Chapter Twenty
"He is coming, you should prepare." a voice says to the boy as he starts to wake. "What?" the boy says. "Who?" Just then, grandfather cracks open the door, looking in on the boy, who had slept the better part of the morning. "I didn't want to wake you, my boy, you seemed to be having a rather involving dream, so I let you sleep in today." grandfather says to the boy, his voice unconcerned.
"I also have a need to go to town to check on something today, but I'll be back in time for our story, don't you worry, ok?" grandfather says, starting to close the door to leave.
"But wait! What about the fair? Can I come too, gran-pa?" the boy says, hurriedly waking up, starting to throw on his clothes. "Well, I guess you haven't been to town in a while…" grandfather says. "But you're not allowed to be disappointed if there isn't a fair in town, fair enough?" grandfather chuckles at his own pun.
"Fair enough gran-pa." the boy says with a smile at the small joke. "But I'd like to at least visit the gnomish candy maker if the fair isn't there, is that ok?" the boy says, trying to barter the deal. "Ok, be out front in five minutes or you'll have to run to catch up! The wagon is already harnessed…" grandfather says, heading outside.
On the way to the fair, the Raven paid the two a visit, landing on the wagon as it rolled along a leisurely pace. "You'll miss him on this back road." the Raven says to the boy. Grandfather, not understanding what the Raven says without the benefit of the stone, says with a chuckle, "Be careful, my boy, many Ravens like to fib…"
"Miss him?" the boy asks, "But we always take this back road, less bandits this way." the boy explains. "Better anyway." the Raven says, without explaining further.
The boy and the grandfather, so rarely seen in town, were greeted by the few who recognized them, and though no fair was to be found in the town, the day passed uneventfully. Not long after the noon sun had begun to wander, they made their way back to the homestead, this time using the main road, as it was a bit faster. Upon arriving home, grandfather says, "Well, glad we live in a nice quiet part of the world, my boy, for not a single soul was on the road today, and almost no one in town either. Sorry there wasn't a fair, and your wizard friend was also nowhere to be seen."
After arriving home that evening, the two unhitch the wagon and put the horses to pasture, going inside for a bit of dinner and the ever present bedtime story.
"Oh well, at least the gnome still had my candy!" the boy, chewing on a candied fruit, says happily. "And cinnamon sticks!" grandfather says, pulling out the candy he had found. "Always did like these things…" and the two quietly finished their dessert.
"Now, let's see" the grandfather says, after settling in for the night, "Oh yes, Sir Otto, Princess Orowina, and King Sauvin were the only ones left." grandfather says with an evil grin, rubbing his hands together. "I think we might actually finish the story tonight! How exciting." grandfather says, the anticipation practically gleaming in his eyes.
The boy, also excited to hear the end, waits patiently.
"And so, with Sir Otto being the only one left, Lady Sandwind having died so suddenly and strangely, fear crossed the brow of each one, Princess Orowina, King Sauvin, and even Sir Otto, for he knew he was next…" grandfather reads, building the suspense.