and joyful. The person a slimming white cloak with tiny pearls on it. The cloak had swirling images of stars and tiny suns. Their hood well covered their face. The person lifted up their pale ivory hand over the tapestry. The image changed to me being awakened and my brother getting back up. The person seemed to study Inky's position and shook their head.

I stared at them for a while, "Who are you?"

"Serenity, how could you not know who I am. I am now part of you and Romont. My champions in battle," The person shrugged with a jolly laugh, "I cannot undo all that Spider has done. But we can sure do what we are to do."

"You are the Light God?"

"The one and only. But you can call me Jade. Jade the Light God. I suppose Jade is less scary and formal then the whole Light God business," Jade pulled back his hood. He was a young man with curls of silver hair about his thin cheeks. His brilliant yellow eyes blink carefully in thought as he grinned, "The Night-Night Time Weed I will have to thank your brother for. It is not easy to speak with you when I am trapped as I am with you.

"Romont made the weeds grow there?"

"Yes, well. . . More like you helped, too. . . Both of you to be exacted. I must say the trick earlier of taking half of his power, it was clever," Jade studied the tapestry once more, "You and Romont wanted a calm place. A place of clarity and no lies. I wanted to talk. You know without the whole heavy fisted speak through you thing."

"You mean when I am forced to talk from you!" I snapped.

"Well. . . Yeah. . . I am not a big fan of it. I usually as my heralds to do it for me, when I am busy. But you know that I wasn't able to do it last time," Jade shrugged, "Don't worry I will have hardly taken much of your time. But you see when I am with you, I can hardly know what is happening in the world. With you around here, I can learn more."

". . . I . . . I need to get back to my brother and master."

"Of course, of course. I will get you right back. Thanks to your memories I can get more information."

"You said you were trapped in me?"

"Oh yes. . . It would seem the last god was too. Why Queen Gemma would chosen as she did, I have no clue. But it has happened. . ." Jade clapped his hands together, "No matter. I shall have to trust Coal, Shark Bait, and Zypher to do their best on my last commands."

"What exactly do you have planned here?"

"I am on board with Master Elmer's plan. I need to be free of you. Your brother needs my help to get through the coming battles. Being like this won't do us any good."

"You're here in Spider's hallways. . . How?"

"More like your memories and a little of her lingering magics. I am guessing she gave you a blessing or something. Why aren't you popular with the holy forces!" He laughed, "We will get it all on track in no time."

I opened my mouth to speak, but he held up his hand with widened eyes. He frowned deeply and we jumped through the lines of tapestries. All the images buried as we came to one of Romont. I tried to peer upon it, but it was hazy like a fog was about it. Jade leaned in closer and shook his head. He declared, "I must send you back now! I cannot leave my champion in this state! But on second thought. . . I will need to think about my chances. . . Oh right! Off you go!"

"Wait!" I shouted as I sat up under the shade of the oak tree. We were not at night as the tapestry showed, but rather at high noon still. Master Elmer was happily snoring next to the tree. He had a sly smile about him that I had not seen my master ever make before. His fingers just at the tip of his staff which radiated an arura of magic. It sparked up here and there. Inky was in my sight between a shadow of a man and a cat. He blurred between them and back to a cat. The slumbering cat jolted awake and nudged the staff fully to Master Elmer. The old healer dozily yawned and opened his eyes. I took my head and focused myself on what was around. My brother was slumped over with his bow in hand with flowers of the Night Night Weed poured out of the bow's silver light. He stood kneeling with his eyes glowing a soft light. His lips uttering a soft string of words I didn't understand. He blinked his eyes and the spell stopped and the weed vanished from sight.

I felt my hand down upon the ground with my fingers twisted upon a weed. So, it seemed that Jade had indeed used both of us for his purpose. My fingers were still warm with magic as the weed vanished like the others. I dried the sweat from my head as Master Elmer held his staff and huffed. Romont held up his bow and looked all around. I sighed at the distraction and rubbed my head. So that was Jade my new partner in this whole affair of changing the tide of history and fate. Romont perplexed stared at all of us just as Master Elmer stood up. He shook his head at both of us, "When either of you speak to the Light God again tell him there are better ways to speak to the champions. He puts us all to sleep we could be left to many dangers!"

Romont closed his eyes trying to find words. He lifted up his bow again and said, "Shh, I heard something from over in the bushes."

Master Elmer held up his staff and crept forward. Inky came back to my side with a look of annoyance and sulking. I got up and carefully sneaked along with Romont to the bushes. A first glance it was a pile of weapons and gold laying about the forest floor. There was even three grant rocks standing about the space. But when I narrowed my eyes again the rocks moved just a little. Romont's jaw dropped.

Inky bushed against me and I saw a rock with a hole in it. I may have lost my second sight, but there were other ways to see. I picked up the rock and looked in it. Then I realized they were not rocks; but there a small group of chalky goblins stood speaking with each other. The tallest of the three goblins wore a bright loin cloth of blue. He seemed to be weathered and old with several scars across his back. A few fresh ones were on his arms with bandages covering them. The second one was a bit chubby with a headband of leather and he wore a lion cloth of navy. He wore a small dagger on his side. The smallest of the goblins had stripes of paint on his button nose and under his eyes. The smallest had a headband with a sapphire on it and a couple of golden feathers. He wore a light vest of purple and a pale green lion cloth.

Master Elmer wandered over as he came to the sight of the pile of goods and the three goblins. The old healer frowned at the pile and he held both of our shoulders. He whispered softly, "Stay a moment here. . . An item there does not belong here."

"What do you mean?" Romont quietly answered.

"Just listen a second first," Master Elmer warned.

"Father, I thought all of this was to do good! I thought we would be heroes! Why else did you steal from the humans? Why did we go about bothering the dwarves?" The smallest said.

The tallest goblin muttered to the younger, stood up, and punched his arm. His eyes glowed in the dark like Inky's. He said, "Heroes, us? Oh son, I thought I had taught you better than that. There are no such thing as heroes, as there is no such thing as goodness. What seems heroic to you will always be villainous to someone else. Please remember that."

"Father!-"

"Manawa, you are still young. One day you will fully understand why we goblins must do what we do in order to live," The tallest goblin proudly held up his head and hit his chest.

The one known as Manawa gathered from the ground a spare and shook his head. He pointed his finger at his father and went on, "The god, Rummie, forbids such low tactics. He stands for goblin kin be kindly to those who accept our brew and drink on our lands. He stood for the education for goblins for their advancement and scholarly achievements. Rummie wants goblins to be seen more than just thieves! Why else did we work with Seer Elmer to deal with the dragons? Why would we ask for their protection and not complete our deal with them fully?"

"Manawa, what has your Papa Thaco taught you. Just because he is chief does not make him wiser than your father," The tallest goblin sighed, "Papa Thaco fills your head with nonsense and learning. Listen to your father. I made a good chief when it was my job. Now I rise you and Papa Thaco leads the clan. Manawa, why do you think we did so well when I was chief? I didn't worry about pleasing dragons or making allies. We stood in our mountains and we were happy!"

"Ottowatta, leave the boy alone. He only does what he thinks is right," Sighed the chubby goblin, who had been busy counting coins.

"Woodgo, mind your own business," Ottowatta hissed.

Manawa faced Ottowatta and declared, "Chef Thaco will see we manage our dealings with the dragons in order to see us fully safe for when the darkness comes. We will not need to bother with all of this lowest of stealing-"

"Papa Thaco still used his stealing to get us this lance here!" Ottowatta pulled up the saint's lance.

Romont nearly jumped to get it as Master Elmer held him down. The old healer hissed again, "Wait just a little more."

"But Master Elmer-"

"Hush. . . Just wait!"

Woodgo drug his hand into the pile of goods. The golden coins were poured to a side. He reached down and pulled out several weapons. An iron hammer with golden laid in it. A shiny sword made of grass with rubies on its handle. Several bows made of what looked like crystal. Several axes that were finely made. Then most carefully Woodgo held a cloth covered disc and seemed troubled as he held it. It radiated light from under the cloth. Woodgo eyes widened just as Inky meowed loudly. Master Elmer covered his face and shook his head. Woodgo placed it gently next to his piles and looked up at us. Woodgo grinned and called out, "Who is there? Is it you, Leafwick?"

Master Elmer stood up slowly and gestured for us to keep waiting. He held out his staff and gave a wide grin, "My good friends, so nice to see you soon again. Ottoawa, Woodgo, and Young Master Manawa. Why are such fine Frost Goblins so far from there mountains? And with such a good treasure I see."

Ottoawa beamed, "Ah, it is you, Elmer Leafwick. Why did you hide in the bushes? And why are you so far from your village? We thought after today's meeting you would be off with the dragons and the humans surely."

"Hahaha, Ottoawa always wise to ask questions. I am glad to see your wit is still sharp as ever," Master Elmer chuckled.

"You have company with you, a cat? May we eat it?" Woodgo grinned.

"NO YOU MAY NOT EAT MY CAT!" I shouted as I came forward.

Master Elmer suppressed a cough of laughter. "My friends, you have yet to answer my question."

"You have yet to answer ours, Master Leafwick," Manawa politely pointed out.

"It would only be right for me to answer," Master Elmer scooped up Inky from the bushes as the cat dared to go forward. He nodded to each goblin, "No you may not eat the cat. It is not mine to give. It belongs to my student as she said-"

"You travel with the Queen of the Fairies?" Ottoawa flushed and straightened on his person.

"Well you want me to answer your questions, I shall," Master Elmer gestured for us to come forward. I slowly crept out with Romont. My brother let his bow go limp as he stared at the strange goblins. I smiled kindly. Master Elmer continued, "We are on our way far from the reach of the Shinning King who wishes harm upon these children as they are the champions of the Light God. You know well of my student, Serenity. This is her brother, Romont."

"You indeed travel with the presence of the Fairy Queen!" Woodgo bowed a little, "I am Woodgo of the Frost Goblins, child of Cider and Scout. I am Head Resource Finder. I must admit more officially I am the Brew Master back with the Clan."

"With all due respect it is a pleasure to meet you," Manawa bowed, "I am Manawa, child of Thaco, Chief of the Frost Goblins, Apple, Secondary Brew Master, and Ottoawa, Chief Advisor. I am a priest of Rummie. I am at your service."

"As my son said, I am the Chief Advisor to our Clan. I am child of Otto the Great Chief and Watson the Healer. I am pleased to meet you," Ottoawa bowed for a moment and paused. He stared carefully at me, "The Fairy Queen does not have her outstanding beauty or awe about her. She carries a different light. . . You said she too works for the Light God?"

Master Elmer coughed and nudged us, "Be not mute children. Say hello to my friends."

My brother managed to pick up his jaw and nodded his head. He said to them, "I am Romont Seahelm. Nice to meet you."

I curtsied a little and muttered my name.

"Master Elmer, how can they both being the Light God champion. Plus, the girl is the Fairy Queen, right?"

"Well you see. . ." Master Elmer paused.

Romont cut in, "You dare question the gods about who they select? We are both the champions! And sure as day my sister is indeed the Queen of Fairies. Hmm, don't you see her disguise to hide away from the evil Shinning King who would kill us."

This seemed to please Ottoawa as he bowed lower, "Do forgive me for my questions. We must be careful in our line of business. Not everyone is fond of us goblins. But if you are a friend of Leafwick and his boon he has done us is so great."

"Now we have answered your questions, do you care to tell us about your treasures and gold?" I added.

Woodgo begun, "We have taken these items from the dwarves and the humans in order to please the dragons-"

Ottoawa rolled his eyes and corrected Woodgo, "We took these items that the humans and the dwarves clearly did not want. They left these items out in caves and the ground. We, goblins, have a need to pay our dragon friends for their help."

"I thought that matter was settled with the help of the ale you were to pay the dragons to watch over your lands. We just settled that today!" Master Elmer frowned.

Manawa moved his way forward and said, "The truth of the matter is that the dragon decided we are not giving them enough with just ale. The dragons now wish for gold. . ." He dropped his tone and sighed, "We need the gold to buy elfish weapons, which are light enough for us goblins to wield in battle. Father Ottoawa foresaw the need to arm ourselves. Woodgo thought the human and dwarfish weapons would be useful too as we found them in a cave."

"See no problem, right?" Ottoawa growled to Manawa behind a strained smiled.

"What kind of cave did you managed to find all of this unguarded?" I asked.

"We found it in a cave with a lot of dead bodies of dwarves and humans. We figured since it was clear no one had been there is such a long time, the dead would not mind if we took the gold and weapons. We, goblins, do not have magic like the elves and dwarves. So you could understand why we need such things for us," Woodgo smiled.

Ottoawa sighed. Manawa rubbed his forehead and nervously grinned. The young priest kept on about what type of cave it was and the rune. He pressed on how clearly no one needed the items, so truly it was a gift of the gods for someone else to have. Master Elmer tapped his foot as we when through the explanation. Romont shook his head as he took in the reasoning. I carefully collected Inky from Master Elmer and placed him on my shoulders. I knew not why the goblins felt they must come up with a long winded idea. The lie was clear and only growing with each passing. We hadn't even gotten to the part of the glowing mirror.

I heard a whisper in my mind, They know what they did wrong. Let us get to the point. You and your brother must get the capital as soon as possible.

But the voice faded as Inky crept against my ear and purred into it. A newer feeling entered my mind as the pressing feeling of the Light God dimmed for just a moment. I moved passed the pleading case of the goblins and others. I watched between the weapon pile and the glimmering gold. I reached out for the glowing disc hidden in the cloth. The voices of the others were far away when I removed the cloth to find a mirror. I peered into it and saw not my reflection, but the image of Jade. His white hood moved along with my head and my expression changed with his. I glanced back at Inky and I saw an outline of shimmering stars and moons. I was vision which was gone in a second along with the Light God. It was just myself blinking at me. What an odd mirror?

One of the goblins rushed along and covered the mirror again. It was Manawa who placed the cloth back on it. He said, "Don't you know what that does?"

"No, what does it do?" I asked coolly.

"We don't know. . ." Manawa flushed as the other were busy talking about something else. The small priest peered at me and studied my eyes. He said, "I feel like we have meet before from somewhere else. . ."

"I used to have a lot of tea with the fair folk in my own hometown," I said as I watched the goblin tuck away the mirror.

"I haven't left the mountains a lot. . . I feel like I have known you," Manawa drew closer.

Inky stopped his purring at batted at Manawa's hand. The priest drew back his hands and took the covered mirror back into his keep. He flushed ever so slightly as he scanned my face and then rubbed his arm. He said, "The mirror was not from the cave. It is something we found back in the mountains of my clan. It was in the ancient temple of Rummie. I don't think you should really mess with it. . . It reveals things to the user."

"What do you mean?"

"It can show things as they really are. It can also show things you might want to find."

"How interesting. . ."

It was about then when the angered dwarves showed up with their war hammers and armor. They were livid as they came running out of the bushes. The dwarves only stopped dead when they saw Elmer and I standing with the goblins. Oh, there was going to be a lot of talking and fast.