CHAPTER 21: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Corm Orp was celebrating in full for several days, starting in the early afternoon and lasting well into the night, and adventurers from all over, mostly hin, had converged there to take part in the festivities.

Two of the exceptions present were Sylvie and Arvenyana Starblossom, who walked slowly together, enjoying the sights of merriment as they talked. Despite not being hin, they were both made to feel as if their presence was completely normal and welcome among the happy hin around them.

Sylvie wore her hair in a special topknot, one that had been the rage in Hylo on Krynn years ago, which fell to her right side divided into 3 strands of blue-black braids. At odds with her exotic hairstyle was the simple patchwork dress of autumn colors she wore, with only her magic belt, and her snap wand holster under a sleeve holding a special wand. She was even barefoot in the style of the hin.

Arvenyana, whom Sylvie called "Aunt Arvie," wore her deep black and well-oiled leather armor, complete with dyed black boots that would enable her to run on ice or snow as if it were smooth ground and leave no tracks, and with her frostblade sheathed at her side. However, at the insistence of Fairweather Daisypetal, she also wore a green wrap embroidered with small daisies around her shoulders and had allowed her to tie her hair in a ponytail with a yellow kerchief.

"You know you can skip the leather armor," said Sylvie lightly, after Arvenyana complimented her on her look. "This is a day for celebration."

Arvenyana smiled slightly. "I am a bladesinger, I'm always prepared. Especially this close to Darkhold, and when some 'faction' might come to seize my brother and my niece." Her blue eyes, much like Panwyr's and Sylvie's, went fierce as she said the last.

"Don't worry about them," said Sylvie. "I went back to White Sands, and accompanied by Eurid and Trelahn, I went and talked to Factol Faith herself on Arcadia. She's dropped all charges against everyone who interfered with those camps, said the operation at White Sands had never been sanctioned by her, and the Baatorian fiend that commanded the operation after me and Dad was exiled back to Baator, and presumably demoted."

"I don't trust them," replied Arvenyana simply. "And it was foolish of you to have gone."

"I was surprised by Faith's goodwill myself," admitted Sylvie. "But Eurid is an archmage and a factor of the Sensates. Trelahn is a like a proxy to a solar, who in turn answers to Queen Morwel. In other words, those were some powerful bloods at my side. The cubic gate I took from Tyrm was pretty damning evidence, too, leading to several areas under Baatorian influence, including Romamman's office—er, former office now--in Arcadia, and one planar gate leading to the 9th Pit of Baator itself, to the lair of fiends that had obviously been studying the Arcadian god Azuth for some reason. And while the Harmonium might not have trusted us, they are trying to clean up their image, and declaring a war on the Sensates or eladrin and other Arborean celestials isn't the best way to go about to prove their goodwill and to inspire harmony." She shook her head, and added, "She also claimed that the 'rehabilitation camps' were never sanctioned by her husband, and only the cover-up was."

"Cover up?"

"The camps were evil enough that the domain with the camps shifted over to a plane of law devoid of any goodness and the modrons seized it. It was major egg on their faces. Faith even said she wished people like me had rescued more because it might've saved the domains in Arcadia that they'd lost." She shook her head. "But I don't think she liked us very much, she was just being diplomatic. Yet she seemed very serious as she talked about weeding out the baatezu and other overtly evil members of her faction, and I wish her well on that."

Arvenyana shook her head again. "I've learned to not trust even most paladins, so I still don't trust them. They talk about how those like us, with freedom in our hearts, are whimsical, but I've seen the most mind boggling rationalizations and doubletalk from those who champion the forces of law. And then when they get caught at doing something like putting freethinkers and others they don't like in dungeons, they and their supporters say it was 'only a few bad apples,' holding themselves to lower standards than they do those with so-called 'chaotic' alignments."

Sylvie nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I'm wary of anyone too zealous for laws, too, with a few notable exceptions." She took a breath as she added, "But I don't want to become a fanatic like Measure Tyrm. I've thought about some of the things he said, and while I still don't agree, I do think he had a point. I have the potential to become as blind and zealous as he did, just in an equal but opposite way. And if he'd have succeeded in killing Faelar…" Here she paused, and then said in a serious tone, "I'd have felt a hatred for him and his faction as he did for me and those of Arborea. I really COULD become like him under the wrong circumstances. And he's not someone I want to be like, not even as an 'anti-Harmonium' fanatic."

"I can't see you as a fanatic, Sylvie." Smirking, she added, "Your mind wanders too much to get that obsessed."

"I hope not. But you know, I let Dad talk me into killing a woman while he killed a goblin. Yes, his reasons were sound, and what I saw of the woman's mind showed me that she was as evil as she was insane, but I never even thought to read the mind of the goblin first to see if he was as insane as the Zhentish woman, or as evil. I keep kicking myself for that. Not all goblins are evil."

Arvenyana shook her head fiercely. "Don't kick yourself over a dead goblin. Too many are evil for you to casually assume otherwise."

Sylvie shook her own head in disagreement. "Some of the nicest people I met in Sigil were goblins. I guess that's in part because of how surly most Sigilians were to me, but the goblins that lived there in a quarter they claimed in the Hive weren't evil, they were just wanting to do business, after having been driven off from their home world by humans intent on wiping them out. Most became Indeps, so the Hardheads hated them for that reason, too. Perhaps because they were so persecuted, and considered me harmless, they were very tolerant of me, and honorable in all their dealings, whereas too many humans and even those of elven blood in the Hive would've slit your throat just for the practice." She smiled a little sadly as she added, "When they heard about how depraved goblins were from a human, they were bemused, because they said what he described goblins as doing was what they'd learned to expect HUMANS to do."

Arvenyana laughed, darkly amused, and in grudging sympathy, having met enough black-hearted humans, or even those who were just "kill everything that moves" which irked her intensely. Then she said, "I do not know about goblins in Sigil, but here in Faerun, it's wise to bet that a goblin is evil and act accordingly."

Sylvie nodded. "I can't disagree. But Jastra reminded me that to embrace hatred, even against evil enemies, was a path of corruption that led one to being evil in fighting evil. I told her that I killed a Zhentish mage while he was temporarily helpless, and the woman and goblin I killed, and while she was sympathetic, she said I was treading on dangerous ground and may be slipping from a righteous path into one of fanaticism in which the ends justify the means. I think that's what happened to Measure Tyrm, and what might happen to me if I'm not more careful about my passions."

"So how are you going to 'be careful'? Avoid confrontation with the forces of law and evil?"

"Not so much avoid as not seek out," said Sylvie. "And to help make up for having harmlessly tormented the Helmites over the years in Silverymoon, I did pass on those weapons with lawful energy for Talindra to give to them. From the clan itself, of course, as they'd never dare accept such magic if they knew it came from me."

"Talindra was surprised I bet."

"Oh, yeah," said Sylvie, with a small frown. She hadn't told anyone else what Tyrm had told her, and hadn't confronted Talindra yet, and didn't know if she ever would. But there was no denying that Talindra WAS surprised to see her, and doubly so bearing magic items that she'd admitted to looting from the Harmonium patrol that had tried arresting her and her dad. Shrugging, she told Arvenyana, "But given the rising problem of the orcs and the tanar'ri that escaped the fall of Hellgate Keep, I think the Helmites can use those weapons for good against the enemies of Silverymoon. It's just part of how I'm trying to make sure I don't become a fanatic."

"One of them might end up using one of those swords of law against me, you know. I've clashed with Helmites before."

"You and me both," agreed Sylvie. "Still, even with one hand tied behind your back, I bet you could beat any paladin that tried to take you out, even with such a sword."

"There is that," said Arvenyana in all seriousness, and Sylvie laughed, and laughed harder still when she caught Arvenyana lifting a brow in silent question of what she found so amusing about a simple fact.

Sylvie took a couple of calming breaths before adding, "I also gave Talindra the staff of fire. I said in return I expected her to use it, or give it to someone else to use, in defense of Silverymoon, and as a personal favor, to reconsider her view that I'm only a cause for shame to the clan." Sylvie thought that if Talindra did show signs of being more accepting of her, she might never let it be known that she knew what Talindra had done. And given how Jastra was singing the praises of her and her parents, she would likely soon be talked about in glowing terms in Evereska, which could mean her family in Evereska and Silverymoon both might become more accepting of her.

"Will you be accepting Mom's invitation in Silverymoon?"

"Eventually," said Sylvie. "I've still got to do an unspecified 'small favor' next spring on the Dragon Coast for Cade, the Luckbringer who brought Darvin back from the dead. It was one of the lesser spells to bring the dead back to life, so it took him a few days to recover, but he's out enjoying the festival, and temporarily staying with the Daisypetals."

"Cade, a priest of Tymora? Isn't he a halfling?"

Sylvie shrugged. "The hin believe that Tymora is one of their own who has conned the humans into worshiping her, too." When she saw Arvenyana blink, she added, "Shh, don't let the humans in on the secret."

Arvenyana smiled, chuckling softly, somehow reminding Sylvie of how a stream flowing over rocks sounds. "I'll never be able to meet another human cleric of Tymora again without having to smother a laugh." Then her smile faded as she added, "And all he wanted was a 'small favor,' huh? Maybe I should go with you. After all, a spell that powerful is rarely given cheaply."

"I'd welcome your company, Aunt Arvie," said Sylvie sincerely. "And if you want, you could stay with me at the Daisypetals for the winter. I'm sure Corm Orp would welcome an extra wizard and bladesinger to help guard against the winter raids by Darkhold."

Avenyana nodded. "I think I shall. Unlike you, I don't fear being a fanatic, and I'll gladly counter Darkhold's forces whenever they show themselves."

Sylvie nodded. "You and me both. The things I saw in that fortress…" She sighed. "Be careful, their magic is most foul. I couldn't even heal from all of it until I was in the hallowed, consecrated Ladyhouse, and then only by divine healing magic." She shook her head. "One item Mom brought out of Darkhold was a candle. It was enchanted to help the one burning it to detect good and be protected from it. It was destroyed."

"Your mom didn't mind?"

"Easy come, easy go. She was just curious, and had other mementos. She even gave Cade her emerald as part of paying for Darvin being raised from the dead."

Arvenyana nodded. "The two potion belts and scroll organizer the Harpers gave to me for our party to infiltrate Darkhold I gave to the Ladyhouse. It was meant to overcome their evil, and so it still shall, be it by us or some other fools." She smiled. "On the good side, it was good you went early. Darvin never would've survived had you waited for me."

Sylvie nodded. "And I'm glad I got there while he still had his eyes." She shuddered then, and decided to change the subject. "So much weirdness since I went to White Sands. Many things I casually said came true in twisted ways, I met people I thought long dead, Dad rediscovered his lost love…it was as if some power of chaos and goodness touched us, even used us, to bring goodness to other realms through our chaos." She shrugged. "I guess that doesn't make any sense."

"No it doesn't," answered Arvenyana, "but it's intriguing all the same. It's almost like you're saying your heart and soul are part of Arborea, and by following your heart, you're acting as an agent of Arborea, and in doing so, Arborea's qualities somehow manifested around you."

"You DO understand!" shouted Sylvie excitedly, missing the confused look this brought to her elven aunt's face. "Still, it doesn't exactly explain a few other things, like how Measure Tyrm's son Lenny, who'd been manipulated by the baatezu, has found a new home and bride there in Arborea, the baatezu's plan backfiring in so many ways. Now instead of becoming a Harmonium Measure, Lenny looks as if he's going to become one of the best shredders at White Sands."

"Shredders?"

"Someone proficient in a water sport popular at White Sands, where one rides waves while balancing on a board," said Sylvie. "You really should come to the next Gauntlet. You're a real blood when it comes to tumbling, balancing, and swimming, so I bet you could become an awesome shredder, too. A lot of other elves show up."

She nodded. "I think I will. And if any more 'unsanctioned' Harmonium forces make an appearance, I'll be prepared to deal with them, too."

Sylvie grinned. She had to admit the image was appealing. Then she frowned thoughtfully as she added, "Oddest bit was when I was last in White Sands I had the most realistic dream of a bariaur Indep in Sigil raising a cup of wine in my honor. He told me to thank Mom for putting that Hardhead in the dead book for him."

Arvenyana rolled her eyes as she heard Sylvie continue to speak in that slang of her. She understood most of it, but had never gotten into the habit of using it herself. She'd visited the other planes as well, but only briefly and never got involved in planar affairs the way Sylvie and her parents had done. Maybe she should expand her horizons. She frowned briefly as she wondered if Arborea was somehow calling her, through her own heart and soul as well as Sylvie's, before dismissing the notion as ridiculous.

Topknot joined them, excited. "Hey! Jastra has invited us to go to Evereska with her, and Panwyr and I are going to renew our vows! Wanna come?"

"I'd be happy to see you there," answered Arvenyana.

"Me, too," said Sylvie.

"Hey, Sylvie, could you make me some magic weapons, too?" Obviously, Topknot had taken in stride that she'd missed her daughter growing up years. But then many kender left their children behind to be raised by other kender when they went off on wanderlust. To Topknot, this was no doubt just an interesting experience, and was glad that she didn't have to keep dropping little Sylvie off somewhere whenever she wanted to go somewhere dangerous anymore.

"Sure," replied Sylvie. "When I have some spare time."

"I was wondering," said Topknot, "why did you make your sithak make arrows so cold?"

"Partly because those that make arrows burn can cause all kinds of problems, no matter how urban or rural or wild the area you're at is. But mostly in honor of Aunt Arvey here."

"Me?" asked Arvenyana as her brows rose.

"You're called Frosty," answered Sylvie, "not only because you're supposed to remain cool under fire, or because of your pale skin with hints of icy blue, but because of your frostblade. So I gave my sithak similar qualities." She shrugged. "It's odd, but I never felt at home anywhere. After awhile I decided that home was with those I cared about, wherever that may be, tying myself to people more than places. I took the topknot as a sign of my acceptance of kender blood, as well as in memory of my mom given her nickname, especially after Mom's family accepted me fully, unlike the Starblossom clan. I almost changed my last name to Star Wanderer, not only for being a spacefarer, but as a mix of Dad's surname of Starblossom and Mom's surname of Farwanderer, but I changed my mind, not wanting to hurt your feelings, or granny's."

Arvenyana nodded. "And you gave your kender weapon the cold quality to show your connection to me? I'm deeply flattered."

Sylvie added to the sincere flattery. "Whenever I think of martial excellence and success at defending loved ones and important principles, I think of you, which is why I made my sithak frosty, similar to your sword. Pity that I couldn't impart the same resistance to fire that your frostblade does, but I have a ring that makes up for that."

"I remember a really cold winter in Bristle Patch," said Topknot, referring to her home tree village near the city of Kendermore on Krynn, "where I had such a cold in my head that Dad couldn't wash my face without the water freezing, keeping me from sneezing."

Arvenyana blinked. "Is that so?"

"Dad said it didn't surprise him," Topknot continued, "he said he remembered a winter so cold that they had to start a fire under the cow before they milked her."

Arvenyana blinked even harder. "I…see." Then turning back to Sylvie, she added, "This winter is supposed to be cold, too. After Panwyr and Topknot renew their vows, I'm fully prepared to spend the winter here with you. And woe onto Darkhold should they attempt to punish Corm Orp for the loss of their drugs, evil magic, and evil mages!"

"I need my own special name," said Sylvie, "to go with Frosty. How about the Icicle Archer?"

"And who can I be?" asked Topknot.

Arvenyana ran a long finger over her chin twice before snapping and saying, "Freeze Brain, in memory of the epic head cold you survived as a child. If you can survive a head cold so bad that water froze when it touched your face, then let Darkhold know of it and beware." She smiled then, "And I can change my name to Snow Wench. Let the Zhents become laughing stocks as they are thwarted time and time again by heroes such as us."

"Will you wear chain mail bikini?" asked Sylvie. "I've seen some dancers at the more bawdy taverns wear it, so I know they sell it."

Arvenyana's golden flecks in her blue eyes seemed to sparkle more brightly than usual with their shared amusement. "Hardly practical, but if you make me some bracers of armor, I'd consider it. As long as I wear my magic boots, I don't need to fear the cold, anymore than I need to fear fire while I wield my frostblade."

Levin was suddenly with them. "Did someone mention dancers in bikini chain mail?"

"Yeah," said Sylvie, "we were wondering how much a finder's fee we could get for introducing you to the proprietor of the Smiling Satyr in Silverymoon."

Arvenyana laughed, before calming down to say, "We were thinking of working together to foil Zhentarim operations and changing our names to Freeze Brain, Icicle Archer, and the Amazing Snow Wench."

Levin lifted a brow. "May I ask why?"

Arvenyana grinned. "Can you imagine how hard it would be for the Zhentarim to maintain their dignity as they report to their superiors, hire spies and assassins, and even interrogate prisoners in regards to their infamous foils, Brain Freeze, Icicle Archer, and the Amazing Snow Wench?"

The silver flecks in Levin's eyes sparkled in his blue eyes as he laughed.

Jastra joined them, and Levin filled her in on their idea. She congratulated them with, "What a beautiful idea!"

Levin nodded to them as he said, "I better go check on Borivik. Just because he drinks that Rashemen firewine doesn't mean he can handle the local cider as well as he thinks."

"Better check on Dad, too," commented Sylvie.

Levin smiled, and left, Jastra and Topknot going with him.

Arvenyana told Sylvie, "Jastra speaks very highly of you. You may find your next visit home to be a little less…frosty!"

Sylvie smiled, but didn't laugh. Nor did she tell her she considered Corm Orp and the Trielta Hills her home more than the elven clan she was descended from. Instead, she said, "I am thinking of going to Silverymoon in the near future for awhile, to learn how to craft portals from the Lady's College. After that, I'd like to craft a portal somewhere out of the way to Kendermore on Krynn. That way Mom can go back and forth at will." She smiled and added, "But while I'm there, I might do some spell research and come up with a few like protection from Hardhead and invisibility to Hardhead."

"I hope you stay at our hold, or if you get your own place closer to the college, that you have a room available for me. And another thing, the Lady's College has such resources that by using them, you can even make magic items that your haven't learned how to make yet. It does cost more and take more time if you don't already know how, but at least you can do it."

"Sylvie!" Fairweather Daisypetal called out to them from a very long table (though short enough for hin to comfortably use) holding various treats. There were baskets holding apples, pears, or peaches, and several bowls with grapes or raisins. Many bottles of wines, ciders, and ales, along with free clay cups were also in abundance, as were platters of various cheeses. Strung up above the table laced from shrubs and trees were strings holding colorful clay designs of daisies and butterflies that made a pleasant rattling noise in the breeze.

Beside her was Charmaine, dressed in a flowing short sleeve dress of vertical yellow and white stripes with a green apron sporting a butterfly design. She wore a straw hat with a string under her chin holding it in place, and sported 2 exotic red pigtails braided and looped. She smiled joyously at them and waved before finding more food & drink on the table before her.

Sylvie headed to try the ham & turkey sampler plate near Fairweather, Arvenyana remaining beside her. "Hey! How are you enjoying the festival?"

"Always a pleasure," answered Fairweather. In addition to a wreath of daisies in her hair, she wore a v-necked golden-threaded lace dress covered in floral designs. The cuffs and hem of her dress were a brilliant yellow. She was currently munching an onion bulb raw the way a human would an apple.

Jenkin wore a simple green plaid shirt with a vest of autumn gold and brown pants. He also was smoking a pipe. He blinked when he saw Arvenyana frown. Knowing that most elves found smoking a revolting practice, he teased her a little. "I'm smoking a cherry flavored tobacco that was somehow grown in the Purple Hills. It doubles as an air freshener as well as a good smoke. Care to try it?" He offered his smoking pipe up to her.

Seeing Arvenyana stroke her frostblade (well known for being able to put out fires, and now being considered for putting out a pipe, too), Sylvie interrupted. "That's, uh, very nice." When Jenkin offered her the pipe, she took it, much to Jenkin's surprise, and said, "Thanks." She took a puff and blew it out. To the looks of surprise on the Daisypetals and horror on Arvenyana's face, she added, "I cast a spell today that allows me to breathe the air of the elemental plane of smoke, and wanted to test what it was like to smoke a pipe while under the influence of the spell."

Jenkin blinked. "How is it?"

"Like breathing in the thick scent of cherries."

Arvenyana shook her head. "Do you have another spell to keep you from stinking of pipe weed?"

"No," admitted Sylvie, "but maybe this will help." So saying, she got another onion bulb and began eating it like an apple, just as Fairweather was doing.

Arvenyana spoke a few terse words in Elvish that shocked even Sylvie. Charmaine laughed with a mouth full of food.

"May I have my pipe back?" asked Jenkin. After he got it back, he tapped a wooden spoon to a clay cup of apple cider and said, "A toast! To Sylvie Starblossom, friend of Corm Orp, her father Panwyr, and a distant relation of ours, Merla Bramblefoot, for infiltrating Darkhold, foiling their operations, and rescuing innocent prisoners!"

Many other hin besides the Daisypetals drank a toast.

"Did someone mention us?" asked Panwyr approaching, with Borivik, Levin, and Merla.

"They did," said Sylvie, "but this time it was to say something nice."

"Oh, ha, ha," said Panwyr dryly. "Have you heard that Topknot and I are to renew our vows at the Fountainheart of Shimmering Gold in a tenday?"

Sylvie nodded. "Arvenyana and I both intend to go with you, but we'll be spending the winter in Corm Orp." She looked to Merla. "I assume you'll stay with us, too?"

Merla, wearing an emerald green tunic, orange scarf, and a yellow double hat, nodded while holding a cup of cider in one hand, and finishing off a hock of ham in the other. "A winter of good food, smoke, leisure, and protected by nature magic? Of course. And I wouldn't miss seeing a kender in Evereska. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to help the local Bramblefoots finish off their pies before they're done cooling." She was obviously content to stay.

Borivik, who'd obviously had drunk an excess of potent cider, said, "You wouldn't have believed the size of the mushrooms I saw! The halflings said they GREW them in their root cellars! The size of PUMPKINS! And then there are the pumpkins themselves, I'd think a halfling could build a temporary shelter out of some of them!" He was referring to the various contests and shows featuring various agricultural and other harvested produce at amazing sizes. "For such a small folk," he said in amazement, "they grow the biggest produce!"

"Actually," said Levin, "you should've seen Borivik here trying to catch a greased pig."

Sylvie frowned briefly as the image of zombies in magical grease came to mind, but firmly pushed it out of mind and focused on the revelry around her. Smiling again, she said, "By the mud on your shirt, Levin Eveningfall, I'd guess you tried catching it, too." When he smiled and nodded, she asked, "So where're Jastra and Topknot?"

Panwyr answered her, after Levin shrugged, with, "Jastra wanted to ask Topknot about kender ceremonies to add elements honoring her race and her world to the ceremony to come in Evereska."

Sylvie nodded. "Those elves who don't have to fear drowning in the rain from having their noses too far up should find it all very entertaining."

Panwyr nodded, but was a little nervous, knowing how things tended to disappear around kender, given their relentless curiosity and inability to understand private property the way most other sentient races could. "And I'll be playing at a hoedown tonight. Topknot will be playing her weapons for music, and I was hoping you could play your sithak."

"I'd love to!"

"You should enter the archery contests, too," added Panwyr. "Make up for your humiliating loss at 'hit the birdy'." Here, Panwyr referred to a common hin game where one tried hitting a target with a stone while another contestant—as herself—tried hitting the stone in the air before it hit the target. Without using magic, she scored really low.

"Ok," said Sylvie. "I can do that."

Darvin came running up, along with hin children.

"T-Topknot s-said you do magic shows at p-parties!" said Darvin. He didn't stammer as much. Darvin had told her earlier that he only stammered a little, but it became much worse for him while in Darkhold. Sylvie didn't know if it was due more to the trauma, or the spell that was literally eating away at his constitution to power the necromancer that held him prisoner. "Do some m-magic!"

He was currently staying with the Daisypetals, along with her and Arvenyana, for the immediate future, and was wearing brown britches and a pumpkin orange shirt that had originally been made for an adult tallfellow and adequately (barely) fit him. Merla was staying with the local Bramblefoots. The rest, including Panwyr and Topknot, had gotten rooms at one of the many temporary inns that had been set up for the festival.

As hin children also joined in, Sylvie pulled her wand out, one she'd acquired at a mage fair, that had many prestidigitation effects held within it (with the command word of "presto!"), and began making motes of ethereal music, dancing lights, and various magical bouncing balls of sheer magic that children could throw to one another. She used it to heat and cool drinks and food, clean dirty clothes, blow away pipe smoke with tiny magical whirlwinds, and do such things as making a child's hair dance in funny patterns before twirling it into an intricate braid, too.

After awhile, Arvenyana, Panwyr, Levin, and Borivik wondered off, talking among themselves. She hoped they'd all show up for the hoedown, and was confident they would.

Meanwhile, more hin of all ages, joined her audience, she cast some of her more complex illusion spells, including using a shades spell, the kind which she created quasi-real shadow version of illusory monsters of lemures and celestial lions against the tiefling diabolist and Measure Tyrm respectively, only they were brownies that danced with one another while Sylvie cast more spells to make fairy music to be heard to their dancing. .

After awhile, she took a break, let everyone know she was going to be playing at the hoedown, and then excused herself before exiting with a dimension door. She came out by another table and took a bite of cheese and got a cup of cider.

Faelar came up beside her. "If you're through entertaining the masses, how about feeding your loyal familiar? There's some good fish I'd like to have but they keep pushing me off the table."

"Push a cat off the table? What outrage," said Sylvie lightly. But she had Faelar, tail raised high, lead her to the table with fish and she got him a big plate of it. He ate happily and seemed fully recovered, mentally as well as physically, from the minor fiend that had nearly killed him. But then he was looking forward to a quite winter of good hin food and sleeping in front of constantly lit hin hearths.

Sylvie reflected again on the many positive changes that had happened, not only to both her parents, but also Darvin, and Lenny on Arborea, and many others. She wasn't quite sure how, but she sensed her own life had also changed. Perhaps she was ready for a little more responsibility, though she wasn't ready to give up her wandering ways just yet. Sipping some cider, she smiled as she thought of the renewed joy on her father's face, and the open happiness of her mother. She felt that in any case, she'd somehow also been changed for the better.