Gummadoon Healer's Ward
Sarrika settled in her desk chair for a nice calming cup of tea, hoping to chase away the stress of the day... week... month? Time. It was said to heal all wounds. But what if the wounds just kept coming? How much could one mentally endure? Of course, she knew how much the body could take but the mind... That was more in the realm of a spiritualist or mind healer. Not that such an occupation was common to gummies. No real need of one, though she'd heard rumor one had cropped up in New Gumbrea, to help with the relocation, the loss of a homeland, and such. Masei Gummi, if her memory was correct. It may even become necessary to contact him after all this blew over - for advice, of course. Many of her fellow Gummadoonians would likely have need of his particular expertise, if indeed the rumors were true.
She'd just taken a sip when Councilor Wooddale and Sir Gumlittle burst in. Naturally, she expected a visit; given that her nephew had inexplicably been risen from the grave; but to see the dead boy in question being pulled in by a frantic Tavi had the healer sputtering remnants of the drink back into her teacup.
"Sarrika... Are you alright?" Wooddale asked, her tone full of concern as she approached.
The healer nodded. She coughed still but did her best to recover quickly - and not look at Lucki. It still sent chills down her spine. Not natural...
"What *cough* what's wrong?"
"I... eh..." She looked back at her nephew, then waved Tavi and Lucki both near. "Sir Gumlittle mentioned you already examined my nephew?"
Sarrika threw a brief look the boy's way but even that made her shudder. And the look on his face - the very clear hurt and anxiety etched all over his face... Immediate sympathy for the boy had her own features softening and she rose to a stand, steady enough to conduct herself in her usual business-like manner.
"That is correct. Lucki appears perfectly... healthy." She'd just stopped herself from saying 'alive'. Obviously he was alive. They'd been over that.
"But he's not!" Tavi interjected frantically. "I mean, he can't be! Look!"
The girl thrust her brother's arm toward Healer Sarrika. The healer dutifully took a look and gasped at the sight of deep bruises in Lucki's arm - bruises which looked so clear as to have been painted on! Despite her revulsion to the boy being brought back from the dead, she found herself touching the arm, turning it gently this way and that.
"When did this happen?"
"Just a few minutes ago." Wooddale replied.
Tavi looked about to cry but bit her lip to cut back the reaction. "I... I didn't mean to, but I didn't grab him that hard either. I hugged him so much when I first saw him, I thought I couldn't hug anybody so hard but look!" Tavi peeled back her brother's shirt front to reveal his chest, free of any bruising.
Sarrika frowned, deeply puzzled. "Lucki, come sit over here." She indicated her examination area.
He started that way but as he turned, he accidentally bumped into the chair leg next to her desk.
"Wait. Stop moving." she told the boy as she hurried over. Without asking permission, she lifted up the pantleg of his slacks to reveal the leg which had impacted with the chair.
As they all watched, faint bruises began to form and grew darker by the second.
"But... It doesn't really hurt. It didn't hurt at all, bumping the chair." Lucki admitted, though that did not lower the tension in the room.
"Be that as it may, it looks like your flesh has become hypersensitive." She waved a hand over to the exam area once more. "I will do a more thorough look over you, try a few tests, and we'll see, alright?" She smiled to help lighten the mood.
"Up you go, sport." Gumlittle said before ever gently picking the boy up and carrying him over to the examination area.
For all her up-front optimism, it was purely for her patient and his family. She had little to go on before the examination and little further to proceed with after testing the boy's reflexes, eyesight, hearing, strength, touch, taste, and smell. Everything else was spookily normal. Everything but this new fragility of the body. And after, Sir Gumlittle related to her Lucki's episode of unawareness in the bath which only succeeded in mystifying the healer further.
"For now, try not to move around very much. If you are prone to passing out, you'll injure yourself more. And if you bruise this easily, it is possible that your bones are more brittle than they were." Sarrika examined the hand he'd cut in order to prove he could bleed. Normal clotting and mending progression - neither overly fast or delayed. "It looks like you do heal so that is good but we don't want you to break something so please limit your movement. In the meantime, I must consult with the council - the full council." she corrected in apology to Councilor Wooddale. "With magic involved, there may be more we can do together than just by myself."
"We've just heard of a meeting starting soon in the Council Chambers. Crobi came by as we walked here, delivering the message." Wooddale stated.
Sarrika glanced at Sir Gumlittle for confirmation, knowing this did not bode well. With his nod, she knew that matters were not improving outside her office. Would the calmer days of teething infants and moderate chest colds never return? But ultimately she sighed and nodded. "My request of an audience may have to wait but I'll see what I can do in the meantime. There are scrolls and books in the older libraries which may grant more knowledge on the subject. I'll start there and bring the manuscripts back with me. In the meantime, please keep me informed of the results of the council meeting."
Healer Sarrika started out but Tavi reached over and snagged her arm. "That's all yer gonna do?"
"Tavi," her Aunt Toffi warned, dropping her Wooddale posturing in favor of roping the girl in with an arm of understanding around her shoulders. "Let her work."
"I understand your stress," Sarrika said. "but I truly believe my best bet is to research. I... I am simply out of my league here. My expertise is healing, not magic or philosophy. It's possible that a soul separated for that long and then suddenly returned whole could cause some kind of biological link degradation."
They looked earnestly on the healer but it became clear they were having a tough time following so she spoke to all of them.
"What I mean is, it may be that being deceased and then returned has disrupted the natural link between body and soul. His body may be rejecting the soul it was born with. Or, I suppose, whatever Lady Bane did might have a time limit. You should consider the possibility that Lucki has a very limited time here with us. When whatever spell she used is done, it may also be the end for him. And on that, I have no aid to give you. This is a Council matter but last I checked you were as stumped as myself."
Tavi looked aghast. "You mean my brother's gonna die; again?!"
"We don't know that for sure. We don't know anything. Believe me, this is the best course to get more information. Please calm down. I won't be gone long."
"Come, Tavi. We'll prepare for the council meeting." Wooddale tugged at her niece. "Lucki will be fine here."
The young wizardess shrugged off her aunt. "Fine? He's far from fine! And there's no way I am leaving him. Not now. He either comes to the meeting, too, or I stay right here with him." She crossed her arms over her chest and stood adamantly right next to her brother.
The three adults exchanged glances but in the end it was fruitless. Normally eager to attend such an exclusive meeting, she was even more passionate about keeping her brother from harm. It wasn't the best situation, given that Tavi had been so far integral in discovering much of what was going on under their very noses but perhaps this was for the best. If she were truly needed, Tavi would be summoned and Lucki brought in as well.
"Very well, niece. Gumlittle?" Councilor Wooddale enquired as she started to leave.
"Yeah. Be right there." The knight turned apologetic eyes on the brother and sister. "Tavi, I know how you feel. You sit tight and watch him in my stead, because I sure as Gum don't want to leave you either, but there are times when a knight must do what they don't want to for the good of the city. And if there's any change in his health, you tear into that councilroom and tell us right away, got it?" He pinned Tavi with a stare.
"You betcha." She gave a sharp nod.
Both cubs watched the three adults depart, Sarrika mentioning yet again that she would return soon. Even with the tense atmosphere and the piling list of unknowns on both their young shoulders, Lucki looked on his sister and smiled, then tossled her hair.
"Hey, what was that for?" She reached up to bat at his hand but froze, afraid to hurt him.
Not catching on to her caution, Lucki smirked. "Missed you, sis."
That uncontrollable urge to latch onto him welled up once more and she had to stop herself yet again just seconds from giving him a crushing hug.
This time, Lucki noticed. He sagged visibly.
Tavi studied his face, saw worry and anger and fear dance around it in a spiralling parade. She couldn't touch him to comfort him but, "Hey, it'll be okay. I promise, alright? I can do magic now and between me and Sarrika and the council, we've got this. I won't lose you again, big brother. I won't." When she spoke, she found her hands squeezed tight in a display of outward conviction, throttling the light blanket on the exam bench where her brother sat. She let it go and took a step back, put her hands behind her. "So, don't worry, 'kay? Um... D'you wanna talk? About anything ya like. You name it and we'll talk about it. We can talk about how I can do magic now - some anyway; so far. Still learning. We can talk about my good friend, Cubbi, who's from Gummi Glen of all places! Or, if you wanted, we could talk about after you... um... Nevermind. I'm too glad to have you back to bug you for details. Just... Never do that to me again, you hear? I can't have you dying on me again!" Tears formed in her eyes and in seconds, the gummi girl was bawling.
I can't move around and I have to be careful what I touch? To heck with that! Lucki slipped off the bed and took his little sister in a comforting embrace. Whatever Lady Bane was doing, it didn't involve stopping him so he took full advantage of it and, finally, finally, felt that connection, that unfaltering love and devotion he'd so desperately desired. His sister was here and vowing to protect him of all things - the same vow he'd made her the day he... he...
His own tears came unhindered and the green-furred cub relished the expression, the freedom to let himself react without being stuffed in a mental hole by that witch. Whatever she was doing, for one moment, he didn't care. For now, he had this and he wasn't gonna let it go without a fight.
Gummadoon Corridors
Sir Blastus had tried valiantly to keep up with Ecri but the charging knight was both too quick and had ducked down various passages and halls with skill. This led the senior knight to believe Ecri had come here many times and likely knew the place inside and out. That, and he most likely wanted to be alone. Such was the case with him lately, since his brother...
As he huffed and puffed to get his breath back, he wondered if it was wrong to give the lad so much space. Was it time to confront him, try to bring him back into the fold? He was most certainly out and being alone in times of grief... Sometimes it helped, and other times it led one down a lone path. He didn't want Ecri to be forced onto that path, to feel that was the only way, and yet he did not want to be told to his face again in a quiet voice that he had no idea what it felt like to lose a brother let alone a twin. Before today, those were the last words Ecri spoke to him, right after Sir Blastus had offered a few consoling words the day Yaci died.
For now, he let the lad have his space. With Councilor Wooddale and Tavi now with Lucki, he'd best not make himself so hard to find.
Sir Blastus started back to the main hallways, ready to rejoin his knight-brothers and make sure he was free if they'd need of him.
Library of Magihistorian Texts
Sir Ecri hadn't exactly wanted to leave Sir Blastus in the dust but he simply could not wait. There was a text he'd read not long ago which mentioned instances of raising the dead and he absolutely had to get to it right away. After setting eyes on Lucki...
No, he could not assume it was purely evil. That... He could not call it a thing. It looked and behaved like Lucki, even at a passing glance. And he had to believe that Sir Gumlittle and Councilor Wooddale would have done everything in their power to confirm that it truly was Lucki. An imposter or construct would have been dealt with or clad in irons by now. No, this was something even more foul.
Truthfully, he had began exploring the old libraries to get his mind off his brother, and to help plot some revenge against Lady Bane for slaughtering Yaci. No, he'd no gift in magic, and no true heart for hot vengeance, but if he could find a chink in the witch's armor, something past all her mind games and dark arts, he felt certain it'd be in the magihistorian's oldest library. Only the truly in-depth works were kept down here. He should know, having been through many of them. Some of the text was over his head but he read it anyway. Others, he'd latched onto with avid fascination - details of the interplay of the natural world and gummi spirits, expansive theories on Gum and her plans, and every encounter with any witch, wizard, or warlock ever recorded by gummi-kind.
When he'd run across the notes on a sorceress who'd practiced the evil magic of resurrection, his thoughts had naturally turned to his brother. He'd pondered the idea of perhaps seeking that avenue but he knew that if it truly could be done, gummies would have mastered it by now. Given Magihistorian Mothri's treatis on creation and the link between gummies and the natural world, such an unnatural act was a violation of Gum in most cases and any attempts were not only frowned down upon but thwarted without exception. The recounting of the evil sorceress and the treatis of Mothri were not related in any way at first glance but after all the reading he'd done, Sir Ecri could easily compare the two and reach his own conclusion. Resurrection simply wasn't possible. If it ever were attempted, it ended in pain, misery, perpetual death, and worse. That was something he dare never tempt, for the sake of his brother's soul.
So, armed with such book knowledge, anyone in the know could see why Ecri tore off to relocate the texts about the evil sorceress and her attempts at resurrection - to get at the heart of the matter of Lucki Gummi's obvious resurrection.
The old magihistorian's library was the most ancient of libraries and was so poorly kept, he'd found rats down here his first visit. That had been his first task, as well as his initial duty each and every time returning. Every time until today.
Ecri ran to the back, skidded to a halt, then turned right and raced for the third shelf toward the end. He stopped suddenly again after four steps. There, on the fifth tier, it sat. His hands gingerly selected a book less dusty than its brethren, bound with a red and black cover. He flipped carefully through the pages, their brittle edges crackling under his touch.
He knew this was the book but he had no idea which page so he started at the middle. When he found nothing, he started from the beginning. Sir Ecri was so caught up in his search, he did not hear someone else enter the library. She, however, heard him riffling through the manuscript.
Sarrika had ventured down into the bowels of the lesser-known magihistorian library seeking any of the older healer journals and treatis she'd not studied in years, if at all. She hadn't been down here since studying under Healer Deffri, oh so many decades ago. But upon hearing that she was not alone in the library, her curiosity got the better of her and she sought the source of the rustling. To her great surprise, she found nearly at the back of the library, Sir Ecri, a look of intense concentration on his face as he poured over the manuscript.
Well aware that this particular knight had been through hardships which had seemingly locked up his heart, she wanted to proceed with caution. Still, if he were here, he'd likely been here before and may be able to help her find the what she was after so she could return more swiftly to Lucki. He hadn't noted her arrival so she cleared her throat to get his attention
The sound startled him to the point of nearly dropping the text. As he fumbled with it, she clasped her hands, her head bowed.
"Apologies, Sir Ecri. I didn't mean to disturb you."
He glanced at her briefly with a combination of annoyance and embarrassment but said nothing. He closed the book he'd been reading and held it close, as if to fend off any advances to claim it.
She ignored that and said, "I've come to look up some healer journals I recall seeing many years ago. If you visit here often, would you be able to help?"
In the silence wherein he appeared to debate what to say, Sarrika took a better look at the book he carried. She read the title: Dark Magic and the Dangers Therein.
The healer looked into the knight's eyes and knew he'd seen the exact same thing as she. So she told him, "I'm also here because of Lucki Gummi."
This announcement instantly relaxed the knight. He stood straighter, at the ready.
"If you're familiar with this library, I'm looking for anything which might help. I'll take the whole manuscripts back up to my office to study them. Lucki's there now. Do you-?"
"This way." was all he said before moving more to the center of the shelf rows, heading purposefully for the end closer to the entrance. He looked at her and pointed out a series of light blue-bound books. "Healer Shrei's works."
"Are you certain? I-"
"They're referenced in here." Sir Ecri held up the book he carried.
"Oh." Sarrika looked on the volumes before her - ten in all - then back to Sir Ecri. At her gentlest, she said, "You're quite knowledgeable of the library's texts. Would you come with me to help with the matter of Lucki. There've been some... recent developments in his condition and an extra pair of eyes would help speed up the process of elimination. I do feel that speed, in particular, is of the essence in his case and perhaps I can help in your search. If they're related as I suspect, then I believe we will meet in the middle at any rate. Please help me?"
The look on his face. He was torn, the poor gummi. She knew she may be asking too much of this broken knight but desperate times called for everyone to pull as they have never pulled before. She had to ask, and even if he didn't, it was worth-
"Alright."
Breathing out a sigh of relief at his consent, Sarrika stepped forward and held out her arms to receive the bulk of the light blue books. "Then, good Sir, load me up."
Gummadoon's Main Council Chambers
When the Glen Gummies arrived at the doors to the main council chambers, they could all see the five main councilors of Gummadoon were present inside as well as their subordinates and a great many knights of every tier. One of them stopped them right at the doors actually.
With a harrowed expression he was trying to hide, the young amber-furred knight stood in their path and said, "It might be best if you younger ones joined Lady Ivori and Sir Gori in the kitchen for refreshments. I hear they're making a fresh batch of gummiberry pies and Sir Gori's tales are not to be missed."
As Zummi, Gruffi, and Grammi exchanged glances at this advice, and wondering what dire news awaited them, Gusto spoke up first.
"First of all, I'm youthful but not a 'younger one', Sir Knight. And second,... well... Okay, ya got me. There's no second." He shrugged and walked past the knight.
"Hey, Gusto, not before me!" Cubbi called, ducking under the knight's arms to race after the artist.
Grammi turned to Sunni and Tummi as Zummi and Gruffi followed the pink cub. "Well... You're both old enough to decide whether ya wanna stay or go." And she waited to see what they'd say.
Surprising Sunni and Grammi, Tummi spoke up first. "Oh, you know I hate to turn down food, Grammi, but, in the words of Gruffi, 'Nothin' doin.'. With Cubbi involved in all this, this is a family matter. If he and Sir Plucki think we Glen Gummies can help out, I'll listen. Pretty sure with so many people in here, they can't eat all the pies before we're done anyway, right?" The rotund blue gummi smiled and walked past the knight at the door.
Sharing an astounded blink, Sunni recovered first. "Well, I'm not gonna be left in the kitchen with a bunch of cubs and an old knight's stories. Tummi's right, and besides... Grammi, you know what I've been doing. What would it look like if I couldn't stand to hear news on my own homefront?" And here she leaned in to whisper to Grammi, "That's not the Barbic Way." before striding in with all the confidence in the world.
With a chuckle and a pat on the knight's shoulder for his efforts, Grammi followed suit into the council chambers.
A lot of chairs had been brought in. Sir Plucki was asking everyone to take a seat, the five councilors already seated at their raised stations. And the door was asked to be closed.
Sir Gumlittle looked about for a frantic moment before asking, "Where's Toni? Did anybody see him?"
Cubbi spoke up. "In the kitchen, waitin' for you. Hey, where's Tavi? She needs to be here, too. And Corvi. Where'd he-"
Councilor Wooddale held up a hand for silence as more voices rose. "We cannot wait any longer. They will be admitted as they arrive. For the remainder of the populace, they must wait until this council concludes. Sir Horli, please close the chambers."
The amber-furred knight at the door did as he was bid.
Wooddale stood. "Fellow gummies of Glen and hall, we have called this meeting to discuss very grave matters. As such, we ask that it be kept within this room and not to venture out amongst the full populace as of yet. There are rumors, true, but only those here will know the full truth." She took a slow breath, let it out. "Each of you has been invited here because you can aid in these troubling times, or you can help guard against them."
Gruffi glanced down at Cubbi, seated right next to him. Always on the lookout for trouble, he knew forethought prevented a lot of danger and injury. What had Cubbi gotten himself into?
"Let me state first that Sir Blastus is perfectly well and the spell to bring out his youth during the bout of Cub's Fever worked wonders. He-"
Sir Horli, at the door, opened it. Sir Blastus entered with a quick stride and joined his brothers in arms. They discussed something quietly amongst themselves as Councilor Wooddale resumed.
"As you can see, he is perfectly fine. Also, the rumors of Karleni Gummi's possession are true as well. Other signs of influence have also been noted." She cleared her throat awkwardly amid gasps from those gathered but then carried on with stalwart purpose. "We are dealing with them as we find them. And... On the rumors of the possibility of Emi Gummi having weakened or even broken free from her prison... Those rumors, terrifying as they are, appear to also be true."
At this announcement, much murmuring rose up. All Sunni could think of was that she'd never heard of an Emi Gummi, let alone ANY gummi who needed to be imprisoned. Just what the heck was going on?
Cubbi, all the while, kept his eyes on Gruffi, Zummi, and Grammi. At the mention of Emi, all three reacted but in different ways. Grammi and Gruffi seemed to shrink inward, as if the very mention of the name was forbidden, something to be kept inside one's head only, if even there. Zummi... He looked worried. Well, he always looked worried but Cubbi'd never seen him turn pale before and that's what happened.
"What we know," Wooddale began again, emphasizing the last word to rise above the loud murmurs. "is that Emi's influence has been detected within these very walls. My niece, who has become more sensitive and attuned to gummi magic since absorbing the gummi medallions, took note of it first but we have seen signs as well. The problem, dear gummies, is that, despite all we know, the horrors which Emi committed forced us to bury her away so deeply that we don't even know where she is, or what her prison is constructed of. We must determine this in order to locate it, reestablish that she still needs incarceration, and repair the prison so that she cannot escape if indeed she still needs to remain within it."
"What kinda influence have you detected? You think she's cured?" an older knight asked.
"Eh..." Wooddale searched the faces of her fellows.
Berrybottom stood. "No, Sir Jori, we do not. Hence our extreme caution. As for influence..." He began looking about the room. Not seeing whom he sought, he turned to Wooddale. "Eh? Where is your niece? Where is Tavi?"
Gumlittle rose quickly. "She's with... er... I mean she's helping Healer Sarrika at present, Councilor Berrybottom."
Councilor Wooddale nodded a great thank-you to the large knight. "She will come if and when she can. She knows how important this meeting is, as she is the one who first felt the stirrings of Emi."
Sunni couldn't take it anymore. She leaned over to Grammi and whispered, "D'you know who they're talking about? Who's this Emi?"
"Oh..." Grammi's hands wrung her apron taught. "Sunni, that's a dark chapter. Only gummi ever to turn psycho and kill people. All kinds of people, and lots of them."
Sunni couldn't help her gasp. No, it couldn't be true! A gummi? Kill people?
"My niece claims to have verified her beliefs that Emi is breaking free by having contacted Destini herself."
The entire room stirred with murmurs and gasps. Sunni heard several gummies mention that Destini was dead and that meant Tavi contacted a ghost!
"This was confirmed recently. Make no mistake, fellow gummies," Wooddale continued. "We have proof of this. And, to compound matters, it seems Lady Bane has been at the root of Karleni's possession. This is news may seem doubly terrible but it is also a boon, for it seems Lady Bane is the only one possessing individuals and not Emi. To our knowledge they may not be working together. Emi was never seen nor associated with working with anyone, however, there is that possibility that the evil sorceress has been convinced to aid in Emi's escape. The witch has always been drawn to gummi magic and we would not put it past her to release our greatest tragedy in order to get at all of us."
"And what of the other rumor?" another knight shouted in the break. "What of Lucki?"
Wooddale opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Tears threatened to take her.
Berrybottom lay a gentle hand on her shoulder, bid her to sit. When she did, grateful, he responded. "They are indeed true. Lucki Gummi claims that Lady Bane resurrected his body and that he escaped her. He says he does not know her plan; only that it involved bringing him back from the dead. We have done all of the tests. He is not a walking corpse, or a construct, nor is he possessed as far as we can determine. It truly is Lucki Gummi. Now, now listen," he spoke louder to quell the rising swell of protests and startled comments. "The boy is just as scared as we are. He sounds and acts just like the Lucki who ran up and down these halls. I'm completely convinced that it is indeed him, but we are being cautious and I might add so is he." Berrybottom cleared his throat. "Now, the other piece of evidence which has been of the greatest help was found by Tavi, Squires Cubbi and Corvi. Sir Plucki?" Berrybottom waved the knight-captain forward.
Sir Plucki stood and came to stand before all gathered. He held in his hands a rectangle bound in cloth which instantly had Zummi interested. He could sense the magic coming from the object, which he knew instantly was a book of some kind. Likewise, his medallion was responding. It took on a dim glow, heat emanating from the metal against his tunic-front.
Sir Plucki cleared his throat. "This book in my hand may hold the answers we seek. We're currently investigating the matter but it's been tricky. It, er, doesn't respond well to adults. And, because of the three who found this book only Cubbi is here, why don't you come up here and show them what it can do?" Despite it all, Plucki passed his squire a smile.
Eagerly, Cubbi jumped up and ran to his mentor. "You bet!" He held out his hands for and received the book. Carefully unwrapping it from the cloth Plucki had it bound in to keep it safe, Cubbi started in. "Now, this book isn't just any ol' book. It's..."
The pink-furred squire paused, for Zummi had risen from his seat at the sight of the bound manuscript.
"By the Ancient Gummies..." the old wizard breathed. "Cubbi, that's... that's the fabled Mook of Berlinni... er, I mean Book of Merlinni!" He came forward to inspect it but paused when he found the entire room staring at him.
"Zummi?" Cubbi began, his mouth quirked in a manner suggesting things had been hidden from him and it was time for answers. "Anything ya wanna tell us?"
"Oh, er..." He glanced again around the room, at all the intimidating attention. "Well, Cubbi... I... er..."
"You should know, Zummi, the book can talk. It told us Emi's imprisoned somewhere in Gummi Glen. What we need to know is where, and what kinda prison. The book says it doesn't know. Only somebody named Lumina Gummi and the old council of magihistorians knew but they're all dead. So if there's somethin' you'd like to add...?"
Zummi threw a desperate glance at Grammi. She looked as frightened as he but she stood. Stood and walked over to stand right beside him.
"Zummi..." Grammi took his hand, gave it a squeeze, tried to give him the strength to speak what they knew.
He nodded with a heavy head before addressing all gathered. "You... you must know that this information was kept out of necessity. The elders were even more afraid of Emi than you are now. And, well, we don't know much, but there were stories... rumors only... of her prison's location. We were never, never to go down there. The elders said if we did, everything that we ever knew or loved would be destroyed. So... you can see how this isn't easy to talk about, living with that ferrible tear... er, terrible fear."
Sir Plucki walked over to Zummi and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Anything at all would be of help. Together we can get through this."
Zummi smiled, bolstered by the knight-captain's confidence, by young Cubbi's shining face. They weren't blaming him for keeping quiet all these years. They were also here to help keep the evil forces at bay. Nothing to worry about in retelling, right? "Well... We'd heard a few stories, having not actually lived through it ourselves. Grammi and I - as you know, Cubbi - were always getting into mischief as cubs. We didn't believe the stories about... her. Not at first. We thought they were just to keep us in bed at night. We figured, if we couldn't talk about her, we'd go see for ourselves if we could find her." Zummi's head drooped. "We searched all the lower levels of the Glen, and we found the one area off-limits. We squeezed through the barriers, opened the darred boor... er, barred door, and couldn't go any further. The room was ice cold and we were surrounded by the very presence of death and horror, like the room itself screamed at us to leave in a thousand voices!" He shook his head. "Sometimes... I think I can still hear those deathly cold screams."
Grammi tightened her grip on Zummi's hand. She bravely spoke up in his stead. "We tore outta there faster than you can say spatula. No need to guess we never went back in. And... while I'd like to say we never went down there again, that's not true. We did, with a few small bits of cloth bound by twine, filled with black powder. And we took the twine and rolled it out a bit, set the black powder by the door, lit it, and ran. The elders thought the explosion was just another rock slide in the lower caverns. We never told them any different." Grammi's haunted eyes turned imploringly to Cubbi. "We never thought it'd do harm, Cubbi dear. We just wanted to keep anyone else out of that horrible room. So, yes, we know where Emi's prison is kept but, well, it's impossible to get to."