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She dressed and looked around. There wouldn’t be a lot to breakfast so really this time was hers. Her eyes lit on the stones and cords sitting on the window sill. This was like the best time to see about getting them charmed. She wanted Anna to have a friendship token to take with her. Mother didn’t approve of them. But Sara wanted a way to know how things were out there. Looking in the books she had bought she found some instructions on how to get a set made, and decided to give it a try. Most of it was just dealing with the woken ones and the leaders had never forbidden that.

A trip in to the forest for matched stones had given her three. She had set them and the cords on the window sill so they would absorb the light of the moon. How she didn’t know, but that was what the book said. They pulsed now so they should be ready for the next part. She picked them up buy the paper that was under them, and headed down stairs. She set them on a try, then in the window. She would need an offering for the fairies. She started by putting the usual four bisects in the oven, might as well give the gnomes theirs as well but that wouldn’t be enough. The book said that fairies loved sweets. She took and older pan out and put a cup of water in it and set it on the stove then added a hand full of berries and a spoon of sugar.  Then looking at the berries she smiled and started making some small pancakes. It wouldn’t take much, and she had been told to get rid of the last berries. Once the berries had turns to juice in the water she removed it from the stove. The results were far to sweet to her, but maybe they would like the drink. When the rolls were cool enough  they were fixed with honey and butter and added to the tray, with the bowl of berry pancakes and a small bit of extra honey. She took it out set it on the table then left to tend the chickens. It was importuned that it was clearly not a trap.

The chickens seen to and eggs done she returned to the table to find far more beings there then the normal dozen. She curtsied, though it would likely mean nothing to them. “Elder kin I hope you like the food. It is giving freely, but I would like a favor. If you feel so inclined would you enchant those stones there so they can speak to each other and let the ones carry them send messages, so that they know how the other is doing if well, ill, pain or joy?” It would be better done if they did it freely, and respect was never wrong. She didn’t expect an answer. “I will leave them with you.”

A gnome said. “Partake of the berries in the red cup, and you will find your little charms ready two days hence.”

Sara hesitated the berries in the cup were an unknown type, and she had read nothing about them ever offering food in return. But well, they had never lead her wrong and they had chances in past had they wanted to. She moved and took up the little cup and raised it to her lips. The taste was nothing she could put into words.

A fairly said. “Good better now. It is good you hear and see us. We will have need of each other. You are rare and respect us. You will see more of us around. The crystals were to slow.”

Sara blinked. “I can hear you. But that is. I.”

The gnome said. “You have the ears and eyes. Your sight has been there for some of us, and it was getting better, but needed a push. As did your ears. Now you will hear all of us. It is rare for your kind, and seldom we help you to. For to often it is abused, but we have faith in your honor. Go now, we will do our best to take it easy on you. But some of us will be delighted to have someone who can hear them.”

A little red pixie giggled. “There now you will never lose the charm you ware. Much better. Later will fix it more. But not yet, you not ready.”

Sara looked down and could tell that a few changes had been made to her necklace. “Thank you. I hope I prove worth of your gift to me.”

The gnome said. “You have already child. Thank you for the feast. You all honor your promises and as long as you do so you will find us willing to bargain.” Sara curtsied again and went back to the house.

She had cleaned up her dishes and put a pan of bisects in the oven when Anna came in. “Sara, I believe you were told to sleep in. Just what do you think you are doing?”

Sara said. “I was woken up and couldn’t get back to sleep.”

Anna shook her head. “Go, out of here. You have those baskets in the office to keep you busy. I see you even gathered the eggs and fixed the small pan. How long have you been up?”

Sara said. “I’m not sure. That pan just went in the oven, I took the other outside to be enjoyed. I will go now, just let me get a cup of tea.” She took her tea and went to the office where she started on the first basket. She left it when she heard the others come down stairs.

After breakfast Edith said. “Sara I am sure you can find something to do this morning that doesn’t involve being in the kitchen. Go work on those old books taking up Isaac’s office.”

Sara stood and curtsied, trying hard not to feel hurt. “Yes ma’ma.” She knew it was just that as a guest of the feast she was not to work on anything related to it. It was an honor not a punishment. But she still felt a bit odd, like she was being shut out. Like her mom agreed with the girls. Even though her logical part was telling her that it was silly, her mom likely didn’t know what was going on. All of this went on as she went to the office.

Abiram joined her a bit latter. “I have been told to scat, that perhaps you need help. I guess they want us out of the way. I wonder how the tests came out? They haven’t put the papers out since Wednesday, and the radio has been off. I don’t know what to make of this effort to keep anyone from knowing the outcome.”

Sara handed him a stack. “If you want something to do there is enough here to keep an army busy. The blank sheets go over there, in that stack. If you can read the writing and it is not just a love note put it in that area, ones you can’t read go there and I will take look at. Love notes put in that basket to go back to the plant.”

Abiram said. “A love note? You mean there are flirting in here? Were they that wild?”

Sara said. “Some of this is older than the church, and it took time for the teachings to take hold. Mostly it is just dreaming about setting up house, and fawning. A lot of this was just privet notes they didn’t think anyone would read. It is best that those things get destroyed. So if that is all that is on a page it goes over there. If there is more then I hang on to it, but those parts will not make it into a paper.”

Abiram nodded. “Sounds good, I think I can manage that,” They worked in silence for a bit, but Abiram noticed she was putting some into another group, and was rubbing her arm from time to time. “What is that other stack? And is your arm all right?”

Sara said. “What? Oh I didn’t realize I was doing that, my arm is fine. Those are ones I want to look at closer. This feast is going to be fun. Maybe I will learn what is being said about me, I am sure it will be used to confirm what ever it is.”

“We will just have to wait and see. What is this? Sing Alter man moon blood?”

Sara looked at him and reached for the paper. “What on earth?” She read a bit and paled. “This is a page from an early book of spells, I bet soon after the change. It is talking about a spell to clean the blood. I can’t be sure for what. But it is best done at the second full moon past a turning and you need seven red candles, four white. The man takes center in front of the altar. A lot of this is some kind of symbols. I think I had best send this to Jack. Some of these old spell books can be dangers. If you see any more like this set it here.”

Abiram shudder. “Wouldn’t it be best to just destroy all such things. There is to much of that as it is. How did you know?”

Sara said. “I have never run across any before thank goodness. Or I would have done just that, destroyed it. But some of the ones looking at my notes were mages and they told me that old spell books needed to be handled with care. Most were safe, but some are not, and destroying the ones that aren’t can call things. I have no idea how to tell what is what, and this may be nothing but a page from a story. However where it says spell, and there is nothing to say it isn’t one, and with that other stuff, I would weather not chances it. I was so sure there would be nothing that I didn’t ask how to tell what a real spell book was.”

Abiram said. “Better to be safe, but I hate giving them more.” He added the next three sheets to the first. “Maybe I should just put all of this there. I am not sure I want to see it.”

Sara said. “Go down by ten, and if the tenth has one of those symbols on it put them all over there. Jack can sort it out on his end. I don’t know why Uncle didn’t see it, but am kind of glad he didn’t. If you are feeling anything set them all aside.”

He nodded, and started going though them like that. “You have a way to send them to him? I think that is the last of them.”

“I can mail them at the school. For something like this I am going to ask they be sent direct. I don’t want to chance it. I needed a way to let him know if I react to the tea. Mr. Bixter agreed to let me send messages, and to receive replies.”

“I didn’t mean to imply anything. I just wanted to make sure you had a way to send it. I saw enough to think it best be locked up. I don’t think who ever wrote it was up to good, and even if it is nonsense it should be floating around.”

Isaac said. “You look bad. Something off in those papers?”

Sara said. “Yes sir. I am afraid there might be. I am going to ask Mr. Bixter to send this stack to be examined.”

Isaac said. “Good to know you have a method in place should something dicey turn up.  But what is it?”

Sara said. “Possibly part of an old spell book. We didn’t look to close at it. I might just be a story, but best to be safe. I was warned of the dangers of them, but never expected to see one so didn’t ask how to tell what was real.”

He shuddered. “I can bet that they just saw something that looked like a letter and put it in. I glanced at the top sheets in one of those and couldn’t tell how they decided it was writing. You are sure he will have a way to handle it?”

Sara nodded. “Yes sir.” She hated not telling him the truth. But she wasn’t lying the one who got the book would know what to do with it.

Isaac said. “Good now you need to go change. As you are guests at the feast you need to be in your formal clothes. Go on now.”

Abiram and Sara stood, Sara picked up the spell book and the other papers she had set aside. “I will feel better ones I have this sealed in an envelope and out of sight. I know no one would, but it I just can’t live it sitting.”

Isaac nodded. “That’s fine, and wise thinking. Just make sure it is someplace other than under your bed. The whole in the closet should do fine.” Sara blushed and he smiled. “Every child needs a place to keep things. Run on and get ready.”

Up in her room Sara took out an envelope and a slip of paper. On the paper she said. Do not read a word out loud and run this to document to the old magic department. I am not sure it is all the same, but the one page I looked at was pulling at me. She then put it on top of the papers and tied them so he would have to read her note first. Then put the bundle in the envelope sealed it and addressed it. Then went to her closest and took out the red dress and black head covering. The same that would be worn to weddings or baptisms she went to as a unmarried girl, once married it would be a blue dress. For her vows and wedding day it would be white dress and full veiling. All the dresses were the same pattern, just a change in color from the normal dark. Not she why she felt sad at the thought she changed her dress and head covering. Then daringly put on the fringed shoes before going down stairs. Really a lot of the other girls wore shoes fancier than those, but she knew her mother didn’t approve. Still just this once she hoped it would be let pass.