Tad had dried and changed into his last set of untorn clothes. Work clothes he hadn't worn in a year. The shirt felt tight around the chest. He had to go with it half unbuttoned, so he didn't tear up the shirt when he moved. He had either grown or these clothes shrunk. He needed a haircut, but he did manage to shave the scraggly mess of beard off his face. Beothorn could sport a great beard, but Tad's growth was so sparse. The hair color almost matched his skin color, making it hard to see half the time. He just shaved it when he could. He felt like a new man now, as the skin on his face felt odd not having all that beard scruff.

"Ahem.. ," came a cough near the wagon. Maximilianus was standing there. Tad hadn't seen him since the battle. He wondered where Herman was? Tad wondered if he waiting at the Library while everything settled down.

"Come for your payment then? " asked Tad.

Maximilianus smiled and gave a small nod.

"Kettle, we are coming over to get Maximilianus's payment. " projected Tad.

They were behind the quartermaster's wagon, where a large water barrel sat. This used to be the way the Carnival operated, water barrels for cleaning up, and he missed it.

Tad walked with Maximilianus to the World Egg. They both stepped inside. Tad spotted Nico across the cathedral, sitting and watching the new beastkin followers. Tad followed his gaze over and noticed that there were three women in the group. Two were older, and the other looked about Tad's age. There were several smaller kids sitting or playing near the women. He smiled and turned to step in the World Egg with Maximilianus following behind.

Tad cast light, and then the door to the World Egg closed.

Tad spoke first, "We aren't going to get attacked again once we open this cabinet up, are we?"

Maximilianus looked at the cabinet. The Librarian's hands were actually trembling.

"No, I have a bag of holding with special enchantments on it. Once inside, this substance will have no signature of magic to give it away. That will change, though, once we use it at the Bazaar. I've already given the residents notice to leave or be ready for an extended shut-in. Most are leaving for now. " said Maximilianus. The magic of the Bazaar should hide it. We will ask anyone we can sense it to leave the Bazaar prior.

"Did you deliver my packages? " asked Tad.

"I believe they were all delivered. I do not watch such things. But the Library at the Bazaar is very good at what it does, " said Maximilianus.

"Great, well then. How do we open this? You said it was a riddle? Ok, do I need to know this riddle, or can I just give it the answer? " asked Tad.

"I believe you just give it the answer, and it will open. You can speak it while putting your hand upon the small door there, " said Maximilianus. At the same time, pointing at a rather large cabinet on one side.

Tad had thought it was a desk or table built into the wall. Now that he looked at it though it was solid all the way down.

"Great, so I place my hand here then, now what was the answer? " asked Tad.

"Forty two, " replied Maximilianus.

Tad said the words, and the front of the cabinet showed an outline of a door, and then there was a pop and a hiss, and it swung open. A few seconds after, a shiny grey drawer slid out with six rows of six holes. In the holes were long sealed metal tubes with markings on the top and sides.

"Oh, six. I see many discussions in our future," said Maximilianus.

Tad's language charm heated for a few moments then stopped. He couldn't read the markings. Maximilianus pointed at one of six tubes. Tad picked up the one, and the drawer slid back into the cabinet. The door closed, and the seam disappeared. Once again, looking like a solid piece of the World Egg.

"Kettle anything? " asked Tad.

"No, Tad, " replied Kettle.

Tad turned and gently handed the long metallic tube to Maximilianus. He promptly put it in a metallic bag at his waist. As Tad watched, the bag faded into the belt to become invisible.

"Ok then, now how do I activate that Gate of the Stars without it draining all my mana? " asked Tad. He was pretty sure he didn't have enough to open it even with Galadinidú help more than a second or two.

Maximilianus smiled so wide it looked a little creepy.

"You will find an amulet in one of the drawers of Samphire's desk. This is a standard portal amulet that most people use to reach the beast lands and Bazaar through the portal network. You take this over to the enchanter's table. Wrap it around your staff, then think about it merging. Use your soulmancy to will it so. Once merged, it should give you a great deal of stored mana for opening portals. It also acts as a collector of portal mana. Since the Goddess has already set the portal up to be used. I expect you, as her Champion, can also use the portal. You can ask her for permission, or you can ask her for forgiveness. That is up to you how you want to proceed. Now I believe this transaction is completed, and I look forward to helping you prove your case in court in one year's time. " said Maximilianus.

Tad nodded. He wasn't looking forward to that at all. He isn't even sure what he is proving or what he was really charged with. He was sure it would sound official, though.

"Kettle, open the door. We don't' have much time before the party. Thank you Maximilianus. It's been a pleasure, " said Tad as the door to the World Egg popped open and slid to the side.

Maximilianus smiled a creepy I'm way too happy smile, faded to white, and was gone.

Tad made his way over to Samphire's wagon. They had put the door hinges back on, but the magic which sealed the door was gone now. It felt like a regular wagon door. He entered and summoned a light, then started with the drawers in the middle. Tad saw drawers full of paperwork. Mostly writs of passage and payments, a few correspondences which he didn't read. Finally, there was a drawer with two amulets in it. Tad recognized them right away. They were the same ones that Beothorn always wore when he was leading the Carnival to a new city. The dwarf used the amulets to open the portals along the way. He took one and closed the drawer.

The enchanter's table was right next to the bureau of drawers in the wagon. To the right was the scared floor and wall where the magic portal used to reside.

He took Galadinidú from the loop on his back.

"Galadinidú is this going to work? " projected Tad at the staff.

"With the power of the table, I will be able to use the amulet as storage. This differs from the crown of law that helps draw in mana. This amulet will allow me to use and store mana to open portals. It's a specialty item, and it will work, " said Galadinidú.

Tad looked at the staff. He saw the small crown of law there embedded above the center. The item had shrunk, but it had still kept its weight. This had made it harder to wield the staff when he spun it. So Tad held the staff in one open hand while he put the weight of the amulet on the end opposite of the crown. He moved it along the length until he thought the weight was offset enough to center the staff. He didn't know if he could move this once he added it, but this location should make it easier to wield the staff in fast swings.

Tad held it there, then walked over to the enchanter's table. He placed the staff on the surface while holding the amulet with its chains wrapped around the staff. The enchanter's table glowed a soft blue for a few moments. There was a pulse of energy from Galadinidú, and the amulet with chain started to shrink until they were embedded. Tad ran his finger over the surface. He could feel the bumps of the edges, but he didn't think that would cause him any issues wielding. He picked up Galadinidú and gave the staff some test swings. He spun it as fast as he could, then stopped with the end under his armpit in a sudden stop. Yes, that was much better. He hadn't realized how off-center the weight had been till he fixed it. All right time to see his friends.

***

Tad, Nico, and Lamruil were standing in front of the portal.

"Kettle, what time is it here? " asked Tad.

"It becomes evening in four hours, Tad. Sunset is four and a half after roughly. Three hours till the party. " replied Kettle.

"Great, thanks. Do you know what the difference is between Now and the Bazaar? " asked Tad. He remembered when they had ported from the Bazaar. It had been roughly the same time here. That was rarely the case when portalling. He just wanted to confirm.

"It's two hours earlier there, so just past noon. You know you can buy a timepiece, " said Kettle.

Tad chuckled, "Why would I do that, Kettle? "

Kettle didn't reply. Tad smiled.

Tad looked at Nico and Lamruil. "Ok, fella's, there are hopefully going to be a few people coming through from the Carnival. I had a note in books delivered to Jack and Scekan if he was still near the Bazaar. We will be opening a gate to Nadal De-Nar, The Grand Bazaar. It will be the compound we ported out of when we started this search. The ward is set up behind us near the tree. Nothing should come through that isn't friendly, but be ready in case I'm wrong about that. " said Tad, then he started forward to touch the pillar.

"You know, you should ask before using other's things, " came a voice from behind Tad. It was Gweleth. Tad stopped moving and turned to see her standing there behind them near the tree.

"Well, it isn't exactly yours, and I didn't think you'd mind anyway, " said Tad.

"It is more mine at this point than anyone else, Thaddius. Do you plan on bringing your friends through? " she asked.

"Yes, " he replied.

"Did you think this through? The Valley isn't secure with a horde of undead and possibly demons on the way," said Gweleth.

"I did, but the Bazaar is closing down for a while. You haven't been there, but the people there have to leave or be locked in for the foreseeable future? " said Tad.

"How do you know this? " she asked.

"Maximilianus told me it was happening, " said Tad.

"And how did he know this? " she asked.

Tad thought about that. He could have lied, he supposed, but that wasn't something he really liked doing. It was just not something he was willing to do with people he had trust with, especially with people he had trust with.

"You will have to ask him, Gweleth, " was all Tad said. He knew she wanted more. It was obvious by her posture and the feeling radiating from her.

"Ok, open it, " replied Gweleth giving a slight gesture at the portal.

Tad nodded and started forward. He touched Galadinidú to the pillar with the sun emblem on it while envisioning the location in the compound. This was the same spot they had been the day they were forced to flee.

The portal shimmered for a few moments. Tad could feel the vast amounts of energia leaving the amulet through the staff. It felt peculiar, not of a type he used for casting. He wondered what type it was. He had never used an amulet to open a portal before and had never had this kind of detail from the ones he had seen doing it. Galadinidú must be giving him the information somehow through their connection.

Then the portal opened, and all he saw was a wooden stockade wall. He watched for a moment as a head poked out around the right side. It was Skecan in his elf form.

"Hey there. I think you got this thing pointed the wrong way, " said the god of monkeys.

"Yea, you don't say. Is there enough room for you both to fit through? " asked Tad.

"Yes, certainly, but why did you say both? There is way more than two here, " said Skecan.

"What do you mean? I didn't' think there were more than a few people from the Carnival left in the Bazaar, " replied Tad.

"Well, word got around that you were giving away a free trip to a tropical lake resort, and suddenly people started showing up from all over. You know they are closing the Bazaar here. Most of these folks have no place to go. It's this or be locked in for an unexplained amount of time. How much food does it take to live an unexplained amount of time in a magical city that is sealed tight? " said Skecan.

"Skecan, is Jack there? I didn't say tropical resort. It's not even that safe here if you leave the Valley, heck, even in the Valley sometimes," said Tad.

"Ahh, don't be a baby. These folks are all grown-ups, and they can make up their own minds about it. One moment I'll tell them what you said, and then can we come through? " asked Skecan?

Tad looked at Gweleth. She just nodded. She looked curious now, so did Nico and Lamruil. Tad just shook his head. He was pretty certain Skecan had lied to those people. The note in the books he sent to them was very specific.

Galadinidú spoke to him, "Tad, we have less than five minutes of mana left for this portal. "

"Skecan we have five minutes, you better hurry. Well, damn it, "then Tad stepped through when Skecan didn't respond. He walked around the edge of the portal to see a crowd that almost completely filled the courtyard of the compound. There might be one hundred people here, some had hand carts, and he even saw a horse. All had packs or shoulder bags full of belongings.

He heard Skecan shouting, "Tad has just informed me that this tropical paradise has some risks involved. Those that do not want to accept those risks, please step back out of the way. Let the others pass. "

Tad watched. Only two of them backed up. He shook his head. Well, the Valley was about to get a lot more people.

Tad raised his voice while looking at Jack who was standing in the front with three Elvin women.

"Ok, we need two lines single file. One on each side, if you have something wider than three feet, coordinate with the person in front and behind. I want each line to come around this hazy section, one to each side. Do not touch the edge of it, or bad things might happen to you. I am not taking questions. If you can't follow these instructions, don't step forward. You have four minutes and thirty seconds. Anyone pushing will be removed from the line. Let's go, folks, move it!" Then he turned and walked back around through the portal to the Valley. He wasn't risking being left there. If you couldn't get into the Bazaar, your options were limited unless you had access to a large caravan or another portal.

Tad watched with amazement as people he knew and more that he didn't step through the portal. He was shocked after Jack's three ladies followed him through. One of them was Terri - Grand Bazaar Confectionery. He had met her on his first trip. She was still stunning, perhaps more so now that she wasn't covered head to toe in baking flour. Jack has a lot of explaining to do.

"Hey Kid, " projected Jack.

Tad had a big smile, "Jack, it's been a long time, friend. Keep moving forward, please. More behind you."

Skecan arrived carrying two giant kegs under his arms. He looked like a spindly elf, but clearly, anyone able to pick up the weight of two large casks of ale wasn't weak.

Skecan said, "Yea, Jack talked me into it. " then he walked by over to the tables and set the Kegs down on the flagstones. Tad thought Jack wanted those, but he didn't say anything as more folks came through.

Nico's mother, Ioannea, and father, Stephan Rogers, stepped through. Nico went over to greet them as he helped them carry their bags.

To Tad's relief, most carried packs of various shapes. Many people had a bedroll tied to them or a cart full of housing items. This was good because they had nowhere to sleep besides the ground once the carnival wagons filled.

Galadinidú spoke, "Two minutes. "

Tad shouted, "Two minutes, folks, make haste or stay there till tomorrow. "

"You are doing this again tomorrow?" projected Lamruil from behind Tad.

"How many free portals do you think exist right now? I'll take the risk if they were here because someone I know invited them. Anyone that is a threat would have turned away because of the ward behind us. If I'm wrong, we will find out in two minutes, " replied Tad.

Gweleth projected to him, "Whoever picked these people did well by you, Thaddius. Most of them are skilled in crafts, building, or magic. "

Then Filbert walked swiftly through the portal. Tad smiled and waved to him, then pointed back towards the Cathedral,"Over there, Filbert, nice to see you again! "

"Nice to be here, Thaddius. Evacuating a city is no small task, it appears," said Filbert as he walked by smiling. He carried a bag under one arm, but Tad wasn't worried. The old wizard could care for himself.

Galadinidú spoke, "You have less than one minute. "

The people had stopped streaming through now. Tad heard someone yell as the sound reverberated off the wall of the compound, "Don't drop it. That is a family heirloom. "

"You only have a few more seconds, " shouted Tad.

Around the corner came a man pulling a handcart with another pushing. It looked like it wasn't going to make the turn before the portal closed. Next to them stepping through was Jared, the merchant from the Carnival. The cart wasn't going to make it. Those two men were not pushing hard enough.

"Do I have to do everything myself? What do I pay you two for? Jared stepped forward grabbed one of the handles of the cart, giving a pull that not only turned it but propelled it past him towards Tad. The two men that were handling the cart started pulling backward to stop the cart. It did stop after Tad pushed a shield against it. It was damned heavy.

Tad didn't see anyone else coming through. The portal shut.

"Jared, I wasn't expecting you. How goes the day? " asked Tad. He watched Jared eye Gweleth standing behind the crowd now high above on a root, radiating light. Tad turned around, and he saw the people that had exited had created a crowd. All were staring at Gweleth and her gigantic Fey Tree. The worker bee buzzed high above them, going from flower to flower.

It was so quiet that Tad could hear the water lapping against the shore below as the crowd held its breath.

Gweleth turned towards the crowd smiled, "Welcome. " Everyone could hear the words, but Tad never saw her lips move. Then she gestured towards the lake and shore beyond, then faded from view.

The crowd was quiet, then murmurs started. Tad jumped up on the nearest root so the crowd could see him. He smiled broadly and waved back towards the tree and then to the lake with its large waterfall at the north end.

Tad shouted, "Welcome to the Valley of Statues. The being you just saw is Gweleth, the sun goddess. Please feel free to find a place in the cathedral for your belongings. There is a lower temple. Please do not go down there just yet. We will be having a party and food in about two hours here. There will be music as we pay homage and celebrate Gweleth's ascendence. If anyone would like to help with the setup and cooking, see the four ladies at the cook fire and by the quartermaster's wagon in the front of the cathedral. If your up to it, the view from the tower is spectacular. "

Tad was going to need a lot more food for this, he thought.

"Kid, we need to talk, " projected Jack from the back of the crowd.

"If it is about your wagon. I have moved in for a few days also; those ponies didn't make it smell any better, " projected Tad back to him as he stepped down from the root.

"No Kid, Samphire sent me a message," projected Jack.

***