Evadeen Brickwood - The Speaking Stone of Caradoc

“We came to speak with your good queen and have brought a rare songwood harp as proof of our good will.”

The elf guard danced over to the harp at Lelani’s feet and gave it the once-over. With a wave of his hand, Gump made the young trees quiver. When he had had enough of his game, he cocked his head and listened. It was quiet. Even the fly had given up on Trevor’s nose.

“Our revered queen will be ready to receive you in a little while. While we wait, let’s play a little more. You won’t mind answering a few harmless questions as is customary on our beautiful isle?”

Trevor tried to avoid his gaze.

“I see you want to go first young man…” Gump shook his gnarled finger at him.

“Emm, no, not really, I…”

Gump went right ahead and asked. “Perhaps you can tell us what flies in the air and has two legs?”

Oh no, not a quiz. Trevor was terrible at quizzes. What had two legs…?

“A bird?” Trevor tried cautiously.

“Yes, yes, yes, a bird, of course a bird. Unless you ever saw a flying Nepeshai, which I didn’t mean in the first place…”

The elf babbled on about the Nepeshai people and how much they resembled giant butterflies, until the little elf pulled on his shirt sleeve again.

“Oh gosh,” Chryséis sighed and rolled her eyes.

Not exactly blessed with patience, she wanted this annoying elf to get on with it. Her ear was itching and it was getting late.

“Oh gosh, oh gosh, what does that mean, oh gosh…heh?” The elf leapt in front of her, glaring at Chryséis through narrow eyes.

“Oh gosh means…means very clever, good sir elf. You are very clever!” Chryséis could smell his stale berry breath as he came closer.

Good save! Katherine praised her telepathically.

“Very clever, heh? Let’s see how clever you are then?”

Chryséis tried to look not too frightened.

“What flies in the air and has four feet, heh?”

Chryséis thought for a second then took a deep breath. “Two birds?”

“You are also clever youngsters, aren’t you, heh? Gosh.” He tried the word on his tongue. “Go s h, g o s h… I like it!”

Gump gazed from one child to the other. Kheton and the captain looked alarmed, but kept wisely quiet.

“Now you …, yes you. Pretty enough to be an elf yourself, heh?” He studied Katherine’s face. “Round ears though, small and round. Ugly,” he concluded with a snarl.

“If you say so, sir elf.” Katherine tried to sound polite, despite her absurd situation.

What do I care, if the forest guard likes my ears or not. Bring it on , she thought, we need to get out of here .

I agree. Good luck , she heard Trevor think. Then Chryséis smiled. It’s so easy to communicate by thought here. Must be something in the air.

“Sir elf, sir elf...” Gump mocked her, repeating the words like a parrot.

With a quick surprise move he took Katherine’s bright blue hairclip in the shape of a butterfly and stuck it on his green cap. Then Gump continued as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. Katherine knew better than to protest.

“Let’s see if you know the answer to this, young almost-elfin girl with ugly round ears… What flies in the air and has six legs?”

This guy is obsessed with legs , Chryséis thought.

Yes, some jerk! This time it was Katherine, who answered telepathically.

“Six legs? A fly?” she said aloud.

The faun was surprised, but composed himself quickly. “No, not a fly!” he jeered. “A butterfly, a butterfly of course. You see over there...heh?”

He pointed to a couple of white butterflies dancing around purple bell-shaped flowers then touched the blue hairclip which promptly fell to the ground. The little elf next to him scurried to pick it up and helped Gump fasten the clip to his cap.

“Of course a butterfly, sir Gump. Forgive my ignorance.” Katherine’s voice sounded apologetic enough for the elf to take a softer line.

“You are forgiven, then. You are still young, little girl.”

He tittered and danced in circles around the hapless visitors. The men still watched without speaking. Too many words could bring out the bad elfin temper. All they wanted was to find the ‘Speaking Stone’ and leave this forsaken island.

Patience , captain Thëlamôn thought and Kheton nodded. With the Edfunians turned into trees, things should be easier, he thought back.

The sun was sinking fast and time was passing. Then suddenly the forest guard screwed his face up in a funny grimace and flicked his fingers, releasing the visitors from the spell.

“Ah, the good queen is ready for you now. I’m tired of playing anyway. The giants were more fun, didn’t know a single answer.”

Kheton stretched his stiff limbs and nearly lost his balance before Lelani sank into his arms. Katherine stomped her feet to get rid of unpleasant needles and pins.

“How could they know the answer? I made this up only yesterday,” Gump mumbled, scratching his stubbly chin.

In a flash the forest glade came alive. An assortment of fairies slipped out of trees and ferns and even the gurgling stream. Some of them were as tiny as butterflies, see-through wings and all. They had all witnessed the quiz and laughed their sunny laughter at Gump’s failure to trick the children.

“I can’t believe it. The captain was right,” Chryséis said.

The forest guard motioned grumpily for them to follow him down the path. The fairies flew right above their heads twittering and singing and nudging them playfully.

At last they were headed for Arbộlimar, Queen Efinûr’s palace.

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