qwen-Because only Fiddlesticks would be so idiotic as to want to come on the trip. As for the fairy, well...
5. In Which the Path Is Blocked
The trek northward continued accompanied by the Butterfly's--fairy's, that is--constant mindless chatter.
"My name is Fylena Mirandel Illyren Nerissa," she introduced herself dramatically, "but you can call me Tyra." This was of course to Daystar, who appeared not to understand it any better than I. If she expected the rest of us to call her Fylena Mirandel Illyren Nerissa, she was dead wrong.
So I casually warned her, "Hey Butterfly! You chose to come with us, so I'll tell you now, just for future reference, you will do as you're told and make yourself useful. One sparkly lavender toe out of line and, well..." I finished by grinning at her and displaying my many sharp teeth. I saw Kazul do the same just below me, which under other circumstances would have gotten me annoyed, her array of pearly whites being slightly more impressive than mine. In this case though, I admit I was quite satisfied with the flicker of uneasiness in little Glitter's face.
She waved us off with a falsely cheery, "Oh, you won't need to worry about that," but afterwards she stayed on the opposite side of Daystar from Kazul and me.
It went on like this for about half an hour, at which point Morwen abruptly cut off Tyra's stream of chatter and asked Daystar with barely concealed annoyance, "Couldn't you use your transportation spell and get us to the edge of the Forest? I wish I had thought to ask earlier," she finished with a pointed look at the fairy.
"I thought of it, but I'm not sure it's safe. I've only ever tried it with one other person, so I don't know what would happen with seven."
"Well, couldn't you make a couple transports? And only do two or three people at a time?" Shiara demanded. I think she was suffering the worst and she couldn't even let out her frustration by talking to Olemer; he had ears only for the flying shrimp.
"I suppose I could try; if it's safe to split up. If something goes wrong and we transport to different places it could be dangerous to say the least."
"Anything's better than this," she answered, not trying to lower her voice and rewarding herself with a dirty look from the fairy's perfect face. At the time I heartily agreed with Shiara.
During this conversation we had continued walking and now came upon a creek winding between the great trees and tumbling noisily over moss-covered rocks.
We were about to cross it, I being safely ensconced upon Kazul's back of course, when a challenge rang out from the opposite bank. It was only then that I noticed the dark form in the shadows. I was amazed; that was twice in one day my senses had failed me. Must have been the bad allergies: stuffy nose and watery eyes. Must have been...
"Thou shalt not pass!"
"Oh really?" Kazul growled dangerously to the knight. "And who's going to prevent us?"
"I, Guardian of the Crystal Stream, shall fight any who dare cross here."
"Maybe we should just cross somewhere else," I suggested lazily to Daystar. Not that we couldn't handle the guy; I figured Daystar could beat him, if not with a sword at least by magic, and there was always Kazul as backup if the knight were really tough. It just didn't seem worth the effort. I yawned.
But the prince of the Enchanted Forest had other ideas.
"Who said you could guard the stream? You weren't here last week."
The knight mumbled something about, "Off duty..." Morwen turned her eyes up as if asking for patience.
Daystar continued, "You can willingly report yourself to my father for hindering pedestrians and save yourself a lot of trouble, or you can make me force you to go to the castle. It's your choice."
If the knight hadn't had his visor down I would have seen his eyes shift to each member of our party, perhaps weighing his chances. I don't know what he was thinking, or maybe he wasn't (knights are notorious for their lack of minds), but he replied, "I am the guardian of the Crystal Stream. Thou shalt not pass--"
"Oh for heaven's sake!" Morwen interjected and Daystar started forward, sword drawn, through the shallow creek.
As soon as he set foot on the far bank the knight charged him, sword drawn and pointing straight at Daystar. Daystar effortlessly dodged the all-out attack and the knight went splashing past him into the creek while the rest of us looked on. If he couldn't beat one person with a sword how did he expect to defeat eight with various weapons, teeth, claws, and magic?
He came back onto shore next to the waiting prince. His next attack was a blow to the head which Daystar parried, counterattacking with his own head-blow--using the hilt of his sword. The knight crumpled completely unconscious to the ground, his armor clattering against the rocks.
At this point the Butterfly started gushing--and I mean gushing--with praise for Daystar's strength, for his style...ugh. He ignored her and asked Morwen for some paper and a pen, which items she produced from her sleeves, and he wrote a note to the king about the knight. This he fastened to the unconscious knight's armor; finally he transported the whole thing to the castle with a twist of his hand.
"I see you've gotten accustomed to your position as Prince of the Enchanted Forest quite well," Kazul mentioned. Daystar answered with a grin, "I suppose I have."
"Now could you use your spell, since you're obviously so good at it?" asked Shiara impatiently.
"All right, who's first?"
Morwen and Shiara volunteered, and Daystar told them, "I'm sending you to a clearing just inside the northern border; wait there until everyone arrives."
"Of course," Morwen replied.
And they disappeared with another twist of his hand.
Kazul was sent alone, and Fiddlesticks and I were both sent with Olemer. Daystar would bring up the rear with Tyra, who refused to part with him.
When it was our turn everything seemed to be going smoothly--until we arrived where we were not supposed to. No clearing, no border, and no other people. Just trees farther than even my eyes could reach and the ever-present carpet of moss...