VI.
One day while musing around his palace quarters, at the bottom of a large trunk, Riswey found a dusty satchel. He recognised it as the satchel he had brought with him and remembered the book inside that the storyteller had given him. He pulled the leather bundle out and unwrapped the book. He took it to a window to examine it and remembered the storyteller telling him that not all the pages had been torn out. It still contained the seventh story. He carefully opened the cover and there still in its binding was a single page mottled with age. It was blank, there was nothing on it at all. Looking out of the window at the rolling fields and ornamental laked gardens of the palace Riswey realised that today was his last day, the books spell was at an end. He went to the quarters of the court storyteller and when the storyteller saw the book in his hand he looked down and said “I know, I was expecting this one day. It has been good to know you Riswey, farewell my friend.” And they shook hands.
“Farewell story-teller. Now I must break the unhappy news to the royal family. I wish I could explain to the princess that we will always be together.”
As Riswey kissed the princess goodbye, slung the satchel over his shoulder, and walked down the slopes from the palace to the forest he suddenly saw behind a tree a familiar dancing point of light and he knew that soon he would be home. The light led a different way to that which he had come, around a village and down to a gorge crossed by a rope bridge. He crossed the bridge and on the other side he saw an old woman carrying a bundle of sticks. He sat down to rest watching her, studying the stories in the deep lines in her face. She stopped before the bridge and with a smile said to Riswey “Well aren’t you going to give me a hand then”. Riswey jumped up and took the bundle across for her. “That has made my life easier” she said “Thank you”. The light led back through the forest for a long while and eventually tired, Riswey took a rest. When he came to his feet the light was far ahead and he jogged to catch up. Gradually more and more lights appeared and then Riswey saw a sunlit break in the trees. This was the edge of the forest and he could just see a figure in the sun looking for something on the ground. Running out of the shadows he saw his close friend Imia. “Imia”, he shouted.
“Riswey! Riswey! Its you! Where have you been?” she celebrated hugging him “We all thought you were dead.”
“Well thank you! No I’m still here. How long have I been gone?”
“A year and six days. It’s the spring festival tomorrow.”
“I can’t believe it I’m so sorry. How are Mum and Pa?”
“They’ve not been the same since you didn’t come back. I can’t believe at last its you. Where have you been? I thought you might have got some grand job and would come back to the village rich to rescue me!”
“Not quite. It’s a long story. What were you looking for?”
“Oh it’s silly. Last year I bought you for the spring festival, a friendship amulet from Miou. Unfortunately it broke in half on the way home. I suddenly remembered again this year and thought I’d have a look for it.”
“You mean”, Riswey fished into his pocket “you mean you were looking for this?” He produced the amulet.
“Yes. Where did you get it?”
“I found it here last year. That’s why I went into the forest - looking for the other half”
“Oh Riswey you idiot, you always were a dreamer. Only you would think to look for it in the forest. I had it all the time. Oh well a year late, here’s your Spring Festival present. Sorry it’s broken.”
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t think it’s broken.”, he looked at it cherishingly.
“And for my present! Riswey! Huh?”
“Do you have a pen Imia”
“Yes. Here.”
Riswey pulled out the storybook opened it and went to write something but changed his mind. “Here this is for you. Open it tomorrow.” He hugged Imia again “I must go and see my parents now. Are you doing anything later?”
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