“This is my favourite place in Fable,” the Matriarch revealed.
“There is no magic here,” Damselfly noticed.
“Any dangerous magical artefacts are kept in the Guild or the gaol, here we hold articles of history.”
“What happened to this one?”
Damselfly noticed an empty glass box with a small plaque that explained the item was created by the great smith Bakka.
“Let’s continue, there are some interesting plant specimens further on,” the Matriarch parried.
Damselfly went to follow the sorceress before stopping in the avenue between exhibits and saying,
“This is where Blakast stole the object that holds moonlight.”
The Matriarch’s shoulders slumped in defeat as she acknowledged the truth.
“The silver vial has no magical properties itself; however, it can hold large quantities of magic safely.”
“The Fairy King was the person that escaped from the gaol and the name you erased from the Guild wall,” the princess observed.
“Yes,” the Matriarch confessed. “We were blind to his ambition and it cost us everything. Now magic is disappearing from the world, and all we can do is hold on to what is left.”
“That’s not true,” Damselfly argued. “We can reach the Evergarden, steal the timepiece back from the Fairy King and restore time to Fable.”
“There is no way to reach the Evergarden,” the Matriarch stated. “Even if you could, the Fairy King is the most powerful sorcerer in Fable.”
“We have to try,” Damselfly persisted. “Soon there will not be enough food in Thronegarden. The people in Wintergarden have forgotten the sun’s warmth, and we cannot allow magic to disappear from our lands.”
The Matriarch still seemed unconvinced although she was listening carefully.
“Uriel believed it could be done and so do I,” Damselfly reiterated.
“How?”
“Blakast somehow used this artefact to free Sprites from the Evergarden. They were terrorising villagers of Wintergarden and attempted a coup against my family.”
“Perhaps they were remnants of the Fairy King’s army that escaped capture,” the Matriarch proposed.
“Blakast stole this item for a reason and almost took the throne with it; that cannot be a coincidence,” Damselfly debated. “If only there was a way to get our hands on the artefact, we might be able to discover a way to reach the Evergarden.”
“Do you know where the original is being kept?”
“It is heavily guarded back at the castle. I could never reach it without being recognised and caught,” Damselfly reasoned.
“The artefact is unique,” the Matriarch considered. “Only the original creator could replicate it.”
“But Bakka’s dead, isn’t he?” the princess asked.
“No, he is not,” the Matriarch revealed. “He disappeared from sight decades ago. Only a select few know of his true whereabouts.”
“Do you know where he is?”
“Yes,” the Matriarch revealed.
Damselfly could not keep still at this latest news; she was excited at uncovering a possible route to the Evergarden and continuing her mission.
“Will you tell me where Bakka is?”
The Matriarch considered the small young girl before her: so desperately vulnerable and yet something about the child made it impossible to turn away.
“I will help you,” the sorceress agreed. “For Uriel and Fable.”
“Yes!” Damselfly danced with pleasure, unable to suppress her delight. She could not wait to share the news with Buttontail.
Buttontail had recovered from his ordeal. When they returned to the Guild to discover the greedy rabbit devouring a bunch of grapes, he seemed back to his normal self. Damselfly, whose anger had dissipated, ran to her companion and gave him a hug.
“Guess what, Buttons, we found a way to reach the Evergarden,” the princess related.
“There is no way,” Eloise dismissed.
“Yes, there is,” Damselfly argued. “Tell her.”
The Matriarch nodded gravely, understanding better than anyone the risks that would accompany the knowledge she was about to impart.
“Damselfly believes the stolen artefact could be wielded to breach the barrier between here and the Evergarden.”
“How would you get hold of the artefact?” Eloise questioned.
“We can’t, it is heavily guarded back at the castle,” Damselfly explained.
“So, like I said, it is impossible.” Eloise crossed her arms over her chest.
“Not if we can find the original creator and get him to make us a copy,” Damselfly corrected.
“No one knows where Bakka is and he hasn’t built anything in recent memory,” Eloise dismissed.
“I know where he is,” the Matriarch imparted. “He is in the Lavagarden.”
“L… l… lava,” Buttons stuttered.
“It makes sense, no one else would choose to live there,” Eloise admitted.
“Reaching Bakka will require some specialized equipment.” The Matriarch touched Damselfly’s wings and imbued them with magic.
“These will carry you across the lava, though you will have to convince Bakka to help you alone.”
“I’m sure he will once we explain everything to him,” Damselfly grinned.
“You want us to fly over lava?” Buttons questioned.
“It will be fun.” The princess hovered slightly, trying her magical wings.
“I am afraid of heights,” Buttons queried.
“It will be a dangerous challenge; only you can decide whether it is worth the risk,” the Matriarch instructed.
“We’re going,” Damselfly stated.
After resting up, Damselfly declared they were ready. Buttons was fretfully quiet although he did not argue and resigned himself to facing further dangers. The Matriarch handed them a token for the gate before leading them outside. Eloise sullenly brought up the rear. Her nails and hair had stopped changing colour hours ago though she had not seemed to notice.
“I do not believe anyone has seen or spoken with Bakka for years. He may not be especially responsive to visitors,” the Matriarch warned.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get through to him,” Damselfly replied confidently.
“I expect you will,” the Matriarch agreed.
Facing out over the Magic Quarter with burgeoning colours and potent scents, Damselfly glimpsed a figure in a red cape enter the magic barrier.
“He’s found us,” Damselfly gasped.
The
