The previous week

Last week this time, we arrived home late. We’d been in the hospital for my husband’s urgent (not emergent) gallbladder surgery. While there we’d managed to pick up Professor Kirke, and then somehow ended up with enough room in the Prius to bring him back as well as a Costco run (which included my husband’s pain killers.) When we arrived, a man who looked much like my husband greeted us, helping bring in supplies. As he set down a box, I saw a mark on his hand. He quickly hid it, but I cocked my head.

“Brom?”

“At your service.” He turned to see my husband carrying the other box. “Let me get that for you.”

“I’ve got it,” my husband said as he set it on the island.

I shook my head this was going to be a long week.

At least my guests allowed us to sleep in, but by Sundy afternoon I came downstairs to find a man standing, looking slightly lost.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“Is this where wisest counselors are gathering? I’m accustomed to inter-worlds travel, but this is a first for me.”

I chuckled. “You and me both. Welcome. I’m Kandi, your hostess. Care for a cup of…” I paused remembering I hadn’t ordered any more loose-leaf tea yet. “Coffee?”

“I… I’m not sure. I suppose I could try it.”

With something to do, I continued to make my newest guest feel at home.

Monday afternoon, three women escorted my husband in from the garage.

“I told you I could do it.” The woman adjusted her pink stole which was knotted around an overcoat; she was definitely overdressed for the warm September day.

“I never doubted you,” a plump woman with thick spectacles said.

The third ignored the other two and patted my husband’s arm. “I do believe he overdid it. We arrived just in time.”

“What were you doing now?” I asked my husband.

He shrugged, looking quite tired. “Only grinding shearing tool.”

I shook my head. “If you take him upstairs, he can show you to your rooms. And thank you, Mrs. Which. Or are you Mrs. Who?”

The three just smiled as my husband led them upstairs.

My home, although spacious, was starting to feel crowded. Gandalf, the two professors, and Brom had the third floor, and the three sisters now occupied the room across from mine. We couldn’t take many more guests.

Tuesday, went smoothly. As we walked the block to the photography studio, I was impressed with how well my husband could keep up. His healing was coming along. Before we made it the block to the studio, a man in a threadbare cloak approached us. Since we’d been known to wander the area in our own medieval garb, this didn’t surprise us. But it was his piercing blue eyes and long white beard that caught my attention.

“Is that a broadsword?” my husband asked the man, who glanced down.

“This?” He placed a hand on the hilt.

“Uh, yeah?”

The man shrugged and nodded. “Obviously, the world is not as I thought.”

I couldn’t hide a smirk.

“Yes, young lady?” The man glared at me with eyes full of knowledge and wisdom.

“Excuse me,” I said with a slight inclination of my head. “You may be another one of my guests. Are you purchance Dalmir of Turrim?”

A wary look crossed his aged face.

“It’s all right,” I soothed. “You’ve been called for the Silmaril Awards, and I’m your hostest. We’ll take you to our home.”

He muttered something into his beard, and I couldn’t help lean over and whisper, “Can I see the orb? It’s perfectly safe here.”

“Nothing is perfectly safe,” he grumbled, and I let it be.

By Friday, all was well. My guests were settling in, but I’d still not refreshed my tea stock. When Rendar refused coffee, but wished something hot to drink, I was at a loss.

There was a knock on the door.

“Good day, kind lady,” the gentleman said. “I hear you need tea. I may be of assistance. Let’s take a walk through your garden. There may be plants you need.”

“Why…” I don’t know why it threw me for a loop, but I finally found my voice. “Thank you. And you are?”

With a bow and a flourish, he said, “I am known as The Magus.”

Saturday’s happenings

Our walk wasn’t as successful as my tea-drinking guests would’ve wanted. There was a limited supply of spearmint and plantain leaves, but that was it. That evening, my final guest arrived. He’d have to share a room with The Magus, for I had no more beds available. But he, too, was a tea drinker.

As I stood in my kitchen wondering if I should leave my guests to their own devices while I went into town for the parade, my final guest, joined me, his hands wrapped around a mug. He hadn’t done anything but sip at what little tea I had, his eyes gazing into my soul as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.

Yet the more I watched him, the more I feared. Of all my guests, he seemed to be the one who would know a hundred ways to kill a person–and had discussed them at length with my husband over a mug of tea. Despite the fact that I believed he could kill me faster than a blink, I was still drawn to him like that cool uncle that everyone doesn’t understand but wants to be around.

It was at that moment that I realized what I needed to do.

“I’ll be right back!” I ran upstairs, grabbed my purse and returned. Athelas hadn’t moved, still holding his mug of tea. “I’ll go into town and bring back tea from Teas, Tinctures, and Tonics. Then you’ll have a good cup of tea.”

“Thank you,” he said with nod and turned back into the living room where Gandalf was discussing The Disaster of the Gladden Fields with the professors. “Why would you expend such a force of men when a single assassin would work?”

“You know nothing of orcs, sir,” Gandalf’s voice rose, and I second guessed myself.

Before I could chicken out, my husband joined me. I prayed our house would be left standing, and all our guests in one piece and unharmed when we returned.

Wisest Counselor 2026

Brom (Inheritance Cycle)
Athelas (The City Between)
Rendar (Moonscript)
The Magus (The Queen’s Thief)
Dalmir (The Turrim Archive)

Other Categories

Most Devoted Couple – T P Sarah at Light and Shadows
Most Epic Heroine – C. O. Bonham
Most Faithful Friend – Mackenzie K. Writes
Most Nefarious Villain – Janelle Leanne Schmidt
Strangest Character – E. E. Rawls
Most Magnificent Dragon – Rachel A. Greco
Most Epic Hero – DJ Edwards
Silver Tongue – S. L. Dooley
Most Rakish Rogue – Grace T

Where to Vote

A bird flew past–a big bird. Blinking I tried to see where it went, calling to my husband, but he was stuck in the bed with a limited view out the window. Even with my own mobility I couldn’t see where it’d gone or what it’d been. Maybe just my imagination. I was slightly stressed with everything going on.

As I turned back to my husband, there was a tapping on the window. A white owl stood on the roof outside the glass! It cocked its head at me as if to say, “Well, are you going to open it?”

The twist knobs on the old-style windows were missing, but maybe… I lifted the lock and pushed on the frame. To my surprise, it opened!

The owl fluttered up to the landing and dropped a rolled piece of paper. Knowing, that Remus Lupin could’ve shown up while I was gone, I took the paper and its strange messenger in stride. Sure enough, it was signed by Remus.

No! Just what I’d been afraid of. I found a pen and hastily scribbled.

As I was eating breakfast in the cafeteria so my husband wouldn’t get jealous since he can’t have food until after the operation, my phone vibrated. A text message. Who hadn’t I given the most recent updates to? Donna? Wanda? Mom?

I frowned. Just a number. Warily I clicked on the text.

Um… My brain tried to process this information.

Professor Hamilton? I vaguely remembered he was from Dragons in Our Midst; I quickly typed out:

Yes, sorry about that. I’m not at home at the moment. My husband is having his gallbladder removed. We should be back by Monday.

Soon my phone pinged again:

Sorry to hear that. That still leaves me here at the airport. There’s not much here.

I chuckled as I typed back.

No there isn’t. Do you think you could contact Gandalf? Maybe the eagles could help?

There were no further text messages, and I finished my hashbrowns and eggs in peace.

When I returned to the room, my husband was chatting with an agreeable gentleman who had a British accent.

“…closet,” the man said. “First time for everything.”

“Kandi, meet Professor Kirke.”

My eyes probably looked like they’d pop out of their sockets if Professor Kirke could see them behind my dark lenses.

“What are you doing here?”

The professor held up both hands with a shrug.

“We can clean out the back of the Prius and take him home,” my husband suggested.

I shook my head. “I suppose so, but I didn’t think it’d be this much trouble hosting the Silmaril Awards.”

“What is wrong?” The professor glanced about and then his mouth fell open in a dignified ‘Oh.’ “This is a hospital!”

I nodded. “And if all of the former winners are showing up at odd places, how will the new nominees make it where they belong?”

The professor tapped a finger to his chin. “Well, if we think of this logically…”

I groaned. “The Silmaril Awards aren’t logical professor. People around the world nominate their favorite fantasy book characters, by commenting on various blog sites. Then magically, those characters show up at my house! This isn’t my house; the North Bend Airport isn’t my house! How will the others find their right place?”

“What about social media?” My husband shifted in the hospital bed, laying down his phone. “You could post there all the rules, or at least calls to action. Have people go to the blogs and nominate their favorite fantasy book characters, like Aslan.”

“Yes.” I paused, and then realized. “Aslan can’t be nominated. He’s already a winner for wisest couns… el… or.” I let out a breath. “How is Aslan going to fit into my house?”

The professor placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Remember, he comes and goes as he pleases. If need be, he’ll make it work.”

“Thanks.”

A knock at the door interrupted us. “Excuse me. Are you Mr. Wyatt? I’m here to take you downstairs.”

As they moved my husband’s IV around, I motioned to the Professor to join me on the couch out of the way. At least, I’d have someone with me during the surgery.

“Don’t turn around,” the professor whispered. “I think the instructions were just broadcast across the sky.”

Ignoring his instructions, I turned and saw:

Silmaril Awards Dates

September 7-11: Nominations for Silmaril Awards
September 13-17: Vote for Silmaril Awards
September 20-Oct 2: Silmaril Awards Presentations

Silmaril Awards Hosts

Most Devoted Couple – T P Sarah at Light and Shadows
Most Epic Heroine – C. O. Bonham
Most Faithful Friend – Mackenzie K. Writes
Most Nefarious Villain – Janelle Leanne Schmidt
Wisest Counselor – Kandi J Wyatt
Strangest Character – E. E. Rawls
Most Magnificent Dragon – Rachel A. Greco
Most Epic Hero – DJ Edwards
Silver Tongue – S. L. Dooley
Most Rakish Rogue – Grace T

Let the nominations begin!