Charlie walked with a bounce in his step as he walked to the carpenter workshop. Before he stepped in, he let out a sweet burp.

“Brandon!” said the sun puppet to the penguin puppet. “We have an offering for the Black Cauldron!” The penguin Brandon wiped his brow and answered, “Do we now?” He stopped working on the crossbow. 

“We can send them the visitors! They’re enough to keep them off our backs for another year.” 

Brandon looked between Charlie and the sets of crossbows and halberds the bird had spent the last couple of weeks throwing together. “Isn’t that … sacrificing what we’re all about? Kindness and smiles for everyone? You talk about it every week at Meeting Time.” 

Charlie stepped closer, closing the gap between them at an alarming speed. His smile strained and eyes squinted even more. “Not if its four vagrants,” he whispered. 

“Understood,” Brandon quivered. 

“We should start on a trap for them…” He approached the workbench and moved the items over. He snatched up some paper to begin a sketch. 

The morning sun was blinding as Dan and Ron moseyed to the main square where they could ask about the cartographer. They were pointed to a workshop to the east, where several other workshops were clustered. 

Sage left to see if there were other witches around and stretch their legs. There were plenty here, it turned out, as Charlie provided refuge for them.

Dan and Ron stepped up to the cartographers, which was signposted with a painting of a quill over a map in the window. 

“Hello?” Ron called out. 

“Hello!” an elderly voice responded. “How can I help you? Oh, you must be the visitors!” The old man was a human with a long beard that reached his pot belly. His grin was genuine. “Always nice to see new faces!” 

“We were hoping you had a map of the whole … kingdom. Country? All the known world.”

The man’s eyebrows shot up and he cocked his head back in a laugh. “Well! We have maps of the surrounding area and a few of the cities.”

“How about one  that gets us to Solemnare? We heard that’s a pretty huge place. Or any places you recommend?”

The man petted his beard. “All depends on what you’re looking for.” 

Dan and Ron looked at one another. Then Dan asked Ron in backlang, “What are we even looking for?”

“I don’t know. We want to see the world. Maybe see every major city?” 

Dan crossed his arms and nodded. “We want to see every major city.” 

“Then Solomnare would be a great place to start!” The Cartographer turned to the shelf behind him - a huge wall of box shelves piled with scrolls and protective cases for the maps. 

The Cartographer rummaged through a few piles before saying, “Ah, here we are.” He pulled forth a tube case with a strap. “A map of the majority of the area. Features roads, topography, villages and cities. It will get you to Solemnare at least.”

“Thank you,” Ron said.

“Its about three months old, so be warned: some of the villages and landmarks might have changed.” 

“Oh, will keep that in mind,” Ron said. 

Sage trekked along the fortress wall, observing the folks busy with festival. It was a celebration of the summer solstice, one that they were familiar with. But the effigies of the gods on the square looked different: Three instead of, well, more than that. Most villages and towns had a handful of gods they worshiped. Cities had twenty, maybe fifty. 

“I remember the puppets saying something as an epithet. Something like “By the Felt.” Perhaps the puppets have their own gods?” Bevel suggested from the necklace on Sage’s neck. 

“You don’t want to stretch your legs?” Sage asked. “I’m sure people won’t mind.”

“No, I’m alright.”

The witch twisted and stretched their left arm. Since the Trial, the curse had lightened. Instead of totally turning their arm black and purple, the arm had regained some of its original color between the tiger-like stripes of purple and black. The pain was more of a dull, numbing tingle now. Casting basic magic didn’t increase the pain either. They were happy with the results - even if it wasn’t a complete cure.

Sage came to the building they were directed to: the Giant’s Toe Cafe. A place where most witches met. They approached the humble shop and the bell rang above the door when they opened it. They recognized the dress of the witches right away - a few had their own bright spin on the typical uniform. They particularly liked the purple and tan look.

The witches all stopped talking as they noticed them one by one. Sage gave the group a small wave and approached the group. “Hi, there,” Sage said. Eyes examined them with hardly veiled disgust. 

“Oh, hi,” said the nearest witch with a high pitched tone. “We were just talking about the newcomers. You must be one of them!” 

“Yeah, I’m Sage.” 

The witches giggled. The one nearest answered, “I’m Starly.” 

“Nice to meet you, Starly.” 

The group erupted in laughter. Sage’s eyebrow raised. “Oh, ignore them,” Starly said. “You from the nearby villages?”

“I’m from the other side of Uplifted Knee.”

“Ah, that’s a long way from here.” 

The other witches whispered amongst each other and giggled. Sage caught a few words of ‘bumpkin’ and ‘idiot.’ Something was familiar to them about this. A feeling like back home, as the child of a noble. Had they acted like these witches before coming under Soren’s care? 

“I think I’m going to get a cup of tea,” Sage said with a small smile and backed away from the group. I know when I’m not wanted. This is a waste of energy. 

They rubbed their numb arm, which sent tingles up their shoulder. They ordered a large “Mad Hatter” black tea with lots of creamer and various herbs. Sage put the blarn on the counter and left with their tall paper cup, the hanging tea strings tickling their fingers.

Memories came back of years at boarding school, befriending the popular folk and ostracizing those that didn’t “fit” their standard of popular. They were often ostracized from most activities, as even then the young teens knew something was off about Sage. They were tolerated at most. 

The burning of their lip brought them back to reality and they groaned. “Hot! Ow!”

“Ow!” came Sage’s voice. Ron and Dan looked around and found the witch in front of a cafe with a cup in their hand. 

“Hey,” Ron called and the duo approached. “You alright?”

“Burnt my lip,” they groaned. “I see you got the map?”

Ron glanced at the wooden protective case strapped to his shoulder and answered, “Yeah, it should get us to Solemnare, that city you told us about.” 

“Wonderful,” Sage said with a small smile. “Can’t wait to head out. The witches here didn’t have much to do with me. How about you?”

“We’ve kept to ourselves mostly,” Dan admitted. 

“I see. Well, why don’t we go to the square? Looks like they’re setting up things for the festival.” 

Indeed, there were quilted banners along the main street that told the story of the summer solstice - The year it gave them an advantage over the demons, when the puppets befriended the demons and protected them on that day, and when the first half demons celebrated the solstice. Years of banning together during drought and bounty. 

The solstice was celebrated in three phases: Huge reunions of friends and families, especially those not seen all year. Then a feast of the summer’s bounty, which included candies that melted in the sun and baked items themed around the sun. Then, at sunset, effigies of the Thread, Felt, and Glitter gods are covered in wreaths and burned in an offering for a fortunate rest of the year. 

The effigies were already covered in several wreaths of paper and real flowers. Stalls were set up already and a few were full of paper flowers, dolls, and trinkets. 

Dan bounced in place with excitement. “Look at it! I can’t believe they’re putting it together!” 

Ron frowned and suggested, “Why don’t we introduce ourselves? Get to know the locals?”

The group trekked over to a trinket stand where a human and puppet where setting things on display. The one-eyed monster with huge horns and tusks from its mouth looked at them and said, “Can I help you?”

“We’re just looking around. Trying to find folks to make friends with.” The monster frowned at Ron’s outstretched paw.

“Dan! Ron! And Sage,” Charlie called out. “Come here.” He motioned them to join him at another stall. “How are you enjoying your stay so far? Ah, I see you have your map!” 

“Yes,” Ron answered. “We’re liking it so far. Uh, we were about to get to know some folks.” 

“Grand! Wonderful to hear! Why don’t you stick with me a moment and I can introduce you to more folks that way?”

Ron and Dan glanced at one another. Ron rifled through his mind to try to remember advice from the Good Neighbor said. “What’s his deal?” Ron asked in backlang to Dan. 

This made the grin on Charlie’s face fade a bit. “Sorry?” he asked. 

Ron shifted his weight and Dan answered, “We were wondering if we could go at our own pace. We were talking to those kind folks over there.” 

“No, no, come with me! I want to show you three something!” He motioned them to follow him. “Come on!” 

The three glanced at each other and Sage whispered, “Now would be a good time to know that language.” 

The three of them followed Charlie along. “This here is the effigies of the three deities. Which you two recognize, no doubt.” Then to Sage, “Are you familiar with our traditions at all?”

“Ron and Dan were telling me what everything was about as we came through.” 

“Ah, good.” 

Charlie led them to a stall with wreaths hung end to end. “I was thinking you three could be guests of honor and be the ones to throw the big wreaths over the effigies.” 

“What! Really?” Dan erupted. 

“How come?” Ron asked almost automatically.

“Well you three are the most recent guests!” Charlie paused next to a small set for people’s heads. “To be honest, I was hoping you might stick around longer. Let the summer pass here and enjoy the fort.” 

“We want to see as much of the world as possible,” Ron answered. “Although we appreciate the thought.” 

Sage crossed their arms yet said nothing.

Charlie nodded and sighed wistfully. “Let me show you the wreaths, at least,” he said. 

The group followed the sun puppet across to the carpenter’s shop. “We’ve worked on them and plan to unveil them at the moment of burning at the festival tonight.”

Charlie waved arms at the wreaths covered in lillies, sunflowers, and wildflowers. 

“Here we are!” Charlie said as he stepped aside to show off the wreaths fully. The three gave impressed sounds.

Ron glanced where Charlie had been. “Charlie? Where -” 

There was a clank above the three and a heavy net fell onto the three of them. They struggled for a moment and Charlie and a penguin puppet stood over them. “Sorry, but we can’t let the Fumers take the fort,” the penguin said. Charlie raised a club and hit Ron first over the head.