Tales of Neo Studiona

The Twisted Wish

(The tale of Sharama and Flicker)

Chapter 4

Shard's First Dinner Party in Lands of the Fey Ones

I awoke up a few hours later a little dizzy and disorientated as I sat up on the large feather bed. I took quick look around the room trying to remember where I was and what I was doing here. It took me a few minutes to get all of the events from a few hours ago to come flooding back to memory. I remember meeting the Goddess Relava and her inviting me to a dinner in my honor were I would get to meet my grandfather again. Everything about Flicker and even the 30 foot guards for the throne room came rushing back to me. I sat there in the bed for a bit trying to collect my thoughts and calm myself when there was a knock at the door and a very beautiful golden skinned High Elf maid walked in with a young vixen that was pulling a large trunk of something on wheels behind her.

The vixen was about 5'6 in height with dark brown and white fur and black markings, she looked to be about 23 years old but wore bifocal glass which made her seem older then she looked. She was well dress like most tailors and seamstresses in lien and silk. But all of her clothing she wore seemed to have a shine to it as it were made of gold or silver and not lien and silk. The two females both bowed and apologized for entering without asking but they thought I was still sleeping. After a few awkward moments the vixen, Shalala, asked me to stand so she could took my measurements and showed me some of the different colored fabrics she had for my clothing. I stood up and she took my measurement and half way thru I end up with a bulge in my pants from her being so close and smelling of wild flowers and beauty. Thru the awkward moments of the measuring Shalala seemed to not notice it or just ignored it and went on with her work. I was glad and sad that she did because I did find her very beautiful. I ended up picking black, gold, white, and royal blue for my outfit for the dinner and several other very tamer colors for my other clothes since I did need something else to wear while I was here.

Once all that was done Shalala told me she would have my dinner outfit ready with in the hour but the rest of my clothes wouldn't be ready until tomorrow morning if nothing stopped her from working. I told her not to rush I wasn't that important of a person but she insisted that she would get the work done for the grandson of the great and powerful Wolf King. I blushed at that fact and both the maid and Shalala giggled before they left me alone.

While I was alone I took the time to wander around my room looking it over and at all of the finely craft furniture. I notice my room was rather large. The bed was big enough for four or five people twice my size, The walls were covered in the large forest scene with birds singing the trees, foxes playing in a meadow, a herd of deer wonder thru forests, and some wolves on a large rock formation singing to the full moon. It was very breathtaking to look at and made me a bit home sick for my old life back in the mountains. The carpet that covered the floor was the same way. It was like the room was made to make me feel comfortable, almost homesick and the strange thing was I hadn't notice it when I had first come in and fell asleep on the bed. I was about to cry because of the feeling from the past the scenes on the carpet and walls were bringing back so I turn my attention to all of the furniture in the room.

As I walked around the room I noticed that all of the tables, chairs, dressers, nightstands and desks in the room where crafted from hard sturdy woods with a very fine cherry wood stain. All of the furniture was detailed with carvings if many different animals and furries as well as many different fey runes and languages. Each piece seemed to tell a story of the mortal world at different times. Some of the scenes on the furniture I recognized like battles that have happened in the past, the rise of the noble houses of Neo Studiona, the building of Riverton city but there others I had no clue about. I notice a few pieces had carving of a figure that looked an awful lot like ram/fox John. He was standing in front of a house and figure that looked like Sahara, but very pregnant, was running away from him with tears in her eyes. There was another scene with the Saraha figure stand with the John figure and John was holding their infant son with Saraha by his side. Saraha had the hooves of twin girls as the walked thru what looked like a festival of some kind.

I was a little frightened by the carvings now. Had this been Saraha fate before she had met me? Had I taken away a wonderful life from her and John? I looked for more scenes with the two figures in it and it was while I was looking over one of the nightstands that I saw the Saraha figure at a desk writing in a book of some type with her four children near by playing or working one some chore when the maid from early and Flicker both come in. Flicker seemed happy and the maid had a tray of food and a glass of wine of some type. The maid placed the tray on one of the desk and excused herself so I could eat and speak with Flicker. I forgot all about my fear of the carvings in favor of the growling of my empty belly. Why worry about what could have been on and empty stomach it when it was easier to forget about it on a full one. I drank in the sight of the warm plate of food and the glass of wine before I looked over and said hello to Flicker who just laughed then made silly comments about my happy face at seeing food again. I laughed at her laughing at me then turned to the glass of wine. It smelled extremely good and its color was a very dark bluish purple.

I asked Flicker what kind of wine was in the glass and she told me it was Dragon Wine and let me tell you that wine was pretty powerful. And I mean powerful stuff since it's made from the powdered scales of dragons with several different magic berries that grow only in the Lands of the Fey Ones. It knocked me flat after my first sip and I nearly dropped the glass in the process but somehow I fell to the floor without spilling a drop. Flicker then told me it was best to eat something before I take a drink of the wine. The stuff I was drinking hadn't been made that day I would have died. If I had drunk any of the Dragon Wine that had been aged I would soon be a resident of the lands and not just a guest. When it was aged it could knock the Gods flat on their immortal and all powerful asses if they drank too much or hadn't eating before drinking it. I also learned that the dead in the Land of the Blessed and the fallen warriors honored in the Hall of Warriors drank the aged wine since they were already dead but it still had the power to knock them flat on their asses as well.

I thanked Flicker for the warning while she was in a fit of laughter as I looked worried at the still full glass of wine. I eat most of the fresh grilled deer, the salad, a baked potato, and corn with fresh grilled peppers before I drank any more of the wine. After eating my meal the wine had lost a lot of its bite but was still pretty strong and tasty. I made a note to myself to find out how it was made to see if I could make a version that mortal could drink after it was aged a bit.

After finishing my meal I talked with Flicker about several of the places in the land I wanted to visit while I was here until my dinner outfit was delivered an hour or so later by the some high elf maid as before. I was really flustered by the fact that she had been doing so much for me but I didn't even know her name or the name of her race. I was going to ask Flicker about it but she told me she would meet me at the dinning hall for dinner later. She had to leave now so she could make it to the Hall of Warriors in time to make sure my grandfather was ready since he was a guest of honor at tonight's dinner as well. Plus she wanted to make sure no one would ruin the surprise of the big reunion we were to have before the dinner. I smiled at Flicker as she dance around singing about how happy she was that I was going to get to meet my grandfather again. I then remember I didn't know my way around the castle at all or how I was to find the dinning hall in a place as big as Fate Castle. But before I could ask Flicker where I was suppose to go and the maid's name she was already gone from the room leaving me alone with the High Elf maid again.

I was trying to find the right words to ask the maid where the dinning hall was and her name when she spoke and answered the first of the many questions I had. "Lord Shard if you are wondering where the dinning hall is do not worry I will be taking you there after I finish with helping you get ready. The Mistress informed me that as long as you are staying here in the Fey world I will be your attendant when Flicker is not around." The maid said in a polite voice.

"Umm… thank you…" I said pausing not knowing how to ask her what her name was since I didn't have time to ask Flicker what it was.

Ny'astala, my name is Ny'astala Everleaf, my Lord Shard or you can call me Nya. Whichever one you are more comfortable with saying I will answer to either in case you were wondering. If you were wondering about my race I am a High Elf one of the many different types of Elves you will find living thought the lands of the Fey world." Ny'astala said in the some polite voice then smiled at me. I then realized I had blushed again, I was having a real hard time dealing with all of the magic and formalness used in Fate Castle but I had to remind myself that I was in the realm of Gods and magic so there was a certain formalness that had to be followed at certain times.

After spending several minutes fumbling with my words I asked Nya to help me get dressed. She giggled a little at my shyness and stuttering then told me to calm myself I would get use the way things work in the Fey world after a few days as long as I stayed calm and asked for help when I need it. I really like Nya and her name so it's no wondered why my third daughter was named Nayala after Ny'astala. Before Nya helped me dressed she suggested that I take a bath first and brush out my fur. I did have a bit of wild smell about me. I blushed and nodded in agreement with her. I was rather embarrassed again that I hadn't thought of bathing first. Nya giggled again at my very puppyish look of shame.

"My Lord please don't be embarrassed by this. It is your first time here and there is a level formalness to the castle that most morals are not prepared for. Please wait here for a few minutes while I get your bathwater ready. She walked off to a door near the left side of my room that I had not opened yet and opened it. She walked in the room and soon I heard water running and smelled sandalwood and what smelled like evergreen tree needles. A few minutes after that the water stopped and she came back to my side, she smiled then took my left paw and led back to the washroom.

The washroom was just as impressive as my room was, it had all white walls with the blue vines weaving a crossed them, around all the vines little seahorses and crabs danced and played. There was a large porcelain tub with a silver faucet head and knobs, there was a porcelain bowl with a square porcelain tank behind that had a small silver handle on it left side near the top of the tank. The tank had a brass pipe running from its bottom to the top back of the bowl. I was informed by Nya that it was an indoor out house bowl called a toilet. There was another thing in the room that was next to the toilet made out of porcelain that looked like a birdbath. but the strange thing had a hole in the bottom of it with a plug for the hole on a silver chain the was hung on the silver faucet head. This strange thing had silver knobs just like the bathtub. I was informed again by Nya what the thing was a washroom sink. Everything in the washroom had the same type of etchings that the furniture did.

I then learned that all of the things in the washroom had been invent by a Tinker Gnome, another race of fey people, who lived in the fey world. I also learned that there was no need to heat water by fire then lug it to the tub or sink anymore since the Tinker Gnome had made what was called indoor plumbing and a hot water heater. The plumbing as it was called run thru out the entire castle so every bedroom had working washroom running hot and cold water as well as every kitchen. In the lowest leave of the castle there were several large storage tanks that water was pumped into from rivers and lakes. Some of the tanks had fires under them to heat the water and other just stored up cold water. When the water was needed be it hot or cold water it's pumped out of the tans and sent thru the pipes to wherever it was needed. The toilet, tub and sink pipes all lead to a sewer system under the castle that connect to the sewer system of near a by town. All of the waste waters from the castle as well as the town were channeled to a large building at the back of the town were the waste was alchemically clean out of the water to be used as fertilizer for the crops and gardens. The clean water then runs back in to the lakes and river to be begin the process all over again. I was very impressed by the washroom since this was my first encounter with indoor plumbing and I wanted to learn more about it. That knowledge would later gain me a permanent place in Riverton City and a job as well as make sure my family would never be without gold ever again.

I asked Nya if she could set up a meeting with the Tinker Gnome that had invented the plumbing and sewer system for the castle and town since I wanted to learn more about it. She told me she would but first I had to get ready for dinner and that she would make sure that I would get to meet Gynal Tinkerfist before I went back to the Mortal world.

I told her thank you and she helped me wash my fur completely. She lathered me up and rinsed me clean a good five or six times before she was satisfied that I was absolutely clean and free of any woodsy debris or a woodsy smell. The whole time this was going on I sat there blushing and feeling like a puppy being cleaned by his mother. It reminded me of all the baths my three mothers had given me when I was little. The whole time she washed me Nya made comments on what a 'big boy' I was and I she be proud of my nobility and wolf hood. I just blushed more and covered my wolf hood as best I could. I failed at it since Nya was very beautiful and I reacted to her beauty and soft touch.

After my bath Nya helped me dry before she helped me put on all of my dinner outfit. There were a few pieces that caused me some trouble. I was just used to simple shirts and pants but the only thing that was simple about this outfit was the shirt and cape. The rest was a nightmare, there was a vest with a gold chain on it, and there were several buckles and straps on the underside of the vest flaps. There was a set of buttons on top to close it up after the buckles and straps we fastened together. The pants had two different belts to it, one to hold my pants up and the other for the sword I was to wear. After I fumble with all of the buckles and things Nya took over and everything went smoothly until I had to put on the jacket. It had several small little button and pin hole for metals and buttons the stated my status as a prince and grandson of the Wolf King. I didn't even try to bother with them and Let Nya take care of it. Soon all I had left was to don my cape, boots, and sword. The boots felt strange but comfortable since I never worn boots before. The soft leather felt good around my forepaws but it look rather weird to have them on since I was a wolf after all. After I was completely dressed Nya quickly brushed my hair then gathered it into a ponytail. She quickly tied a black ribbon around it and after a final check and a quick spray of cologne on me we were off to the dinning hall.

It was a rather short walk to the dinning hall or rather it seemed short to after have had a small meal earlier and nice bath. After we made to the large doors the lead to the dinning hall Nya bid me farewell and said she would see me after the dinner when I was ready to return to my room for the night. I thanked her again and let her go on her way. I was just about to go in after Nya disappeared around a corner when Flicker show up. She was wearing a formal gown spin from pure silver and silk with gold beads on the hem of the dress which look much like an upside down silver lily. Her long brown hair was pinned up making her pointed ears stand out more. she wore a silver chocker and had a small silk handbag on a then gold string. She didn't have on any shoes at all and from the few fairies I had seen on my way to the dinning hall I was being to think none of them wore shoes or boots at all.

"Greetings Shard, you look very handsome tonight. Are you ready to meet your grandfather and some of the other Fey people, Gods, Goddesses, and their avatars?" Flicker asked me as she flew over and place her tiny hand on my arm.

"Yes, I'm a little nervous and worried I will mess up. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?" I said softly the smiled at Flicker who just giggled a bit then pointed at the doors. I nodded and walked up the doors with Flicker hovered by the side as I moved. As I walked up to the doors they open in a large and lavish banquet hall all dressed up for those with royal and divine blood. The hall was as big as the throne room and the giant throne guards where here dressed in regal armor for the occasion. As I entered with my fairy date one of the horse guards announced both Flicker and myself. After our announced arrival we were greeted by Relava and several other Goddesses, five to be exact, the five patron Goddesses of the moons of the Mortal world. I bowed to them and gave my thanks for their gifts to all wolves. The five sisters just giggled at my formalness and said that they had their faith in me and all the things I would do in their and many Gods names. I blushed at this praise and Flicker giggle at my shyness about the whole matter. We spoke for a few more minutes until the five sisters saw the God of War Gabriel Ares and excused themselves to go and talk to him. Relava excused herself a moment later to make sure everything was ready for the dinner in about half an hour or so. That left me and Flicker alone for a few moments.

Soon after that My grandfather showed up with several of his new war buddies. Since he had come to the land of our ancestors he had made many new friends and enjoyed many more fun and blood filled battles with many powerful warriors and kings. I was surprised how well he look and how young and spry he spoke and moved.

"Well my boy you are looking good and healthy. I you have kept up with Thunder Style I taught you. I also see you and my son have found a good hunting ground to live off of." My grandfather said with a laugh.

"Not really Grandfather, I haven't seen father or the rest of the family since your passing. We all moved after that but I went to the south while the rest of the family moved farther north. And yes I have kept up with my training because it a noble fighting and brings honor to you Wolf King." I said then told him everything that had happened to me and again I left out the event with Saraha. My grandfather just laughed and said that he wasn't surprised that I left the family since I was much like him and my father. We were wolves that had to follow our own star and damn everyone and thing that got in our way.

"Oh before I forget my boy you should take a trip to the Land of the Blessed and see Sharama. She asked about you when I last saw her since everyone in the Lands of the Fey Ones knows you're here. Also you should visit the Realm of Light after seeing Sharama and you will know why you should go the Realm of Light after seeing her. Well I must be off Lord Rangel Silverblood has challenged me to a duel before the dinner so I must oblige him. Until dinner my boy and good luck in your future quests." My grandfather said the walked off with his friends to duel with some elf lord.

I was a little shocked by what he said about me going to go see Sharama but I had little time to dwell on it since Flicker pulled at my sleeve and directed me over to several other groups of Elves, Dwarves, Humans, Gnomes, Halflings, Furrykin, Fairies, pixies, Gods, Goddesses, and all other manner of fey and magical creatures.

I meet and talked with so many people that I was at a lost for words by the time I end up in a conversation with the Goddess of Light, Hylita and her sister Dylita, the Goddess of Darkness. Thank the gods that that conversation was cut short by the dinner bell. I mean the Goddess of Light was a true dark hearted sadist while her sister was a light hearted and shy masochist. This was rather scary for me since I would later met Hylita's avatar Queen Hikari of the Realm of Light and would find out how sadistic Hylita and her avatar both could be.

The dinner that was severed was rather fantastic; all four of the long and wide banquet tables were filled with fine dishes and silverware. There were many different cooked, grilled, smoked, and braised meats dishes, there were many varieties of cheeses, breads, and fruit trays, along with vegetables both cooked and raw covering the tables. There was an array of wines and spirits choose from. There was Dragon wines, Blood wines, Elvin wines, Dwarven spirits, Fairy wines, and several types of Nectar for the Gods and pixies to name a few of them.

As everyone was gathering to sit down to begin the meal I asked Flicker to find were I was sitting. She told me that we would be sitting with my grandfather at the Warriors Table. It was the table the closet to the courtyard since must of those that sat at that table would end up very drunk out there in the courtyard singing old war songs till well into the night before passing out or fighting for the rest of the night. I was surprised by that but let the thought pass as I made my way over to the table and found my seat and sat down. Next to my seat as well as a few other seats on the long table were a set of smaller tables set up just like the larger table for Flicker and the other pixies and fairies, were Flicker quickly sat. I took a quickly and found the other three tables were set up like that as well. Soon my grandfather made his way over to me with smile on his face. Behind him was several Dwarves, Humans, and Elves. All of them were praising my grandfather for his win. After they all sat down a well dressed but very angry looking ebony skinned elf walked in with several more well dressed ebony skinned elves behind him. All of them looked angry as if they hated everyone at our table especial my grandfather and myself. That let me know that he was the Lord Rangel Silverblood my grandfather had dueled with and defeated just a few minutes ago.

"Black Thunder this isn't over yet. I will make you pay for this insult to my honor. I will not take this defeat lightly Wolf King. Mark my words you will fall to me in battle sooner then later." The dark skinned elf said as he pointed at my Grandfather.

My grandfather laughed at the elf's threats the turned to look at him with cocky grin. "You can never make the Wolf King bow in defeat, the wolf who can make the thunder cringe in fear of his mighty howl. You would have a better chance of defeating my grandson then me. Then again he is the grandson of the Wolf King so a Prince of Thunder like Shard would be too much for you as well." My grandfather said then laugh as well as did every on at our table. I don't why I laughed but I did then I enter in the conversation for no other reason but to make my grandfather look even stronger.

"Grandfather do you really wish for me to make his defeat to our Kingdom of Thunder all the more worse by beating him soundly as well? I can't stain his pride anymore. That would be wrong of me plus a defeat by you is bad enough. No need to add insult to injury." I said then flash the dark elf a cocky smile. "But on the other hand I could always train a child to use the sword for him to fight. But then he might lose to the child trained by the Prince of Thunder." Again the table roared with laughter and the dark elves seemed to flash red from the mocking insults my grandfather and I flung at them.

"Thunder I see your grandson's tongue is just as sharp as yours. I know now that if his words are sharp so his sword play will be even sharper. Good work my lad that is a fine way to up hold your family honor. "A large red bearded dwarf with bold head said before the table roared with laughter again.

"Know this now Black Thunder I will pay and your grandson back for your insults. Away my people this table of baseless under bloods sour my mood and appetite. Let us go before they sour something else with their vulgar ways." Lord Rangel said and he and his group left. After they left my grandfather slapped me on the back and smiled at me.

"Good work my boy. Those insults of yours really took Rangel down a few pegs. I'm proud of you but be ready for a fight before you leave to go back to the Mortal world. Rangel is many things but forgetful he is not. He will come for a fight with you sooner or later. As a Prince of Thunder you must uphold the family name and honor by besting him in sword play."

"What was that all about Grandfather and who was the dark elf guy?" I asked my grandfather after I recover from his slap and let his words sink in.

"Rangel is a stuck-up dark elf that thinks his sword skill is king of them all so ever since I got here I been beating him in duels every chance I get. After each defeat he trains then comes back to fight me with some new trick or style variation that I quickly break thru or throw back him. Now you will have to fight him soon and prove the Kingdom of Thunder is one of the most powerful sword styles in any world." My grandfather explained to me I was at a lost a but confused by it so I said nothing for a minute or two to think of some way out of a duel with the dark elf. But before I could say something the Dinner began and I forgot everything I was going say as we started eating and drinking.

Let me tell you Dwarven spirits pack a punch and you should steer clear of them at all costs. That is unless you really don't mind people tell you about all the stupid things you did while drunk that is, if you survive the first few drinks. As the dinner move thru the night the Warriors Table start out civil with just eating and drinking a little as stories of battle and duels were told. But as time wore on the eating and drinking both grow heavier as did the loud uproarious fits of laughter and singing about battle times. One by one the other three tables cleared out of the dinner as the Warriors Table got louder and more uncivilized. Both Flicker and I got just as drunk, just as loud, and just as uncivilized as everyone at the table. Even the female warriors at the table were just as loud and unruly as the men if not more. Soon we were the only ones left in the dinning hall with just a bunch of wine and spirits to drink as we made our way to the courtyard singing war songs and talking of past battles.

I was even talked in to sparing with Tordek Goldenhammer, the dwarf that had praised me for my insults before the dinner, in the courtyard with wooden swords and shields. It ended with me using a Lighting Kick on him throwing him thru a large hedge. Everyone cheered for the both of us and Tordek swore his hammer and sword to me and any cause that I would ever have in future. Hen then praised me for being a strong wolf and true prince of the Wolf King's line. There was many more drunken sparing matches and more singing well in to the night. Flicker even had a drunken match with battle fairy. She lost the match but still we cheered for her for trying since she was one of the drunkest people there with several of the dwarves catching up to her with me and my grandfather in a close third place.

It was close to dawn when Ny'astala came to help me stagger back to my bedroom. She put Flicker in her apron pocket since Flicker was far too drunk to fly or even walk. Ny'astala dropped us both off in my bed next to each other and covered us up before she checked to make sure the room would ready for us to clean up and dress before leaving out again. After making sure everything was in order she left quietly shutting the door as she did.

It was some time in the afternoon the next day when I woke up with Flicker sleeping softly next to my face. Flicker woke with a yawn and asked me what I was doing in her bed. It was then that Ny'astala showed up and told us both what had happen last night. Flicker and I both blush when she told us about our drunken behavior and of what was promised to me after my sparing match. Ny'astala told me that she had readied a bath for Flicker and myself as well as laid out clothing for the both of us. She then told us she was going to go get us breakfast while we bathed.

Flicker and I quickly got out of our clothes from the night before and hopped the warm bath water. It was great to get clean and we both laughed about the stuff we had done last night. After our bath we dressed in clothes the Nya had left then made plans to visit several of the worlds around the Lands of the Fey Ones, with Land of the Blessed and the Realm of light being our last two stops for the day. After we eat breakfast and said goodbye to Nya Flicker led me around the Lands of the Fey Ones.

To Be Continued…