The Last Fairy Tale (23 page)

 She nodded and quickly glanced at Locke, who was rocking gently back and forth on his heels, his mouth open, in a stupor.

 “There is more to this man than you may suspect, Olivia,” Celestim said. “I do sense a great power deep within your mind. However, I suggest that you take caution when you set out in the coming days.”

 “I-I’ll remember to be careful,” Olivia said.

“Now, return to your companions and rest. We have much to study this night…” He bowed slightly and then turned toward a stack of books sitting near the other hjorthovin. The book on the top of the stack suddenly rose into the air and floated over to Celestim. It opened itself and hovered in front of his face as he began to read. As Celestim turned and walked away with the book suspended in front of him, Olivia glimpsed the title:
The Tales of Harry the Human
.

 Olivia looked at Locke, her head tilted to the side questioningly. Locke had been right; the hjorthovin were very difficult to understand. He shrugged his shoulders and nodded in the direction of the seating area where the others rested. She felt that if she didn’t lie down soon, she would collapse. She followed him, a little dazed from both fatigue and her conversation with Celestim and settled on the couch next to Kai-Tu, who was snoring loudly. It wasn’t long after they sat down that they dozed off.

* * * * *

 Olivia woke to the sound of thunder. When she opened her eyes, she saw that she was in a bed in a small room. She then remembered that she was in the Nocturnal Archives and quickly jumped out of bed and ran over to the window.

 Rain was pouring down outside. Olivia’s room faced Stonehaven Lake, and she could see its once-placid surface now rippling as raindrops hit it. She wondered how long she had been sleeping. She heard voices outside her door and cracked it open to listen.

 A young hjorthovin was speaking. “By telepathically speaking with the Astral Leviathans.”

 “Right,” said Locke. “You know what? Never mind. Thanks for trying.”

 Olivia smiled at the sound of Locke’s voice. She opened the door the rest of the way and saw Locke leaning against a stone pillar, looking at a small hjorthovin with a confused expression on his face. When he noticed Olivia, he smiled and walked over to her.

 “What was that all about?” Olivia asked.

 “I asked a simple question: Where does the Stream come from? And he answered me with all this nonsense. I’m sure he knows what he’s talking about, but I just don’t get it.”

 Olivia giggled and then asked, “How long was I asleep?”

 “Well, right now it’s about noon, so you’ve been out for a while,” Locke said. “Bren’s been wanting to come wake you up, but Jin made him wait. He says you needed the sleep so you can use today to practice your magics.”

 Olivia remembered her conversation with Celestim the night before. She hadn’t understood what he had said, but she had the feeling she needed to practice and gain a better understanding of magic as much as possible before reaching the Lich King. The thunder rumbled again, reminding Olivia of something she wanted to ask. “I’ve never seen rain before. Can we go outside?”

 “I suppose we could,” Locke said, laughing. “I mean, as an imp, I do enjoy a good rain shower, but people usually like to stay out of the rain.”

 “I see,” Olivia said. “What if we just watched it from the main entrance?”

 “That’ll be fine,” said Locke, “but you should really eat something first. I’m sure you’re starving.”

 Olivia realized that she was hungry. She hadn’t eaten anything since the apples and rolls the previous day.

 “Plenty of sandwiches are over by the main desk,” Locke said, pointing to a small table. “Jin made them this morning. Holli and Rufus gave him the antidote they made last night, and he says he’s feeling as good as new.”

 “Oh, that’s great!” Olivia said excitedly. “I’ll go grab a sandwich and visit with him.”

 “Okay. I’ll come too. Those sandwiches are delicious,” Locke said.

 After Olivia and Locke had grabbed a couple sandwiches each, they returned to the area where they had fallen asleep the night before. Bren was sitting in one of the chairs, flipping through a picture book on minerals. Rufus and Holli were asleep on the couch, and Jin was picking absentmindedly at the bandage around his shoulder. The rest of the group was gone.

 “Ah, Olivia,” Bren exclaimed as he noticed her approaching. “’Bout time you got up!”

 “Where is everyone else?” Olivia asked through a mouthful of sandwich.

 “Thunc and Kili went out to play in the rain,” said Jin. “Kai-Tu is up there, reading.” He motioned toward the ceiling. “And the spindelum have been running around playing hide-and-seek for the last eight hours.” He sighed.

 “I would also like to go out and see the rain,” Olivia said. “If that’s okay…”

 “Sure, you can go,” said Jin. “But only for a little while. You  really need to study your magics today. There are only a few days left before we face the Lich King, and I want you to feel prepared.”

Olivia suddenly lost her appetite at the mention of the Lich King.
Only a few days left
, she thought to herself. She looked up at Jin and nodded before heading toward the exit.

 “Do you still think I’m capable of doing this, Locke?” Olivia asked as they passed the main desk.

 “Of course. The Great Fairy believes in you, and so does everyone else. Besides, if you start to doubt yourself along the way, just tell me. I’ll fix it!”

 Olivia smiled. “But I’m nowhere near powerful enough to do anything. I mean, the hjorthovin talk like this man has been around for a long time, and I believe it. Considering the things he’s been able to do, he has to be extremely powerful.”

 “Honestly, Olivia, I don’t think it’s about being powerful,” Locke said, looking over at her. “I think the Great Fairy chose you because you’re special. We might not know exactly what it is that he sees in you, but I think you’re special, too.”

 “But how will that help me in the end?” Olivia asked. She appreciated Locke’s attempt to reassure her, but she wanted to know how she was supposed to stand against an enemy as powerful as the Lich King.

 “I dunno, Olivia,” Locke said with a sigh. “But whatever happens, I’ll be with you until the end. I know that isn’t saying much, but I think you’re wonderful and I want to see you succeed. I mean, who knows what life could be like after this is over?”

Olivia hadn’t thought about that. She remembered her conversation with the Great Fairy.
I wonder if he’s found a way to help the children
… she thought.
I wonder if Nachton is okay
… All of a sudden, one of the spindelum dashed past them, laughing. The other followed close behind, his arms outstretched.

 “It must be tag now,” said Locke. “If Walter was down here, he’d be furious!”

 “Where is he by the way?” Olivia asked, noticing that she hadn’t seen any of the scrowls.

 “They’re up in the roost,” he said, pointing toward the roof. “They sleep during the day.”

 “Oh, so they really are like owls then,” said Olivia.

 “Like what?” Locke asked.

 “Never mind,” Olivia replied, smiling.

 Upon reaching the main entrance of the Archives, Locke turned the large knob on one of the doors and heaved it open. The sound of the rain suddenly filled Olivia’s ears. She looked at the path they had walked on the night before and saw that it was now a muddy mess. The land all around the Archives looked completely different than it had when she had arrived. She took a deep breath. The rain had an odd, fresh scent that she enjoyed. She peered around and noticed a small grassy hill hovering above the ground. It wasn’t until a pudgy blue bird landed on it that Olivia realized it was Thunc’s hat. He was halfway in the ground, his arms resting on the surface. He watched happily as Kili flew around in the rain.

 “Oh, it looks so fun!” Olivia exclaimed.

 “It is!” Locke said. “But you heard what Jin said…”

 “I know,” Olivia said sadly. She had started the journey with a single purpose: to rid Aeldyn of the Lich King. But, along the way, she had fallen in love with the land and its people and wanted nothing more than to live a peaceful life among them. Of course, the fact that Aeldyn even existed and that it was so different from her dying world still bewildered her, but she had learned to look past her disbelief. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something appear in the direction of Stonehaven Lake.

 Walking at a brisk pace around the edge of the lake was a chubby creature with a wide umbrella. Olivia couldn’t quite make out what type of creature it was. She nudged Locke and pointed toward it.

 “What is that?” she asked.

 “If I’m not mistaken, I’d say it was a cat from Okenton,” Locke replied. “Seeing it in this area at a time like this doesn’t baffle me half as much as seeing it out in this weather.”

 As the cat neared the Nocturnal Archives, Olivia could see that it was a rather large black cat walking on its hind legs, wearing a red velvet waistcoat fastened with only one golden button. Olivia guessed that the others had long gone missing because of the strain they had to endure from the cat’s lower belly. Soon the cat reached the stone staircase leading up to the main doors of the Archives. Olivia and Locke watched as it slowly took each step one by one, trying its best to hold the umbrella steady. When it finally made it to the top, Olivia stepped aside to allow it in.

 The cat slowly closed the umbrella and looked over at Olivia and Locke with half-closed eyes.

 “Might you be the hue-man I’ve travestied so far to locate?” the cat asked in a low, aristocratic voice. It began to make a low purring sound.

 “Well, I…yes, I suppose. I’m Olivia,” she said, confused.

 “Hmm, yes,” the cat said. “You may call me Haunches. I am rather appeased to be meeting with you, Olive.”

“I’m, uh,
pleased
 to meet you, too, Haunches,” said Olivia. She wasn’t sure if Haunches was deliberately trying to confuse her, or he genuinely didn’t know he was using the incorrect words.

 “I have travestied from Okenton,” Haunches said. “The somniverous, Ink, attended our town and told us of your omission.” He stopped for a moment and purred, twirling his long whiskers with his paw. “I decided that I would like to persist.”

 “That’s…great!” said Olivia, unsure of what to think of Haunches.

 “The truth of the matter is that I, Haunches, the fanciest of them all, am treated like an outlast at the township Okenton.” He bowed his head, shaking it, before he started to cry loudly. “Why can’t I become like the other cats?” he wailed. “They’re so goodness at what they do! And I…I am just a useless hairball with no propose!”

 “Calm down, Haunches, it’s okay!” Olivia said softly. She took one of Haunches’ paws and patted it gently. “You don’t have to struggle to be like everyone else. And you do have a purpose; perhaps you just haven’t found it yet.”

 Haunches looked at her through his watery eyes. He suddenly lunged forward, hugging Olivia tightly.

 “Oh, thank you, Oliver!” Haunches said, sobbing.

 “No problem…” Olivia said, patting his back as best she could. After a moment, he released her and stood up straight, clearing his throat.

 “Sorry,” he said, his eyes half-closed again. “I lost my exposure for a moment.” He tucked his still-dripping umbrella underneath his arm and bowed low. “I would be honored to accomplish you on this journey, Olivia. Perchance I shall be able to dislocate my propose.” The final button holding his waistcoat together popped off as he bowed and shot halfway across the tower floor, narrowly missing a hjorthovin’s ear.

 “I’m pleased you’ve decided to come,” said Olivia, smiling.

 Haunches rose from his bow, his waistcoat now hanging open. He leaned down to Olivia and whispered, “I haven’t eaten in nearly two hours… Might there be any food around?”

 Olivia giggled. “You can find some sandwiches over by the main desk.”

 Haunches’ eyes widened and he teetered toward the main desk. Olivia and Locke looked at each other, grinning.

 “Cats from Okenton are supposed to be fancy…” said Olivia.

 “Okenton just happens to be the largest cat town,” Locke said. “Every cat I’ve ever met has been fancy. I think it’s just in their nature.”

 “I see.” Olivia turned and took one last look at the rain before slowly closing the door. “Well, I suppose I should begin studying. Where do you think I should go?”

 “You can go anywhere you want,” Locke said. “I know of a couple of books you might want to take a look at. Follow me. I’ll show you.”

 Locke led Olivia down a hallway to a spiral staircase that wound its way around the walls of the tower all the way to its top. They began to climb the stairs, their footsteps echoing loudly. When they had gone up a few floors, Locke turned and stepped out onto a large balcony.

  Out on the balcony, Olivia looked down over the mahogany rails. Far below, she could see the main desk and the hjorthovin lying about. She could also see Haunches and watched as he stuffed sandwiches into his mouth. She turned and gazed in awe at the massive shelves filled with books that lined the wall along the balcony. Locke was looking for a particular book in a row of shelves.

 “Ah, here it is,” he said, standing on his tiptoes to grab a book and heave it down. He carried it over to a small round table that was flanked by two large, soft chairs. Olivia followed him, eager to read what he had picked out for her.

 “So what’s this?” she asked, taking a seat in one of the chairs.

“It’s basically a beginner’s guide to the different studies of magic and whatnot.” He spun the book around and pushed it across the table toward Olivia. It was titled
Understanding the Magics, Volume One: A Guide to Focusing and Channeling
by Leslie of Whitewood. “You’ve probably already learned most of what it teaches from the Great Fairy. The
Understand the Magics
 books are really meant for people who want to pursue more knowledge in the different areas of magic, usually those in which a person isn’t naturally inclined.”

 “Maybe this will help me understand a few things.” Olivia opened the worn book and scanned the first page. “Although I don’t think I’ll be able to read the whole thing before we have to leave.”