The simulacrum of thorns shifted, leaves and vines moving in a horrible way until it took the seeming of Duchess Midnight, posture and voice included. She stared at Alwyn.

"You have grown too bold, little lord. Did you think your arrogance and recent success would shield you from my ire? I opened negotiations with the Captain from the Smoke and even left an obvious mark for you to see when you also sought an agreement. A mark you ignored when you created your agreement scant hours later. Did you think I wouldn't be angry? You must have because you wandered up to my gates like you had not a care in the world. It angered me twice over that you thought I would let such a slight pass!

"You were careless, and now, your carelessness will cost you. Did you think I would not notice the little changeling you thought to sneak past me and present at court? Her glamour and role cannot hide her heritage from one such as I. I owe her guesting, but she will abide in my realm until I tire with her. You tossed a pawn to the board; don't be upset if I pick it up and keep it. And I find it convenient that the handsome Captain cares for her. It will make negotiations so much more interesting.

"Hear me, Alwyn, Lord of Summer. I, Duchess Midnight, call upon you to repay the favor you acknowledged. You will journey to the mortal lands and break your agreement with Captain Ozzy of the Smoke. You will inform him that his paramour is a guest with me and bring him to my front gates. You have seven sun risings in the mortal lands to do this, and know that each mortal day will be much longer in my realm. I need time to entertain my guest."

The creature fell apart, the vines falling to the ground where they slithered back to the gates of the realm they had come from.

Ben stared and cursed, turning Mudhead around. "I'm going back!"

"You can't! I mean, you could...but it's the height of foolishness. She can forbid you from her realm, but worse, let you inside and torment you for ages with no one able to bring you forth because you entered of your own free will. Please! Benjamin, don't do this. And there is another way; you have to believe me!"

The Courier looked to Alwyn, then to the gates. "I hate all of this Fae bullshit, I'll be honest with you."

Alwyn sighed, "We all do at times. We all do. But in a game of 'who knows who,' you may be gaining powerful allies soon. Have patience and follow my lead, if you will."

The sudden arrival of two dozen knights seemingly out of nowhere stifled further talk. They were clad in extravagantly sculpted armor and rode monstrous beasts, including a huge golden bear, a two-headed cockatrice, and a fire-breathing camel. They rode around the party three times and then formed up as an honor guard. The bear knight raised a visor that matched the face of his mount. "Greetings and salutations! I am Prince Ursinus. My companions are the Questing Heroes of the Order of Beasts. We understand that you bear with you one of our wounded brothers who has returned from his latest heroic journey. May we escort you to our castle, Heroes Rest, where we may make him comfortable and receive your tale?"

And with that mild request, the party traveled on, leaving behind the Realm of Thorns and a lost barmaid.

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Suzette awoke, every sense screaming at her that something was wrong. She was lying on a cold metal floor, and her vision spun as she tried to stand up, her legs wobbly beneath her. Mocking laughter greeted her poor attempt to rise. "Oh, do lie still for another day until the effects of the spell wear off, won't you, my little poppet? Fighting it will just make things worse, and if you become ill, you'll have to clean things up yourself."

Staying still seemed like a good idea, according to her stomach, but she ignored it and concentrated on raising her head and focusing on where she was. She was in a cell with a shiny silver floor and thin bars only three inches apart. They curved overhead, coming to a single point, and she realized she was in a cage. A giant birdcage hanging from the ceiling. Half of her vertigo was from the spinning and rocking of the cage. Only three feet separated the bottom of the cage from the floor of the large room, giving her a view of her captor.

Duchess Midnight sat in a burgundy colored leather chair whose wooden legs had been carved to look like the talons of a beast. A small side table was piled with books, and a small bit of fairy fire glowed above the chair, making it a cozy, if strange, spot to read. The rest of the room was similar in motif, a combination of library and gothic dungeon. Shelf upon shelf of books and scrolls competed for space along the walls with trophy heads of fantastical monsters, strange weapons or tools, a collection of crystal orbs, and glass jars of all sizes. The furniture was made from the hides of beasts, with scales or fur left on. Her cage was one of several hanging from the ceiling and the largest.

"What the hell is going on? You gave us passage through your realm!" Anger helped Suzette to focus.

"Oh, and I did! You are my guest and will be treated as such until arrangements for your release are concluded. If you must blame someone, aim your ire at Lord Alwyn; he should have listened better or inquired about your heritage. He was careless, or did you do this to yourself by hiding your lineage? In any case, you are my guest, but I am under no obligation to release you."

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"And you keep all of your guests in cages?" Suzette wished she knew more about the laws and rules that the fae lived by. Maybe a few years of law school would help.

Midnight's eyes grew large, and she showed false shock on her face. "Why, goodness, No, that would be evil! I only do this to protect you! My realm is so perilous to a powerless half-breed like yourself, filled as it is with terrible beasts and carnivorous plants. It's best you stay here for now. You have a cozy nest of old blankets, and your chamber pot is enchanted to negate the smell of bodily functions. Why mortals cling to those, I have no idea. Likewise, when asked, your tin cup will fill with water, and there will always be a wholesome muffin under your pillow. You will abide in your special room until I have concluded my dealings with the Captain from the Smoke who spurned my offer of business. Hopefully, he doesn't take too long. I used to enjoy my library more, and the enchantments stretch time. Days are normal, but each night lasts for a full moon. You'll have plenty of time to catch up on your beauty rest."

She stood and surveyed the room. "And before I forget to fulfill my obligations of entertaining a guest of your rank, I should offer you some reading to better your understanding of your betters. We'll start slowly, with picture books, until you learn how to read." Taking three books from a shelf, she tossed them at the cage. The books sailed through the bars to land on the floor. "And before you say something stupid about being able to read. No, you can't. You may have mastered the art of using mortal letters to understand a cookbook, but that will not help you to learn what you need to survive in this realm. Let's see what you can learn while you are here. Eh, poppet? I shall teach you to understand us better, so you realize your place in our world. Let none say that I didn't take the time to offer both entertainment and a chance to better yourself. I would stay and talk more, but there is nothing you could say that wouldn't bore me."

And with that, she turned and left the room. Suzette looked up at the small window on one wall. The light was fading. Was each night really going to be a month long? She looked at the books, filled with pictures and basic reading lessons. She recognized only a few of the runes, barely able to follow along with the primers made for small children. This room probably had a lot of knowledge, but it was locked behind a different language and alphabet and a little out of reach. Ben better hurry, or she was going to go crazy in here.

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"He is resting? The restoration was successful." Prince Ursinus had paced before the door for hours while sages and healers cared for his friend and mentor.

A weary healer from the king's court nodded to him. "Yes, we have restored his body and healed what is left of his mind. The latter is the injury that worries me the most. The story told by the mortal Courier is horrific. How long Prince Leporidon was a captive of the ghouls is unknown, but even a few days of being carved up for their table would drive someone mad. He retreated into his mind and prepared himself to die. It will be the better part of a year to bring him fully back, and he will not be able to quest for at least seven more years."

Ursinus despaired. "Ah, and he was so close! He has worn his mantle for so long, and accomplished every task save nine, with an entire year left. To come so close, he will be heart broken. I fear that will be the true death of him. Is there no way he can be made healthy? No restorative or potion? I and my brothers will quest for such a cure if it will aid him."

The sage shook his head. "Nothing you could find in the days left to accomplish his tasks."

Several other knights entered the room, all had taken off their fanciful armor and work only crowns, each resplendent with the heraldry of their knighthood. "Brother Ursinus, we have a thought to share with you, one that crafty Brother Vulpes pulled from his twisted brain. A knight wearing a crown of briars with fox tails hanging down the back inclined his head. "Indeed, it makes use of the fact that it is not an individual who gains the honor, but the Knight. Brother Leporidon lies in bed, resting, yet his armor and shield could be used by another."

The Bear Knight scowled. "It will not work. Who would forsake their own knighthood to take up the task? And if we seek a Fae Lord who is not yet a knight, they will argue and petition the king for a hundred years to gain the honor. Where would you find such a knight?"

The Fox Knight grinned. "That's why we will not seek a Fae Lord, a pox on all of them. We will find a mortal hero to take up the quests."

There were nods all around. It was ludicrous. Impossible! How could any mortal take up the mantle of a Knight of the Order of Beasts? But there were endless stories of handsome, crafty mortals who did the impossible. Ursinus smiled. "I agree with this plan. Let us seek such a Hero. The Knight of Jackelope shall rise again."

Shouts rang out though the castle, "Huzzah!"