Svarik and the company I :)

[Mirach]

"And is there something you can't make? I can bring it to you when I return with the book."

[VisAnastasis]

" There are too many things we lack. I can not possibly take such advantage of your hospitality, to bid from you such involvement for sake of handful of people living in middle of nowhere. " Emil waved away his head with gentle attitude, yet determinant in his dignity. " Having you return once more to visit Cernunnos would be more than I could ever hope for. If you do desire to do us favor so much, though, if there's one thing that we lack the most, it would be meat. We have just handful of domestic animals nowadays, and hunting is increasingly difficult, for there are fewer wild animal around fortress each year. I can hardly ask you to bring a live sheep or few, of course... " child chucked a little. " But when you replenish your food supplies on the way back, if you would be ever so kind to save some meat aside, I would be very much obliged to you. We grow tremendous amounts of both common and rare and magical fruit as this land is very fertile and we have couple of harvests every year, but we all lack meat in our diet, and I'd be very happy to treat Forest God with it, for he often eats least of it, despite he needs it most. "

[Mirach]

"Yet he gave it to us," Svarik smiled sadly. "I couldn't really refuse, nor convince him to take more himself. I felt bad for it, because we have had a good lunch, and still have enough of supplies. But if we bring some on the way back, he should not refuse it, if it's a gift, right? What kind does he like most?"

[VisAnastasis]

" It's actually considered polite for guests to bring at least symbolic gifts to hosts, though I imagine he did not force the custom upon you. He generally tries to be more forgiving in last centuries, as he begins to notice old traditions of his time are being forgotten, and as in his eyes, being visited at all is a gift valuable enough. Still, if you brought it as gift, I would say he would deem it too impolite to refuse. " Emil nodded. " And none of us are picky... But from his prime time when he was able to choose... " Boy paused for a moment as he tried to remember the best choice for his beloved deity. " Chicken meat, salmon, veal or lamb meat - any of those, if your luck is favorable and you can get them, are beloved by him. But to tell truth, anything not commonly found in forest would be great treat for him, because all we get is from here, so it gets a bit stale if that is all you eat for centuries. If it's too much to ask for, we can perhaps attempt a trade? We have many peculiar fruit, and we also groom unique breeds of honey, if you are inclined to sweet things, so we can make exchange... "

[Mirach]

"If the visit would be planned, we would bring some gifts," Svarik said. "All I have now is some books I will borrow him, one or two now, and the rest on the way back. But on the way back we will already know that we plan to stop here, and will be able to bring more, but still limited - we will be carrying a lot of gifts for others, too... But maybe we could establish some trade with you. Even if I won't be able to come that often, when Xia gets a bit older, I think she likes Cernunnos, and would like to visit him sometimes, so she can carry some things here and back. It's not that far for her, and the things in the water can't fly, can they?"

[VisAnastasis]

" No they can not go more than few meters up in the air. They are tied to the ground and waters. If you happen upon this forest at night and have choice, I strongly recommend you just keep flying. They can also climb trees, so while it may give you higher chances, staying in the air whole night is better than laying feet upon the soil they can sense you on. " boy shook his head, thought he was smiling shyly. " And if you are earnest, and do wish to establish connection with us - then I can only thank thee. We do not have much, but little we have is rare and lot plants we groom only grow here in the whole world. We would love to trade with, so we can enriches our lives and stay in touch with times, and hopefully do the same for you and add more flavor to your life too, kind guest. "

[Mirach]

"I will see about the best way to do that," Svarik said. "But now, would you like to hold Sunshine for a while? I would like her to get used to you while I'm still here, so she can see I trust you with her..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Oh, I would be very pleased to do so, kind guest! " child said enthusiastically. He shyly reached for the little animal, and timidly started to caress it, as if it was as sweet and frail in his eyes as humans were in Cernunnos's. His emerald eyes were glistening with some shy delight as he tried to pet her nice enough to coax her to come to him.

[Mirach]

Svarik caressed her as well, but then he made a step back so she would not be distracted by him. "I't okay Sunshine..." he said gently. "That's Emil, he will care for you tomorrow..."

[VisAnastasis]

Boy was apparently not that used to doing things like those, so he was insecure, but he carried blood and spirit of Cernunnos in his veins, and that seemed to attract animals and make them feel pleasant and protected around him. It took a little while, as he was stranger, but with Svarik's encouragement, Sunshine at last climbed into Emil's lap, pawing him and letting his caress her, appearing as shy as him.

[Mirach]

"That's good," Svarik smiled, and gave her a treat.

[VisAnastasis]

As Sunshine slowly relaxed, boy seemed delighted, this being as rare treat to him as healthy colorful meal was to the Forest God.
" I apologize if I am being a little clumsy. " he said shyly. " I mostly work around bees... For some reason, insects are mostly spared from dangers of night, so we produce lot of honey for such a small household... And I am more used to caressing the bees, not kittens. It's been so long since we had kitten around. "

[Mirach]

"You are doing just fine," Svarik smiled. "And I like bees too. They must be sleeping now, though. What do you use to do during winter?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Bees sleep now during night, but in the morning, I can show them to you. They are very lovely, big, healthy and fluffy. They are unique one of a kind breed that has evolved in our care since we live here.  " Boy exclaimed pleasantly. " And we have indoor fruit and flowers and all kind of greens in the fortress, in our special greenhouse. We currently mostly have some special plants and flowers that can grow only during the winter times. We keep our bees there during the winter, so they can buzz around freely. I mostly look after the little cuties, and make sure plants are alright, well looked after, and happy. Besides making prayer circles during night, gathering enough salt and making sure everyone is safe, or doing common errands, as lord of this castle, I personally mostly like to look after the bees and flowers. "

[Mirach]

"You have bees and flowers in winter?" Svarik asked wonderingly. "I would like to see them, if we have time. We would like to use most of the sunlight to go with Xia to Cernunnos..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Yes, Cernunnos was ruler of two cuties for around two thousand of years before his enemies caught up to him, and invented many things to help people of this place have easier and longer lives. He was a good and just king. One of the things he invented were indoor gardening that uses special artifacts he designed that makes artificial warmth and sunlight. It enables having harvest in winter times. That's how we were able to groom bees on such way that they evolve to the point they don't have to hibernate. " child explained, having extensive knowledge about all the things connected to his God, it seemed. " As cities were destroyed, alas, almost all artifacts that powered those greenhouses were destroyed, and Forest God does not have enough power or health to build more. We only have couple of those that survived because they were kept in this fortress that wasn't destroyed in the attack. They are a little old, but they are doing their part still, thankfully - it helps provide us with enough food during long winter months. I can show my favorite greenhouse to you, though you'd have to be quiet, not to wake up my bees, dear guests. "

[Mirach]

"Alright," Svarik nodded. "I would like to see it, and there won't be much time for it tomorrow, while today it's not so late yet..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Alright, then, let's make a deal, kind guest. I will show you all you desire to see, if you promise to tell me all about your meeting with Forest God during our leisure time tonight. " Emil grinned as he was standing up, carefully cradling the kitty. " As much as you'd like to see this, I am curious about how that visit went, as you must assume, for I love him ever dearly. Would you care to make that deal with me, kind guest? In return for the story, I will dedicate you all my time and lend you all my knowledge while the night lasts, no matter how early or late you choose to go to bed and rest your weary bones. "

[Mirach]

"Oh, it won't be that long. I'm a bit tired after playing some songs for him, and we still need to decide how to best use the time we have with him to teach Xia... Let's just make a trip to the greenhouse, and I will tell you about the meeting while we walk," Svarik suggested.

[VisAnastasis]

" Great. May I, um.. keep the kitten? " he asked, holding little animal tightly in his hands like a stuffed toy, on which couple of priests smiled. When Svarik allowed it, he shyly smiled, and he started to lead them outside of the main room to the hallway, and then along the wide old staircase, to the highest floor.

[Mirach]

Svarik hesitated a bit, but then he let Yiska sleep in the warmth of the fire, not wanting to disturb her. He just asked a priest to keep an eye on her and call him if she would wake and be unrestful.

[VisAnastasis]

All people here seemed overly gentle and kind, and priest was happy to comply, promising he'd look after her best possible way.
Emil in his turn made sure Sunshine he carried was comfortable in his arms. He seemed super excited to hold something so cute and fluffy, but as much excited he was of it, he was excited about opportunity to learn if his God was pleased with meeting someone new, and he listened attentively to king's tale of how the visit to Cernunnos went.

[Mirach]

Svarik told him about the visit, only omitting the details of what they talked about, as he didn't feel like repeating it now. He just said they exchanged questions about each other.

[VisAnastasis]

Boy thanked him for the time and patience he had with the Forest God, it clearly meaning lot to him that they set time from their journey away to brighten up his day.

He led him to the highest part of the fortress, where whole final floor was devoted to their indoor garden.
Once they entered it, they noticed a vast, lovely garden filled with plants of all kinds and various shades of bluish, green and emerald color. From the thin hallway, on both sides they could see various mini gardens, and in middle of one was a big stony orb, probably the artifact that powered this whole place - for there were no windows and no torches, but it was still light as if in a day.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/7f/8c/7c/7f8c7c1c1cccd8e5d6ef7fdd52573f80.jpg

Light was soothing and was coming from many sweet little gemstones scattered all across every room, and also from some plants and special flowery-grass, that also illuminated gorgeous bright streaks of it, looking like glowing little dandellions.
http://images.adsttc.com/media/images/55e8/9bd4/6c9d/b57a/9900/00b8/slideshow/img_9515.jpg?1441307597

[Mirach]

"That's beautiful..."  Svarik said, looking around. "What kinds of plants can you grow like this? Do they have to be special, or would any plant that can grow outside grow here?"