5. Into the Land of Zazz

Mile after mile owlspook flew. She was lucky and caught a tailwind but in this storm they can be tricky. It took all her concentration to keep on the right course. It left her no time to contemplate why she really wanted to brave all this torrential rain to go to an art show .. so on and on she flew into the land of Zazz.

Hours later owlspook could see faint lights glowing through the rain. She knew she had been in the land of Zazz for some time and now she had finally reached the Center Mall. Zazz was a strange land populated by artists and crafters of all trades. But it also was a land of great mystery. Their work was flawless and much prized. It filtered into the marketplace. You could find it quite unexpectantly now and then. But no one had been allowed to travel through the land of Zazz. It was by invitation only. And now owlspook thought I have been invited.

Anticipation grew in her as she neared the Center Mall. Suddenly all the lights but one went out. A beacon as such she thought and followed it down. The rain still fell in torrents and landing was difficult. She was met by an old raven who motioned for her to follow him and so she did. From the center of the mall they moved quickly toward a building unlit. As they approached owlspook could see faces peering out from the windows watching them as they neared the door. The raven knocked once and the door opened. He quickly went in, owlspook following and the door closed behind them. No light was lit but in the dim owlspook could see that they were not alone.

Before she could even shake the rain from her feathers the raven turned and asked 'You have velvet bag with you?' and before owlspook could reply the raven continued 'Do not answer that ... yet answer me this .. have you opened the velvet bag yet?' owlspook looked into the raven's eyes and asked 'who are you to ask this of me?' The old Raven chuckled and replied, 'I am Huginn and my brother there' (he pointed to another raven standing by the door behind owlspook)'is Muninn. We have lived here long in the land of Zazz. We were sent by our master to watch the going ons of the creatures in this land. Many years ago a darkness spread over this land that obscured our master's visions... he could no longer see into the land of Zazz so sent us.'

Huginn paused and motioned for owlspook to take a seat by the large oaken table. Muninn brought a small candle lighting it as he placed it on the table. Both ravens pulled up a chair and sat on either side of owlspook. Out of the dark an old owl appeared carrying a platter of food and jugs of wine.

They all ate in silence and when they had finished and the table cleared Huginn began again. 'We have spent much time moving across Zazz querring the creatures that inhabit it's land. This blight has brought a malaise, a sickness with it. All born here have succomed to it's evil. The light of magic has gone out of their eyes and heart. There is no joy only a deep sadness. Even anger is left drowning in self-pity.' Huginn stopped and his brother Muginn continued.

'In all of memory this evil has come but once before. It was in the time of eons past when another people walked this land. They were creatures of two legs like us but no wings. They had no fur or feathers. They spoke a strange tongue. They kept to themselves but honored their master with sacrifice and ritual. His name is Wōdanaz and his is our master's master. this was before our time and it's all we know and remember of what was known.'

Huginn went on, 'There is one thing we did find out in our travels. It was a story told by an old owl who lived alone in an ancient oak at the edge of the great forest.' owlspook's thoughts began spinning for she too lived in an ancient oak. Only one other she knew of did. It couldn't be, no, she thought. He had gone on many years before she was hatched. It couldn't be. Muninn noticing owlspook's disturbance sat patiently for a moment and said to her, 'Yes it was him. He is still there in his tree and he waits for you.'

owlspook jumped up out of her seat, wing flapping, beak clapping. 'It is NOT possible!' she squawked ... 'he died before I was born and he was an old owl then! It can NOT be!'

Muninn quietly got up and walked over to the large chest of drawers on the back wall. He rummaged through it and took out an old oak box and brought it to owlspook who was still ranting and flapping her wings. As soon as owlspook saw the box she stopped and stared at it with an intensity that made the old ravens chuckle. The raven brothers look at each other and then said in unison 'It is time.'

They took owlspook and made her sit at the table again placing the oak box in front of her. They both said, 'Open the box owlspook.' owlspook looked in turn to both of them. She seemed dazed and confused. This was her grandfather's box long since vanished. She had never seen it before but it had been described to her so many times that she knew it. The urged her to open it and so she did.

Inside was a silver earring .. and she knew then that her grandfather was still alive. It wasn't an ordinary earring. It had power. She had been told that it was her grandfather's earring... that as long as her grandfather was alive the ring would remain on this plane. If he died the box would be empty. This was almost to much for owlspook to take in. How How How was all she could think.

The raven sat patiently allowing owlspook to absorb what was before her. They watched closely and quietly neither moving lest they disturb her.

owlspook's thoughts and memories intermingled .. then out of that tangle she looked up to Muninn an old memory came back to her ... perched next to her father .. herself just an owlet .. a story he told her about the earring ... and the passing of it from one generation to another ... it can't be she thought .. not me .. I don't want it ... it can't be ... yet she knew .. the earring and all that it entailed was to be hers.

Huginn and Muninn allowed owlspook to sit in her own thoughts for quite some time. The candle was running low. The old owl brought another and lighting it removed the old one.

Huginn broke the silence. 'There is more to be said before the night calls us to sleep. Tomorrow we travel to the ancient oak. Your grandfather wishes to speak with you.' And I with him owlspook thought. 'Yes I will go with you for what choice do I have now.' Huginn and Muninn remained quiet.

The old owl returned with two lit candles giving one to owlspook and led her up the stairs to her bed for the night. As the old owl turned to leave owlspook said to him, 'What is your name cousin?' 'I am called Te'hay which is white owl in your dialect.' and with having said that he left her alone to her thoughts.

White owl ... something pricked at her memory but it would not come forward .. although she knew she had heard of Te'hay before but ... oh well, it will come and .. it hit her again .. the silver earring, her grandfather, the velvet bag with the amulet, the quest, the lost treasure, the curse .. too much too much she thought as she readied herself for sleep .. the house was quiet nary a sound and soon after she had eased herself into the bed she was fast asleep.