The Winter Solstice Party...

"Leave it to Hunter to be unpredictable.  Here we should be having a little tea party and he turns it into the event of the season," growled the Dowager as she rode in a coach on the way to the Winter Solstice event.  "Discussing the finding of a Dragon tablet doesn't make this meeting with Hungry any easier either.  Now everyone will want to see him!  

​At least the King sent one of his Nytemares to pull my coach."  As horses are few in the Realms, when a Nytemare is willing to take you somewhere - it is only because they wanted to or the Shadows' Realm King commands them to.  Griselda was being given an extra treat, being able to ride in one of the King's coaches.  "It is nice not to have to walk," she thought.  "But he still is going to get an earful about this!"

As the Dowager traveled and was going over in her mind what she was going to say to the Shadows' King, little did she realize that the coach was being watched.  Actually, all approaches to the King's castle were being watched!  But by whom (or what) is the real question.  

Each of the other Kings had their minions out scouting for any clues to the secrets of the Dragon tablet but as of yet, no one had seen the Borrowers.  Drat had several of the Troll King's minions watching the trails through the forest (and of course following the Gooblin King's minions) while the Gooblin King had his minions watching the Troll King's minions.  He had even put his mechanical bird to the task as it was to continuously fly over Hunter's castle to watch for any unexpected arrivals. 

But with all of these minions on the lose, no one thought to check with Meen to see the invited guest list.  Of all the guests she had delivered an invitation to, one was skipped over...  No, it was not Hungry (as he had already arrived the day before the party so he could visit with Meen and see the Nytemares).  It wasn't Snoop who already was sitting next to the entrance doors to the ballroom so he could keep a list of all of the attendees for the morning edition of the Bellwether. ​

​Neither was it The Gooblin King and Troll King who were trying to be polite to each other (and it was killing both of them).   

Nor was it the Baron who was presenting the Dowager to the Shadows' King while trying to hide his grin since he knew how mad she was that her little private tea party plan had become a huge event.  It seemed everyone who was someone was there except... the Borrowers!  ​

Now, why Meen had not added them to the invitation list would probably be based on the Borrower's history.  Anytime a Borrower showed up anywhere, they had the habit of 'borrowing' something.  It was worse at parties!  So much bling and things to see, that they just could not keep their hands in their own pockets.  Forks, knives, spoons, small furry animals, even shoes were known to have disappeared when the Borrowers appeared.  (Most instances the items were returned eventually and in some cases even something better had been left behind as in the one instance when a glass of milk had disappeared but in its place was left a milk cow - even if the cow was someone else's, the fact that something better had been left cannot be overlooked.)

It didn't take long before everyone realized (as nothing had gone missing still) that one of the main reasons they had decided to show up for the party wasn't there!  No Borrowers which meant no Dragon tablet.  Yes, there was a real Dragon, and usually that would have been something of a spectacle, but this group wanted to see what all the hullabaloo was about regarding this newest find... or at least what the latest gossip was about.  Since it wasn't here soon the guests started to make excuses as to why they needed to leave (but not until after filling their pockets with food from the buffet tables).

As the party dwindled down to just the minion staff and the few guests who had really wanted to just attend a party, Hunter lead Griselda, Hungry, and the Baron into a small sitting room for a quick private discussion.  "It appears that the race is now on for who finds out what is on the Dragon tablet first," said the Shadows' King to the others as they sat.  "I know this is not what you were expecting Griselda but I needed to know what you know about it."

"What tablet?" Hungry asked, but before Hunter could answer the Baron said, "This tablet that might have untold power."  As he continued, Hunter only nodded his head affirming the Barons chilling words.  "Hungry, some rulers are benevolent and just, while some are looking to expand their treasury or reputation.  There are some who quest for more knowledge or power and some want to change things to be the way they want them to be.  Several here tonight attended so they could see the Dragon tablet and had hoped to learn something that the others did not know.  Since the tablet wasn't here, each is now heading to their realm to start the race to see who can find the Borrower with the tablet and get it for themself." 

"A race you say? asked Hungry looking at the Shadows' King.  "Are we in it?"