Thirty Seven: Chasing Lark

The room of forgotten tomes was illuminated in purple witch fire. I sat at the table as the torches cast long shadows over the pages. The books beneath my fingertips were delicate, and I minded my every movement with them.

Some were spell books much like the one I had been making myself. Recipes and drawings and notes littered the pages by pens and witches long gone. I skimmed through a few of those, but most of the books Noda and Mila brought to me were more journal-like in nature. Logs of information, important days that had come to pass in these witches' lives.

The sounds of scraping stone pulled us all from our concentration as Purda had arrived to help. Noda went to help her in while I continued to read and Mila continued to find new tomes to look at.

"There is an entry that should help," Purda wheezed. "Over there, the bottom shelf. The purple spine with the green lettering."

Mila set a book on the table and went to fetch the tome Purda had mentioned. She brought the large book to the table, setting it down with a grunt and opening the pages to somewhere in the middle.

"Here, let me see it. There is a record here somewhere..." Purda made her way to the table, sitting down across from me and studying the book. She flipped back and forth a few pages, then a large chunk toward the end.

"Here it is. These are the witches sent on expedition to the Wyldes to address the problem of the unseelie creatures. Look for any tomes from these names, if any still survive." Purda pointed to the list on the page, and Noda and Mila hovered over her shoulder to read it.

They got to work while I flipped through books. In the low lighting, I read tome after tome. Name after name. Spell after spell. They all blended together after a while. And as I was searching the volumes before me for traces of information on the barrier, the other witches were piling a stack of journals at the other end of the table.

In the end, I found one book that referenced the barrier magic, and it didn't say much. I closed that tome and sighed, looking to the stack of journals nearby.

"These will require more in-depth study to assess their value," Purda said. "But they are the tales of the sisters who journeyed to the Wyldes at that time."

I ran my fingertips across the worn cover of the top volume. "Are you sure I could take them?"

"We can't possibly search them all tonight. There were twenty witches on the expedition, and we have fourteen accounts here," Mila said. "Take them, do some good with them, and bring them back when you are able to, child."

I let out a slow breath and nodded. "Yes, I will. Thank you all."

"Now, go," Purda said. "Before any witches begin pestering me about your training."

I gathered the books in my arms and Noda offered me a set of leather straps. "Here, bind them with this to carry them. Wait, wrap them in oilcloth first."

I covered the books, protecting them from any chance rain we might run into and strapped them together securely. Noda showed me how to fasten a loop to go over my head and across my body so I could carry them easier.

"Mila," I turned to my old friend and teacher. "I don't know where to go. I'm looking for the elves."

Mila nodded and came to me, giving me a tight hug. "We encounter them rarely, but I know they reside in the direction of the southwest caves. And that is also where Lark began her journey that led her to them all those years ago."

My heart pounded. The southwest caves, that's where she had Nassir and Schula wait for me.

"Caw!"

Puko flew to me from the top of a shelf he had been sitting on. He landed, heavy on my shoulder, and began bobbing his head at Mila.

She reached up and stroked the feathers on top of his head. "It was nice to see you again, old friend. Take care of our Wren, will you?"

"Caw!" Puko agreed. I couldn't help but smile.

"I believe you have the tools to uncover the making of the barrier," Noda said. "I know you are now on a time limit, but remember you will always have a home here when you are done if you so choose."

I smiled up at her. "Thank you, Noda. And Purda, I'll see you again soon enough."

"I know you will, Wren." She winked. "Go. Follow Lark's steps and find your elves."

"This way, child." Mila lead us out the passage to the open night air of the valley. I could barely call it night anymore as the sun was threatening to rise at any time.

I hugged Mila one more time firmly, and pulled back with tears threatening my vision.

"I'll miss you," I whispered.

"And I you, Wren. But you have important things to accomplish, and I have my own tasks here. I will see you again, and it might be sooner than you imagine."

I nodded, wiping my eyes with the heel of my hand and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek.

"Travel well, Wren. And as you followed the birds in, follow them out. Otherwise, you may run into things you'd rather avoid.

"I will. Thank you, Mila. Goodbye."

"Caw!"

I turned from the old witch before I really started crying. But even with the added bundle at my side, I felt lighter than I had in weeks. I was back on the path to get to the bottom of the mystery of the barriers. Next, I could see what the elves knew and warn them that DuVarick knew of their survival through the one who sired me. Admittedly, I was quite nervous. But I'd have to face it sometime, and it may as well be now.

My feet carried me through the grasses. Weaving between buildings and heading for the easiest paths to where Schula and Nassir waited for me. I could see the square below, few witches remained at the gathering. I suppose most of the business had concluded by now, or would wait until they had a chance to rest.

A pang in my heart reminded me that I hadn't gotten to say goodbye to Gilly. I didn't even see her in the crowd at the gathering, though it would be easy to lose someone in such a crowded place. But I didn't have to worry at all, as I could see my path would take me near her door.

My face cracked into a grin as I got close enough to see that Gilly was in her yard, feeding her goats. Puko was just as eager to see her before we left, and announced our arrival.

"Caw!"

Gilly looked up, her braids falling around her shoulders as she turned her head. She stood up and waved us over while scratching a goat on the head.

"Wren! I was worried I'd miss you," she said.

"How did you know I was leaving?" I asked.

Gilly shrugged, coming to the edge of her goat pen where I met her at the fence.

"I knew what you were here for, and I knew what Purda was up to. It wasn't hard to put two and two together."

"I'll be back," I said.

"I know you will, girl." Gilly leaned over and hugged me. "You take care of yourself out there, and remember you are a witch. You had better keep up your brewing, because the next time I see you I will be testing your skills."

I grimaced. "I will, Gilly."

"Here, take this one with you." Gilly pulled something from the inside of her dress. It was around her neck on a thin leather cord. A small vial with brown liquid in it.

"What's this?" I asked.

"If you feel lost, drink that before bed. The Mother will send you a helpful dream. A vision, perhaps. It all depends on how you wish to interpret it."

My eyes widened as I looked at the vial with new respect. "Gilly, this sounds complicated to make."

"It is, and with rare ingredients before you ask. But Wren, take it. Please. It's all I can offer." Gilly looked sadly at me, biting her lower lip. "I wish I could come with you, but I have things to finish here first."

I shook my head. "I understand. Thanks for everything, Gilly."

We hugged once more, Gilly wrapping me tightly in her arms. Then it was time to keep going. Our final goodbyes behind us, I set my sights on the two figures at the south west wall.

Schula spotted me first. She waved, and I broke out into a grin as I sped up my pace. It was good to finally be the three of us again. As much as I would miss the witches, the feeling of the three of us was very comfortable by now and we hadn't gotten to spend that kind of time together lately. On the road, it would be an easy habit to fall back into.

"Wren, are you ready?" Nassir asked as I approached.

I took a deep breath, answering slowly. "As ready as I can be. Mila told me we can follow the birds out, just as we followed them in."

"What was the reason for choosing this particular cave system?" Schula asked. "Are the elves this direction?"

"As far as the witches know, they are," I answered. "Mila says this was the way Lark took on her journey. The one that brought her to... to meet my father I suppose."

Nassir reached over and placed a big hand on my shoulder. "We will be with you, Wren. Don't forget that."

I smiled softly as Schula took my hand in hers. Puko even nudged my ear from his seat on my shoulder. "Thank you. All of you. But I know my place now, and it's with you. And Thain, and Eb, and Thanantholl if they'll still have me after all this. But no matter what, I know who I am now. Whoever my father turns out to be doesn't change that."

Schula nodded sharply. "Right you are, Wren. Our little elven witch."

I laughed. "I don't know if I'm ready to be called something like that."

"Well, I'm sure the fae will have some kind of name for you when we get back," Nassir said. "Many things have changed while I was in captivity, but the fascination of the Wyldes with unusual things has not. And you are certainly one of the most unusual things they have seen in a long time."

I sighed. "Let's just see where the caves lead us for now."

"Very well, lead the way, Wren." Nassir winked at me and I laughed softly as I entered the cave first.

The birds appeared easily this time. Maybe I was more used to the magic here, or maybe I had just gotten plenty of practice the first time. Either way, the path before us was smooth and the unknown ahead was not so frightening. I was with Nassir, and Schula, and Puko. And the three of us would follow Lark's steps, out of the valley and to the elves.

Together.