"But it sounds about right for a meeting with the Baron."
The trio then head to a pizzeria to eat and talk.
After the waiter takes their orders, Kevin fixes Chris with a serious expression, his voice lowering. "Okay. Lesson one -- Changelings aren't from this world. At least, not originally." He toys with one of the customer comment cards, then continues. "Our ancestors came from another place -- the sages call it Arcadia."
He takes a deep breath. "How much do you know about Celtic mythology, Chris?"
"Very little," Chris admits. "I have, you know, all this new stuff in my head, but it's sort of hard making sense of it all."
Sipping her beer, Kelia sighs and says, somewhat sheepishly, "I'm a little nervous about this whole fior-righ thing."
Tess, having been staring mildly at the beer as she examines it, nods her head in. "Don't blame you much. I'm pretty sure that whatever it is won't be lethal though. Remember, the Baron really seemed to want you to be a member of his house, so he's not likely to make his part of it difficult."
"Not to mention he needs my work for his precious cartoon," Chris interjects, then takes a swig of beer.
Looking at Keighvyn, Tess says, "I suppose we should start at the basics hmmm?"
Kevin awkwardly reaches out and touches Kelia's hand lightly, as a gesture of reassurance. "Hey, it's natural to be nervous. I was probably awake half the night just before I went through it."
Kelia smiles, only somewhat wryly, at Keighvyn's touch. "Yeah, I suppose so. Doesn't make it seem any easier, though." She smiles again and sips more of her drink. "I guess it's good I have plenty to keep me busy 'til then," she jokes.
Chris turns to Keighvyn as well. "Yeah, Daddy, Tell me 'bout that Celtic stuff."
Lisa rolls her eyes slightly and settles in to listen.
Keighvyn sips at his iced tea and says, "Well, common belief is that the fae are descended from the Tuatha de Danaan – Lugh of the Long Arm, Brigid, Nuada of the Silver Hand, and all the rest of the Gaelic gods." Warming to his subject, he continues. "It's said that, ages ago, the world of the fae and earth were as one." Here, he gives a brief run-down of the history of the fae.
Waiting for Chris to ask any questions, Keighvyn then tells her about the major kiths, citing examples of people she has met. Taking time to answer any questions, he gives her a brief intro to each of the houses.
Kelia asks several questions during Keighvyn's lesson. During the lesson, she eats a couple of pieces of pizza and her salad, then once her beer's gone, she flags the waiter down and asks for a cup of coffee. As her coffee arrives, Chris grimaces slightly and asks, "So, those things, at Baker Systems, whatinhell were they, and who were they after? I mean, if I have evil Ewoks huntin' me down, I wanna know about it, y'know?"
"They called them something last night, but I can't remember off the top of my head," says Tess. "I've never seen anything like them before myself. We're not sure if they were after you, or if they might have been after the kids. The girls seem to be particularly important to this whole set of affairs also..."
"'Fir Bholg,' wasn't it?" Keighvyn asks. Then he looks thoughtful. "A people called that are mentioned in the stories about the Tuatha de Danaan, but I never heard anything about them looking like /that./" He frowns, his eyes taking on an opaque look for a few moments. "Maybe I ought to go through my books at home..."
Tess looks askance at the others before grabbing the last slice, which by now is fairly cold, and finishing off the pizza. Finally, as the talk subsides, Lisa says, "Well guys, I'm gonna get up fairly early tomorrow, and get the kids outta school for a bit of a hunt."
Looking at Chris, Lisa asks, "Give me a call to let me know if you'd like company tomorrow night. I'm there for you if you need me." Standing, Lisa says, "You two drive careful," she glances knowingly at Chris. "See ya tomorrow."
Chris, insisting on picking up the check, hands the waiter a credit card. She signs off on the receipt, writes 'Research dinner' on her copy and tucks it in her pocket.
Lisa walks out to where she had parked her car, and after a moment, the Honda drives off.
Chris walks out with Kevin. She climbs in her Pathfinder and roars out of the parking lot, heading home.
Time: 7:30 pm Thursday, 27 August 1998
Current Weather: Sunny Expected Weather: Sunny
-------------------
After sparring Jubair and Nutiket relax and eat dinner, discussing their kiths and homelands.
"Wow. I didn't know there were native Fae in Australia. I guess I should have assumed it, though." Nutiket checks his watch. "It's getting pretty late. Maybe we should turn in, but before we do, I have one more thing to ask tonight."
Jubair covers a yawn and nods. "Ask away."
Nutiket's features grow even harder than usual in both his seemings, as his eyes darken and get a little bit colder. "Tell me about Baron Lorewick. Tell me everything about Baron Lorewick."
Jubair thinks for a moment. "The only stuff I could really tell you is the bleeding obvious. Don't worry - I think he's a bastard too. He's a member of House Eiluned, so if he starts casting cantrips, run like buggery - they're better at magic stuff than most of us, as you found out to your detriment. You should've seen the look I got from Kelia when I said what I thought of him. He's definitely one to watch."
"Yes, I have already received a taste of his cantrips." mutters Nutiket. "He is powerful, but that doesn't mean that I'll run like a buggery, or like anything else for that matter."
The two say their goodbyes and arrange to meet back there tomorrow.
Time: 9:30 pm Thursday, 27 August 1998
Current Weather: Sunny Expected Weather: Sunny
*******************
Next morning, Tess makes her way through the school, having gotten a substitute for her classes for the next several days. She makes a stop off at the front administrative offices. After chatting with Flo, the boggan secretary, she walks off with several pieces of computer typed paper.
Glancing at the papers a few times, she makes her way through the school to the gym. Not finding what she wants there, she makes her way out to the baseball field in the small grassy area just on the outside of the school, and there she finds Bugge and Miandarr in their morning Phys-Ed class.
She speaks with Mr. Gapian for a moment. He snorts his displeasure, but calls both boys over, dragging Bugge off third base and Miandarr sitting talking with some of the other kids.
As the two make their way over, Tess says, "Hey guys! Wanna get out of school free card?"
With bright eyes, Bugge responds "Does a bear sh... I mean you bet!!"
Tess leads the boys through the school, coming to the classroom of Miss Tangar, one of the more strict math teachers. Knocking on the door, she lets herself in, and quickly starts speaking to the teacher. After a few seconds, Tess walks over to where Brighteyes is watching the exchange, and motions for her to follow.
Soon the kids and Miss Tess stand in the hallway. "I've got some day passes for each of you. You're under my protections, which means whatever you do, reflects on me, so try not to get into too much trouble. How would you guys like to help me find that dross that the old wizard said we'd need?"
Mianderr scratches an ear, which cause his half-moon sunglasses to slip down to the tip of his nose. "I'll be good, I promise, Miss Tess. You have my solemn oath as an aspiring knight." He crosses his heart with a finger. "Let's find some dross!"
"Sure thing. Uh, would my Hallowe'en mask be of any help?" asks Bugge.
With a slight shrug, Tess says, "Not sure, we're gonna go see Sebastian and the others working on the compass, and see what exactly we need." Looking at Bugge closely, Tess says with a serious face, "And exactly how much glamour have you got in that thing anyhow?"
Brighteyes shifts from one foot to the other, looking uncomfortable. "I promised to visit Chely today, Miss Tess. D'you think we could visit her, just for a minute... so I don't break my promise?" The piskie looks up at her with big puppy dog eyes.
"You didn't see her yesterday?" Tess asks a bit of surprise in her voice. "Well, I'm sure we can run by the hospital for a little while. She seemed to be doing better when I checked in on her yesterday."
"Yes I did!" She looks at Tess, head cocked, her face contorted into a confused pout. "I guess you just didn't see me. Well, I had to eat and do other things while I was there, so maybe you just missed me."
"Ahh, you had probably stepped out of the room," Tess says, "I only glanced for a few moments. Well, lets go find my car, we'll check in with Sebastian and Sylvana first, and while we're running around, we'll stop by and check in on Chely."
Tess leads the three teenagers through the mostly deserted halls, and out to the faculty parking lot. Leading them up to an old, 85 Honda, she says, "Hop in. It'll be a little cramped, but I'm sure we can all fit."
"I get the front! Wait.. do you guys want the front? I don't mind, really. I just like sitting in the front, but if you wanna, go right ahead..." exclaims Brighteyes.
Once everyone is in, Tess starts the car, and in a few moments, the old car putters away. Tess drives normally, that is to say, not as recklessly as some Texans, but not as slowly as an 80 year-old. Soon, the quartet makes its way to where Sylvana and Sebastian have been brainstorming on the compass.
Sylvana is sitting on the floor of Hecataeus' workshop when the others enter. She is surrounded by several piles of books, some real, some chimerical. All relate to the topic of navigation. She has sketched out a number of plans, most looking something like a cross between an astrolabe, a pendulum, a scale, a sextant, and a magnetic compass. Next to her sit four gold colored plates engraved with the letters "W," "Sp," "Su," and "F." Other less identifiable parts are organized neatly into rows. Her tools are in a meticulously ordered toolbox. She glances back and forth, then looks up at Tess and her students. "Hey guys. We need dross. I've got the furkin' gears, sprokets, twitzels, murgles and SNAFUs all layed out. Now we just need to get to work. I'll need a little bit of dross, of any sort, to start so I can test if it works. As soon as you get a chance, we'll actually need a couple extra pieces. Gotta make sure this furkin' contraption works, ya know?"
"We were kinda hopin you might have a suggestion as to what kinda dross we'd need for it," says Tess as she examines the organized chaos that has been made of the workshop. Looking at the kids, she continues, "Any thoughts guys? I was thinking if we could get one of those lantern cutting kits that a kids make jack-o-lanterns out of might work, but I'm not sure. Maybe if we get someone's costume, that would work too? Like a little girl who dressed up in a kitty outfit, or a bunny, or something like that?"
"For Christmastown, I thought," Tess says, "if we could get our hands on perhaps part of the set of the Santa Claus Picture thing at the mall. If that isn't filled with the dreams of the children celebrating Christmas nothing is."
Brighteyes nods enthusiastically
"Perhaps for Easter, the Easter Bunny stuff from the city Easter Egg Hunt?" suggests Tess.
Brighteyes nods again.
"As for the summer holiday, well, I don't really know. Maybe something that represents the last day of school? I know you all dream of that day." Tess winks at the younger kids.
"Or maybe a swimming suit from a girl in love.." Brighteyes' eyes seem to sparkle at the idea
"Or perhaps better, a first summer crush," nods Tess at Brighteyes. A mischievous look in her eyes, Tess adds, "You wouldn't happen to know any young ladies who have had a crush recently do you?"
Brighteyes turns bright red and averts her eyes, kicking the ground with her foot. "Sure I do..."
"That sounds perfect." Sebastian replies, stretching out his muscles. Standing with his hooves spread wider than his shoulders, he bends down and touches his right hand to his left hoof, then switches to left hand and right hoof. When he is finished, he addresses Tess and the children again. "The appropriate dross for each town is important, and the more we find for each will have more significance, and probably get us closer to our destination. I have some ideas, if you'd like to hear them."
"That's why we're here Sebby," replies Tess, a smile on her face. "Help is always appreciated."
"Normally, with Glamour, It's better if you make it yourself. It adds a personal touch, and gives it the spark of creativity. A creative vision that you work for and achieve through your own care and skill will become Glamourous if you care enough. Glamour bonds itself to everything that is done with care and belief in a higher vision." Sebastian says.
"But 'found' dross related to children's dreams of the holidays would be more potent in this case. For example, a plastic Easter egg used year after year to store a child's sweets in her basket would be better then the most perfect Easter egg that one of us could decorate. One of the Rules is, 'Like attracts Like.' So we want something of the holiday, built with some of the same glamour that fuels the holiday towns." Sebastian frowns, "but we should search in out of the way places and forgotten attics. Lost decorations and stuff in good will, because I wouldn't want the karma that comes from stealing a child's beloved Halloween costume, for example, while they are still using it."
"Excellent suggestions Sebastian," says Tess, her voice lighting up. Looking at the boys, Tess says, "So, what do you guys want to work on getting?"
Time: 9:00 am Friday, 28 August 1998
Current Weather: Sunny Expected Weather: Sunny
Original summary by Paul Westermeyer; converted to HTML by Midori Hirtzel-Church