Fuelled with frustration at having been forced to change locations, the spell the Fae casts at the now freed man, was more forceful than necessary. The man recoils as if hit in the chest by a club, his eyes don’t just glass over they go completely blank. Then as if puppeted by someone that doesn’t know how to control the strings, he lurches back to his seat. The Fae sighs then returns to his performance.

  —---

  A shortened sleep is all that he got before dawn,

  With great effort he stifled an unbidden yawn,

  The Lovers were already waiting at the gate,

  The Knight devouring bread at an incredible rate,

  Greetings were made and plans confirmed,

  Everyone's ability to run was affirmed,

  So off they went with the amazing speed,

  Like hunting dogs let off their lead,

  Reaching the tree line in no time at all,

  Not stopping to inspect any wildlife call,

  Past small bushes and mighty trees,

  As they crashed through, everything flees,

  Reaching the base of mountains in just over an hour,

  They had a short rest before searching for the flower,

  Catching their breath from the distance they’d ran,

  Making sure their senses were as sharp as they can,

  Then as one they got up and started their ascent,

  Not needing to discuss or confirm consent,

  The slope got steeper with every pace walked,

  Silent and heavy was the air as no one talked,

  Searching for signs of plants, even though they knew,

  That they had to go higher, to where the plant grew,

  With the wind getting colder, the higher they went,

  Not one slacked off or showed that they were spent,

  Climbing rockfaces was no problem for the Lady or our Hero,

  Yet the Knights armour reducing his climbing ability to zero,

  So with ropes and strength they helped him over the edge,

  Repeated with more skill upon arriving at each ledge,

  It wasn’t long before they found a cave,

  With scattered bones making an unfortunate grave,

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  They entered the cave being quieter than mice,

  Weapons at the ready for any foe that could slice,

  Upon the floors and walls were scratch marks of great size,

  From the looks of all the bones this place had seen many deadly cries,

  Skeletons from small goblins to great bears were all here,

  The sight of such gave our Hero, a trickle of understandable fear,

  Deeper they went seeing only bones and wrecked gear,

  Until reached a corner and around it they did peer,

  They saw a pool of the clearest water they’d ever seen,

  Surrounded by an out of place patch of wild green,

  Threaded through the clumps of grass, some flowers bloomed,

  Upon which all their gazes immediately zoomed,

  Stems barely a foot tall, pale as if made from glass,

  Swaying gently in what wind that the cave allowed to pass,

  The petals as sharp as daggers aimed outwards to draw blood,

  With the whitest tips fading to the darkest blue at the bud,

  They all stood there for longer than they’d be willing admit,

  Enjoying the sight, before the damage they’re about to commit,

  Taking the petals without the plant taking harm,

  Required focus and an easy to reach calm,

  The tranquility of the place bringing a sense of peace,

  Upon their brows was not a single crease,

  The collection was over before they knew it,

  Their bags had all the petals they could fit,

  As they turned to start to start their way back,

  Pressured air hit them with a whack,

  Followed by a screech that was full of rage,

  Realising that the cave had become a deadly cage,

  All three ready to fight a large beast,

  Whose cry had declared the start of a feast.

  —---

  Finding only a desire to get away from this place,

  And return home at the speed of a race,

  The three ladies were satisfied that our Hero,

  Had no delusions of being more than a zero,

  While they would not help him return,

  His actions raised not a bit of concern.