As we waited for the council to return from Soumortane, I looked over my journal. I informed my sisters that we had caught up with ourselves and were no longer in Crialas at the same time we were here. They relaxed a bit, no longer having that in the backs of their minds. I was slightly curious how the Faerie Queen got us out of Crialas, but other things were more important than satisfying my curiosity. We watched for the council to return. We followed them to the council chambers. They looked at us hopefully.
"Sisters, have you any news? Did the experts give you any answers?"
We began telling them that there were some gnomes in Gowgornok who could do the mystery part, but they insisted on keeping their identities a secret. So as not to draw attentions to them, they asked that everyone dress in identical robes with hoods, masks, and gloves. It was the only way they would agree to join in completing the plans. The council silently pondered this odd request. It did not take long for them to agree.
"They have the skill we do not. We accept their specifications."
After breakfast, we found Nigle and let him know they agreed to the plan. He and the other oddlings were relieved and excited at the same time. We had copies of the plans and they went over the steps. Word was sent to us that, by evening, all of the equipment would be in place. Robes with hoods were sent to us and our "experts" shortly after lunch. We had no illusions that the seven of us wouldn't be easily noticed. The oddlings, however, would be well disguised and, since they rarely spoke to non-oddlings, their voices would not mark them. They practiced their dance and found the item, a shell of sorts, to be ready.
We flung on the robes, gloves, and masks and met the council, similarly attired, outside the Rod's "home". As expected, most of the seven of us received looks of recognition. Anna, Sarah, the dwarf riders, and the oddlings received questioning looks that were quickly suppressed. We all filed in pass the guards and patrols, who simply watched us in silence. Inside, the four guards dropped the ineffective barrier and left.
Following the plans to the letter, we called, cast, summoned, and evoked, building quite a bit of power in the room. Finally, time came for the oddlings. When the shell was brought out, I felt anger from the council. Why would an empty shell produce such intense emotions? Then, the dance. Graceful and spry, their movements wove the magic in the room into a second, smaller, room encasing the Rod and its pedestal. The shell was transformed into a transparent dome over the Rod, pedestal, and some of the surrounding floor. With a final shout and twirl, the Rod was encased, its magic undetectable outside this room. The oddlings rejoined us for some final words and the task was complete. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The council began removing their masks. Horror shot through the oddlings.
"Now that it is safe, we would like to see whom we have to thank for this," a councilor calmly spoke, hiding the anger he truly felt. The other councilors were also angry but hiding it.
"Why?" Anna asked, putting herself between the two groups.
One councilor snapped, "Because that shell is forbidden! No gnome would hold such a thing, let alone have one in his possession. Show your face so we know who to throw in jail."
We joined Anna in separating council from oddling. I removed my mask.
"Your own gods told you to use that shell and that dance. If they will it, how is it forbidden?" I asked them sternly.
Their anger buckled. They had forgotten the authors of the plans we followed. Now, they were uncertain. We used that as a diversion to let the oddlings sprint from the building and vanish into the night. No one followed. The council began dredging up ancient history as they tried to remember when the shell, the remains of a particular kind of tortoise, had become a forbidden item to their race. Not a single one could come up with a moment it had happened. Even Anna and Alice were at a loss. As we all walked through the dark streets at Gowgornok, the council vowed to re-examine their rules and beliefs. We hoped it might reunite the oddlings with the rest of their people.
Day 301 (279)((269)):
Upon waking, the swords told us gifts had been left during the night by the oddlings. We opened the door to find treasure. More of the spice Set liked, sparingly as too much hurt his stomach. Trinkets of all types, showing their master skills with a variety of metals and stones. Hats, gloves, scarves, all manner of cold weather garments, dyed in radiant hues.
We gathered them quickly in case the other gnomes returned and saw them. The clothes we packed away as well as the spice. Some of the trinkets we stowed while asking Aloriana to take the rest to the Faerie Realm. We hurriedly dressed when we felt the gnomes returning from Sourmortane. We met the council in their chambers.
As we all ate breakfast, the council, while not voicing it, still pondered the "experts" from last night. They knew better than to ask us, knowing we would not tell.
"Ladies," one began, "we would like you and your experts to know we have found nothing in any record that forbids the handling of that shell, animal, or any shell known. Please apologize to them for us."
As we confirmed, I relayed the message to the riders to convey to the oddlings. They were pleased.
"We hope you can answer something for us," another posed, "Did they explain why they knew it but no one else in all of Gowgornok?"
We swallowed before explaining how they collected obscure rites and rituals that had been purged from officially observed practices and most of Gowgornok had never seen or studied. Heads bobbed as they took in our words.
"Perhaps they can be persuaded to share some of this knowledge? Another look might give us new insight or at least let us understand why they were purged?"
This I also sent to the riders who told the oddlings. I tried sending directly, but these gnomes' mental voices only worked at short ranges and the distance from the outpost to the council chambers was simply too far. I received their replies of only showing the mildest and least offensive. If those were well received, they would cautiously reveal more.
After breakfast, the council received a package which contained these mild rituals. The council gathered tightly to pour over them, ignoring us completely. We took a walk around Gowgornok.
Some of the beings attracted by the Rod decided to stay with the gnomes. Small fire and water elements actually found jobs within forges, craft halls, and medical areas. Unicorns found the city too noisy and left once they had finished their additions to the outpost. Pixies, will-o'-wisps, and other small beings flitted around.
We were watched as we walked. The man that was Anna's future husband was going about his daily life, which appeared to be a paper merchant or someone who made paper. Anna's eyes locked on him and she stopped. We stopped with her and allowed her to watch him. We remained silent, in respect for her and him. When he saw her, he stopped everything and ran over. As before, their auras began changing to match each other. The pair went off to talk. The rest of us continued around the city. We had no fear that we would separate now, but it was good for Anna and him to get better acquainted.
Anna and Arkgo found us that evening with an invitation from his family to join them for dinner. Arkgo said his parents, specifically his mother, decided a person's friends reflected the person's character and judgement. By meeting us, they would get a better view of Anna.
The family, like many gnome families, was large and had many members living in the same house. We met brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, and many other relatives. We had a pleasant time. I could see they liked Anna and approved of she and Arkgo together. They understood we still had some of our journey year left and a wedding was still a while before she could commit to a date. He and some of his family escorted us back to the council building as they lived well away from it. Anna was very reluctant to part from Arkgo, but they did part. We did not see any of the council on our way to our suite. Some more gifts had been left, neatly hidden from accidental discovery by any other gnomes. Also, a curious note was left. It predicted that oddlings would, soon, no longer be odd. Nigle had already met with the council, who told him they could find no ban or rule on the oddlings rituals or restrictions on their diet. We were happy for both sides.
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