Returning the Book (30 Oct 2001) The Mirari Gang tries to determine if "Nymuae" is really Rebecca.

The Secret Caves
The caves would be pitch black, were it not for flashlights; as it is, the beams play across the irregular, water-eroded floor and reflect from the stalactites and stalagmites that occasionally join to form a column from floor to dome-like ceiling. From a triangular pool at the intersection of southern, northern, and western cave, three streams run in smooth arcs that appear naturally eroded, but must surely have been designed to achieve the effect of delineating circles which meet at this pool.

Before Tom, Agatha, and Alice stands a figure completely dry, for all that she had emerged from the dark waters at the center of the caves only a moment ago. A silver circlet crowns hair of a brown so dark it is nearly black, but from which red highlights flicker. A green gemstone rests above the bridge of her nose, matched to green eyes. Her skin is cream-pale and perfectly clear. a fey glow illuminating her figure and casting shadows on the cavern floor all around. She stands tall and proud, clad in an elegant gown of white trimmed by green, with a green sash around her waist, folded in front so that its long ends dangle to her feet. Despite her emergence from the pool, she stands on the water's surface completely dry. Only her voice is familiar, that of Rebecca's.

The woman walks over the surface of the water, slight ripples trailing out from feet which do not get wet. She smiles at Alice. "Of course I remember you, my friend. And you as well, Lord Explorer. Rebecca ... was a name I carried once, for a while. But I have broken the seal on that spell, once and for all. I am the Lady Sorceress Nymuae of the Lake, and I have come, once again, to aid the land of Mirari in its hour of need."

"Much as I have begun breaking the seal on who I once was, then, Nymuae?" Thomas asks, not quite certain he believes it just yet. He folds his hands behind his back and waves them at Agatha and Alice, as if to tell them to back up some. "Forgive me, but I too defend Mirari and have had experience in the past with Warlocks. Can you prove your identity to me?" he inquires, green eyes focused on the figure.

"Time has not dulled the edge of your suspicions, I see," the sorceress in white and green answers, a smile playing about her lips. She steps onto the stone beside the pool, walking with graceful strides towards the three children. As she approaches, they can tell she is a woman grown, and easily taller than any of them. "What test would you put me to, Thomas Winthrope -- or, should I say, Lord Explorer? What would satisfy you that it is I who have come for mine own book?"

"That's the question, isn't it? That spell book has saved our lives more than once and we're not about to give it up so easily," Tom replies. "Lord Explorer I assume to be, but that too, could be a trick and I realize it. I'll start simple -- what do you know of me? Of Tom Winthrope and so on. Rebecca would have known me pretty well."

Agatha breaks her gaze away from the glowing figure, and looks around for any other movement, just in case it's all a distraction. She also keeps a close eye on Alice, to see how she might react to anything Nymuae says.

Alice unwinds a hand from around the book in her hands, lifting it in a wave that seems to die as she gets a better look at her grown friend. "Rebecca ..?" she repeats, uncertainly. "I, I learned how to cast magic, just like you taught me. It was very helpful, Rebecca, thank you."

The caves are still apart from Nymuae's own presence, with only the sigh of the wind and the trickling of water from the pool into the several rivers that run to the walls. The air is cool, more so when compared against the warm summer day outside.

"Don't give her the book yet, Alice," Agatha whispers to the younger girl. "We don't know what she really intends to use if for, or what she'd do if we refused."

"I could tell you much, Lord Explorer. You chose to be an explorer in what we thought was a game -- but it was I who said you were also a lord." Lady Nymuae smiles again, watching Thomas, a considering look on her face. She doesn't yet turn her attention to the other two girls.

Returning her hand to wrap around the book again, Alice then turns to look back at Agatha and frown. "I won't," she promises.

Thomas' expression doesn't waver. "This is true," he replies, "Why? Why a Lord? Since you've learned so much of Mirari, how can I be this person who was just a game creation?" The raven haired boy grins slightly. "Plus, you still haven't said anything about Tom Winthrope, the person, that would prove anything."

The green-eyed woman turns her head to show her profile. "You mean -- what can I say that could not be some trick of a Mirari spy? I could tell you your parents in Ainigton are William and Sara. That you love to explore and take risks for yourself, but you loathe to risk another's safety, in however small a manner. That you liked it better when they cut the lower limbs from trees, because it made them more a challenge to climb." She glances sidelong to Tom, and adds, "That your hair has ne'er behaved itself so well as it does this day. But if you wish to prove me, Thomas -- that I know things no one else could -- then Alice would be fitter to test me."

"Indeed," Thomas says, "and I agree that Alice would be the most suitable choice to test you in that respect. However, I won't risk her safety until I am fairly certain she would not be in immediate harm, Nymuae." He takes in a breath, "Satisfy my curiosity on one matter and I will step aside. How can both of us be from Mirari and from this world?"

"I can answer that, Lord Explorer, but you will not like it," the sorceress says, with a chuckle. "One word: Magic."

Thomas' eyes narrow, "Not good enough." He looks to the others and says, "I think we're wasting our time here. Vague answers imply deceit."

The Lady Sorceress takes a step forward, her green eyes flashing fire. "And what if I gave you another answer, Thomas? What if I told you the Jack of Hearts defeated you when you went into the West, and me too when I came to try to aid you, and he cast us into exile in this world? Would that imply the truth? Or would it be just a quick glib answer, plausible enough? How will you know I am lying, when you do not know the truth? I told you what I knew. If you want me to make stuff up for you, Mr. Winthrope, then know this: I am through playing games."

"M-me, um ... " squeaks the little blonde finds herself mentioned. She looks from Nymuae back to Agatha, then to Thomas, and back again. As she turns to blurt out a question she hugs the book all the more, shrinking a little behind it at the sight of the tall sorceress. "We played games, Rebecca ... I, I was always the boss and you were always my assistant. And you taught me how to use bandages, right, Rebecca?"

Thomas glares at the Sorceress, but says nothing. He steps aside to allow Alice to come forward.

Her expression lightens considerably as she turns to Alice at the little girl's words. "I would not think it in thee to do such violence to the truth, Angel." She smiles at the blonde girl. "Thou always let me have my way in anything we did. And I know little of the healing arts; thy mother taught thee how to bandage -- though perhaps without quite the enthusiasm thou always brought to it."

Alice's grip on her book lightens, and she lets her arms to hold the book loosely with her hands folded in front of it. She gives a little curtsey in response to the answers. "I'm sorry, Rebecca ... I had to know. Its all been so very confusing and I have to be careful now, and faeries are mean and so much has happened and birds are sharp and ... and ... I missed my best friend Rebecca. It was hard without you," she says.

Nymuae takes a few steps forward, brushing past Thomas to stand before Alice. "I know, my friend," she says, quietly. She drops to one knee before the little girl to put her closer to Alice's level, and looks up to see her face. "I have missed thee, too." The sorceress opens her arms, offering to hug the blonde.

Agatha quickly reaches out to put her hand on Alice's unhurt shoulder, warning, "Be careful."

Tom casts a glance to Agatha, clearly not liking the situation.

The little girl considers her friend a moment, briefly, looking back at her other two friends with an almost teary expression of conflicting emotions in her face. She gives Agatha and Thomas a quick apologetic look as she then turns around and walks over to be hugged by her much changed friend. "I'm sorry to lie, Rebecca!"

"That's all right, Alice," the woman says, soothingly, rising a little to hug her back tightly. "That's ... all right." She closes her eyes for a moment, then re-opens them to look at Agatha. She smiles a little again. "And you, knight, are a fine one to caution Alice 'gainst embracing an old friend -- you who let an elven stranger bear you to a foreign land."

Agatha shrugs. "Just because I do something stupid doesn't mean I should allow everyone to do it."

"Quite," Thomas adds.

Looking from Tom to Alice now, Agatha asks, "If you two are convinced this is Rebecca, do you mind if I ask her a few questions of my own?"

Alice drops a hand from around the book in her hands so she can hug Rebecca back, seemingly far less inclined to be frightened of the sorceress when she's being hugged. And she beams a huge smile for getting to hug her friend again. "Sure!" she says in response to Agatha's question, not looking back.

"I am satisfied as I can be, Agatha," Thomas replies. "Ask away."

"Fair enough," the sorceress concedes to their points, though there seems to be suspicion in her eyes as she looks at Agatha. "And I will answer your questions, if you will answer mine." She stands again, resting a hand on Alice's shoulder affectionately.

When the Lady Sorceress stands Alice remains by her side, hugging her with her left hand while the other clutches the book loosely -- the taller sorceress just small enough Alice can hug her about the waist. From here, she faces the rest of her friends and watches them with an enduring smile.

Agatha steps forward, and nods to Lady Nymuae. "If you have questions, I'll answer them if I can. Mainly though, I would like to know what spells in particular you need from the book, and who or what you intend to use them on, and why."

Thomas' lips turn up in a smile at hearing the question. His eyes once again lock on the strange figure and watches her reactions closely.

"I need it for research," the sorceress answers, "as much as for any particular spell in it. I am trying to learn what happened to me -- to us, perhaps," she adds, with a glance to Thomas. "Why the Year's End is making himself known again, after such a long time of seeming absence -- of becoming a myth. What the king sought when he left Mirari -- and if anyone, even he, can find it. There is one spell in particular that I hope may give me some answers -- a spell to give the recipient revealing dreams. But beyond that -- I fear the book is no longer safe in Ainigton. As faithful as Alice is ... I think it is better that I guard it."

"Why makes you thing the book isn't safe here any longer?" Agatha asks.

"But I can use it, Rebecca. It helped us break the seal and the spell of Renewal made the Jruuh go away," explains the little blonde girl, who looks up at the adult sorceress.

"The Houses--" Nymuae starts to answer Agatha, then blinks at Alice. "You -- you used the book? To cast spells?" She glances to Tom and Agatha, as if for confirmation.

"If you did not know, you should have answered as such, instead of your answer of magic, Nymuae," Thomas replies coldly, "That, I would have more believed." He then nods. "Correct, Alice has cast spells from the book."

"Under special conditions," Agatha adds.

By way of explanation, Alice rambles an answer, "I did, Rebecca! There was the Seal of Avarre, the spell of Renewal, and the candles with the glowy bits in the dragon cave. Magic has a lot of fire in it, Rebecca, I bet you knew that!"

"I do know that it was magic, Thomas," Nymuae says, irritated as if by a recalcitrant child. "There is no 'scientific explanation' for this phenomenon. You cannot stand there and pretend my transformation is nothing but a trick with mirrors and chemicals. I may not know who cast the spell or why -- but I have mind enough to know magic when I see it at work." She returns her attention to Alice, considering the blonde girl carefully.

From the sorceress's side the little girl peers back up at her friend. "Rebecca?" she inquires as she's looked at.

Looking towards Tom, Agatha says, "I think ... we might be able to arrange a compromise here, that would allow Nymuae to conduct her research, while offering more security and a chance for Alice to learn a bit more about magic."

"I am impressed," Nymuae answers, at length, not seeming to pay attention to the others as she lowers herself to look into Alice's blue eyes. She reaches forward with one hand to brush a lock of hair from the child's face. "Alice ... I think the time is coming, soon, when thou wilt have to make ... certain choices."

Thomas frowns, eyes narrowing again. He glances toward Agatha again.

The little girl blinks confusedly, tilting her head to the side. "Choices, Rebecca?" she asks curiously.

"The book would stay here, with us," Agatha explains to Thomas. "Nymuae would move into the bedroom that's ready at the manor, and do her research there, with Alice. Clearly, the agents of the various Houses have much more limited abilities in our world than they would in Mirari, so we can assure a greater level of security."

Thomas nods in approval.

The woman nods to Alice, still focused on her and disregarding the words of the others. "Thou may live thy life here in Ainigton, or claim thy birthright in Mirari. I believe there is within thee great power, Alice, an thou might become a sorceress, an thou chose such. Though I think thou hast a greater talent, for something which has always been near and dear to thy heart." She smiles, gesturing with one hand to the bandages bulging beneath Alice's dress on her shoulder. "Thou might be a great healer, Angel. But thou must choose -- for this is no game, and thou may not be all things -- not forever."

"Oh," responds Alice quietly. "I don't really understand, Rebecca ... but I'll try!" She gives a sure nod, then looks back to everyone else. "I just want everyone to be happy."

Thomas looks anything but happy, hands folded together, behind his back.

"Let's not jump into anything regarding Alice's future just yet, alright?" Agatha asks, then points to Thomas. "I want to observe Tom here a bit more to make sure whatever he went through isn't going to start showing any nasty side effects, like making him age suddenly or grow a tail. Then I'll consider letting Alice be exposed to Mirari."

"As for your suggestion, Agatha," the sorceress answers, rising and looking to the redhead again, "This is not my world -- not any longer. In Mirari, I have a safe haven, secure from all the Houses -- from e'en the Year's End, at least for the present. My powers are weaker here, and magic is difficult if not impossible. I must return. But your choices -- all of you -- are your own. I do not ask that you join me. I ask of you nothing but what is mine."

Tom looks toward Agatha. "Nothing happened to me," he replies, "other than reading a few books and talking at length with Lord December." His gaze then switches back to Nymuae. "But you will threaten for it, it seems."

"What threat have I made, Thomas?" Nymuae asks, frowning at him.

Alice shakes her head a little, smile wavering. "It's hers, Tommy. It's not fair to keep something somebody gave you to keep safe. That's stealing, Tommy." Turning then to Agatha she offers, "Maybe if we all go to Mirari together then whatever happens, we can have each other to help? Rebecca and Tommy didn't have any friends around when they became different."

"The veiled one in 'I am through playing games'," Tom answers, "And know this. I am sick of the games Mirari plays with us. Each House wants something from us. You want something from us. We are not pawns. I will be more direct." His eyes narrow. "If you've lied to us, I will hunt you down. No matter how many lifetimes it takes."

"Well," Agatha says to Nymuae, "how long do you think you'll need to do this research then? I know time flows faster in Mirari now, so if we give you the book for a week, you'd actually be done with it in a day of our time, wouldn't you? I'm still not convinced that prolonged exposure to Mirari is safe, regardless of Thomas' opinion."

"There is suspicion, Thomas, and then there is spite. I am not lying to you. And I am not playing a game. I am trying to save my world, and I know from closer experience than any of you just how much trouble the Houses by themselves can cause," Nymuae says, heatedly. "And all you can do, Lord Explorer Thomas, is whine because you do not know the answers and I have the unmitigated gall not to know them either. So sorry not to wave my magic wand and make it all better, but real problems aren't that easy to deal with. Angel -- may I have my book back, please?" She abruptly turns back to the blonde girl.

"You go too far, Nymuae," Thomas replies, voice cold, "Do not perceive yourself as greater than us. Alice, return her book and let's have done with this."

"Let's all calm down here, okay?" Agatha pleads. "From my perspective you were both until recently just teenagers, and your transformations probably haven't overcome that just yet."

Alice's smile fades entirely at the heated argument, and when the Lady Sorceress turns suddenly towards her the little girl's eyes widen and she steps away. "Okay ... " She puts the first book down on the ground gently, then reaches in to her purse and digs through various things until she pulls the cover off the true book and reveals to the sorceress that there were two. The real spell book is removed along with Lord Mel, and former is offered to Nymuae.

"I thank thee, Angel," the woman says. She smiles at the revelation of the fake book. "T'was wise to bring animitation -- whosoever's idea that was. Here." She accepts the true book, then picks up the false one and chants briefly over it. "We may know our enemies by the one who tries to claim this." She sets the imitation on the ground again, tucking her own tome under her arm.

"You're welcome, Rebecca. I took good care of it like you asked me to." Once the false book is put down again, Alice reaches down to pick it up and tuck it under her own arm, mirroring Nymuae, Lord Mel then being shifted to rest in her hands. "Are you going away, Rebecca? Will I get to see you again?" she inquires.

Agatha rummages through her pack to retrieve her camera, and says, "Hey, can I get a picture of the three of you all together? It'll finish off my roll and then I can finally get it developed. Oh ... and did you have any questions for me, Nymuae?"

"Thou wilt see me again, my friend. I am certain of it," the Lady Sorceress promises. "But I am leaving again." She turns to Agatha. "Please, feel free," she says, gesturing. "And thank you for the reminder. I would ask of you what you thought of House April -- of what did they speak to you? And what did they ask of you?"

Agatha gestures for Tom to go stand next to the other two girls, and says, "Oh, it was ... interesting. They wanted me to find the King and let them know where he was if I couldn't convince him to return on his own."

Thomas walks over slowly and stands beside Alice. "As you wish," he replies.

"Oh!" exclaims Alice suddenly as she moves to return a hand to her purse. She digs for a moment, then produces a medallion on a ribbon which she lets slide around her arm, followed by a mirror wrapped carefully in paper. "Rebecca, do you know anything about these? You can answer after the picture. I think maybe Agatha wants a picture of these too anyway."

Nymuae watches Agatha work with the camera. "I note yours has no light source. Cue me before you use it -- I will provide you with one strong enough to illuminate everything, that its magic may work best."

Holding the flashlight in the crook of her arm, Agatha tries to shine it on the trio without causing too much glare, especially with the mirror out, and focuses her camera. "Everyone say ... Googamooga!"

Now holding quite the pile of goodies in her arm Alice stands with her hands wrapped around her treasures. "Googamooga!" she says, giggling.

Tom merely nods slightly.

Just before Agatha clicks the picture, Nymuae raises one hand and gestures, speaking, "By the Eastern powers, Sun, cast thy light on us!" The cavern is bathed in a yellow-white glow as bright as daytime, for just a few moments, then it fades to the moonlit glow Nymuae brought with her.

Agatha lowers the camera and grins, then chastises Tom, "You could have smiled, you know! It's probably the only picture we'll have where you look halfway decent."

"Most likely," Tom replies flatly.

Once the picture is taken, Alice holds up the hand holding the mirror and the medallion which hangs from further down that arm. "Are these magic, Rebecca?" she asks.

Turning from the camera, Nymuae moves to examine the items Alice offers her, accepting the mirror first. She strokes the back of it reverently, turning it around. "Angel -- this -- this is the mirror of House April, lost an age ago, after Lady Angelique's passing! Where did you find this?" she asks, her voice filled with wonder.

"Aha, so Angelique did die then?" Agatha asks. "Was she married into House October at the time, and were they still called 'The Harvest Court', do you know?"

"Agatha found it, so I'm not sure ... " The little girl turns and looks in askance at the knight. "Where'd you get it, Agatha?"

"The dragon gave it to us," Agatha reminds Alice.

Alice also tilts her arm father up so Nymuae can see the medallion. "Sir Bear had this! He was very fast when he ran around, so I thought he won a medal." She smiles a little, and to Agatha again. "Oh! That's right. Thank you, Agatha."

"Specifically, the dragon who called himself Monitor," Thomas adds. "We've had it a short while."

"I remember it well," Nymuae continues, almost to herself. "Lady Angelique brought it with her from the Beyond, when she and the other Houses came to Mirari. It was her greatest treasure..." She glances to Agatha, and nods soberly. "'Twas an eon ago, as Mirari measures time, and she passed from the land in due course of time. She did not marry into October, howe'er. They loved each other dearly, true -- but the Lord of October was her brother, not her lover. She wedded the brother of Lady February." She pauses, then adds, "The Harvest Court was the name Lord October gave to the court of Autumn -- comprised of the nobles from the houses of September, October, and November." She looks thoughtful at the mention of the dragon.

"He was very sharp, and grouchy because the Jruuh woke him up, and he was kind of shiny like metal but not," explains Alice, arm still up.

"Have you perhaps seen the Lord Protector in recent days, Nymuae?" Tom asks.

A smile flickers over her lips at Alice's comment, but she sobers quickly and shakes her head at Thomas. "Would that I had. This--" and she gestures to the stuffed doll under Alice's shoulder, "--is as close as I have come to him since my return. Long has he been gone, and great though he is, I do fear for him."

"It belonged to Angelique, alright. It's got letters in it addressed to her," Agatha points out. "I thought the initials stood for Anastasia Harcourt. And Anastasia's room has a painting on the wall that shows a view of Elysia from the river. I'm pretty sure Angelique became Anastasia, or vice-versa. It's probably why I bought Tom's story of being the real Lord Thomas. It's just which came first that I'm not clear on."

The Lady Sorceress listens to Agatha intently. "Who was this Anastasia Harcourt?" she inquires.

Thomas takes a step toward Nymuae. He extends his hand and says, "I believe we are both striving for the same thing, Nymuae. Forgive my earlier outbursts. Indeed, much is driven from frustration and internal pain. It may interest you to know that December is seeking the Lord Protector. Lord December asked me directly to find him. I have theories as to where he may be," he says steadily, "some of which relates to the letters found within that mirror."

"Daughter of the people that built Harcourt Manor, the old haunted house at the south end of town," Agatha says. "Tommy looked up some of their history."

"Kuon said the medallion the running Sir Bear had was also a symbol of April," adds Alice helpfully. Her hand lowers, and she returns the mirror to the top of her bag to put it aside for the moment.

"Harcourt made me think of 'Harvest Court', and then Elinor confirmed that that was the old name for the Autumn Houses," Aggie adds.

"The notes are back home, but I do still have them," Thomas adds.

"Ah, I should like to see those letters," Lady Nymuae says. "But let me see the medallion." Accepting it, she traces her fingers over the pattern. "Yes. It does put me in mind of House April." She holds it up. "This is an old design, from a line of knights which has long served April. But this talk of Angelique reminds me of ... something...." She frowns, then gives a little gasp and looks suddenly sadder.

"Oh ... Well, then this should be for Agatha," says Alice. She turns and lets the medallion slide down her hand, letting it fall in to her palm, before offering it to Agatha. "Agatha is a knight, so she should have it."

Tom lowers his hand and makes a mental note. "What did it remind you of?" Thomas asks.

Agatha blinks. "Ummm, not a knight of April though," Agatha says. "If of any House, I think I'd be of September, but Knights serve the Crown."

"Sir Theodore," the Lady Sorceress says. "He was Lady Angelique's foremost knight, and he sacrificed his life defending her when the Year's End turned on the Houses and betrayed her."

"Theodore?" Agatha says, then covers her face with a hand. "Teddy?"

Alice withdraws her hand and nods a little, saying, "Okay," as she turns her eyes to regard the medallion in her hand. "The little bear had a sword and ... and his head was ... " She doesn't finish her sentence, and instead just looks at the medallion with a sad expression.

"He was a shape-shifter, a bear," Thomas says, "Beheaded by the destroyer. And, brought back to life. Or so the story goes."

"I took a photo of the teddy bear," Agatha says. "I wonder what the film will really show now."

"Lady Angelique was a great healer," the sorceress confirms, "and she was able to make him whole again, yes. But what does this -- oh." She stares at Alice.

Alice doesn't seem to notice she's being stared at, instead she seems quite absorbed with the medallion and the sad story behind it.

"There were also a lot of wooden toy soldiers," Agatha notes. "Are you sure you don't want to visit the room now, Nymuae?"

Nymuae touches the medallion in Alice's palm, and looks to Agatha. "I believe you are right. I have dismissed Ainigton too lightly -- it plainly holds more clues than I had realized."

Agatha nods. "We've also got the flute that opens doors when you play the melody of thorns on it. We don't know the melody though, yet."

"Or how to play," Tom points out.

Agatha glances towards the rock fall where the flute was recovered. "Heyyyy ... maybe we found it by the blocked passage because someone was trying to use it to unblock the way."

The sorceress frowns. "The flute of -- Oh! Lord Bram's flute! How could I forget?" She slaps her own forehead. "It must be!"

The little girl looks at the hand, then follows it back up to smile sadly at the Lady Sorcerer. "It's a very sad story," the blonde says unhappily.

Agatha nudges Tom, and whispers to him, "Hey, does that Sam fellow know how to play a flute?"

Tom shakes his head. "I do not believe so," he replies. "I can, of course, ask him."

"Maybe one of us could take lessons," offers Alice as she looks back to her other friends, "at school, maybe."

"We still need the tune though," Agatha says.

"It may be something Sam would know," Tom admits, "He knows many of the old tales."

"Do you have the flute with you now, by chance?" the sorceress asks.

"Well, yes," Agatha says, since she carries it in her pack. "Tom tried to play it when we found it. That was pretty unhygienic, if you ask me," she mentions as she fishes it out.

"It played well enough," Tom comments, shrugging.

"Well, I'm surprised it wasn't full of Jruuh hair," Agatha says, and holds the flute out for Nymuae to see.

Alice takes the medallion in her hand and returns it to safekeeping in her purse, along with Lord Mel and the false spell book. Then the mirror is removed once again and she begins to work the lock so she can open it up.

"Agatha, please," Tom says, "I've been insulted enough for one day. Can you leave me be for once?"

Agatha blinks at Tom, and says, "Sorry."

"Thank you," Tom replies.

The sorceress hums a little, no real tune, under her breath as she looks at the flute, tracing her finger over the rose etching. "Here are the thorns," she says, wryly. "But I cannot recall the melody Lord Bram played on it."

"Has anyone considered transcribing the thorns onto a music scale and seeing if they make a tune?" Tom comments.

"How would that work?" Agatha asks, looking at the engraving again. "I don't know anything about music notation."

The little girl looks up from what she was doing to regard the flute, then says, "It shows a key too. Is that the key we were supposed to find?"

"I think it's because when you play the tune on the flute, it acts as a key to open any lock," Agatha says.

"Align the highest and lowest points of the flower onto a music scale, then place dots at each location a thorn lies. We might be able to figure it from there if we transcribed it that far," Thomas says.

"Or, it could be meaningless," Tom adds. "Just thinking out loud."

"I understand now, thank you, Agatha," the little blonde says with a little smile. She returns her attentions to the mirror, and finishes working with the lock so she can open it up and look at the contents. Her nose and brow wrinkle as she seems to ponder them.

After listening to Thomas, the sorceress nods. "No, I think your idea is a good one," she answers, offering him the flute. She asks Alice, "What does the mirror hold now?"

Tom accepts the flute and looks over it. "The resulting dots I could show to Sam. Perhaps it would remind him of an old tune and he could help complete it," he says slowly.

"Combs, ribbons ... and the old notes. See," she holds the mirror for the sorceress to take, "they're all Lady Angelique's things. I didn't want to touch them because they were hers."

Listening to Tom's comment, Agatha asks, "Where are you planning to go back to Mirari, Thomas?"

"I do not think she would mind now, Angel," Nymuae says, looking inside. "Especially not you."

"If I am to find the Lord Protector, I will probably have to. I think he's been taken captive by the Destroyer," Tom says, "I'll have to make the journey west, again." He shrugs. "As to where and how, I'm not sure yet. I'll probably try and contact Lord December again."

The little girl blinks at the Nymuae's words, then nods a little, smiling more. "Oh! Does that mean I can use them? They're very pretty and I always wanted to, but I wasn't sure if I should," she asks. She then pauses, mouths an "Oh", and looks over towards Thomas, blushing faintly. "Tommy, I can read music notes. I forgot since I haven't had lessons in a while, but I remember the music notes."

"If you wish to go to Mirari -- any of you -- this Siege will serve us as a portal, and I have the power to take us through. Lord October holds this Siege, and even if I do not trust him fully, I am sure he will not bar it to me or mine," the sorceress says.

"If we go, I would like Elinor and Simon to attend," Tom says, "Elinor to be a liaison to the Hawks. I can find out if they've heard anything interesting from the various houses."

Agatha chews on her lip, and crosses her arms over her chest, before asking, "What do you know about knightsteeds, Nymuae? Can they create their own portals or use Sieges?"

The hair ribbons in the case are too old to serve their original purpose, but the combs remain fully functional.

Alice looks down for a moment, then reaches in to remove one of the hair combs and peer at it, before reaching back and brushing her hair a little. "Tommy, if you held the mirror where I can see it, I could sing a little song with the notes and you could try and copy me with the flute," Alice offers.

"Alice," Tom says, "I played it just that one time. It was only luck it worked for me then. We could try, but ..."

"No one that I know of has the power to create a portal from naught, though some among the great lords may summon the Siege of Wind -- and I understand that Sir Tristan can do so, too, much to my surprise. Some knightsteeds have the gift for Siege-Opening, though not all. They are best known for their intelligence and skill in battle, and their ability to quickly traverse great distances, bearing heavy loads," Nymuae answers Agatha.

Turning to Thomas, Agatha asks, "If you go on an expedition to the West, or whatever, do you want to bring Souhait along in case you need to make a quick getaway?"

"Well, I could try and play the flute, but I wasn't taught how to play one. Just to sing." The blonde returns the comb to the case, and closes the mirror up to put it away. "And I want to see the fairy world too. Maybe I could stay with Rebecca when you go looking in the West?"

"That, or I was considering requesting a messenger hawk from Lord November in case I needed to send a message," Tom says. "I can't ride a horse, you know."

Tom looks at Alice. "I can certainly try again if you'd like. I just didn't want you to get your hopes up."

"You can ride a knightsteed," the sorceress says. "No knightsteed would allow a rider to fall by accident."

Agatha hmms. "Well, we've got a lot to think on and plan for then. Do you want to come back to the Manor and look at the room, Nymuae? If so, I don't see why we need to hang around in this cave."

"In that case, I assume I'd go alone, then? Unless Souhait can carry two, I don't see how more could go," Tom says, then nods at Agatha. "We should be going."

Nymuae nods. "Indeed."

"We can see how many he can carry easily enough, Tom," Agatha says with a grin.

Alice smiles at Thomas, then reaches to cover her mouth with a hand as she giggles. "I like high hopes, silly. We've got high hopes," her voice trails from word to song, and she sings a little verse of a song, "hiiiiigh in the sky hopes. We've got high hopes."

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This site serves as a chronicle of sessions in an online roleplaying campaign moderated by Conrad "Lynx" Wong and May "Rowan" Wasserman. The contents of this site are (c) 2001, 2002 by Conrad Wong and May Wasserman except where stated otherwise. Despite the "children's fantasy" theme of this campaign, this site is not intended for young readership, due to mild language and violence.