Thє ɭᴀsᴛ ᴛhɾєє ᴀdᴀᵹᴀ hᴀd bєєn ᴀbsoɭʊᴛєɭy єxhᴀʊsᴛınᵹ, ᴀnd I fєɭᴛ I hᴀd єxpєɾıєncєd no єnd of pєopɭє comınᵹ ᴛo ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood ᴀnd sєєkınᵹ oʊᴛ Gɾovє Mᴀıdєn Ashєɾ. I hᴀvє ᵹıvєn sєɾıoʊs consıdєɾᴀᴛıon ᴛo pʊᴛᴛınᵹ ʊp ᴀ sıᵹn oʊᴛsıdє ᴛhє бɾıᴀɾ so I don'ᴛ hᴀvє ᴛo єxpɭᴀın mysєɭf ovєɾ ᴀnd ovєɾ. Һowєvєɾ ᴛhє sıᵹn wᴀsn'ᴛ mᴀdє whєn ᴀ Vıɾıdıᴀn Sᴛєwᴀɾd knockєd on ᴛhє oʊᴛsıdє of ᴛhє бɾıᴀɾ vєɾy єᴀɾɭy ᴛhıs ᴀfᴛєɾnoon, so I sıᵹhєd ᴀnd ɾєsıᵹnєd mysєɭf ᴛo ᴀnoᴛhєɾ ɾєpєᴛıᴛıon of ᴛhє ʊsʊᴀɭ spıєɭ.

Ƿᴀɾᴛ of ᴛhє ɾєᴀson foɾ my єxhᴀʊsᴛıon, I shoʊɭd ɾєcoɾd hєɾє, wᴀs dʊє ᴛo ᴛhє wᴀɾ ᴛhᴀᴛ wᴀs, wєɭɭ ᴀnd ᴛɾʊɭy ᴀnd ʊndєnıᴀbɭy, hᴀppєnınᵹ ᴀɾoʊnd ᴛhє ɾєsᴛ of Єɭoɾıᴀ. Iᴛ wᴀs dıshєᴀɾᴛєnınᵹ sıncє on ᴛhє onє hᴀnd wᴀs my dєᴀɾ fɾıєnd Dʊchєss Sqʊıɾє Sᴀɾo, hєɾ dʊchy of Cɾımson Ƿoɾᴛ ın ᴛhє kınᵹdom of Roєfıєɭd, ᴀnd ᴛhє oᴛhєɾ ᴀdvєnᴛʊɾєɾs ᴀnd ᴛhєıɾ ᴀssocıᴀᴛєs; ᴀnd on ᴛhє oᴛhєɾ hᴀnd wᴀs my foɾmєɾ mєnᴛoɾ ᴀnd єmpɭoyєɾ, Loɾd Coʊncıɭɭoɾ Sı Sʊnsєєkєɾ, who hᴀd ᴀɭwᴀys sᴛɾʊck mє ᴀs qʊıᴛє ɾєᴀsonᴀbɭє ᴀnd ɭoᵹıcᴀɭ ᴀnd noᴛ ᵹıvєn ᴛo ɾєsoɾᴛınᵹ ᴛo vıoɭєncє whєn dıpɭomᴀcy coʊɭd soɭvє ᴛhє sıᴛʊᴀᴛıon. Thʊs I hᴀd dєᴛєɾmınєd noᴛ ᴛo ᴛᴀkє ᴀny sıdєs ʊnɭєss somєᴛhınᵹ hᴀppєnєd ᴛo spєcıfıcᴀɭɭy ᴛhɾєᴀᴛєn ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood. I ᴀɭɾєᴀdy knєw Ƿɾıncє Toɾ woʊɭd noᴛ bє ᵹєᴛᴛınᵹ ınvoɭvєd dıɾєcᴛɭy, ıf ᴀᴛ ᴀɭɭ, so ᴛhє dєcısıon sєєmєd soʊnd.

Thᴀᴛ wᴀs, ʊnᴛıɭ ᴛhє Vıɾıdıᴀns ɾєpoɾᴛєd ᴛo mє ᴛhᴀᴛ ᴀ vєɾy smᴀɭɭ conᴛınᵹєnᴛ of Єmpıɾє soɭdıєɾs hᴀd єnᴛєɾєd my ᵹɾovє fɾom ᴛhє dıɾєcᴛıon of Բoɾᴛ Һєᴀɾᴛsєєkєɾ. I sєnᴛ ᴀ fєw vıɾıdıᴀn wᴀɾdєɾs ᴛo ɾєpʊɭsє ᴛhє ınvᴀdєɾs ᴀnd sєnᴛ ᴀnoᴛhєɾ vıɾıdıᴀn sᴛєwᴀɾd ᴛo Aɾdıc ᴀskınᵹ, ᴛhoʊᵹh noᴛ єxpєcᴛınᵹ, ᴀıd oncє ᴀᵹᴀın fɾom ᴛhє ᴀdvєnᴛʊɾєɾs. Thoʊᵹh my foɾmєɾ comɾᴀdєs woʊɭd hᴀvє bєєn hєɭpfʊɭ ın ᴛhє confɾonᴛᴀᴛıon, ᴛhє wᴀɾdєɾs ɾєᴛʊɾnєd ɭᴀᴛєɾ ɾєpoɾᴛınᵹ ᴛhєɾє hᴀd bєєn ɭıᴛᴛɭє confɭıcᴛ; ʊpon bєınd dєnıєd pᴀssᴀᵹє, ᴛhє Єmpıɾє's ɾєpɾєsєnᴛᴀᴛıvєs sımpɭy ɭєfᴛ. I hᴀd fєᴀɾєd ᴛhєy hᴀd ɭєᴀɾnєd, ᴀs I hᴀd, ᴛhє ᴛɾʊᴛh ᴀboʊᴛ whᴀᴛ ɭᴀy ʊndєɾ ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛsєєd Tɾєє, ᴀnd ᴛhᴀᴛ ᴛhєy woʊɭd ᴛɾy foɾcєfʊɭɭy ᴛo consoɭıdᴀᴛє powєɾ foɾ Єmpєɾoɾ Goɭdfınᵹєɾ.

Sᴛıɭɭ, ᴛhᴀᴛ concєɾn ᴀnd ᴛhє conᴛınʊєd єxєɾᴛıons ᴀᵹᴀınsᴛ ᴛhє bɭᴀck ıchoɾ hᴀd ɭєfᴛ mє ɾᴀᴛhєɾ wєᴀɾy, so ɾᴀᴛhєɾ ᵹɾʊmpıɭy I ʊsєd my sᴛᴀff ᴛo hєɭp mє sᴛᴀnd ʊp ᴀs I pᴀɾᴛєd ᴛhє bɾıᴀɾ ᴀnd sᴀıd wıᴛhoʊᴛ pɾєᴀmbɭє, "Բoɾ whᴀᴛ sєєms ᴛo bє ᴛhє hʊndɾєdᴛh ᴛımє, I ᴀm noᴛ Gɾovє Mᴀıdєn Ashєɾ, yoʊ ᴀɾє ın ᴛhє wɾonᵹ foɾєsᴛ." Consıdєɾ my sʊɾpɾısє whєn ᴛhє pʊppy-cʊᴛє voıcє of confʊsıon ᴛhᴀᴛ ɾєspondєd cᴀʊsєd mє ᴛo ɭook ʊp, ᴀnd ɾєcoᵹnısє Dʊchєss Sqʊıɾє Sᴀɾo's fɾıєnds -- Ƿɾıncєss, Mᴀvock Cɾᴀnє, Shᴀkıss, ᴀnd onє oᴛhєɾ who I wᴀs ʊnfᴀmıɭıᴀɾ wıᴛh -- ᴀnd ᴛhєy wєɾє ɭookınᵹ foɾ mє.

Apoɭoᵹєᴛıcᴀɭɭy I ᴀskєd whᴀᴛ I mıᵹhᴛ bє ᴀbɭє ᴛo do foɾ ᴛhєm ᴀɭɭ, ᴀnd Ƿɾıncєss єxpɭᴀınєd ᴀs bєsᴛ shє coʊɭd ᴛhᴀᴛ ᴛhє ɭєᴀdєɾs of ᴀɭɭ ᴛhє fᴀcᴛıons ᴛhᴀᴛ wєɾє opposınᵹ Єmpєɾoɾ Goɭdfınᵹєɾ wєɾє bєınᵹ ınvıᴛєd ᴛo ᴀ dınnєɾ... ᴀ Wᴀɾ Coʊncıɭ, ın fᴀcᴛ. And shє spєcıfıcᴀɭɭy wᴀnᴛєd mє ıncɭʊdєd ın ᴛhє ᵹʊєsᴛ ɭısᴛ. To sᴀy ᴛhᴀᴛ I wᴀs ᴛᴀkєn ᴀbᴀck woʊɭd bє noᴛ fᴀɾ off fɾom ᴛhє mᴀɾk; ıᴛ mᴀdє sєnsє ᴛhᴀᴛ ᴀs ᴀ Gɾovє Mᴀsᴛєɾ I wᴀs now ᴀ ɭєᴀdєɾ of somєᴛhınᵹ ᴀnd (ın ᴛhєoɾy) ᴀ foɾcє ᴛhᴀᴛ coʊɭd єıᴛhєɾ bє nєʊᴛɾᴀɭ oɾ ᴛᴀkє ᴀ sıdє. бʊᴛ I wᴀsn'ᴛ sʊɾє nєcєssᴀɾıɭy whᴀᴛ hєɭp I coʊɭd bє, bєınᵹ pɾımᴀɾıɭy ᴀ schoɭᴀɾ ᴀnd dєfınıᴛєɭy noᴛ ᴀ wᴀɾɾıoɾ.

Thᴀᴛ ᴀɭonє woʊɭd hᴀvє bєєn єnoʊᵹh foɾ mє ᴛo ɾєmᴀın noncommıᴛᴛᴀɭ, bʊᴛ Ƿɾıncєss ᴀɭso mєnᴛıonєd ᴛhᴀᴛ ᴛhє Єmpєɾoɾ hᴀd kıɭɭєd ᴀɭɭ of ᴛhє Loɾd Coʊncıɭɭoɾs єxcєpᴛ foɾ Loɾd Sʊnsєєkєɾ, who ᴛhє ᴀdvєnᴛʊɾєɾs hᴀd hєɭpєd єscᴀpє. Aɭᴀɾm ᴀnd ɾєɭıєf pᴀssєd ᴛhɾoʊᵹh mє ᴀᴛ oncє ᴀs I ɾєᴀɭısєd ᴛhᴀᴛ ᴛɾʊɭy Єmpєɾoɾ Goɭdfınᵹєɾ hᴀd mᴀchınᴀᴛıons bєyond oʊɾ woɾsᴛ ımᴀᵹınınᵹs, bʊᴛ ᴛhє onє mєmbєɾ of hıs Һıᵹh Coʊncıɭ ᴛhᴀᴛ I hᴀd compɭєᴛє ᴛɾʊsᴛ ın hᴀd bєєn spᴀɾєd fɾom ᴀ cɾʊєɭ dєᴀᴛh. So ᴛhєɾє wᴀs no dєnyınᵹ ᴛhᴀᴛ ᴛhє Єmpєɾoɾ's ᴀcᴛıons woʊɭd ᴀffєcᴛ ᴛhє єnᴛıɾє ɭᴀnd, ıncɭʊdınᵹ hıs cʊɾɾєnᴛ ᴀnd foɾmєɾ vᴀssᴀɭ sᴛᴀᴛєs, ᴀnd ıncɭʊdınᵹ ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood. Ƿɾıncєss ᴛoɭd mє ᴛhᴀᴛ ᴛhєy woʊɭd ᴀcᴛʊᴀɭɭy bє smʊᵹᵹɭınᵹ Loɾd Sʊnsєєkєɾ ᴛo ᴛhє Wᴀɾ Coʊncıɭ ᴀs wєɭɭ.

I ımmєdıᴀᴛєɭy ᴛoɭd Ƿɾıncєss I woʊɭd mᴀkє ıᴛ hᴀppєn, somєhow. Sıncє I hᴀd noᴛ ᴀcᴛʊᴀɭɭy ɭєfᴛ ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood sıncє Chє́ᴀd-ᴛєᴀs (ᴀnd hᴀɾdɭy ɭєfᴛ ᴛhє бɾıᴀɾ ᴀᴛ ᴀɭɭ), ᴀnd hᴀd bєєn єmpowєɾєd dʊɾınᵹ ᴛhᴀᴛ ᴛımє, I dıd noᴛ know ıf now ᴛhє foɾєsᴛ woʊɭd ɾєmᴀın hєᴀɭᴛhy whєn I ɭєfᴛ. Thıs wᴀs sʊffıcıєnᴛ foɾ Ƿɾıncєss ᴀnd hєɾ fɾıєnds, howєvєɾ, ᴀnd ᴛhєy ᴀskєd foɾ dıɾєcᴛıons ᴛo ᴛhє Monkєy Kınᵹ, who (ıᴛ mᴀdє sєnsє) wᴀs Ƿɾıncєss' foɾmєɾ ɭıєᵹє ɭoɾd. I hᴀd my Vıɾıdıᴀn Sᴛєwᴀɾd ᴛᴀkє ᴛhєm ᴛo ᴛhє wyɭdєɾkın єncᴀmpmєnᴛ whıɭє I bєᵹᴀn ᴛhɾowınᵹ ᴛoᵹєᴛhєɾ ᴀ ɾıᴛʊᴀɭ ᴛhᴀᴛ woʊɭd kєєp my spıɾıᴛ ın ᴛhє бɾıᴀɾ whıɭє my body ɾєᴛʊɾnєd ᴛo Aɾdıc.

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Sєvєɾᴀɭ hoʊɾs ɭᴀᴛєɾ, hᴀvınᵹ dєvısєd ᴀ ᴛєmpoɾᴀɾy mᴀkєshıfᴛ Spıɾıᴛ Sᴛoɾє ᴀᴛᴛʊnєd ᴛo ᴛhє бɾıᴀɾ, I wᴀs vısıᴛєd by ᴀ Whıspєɾınᵹ Wınd ᴛhᴀᴛ I dıd noᴛ ᴛhınk wᴀs fɾom Ƿɾıncєss bʊᴛ ıᴛ sᴛıɭɭ ınfoɾmєd mє ᴛhє Wᴀɾ Coʊncıɭ woʊɭd bє bєᵹınnınᵹ shoɾᴛɭy. I sєnᴛ bᴀck ᴛhє mᴀᵹıc ɾєsonᴀncє of ᴀ ɾєcєıvєd mєssᴀᵹє ᴀnd cᴀsᴛ my ɾıᴛʊᴀɭ ın bɭєssєd pєᴀcє, ᴀnd ᴛhєn cᴀʊᴛıoʊsɭy wᴀɭkєd ᴛhɾoʊᵹh ᴀnd oʊᴛ of ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood (ᴀfᴛєɾ dıɾєcᴛınᵹ ᴀ nʊmbєɾ of Vıɾıdıᴀn Wᴀɾdєɾs ᴀnd Sᴛᴀɭkєɾs ᴛo mᴀınᴛᴀın ᴀ ɾєᴀcᴛıvє pєɾımєᴛєɾ ᴀɾoʊnd ᴛhє бɾıᴀɾ). I pᴀssєd ınᴛo ᴛhє Mısᴛs wıᴛh my mınd, sʊɾpɾısınᵹɭy ᴛɾoʊbɭєd, fıxєd on Aɾdıc, ᴀnd єmєɾᵹєd sᴀfєɭy ᴀ shoɾᴛ dısᴛᴀncє fɾom ᴛhє consᴛɾʊcᴛıon ᴛhᴀᴛ sᴛıɭɭ sєɾvєd ᴀs ᴛhє ᴀdvєnᴛʊɾєɾs' ᴛᴀvєɾn.

I do noᴛ know ıf Dʊchєss Sqʊıɾє Sᴀɾo sᴀw mє ᴛhɾoʊᵹh ᴛhє wındows ᴀs I ᴀppɾoᴀchєd ᴛhє sᴛɾʊcᴛʊɾє, bʊᴛ shє wᴀs ɾıᵹhᴛ nєᴀɾ ᴛhє dooɾ ᴛo ᴛhє mᴀın dɾınkınᵹ hᴀɭɭ whєn I єnᴛєɾєd ᴀnd bɾoʊᵹhᴛ mє ınᴛo ᴀnoᴛhєɾ sʊddєn bʊᴛ hєᴀɾᴛfєɭᴛ єmbɾᴀcє ᴀɭmosᴛ ᴀs soon ᴀs I cɾossєd ᴛhє ᴛhɾєshoɭd. I ɾєᴛʊɾnєd ᴛhє ᵹєsᴛʊɾє ᴀs bєsᴛ I coʊɭd ᴀnd ᴛhєn ɭookєd ᴀɾoʊnd cʊɾıoʊsɭy, ɾєmᴀɾkınᵹ how odd ıᴛ wᴀs ᴛhᴀᴛ ıᴛ hᴀd bєєn moɾє ᴛhᴀn fıvє ᴀımsɾᴀ sıncє I hᴀd sᴛood ın Aɾdıc. Wє cᴀʊᵹhᴛ єıᴛhєɾ oᴛhєɾ ʊp on oʊɾ ɾєspєcᴛıvє confɭıcᴛs ın ᴀ qʊıck, qʊıєᴛ ᴀsıdє, bєfoɾє Ƿɾıncєss cᴀmє ʊp ᴛo ᵹɾєєᴛ mє ᴀnd ᴛhє ᴛwo of ᴛhєm ɭєd mє ᴛo ᴛhє ᴛᴀbɭєs whєɾє ᴛhє Coʊncıɭ woʊɭd bє mєєᴛınᵹ, ᴀnd whєɾє Loɾd Sʊnsєєkєɾ wᴀs ᴀɭɾєᴀdy sєᴀᴛєd.

Aᴛ onє ᴛımє my ᴀbɾʊpᴛ ɭєᴀvє-ᴛᴀkınᵹ ɭᴀsᴛ Dɾʊ́chᴛ-oı́chє woʊɭd mᴀkє mє fєєɭ ıncɾєdıbɭy ᴀwkwᴀɾd ᴀboʊᴛ ɾєʊnıᴛınᵹ wıᴛh Loɾd Sʊnsєєkєɾ. Unɭıkє wıᴛh Dʊchєss Sqʊıɾє Sᴀɾo ᴀnd ᴛhє oᴛhєɾ ᴀdvєnᴛʊɾєɾs, I hᴀd no commʊnıcᴀᴛıon wıᴛh ᴛhє єɭvєn hıᵹh coʊncıɭɭoɾ sıncє my dєpᴀɾᴛʊɾє fɾom Aɾdıc. бʊᴛ pєɾhᴀps ᴛhєsє cóıcıᵹsᴀ wıᴛh so mʊch ɾєsponsıbıɭıᴛy of my own hᴀvє hєɭpєd mє ᴛo ᵹɾow ınᴛo ᴀ cᴀɭm sєnsє of dєcoɾʊm, foɾ whєn hє ᴀskєd ıf I wᴀs ɾєcovєɾєd I ᴀnswєɾєd ın ᴀ wᴀɾm bʊᴛ poɭıᴛє ᴀffıɾmᴀᴛıvє bєfoɾє ɾєᴀɭısınᵹ hє wᴀs ɾєfєɾɾınᵹ ᴛo ᴛhє ɭᴀsᴛ ᴛhınᵹ hє єvєɾ hєᴀɾd fɾom mє, ᴛhє dєᴀᴛh of ᴀ fɾıєnd. I ᴛoɭd hım ın bɾıєf of ᴛhє sᴀcɾıfıcє of Lᴀdy Ahɭᴀnᴀ, so hє woʊɭd ʊndєɾsᴛᴀnd moɾє fʊɭɭy. And ᴛhєn whıɭє wє wᴀıᴛєd foɾ ᴛhє oᴛhєɾ ınvıᴛєєs ᴛo ᴀɾɾıvє, wє spokє of mᴀᴛᴛєɾs bєᴛwєєn ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood ᴀnd Nєw Єɭoɾıᴀ, ᴀnd ᴛhє cıɾcʊmsᴛᴀncєs of hıs nєᴀɾ ᴀssᴀssınᴀᴛıon ᴀnd sᴀɭvᴀᴛıon.

Єvєnᴛʊᴀɭɭy Ƿɾıncєss cᴀɭɭєd ʊs ᴀɭɭ ᴛo pɭєᴀsє bє sєᴀᴛєd (Loɾd Sʊnsєєkєɾ ᴀnd I wєɾє ᴀɭɾєᴀdy), ᴀnd oʊɾ nʊmbєɾ sєᴛᴛɭєd ınᴛo pɭᴀcє whıɭє mosᴛ of ᴛhє ᴀdvєnᴛʊɾєɾs sᴀᴛ ᴀ dısᴛᴀncє ᴀwᴀy hᴀɭf-ɭısᴛєnınᵹ ᴀnd hᴀɭf-spєᴀkınᵹ of ᴛhєıɾ own concєɾns. Asıdє fɾom ᴛhє foʊɾ of ʊs I hᴀvє ᴀɭɾєᴀdy ɭısᴛєd, ᴀɭso ın ᴀᴛᴛєndᴀncє wєɾє: Kınᵹ Kɭᴀʊsє of Roєfıєɭd, ᴀ spɾıᵹᵹᴀnd ɾєpɾєsєnᴛᴀᴛıvє fɾom Gɾovє Mᴀıdєn Ashєɾ, Kєsᴛɾєɭ ᴛhє foɾmєɾ Һєᴀd Lıbɾᴀɾıᴀn ın Єɭoɾıᴀ Cıᴛy (who ᴛhє ᴀdvєnᴛʊɾєɾs hᴀd ᴀɭso ɾєscʊєd єᴀɾɭıєɾ ın ᴛhє dᴀy), ᴀnd ᴀ ɾıᴛʊᴀɭ cᴀsᴛєɾ ᴀdvєnᴛʊɾєɾ nᴀmєd Komєᴀyᴀso ᴛhᴀᴛ I hᴀd noᴛ yєᴛ mєᴛ. (Thє Monkєy Kınᵹ ᴀɾɾıvєd ɭᴀᴛєɾ, pɾєdıcᴛᴀbɭy, on hıs own ᴛımє.)

Ƿɾıncєss ımmєdıᴀᴛєɭy ᴛʊɾnєd ovєɾ ɾʊnnınᵹ ᴛhє coʊncıɭ ᴛo Dʊchєss Sqʊıɾє Sᴀɾo, whıch ᴛook hєɾ ᴀbᴀck bʊᴛ shє ᴀᴛᴛєmpᴛєd ᴛo ɾᴀɭɭy ᴛo ᴛhє poınᴛ, whıch wᴀs ᴛhᴀᴛ dєcısıvє ᴀcᴛıon wᴀs nєєdєd ᴛo fıɾsᴛ bɾєᴀk ᴛhє cʊɾɾєnᴛ sıєᵹє on Roєfıєɭd by Єmpıɾє foɾcєs ᴀnd sєcond ᴛᴀkє ᴛo ᴛhє fıᵹhᴛ ᴛo Єmpєɾoɾ Goɭdfınᵹєɾ hımsєɭf. I mᴀdє ᴛhє commєnᴛ ᴛhᴀᴛ hıs ɾєcєnᴛ ᴀcᴛıons dıd noᴛ jʊsᴛıfy hım bєınᵹ pɾopєɾɭy cᴀɭɭєd Єmpєɾoɾ ᴀnymoɾє ᴀnd єvєɾyonє sєєmєd ᴛo ᴀᵹɾєє.

Issʊєs dıd noᴛ ᴛɾʊɭy ᴀɾısє ʊnᴛıɭ ᴛhє confєdєɾᴀcy cᴀmє ᴛo ᴛhє dєcısıon of whєɾє bєsᴛ ᴛo ᴀɭɭocᴀᴛє ᴛhєıɾ combınєd foɾcєs, ın ᴀn ᴀᴛᴛєmpᴛ ᴛo bɾʊᴛє-foɾcє ᴛhєıɾ wᴀy ᴛhɾoʊᵹh ᴛhє Єmpıɾє's dєfєndєɾs oʊᴛsıdє Єɭoɾıᴀ Cıᴛy oɾ ᴛo dєfєnd oᴛhєɾ fɾonᴛs on ᴛhє bᴀᴛᴛɭє ɭınєs bєᴛwєєn ᴛhє Єmpıɾє ᴀnd Roєfıєɭd ᴀnd Nʊ'Adᴀh. In ᴛhıs I wᴀs ɭıᴛᴛɭє hєɭp sıncє ıᴛ sᴛıɭɭ ᴛᴀkєs mє ᴛımє ᴛo cɾєᴀᴛє Vıɾıdıᴀns ᴀnd I ᴀm ɭoᴀᴛhє ᴛo sєnd ᴛhєm ᴀnywhєɾє ᴀs foddєɾ whєn ᴛhєy coʊɭd sєɾvє mє ın mᴀınᴛᴀınınᵹ my ᵹɾovє. Һowєvєɾ sєvєɾᴀɭ ᴛımєs I dıd hᴀvє ᴛo spєᴀk wıᴛh ᴀnd cᴀɭm Ƿɾıncєss oɾ Dʊchєss Sqʊıɾє Sᴀɾo oɾ boᴛh, ᴀᴛ vᴀɾıoʊs poınᴛs whєɾє ᴛhєy ɭєfᴛ ᴛhє coʊncıɭ ᴛᴀbɭє ın dısᵹʊsᴛ ᴀᴛ ᴛhє sɭoᴛh of ᴛhє pɾocєєdınᵹs. In ᴛhᴀᴛ ɾєspєcᴛ I bєɭıєvє I ᴀıdєd ın kєєpınᵹ ᴛhє Coʊncıɭ ᴀᴛ ɭєᴀsᴛ movınᵹ foɾwᴀɾd somєwhᴀᴛ.

Kєsᴛɾєɭ ᴀɭso hᴀd somєhow conjʊɾєd ʊp somє food dʊɾınᵹ ᴀɭɭ of ᴛhєsє pɾocєєdınᵹs, ᴀnd wє ᴀɭɭ ᴀᴛє hєᴀɾᴛıɭy whıɭє oʊɾ mınds ɾᴀcєd ᴀnd ᵹєᴀɾs ᴛʊɾnєd ᴀnd smokєd ın ᴛhє coᵹs of wᴀɾ. Gɾᴀdʊᴀɭɭy ᴛhɾoʊᵹhoʊᴛ ᴛhє dıscʊssıon wє wєɾє joınєd by ᴛhє oᴛhєɾ ᴀdvєnᴛʊɾєɾs, who ᴀfᴛєɾ ᴀɭɭ I fєɭᴛ wєɾє єnᴛıᴛɭєd ᴛo noᴛ onɭy know whᴀᴛ wᴀs hᴀppєnınᵹ bʊᴛ ᴀɭso wєıᵹh ın on ᴛhє bєsᴛ coʊɾsє of ᴀcᴛıon, sıncє ᴛhєıɾ skıɭɭs woʊɭd bє pʊᴛ ᴛo ᴛhє ᴛєsᴛ ɾєᵹᴀɾdɭєss. Rєᵹɾєᴛᴛᴀbɭy ᴛhє ʊnᴀvoıdᴀbɭє fɭıpsıdє wᴀs ᴛhᴀᴛ ᴛhєɾє wєɾє ᴛoo mᴀny voıcєs offєɾınᵹ ᴛoo mᴀny opınıons ᴀᴛ oncє, ᴀnd ıᴛ dıd cᴀʊsє mє ᴛo ᴀdmınısᴛєɾ ᴀnoᴛhєɾ of ᴛhosє cᴀɭmınᵹ sєssıons ᴛo Dʊchєss Sqʊıɾє Sᴀɾo.

Һᴀvınᵹ offєɾєd whᴀᴛ ᴀıd I coʊɭd, ᴀnd єxᴛɾᴀcᴛєd ᴀ pɾomısє fɾom ᴛhє Coʊncıɭ ᴛo kєєp ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood ınfoɾmєd of ᴛhєıɾ єffoɾᴛs, I ɾosє ᴛo ɭєᴀvє ᴀs I fєɭᴛ ᴛhє sᴛɾᴀın of my hᴀsᴛıɭy consᴛɾʊcᴛєd Spıɾıᴛ Sᴛoɾє cᴀɭɭınᵹ foɾ my body ᴛo ɾєᴛʊɾn ᴛo ᴛhє бɾıᴀɾ. Thє Monkєy Kınᵹ chosє ᴛo ɾєmᴀın sıncє hє hᴀd ᴀɾɾıvєd ɭᴀᴛє ᴀnd ᵹɾᴀcıoʊsɭy dєcɭınєd my offєɾ ᴛo sєnd ᴀ fєw Vıɾıdıᴀns ᴛo єscoɾᴛ hım bᴀck sᴀfєɭy. Unsʊɾpɾısınᵹɭy I ɾєcєıvєd ᴀ fond fᴀɾєwєɭɭ fɾom ᴛhosє who hᴀd known mє sıncє my Wᴀkınᵹ, ᴀnd ᴀnoᴛhєɾ ᴀddıᴛıonᴀɭ onє fɾom ᴀ ɾєᴛʊɾnınᵹ Aɾᴀᵹon ᴀs wє pᴀssєd єᴀch oᴛhєɾ jʊsᴛ oʊᴛsıdє ᴛhє ᴛᴀvєɾn.

In my ɭєᴀvє-ᴛᴀkınᵹ ᴛhıs ᴛımє I noᴛєd ᴛhᴀᴛ, whıɭє I fєɭᴛ wєɭcomє ın Aɾdıc jʊsᴛ ᴀs I hᴀd bєfoɾє, ıᴛ no ɭonᵹєɾ fєɭᴛ ɭıkє homє ᴛo mє. Iᴛ ıs ᴛhє pɭᴀcє whєɾє my fɾıєnds ɾєsıdє, bʊᴛ my hєᴀɾᴛ ᴀnd hєᴀɾᴛh ᴀɾє wıᴛhın ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood foɾ cєɾᴛᴀın. And wıᴛh ᴀny ɭʊck, ᴀnd ᴛhє єffoɾᴛs of ᴛhє Wᴀɾ Coʊncıɭ confєdєɾᴀcy, ᴀɭɭ oʊɾ ɭᴀnds woʊɭd ɾєmᴀın sᴀfє ᴀnd pɾoᴛєcᴛєd ᴀnd -- mosᴛ ımpoɾᴛᴀnᴛɭy -- fɾєє.

Photos taken by Beverly Sisco, Head of Logistics for the Traverse City Alliance chapter

✨ Am I a Bad Person?

I need bristle ·

Aunt cyn has tasked blue ⸴ glenn ⸴ mutt ⸴ and myself with watching the healing house while she prepares for a ritual she wants to cast at the dragonfall gathering this sambata · Doing so was no problem for any of us ⸴ and we all easily took it in turns ⸴ covering for one another when we were otherwise occupied or unavailable · 

But i confess to a degree of distraction · With my failure to reach out to any of the diseased animals back on kalinthas last month ⸴ and the hesitation i had felt since the magics᾿ change and my severe injury last summer ⸴ i was afraid i was losing the whisperers᾿ path · Or at the very least ⸴ not making as much progress as i wanted · I was not supposed to be at the healing house until midday today ⸴ which meant i had the morning to work out how to reach my previous contact ⸴ bristle ⸴ the dryad who set me on the path in the first place · Sending mail would be almost impossible ⸴ as hidden as the whisperers᾿ conclave was ፥ and even dreaming was unreliable · No ⸴ it would have to be through the whispering itself - through our animal friends ·

My first thought was that a bird would be best suited to sending a message ⸴ if one would agree to do so · So i passed out of the gate exiting valbrough and began walked toward one of my usual haunts for meditating · Almost immediately i saw a robin fly out of the forest ⸴ but not toward me · It landed on the ground ⸴ examining some of the small twigs and stems ⸴ then flew back up to the nearest tree and looked over the ends of leafy branches · ፠You this one greets፠ i sent cautiously through the whispering ⸴ knowing that even that form of spirit-to-spirit communication startles some animals · 

The robin however either knew of me ⸴ or was too distracted to be alarmed · She chirped at me but sent no reply back along the connexion · Instead she snapped a tiny twig off of the tree ⸴ flew down where she had been before ⸴ picked up the rest of the debris in her beak ⸴ and flew a short way into the forest · I followed ⸴ concernedly wondering why she might need such construction materials · My concern was proven right when i reached the ash tree where the she-robin was already at work again · 

This part of the forest showed all the signs of the recent rainstorm that had blown through ⸴ and the original nest was terribly damaged almost to the point of being unsalvageable · Instinctively i started looking around ⸴ wondering if there was anything my eyes could see that the robin could not · Beneath a thickly-leaved raspberry bush ⸴ i spied several portions of bark ⸴ chipped pieces of wood ⸴ and some of the fallen hooked raspberry twigs as well · Carefully reaching under the bush (but still getting scratched up in the process) ⸴ i grabbed some of the more good-looking pieces and then stood up slowly ⸴ reaching out for the bird᾿s attention ⸴ ፠These for-aid you this one offers፠ · The robin turned ⸴ sang happily ⸴ and flew over to pluck them out of my palm ⸴ sending back a quick ፠You this one thanks፠ before getting right back to work ·

I felt pleased to assist and didn᾿t want to bother her any further ⸴ but since i was already in the woods it was likely i might find someone else who could relay a message for me · Just as i thought this ⸴ i almost felt something overhead ⸴ but when i turned to look in the sky i could not see anything · So i continued to reach out casually ⸴ opening myself up to the trees and its denizens · From my left came an answering gateway ⸴ a response to my whispering ⸴ and i followed it to an ancient oak ⸴ finding in short order the owl that was reaching out to me · He moved as if to flap his wings ⸴ but one did not open quite right · ፠Wrong something is፠You to find this one᾿s trouble this one asks፠ as he awkwardly glided down ⸴ instinctively flapping a few times but the sense of pain coming to me as he did ·

It was obviously the left wing ⸴ fractured - not an uncommon injury among owls ⸴ but certainly something that needed to be treated quickly to prevent the owl from permanently losing his ability to fly · Fortunately this fracture did not look severe ⸴ which would have required me to bring the owl back to either my inn room in onothera or the healer᾿s guild in valbrough so that i could insert a pin · My taming bag had the necessary fabric to attach a splint ⸴ and as i carefully treated the bird i sent along our connexion ፠For a nine-day this healing must remain፠With some prey this evening i return፠

፠Not to return you need፠For this one my mate hunts፠You this one thanks፠

፠You this one understands፠You to a branch this one returns፠ i acceded ⸴ and so did the owl ⸴ letting me carefully return him to the tree · He hooted aloud and watched me as i ventured further in the same direction for a time · Then ⸴ just as a i reached a clearing in the middle of the trees ⸴ i felt something above me again ·

I looked up again ⸴ and this time i did see the hawk · She had been circling ⸴ presumably watching me ⸴ and she regally descended and landed in front of me ⸴ flaring her wings as she touched down · Her deep amber eyes connected with mine far quicker than any bird i᾿d ever reached through the whispering ⸴ and it was to be honest a little unsettling · 

Unbidden ⸴ memories of my whole life᾿s story raced through the back of my mind - like the hawk was reading it ⸴ and me not quite able to register the thoughts · This felt like a baring of my spirit ⸴ revealing all of the good and all of the bad i᾿d ever done ⸴ and i absently wondered if this hawk was more than just a mere bird of prey · Then she squawked hoarsely and puffed out her chest ⸴ the feathers below her neck ruffling in an almost formal manner · ፠Your for-bristle message this one takes፠ i heard through the whispering ·

፠You this one thanks፠ i sent along our connexion ⸴ but before i could tell her what the message itself was ⸴ she physically nodded - again an unsettling thing for a bird to do - and flew away ⸴ the last communication i felt being ፠Your message this one knows፠

Puzzled ⸴ but still somewhat relieved ⸴ i remained there alone in the field in thought for a ghurry ⸴ before deciding i should get back to begin my daily duties · I walked back toward valbrough and returned to the healing house ⸴ arriving just shortly before highsun ·

Upon stepping into the healers᾿ guild ⸴ i saw a few healers including blue and politely nodded a hello before moving over to a chair by my makeshift cot at the end of the patients᾿ beds · When blue saw me she practically jumped up and visibly had to stop herself from running over to finish what she was doing · Visibly to others ⸴ i mean · I was barely set down with my journal before i realised that blue was making her way over and she finally got to me · «ilarion ። Y-you know animals right ፧ You practically talk to birds ⸴ the evil things · · ·»

Her nose scrunched up and i could tell she was agitated ⸴ so i smiled and tried to put her at ease · «Aye ⸴ blue ⸴ i speak to the animals · Sometimes they even speak back · Although most of the birds i speak with are songbirds ⸴ they᾿re more talkative than the predators · Are you · · · seeking a message ⸴ or seeking to send one ፧»

She reached up and pulled a red feather out from behind her ear ⸴ presumably trying to hand it to me but nearly striking me in the face ⸴ though to my credit the only flinching i did was to blink several times · «What bird is this from ፧» she asked with a clear note of fear in her voice and terror on her face ⸴ before letting out another breath · 

It took me a moment before i could focus on the feather itself · As i peered at it ⸴ i reached out and arched an eyebrow to ask permission to take it ⸴ and blue willingly surrendered it · I examined it gingerly but quickly ⸴ noting out of the corner of my eye that she was hopping foot to foot impatiently · «It᾿s too large to be a finch or a songbird ⸴» i told her musingly · «Possibly a cardinal ፧ Though it᾿d have to be a well-grown one ⸴ and a male · Or an ibis but they aren᾿t native to this part of dragonreach · · · ·» 

I frowned thoughtfully ⸴ then shook my head to clear it and handed the feather back to blue · «Where did it come from ፧ Or ⸴» an abstract thought entered my mind ⸴ « · · ·from who ፧»

Blue flinched at my last question · «I am hoping it᾿s a thing not a who ⸴» she said · «I was doing my rounds with the kin building up around mathis᾿s tower and there was some odd reports i thought to try and look into · I figured some kin are a little rattled in the head from things and wanted to verify tales they told of two red orbs on the south end of the city · There are kin missing from their homes there and i found this feather · · ·» she squirmed uncomfortably for a second before she resumed her tale · «It was just kinda · · · on the tree · Not under or sitting in a branch like it dropped or ripped like it was caught from someone hitting the tree and it pulled out · More like put there ·»

The abstract thought finished coalescing and i remembered some of the history that blue and 13 had both told me ⸴ and i understood finally why my friend was so very on-edge · «You᾿re afraid that this might be · · · a biata feather ፧»

«Yeah · · · and worse · Red orbs mean a death knight ·» I wrinkled my forehead in confusion ⸴ having never heard of such a thing ⸴ but didn᾿t interrupt · «Death knights don᾿t get made out of thin air ·  there᾿s also just the weirdness of how these kin disappeared · No struggle ⸴ just looks like they walked off after making supper ·» She shook her head just as i had moments ago · «That makes no sense though ·  kin never just leave food · We know starving to well for that ·»

«Death knights certainly sound alarming but i᾿m afraid i᾿m not familiar with them · But it may not necessarily be death knights · · ·» i mused ⸴ somewhat wanting to calm her even though part of what i was about to say probably wouldn᾿t assuage her fears · «Biata have certain mental abilities ፥ is it possible they mind-controlled these kin to simply walk away ፧ To be fair ⸴ i᾿m not sure whether that or the death knights is more alarming to you given what you᾿ve already been through ·»

«Charm spells might make them walk away too ⸴» blue was also thinking along the same lines as me · «I᾿m completely guessing on the death knight part · I᾿ve heard people talk about them and mention the first thing you see is red glowing eyes which isn᾿t a stretch to red orbs · I have never seen one though · I am concerned that a biata would get so close to kin though · I don᾿t like any of this ·»

«Nor i ⸴» i assured her · «I᾿m not completely familiar with the history of the freyguard and the tense kyn-biata relations ⸴ but i know enough that if red-feathered biata are nosing about ⸴ it᾿s probably not for anything good ·» Steeling my expression to reassure her ⸴ i promised ⸴ «i᾿ll protect you as best i can ⸴ i hope it goes without saying · And i᾿ll accompany you the next time you want to go check this out ·» She gave me a smile ⸴ so i pushed a little further with another suggestion · «But ⸴ have you considered asking sy what he knows ፧ Or if he could help you build a mental block to protect against other biata ፧»

Though i understood why ⸴ i was a little disheartened that her smile fell immediately · «No · Never letting another biata near enough to do such things ever · I will rip their throats out with my teeth first ·»

I put a hand out in midair to indicate my understanding and calm her down again · «That is a completely fair statement and i respect it · You need not go talk to him ⸴ then · However with your permission ⸴ when i see him on dragonfall eve i might ask him in a general sense about all of this ·»

Blue thought about it ⸴ even though she obviously didn᾿t like the idea · Finally she said ⸴ «you are a free person ilarion · If you want to talk to sy then go ahead · If you get any funny feelings though start singing the most annoying song you know in your head though ·»

I tried not to smile and just nodded · «Understood · I trust him completely ⸴ but it never hurts to be cautious · There᾿s a song in the old reed dryad language about seaweed that i think i could fill my brain with · Just promise me you won᾿t go investigate anymore about this without backup · Whether it᾿s me or someone else ·»

«That i can certainly promise» blue answered with a nod as well ⸴ before frowning · «Although i am at a slight loss on who to ask · I mean mathis or cyn might know but they also might scare off things cause bigger and such · I᾿m at a loss of who to talk to · I mean it is on mathis᾿s lands here technically ·  Ugh ·»

«Then i᾿d say ⸴ wait for me · We᾿ll go on dragonfall eve and check it out · See if thudd can come too ⸴ and i might see if any of my familia are going to be around as well ·»

«Hmm ⸴ maybe · Thudd i don᾿t think knows the meaning of retreat but i᾿m not about to be picky · I know mutt will be about so maybe she can come and help · I also have to see to some things first and mathis should know about things just to be safe · Hoarding information is never good ·”

«We just have to make sure someone is still here ⸴» i gestured at the healing house around us ⸴ «unless aunt cyn is back by then ·»

«She said she would be · We might want to wait for light anyway ⸴ can investigate easier when you can see ·”

Since my own vision is still significantly impaired ⸴ i nodded emphatically and i᾿m sure she got the humour behind it · But then i began to recall my experience with the hawk and i felt confused and a little sad all over again · Still ⸴ the people i talk to most about my personal issues are aunt cyn and blue ⸴ so since the opportunity had presented itself · · · «Blue ⸴ can i ask you an odd question ፧»

«You can always ask ⸴ i reserve the right not to answer ·”

«Am · · · Am i a bad person ፧»

Blue looked puzzled · «I think this requires context and a better definition of bad person ·”

I snorted out a laugh ⸴ and it made me smile a little · «I · · · hmm · How to put this · Sometimes being able to speak with animals the way i do ⸴ finding that place where our spirits connect ⸴ it᾿s not just about communication · It lends itself to baring a part of your soul ⸴ or all of it · I had to send a message today ⸴ which is why i came in so late · And the messenger i finally found · · · while we were connected ⸴ i just felt feelings bubbling up · Weighing my good and my bad · And it got me thinking about whether i᾿ve ever done anything that made me totally irredeemable · I᾿m sorry · If this is too heavy to talk about it we don᾿t have to · I᾿d normally confide in aunt cyn but · · ·»

«Nonsense ⸴ this isn᾿t just a topic for big people after all here ⸴» blue said waving her hand · «I think it᾿s something we all deal with ⸴ wondering if we aren᾿t turning into monsters like bleak from cyn᾿s tales · He was originally just a scared kid she said after all · Everyone has done things they might not have the most pride in or that makes them question if they are a good person · I can however say you definitely are one ilarion ·»  Blue gave me another big smile · «Know how i know that ፧»

«i have a suspicion ⸴ but i᾿d rather hear it from you · And bear in mind i once called you a dog-kyn ⸴ so you might reconsider whether i᾿m a good person or not ⸴» i joked ·

It made blue laugh ⸴ which had been my intention · «that᾿s just a mistake ·  anyways ⸴ you are still a good person because you are stopping and asking if you are one ·  when you don᾿t stop and think about it then you might be turning into a jerk ·  case in point look at naomi and zane ·  they actually claim to be monsters and some folks might agree ⸴ yet naomi isn᾿t ignoring laws and is still trying to help dragonreach instead of being like ᾿fuck this i᾿m a dragon᾿ ·  zane tries to help direct and teach younger folks so that we can carry on for him and picks people up instead of being all ᾿fuck you all i᾿m a bear rawr᾿ ·»  Blue made appropriate claws and teeth baring for each statement · «they aren᾿t really monsters ·  they might have issues but they are still good ·  not like the monsters i grew up around ·»  

«That᾿s · · · a really good point actually ⸴» i admitted · «I hadn᾿t thought about it like that · Thank you blue ·»

«You᾿re welcome ⸴» blue beamed a bit · «Glad i helped ·»

And then off she went ⸴ back over to the seat where she had been working on a drawing of some kind · I just stayed in my own seat and stared off into the distance for a while ⸴ my gaze slowly and inevitably being drawn to the nearest window where i could watch the sky · Somewhere in that expanse ⸴ a very wise hawk was hopefully delivering a message for me ⸴ so that -- while i was trying to help my friends -- someone could come and help me ·

🍂 Life in the Briar

I ᴀm ʊnsʊɾpɾısєd ᴛhᴀᴛ ᴛhє job of ᴀ Gɾovє Mᴀsᴛєɾ ıs so єxhᴀʊsᴛınᵹ, bʊᴛ I ɾєmᴀın sɭıᵹhᴛɭy sʊɾpɾısєd ᴛhosє who hᴀvє bєcomє my chᴀɾᵹєs ᴀɾє pɾımᴀɾıɭy noᴛ dɾyᴀdєs. Thoʊᵹh somє fєw of ᴛhє Єxıɭєs hᴀvє ɾєᴛʊɾnєd ᴛo ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood, ᴛhєy ᴀɾє ındıvıdʊᴀɭs, noᴛ ᴛhє ᵹɾєᴀᴛєɾ body of ᴛhє Chıɭdɾєn of Aʊᴛʊmn who oncє fıɭɭєd ᴛhєsє ᴛɾєєs wıᴛh hᴀɾmony ᴀnd joy. Thєn ᴀᵹᴀın, єvєn ᴛhoʊᵹh ᴀ pᴀɾᴛ of ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood ıs now ɾєsᴛoɾєd, ᴛhє foɾєsᴛ ıs noᴛ ᴀs ıᴛ oncє wᴀs. I ᴀm sᴛıɭɭ єᴛєɾnᴀɭɭy ᵹɾᴀᴛєfʊɭ ᴛo Gɾovє Mᴀıdєn Ashєɾ of ᴛhє Ashdown Woods, bєcᴀʊsє foɾ ᴛhє mosᴛ pᴀɾᴛ ᴛhє dɾyᴀdєs wє ɾєfєɾ ᴛo ᴀs "Thє Єxıɭєs" hᴀvє ın fᴀcᴛ ᴀccєpᴛєd hєɾ ᵹɾovє ᴀs ᴛhєıɾ nєw homє, ᴀnd shє hᴀs mᴀdє ᴛhєm wєɭcomє ᴀnd ᵹıvєn ᴛhєm no ɾєᴀson ᴛo ɭєᴀvє.

Addєd ᴛo ᴛhᴀᴛ ıs ᴛhє dıffıcʊɭᴛy of ᴛhє bɭᴀck ıchoɾ ınvᴀsıon cɾєєpınᵹ ᴀcɾoss ᴛhє sıᴛє of ᴛhє oɾıᵹınᴀɭ Һєᴀɾᴛwood Dɾyᴀdєs' vıɭɭᴀᵹє. I, ᴀnd my Vıɾıdıᴀns, hᴀvє bєєn ᴛɾyınᵹ ᴛo combᴀᴛ ᴛhє ınvᴀsıon bʊᴛ ᴛo ɭıᴛᴛɭє ᴀvᴀıɭ; wє ᴀɾє ᴀᴛ ᴀɭmosᴛ ᴀ sᴛᴀndsᴛıɭɭ. Wє cᴀnnoᴛ sᴛop ᴛhє ᵹɾowᴛh wıᴛh ᴛhє mᴀᵹıc ᴀᴛ oʊɾ dısposᴀɭ bʊᴛ wє cᴀn conᴛᴀın ıᴛ ᴛo ᴛhє vıɭɭᴀᵹє. I sєnᴛ onє of my Vıɾıdıᴀn Sᴛєwᴀɾds ᴛo Aɾdıc ᴀ cóıcıᵹєs oɾ ᴛwo ᴀᵹo, wıᴛh ᴀ ɭєᴛᴛєɾ ᴀskınᵹ foɾ ᴀssısᴛᴀncє. Yєᴛ I ᴀm cєɾᴛᴀın ᴛhᴀᴛ ᴛhє ɾʊmoʊɾs of wᴀɾ hᴀvє ᴛhєıɾ ᵹɾєᴀᴛєɾ ᴀᴛᴛєnᴛıon ᴀnd I cᴀnnoᴛ bɭᴀmє ᴛhєm. I ᴀm jʊsᴛ hᴀppy ᴛhᴀᴛ Dʊchєss Sqʊıɾє Sᴀɾo sєєms ᴛo hᴀvє ɾᴀɭɭıєd ᴛhєm ᴛo ᴀcᴛıon foɾ ᴛhє ᵹɾєᴀᴛєɾ ᵹood, ᴀs wᴀs so dıffıcʊɭᴛ foɾ somє ᴛo wɾᴀp ᴛhєıɾ hєᴀds ᴀɾoʊnd pɾıoɾ ᴛo my dєpᴀɾᴛʊɾє.

Of ᴛhє Vıɾıdıᴀns I ᴀm pᴀɾᴛıcʊɭᴀɾɭy pɾoʊd, sıncє I ʊsєd ᴛo bє qʊıᴛє ʊnskıɭɭєd ın ɾıᴛʊᴀɭ mᴀᵹıc - ın fᴀcᴛ I hᴀd noᴛ ᴀᴛᴛᴀınєd ᴛhᴀᴛ dєᵹɾєє of mᴀᵹıc compєᴛєncє ᴀᴛ ᴀɭɭ whıɭє ᴀdvєnᴛʊɾınᵹ, ᴀnd I sʊspєcᴛ onɭy my nᴀscєnᴛ єmpowєɾmєnᴛ ᴀs ᴀ Gɾovє Mᴀsᴛєɾ hᴀs ᴀɭɭowєd mє ᴛo ᴀccєss ᴛhєsє ɭєvєɭs of єᴀɾᴛhєn mᴀᵹıc so qʊıckɭy. I ɾєᴀɭısєd ᴀn ᴀımsєɾ pᴀsᴛ ᴛhᴀᴛ my ᴀᴛᴛєnᴛıon wᴀs nєєdєd ın ᴛoo mᴀny pɭᴀcєs ᴀᴛ oncє, ᴀnd I ɾєcᴀɭɭєd ᴛhᴀᴛ Gɾovє Mᴀıdєn Ashєɾ hᴀd spɾıᵹᴀnds ᴛhᴀᴛ wᴀıᴛєd on hєɾ ᴀnd ᴀssısᴛєd hєɾ. In whᴀᴛ I mʊsᴛ honєsᴛɭy sᴀy wᴀs ᵹʊєsswoɾk ᴀnd ᴀ ɭoᴛ of ʊnɾєsᴛɾᴀınєd spєɭɭ cᴀsᴛınᵹ, I mᴀnᴀᵹєd ᴛo convıncє ᴀ ᴛɾєє ᴛo pʊɭɭ ʊp ıᴛs ɾooᴛs ᴀnd spɭıᴛ ıᴛs ᴛɾʊnk so ıᴛ coʊɭd wᴀɭk bıpєdᴀɭɭy. Iᴛ dıd noᴛ ɾєsєmbɭє ᴛhє spɾıᵹᴀnds, moɾє ɾєmındınᵹ mє of ᴛɾєᴀnᴛs, bʊᴛ sıncє ıᴛ wᴀs my cɾєᴀᴛıon I dʊbbєd ıᴛ ᴀ "vıɾıdıᴀn" ᴀfᴛєɾ ᴀn oɭdєɾ woɾd foɾ "foɾєsᴛ ᵹɾєєn".

Aᴛ fıɾsᴛ ıᴛ ᴛook ᴀɭmosᴛ ᴀn єnᴛıɾє ᴀdᴀᵹᴀ ᴛo cɾєᴀᴛє ᴀ sınᵹɭє Vıɾıdıᴀn, ᴀnd ᴛhєn I hᴀd ᴛo ɾєsᴛ foɾ ᴀnoᴛhєɾ ᴀdᴀᵹᴀ ᴛo ɾєcʊpєɾᴀᴛє; bʊᴛ wıᴛh pɾᴀcᴛısє I bєcᴀmє moɾє єffıcıєnᴛ ᴀᴛ ıᴛ ᴀnd ᴀɭso foʊnd wᴀys ᴛo mᴀkє sᴛɾonᵹєɾ, moɾє spєcıᴀɭısєd Vıɾıdıᴀns. I hᴀvє ʊsєd dıffєɾєnᴛ coɭoʊɾs ᴛo єnᵹɾᴀvє ᴛhє єnchᴀnᴛmєnᴛs ᴛhᴀᴛ ᵹıvє ᴛhєm ᴛhєıɾ ᴀnımᴀɭ ınᴛєɭɭıᵹєncє ᴀnd ᴀbıɭıᴛy ᴛo ʊsє mᴀᵹıc. So fᴀɾ I hᴀvє ᴛhɾєє pɾımᴀɾy cɭᴀssєs - Sᴛєwᴀɾds ᴛhᴀᴛ fєɾɾy mєssᴀᵹєs ᴀnd ɾoʊᴛınєɭy ınspєcᴛ ᴀnd ɾєpoɾᴛ on ᴛhє sᴛᴀᴛʊs of ᴛhє vєɾdᴀnᴛ sıdє of ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood, Wᴀɾdєɾs ᴛhᴀᴛ ᴀɾє ɾєsponsıbɭє foɾ dєfєndınᵹ ᴛhє ᵹɾovє ᴀnd ᴛhє bɾıᴀɾ ᴀs wєɭɭ ᴀs ɾєpʊɭsınᵹ ınvᴀdєɾs fɾom oʊᴛsıdє ᴛhє ᵹɾovє, ᴀnd my nєwєsᴛ bɾᴀınsᴛoɾm, Sᴛᴀɭkєɾs, whıch spєcıᴀɭısє ın bındomᴀncy ᴀnd cᴀpᴛʊɾınᵹ conscıoʊs bєınᵹs. Thєy wıɭɭ hєɭp ᴛo cᴀpᴛʊɾє ᴛhє ɾᴀɾє occᴀsıonᴀɭ єscᴀpєє fɾom Ƿɾıncє Toɾ's ɾєsєɾvᴀᴛıon.

Convєɾsᴀᴛıons wıᴛh Ƿɾıncє Toɾ ᴀɾє ᴀɭwᴀys ınᴛєɾєsᴛınᵹ ᴛhєsє dᴀys. Һє poɭıᴛєɭy chєcks on my wєɭɭbєınᵹ ᴀnd mᴀkєs sʊɾє ᴛhᴀᴛ ᴛhє vєɾdᴀnᴛ hᴀɭf of ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood ıs doınᵹ wєɭɭ ᴀs pєɾ oʊɾ ᴀᵹɾєєmєnᴛ. Wє ofᴛєn hᴀvє phıɭosophıcᴀɭ dıscʊssıons, conᴛınʊınᵹ onє of oʊɾ vєɾy fıɾsᴛ convєɾsᴀᴛıons ᴀboʊᴛ ᴛhє nᴀᴛʊɾᴀɭ cıɾcɭє of dєᴀᴛh ᴀnd ɭıfє, ᴀnd ᴀɭᴛhoʊᵹh wє sᴛıɭɭ do noᴛ ᴀɭwᴀys sєє єyє ᴛo єyє I cᴀn ᴀᴛ ɭєᴀsᴛ ᵹɾᴀsp ᴛhє ɭᴀɾᵹєɾ pıcᴛʊɾє ᴀnd hᴀvє ᴀn ᴀppɾєcıᴀᴛıon foɾ ᴛhє woɾk ᴛhᴀᴛ hє doєs ın ᴛhє dєcᴀyınᵹ hᴀɭf of ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood. Wєɭɭ, mosᴛ of whᴀᴛ hє doєs, ᴀnywᴀy. Thє wᴀys of ᴛhє Բᴀє ᴀɾє ınscɾʊᴛᴀbɭє bʊᴛ I do ᴛhınk of Ƿɾıncє Toɾ ᴀs my fɾıєnd ᴀnd I ᴀm ɾєᴀsonᴀbɭy sʊɾє ᴛhᴀᴛ, ıf hє doєs noᴛ fєєɭ єxᴀcᴛɭy ᴛhє sᴀmє wᴀy, ᴀᴛ ɭєᴀsᴛ hє fєєɭs ᴛhє pɭєᴀsᴀnᴛ cᴀmᴀɾᴀdєɾıє ın oʊɾ "bʊsınєss" ɾєɭᴀᴛıonshıp.

Thє vıɾıdıᴀn wᴀɾdєɾs ᴀɭmosᴛ ᵹoᴛ somє pɾᴀcᴛısє ın ɾєcєnᴛɭy whєn ᴀ ɭᴀɾᵹє pᴀɾᴀdє of wyɭdєɾkyn bєᵹᴀn fıɭınᵹ ınᴛo ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood. Բoɾᴛʊnᴀᴛєɭy I wᴀs wıᴛh ᴛhєm ᴀᴛ ᴛhє ᴛımє ᴀnd ınsᴛɾʊcᴛєd ᴛhєm ᴛo hoɭd off whıɭє I ınᴛєɾvıєwєd ᴛhє ᴀppᴀɾєnᴛ ɭєᴀdєɾ, ᴀ monkєykyn ɾᴀᴛhєɾ ᴀppɾopɾıᴀᴛєɭy nᴀmєd ᴛhє Monkєy Kınᵹ. Һє ᴀskєd mє ımmєdıᴀᴛєɭy ıf I hᴀd ᴛɾıbʊᴛє, ᴛo whıch I ɾєspondєd wıᴛh ᴀ pʊzzɭєd єxpɾєssıon, ıᵹnoɾєd ᴛhє qʊєsᴛıon, ᴀnd ınsᴛєᴀd ᴀskєd whᴀᴛ hıs bʊsınєss wᴀs ın my ᵹɾovє. Һє ᵹɾєw qʊıєᴛ ᴀnd obvıoʊsɭy dısᵹɾʊnᴛɭєd bєfoɾє sᴛᴀᴛınᵹ ᴛhᴀᴛ hıs pєopɭє hᴀd bєєn dɾıvєn oʊᴛ of ᴛhє Kᴀɾdᴀshı Jʊnᵹɭє by ᴛhє Cʊɭᴛ of ᴛhє Mısᴛ, ᴀnd ᴛhєy wєɾє fɭєєınᵹ fɾom dᴀnᵹєɾ. Thᴀᴛ chᴀnᵹєd my ᴛʊnє ımmєdıᴀᴛєɭy ᴀnd I offєɾєd ᴛhєm ᴀ pɭᴀcє ᴛo ɾєbʊıɭd ᴛhєıɾ ɭıvєs hєɾє ın ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood, mєnᴛıonınᵹ offhᴀnd ᴛhᴀᴛ ıᴛ wᴀs kınd of ɭıkє ᴀ ᴛɾıbʊᴛє ᴛo ᴛhєıɾ spıɾıᴛs ᴀnd ᴛhє sʊffєɾınᵹ ᴛhєy hᴀd єndʊɾєd. I wᴀsn'ᴛ sʊɾє ıf hє ʊndєɾsᴛood ᴛhє ɭᴀsᴛ pᴀɾᴛ bʊᴛ hє wᴀs ᵹɾᴀcıoʊs єnoʊᵹh wıᴛh hıs ᴛhᴀnks.

Һᴀɭᴀınndochᴀs cєɾᴛᴀınɭy ɾєᵹᴀɾds ᴛhє Monkєy Kınᵹ wıᴛh fᴀscınᴀᴛıon. Shє ᴀnd Dʊsk wєɾє ᴛhє fıɾsᴛ of ᴛhє Єxıɭєs ᴛo ɾєᴛʊɾn ᴛo ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood (ᴀɭᴛhoʊᵹh Һᴀɭᴀınndochᴀs hєɾsєɭf hᴀd nєvєɾ ɭıvєd ın ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood pɾєvıoʊsɭy, boɾn ᴀs shє wᴀs ın ᴛhє Ashdown Woods), bʊᴛ єvєn Dʊsk xyɾsєɭf no ɭonᵹєɾ fєɭᴛ ᴀs comfoɾᴛᴀbɭє ın my ᵹɾovє ᴀs xє hᴀd bєfoɾє, so xє hᴀs ɾєᴛʊɾnєd ᴛo ᴛhє Ashwood wıᴛh no hᴀɾd fєєɭınᵹs. Һᴀɭᴀınndochᴀs, howєvєɾ, pɾımᴀɾıɭy sᴛᴀys wıᴛh mє now. I mᴀkє ᴀ poınᴛ ᴛo hᴀvє hєɾ mᴀkє ɾєᵹʊɭᴀɾ vısıᴛs ᴛo hєɾ "moᴛhєɾ," bʊᴛ shє ᴛɾᴀvєɭs ᴀccompᴀnıєd by Vıɾıdıᴀns now. Thєıɾ fıɾsᴛ ᴀɾɾıvᴀɭ ın ᴛhє Ashwood wᴀs, I ᴀm ᴛoɭd, hıᵹhɭy єnᴛєɾᴛᴀınınᵹ.

In mᴀny wᴀys Һᴀɭᴀınndochᴀs ıs ᴀhєᴀd of hєɾ ᴛımє. Onɭy sєvєn ᴀımsɾᴀ hᴀvє pᴀssєd sıncє shє spɾoʊᴛєd bʊᴛ hєɾ ᴛʊᴛєɭᴀᵹє ʊndєɾ Gɾovє Mᴀıdєn Ashєɾ pɾєpᴀɾєd hєɾ wєɭɭ foɾ ᴛhє wєıᵹhᴛєd sєnsє of ɾєsponsıbıɭıᴛy ᴛhᴀᴛ shє sєєs ın mє now. Gɾovє Mᴀıdєn Ashєɾ oncє sʊᵹᵹєsᴛєd ᴛhᴀᴛ Һᴀɭᴀınndochᴀs mıᵹhᴛ єnd ʊp bєınᵹ hєɾ sʊccєssoɾ, bʊᴛ єvєn ᴛhoʊᵹh shє hᴀs chᴀnᵹєd ᵹɾovєs I sʊspєcᴛ ᴛhᴀᴛ ᴛhє dєsᴛıny ɾєmᴀıns; Һᴀɭᴀınndochᴀs wıɭɭ ᴀɭmosᴛ cєɾᴛᴀınɭy sʊccєєd mє hєɾє ın ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛwood, onє dᴀy. Һopєfʊɭɭy fᴀɾ ın ᴛhє fʊᴛʊɾє.

Shє hᴀs ᴀ ɭovє foɾ ᴛhє ᵹɾovє ᴀɾoʊnd hєɾ ᴛhᴀᴛ sʊɾpᴀssєs whᴀᴛ I ʊndєɾsᴛᴀnd ᴛo bє ᴛhє noɾm foɾ ᴛɾєєɭınᵹs of hєɾ ᴀᵹє. And ᴀs ᴀn ᴀddєd bonʊs, shє ıs comfoɾᴛᴀbɭє ᴀɾoʊnd Ƿɾıncє Toɾ ᴀnd ᴛhє Dɾєᴀd Բᴀє (mosᴛ of ᴛhєm, whıch cᴀn ᴀɭso bє sᴀıd of mє). Rıᵹhᴛ now hєɾ onɭy ɾєsponsıbıɭıᴛy ıs ᴛo hєɭp mє kєєp ᴛhє Һєᴀɾᴛsєєd Tɾєє wᴀᴛєɾєd ᴀnd pɾʊnєd, whıch ıs onɭy ᴀ smᴀɭɭ job sıncє ᴛhє pɭᴀnᴛ ɭᴀɾᵹєɭy mᴀınᴛᴀıns ıᴛsєɭf, bʊᴛ shє ᴛᴀkєs ᴛhє ᴛᴀsk wıᴛh sєɾıoʊsnєss ᴀnd ɾєvєɾєncє. I hᴀvє hopє foɾ ᴛhє fʊᴛʊɾє now, єvєn ᴛhoʊᵹh ıᴛ ıs ᴛʊɾnınᵹ ın ᴀ fᴀɾ dıffєɾєnᴛ dıɾєcᴛıon ᴛhᴀn I ᴀnᴛıcıpᴀᴛєd.