7. The Meeting with Grandfather

Owlspook crept slowly toward the voice holding the candle out before her as an amulet to ward off evil. Too much, she thought, too much has happened. 'Hurry child we have so little time' the voice bellowed in the dark, 'I must speak with you before the sun hits mid sky.'

Suddenly in front of her sitting in an old chair with the two ravens standing on either side of him was her Grandfather. He was as described to her so many years before but now older, whiter than white but his eyes shown clear and warm. Huginn moved and brought a chair placing it between her and the old owl. Her Grandfather motioned her to sit and she did still holding the candle. Muninn took the candle from her and held it while Huginn lit another and also held his. owlspook waited in wonder for what her Grandfather would say.

'Granddaughter owlspook I have heard of your journeys and tales of adventures through the years. You have grown up to be a fine and noble owl.' owlspook began to protest but Grandfather held up his hand to stop her. 'Let me finish. I know you well enough to know that you are bursting with curiosity and overwhelmed at the same time. It will pass. I wish I had the time ...' and his voice drifted off. owlspook took that pause to say 'Grandfather how ...' and the old owl cut her off. 'Be still and do not worry. I have time to tell you most but not all of what you wish to know.'

The candles flickered in a breeze that seemed to come from nowhere. Muninn and Huginn slipped away putting out the candles as they went leaving a darkness behind them. owlspook felt her Grandfather take her wing and pull her toward the back wall where he opened a door hidden. They moved inside where a faint glow emanated from a small crystal sitting on a glass holder on an oak table in the corner of the room. Again he motioned her to sit upon one of the chairs by the table and he sat on the other.

'Be still and there might be time for questions', he said with haste. owlspook complied. Her grandfather took a deep breath and began ...

'When I was a young owl I had many adventures such as you have had. My family thought me a bit bugger-eyed and crazy. I had the calling they said and they allowed me the freedom to move through the land as I wished. I had no clue at the time what they meant.' The old owl shifted in his chair and continued, 'Then one day I received an invitation to an art show here in the land of Zazz. It was an honor I couldn't refuse.' Seeing owlspook begin to squirm in her chair he said 'Yes Yes I know you received one too. It was I who sent it.' and a silly grin came to his face. 'As with you I was called to my grandfather's tree, the same Ancient Oak that we are in right now. And he told me what I must tell you and more.'

Huginn and Muninn came through the door bolting it behind them. They came up to Grandfather and whispered in his ears. 'Thank you my friends. I shall hurry.'

Turning back to owlspook he continued, 'I must make this short now. We are known and must leave soon. Do not fret we will meet again.' This time owlspook could not remain quiet and blurted out, 'But but ...' and Grandfather chuckled. 'Here is what you must know now. You have seen and heard what is happening in Zazz, yes?' owlspook nodded. 'Good. First, I will need the oak box with the earring please.' owlspook reached into her pouch gave it to him. 'Now about the amulet and the velvet bag. Yes there is treasure and no there is no curse upon the treasure. This fairytale was made up to ensure that others would not try so hard to find the bag. The amulet is for you and you only. It was made for you. Yes it is in there and only you are able to see it in there. It is a bit a magic the elves wove for me years ago. The amulet will lead you to a treasure. Oh I can see you ready to ask more questions.' and he again chuckled. 'I do not know what the treasure is but I do know what the treasure will do. It will restore the land of Zazz. How? I do not know.'

There was one knock at the door and Huginn opened it. In walked a very old and feeble pygmy owl. owlspook could not imagine how this old one could get around without help he was so old. Yet she saw a twinkle in her eye and to her surprise the little old owl turned into a ... a... "What are you?' she asked the creature that stood before her. Grandfather was laughing even the raven let out a little chuckle. 'I am Yarelis and you should be thanking me for coming out in this abominable weather. If it wasn't for your grandfather I wouldn't be here at all!' owlspook stammered, 'But but .. what are you?' Grandfather holding back another eruption of laughter said to owlspook,'Yarelis is a shapechanger, a Cabbit actually. She is my dear friend and well, she has been much more too.' Grandfather walked up to Yarelis and gave her a hug. 'Nice of you to come. Please sit down. Sorry I have nothing to offer you on this cold damp night.'

Yarelis became a very beautiful young white owl as her grandfather led her to his chair. 'Please sit here for a moment. I must finish explaining to my granddaughter.' and Yarelis did as he asked.

He turned to owlspook and said, 'Yarelis will be accompanying you on this quest of yours. You will find her skills to be very helpful.' and moving closer to owlspook whispering in her ear, 'but be careful. She is doing this as a favor to me. Treat her with the respect she deserves no matter what or ...' owlspook thought, or what? but let it slide thinking best to follow his advice.

'Remember the scroll map that the King of Cats gave you?' owlspook did a double take on that and was ready to say something as he grandfather continued, 'I know you have it memorized. Now think ...the marsh to the east of Zazz, then the mountains that open to the plains and then the great inland sea .. right, you do remember .. right?' owlspook did and it was true she had memorized that map so long ago ... 'Yarelis will guide you. Along the way it has been planned for you to meet up with others. They will find you and travel with you on your quest. Yarelis knows who they are and they are all old friends of mine from long ago.'

owlspook looked over to Yarelis and saw her preening, seemingly uninterested in what her grandfather was telling her. But she looked up and said, 'There is more he forgets to tell you. There are even others who desire Zazz to remain as it is and will do anything to keep you from completing your quest. We are likely to meet them on the way. We must move with purpose and stealth avoiding the towns and hamlets especially in the dismal swamp. I do hate going through it but there is no other way. ... oh I can see you saying why not fly. oh silly me I forgot to tell you, I can't and you're not big enough to lift me for any extended flights so we must go by land whenever possible.'

'You are right Yarelis. You must be careful not to become known and you, owlspook, let Yarelis do all the talking especially with strangers.' Grandfather took a long hard look at owlspook and continued, 'It is time now for me to leave. The treasure lies near the great inland sea with a creature who will be neither friend nor foe. This creature holds the cure but does not know it. Do not harm this one for he is an innocent. You will know him when you see him and from him you will know the treasure.'

Yarelis again spoke up, 'Ah you silly old owl again you forget .. the amulet.'

Grandfather laughed again, 'Yes she is right. I do forget at times but being such an ol' owl ... the amulet yes ... when you reach the highest point of your journey you must open the velvet bag and take out the amulet. Hold it high above your head and you will know where it is you are to go. And now my young granddaughter it is time for me to go. They know I am here and I must always be on the move. Huginn and Muninn will stay with me for now but occasionally you will see them on your journey. I wish you well and luck. I know that this will be your hardest quest you have ever taken but I also know you will survive. We will meet again when it is over.' and with that last word he and the ravens left the room.

'Well young one it is time for us to move on too. We must make camp within sight of the dismal swamp before nightfall. Come hasten .. stop dragging your talons ... we will talk later.'

owlspook left following the shapechanger into the dreary rain hating the thought of having to walk all the miles ahead of her.

6. To the Ancient Oak

The rain had not let up. It beat upon her window all night long but owlspook did not hear it. She lay fast asleep in the land of dreams.

The morning came and the rain was still coming down in bucketfulls. Te'hay came into the room to awaken owlspook. No sunlight streamed through her window and the air was cold and damp. She asked the old owl if the rain ever let up and he replied not for a long time. owlspook wondered why the whole land didn't fill up with water but didn't voice her thought.

Breakfast was set upon the oaken table for her. The old owl and the ravens were not in sight. So owlspook sat down and ate her fill. No fire was started in the fireplace and the room had a chill that was hard to shake. What a dreary place this is, owlspook thought as she finished her meal. Getting up she walked to the window and peered into the gloom. She had a hard time understanding everything that happened to her in the last two days. There she was minding her own business and enjoying the company of her guests .. and oh it was so fun to tell the old stories and then wham! why did Tara have to give her the velvet amulet bag ... and what does that have to do with my grandfather being still alive impossible as that seems ... I guess I'll just have to wait and see. She stood there with her thoughts staring out into the grey.

There was one knock on the door and as owlspook turned she saw the old owl open it and in came Huginn and Muninn shaking their feathers to rid themselves of the rain. The spoke no greeting but walked right past her into the kitchen with Te'Hay .. owlspook followed.

'It is as I expected.', said Huginn, 'The lowlands are flooding and driving all to higher ground. Most did not make it.' Te'Hay nodded and then saw owlspook standing in the doorway. They all turned to face her. Muninn spoke, 'You remember?' and with owlspook's nod he continued, 'There is no time to lose. We must leave now. Are you ready? You have the box and bag with you?' owlspook nodded again in reply.

The two ravens and owlspook gathered their pouches and with no further ado they left the relative warmth of the house and flew off into the wet cold morning with Muninn leading the way and Huginn at her tail. The rain and the wind tore them to and fro but Muninn knew the way and with difficulty they followed.

Above them they could only see grey and below the land was lost in water. The flew what seemed to be hours but took very little time. Soon they saw a dim light up ahead and owlspook knew it was the ancient oak. The approached carefully and lit upon one of the upper branches .. a breach of etiquette but the wind and rain gave them no other choice. Climbing down to the door was difficult to say the least but when they finally reached it, it was already open for them.

The two ravens went in first with owlspook hesitating at the door. 'Come in granddaughter! The rain precedes you! Hurry!' .. owlspook's heart jumped but she moved inside and closed the door behind her. Again no lights within except a candle by the door. 'Take the candle and come closer.' the voice commanded and she took the candle and followed the voice.