Chapter 41: On the Road to Capstan Part 4: Stories Around the Campfire Part 2

"Rightio then. I should probably explain a little about my home before I begin, like, or else you'll all be a little confused."

"Yeah, I was gonna say," Roland cut in. "I don't recall there being an entry in the library on faeries. Or at least, not in the books we looked in."

He nodded. "That's right, mun." Then shrugged. "Seems like we've fallen into folk tale, doesn't it?"

"What happened?"

"We faeries come from a little place called Teeheeti. It's an island east of the Southern Rift, but it's protected by magic wards that repel anyone that gets too close, so not just anyone can find it, and not just anyone can land. And we've always been a secretive people, like, but I suppose we've become even more so since the world sorta fell apart see. We used to be able to venture from the island and explore the world, and have grand adventures. But by the time I was born, leaving the island was strictly forbidden, and the only grand adventures we have now, are in the stories we tell each other."

"But that wasn't good enough for you, was it?" Tani asked.

He nodded. "You got that right, mun. Story time was my favourite day of the week, and Lord Drippy-mun – he's our leader like – had some of the best. So I'd always dreamed of the day I'd be old enough to leave the island to live a story of my own, one I could tell the littllies back home. But when I asked him, when that would be? He told me never." He shook his head. "That it was no longer allowed, see." He gazed absently into the fire as he continued. "At first I was devastated, mun. I thought all my dreams had come to end. I would sit on the beach, stare out at the open ocean, and fantasise about the world beyond our shores. I did that for years, until eventually I decided," he placed his hands on his hips as he declared, "that I would go see it anyway."

Evan and Tani giggled as Aranella sighed. "Yes, that does sound like something you would do, Lofty."

"So how did you get off the island?" Roland asked.

"I made myself a raft, see," Lofty replied. "Little by little, I gathered up the pieces like, until I had all I needed. The day before it was completed, I knew the next day I'd be ready to leave."

The sun was peeking over the horizon when Lofty arose that morning. The other faeries were still asleep at this hour, so he would have to be quiet. He laid out a large, red blanket on the table and piled up as much food of all different kinds as he could fit inside – meat, vegetables, fruit, some cooked, some not – and tied the edges of the blanket together so it formed a makeshift bag. He threaded a sturdy stick through the knot and hefted it onto his shoulder. The bag of food was almost as big as he was, and he struggled for a moment with the weight, nearly falling over backwards and knocking into the cupboard where he kept all of his kitchenwares. But he prevailed, soon finding his feet by leaning forward against the pull of gravity and applying the right amount of force to the end of the stick in his hand to counterbalance the weight of the bag. "Righto, Lofty, mun," he murmured to himself. "Time to get a move on like." He stepped out the door and paused to take one last look at his home before moving on.

The Faerygrounds, usually bustling with activity, were completely devoid of life. All of the lights were off and the shopfronts were closed. Even the wind that usually rustled through the leaves above was stilled, and as he stole through the village centre, he flinched everytime he accidentally stepped on a twig; The crack as it snapped in two sounded so much louder in the silence, and he always expected someone to pop out of their house to catch him red-handed. But no-one ever did, and so he reached the seashore without incident. Breathing a sigh of relief, he skipped down the beach to where he had hidden the raft. He had only to make the finishing touches and then he would be sailing away from Teeheeti and into the wider world around them. He carefully placed the bag of food down on the sand next to him, and as he removed the branches he'd used to cover the raft he wondered to himself, where should he go first?

"What d'you think youe're doing, mun?"

Lofty nearly shot a foot into the air with a loud shriek in fright and he hastily whipped around to face the speaker. He threw up his hands in shock as he exclaimed. "L-Lord Drippy-mun! F-fancy meeting you hyur, eh? I was just going for a…" he looked up and down the beach. "For a walk like." He gestured to the shore. "On the beach."

Drippy folded his arms not looking the least bit convinced. "A likely story."

"It's true, mun." He gestured to the bag of food. "This is my picnic, see."

"Is that so?" Drippy gestured to the raft with his head. "Then what's that eh?"

Lofty did a double take. "How did that get there?"

He placed his hands on his hips. "You tell me."

"It's uh… it's nothing to do with me, mun." He shrugged. "Must've washed up on the shore or something like."

"Did it now? Then it must've walked itself up onto the beach as well like. Very tidy of it."

"Y-yeah, um…" He nervously rubbed the back of his head, suddenly unable to meet Drippy's gaze. "I guess… I guess it must've done."

Drippy nodded. "All right then. If it's nothing to do with you mun, then you won't mind if I send it on it's way now will you?" Lofty said nothing, so he walked around to the back of the raft and made to push it down to the sea, but as soon as he laid hands on it, Lofty suddenly jumped in the way.

"Wait!"

Drippy straightened up, placing his hands on his hips. "Thought so, mun. You seemed pretty upset when I told you that leaving the island was forbidden see. Most of the others didn't take it as hard as you did, so I knew better than to think of the matter as settled. I've been keeping an eye on you, mun, though clearly not as close as I should've been," he said, gesturing to the raft. "But I managed to catch you leaving youer house with that big bag of supplies, so I followed you hyur. And look what I find?" He gestured to the raft again. "Youe're trying to leave the island aren't you?" He shook his head. "You know that's not allowed."

"Oh come on, mun," Lofty pleaded, clasping his hands together in hope. "Can't you look the other way, just this once? Pretend you never saw me like?"

Drippy shook his head. "Not a chance, mun. Rules are rules."

Lofty threw up his hands. "How come you got to see the world and have all those grand adventures, while the rest of us don't?"

"Those "grand adventures" like are old news, mun. I keep to the island just like everyone else."

He threw down his hands and stomped on the sand. "But it's not fair! I want to see it too! I don't want to spend the rest of my life stuck on this tiny little island, when there's so much more to do out there! More food! More people! More places! More…" He shut his eyes and clenched his fists. "More everything!" He opened his eyes – which were now watering – and stared at his palms. "I'm so much more than just… this…"

Drippy heaved a frustrated sigh and pinned Lofty in a piercing gaze. "You're not going to let this go, are you, Lofty?" Lofty was silent, so he continued. "How badly do you want this, like?" He folded his arms, his gaze intensifying. "Bad enough to not come back?"

Lofty froze, eyes going as wide as saucers. "Not… come back?" He repeated dumbly.

Drippy nodded. "You heard me. You can leave the island on one condition; We never see youer face round hyur again. You understand?"

"What?!" Tani and Evan chorused in astonishment, as Ya Ya and Aranella uttered, "Goodness…" and the higgledies threw up their hands and shouted. "Higgle?!"

"That's so unfair!" Tani objected, fists clenched and eyebrows knotted in perplexion.

Even Roland was surprised. "So you were able to leave the island, but in exchange for exile?"

Lofty nodded. "That's right, mun."

"But why, blast it?" Batu half demanded half asked, thumping a knee with his fist. "Why be the price fer wantin' te see the rest o'the world so 'igh?"

"Higgle pig," the higgledies added in agreement.

"That's exactly what I said… Well," he corrected, "all right. Maybe not exactly…"

"But… but why, mun?"

"Dissuasion, mun, that's why. Only those who really truly want to leave the island like, who are really truly determined to venture out into the world regardless of the dangers, will leave. The rest will stay hyur, where it's safe."

"From what you've told us, this conversation would've taken place centuries ago, yes?" Aranella cut in.

"That's right," Lofty nodded.

She frowned and raised a hand to her chin as she wondered aloud. "Was the world really so dangerous back then?"

"Even if it was, I'm not sure I follow the logic behind exiling anyone who wants to see for themselves," Roland said with a bemused frown.

"No indeed," Ya Ya agreed, her expression a mirror of Roland's.

"Well there's a reason for that mun," said Lofty.

"What's that?" Roland asked with an eyebrow quirked in questioning, as Batu folded his arms and asked. "An' what be that?"

"But why forbid us at all?!" Lofty demanded. "Why is being curious such a bad thing?"

Drippy deflated, his posture and expression relenting. "Because the magic is fading from the world, mun," he finally and reluctantly confessed. "And as we're creatures of magic like, little by little the number of faeries being born is diminishing as well. A day will come when there are no more faeries being born at all, and when it does, the fate of our kind is truly numbered. Eventually they'll be no more faeries left, so if all I can do is delay the inevitable like," he placed his hands on his hips, "then I'll jolly well delay as long as I flippin' can, won't I? And the only way I can do that, is if I keep as many as I can hyur on the island," he pointed to the ground, "where I can keep them safe."

Roland frowned and folded his arms. "I see, so… the magic going away is affecting your people's fertility, so he's trying to keep as many of you alive as long as possible by confining you all to the island. I suppose I can understand that much at least. But still," he shook his head, "exile seems pretty extreme…"

"Not exactly like. See, we faeries aren't born the way you are. We all come from one mam, the Faery Godmother."

His eyebrows raised involuntarily. "So you're like ants?" He blurted out before he could stop himself.

"Like ants, mun?!" Lofty shouted, shaking his fists in offence and the others laughed. "The cheek of you! We're a lot more intelligent than ants like." He placed his hands on his hips. "And we don't get into people's food either."

Roland rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Right, sorry. It was just the first thing that came to mind…"

Tani folded her arms with a mischievous grin. "Actually, I'm pretty sure you'd get into people's food given the chance, Lofty."

"No I would not!" Lofty protested, shaking his fists once more as the others laughed. He drew himself up haughtily as he added, "I do have some manners, you know." Then he folded his arms and glared at them. "And if you've all finished laughing about it, I'll continue."

"Of course, Master Lofty," said Ya Ya. "Please, go on," she added with a gesture of invitation.

"But why, mun?"

"Why's the magic going away?" He shrugged. "Beats me like."

Lofty glared at him and placed his hands on his hips. "What, you didn't try to investigate or anything?"

Drippy folded his arms and glared back. "What, you think I didn't like? Just sat back, threw up my hands and went "oh well"?" He shrugged. "Of course I looked into it. The magic is going somewhere see, but we don't know where," he shook his head, "and we certainly don't know why."

"That's interesting," Roland cut in with a concerned frown, arms folded. "So the magic isn't actually dying, it's being drawn away somewhere."

As the others exchanged equally concerned looks, Ya Ya spoke aloud the question they were all wondering. "What does this mean?"

"Good question." He raised a hand to his chin and his frown deepened. "I can't help but wonder if this has something to do with the Horned One."

"Could do," said Lofty. "Or it could have something to do with the taint?"

"Sure," he nodded, "but they could be the same thing."

He blinked. "Oh. That's true."

"You think the Horned One is still… well, alive?" Ya Ya asked. "And is cursing people from wherever it's currently residing?"

"Something like that," Roland replied with a nod as the others frowned in contemplation. He gestured in explanation as he added, "It had to have come from somewhere right? So wherever it disappeared to, I would assume is where it came from in the first place."

"I see…"

"But the 'Orned One were appearin' thousands o'years ago," Batu observed with a frown. "The taint'as only been appearin' recently."

Roland frowned as well, lowering his head to raise a hand to his chin. "That's true…" He conceded. "Maybe that's got something to do with Doloran then…?"

"How do you mean?" Ya Ya asked.

He shook his head. "I'm not sure exactly. But he-uh…" Roland suddenly remembered that none of the others knew that Doloran was actually King Doloran of Allegoria, and that he'd escaped the dimension his kingdom had been imprisoned in twenty years ago. He stopped himself just in time, and trailed off, lowering his head in defeat. "… I dunno."

Aranella looked to the higgledies. "I don't suppose you'd have any insight to offer on the matter?"

The higgledies shrugged in apology as they shook their heads. "Higgledy pig."

"If Lord Drippy-mun couldn't find out anything when he was actually looking," said Lofty. "Then there's no way we'll be able to just sitting around talking about it."

Roland nodded. "Sure. Or at least… not this time, anyway."

"Indeed," Ya Ya agreed. "Please, continue, Master Lofty," she added, gesturing in invitation.

"So that's all you know?"

Drippy nodded. "'Fraid so, mun." He spread his hands, "If I could've found out more, I would've. But wherever it's going like, it's somewhere we faeries can't see or go. So I'm afraid that's where the investigation ends."

Lofty dropped his gaze to the sand at his feet. Neither of them spoke, until Lofty raised his head at length to ask. "What happens if I try to come back?"

"The wards won't let you in. So you have until you pass through them to change youer mind. If you do, I'll welcome you back. But if you pass through, that's it; Youe're dead to us, mun."

Lofty sighed. "All right then… If that's how it is…"

"You really want to do this?"

He squeezed his eyes shut. "I don't know how else to say it, but like… I have to, mun…"

Drippy heaved a disappointed sigh. "Very well then. I'll take you to see our mam."

Lofty placed his hands on his hips. "And that's my story, mun."

"What? Surely not," said Ya Ya, blinking in surprise.

"Yeah," Tani nodded in agreement. "Like, what did your mother say?"

"And how did you come to be Kingmaker of the Cradle of Light?" Evan added and gestured in explanation as he continued. "Weren't there other King's Cradles you could've chosen from at the time?"

Lofty scratched at his "chin". "Well all right. I suppose I've got a bit more left then."

"I can't say I'm surprised, like, or didn't see it coming, see. But still…" The Faery Godmother sighed before looking to Lofty imploringly. "Do you have to, my littlely? Why not stay hyur with us? Stay hyur where's it safe, mun? You won't meet many or maybe any other faeries out there, you know. No faery company. No faery food. And no faery jokes either."

"I know, Mam, I know," Lofty replied, his posture deflated. "But I still want to go."

"I'm afraid he's got his heart set on it, Mam," Drippy added.

"I really, really do."

"I see, I see," she sighed. "All right, then. If you've made up youe're mind, I suppose there's no point in trying to convince you otherwise." She looked to him with sadness in her eyes. "I'll miss you, my little Lofty. I miss everyone who leaves. But maybe if you can, you could try sending us a message in a bottle to let us know how you are, like? If you think of us when you send the message off, it'll be sure to find it's way."

Lofty glanced at Drippy in surprise. "But I thought I was supposed to be dead to you when I left."

"Well you can send us a message like," Drippy clarified. "But you can't step foot on the island again. And you won't get a message back, either," he added with a shake of his head. "It's more for Mam's benefit anyway."

"I just need to know youe're all right," she explained.

Lofty nodded. "All right, I will then. I'll write you a message as soon as I can to let you know I'm safe."

"Then this is goodbye, mun," said Drippy. "For good."

He swallowed, his eyes watering suddenly and nodded slowly. "Right, well… I guess I should be off then." He looked to Drippy. "But do I get to say goodbye to everyone else?"

"Sure," Drippy nodded. "And you can take as long as you like as well. But once you get on that raft and pass the wards, that's it," he shook his head, "You don't come back."

"And so I did; Said my goodbyes, got on the raft and I never looked back. Well… figuratively speaking that is. I looked back at Teeheeti until it was out of sight, see."

"Gosh, I had no idea…" Evan uttered.

"Of course you didn't, mun. I never brought it up."

"Did you ever write to them, Lofty?"

"I did," he confirmed with a nod. "No idea if they got them, like," he continued with a shrug. "But at least I can say I tried. As for how I came to end up in the Cradle of Light, well, that's a simple enough story, see. After I left Teeheeti, I travelled the world, visiting all sorts of places and seeing all sorts of sights. I did come across another empty King's Cradle – don't remember where like, it was a really long time ago see – but when it asked me to become a Kingmaker like, well I wasn't quite ready for that yet. Only after travelling the world to my heart's content, seeing the different nations and all the different people, and seeing what the Kingmakers did for the kingdoms they served, well… I eventually realised that that was what I really wanted. And so I found the Cradle of Light when I was finally ready," he placed his hands on his dips and declared, "and that's how I became Kingmaker of the Cradle of Light."

Batu folded his arms, as his expression became unimpressed, though playfully so. "I'm sure all the praise an' attention ye were expectin' te be receivin'ad nothin' te do with yer decision, aye?"

"Of course, not," Lofty agreed. "I'm a faery of modesty, mun."

"Aye," Batu nodded in disagreement as the others chuckled. "Ye sure be."

The mirth faded off Ya Ya's face. "Still," she said. "There is some truth to his claim. After all, he never once mentioned or even hinted at any of this having occurred, despite having ample opportunity to do so."

"Indeed," Aranella added, nodding in agreement. "Choosing to leave one's home for the price of never being able to see it again, was no small decision," she shook her head, "and certainly not an easy one."

"Yeah," said Roland, as Batu uttered, "Aye," and Tani nodded wordlessly.

"Higgle," the higgledies added.

Lofty dropped his gaze, becoming uncharacteristically sombre. "Yeah well… I did what I felt was best for me. And sure I miss them sometimes, and I miss Teeheeti," he confessed then looked up. "But I have no regrets," he shook his head, "and I'd do it all over again." He went wide-eyed when Tani suddenly walked over to him and picked him up, pulling him into a tight hug.

"I'm sorry I've been so mean to you," she mumbled apologetically.

Lofty smiled warmly and returned the hug. "It's all right, my littlely. It was all in jest."

"Yeah, well," Roland began after Tani had set him back down and returned to her seat. "She's right. I think we've all judged you pretty harshly considering. And we owe you an apology for that."

"Oh pish, posh," he replied, waving a hand dismissively. "Water under the bridge, mun. Besides you weren't exactly wrong either, like. I do need more experience with Kingmaking and giving good advice, and I suppose I could stand to take things more seriously than I do." He shrugged both apologetically and in explanation, "It's just in my nature as a faery to be, well… lighthearted and comedic see, but at least where it matters like," he spread his hands, "know that I can."

Roland nodded. "Sure. That's fair. And I'll try to keep that mind as well."

Lofty nodded back before turning to Evan with a smile. "Then I think that's me done like, Evan." He gestured toward him, "It's youer turn, mun."

A/N: Another case of something that wasn't entirely planned but happened while writing; I hadn't figured out the details behind Lofty's leaving Teeheeti, beyond the fact that he does, so the exile thing wasn't planned. As was everything revolving around why. But it ties neatly into what's happening in the background and also serves as foreshadowing. C: