A resounding bang reverberates through the door, jolting our senses. Imogen swings it open to reveal Xander and Janie standing before us.
'We are leaving shortly. Get yourselves ready and meet us downstairs,' Xander declares in a commanding manner.
'Okay,' Imogen replies.
‘I’m ready,’ I say to them as I throw my cloak over my shoulders and pull the hood over my head—Imogen steps aside to let me through.
‘I’ll be quick,’ Imogen says, closing the door behind me.
Descending the stairs in tandem, we find ourselves greeted with a peculiar porridge, its flavours dancing on our tongues with an unexpected fruity delight.
‘Did you rest well?’ Janie asks me as she finishes the last of her breakfast.
‘I guess so,’ I murmur and look away.
Janie's eyebrows scrunch together with a frown. 'Is everything okay?' she probes, her voice one of concern.
'Yeah, I'm good,' I feign, concealing the truth behind my words.
Janie's frown deepens, her hand instinctively seeking solace in mine, but as her skin grazes mine, she recoils as if scalded by searing heat, her gasp escaping into the space between us.
'Janie? Are you alright? Is it a vision?' Xander interjects, his voice laced with confusion.
Janie nods, ‘I was in a bath. I was seeing everything from Rose’s point of view,’ Janie reveals, her words tumbling forth in a rush. 'I saw it—the monster you witnessed,' she confesses, her eyes wide with fear, locked onto mine as if seeking answers.
'It was just a fleeting thought, a figment of my imagination,' I hastily assure her, yearning to quell the rising panic in her gaze.
'It was very real when I saw it, Rose,' Janie insists, her voice trembling. 'Whatever that creature is, I pray we do not encounter it on our journey,' she adds fearfully.
Xander interjects, 'Felderia harbours a multitude of mystical beings and monsters. Maybe we can figure out which creature it was if you describe it.'
Janie replies, her voice quivering. His aura felt malicious, and his eyes were unlike anything I'd ever seen. He had a callous, cold-blooded stare, ready to kill.'
Before Janie can delve further into her description, Imogen descends the stairs with a radiant smile, injecting a moment of light-heartedness into the conversation. 'I'm ready,' she announces with renewed energy.
'Good,' Xander responds, his tone resolute. 'We must make our way to the Moonshade Forest. With any luck, we will find a Blossom fox today and secure our passage back to your realm.'
Rising from our seats, we follow Xander and Janie, and we follow them out of the tavern and to the stables, where our glowhorn stags have been well-fed and groomed. They seem well-rested too.
The young fae boy, with locks of ethereal white, greets us with a radiant smile, swiftly attending to the stags, adorning them with saddles in preparation for our journey. He arranges our belongings into the saddle sacks with deft hands, ensuring our provisions are secure. As we ascend onto the stags' backs, I catch a rumble emanating from the fae boy's stomach, his cheeks colouring with a touch of red.
Moved by his hunger, I reach into my bag and retrieve a small cherry tart and a handful of cookies, extending them towards him. His eyes light up, gratitude and delight intertwining as he accepts the offerings. 'Thank you, Miss!' he exclaims. Taking a bite of the cherry tart, crumbs dance on his lips. 'This is so good,' he expresses, his joy fills the stable. I chuckle softly, appreciating the joy I've brought to his hungry belly.
'Well, thank you for taking care of our loyal stags,' I express my gratitude, acknowledging his diligent efforts.
With a beaming smile, he introduces himself. ‘My name is Windall.'
I return his smile, 'I'm Rose,' I reply, feeling a sense of warmth in our exchange.
'You're beautiful, like a rose,' he whispers, his words overflowing with genuine sweetness.
My heart flutters, touched by his innocent admiration. 'Thank you, Windall,' I respond, a hint of bashfulness colouring my cheeks.
Suddenly, Windall's face lights up with a mischievous sparkle. 'Maybe when I've grown up, we could get married?' he beams, and his enthusiasm shines through.
Imogen, Janie and I can't help but chuckle at his innocent audacity. He truly is adorable. I pause momentarily, thinking of how to let Windell down in the kindest way possible and word it in a more Felderian manner, 'Windall, you're a bright and charming young boy,' I reply, trying to stifle my amusement. 'But there's plenty of time ahead of you, and when the time comes, there will be many fair maidens for you to choose from. As for me, I'm not currently seeking a relationship, nor can I predict what the future holds. Plus, I'm not at all keen on being in a relationship with anyone at this point and may never possibly be,' I tell him.
Undeterred, Windall gazes into my eyes momentarily, his curiosity unyielding. Then, his eyes wander downward, landing on my chest. A surprising insight escapes his lips. 'Someone broke your heart,' he says matter-of-factly, crossing his arms. 'Let me know where I can find him, and I will blow him off the nearest cliff for you,' he declares with unwavering determination.
I startle at his words, caught off guard by his astute observation. 'How do you know my heart is broken?' I ask, surprised by his perceptiveness.
'Because I sensed it when I looked into your eyes,' he replies casually as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I pause, contemplating his words, and then speak gently, 'The one who broke my heart is far away, in a place beyond reach for most. I assure you, there's no need for cliffside confrontations on my behalf, but I appreciate your concern and offer of protection.'
Imogen interjects, a crafty glimmer in her eyes, 'Are you sure, Rose? That's quite an offer, and it's a creative way to deal with a heartbreaker,' she teases, unable to resist a playful remark.
I roll my eyes at Imogen's playful banter, amusement and gratitude filling my heart. Windall's sincerity and willingness to defend me in his own fantastical way bring a sense of comfort amidst our shared laughter.
Windall continues to playfully indulge in the cookies, savouring each bite with uncontainable delight.
Xander's grizzly voice breaks through, 'We mustn't tarry,' Xander interjects, his impatience evident as he flicks his reins, urging his stag forward. Following suit, Imogen takes off, eager to keep pace with him.
‘See you around, Windall,’ I salute, and with a flick of the reins, his radiant smile etched in my mind like a sparkling enchantment. As I urge my stag forward, propelling myself to catch up with my friends.