The sun is bright and warm as you leave the forest and walk along the beaten path. Once, a long time ago, there had been rose-pink stones to pave the way. Now there are only traces.
You reach the edge of the shoreline where the yellow-gold grass bends in the wind. This isn’t precisely where you met Tristan before, but somehow it feels right. You trail your fingers through the weeds.
The wind picks up again. It carries with it the scent of salt and chamomile, somehow separate from the sea. Remembering how he used the sound to distract you, you turn away from the sound.
Only the raw expanse of the great sea greets you.
But your skin prickles with awareness. You can feel his eyes on you.
You turn again, setting your hand on your waist.
There he stands, grinning. He grips his axe in an almost playful manner. “What were you looking for? A dragon perhaps? Maybe a gryphon? No. I know. A lightning bird, eh?”
You shake your head, amused. “You don’t want me to see you, do you?”
“So curious to see me?” His smile goes crooked. “You’ll have to be patient though. I do not share all my secrets in the first meeting or the second. Not even the third.”
“But the fourth?” You raise an eyebrow.
“Perhaps one or two secrets. Certainly not all. But tell me, have you returned because you have what I seek or did you just miss me?”
You hold out the neatly-folded parchment. “I have what you’re looking for.”
He takes it in hand, then looks it over. His brow raises as he reads the entries. “Striking choices, striking one. I was right to summon you.”
“Though one might ask how you knew to summon me. And how you did it.”
“Secrets, secrets.” He chuckles, his voice as charming as his gaze. “You should be glad. I’m very pleased. These recommendations are exceptional. They should help me greatly in coming to know the fae of this land.”
“I hope you enjoy the stories. There are many more wonderful tales you could take to your longship. And if you stay here long enough, I am certain you’ll meet some fae as well.”
“Indeed yes.” He tucks the parchment away. “You exceeded my expectations. We will meet again soon if you’re clever. And I know you are.”
You set your hands on your waist. “Yes. We will meet again soon.” You fix him with your gaze.
His eyes widen, and his grin broadens. “Oh, nothing will make you look away, will it? You will see how I depart, is that what will happen?”
You tilt your head and give a coy shrug. “I can’t look in this direction?”
“You can. But it will not do you any good.” He glances up into the sky, his smile charmingly smug. “You are clever, but you are not more clever than me.”
“I suppose we’ll see.”
“Ah.” He leans closer. “Yes, we shall. But tell me, striking one, how long before you blink?”
Oh. Why did he have to say that? You wrinkle your nose, suddenly aware of how dry your eyes are.
He laughs as he sets his arms akimbo. “What harm could it do to blink? You tell me what you think. Could I be that fast?”
“I think you are fast when you need to be.” You scrunch your face, resisting the urge. It is so much harder when you are suddenly paying attention to the fact that you aren’t blinking.
“Good answer.” He steps back.
The warm sunlight makes it even harder to keep your eyes open. And—then—you can’t hold it back anymore.
You blink.
A hearty laugh follows, and the wind kicks up.
By the time you look to that spot, Tristan is no longer standing there. Gone again.
Clever man indeed. You shake your head, then rub your eyes. You are clever. You probably will find him again. Or perhaps he’ll summon you.
Have you completed the No Fae Path yet? Cendric the Shadow Weaver could use your help.
Or you might check out the Bonus Quests at the bottom of the page to see if any new adventures have cropped up!
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