Chapter Nine: Master Oilreid

Evie expected a room the size of a small closet, from what she’d seen outside. She could not have been more wrong. The room opened into a large polygon, almost a circle, but with dozens of walls connecting at corners all the way around. Shelves of books covered every wall. There must have been more books lining those shelves than stars in the sky. She stood still, just inside the room, overwhelmed by the number of books. She almost forgot about them, however, when she saw the man who stood arguing with one of the walls of books.

Even more startling, the wall of books argued back. She only saw one man in the entire room, but dozens of voices seemed to be involved in a debate. Evie had never been to a library, but she had seen books on a shelf before. They always had the spines facing outward, so a reader could see the title. These books faced the opposite way. The pages bent and flexed like mouths but whatever words they said got lost in the jumble from the other books. There wasn’t much room on the shelves, though. Evie noticed that sometimes one book would force its way into the conversation, slamming another one shut. She would have laughed if she hadn’t been so stunned.

Master Oilreid, that’s who Evie assumed this man must be, looked like a very old man, even older then Elder Banied. He had white hair and a gray, wrinkled face. Surely she’d never met anyone so old. His nose and ears fit two sizes too big and his hand seemed carved out of a gnarled tree. He stood tall to face the torrent, however.

In an instant he raised that hand to point one boney finger at the books. His voice didn’t match his face as he commanded in a roar, “Enough!” The books fell silent and he continued, rubbing his forehead. “There are obviously many different opinions on the matter. What I really want to know…” he hesitated, “From just Berkly, please, I cannot hear a thing when you are all shouting. I want to know if the talisman can be used even if we find it.”

One of the books began talking, in a smug lecturing tone. If Evie didn’t know any better she would have said the book sounded haughty about being chosen to speak. “It can be used if the one who holds it has a right to it. There are many scholars who have stated opinions on who that might include. On page 296 I have quotes from…”

The book lost its audience when Elder Banied cleared his throat loudly to call attention to himself. The very old man seemed to notice the group for the first time. He smiled broadly and walked over to them even as the book continued rambling on. “Welcome friends!” he exclaimed. With that warm smile he suddenly didn’t look so old. He looked grandfatherly and wise, but not haggard. Evie immediately felt like she could trust him. “I am so glad you have come safely through the forest. I am Oilreid.”

He offered his hand and Elder Banied shook it cautiously. “Master Oilreid,” he said formally, “I am Banied. I am an Elder in a nearby village. I should like to return home soon, but first I am seeking a place of safety for these children. I was not looking for a spritested, but I am beginning to doubt whether what I sought is really here.” He made the last phrase sound like a question.

Master Oilreid nodded. He, at least, seemed to understand. “It is here. It is in this forest, anyway. There has been a lot of trouble put into making it impossible to find. Do not feel bad that your search is proving difficult. I am sure we can find you a guide to help, but not until the forest quiets down. As you noticed, it is very dangerous right now. For the time being, I think we ought to find you a way to wash up and get some rest.” Evie thought that sounded like a marvellous idea.

Elder Banied seemed to agree, because he nodded his head gratefully. “I think we would all like to clean up, we have had a difficult journey. I am interested in speaking with you further, though…”

Master Oilreid waved him to silence, “All in good time, all in good time.” He turned to one shelves of books and hollered, “Jayson! Can you assist me for a moment, please?” Looking at Elder Banied again he smiled. “Jayson is a younger sprite. He is a philosopher, though, and very interesting to talk to. His only fault is that he gets distracted quite easily, so you have to keep reminding him of what he is doing.” As the old man turned to holler again, the shelf shimmered and a door stood in its place. Evie gasped before she could help it. Instinctively she turned around to look at the door where they had entered moments before. She was only half surprised to find a shelf of books in its place as well.

The door banged open and a sprite fluttered in. He must have been a sprite, though Evie goggled at him in surprised. She had heard stories of the creatures and they were always described as tiny girls. He was a man. He seemed more like a little version of some of the men in her village than like Trina, who still fluttered around them.

Jayson wore a tiny white shirt and brown suit, but the buttons on his vest were done wrong, so that one end hung too low and the other side’s extra material bunched around his neck. The shirt looked a mess as well. Covered in wrinkles and a little too big for the small man, Evie wondered if he had slept in it. He had a smudge of black ink on his nose that he seemed completely unaware of. A pen stuck behind one of his ears dripped more ink on his cheek, and he held an open book on his palm. His free hand moved slowly over the words on the page.

His voice sounded similar to Trina’s, though. It was a man’s voice, but high and quiet. He sounded distracted. “Oilreid, I’ve found an interesting point about…” he flipped through some pages in the book. “Where was it? Well, it’s about…” Looking up he suddenly he noticed the people all standing around. He blinked as if stunned. “Who…?” he began.

Master Oilreid cut in, “Jayson, I wanted to introduce you to some new guests who have joined us. This is Elder Banied from the nearest village.” He motioned to Anna, “This is Anna, a dear friend of Lady Gwyneth.” He put one hand on Trevor’s shoulder. “Trevor, here, is the Lady’s son.”

When the old man had mentioned the last two names, the sprite’s eyes bulged. Evie thought her face might look as shocked. How had this man known who they were? And he seemed to know Trevor’s mother. This journey created new questions whenever it even hinted at an answer to an old one.

The little sprite wasted no time. He fluttered over to Anna and Trevor shaking their hands excitedly. Well, since his hands were so tiny, he actually shook their fingers, but the gesture was clear. When he welcomed Trevor he nearly spluttered, “So good to see you. Your mother will be delighted, she worries about you so.”

At that Master Oilreid, cleared his throat loudly. They were in contact with Trevor’s mother! But Master Oilreid clearly did not want that brought to the attention of his guests for some reason. The whole thing set Evie’s mind racing. Meanwhile, the old man rambled on, “And this is Evie, a young girl from the same village. And…” he trailed off. He didn’t know Bridget’s name.

Bridget smiled warmly and picked up where Master Oilreid had left off, “I’m Bridget. Evie and I are cousins. I don’t know why we’re messed up in this, but it is a lot of fun!” Evie felt a stab of guilt. Surely Bridget wondered why this man knew Evie’s name, but not hers. She felt bad about keeping secrets from her cousin…her friend. Suddenly another thought struck her. Bridget thought this was a lot of fun? She’d run away from home, slept in the dirt, walked for days and been chased by creatures from a nightmare! Bridget had to be the coolest person Evie had ever met.

With the introductions done, the old man seemed to be in a rush. He said to Jayson, “I think we had better get these good people settled somewhere so they can clean up. If you can take Anna and Elder Banied to the pools, I will get the children put up somewhere.” He turned back to Evie and her friends, “The pools make a great bath, but there are only two. You guys will have to bathe in shifts.”

Jayson quickly took charge of Anna and Elder Banied, hurrying them out the door he had just come in. After they left, it shimmered and became a bookcase, once again. Trina fluttered up in front of Master Oilreid and began to chatter, “I am sorry I was late today, sir, I was just so excited to see Evie! I didn’t expect there to be that many in the group, did you? Are you taking them to the refugees? I think that the other children would like it. I would be happy to host them, you understand, but it would be such a bother to fit them into my tree. I think they would be very happy…”

The old man cut her off with a laugh, “We will find somewhere to settle them in, Trina. Do not worry about it.” He directed his comments to the children, “Now, tell me about yourselves. You have been on a very long and hard journey. Is there anything you need?”

Trevor answered immediately, “Where is my mother? Is she here? How do you know her?”

The old man seemed sad, “I am sorry Trevor. I cannot tell you that. She is safe. She is not here, though.” He eyed the boy’s angry stare for a minute and then sighed, “It seems to me that there must be a spy among the refugees. With all of the trouble, we have had a few others seek a place of safety here. The sprites welcome anyone who will live by their rules of equality. But, I do not think it is a good idea to spread secrets around.”

Bridget looked very confused. She asked, “But what makes you think there is a spy? Who would the spy report to?”

Master Oilreid sighed. “Why do you not sit down? I will answer your question as well as I can.” Evie stared in confusion. The room didn’t have any place to sit. But, even as she glanced around to be sure, chairs appeared behind them.

Trevor gasped. He quickly went to one knee in a smooth motion and held one hand out before him. “You must truly be a powerful souray. I am sorry, sir, I did not know.”

The old man let out an irritated sound, “Get up boy. You will quickly learn that the terms ray and souray are quite meaningless here. People are just people. They should be seen so everywhere, and would be if it were not for fools.”

Trevor’s mouth dropped open.. He didn’t bother to stand up before he said, in a haughty tone, “The souray are born superior to the ray! You surely do not think someone who cannot use magic is your equal!”

Master Oilreid shook his head slowly, “You can use magic, boy, if you are ever properly taught, but the ray have talents you do not. Can you charm animals the way this girl can?” His gesture clearly pointed at Bridget.

All three of the children stood there with mouths gaping. The old man seemed to realize his mistake because he began rubbing his eyes, with his head bowed. “Can we please sit now?” He asked. After they had all taken a chair, he began again. “I am sorry. I do not mean to get upset. Things are getting out of hand and…” he hesitated. “Let us return to where we were going in the first place. How can I help you be comfortable here?” His concern for how the children felt sounded very sincere, but Evie felt so shocked she didn’t know where to begin.

Questions swam through her head, but she wasn’t sure what to ask. What did he mean, Bridget could charm animals? She had always been good with them. Evie thought about how she had managed to catch the lizards for Trevor’s blankets. Come to think of it, many of Bridget’s pranks involved animals. But, that was just Bridget. Wasn’t it?

Once again someone else covered her silence. That happened a lot lately. She liked to think before she spoke. Bridget asked, “What do you mean by ‘charm animals’?” She sounded so intent, so curious. From her tone, she had considered this before. But if she even suspected she had some unusual talent, surely she would have wanted to talk to Evie about it! Just then, Evie remembered about her secret. Perhaps Bridget had her own reasons.

The old man sighed again. “It is probably not my place. I did not mean to bring it up. You are better off not asking any questions.”

Evie noticed Bridget’s face going hard. She knew that look. That same look managed to appear every time she intended a risky prank and Evie knew there was no talking her out of it. She appeared determined to get an answer out of this man and she wouldn’t stop pushing until it satisfied her. She said, “Master Oilreid, I mean you no disrespect. But, please, if you know something about my kinship with animals. Please tell me. I’ve know about it for a very long time. It’s only been recently that I have learned other people don’t seem to have the same ability. Where does it come from? Why can I do it? It’s not…bad? You acted like it wasn’t!”

This time the old man laughed, a rich, heartening sound. Oh Evie did like this man! “No, child,” He chuckled, “It is not bad. It is a wonderful talent and there was a time when many people could do it. I am afraid as the people move farther from the forest, into the city, the talent dies away. Souray, as they call themselves, can never do it. I was beginning to wonder if the talent had melted away forever, before I met you. I was particularly excited to meet you for that reason. I have read about it, of course, though I have never seen it before. But when I discovered that you were not aware of your ability, I was not sure I should tell you.” He smiled and laughed again, “At least, I thought you were not aware of it! Sometimes old men forget how intelligent children really are. How could you not know?!”

Evie realized she was staring at Bridget with her mouth open in shock. After only a minute, Bridget glanced back at her, smiling in embarrassment. Evie returned the smile. The next time they were alone she would tell her cousin what Elder Banied had said about her. She hoped Bridget wanted to tell her whatever secrets she kept as well.

Trevor looked like he had just been slapped when he was expecting a kiss. He kept swivelling his head from the old man to Bridget and back again. His eyes might have been about to bulge out of his head. Evie felt a little bad for him. He had been taught his whole life about how much better he was than people like Bridget. Elder Banied deferred to him a few days ago. Now he insisted the boy do chores. This man was also a souray, but he acted much more interested in Bridget than Trevor. On top of all that, they kept his mother from him. He had only come with them because of his mother. Evie could see anguish in his eyes. On the other hand, his cruel and snotty disposition upset Bridget. He had done his best to make her feel like less than nothing, and now he got what he deserved.

It appeared he decided he’d listened to Master Oilreid long enough. Without warning, Trevor stood up and walked toward the wall. He held his hands out just as Trina had. His movement had the air of practice. Evie guessed he saw this sort of thing all the time. He had grown up in a magical world after all. The wall obeyed and became a door, which Trevor immediately darted out of.

Master Oilreid made no attempt to follow. He looked after Trevor with a sad frown on his face. Evie stared in surprise. Should he be allowed to wander the forest alone? What if he left this strange spritested? What if the raptons found him again? After a minute, she remembered that the raptons wouldn’t be around during the day, but the forest still held many dangerous things. “Master Oilreid,” Evie said cautiously, “Shouldn’t we go after him? He really doesn’t know much magic.”

She fell silent when his serious blue eyes swivelled toward her. He seemed to be considering his next move. After a minute, however, he just shook his head. “He will not get hurt here. And he does not know how to leave a spritested. I think maybe the boy needs some time. These things are very new to him. He has a good heart, that one, he just needs to get his head straightened out. He spent many years being taught things that simply are not true.”

Bridget grunted as if she doubted he could ever have his head on straight and the old man gave her a sympathetic look. “I fear you will need to be patient with him, aniray. He will come around.”

“Aniray?” Bridget repeated questioningly.

The old man smiled that fabulous smile again and said, “That is what you are called, by anyone who knows what you are. Once, the word ‘Ray’ simply meant ‘person.’ So, everyone is a ray, even the souray. People were divided into different groups by their talents, though everyone was equal. The souray could use magic and the aniray could charm animals. There were others, too. It is too much to get into right now. Besides, I was going to find you a place to stay.”

Evie noticed Bridget silently mouthing the word again as a giddy smile touched her lips. It made Evie smile too. She loved seeing her cousin so pleased.