The Storehouse

"It is good to see you, my son," Cafer said as the boy entered the tunnel.

"Uncle Cafer!" Alaron embraced his mentor.

"Quick, close the entrance." The gnome pulled the door shut before the boy could react.

"But it is dark. How will we see?" The boy was worried until the light was shut out and his eyes adjusted to the glowstone. "Wow, that is amazing! Who built these tunnels, and how do they glow?"

Cafer touched the wall gently. "The Fates built these walls and imbued them with magic stone."

Alaron rolled his eyes upward. "Not you too! Mother mentions magic in hushed tones, but I know it isn't real. Don't treat me like a child and use fairy tales to explain things to me."

Cafer was caught off guard. They had never had a discussion on magic, which now seemed strange. "You do know I am a gnome. I have told you such. I come from the land of magic. That is where I have been hiding these last many years. It is the reason your mother has not been able to find me. Even the mirror I left you is magic."

Alaron was still skeptical. "If you say so," he said unconvincingly.

Cafer's lips curled into mischievous smile. "Follow me. I will prove the existence of magic."

They moved down the corridors past the strange one-way windows. The prince was amazed to watch people who did not know he was looking. Alaron got a glimpse into what people were like when royalty was not present. They seemed far more relaxed. "How did you find this place?" The boy asked as they began to descend a set of stairs.

"When I made my escape ten years ago, I wanted to grab some of my possessions and leave you that mirror. Imagine my surprise when I tried to go through the castle wall and found I was actually inside the wall instead." Cafer explained.

"You went through the wall?" Alaron raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you didn't stumble on an entrance?"

"You have no idea of my powers, young prince. I am sure I went through the wall. I did not search the tunnels then because I did not know the entrance to the Storehouse was here. I have searched all day, and I am happy to report that I have been successful."

"Storehouse? Is that where we are headed?" The prince seemed disappointed.

"This is no ordinary storehouse. It is the Storehouse of the Fates. We are here." Cafer paused staring at a solid wall of glowstone.

"Uhhh, Uncle Cafer…"

"The symbol for the entrance is almost invisible, but I managed to find it. Do you have the chain?" Cafer's eyes flashed with greed. Alaron held out the necklace and the gnome reached for it. His hand did not get within an inch before his fingers began to burn. There was obviously a protection against non-humans holding the chain, or at least gnomes holding it. The gnomes were banished from such knowledge, after all. Cafer pretended to be unconcerned as he pulled his hand away. "Very good. You keep that safe, and we will enter together."

"How?" Alaron did not understand. Rather than explain, Cafer grabbed the boy's hand and pressed it against the glowstone where the tiny symbol was. The stone, which had looked so solid, began to waver and disappear. Had not Cafer's hand been against his, Alaron would have ripped his palm away in fright. The passage appeared.

"You may want to slip that chain around your neck." The gnome advised. They walked down the new passage, using the light of the necklace to guide them. Finally the door to the Storehouse appeared. Cafer beheld what few gnomes alive had seen and even fewer humans. The light from the necklace burst forth and lit the sconces in a blue hue.

Alaron knit his brow, confused. "It is a library," he said flatly.

"Oh it is far more than that. This place holds all sorts of knowledge and magical objects." The gnome saw the podium toward the middle of the room. He guessed at its purpose. "Let us try something." They walked to the platform that was just wide enough for a large book. "Ask for a book on any subject."

"What?"

"Try it." Cafer waved his hand in encouragement. "What would you like a book on?"

Alaron stared at the podium, not sure where else to look. "Could I have a book on…fighting stances?"

A wind filled the room and forced the two to close their eyes. A book appeared on the stand. The prince's eyes grew wide. "Go ahead; take a look!" Cafer chuckled.

On the stand was a book on how to fight an opponent when wrestling. Alaron flipped through the pages. "Amazing, but I was hoping for a swordplay book, and this one isn't in a language I can read."

"Cheeky little room, aren't you?" Cafer muttered. To the boy he said, "You have to be very specific on your requests. The Storehouse doesn't always want to understand."

"How does it work?" The prince was finished with the book and placed it back on the stand.

"Magic, Prince Alaron, don't you see? This room is alive and can grant you a wealth of knowledge."

Alaron finally understood. He turned back to the podium. "May I have a book on sword fighting stances in a language I can read?" A bright flash of light filled the room and the exact book that the prince needed appeared. The boy clutched the book excitedly and looked at its contents. "Wow! It really is magic! Look at this, Uncle Cafer. I can practice this move and perhaps I will finally beat my father." Alaron hoped back and forth between his feet, mimicking the picture on the page.

"Very good, Your Highness." Cafer clapped as he watched. "Who needs magic when you have footwork like that!"

"If magic is real, then I owe my mother an apology." The boy felt a pang of guilt for doubting her.

"There will be time for that later. You cannot tell her that you were here."

"Of course," Alaron agreed. He knew that stealing his mother's jewelry and meeting with someone that was branded a traitor would not go well for him. "What kind of magic can you do?"

Cafer puffed his chest out proudly, "I can do earth magic. If it is made of stone or earth, I can manipulate it."

"So you really did bring down the balcony?!" Alaron referred to the incident ten years before when the gnome had escaped.

"Absolutely I did." Seeing the boy's astonished face, he added, "Of course it was self-preservation that led me to do it. I did not mean for anyone to get hurt." It was a lie; he had hoped to kill both Aurora and Devrim.

Alaron accepted his version without question. The boy was blind to his mentor's flaws. "I wish I could do magic," he sighed.

"You could…but..." Cafer seemed reluctant to finish the sentence.

The boy easily took the bait. "But what?"

"But humans shouldn't use magic."

"Why not?" Alaron wanted to know.

Cafer folded his hands and began his lecture. "There are three sources of magic. The first is magical objects. Humans can use magical objects, though there are only a few of them on your side of the ice barrier. The object is the one doing the work in this case, like your mirror. The second source is from the world around you. That is what magical creatures use. Gnomes use the earth, elves use the air, etc. As long as we have contact with the source of our power, we can use our magic. The third source is from oneself. If I tried to use magic that wasn't earth magic, I would have to draw from myself. As humans have no innate magic, they have to draw on their own spirit to create magic."

"So?"

"It's draining, dangerous and deadly." Cafer paused. "And only the strongest can to it anyway:"

"I am strong!" Alaron was offended.

"Absolutely you are, but I don't know that you are strong enough." The gnome furrowed his brow in worry.

"I know I am. Teach me magic!"

"I shouldn't."

"Please! I can do it. I know I can," Alaron pleaded.

Cafer gave a weak smile. "Whatever His Highness commands. But first, will you summon an object for me? It would help old Cafer immensely."

"What do you need?"

"Ask for the Semblance Stone." Cafer said carefully. He hoped that the object was stored here.

Alaron put the swordplay book on the podium. "Bring me the Semblance Stone," he called to the room. The room groaned—or as close to a groan as a room can make—and for a moment nothing happened. Then in the quiet blink of an eye, a metal bracelet sat on the podium. It had a cloudy grey-green stone set in it and wrapped firmly around one's wrist.

"Place it on your wrist." Alaron obeyed. Cafer plucked a hair from his head and gave it to the boy. "Hold it to the stone." Again Alaron listened. As the hair touched the stone, it glowed, and the hair disappeared.

"I don't understand." Alaron did not feel any different.

"Look at your reflection," Cafer pointed to a shield hanging on the closest wall. As Alaron approached he saw not one, but two Cafers!

"I look just like you!"

"You can mimic anyone if you have a piece of their hair. But it is only a facade, unlike what the elves can naturally do. If someone touches you, they will realize something is not quite right." Cafer grabbed the boys forearm and the exterior flickered revealing part of the real arm underneath.

"Impressive, but I wanted to practice magic. This is is only a magical object." Alaron removed the bracelet, and Cafer held out a fabric pouch for him to place it inside.

"Are you sure?" Cafer tied the pouch to his waist.

"Yes, yes, let's get on with it."

"Ask the Storehouse to bring you a book that you can read on how to practice magic." Cafer worded the request so that the boy could repeat.

Alaron nodded slightly. "Bring me a book I can read on how to practice magic."

The room groaned and creaked as if unwilling to comply. The floor shook and knocked the occupants to the ground. "That was not me," Cafer said as he stood and brushed off his clothing. They both looked at the pedestal and at a black book now there. Hefting the book with both hands, Alaron took the book to the low wooden table and opened it. He turned the pages slowly.

"What should we try?" he asked his mentor.

Cafer watched closely. "Let's start with something easy. Stop there!" He pointed at a wind spell. "You say the words and do the motion. A small whirlwind should appear." Alaron did as he was instructed but nothing happened. Cafer puckered his lips. "You flicked your wrist too hard. Try again."

After two more tries, a tiny whirlwind formed on the table and spun wildly. Alaron lifted the book to save it from the tiny turbine. "I did it!" They watched as the tornado spun itself out and disappeared. "Let's do it again!"

"Wait young Prince. Do not do too much at once. It will wear you out."

Cafer sensed that another of the portals to the Storehouse had been opened. He did not want to guess what creature would be coming, but it was unlikely to be friendly to the gnomes. "We need to leave. Bring the book and you can study it."

"I'll work every day; I promise Uncle Cafer." Alaron drew his fingers across his heart.

"I know you will," Cafer chuckled. The gnome had neglected to mention one little detail about humans using magic: it was highly addictive.