The Hunchback's Fairy King Problem ✔

3 THE MORNNINGS

Sorem all but abandoned his quest, instead spending most of day two and three hidden in that forest by the lagoon.

Vadde didn't come. The rest of the day was wasted pretending to drink cheap ale at the tavern until people's whispering about him forced him to return to his room. There, he'd meditate. But each time he closed his eyes, much like now at this tree by the water, images of Vadde flooded his thoughts once more.

On day three, while ignoring the Jvalan's third, and final protest as he gave her such a shake, Sorem promised himself to leave this blasted town, and that strange woman behind.

That was...until he saw her. Like the first day, she surfaced from the lagoon. Today, she rested on a smooth slab of a rock, soaking in the sun.

Now and then, she wiped her eyes. He wasn't sure if he'd guessed right about her state of upset until she sat up and let out a proper cry.

Everything in him said to approach and offer his help. But he knew how it would look.

So, he scanned the forest floor, looking for an excuse to being here. That was where he saw it, a rock with a symbol atop it—runes.

And not just one, but several. They traveled the length of the lagoon, and though he couldn't be sure, he could guess that it might encompass the entire thing.

"What are these for?" he whispered to the Jvalan because he dared not touch one.

"It is a hiding spell."

A hiding spell. He scanned the runes again. Their writing was shaky. Shaky and useless because it wasn't working. Who hid her? And why?

Laughter drew his focus and he tore his eyes away from the little black rocks and to the woman who, once crying, now laughed.

The reason why tore a gasp from him. Those two fairies were back, and they sprinkled dust along Vadde's shoulders and face. Each intake of breath had her laughing through the tears.

Sorem wasn't sure what to make of it so he decided to forego his casual offer of rescue and instead learn from the experience.

What transpired next filled him with confusion until he thought of the stones. Because she lay back on the rocks and brought her right hand up between her legs.

Turning with his back to her in record time, Sorem pressed himself to the tree and fought to calm. What was she doing? She wasn't doing that. Again and again, he thought to look to be certain but decided against it.

Sorem's body blushed. This reaction was unacceptable. After some time, he worked up the courage to look again.

Her hand no longer touching her, she ran it along her thigh in lazy thought before sitting up to dive into the water. She surfaced again, and like before, bent her back to retrieve her things.

Heart pounding, Sorem resolved to leave that village tonight.

Voices closed in, sending him into a panic.

"Jvalan, what do I do?"

But the creature gave no answer.

Sorem struggled to pinpoint the source of the men's voices.

"Listen to me, Prince Sorem. All creatures of magic have a human form. In human form, they take on human traits. You can hide yourself by stepping into the spell's barrier, but should they be in their true form, they will see you. It is a risk."

Sorem scanned the runes again but didn't have long to decide. He stepped over the barrier and a chill filled him.

Five men, the five from the tavern, came in a horde. One stopped right before Sorem.