The Black Wyrm of Brandonsford

"A very good question!" Vivian answers with some enthusiasm. She pauses then, looking to her visitors one after the other, then adds, "Well, it's not like I've had a lot of dealings with satyrs and fauns! Or the fey generally -- until recently, these woods were quite mundane, for the most part!"

Then, turning towards a shelf that sags with the weight of old books packed into its length, the old woman mutters to herself for a moment before picking one out, and drawing it from the shelf. Blowing dust from its worn leather cover, she presents the volume to Neesa. It is an ancient book with brass clasps, filled with what look like thick, rough, vellum pages. It looks as though it must have changed hands a hundred times, but still it holds together.

"You, dear, may borrow this. I'm afraid the author's name is lost, but it is a history of the faeries in our world. The answer to your question might lie within. Please return it when you are done with it."

The title is on the cover is in flowing script: Of the Fae and Their Secret Ways

Inside, the pages are hand-written and accompanied by marginalia capturing later notes from -- the author? Other readers? It is illustrated throughout, as well, and quite beautifully.

Vivian smiles graciously as her guests prepare to leave, collecting their mugs, patting their arms, and wishing them luck. When there's talk of the pond, she sighs.

"Oh, those bad nixies! You're welcome to whatever you can find in that pond, and don't let them say otherwise! I don't imagine there's much more in there than rusted scraps, but you're welcome to them!"

Nessa lingers behind when her companions begin to take their leave. Vivian, who was just scratching Kittridge behind the ears to thank him for not peeing inside, raises her eyebrows and gives the young woman a mild, warm look as the slim blonde makes conversation, and an offering of her own.

"Well now, what’s this?" the witch says regarding the book Nessa hands over. The elfin girl sees that Vivian’s hands are old and gnarled, but strong and deft as she opens the book and leafs through it a bit. "Hm! Are you a poet? Oh no, I see… a storyteller! Wonderful!"

Reading while she talks, the wisened woman goes on, slightly distracted by the words on the page. "Your handwriting… is gorgeous. You’ve just given a lonely old woman company for cold nights by the warm fire! And don’t you worry about that book of Fae — the thing will find its way back to me, one way or another."

When Nessa’s words and mood turn a bit glum, Vivian closes the book and rubs the storyteller on the arm reassuringly. "Now dear — you’ll be alright. You’re smarter than any overgrown lizard, and your friends are experienced hunters and soldiers. Take care and I’ll see you back here again… we can discuss some of what you — what you find in that book."

Nessa is last to leave, and when she is about to also make for the door, Vivian holds up one finger and squints one eye. She then proceeds to root around on one of her overflowing workbenches, making a satisfied sound when she finds what she was looking for: a twisting piece of slender, pale wood. A wand!

"This, my dear, is the Briar Wand of Whispered Bloom. Take it! It may aid you on this dangerous quest. Have it in your hand when you… explore what you find in the book."