1 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: Hello, friends, and welcome to sleep Tight Stories. Esther has 2 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 1: finally met Gimbal. Ariyah got Esther to the new encampment 3 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: without any problems, but then had to run off to 4 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:32,279 Speaker 1: return to see Eliza. Esther goes into Gimbal's tent and 5 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: learns that he has met her father. Esther cannot believe 6 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 1: she is here talking to Gimbal and that he has 7 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: met her father. She has just one question that she 8 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: needs to ask him, but she is worried about what 9 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: his answer might be. The Magical Book of Dreams, Part seventeen. 10 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: A soft, warm light spread over the interior of Gimbal's tent, 11 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: coming from curious glowing orbs that floated gently near the 12 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:17,680 Speaker 1: tent ceiling, illuminating the interior with a comforting, warm glow, 13 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 1: a contrast to the dullness outside. The tent smelled musty, 14 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: likely from the many old books and scrolls she saw 15 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: in baskets ready to be moved at a moment's notice. 16 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 1: Esther also noticed the sweet smell of exotic herbs and 17 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: a faint smoky undertone from the fire. She took another 18 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: sip of her tea, enjoying its unique taste, not wanting 19 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: to drink too quickly. She had no idea she was 20 00:01:56,080 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: this thirsty until this oddly satisfying beverage was given to her. 21 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: Drinking also gave her a moment to gather her thoughts, 22 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 1: to try and ask the right questions. But first she 23 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: had to know the answer to the most obvious question. 24 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: The answer must be yes, it must. The look in 25 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 1: Gimbal's eyes when mentioning her father told her, so is 26 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: my father alive, she blurted, tea dripping down her chin. 27 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 1: Only slightly surprised at her bluntness, Gimbal replied, Oh, yes, yes, 28 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 1: at least I should hope so. I'm sure I would 29 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: know if something bad happened to him. Esther felt like 30 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. So 31 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: many years. She wondered believe that the stories were not true, 32 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: that he couldn't have just disappeared, that something terrible had happened, 33 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: or that he just didn't want to come home. She 34 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: wanted to cry. Her eyes shimmered, holding back a reservoir 35 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: of unshd tears. But this wasn't the time. She must 36 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: be strong. Then, why didn't he come home? She said, quietly, Oh, dear, 37 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: he couldn't. None of us could. I'm a traveler and 38 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: spent much of my life doing just that. I would 39 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: have loved to have visited this place as it once was, 40 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: stayed for a while, and moved on to another place, 41 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: perhaps equally as beautiful. But the Queen will not allow it, 42 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: and the artifact has diminished all the good magic required 43 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: to open a portal. Now we work to try and 44 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: return this realm to what it once was. Gimbal paused 45 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: and caught his breath before continuing, I'm not much of 46 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: a host. Let me get you more tea and a 47 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: bit more to eat. I have plenty of tea and 48 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: enough food. Most of our food is very bland and 49 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 1: sometimes bitter, but the tea, well, the tea I have 50 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: is still divine. It's very tasty. Thank you, Esther replied, 51 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 1: still trying to control her emotions. Gimbal returned with a 52 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 1: plate of dark colored food that Esther didn't recognize and 53 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 1: another pot of tea fresh off a large ornate stove 54 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: that dominated part of the room. The stove is the 55 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 1: only thing I have left from my old house. It's 56 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:55,919 Speaker 1: very big, but surprisingly light. It was made from good 57 00:04:56,000 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: magic and is incredibly strong for its weight. It looks 58 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 1: very beautiful, Esther said, taking another bite of food, not 59 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: bothering to taste it. She hadn't been this hungry since 60 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: the time the headmaster had forced her to work in 61 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 1: the school gardens all day. She had been punished for 62 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:21,599 Speaker 1: daydreaming for what the headmaster referred to as the one 63 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 1: hundredth time that week. Where is my father? I I 64 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 1: have been waiting for him forever, and many said that 65 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 1: something bad happened to him, or that he didn't want 66 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: to come home. Mother treats the issue like he has 67 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: already passed over the rainbow bridge, Esther asked, trying hard 68 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: to control her emotions. And you still had hope, Gimbal said, 69 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: absently stroking his long flowing beard. I just never believed 70 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: that it could be true. He always traveled around for work, 71 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 1: and I guess we are alike because he would always 72 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: be sitting and daydreaming while he looked off in the distance. 73 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 1: Hope is a powerful force and one of the reasons 74 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 1: why you are here, Esther. You are going to need 75 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: hope and more for the journey ahead. You see, after 76 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: a time, your father became part of the group of 77 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:29,480 Speaker 1: elders who set out to help those most affected by 78 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:33,719 Speaker 1: the gray that befell our realm. We have crossed paths 79 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 1: many times over the years. Eventually we all came to 80 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: the same conclusion. What conclusion that our efforts were less 81 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: effective than we had hoped for real change. To really 82 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,480 Speaker 1: help the people here, we must bring back good magic. 83 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:58,720 Speaker 1: With good magic comes color, and with color comes joy, food, 84 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:04,919 Speaker 1: and hope. Unfortunately, many of these elders were caught and 85 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: imprisoned by the Queen's guards. My father was caught. Are 86 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 1: you sure he is okay? Esther felt the weight on 87 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: her shoulders, returning again the tears too. Many of the 88 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: guards are sympathetic, and the Queen would rather have the 89 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: people she thinks are against her close under the watchful 90 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 1: eye of the artifact. I doubt he is comfortable, but 91 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: I have heard he is fine. We have much to 92 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: discuss and much to do, but do me one small 93 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 1: favor first. Please tell me about Shirewood or the kingdom 94 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: as a whole. It has been so long since I 95 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: have been there. Too long, Gimbal asked as he leaned forward, 96 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 1: eager to learn. He also needed time to collect his 97 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 1: thoughts to decide how fast to proceed. Despite knowing that 98 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: her arrival would be imminent, he didn't feel prepared to 99 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: tell all about what may transpire and what her role 100 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: might be. I don't know much of the kingdom, as 101 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 1: my mother never wanted to travel and certainly wouldn't allow me. 102 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: I've spent all my life in Shirewood, but I was 103 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: determined to see all of the kingdom as soon as possible. 104 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 1: You have a little brother as well, Gimbal asked esther. 105 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 1: Knew it had only been a few days, but it 106 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: felt like ages since she had seen that little stinker 107 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 1: and her mother. She felt the tears coming, so she 108 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: decided to quickly share more, hoping that talking would stop 109 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: the flow. Shirewood has always held to tradition, with the 110 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: Elm enforcing the old ways. Magic isn't used, and we 111 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 1: rely upon our talents more than those of the rest 112 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: of the kingdom, especially the areas around the Mystical Forest, 113 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: castle and towns nearby. Ah. The mystical forest, the color, 114 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 1: the food, the gnomes, unicorns and dragons, How I missed them, 115 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 1: Gimbal said, smiling as he looked off into the distance 116 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 1: like he could actually see what he was talking about. 117 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 1: I don't think much has changed in Shirewood since you 118 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 1: last visited. Since the travelers started disappearing, Shirewood stopped being 119 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: a waypoint for what the elders always referred to as outsiders. 120 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 1: No one wanted to go to the unknown realm, and 121 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: the elders discouraged all travel, especially to the unknown realm. 122 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 1: Talking about it became taboo. Now we follow the old 123 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 1: ways more closely than ever before, and without any influence 124 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 1: from people coming through. Few objected, except for people like 125 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: myself who still read the literature from the beyond. The 126 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: elders may be wiser than you know. Can I get 127 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 1: you more tea Gimbal asked no, I am fine, Thank you. 128 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: You are lucky that you had a riah to guide 129 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: you to our encampment. I'm afraid we have to move 130 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: from place to place more frequently than we did in 131 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 1: the past. There are only a few villages and towns 132 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:49,439 Speaker 1: left that aren't under the full control of the Queen. 133 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: Is it because of the chickalores? Esther asked no, The 134 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 1: chicklores are more of a nuisance. We have animals and 135 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 1: creatures here that can persuade them to move on. There 136 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: are worse creatures in the glades that support the queen oh, 137 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: Esther said as she suppressed a yawn. She didn't know 138 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 1: which feeling was stronger, the fear of some bad creature 139 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: roaming the glade, or how she felt absolutely exhausted. You 140 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: must be tired. I'm sure you have many questions about 141 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: the realm and your father, and we do have much 142 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: to prepare and discuss, but all that can wait until 143 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:40,559 Speaker 1: you have some sleep. I always found a good rest 144 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: helped me prepare for the challenges ahead, Gimbal said, standing 145 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: up and walking over to a private area in his 146 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 1: large tent. Following his lead, Esther stood up, but her 147 00:11:55,440 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: legs felt like sacks of heavy vegetables. She could hardly walk, 148 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: and her legs were sore. It was so uncomfortable she 149 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 1: was wondering if she could make it across the tent. 150 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: I've prepared this area and bedroll for you to sleep in. 151 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: It should give you some privacy. I like to stay 152 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:19,079 Speaker 1: up late and write in my journal, so if you 153 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 1: need anything, please let me know. I should be in 154 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: my study nook. Thank you, Gimbal, Esther said as she 155 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 1: plopped on the bed, unable to control her legs like 156 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: she should have been able to. She was too tired 157 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:39,680 Speaker 1: to perform her usual nighttime routine, and accepted the dirt 158 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 1: and dust on her face. As he walked away, Gimbal 159 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 1: said quietly, it's so wonderful to have the daughter of 160 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: Elarek here at last. Now we have hope. Esther lay there, 161 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 1: her mind racing, and despite her exhaustion, she found it 162 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: hard to sleep. Her father was alive, and she was 163 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:13,319 Speaker 1: much closer to finding him and taking him home. If 164 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:17,839 Speaker 1: she wasn't so tired her legs so sore, she would 165 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 1: have asked Gimbal where he was and run to save him. 166 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,839 Speaker 1: When she entered the tent, she was so focused on 167 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 1: the question about her father and food and drink that 168 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: she hardly noticed her surroundings well except for the musty 169 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 1: smell that reminded her of her library at school. The 170 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 1: interior was far more expansive than the exterior, suggested a 171 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 1: magic esther suspected of Gimbal's doing. Around the perimeter, she 172 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:55,559 Speaker 1: could see even more baskets filled to the brim with books, scrolls, 173 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: and various artifacts, some of which seemed to defy the 174 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: laws of physics with their floating, spinning and gentle glowing 175 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: there was certainly still some good magic about. Looking out 176 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 1: what served as her door, she could see in one 177 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 1: corner a cozy nook held plush cushions and a low 178 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 1: table laden with old, dented teapots and sturdy cups. That 179 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: must be his study. She thought. The tent was warm 180 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: and quiet, and her bed was comfortable. Despite her curiosity, 181 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 1: her body demanded rest, and Esther eventually fell fast asleep. Himbal, Gimbal, 182 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: come quickly, there have been some injuries. Esther didn't know 183 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 1: how long she had been asleep, but the lights in 184 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: the tent were down low, and since the outdoors was 185 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 1: always dim, she couldn't tell if it was morning or 186 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 1: the middle of the night. But the shouts and the 187 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 1: calls to Gimbal woke her all the same. She sat 188 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: up and groggily mumbled, what's going on? She could move 189 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 1: her legs, that was a good sign. Trying to get up, 190 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: she soon realized that they were still sore. She sighed, 191 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 1: why is there always some emergency when I am trying 192 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 1: to rest. Walking out from the makeshift room where she slept, 193 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 1: she saw Gimbal returning a small leather bag in his hand. 194 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: What's wrong, she squeaked. She needed more to drink as 195 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: her throat felt like sand paper. One of the guards 196 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: was attacked by a group of chickalores and was hurt. 197 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 1: Nothing too serious, but the way they approached us was 198 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: quite different, and I am afraid it scared many of 199 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: the people on duty. Why Ariah said to be careful, 200 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 1: but I didn't realize they would want to hurt people. 201 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 1: Something has changed, Esther, and I fear your time with 202 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: us may be cut short. Esther was too tired to 203 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 1: be shocked. Why what has changed. The change is you. 204 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: They are looking for you, Esther, and that is the 205 00:16:34,080 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: end of this part. Good night, sleep tighter.