#odyssey

They arrive at Vali's House, and he lets them in "Okay you two, just us three for right now. The last map piece please?"

"Got it." She proffers the fragment

He takes it, and looks reverently at it "Thank you for this. "

"You said this whole thing was important - can you tell us now?"

"Hold up, need to make sure this still works or it's all for naught" he says and moves to a desk, pulling out a large envelope folder sized. He pours the other pieces out onto the table then takes the last piece "Olley Olley Oxeen free"

The pieces glow, but don't do anything . Vali blinks "MMm that wasn't it? What was it then." He tries another "Red Rover Red Rover.... let Small Anne Come over"

Another glow, another nothing.

"Circle circle, dot dot, now you got your cootie shot?" She offers.

He tries it "No, darn it.. I guess that's too ... what was it she made us memorize?"

A grin "Oh yes.. how could I forget. We complained because it wwas "Soooo long""

And he begins a poem.

“Listen to the MUSTN’TS, child, Listen to the DON’TS Listen to the SHOULDN’TS The IMPOSSIBLES, the WONT’S Listen to the NEVER HAVES Then listen close to me— Anything can happen, child, ANYTHING can be.”

Symon watches...

And the map flashes with colored chalk dust and crayola lights! Magic Marker glimmers! Rainbows on paper and in the air around it

"Did you make this map when you were a childling?"

"Why did you send us? If it's your map, and you hid it? I want to know."

"We made this map" he holds it up, whole and beaitufl.. now definitelhy made by kids. Chalk, crayons, magic markers instead of the boring ink that was. And it starts in the mortal world... then sails into the Dreaming...

"Because I'm a grump now.. and we too precautions to make sure not just any adult could get it. You know kids, so clever they trip over themselves" A look at the names signed on the corner, some hard to read "There were othe reasons. I was guided by my visions. "

"We're not kids." With the surety of a teenager.

"...God, sending a kid into There..."

He shudders. A thing to make a sluagh shudder...

"But you were closer than some... " he says "but yes, I wouldn't send a childling into half those places"

Or maybe that's just at the glitter.

"So that's why it wouldn't maybe work for you, because you're a grump, okay. So where does this go?"

"Back to the childling freehold my friends and I created. Where one Friend had to stay. There are gifts that can be given only there. I aim to collect it."

Eyebrow.

"Are you sure you can go to a childling freehold?"

"The gift, or the friend?"

"The gift, for a different friend, and no. I can't step foot on the island. They'll bring it out to me" He looks sad "Which is fine."

"So what kind of gift was worth all that?"

"Why were so many others looking for it?"

"You guys are awfully nosey.. I mean, you risk your lives against asshole clowns, tainted werewolves, kung fu rejects, arena duels and invisible giants... and it's why this, why that. Tut tut. Wouldn't you rather use your ... imagination to decide what the gift is?"

Vali gets a Look.

"You know, when I was a wilder I trusted my elders and let things go. " Lie. "I trusted some elders..." True "And let things go" Lie. "I trusted like 3 and still got nosey... " truth "but I expect you guys to be better than I was" true!

Then he smiles

She folds her arms. She's no Brekke, but she has clearly watched (and practiced!).

"You've been practicing" He notes

"You swore this was worthwhile. That this was important. I trusted you. You have the map, so why play games now?"

Symon frowns slightly. "To have come so far, and seen so many parts through. It feels... unfinished, to hand it off now. Like a duty left undone."

"The map... it must be more than a map, because you know the way. It must be like... a key, or gateway to let you reach this place. But what if you get there, and your friend doesn't come to meet you? You can't step foot... you'd have to come back." For once, he's not trying to ply and cajole and manipulate. He's reasoning it through aloud.

"Because this is a trust I was given, it's not a game " true "And i have not abused your trust once and you know that" He starts to say then he hears Symon then he sighs

"Okay.. first of all, your'e both very smart. And Symon is right. The map is more than a map. Fine.. if I tell you about the prize, it's nature, do you two promise not to share it with anyone ? I won't ask an Oath, but do you promise?"

"That's fine. But I think we fuckin' earned the right to know what this was for."

"Do you promise?" He asks again

"Yeah."

He exchanges a glance with Dagmar, and nods as well. "You have it."

"Thank you. I will take another grump with me to the island. The prize is a blessing. That person will become a childling again. A rare exception to the wheel, not a violation of it, for it is a natural part of the magic of that part of the Dreaming. They get a second life in THIS life.. it's not just physical, innocence is restrored."

"Can we come with you?"

Blink. "Wow."

Clearly awed.