The weather is cold, freezing rain creates ice as it falls, an aged scholar and their young apprentice invite in the traveling Wraithvine, Amatu, Vee, Pondermoore and Rawr to come into their abode for the night. They offer hospitality, warm beds, food, and the scholar's large library to read through while waiting out the ice storm. -- Anon Guest
The library of Vaseen had seen better days. Wraithvine remembered it as an immense fortress of knowledge, the larger part of it was hand-carved out of rock salt. Elves of an eon past had shaped granite to form an impressive facade and entry. But even the things Elves make do not last forever.
Amatu had his impressive wingspan over Vee, Rawr, and the freshly-minted Periwinkle as well as Wraithvine. Pondermoore, too large for the shelter of Amatu's wings, suffered the sleet without complaint.
They did complain about the state of the library of Vaseen. "There's no roof," said Pondermoore. "You said it was shelter for scholars from all over."
"It was, the last time I was here," said Wraithvine. "So I've lost track of a few millennia. Never mind the castle, though. The mines should be fine."
"Mines?" Periwinkle made ready to bolt. Just in case.
"Aye. Actual salt mines are a magnificent place to keep archives. Excellent for the sinuses too. Don't fret, Periwinkle Littleflower. I do not easily let my companions come to harm."
"There's someone in there," said Rawr, using his gifted eye to see. "Two someones. And astonishingly little magic for a supposedly global library of knowledge."
There was a lantern in the magnificent archway. There were also vines all over the edifice. A distant voice said, "Ha! I did the augury right, madame. There are visitors!"
There was a young girl holding the lantern, and a significantly older woman toddling into view with the help of a cane. They didn't call out for anyone else. In a few short minutes, the party discovered that was because there was nobody else there.
"Ah, how the magnificent has fallen," sighed Wraithvine. "What happened? This place used to be a shrine of knowledge and discovery. I remember a staff of thousands. Students reading at the desks at every hour."
The old woman laughed. "In order to remember that, you'd have to be Wraith--" Her clouded eyes squinted at hir. "Oh. It is you, isn't it? Ha! Imagine living long enough to have you in my Book of Visitors."
There was a cottage where the kitchens used to be. It seemed to be the last bastion of the place's former business. The interior had overstuffed shelves, and pride of place for the Book of Visitors. The book was old. Many of the pages were blank.
"Time is an enemy of all things," Wraithvine offered the pen to everyone. Pondermoore's Ogrish runes were small and neat. Periwinkle's attempt was clumsy and large and, it must be noted, spelled pearEwinkl.
"See?" said the young girl. "I said I saw a mighty wizard and a return to past glory. You said I used too much fly agaric in the potion. And the wrong crystal."
"And I also told you that thing's been broken for centuries," grumbled the elder. "Oh forgive us. I am Jolanthe Libros and this is my prentice and adoptee, Kaelyn. I am teaching her the secrets. And sometimes I wonder if I'm doing it right."
"You obviously know me," said Wraithvine. Ze was poking around the workshop area of the cottage. "My Ogre friend is Pondermoore, the fellow with the spectacular horns and wings is Amatu Baumkyn, the young lady is Vee Antheson, and her younger uncle, Rawr Antheson."
"It's a complicated family," said Vee.
"And I am Periwinkle Littleflower," said Periwinkle. "I literally picked it myself."
The story came out, as it always did when Periwinkle introduced herself. How she didn't actually have a name worth two spits. Wraithvine gave her the assignment of finding a better name for herself. Including the fact that she could name herself after the first pretty thing she found.
She found a little flower. Pink, with all five petals stretched wide. Proud and bold in the sunshine, it was everything she wanted to be. She initially wanted to be Littleflower, but once Wraithvine said it was a Periwinkle, she changed her mind on the spot.
"This is your seers' aid?" Wraithvine had found the pot.
"That and the Stone of Tomorrows," said Kaelyn.
Ze sniffed the brew. "I'm surprised you needed the stone." A sigh. "I usually hate prophecies, but..." ze dipped a finger in it and touched a drop to hir tongue.
Ze said, "...hooph..." and hir eyes glowed. Lights crackled in rainbows all over hir body. Then ze fell.
Pondermoore caught hir easily. "You should learn not to do that."
"Somebody," announced Wraithvine, "has been tracing the maintenance runes in the wrong direction. That's why the entrances and the edifice collapsed. The good news is that they can also undo the damage."
The apprentice grinned smugly at her teacher.
"Yes, yes, yes. You told me so. Put that ego away, girl. We have learning to do. After a good rest and some stew."
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / knorre]
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