Dear reader, right now I am lying on my bed in the cottage, and can hardly move, my feet are so sore. I’ve walked from the forest, to the manor house, to the village, and back home again. I feel I must have walked a hundred leagues today and am exhausted, but so happy too. Today was full to the brim, and my mind is spinning with all the excitement.
I began my morning in the forest, for I wished to draw Impressions of all the new spring loveliness: the brilliant bluebells and bright lilies of the valley. It was as if I could hear them ringing as I walked along my way. I even saw the swans again! They had built their nest by one of the streams that flows from the forest to the main river. I did not draw too near for fear of frightening them, but for a brief moment, I did see a clutch of large gray eggs waiting to hatch.
I also ventured by the Well of the Green Sister, to study a few more of the scrolls in the chamber below. Though, I knew I did not wish to stay long —the sun was too welcoming to be underground. As I carefully unrolled a new scroll and began marking down notes on a separate page to show Lorenz and Alexander later, I realized I was actually beginning to understand some of the words, or at least to recognize similarities. I copied by the magic light of the water in the fountain and read the word for ‘stone’. It caught my attention, and I felt a little sense of pride that my studies were paying off. I continued. There were a few more things I didn’t understand, not unusual, but then I saw the word for ‘pale’ or ‘white’. Now I was intrigued, not just because these were words I knew, dear reader, but because my thoughts were drawn back to the stones my companions and I had discovered on our last visit. Was it just my imagination or could this scroll be about the rocks with the white rings? Maybe I was getting ahead of myself, but when I found the word for ‘mirror’ I jumped up. I wrung my hands together; so anxious and excited was I! And after a deep breath, I embraced my growing curiosity. Quickly but carefully, I copied down the rest of the paragraph, placed the scroll where I would easily be able to find it again, and hurried back up the stairs. I was going to the manor house, and if I worked very hard and very quickly, perhaps I would be able to confirm my suspicions by the time my friends were done with their lessons this day.
I was so excited and had walked so quickly that I was quite out of breath when Mrs. Algar met me at the door and led me to the library. I was a little embarrassed. My skirt was dusty and my hair was all a mess, but she said nothing. Alexander and Lorenz gave me curious looks as I came inside, but I only met them with a quiet wave before going to my corner to pour over the books I had gathered. I struggled to find what I needed, and some of the letters in the cursive script were difficult to decipher, even though I had copied them well. I spent hours working on just a sentence or so. Before I knew it, pupil and master were putting away their papers and notes.
Alexander looked thrilled as he rushed over towards me. “What did you find, Sonya? I could hardly pay attention!” Lorenz chuckled and shook his head, clearly worn out from trying to keep his student focused. Oh goodness! I apologized for being such a distraction, but Lorenz admitted he was curious too. Sheepishly, I showed them my work. From what I’d been able to make out, this was all I had: Stone with pale/white ‑something‑ to have/hold ‑something‑ reflection in mirror. To ‑something‑ water of Aumbra to light.
I apologized that I did not have more, but showed them my copy of the original text and asked if they might be able to fill in my gaps. Lorenz passed it to his student, saying he could use the practice for his exam in Old Olkarian. I smiled as the young man took the page with determination and began thinking out loud. He told me I’d got the bit with the stone right, and that the pale, white was referring to a ring. Alexander looked up at me, “Like the rocks we found!” I admitted, that was what I had thought. He went on with renewed zeal. “The stone with white ring, may… will? Hold mind and moment? I’m not sure about this part. It looks like the root for time.” Lorenz looked it over and agreed with his idea. “So ‘The stone with white ring will hold mind and moment to reflect in mirror’. I knew it! They can hold memories!” Alexander looked just how I felt, so excited! “And to fill… to pour, no that’s not it. ‘To fill, pour over water of Aumbra light’. I don’t know what Aumbra means here, but do you think it could be the glowing water? Are we supposed to pour the glowing water over the stone?! Can we go try?!”
I wanted to go back that instant as well, but Lorenz looked out the window. It was almost sunset, and he reminded Alexander that his father would want him at dinner, especially since they were to have guests from the capital that night. The young man looked so disappointed for a moment, it nearly broke my heart, but he recovered astoundingly quickly. Suddenly he was composed and, to my eyes, he looked very grown‑up. I glanced at Lorenz, and I wondered if we were having the same thought, that one day this young man was going to be a great leader. Lorenz promised Alexander that we would go and test his theory soon, and Alexander smiled. I left the notes with them, to see if they could make out any more of the text, and said goodbye for the time being.
It was almost dark by the time I reached the village, and my feet were already aching from walking back and forth so many times, but as I passed the Inn, Mary called out to me. “Sonya, I went to the cottage, but you weren’t home. Your fam-” She didn’t get to finish, for who should appear from the doorway, but Lettie! She cried out and I ran to hug her. Goodness, her belly was so big I had to hold her sideways. We were both laughing and crying, and then she grabbed my hand. “Hold on!” she said, and put my hand on her bump. “There, do you feel?” I waited… movement! Oh, it was so strange and amazing and I just smiled at her. Then I saw Peter and Auntie Ember, and Mary shepherded us in to sit at a table. We sat, and chat, and ate a wonderful meal of cheeses, fresh strawberries, and a soup of spring greens. It was so good to see them again, and we talked for what must have been hours. It wasn’t until Lettie began yawning that we decided we had all had a long day and it was time to bid each other goodnight until tomorrow.
So now I am back home, dear reader, exhausted, but so happy and excited to see what tomorrow holds!