It was the day of departure. Briar checked her pack for the last time, then cinched it down tight. She wasn't taking nearly as much as Amelia was, but the goblin was only half the girl's size, after all.
"Briar! You ready?" Amelia's call echoed from the entryway upstairs. The caretaker was too big to enter Briar's home, and could only stick her head partially into the mudroom.
The girl had been incredibly excited since they had announced their trip. Some of it was certainly about helping Alder, who was still withstanding the assault of the shadows in his grove. But it seemed the young lady had never actually camped out, and couldn't stop talking about and planning for it.
"I'm coming, I'm coming! Hold your horses, young 'un!"
Hopefully, some of the excitement would wear off soon, before the girl drove her companions crazy.
"We don't want to be late and miss it!"
Amelia backed her head out of the burrow hole as Briar came up the ladder to the mudroom, pushing her pack in front of her.
"It doesn't start until the stars are shiny, and it is barely even dusk. Have some patience!"
Amelia's face fell a bit, but she put on her own backpack anyways. The bag was stuffed to the brim, all of its pockets bulging, and had a blanket roll strapped to the bottom. Amelia had the billhook tucked through her belt like a dagger, and she even had a walking stick she'd fashioned from a gnarled branch she found.
"Oh." she said, disappointed.
"Don't fret. It's just a short hop to where the dance is held. We'll have plenty of time to get there and help set up."
"Dance? Lark never explained what was going on, just that we'd be going to Fairyland somehow."
The goblin ignored the fairyland comment. They'd spent quite some time explaining that where they were going was just another realm, not fairyland, but Amelia persisted in calling it that. The goblin suspected she did it just to needle them. As it happened, there would be creatures that Amelia was certain to call faeries there, but that didn't make her right.
"Today's' the day of the Starlight Dance. People come from far and wide to celebrate. And yes, dance. Not just here, but all over the place. The other realms will be close enough to mosey right through, so there is always a big festival, with dancing, feasting, and generally partying."
"You've been before?"
"Of course, of course! Not every time, no, but I like to party as much as the next goblin. Have some good moves, too!"
The goblin put her hands on her hips, then took several strutting steps, before she pirouetted. She ended with a hip thrust and stuck out her tongue, bulging her eyes grotesquely.
"Right. Nice moves!" Amelia said politely, if unconvincingly.
Briar winked at her as she hefted her pack. She turned and reached back into the mud room, and retrieved a fishing pole that was almost as tall as Amelia.
"Nice!" Amelia whistled appreciatively. "Say -- do you think I should bring a sword? You know, just in case?"
"Have you got one? Know how to use it proper?"
"How hard can it be? Just put the sharp end in the other guy, right?"
"And that's why you aren't taking one. They take a lot of training to use, and you'd probably just lop a foot off or something. Maybe even my foot and I wouldn't approve of that! I'm quite attached to 'em, and would like to remain that way."
There was a flurry of wings as Lark arrived in the garden, landing on the fence. She turned her head to look at the two, loaded down for the journey.
"Having the sword talk again, are we?"
"No!" said Amelia.
"Yes."
"Sword! Sword! Danger! Danger!"
"See? Even the sprite agrees with us. And she's clueless!"
"Ah, Fern, you too? Fine! But if we get in a big battle and all I have is this, you'll be sorry!" she waved the billhook around.
"Why do you think we will be in a big battle? We are just traveling to the Night Market. You face more danger from conmen and hucksters than from fighting."
"Is that where we're going? A market? Are we going to buy help for Alder there?" Amelia asked, avoiding the question about fighting.
"The Night Market, yes. It is not like the stores in the mortal realm. Not even like those 'supermarkets' you described before. There are those selling goods and services, yes, but also sages and scholars, and others who might be able to help. We will have to pay for such aid, and it will not be cheap."
"Will there be faeries?"
Lark glanced from the hopeful eyes to the goblin; who shrugged, to the flitting form of Fern.
"Yes. There will be faeries. Happy?" asked the talking bird.
"Yay! Faeries!"
"We should go help set up before she starts asking about snacks. Oops."
Amelia's eyes lit up, and even Whisper lifted from her position on top of Amelia's head.
"SNACKS?!? Fairie snacks?!?"
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The group made their way to the clearing, ignoring Amelia's pleas for more details on the snack situation. In the middle was a large ring of toadstools with a huge, craggy boulder at its center. There were piles of sacks and barrels around the edge of the clearing. There were birds everywhere, flitting around picking detritus off the ground, shifting the sacks around, and doing other incomprehensible tasks.
Amelia put her pack down against a tree trunk, leaning her stick against it, then looked around.
Lark flew to the top of the boulder and settled herself. "You should make yourself useful and help set up. I need to warm up my voice before we start." She began softly whistling a tune, quietly enough that Amelia could only barely hear it.
Briar placed her pack next to Amelia's, then the two helped a large blue jay string up lights. These consisted of long ropes with globes tied to them at intervals. Inside the globes were glowing fireflies and some sort of paste. The ropes were tied so the globes dangled across the clearing, well above the highest point that Amelia could reach.
Briar sniffed the paste, "The fireflies love this stuff. See? The globes are open at the top, so they can come and go. But they'll stay and eat until the paste is gone, glowing the whole time. Very clever!"
They worked for a while, hanging some bunting in addition to the bug globes. Then some more globes were tied to the trees at the edge of the clearing. It was all quite cheerful-looking.
In the time it took them to decorate, it had grown darker. It was a moonless night, and when the clouds blocked the sky it would have been pitch black without the lights they placed.
Amelia had just returned to the tree her pack was against when she heard the fluttering of thousands of wings, sounding like a swarm of bees. From every direction came sprites, carbon copies of her friend Fern. Their iridescent wings glowed, adding flickers and rainbows of light as they circled around outside the mushroom ring. Close behind the sprites were dozens of wisps, smaller and less bright than Whisper, but otherwise identical.
"So pretty!" Amelia watched, enraptured.
The clouds finally parted, and the stars shone brightly from the clear night sky.
"Let us begin!" announced Lark, before loudly launching into a tune full of complex trills and warbles.
The sound of several drums suddenly joined Lark's tune, and just like that, the Dance was on.
The empty clearing was suddenly crowded with dancing bodies of all shapes and sizes. Amelia recognized a few goblins that looked like they could be Briar's siblings. There were bearded dwarves, furry-legged fauns, and lithe figures that she assumed were nymphs. A goat and a dog danced next to each other on their hind legs, while the sprites and wisps flew all over the clearing like tiny independent disco balls.
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Somehow, tables had appeared around the edges of the dance, groaning with food. Between the tables were several kegs and a haphazard mound of wooden mugs. Several dwarves were balancing one of the kegs as a goblin drove a tap in, foamy liquid gushing out and drenching all of them.
There was so much to see, and Amelia felt dazed as she tried to take it all in. The wood had always been a magical place, but this was too much! She sampled some of the treats from the tables, bumping elbows with a brown bear intent on doing the same. The bear very politely excused himself, then pointed Amelia to the choicest bits of honeycomb and some grubs it swore were delicious. Amelia tried the former, and graciously declined the latter.
She wandered around, watching as the birds joined in the dance up above, while below hundreds of figures swayed or jiggled or hopped, however they chose to move to the music. Lark's initial song had been joined by drums, then by wooden pipes, and she even spied a robed and shrouded creature playing a large harp. The music was wild and boisterous, as it had to be to cut through the din of the partiers.
"Amelia! Amelia! Time! Time!" She was startled when Fern zipped in front of her face, Whisper in tow.
"Already? It just got started!"
"Hours! Hours! Late! Late!" peeped the sprite.
"Indeed, we have stayed longer than we should have. Get your things and we will go, caretaker." Lark said from a branch nearby.
Her head spun. It had felt like only seconds had elapsed.
She hurried over and pulled on her rucksack, finding Briar doing the same next to her.
"Swell party, wasn't it? Too bad we have to leave so early, but places to go!"
Lark flew down and landed on Briar's pack. Whisper took her usual spot on Amelia's head, and Fern landed on Amelia's shoulder, holding the girl's ear with one tiny hand to steady herself. They walked out of the clearing back the way they had entered, but Amelia quickly realized they were no longer in the wood they had started from. They were still surrounded by trees, but these were towering firs and pines, and the ground underfoot was thickly carpeted with pine needles.
They had only taken a few steps when the music and cacophony from the clearing faded like someone had turned the volume down to zero, and the only sounds were the crunch of Amelia's and Briar's footsteps. It was suddenly cooler, as well. Not the cold of the shadow-bound clearing, but a more natural late-night coolness.
"That was amazing! Where did everyone come from? I had no idea there were so many different creatures in the wood!"
"We were not wholly in the woods during the dance, nor were we wholly in any other place. That was a time when many realms closely overlapped, and one could walk between them without effort. Some of the participants were indeed from the wood you know--there are many hidden places you have yet to see, and many inhabitants you have yet to meet. Others came from beyond. Like us, some used it to pass to other places, but most just came to enjoy the company. There are many such festivals, and they are always well attended."
"I can't wait to go to another one! A twig creature shared her drink with me, and a pig showed me how to sniff up truffles! And did I really dance with troll?!?"
"You did. Quite well, at that."
"It all seemed to pass in a blur, though." she lamented.
"Yes, time can flow differently at such conjunctions. One must be careful, as well, not to wander the wrong way. Not all places beyond are as benign as our home, or indeed as the Night Market."
"Are we going straight there? How far is it?"
"We will camp for the night shortly. It will take a few hours walk in the morning, but it isn't very far."
Amelia suddenly felt the weariness from her wild evening and was glad they'd be stopping soon. She stifled a yawn.
They walked for only a few more minutes before coming to a large flat-sided boulder flanked by large trees, and they stopped to set up camp. The rock would stop any wind from that side, and the trees provided good cover in case of any rain.
Briar matted down the grass and weeds to make a comfortable mat to sleep on, and she and Amelia unrolled their blankets and got comfortable.
Amelia was asleep as soon as she lay down.
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The morning came all too soon, and it was strange to wake up in a new place. She had slept in the overstuffed armchair for so many nights now, that she was disoriented to wake and not feel its embrace. It was also disconcerting to feel the chill of the morning air without the fire sprites to warm her toes.
She yawned as she sat up. It looked like the others were still sleeping. Briar was just a lump inside her blanket against the rock, snoring gently. Lark was curled up with her head beneath her wing on top of the boulder, with both Fern and Whisper nestled under her other wing. It looked very cozy.
Apparently, Briar had made a small fire after Amelia fell asleep. There was a protective ring of stones and a small mound of ashes, but the embers had long since gone cold. Very quietly, so as not to wake anyone, Amelia prowled around the nearby trees and scavenged dry branches and twigs. She even found a little brook just a few yards from their camp. By the time the others started to wake, she had a merry little fire going, and her kettle was just starting to perk. She was using her walking stick as a fire poker to get the coals close to the toasting bread propped up on a flat rock.
"Breakfast time! Who wants tea?" she asked in the upbeat tones of a true morning person.
"Mmrrph" grumbled the goblin, pulling the blanket closer about her head.
Amelia retrieved the mugs from her pack. Several weeks ago she had asked Maisie to throw her a few tiny doll-sized mugs, and these were just the size to serve Lark, Whisper, and Fern. Briar used a full-sized mug, although the goblin had to grip it with both hands.
After pouring the tea, she buttered the bread slices that she had toasted over the fire. They didn't have plates, but nobody seemed to mind, using their bare hands or a flat stone on the ground for Lark and Whisper.
Rested and breakfasted, Amelia poured the dregs of the tea onto the embers of the fire and scattered it carefully. She wiped off the mugs and kettle and stowed them in her pack, finally tying the rolled-up blankets ton the pack's top.
The stone fire ring was left. Lark had said they would probably stop here on the way back home, so no sense in disturbing it.
"Ready to go!"
There was a chorus of agreement from her party, and they ventured forth into the still-brightening morning.
The woods they traveled through were considerably wilder than the wood back home. Amelia was glad she brought her bill and worked up a sweat cutting a path through the undergrowth. Of course, Lark, Whisper, and Fern had no problems, flying above where there were no obstructions. Briar seemed to have a way of avoiding the branches and snags that Amelia struggled with, much to the girl's envy. Her jeans and hoodie had several small holes and rents by the time they emerged on a well-worn path, and her walking stick had long since been abandoned. It was more trouble than it was worth to carry.
"This trail leads to the Night Market, which is very close. We should be there before long."
"Will it be open yet, since it is so early?" asked Amelia.
"While it is named the Night Market, it is always open. The name is just that, a name. Take no heed." Lark reassured.
"Great! 'Cause I'm hoping they have something yummy to eat there! I brought beans and jam, but after the food last night, I'm hoping we can find something even better!"
"Snacks! Snacks!" agreed Fern. Whisper glowed warmly in approval.
"Just remember we are not here for entertainment. We must find aid for Alder. This is a serious task we undertake. Remember the strain our friend bears up under before you waste too much time."
Amelia frowned at the thought. "Of course! I'm sorry, I don't mean to forget Alder. It's just that this is so new! And interesting! I'm sure we'll find a way to help him."
Lark nodded. "We will, caretaker, we will. And you should always enjoy the journey when you can, after all. We just must take care not to stray from our mission without good cause."
They tramped for a few moments longer along the hard-packed dirt road; before coming upon a pair of trees entwined in an arch across the road. They were very old, and encrusted with moss. It was dark beneath them, so you couldn't see what was beyond.
"This is the entrance to the Night Market. Stay close, it will be crowded." said Lark, who landed on Briar's shoulder.
"Shopping! Shopping! Snacks! Snacks!" piped Fern. She zipped ahead through the arch, clapping and tumbling in the air with glee as she flew. Whisper started glowing her happy green and flew after the sprite, the two playing chase and shooting into the market in search of food. As if they hadn't eaten more than their fill bare hours ago at the party.
Much like the sudden appearance of the rollicking party the night before, the transition from quiet woodland to dense, bustling market was jarring. There were booths everywhere, as far as the eye could see. People and creatures of all shapes and sizes shopped and mingled. Over the various tents flew flags and banners, and there were strings of bunting and glowing globes crisscrossing the walkways between. It was similar in many ways to the Starlight Dance, just with less dancing and music.
Amelia suddenly felt overwhelmed by the number of things to see. In addition to the booth and crowds, there were wandering entertainers, hawkers crying out wares, and tantalizing aromas wafting on the breeze.
She stumbled along in a daze.
"Look at that! Look over there! Ooh!" she cried out, pointing at various things. There was so much to see, she couldn't even focus on one thing without being distracted by the next.
"That booth has swords! Let's go check it out!" she cried, careening past several shoppers to get to the counter.
The proprietor was a tall ogre, dressed in savage-looking furs and leather. His look was somewhat spoiled by the battered brown pork pie hat and natty bow tie he was wearing.
"'ee need summat sharp, miss? I got whats you need!" he said proudly, indicating the racks of weapons of all types.
Amelia only had eyes for the swords and picked up a rapier. Its long, slender blade was at least four feet long, and the swept hilt was a marvel of metal basketwork. The sword was also considerably heavier than she thought it would be.
"'ere now, missy, 'ee be careful. I keep 'een mighty sharp. Dinna want to lose aught, now!" rumbled the merchant as she took what she thought was a fearsome stance, extending the blade out slowly. She moved the point about a bit like she was looking for an opening to stab someone. It didn't take long at all, though, before her wrist tired and the point sagged towards the ground.
"Haw! Not easy izit? Needs practice" chuckled the ogre, but in a good-natured fashion.
"Sorry! Yeah, that's what everybody says. Do you think someone around here could give me lessons?"
"'ee seen much fightin', 'ave you miss?"
"No, not really" she admitted. "It just seems like something you need in an adventure!"
The ogre nodded with a grin. "'ee right, all the heroes want swords, but 'ere -- lemme show you summat else" he was a little hard to understand, between the deep rumbling voice and very odd accent, but the outstretched hand was pretty obvious. Amelia carefully handed the rapier over. The shop keep gave it a quick wipe down with a white cloth, then placed it back in the rack. He then turned to a taller rack, plucked a spear from it, and handed it to her.
"'ats what 'ee want. Easy to use, gots reach. Can e'en frow it, iffen 'ee needs."
The spear was taller than her head by at least a foot but was much lighter than the steel rapier had been. Holding it in both hands, it felt much more wieldy and nimble. She crouched down, and thrust out with the point, almost skewering a passerby.
"Oy! Watch it! Watch it!" said the woman, an older lady loaded down with bags and parcels.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" Amelia quickly handed the thing back to the ogre. All her friends' warnings about weapons rang in her ears as she blushed. Luckily, no harm was done, and the woman moved on.
"Iffin 'at ad been a woof, 'ee'd of done for er, right enuff!" huffed the ogre, clearly amused once he saw no blood had been shed. "'ee have the right o' it, 'ee do. Come back, 'een change 'ee mind!" he called as Amelia moved away from the stall.
She looked around as she left, and only then realized that she couldn't see her friends. She actually hadn't seen them in several minutes and had assumed they were close by as she gawped at the surroundings.
"Uh oh. I hate being lost at the mall!" she grumbled.