In order to take the kingdoms over properly, Neal instructs Jake and Alex that they must speak to the last vestiges of the Queen through Hildegarde. During the ceremony the Queen destroys the spell book and commands Jake and Alex to take good care of the kingdoms. As soon as the spell book is destroyed Neal goes to see if he is truly free of Hildegarde. When he realizes he is, Neal decides that living in the castle isn't for him, and moves into a small cottage in the town, finishing his painting there.Eventually it comes time for Tory and Jeremy to leave... with the promise to return as soon as possible.If you enjoyed these podcasts and wish to see more of the Kingdom Tree Universe and other stories Bryna Chalmer is writing, please visit her at: http://worldtree.brasscannonstudio.com/brynablog/ 

Quilt, Book and Bard

New Beginnings

With King Delphic stuck in the picture, Tory becomes worried about returning home. While Alex is reluctant to admit that she has to go, he, Neal, Jake and Seth start speaking seriously about how to take over the Kingdoms. Though neither Alex nor Jake wish to rule the Kingdoms, they both know they'll have to do something in order to keep them from falling apart. In an attempt to figure out a solution, Tory proposes they look to the spell book.

Concessions

With everything in the two kingdoms starting to become more normal, Neal focuses on creating the picture to get Tory and Jeremy home.Tory, worried that Neal hasn't stepped foot out of Hildegard, despite being human again, figures out a way for him to feel more comfortable about the prospect. Taking the spell book, she convinces Seth and Neal to reverse the spell Norlis did in order to free Alex from the bracelets which Garten put on him.With the bracelets off, Neal sees that it might be possible to leave Hildegard without dying, but an unfortunate side effect of reversing the spell unlocks all the doors in the castle, allowing the King to escape into the the picture Neal is working on.

An Escape

Tory starts to worry about how Jake and Alex are going to take over the kingdoms, and how she's going to return home. In an effort to get Jake to stop stonewalling, Seth tells Tory that it might behoove her to see if the bracelets Alex still has on his wrists work in Hildegarde. Once they establish that the bracelets don't have any effect in Hildegarde,  Jake is willing to sit down and consider the idea of taking the mantle of power over the Delphic Kingdom.

Time Passes

Neal wakes up to find that the spell has been broken. Tory tells him they defeated King Delphic when she threw the signed piece of parchment the Queen had taken from Neal into the fire. Norlis ran away after he killed Garten, and everything is now going to be different. Surprised to learn all this, Neal tries and finds he can no longer speak with Hildegard. In an effort to understand what is going on he starts towards the Kitchens, Tory following close behind.

A Chance

As Norlis continues to speak the spell, Tory notices the difference in the room they're standing in. Looking to Seth, she disrupts the spell by following his directions. During the interruption the spell is changed. Norlis goes slightly nuts.

Changes

Neal and Jake are taken by Garten, who gloats over them by explaining the King's plans with the spellbook. Tory, unhappy with everyone else's inaction, and feeling hungry, convinces Alex to go with her and explore. Unfortunately they're found by Garten before they get too far, and the switch between the binding spells begins.

Gathering

Neal, Tory and Seth recover from their run-in with the Talpids. Seth mourns the loss of his familiar and his mandolin, but gives Neal some important information about why he was trapped in Hildegard for so long. Once they've gathered what there is, Neal leads the other two through the picture to the Delphic Castle, intent on making sure the spellbook isn't used for King Delphic's purpose.

Binding their Wounds

Tory and Neal land in Hildegard. While looking for the picture to take them to the Delphic Castle, they find Talpids in the library, torturing Seth. Conflicted about the information he got during the dinner, Alex tries not to panic, and tells Bryna and Jake about his run in with Garten.

Flying Home

During a dinner with King Delphic, Alex learns that the Talpids have captured Seth and are torturing him for information. Delphic threatens to bring Seth to the castle. Alex goes back and tells this to Bryna and Jake, who are at a loss, not sure if they should go back. Tory and Neal figure out how to use the spellbook and quilt in tandem, which gets them closer to the Delphic Kingdom, but not quite where they intended.

A Plan of Escape

Garten brings Alex to the Delphic castle. Alex meets his father, King Delphic, for the first time in many years. Reveling in capturing Alex, Garten traps him in the castle, making sure he can't escape. Tory and Neal, still in the Last Kingdom, work out a way to get back to everyone else and, possibly, save the day using the now found spellbook.

Unexpected Meetings

While Neal and Eli continue to fight, Tory begins to learn why Neal is so angry and resistant to getting the spellbook.Jake finds a painting which will take him to the Delphic Kingdom. He and Bryna decide to travel through it, since it seems to be the quickest way to get to his father and stop his plans.

The Cottage

Lilia convinces Neal and Eli to go get the spellbook from Zahava's cottage. Neal is initially reluctant, not sure what will happen. Tory sets out with the two men, a bit surprised that she must, due to her possession of the story-quilt.Forest and Alex get themselves into the Delphic city, but without any money. Not quite sure what to do, the two of them wander around the city, towards the castle, trying to figure out a way in.While exploring Hildegarde, Jake and Bryna find the library.

The Book

Norlis reveals to King Delphic why he interrupted his interrogation of Neal. In speaking with Seth, Jake learns why Neal seems to be the only imp in existence and how important Neal is to the whole story. Seth tells a story about what happened after the kingdoms were bound together.

A Search

Making their way through to the Delphic Kingdom, Alex and Forest try to figure out how to get into the castle. In the new kingdom Tory becomes frustrated after a fight between Neal and Eli leads to sulky silence. Once getting them up and moving, Tory runs ahead and meets a woman in a small nomadic village who reveals a unique and useful secret.

The Delphic Kingdom

For years the picture of the man with the oxcart has hung on the wall of her Aunt and Uncle's house. It never occurred to Tory that one day she might actually find herself in the picture. She frees Neal, an imp who has been imprisoned in Castle Hildegard for two hundred years. Together, they journey through the world of the Kingdom Trees, racing to break the spell that has bound the world together - in war. King Delphic is bent on taking the spell for himself, and becoming monarch of all. Tory and Neal find help among the Bards and the Cloud Jumpers, along with some who are not as trustworthy as they seem. The World Tree is not the universe of Good and Evil; it's leaves are shades of gray. Check out a tale where no fairies are hurt, but everything else is up for grabs.

hubhopper

Quilt, Book and Bard

hubhopper