“Thank you for letting us use your pond,” Calvin said. “I only wish that we had brought you a gift in return.”
Sieval smiled. “But you did bring me a gift – the gift of your company. It is the only thing that I cannot readily obtain that I ever wish for.” With a tone that Calvin might have almost calledsly, it added, “In small amounts, anyway. I am a solitary creature at heart, but even I enjoy occasional companionship.”
“Is that something that’s common amongst sprites?” Calvin asked, sensing a way to broach what would surely be an awkward topic for Sieval. “Are you all solitary?”
“Usually, yes,” said Sieval, looking downcast. “Kieran told me about the sprite you encountered. I am truly sorry that that happened to you.”
“Think nothing of it,” Calvin said, and Diana nodded her agreement. “I’m sure you wouldn’t blame me for every bad thing a shifter has ever done. And I guess Iwasintruding on her home.”
“That is true,” Sieval said. “Still, I would never react in such a way in those circumstances. And certainly I would never assign a riddle to someone who visited my pond with good intentions.”
“And is that something sprites do?” Diana asked. “Ask people to solve riddles, I mean.”
“Sometimes,” Sieval said. “It is a practice less common than it used to be, as the world of humans encroaches upon the forests and we sprites become even more reclusive.” A wry smiletwisted its mouth. “In any case, I have never been fond of riddles myself, either in the composing or the solving. I much prefer meditating upon the plants and creatures of the forest. Even the smallest ant is worthy of attention.”
This isn’t promising,Calvin thought, concerned. Still, he forged ahead.
Pulling the scrap of paper out his pocket, he asked, “Do you know what this riddle means?I am mother and father, but never birth or nurse. I have a bark, but no bite. I'm rarely still, but I never wander. What am I?”
Sieval closed its eyes for a moment as it thought, before opening them again. “I do know; however, as much as I wish to tell you, I cannot provide the answer to another sprite’s riddle. It is law amongst us.”
The wyvern seethed.What is the point of visiting with this sprite, then?!
This is why I’m in charge of diplomacy,Calvin muttered back.
Secretly, though, he was also starting to feel a bit gloomy about his prospects here. It was wonderful that Sieval wasn’t a – well, ajerk, like the other sprite had been. But unfortunately the result of that seemed to be that it was perhaps a littletookind to be able to help him.
Next to him, Diana brushed her foot against his leg in a reassuring motion. Obviously she was picking up on his disappointment.
Sieval looked guilty, though Calvin knew it wasn’t its fault – the powers that bound the actions of magical creatures could be quite strict, even if they seemed strange or unfair to outsiders. Though hedidwonder whether it was magical compulsion that kept Sieval from giving away the answer, or merely tradition – he was sure that the sprite he’d met yesterday would gladly break the rules to suit her own whims.
Sieval spoke up. “Icansay that a sprite’s riddle will almost certainly have an answer based in nature, unless they have spent much time amongst humans. The answer is unlikely to be something likeattic, orcello.”
“Thatishelpful,” said Diana. “Thank you, Sieval.”
And itwashelpful – it meant that they could knock out a large number of potential answers. It still left them with way more options than Calvin was comfortable with, though!
“I am sorry that I could not be more helpful,” Sieval said, its eyes wide and mournful. “Is there anything else that you would wish to learn about sprites?”
“There is one thing,” Calvin said. “The sprite also asked for a tribute, but wouldn’t say what she wanted. What kinds of tributes do sprites like?”
Sieval bowed its head sadly, and Calvin already knew that it wouldn’t be giving him the answer he wanted. “Alas, as we sprites are solitary creatures, and as I have never asked for a tribute myself, I cannot speak to exactly what this sprite would like. All I can say is that again, sprites tend to prefer things that have a basis in nature. And it is also very possible that she would like something that is linked to the riddle’s answer.”
“Linked to the riddle’s answer,” Calvin mused. It was frustratingly vague, but, he supposed, it at least gave him a starting point. Solve the riddle, then try to work out a tribute from there. One step at a time.
Another thought occurred to him, and he almost groaned out loud.This just keeps getting worse and worse.
Steeling himself, he asked, “If I get the answer to the riddle wrong, or bring her the wrong tribute, will she curse me again?” That was all he needed – to be a walking collection of curses. He’d have to go and live by himself in the wilderness, if it came to that.
Sieval appeared to think on the matter, before coming to a conclusion. “While I cannot say for certain, I do not believe that this would be the case. Sprites do not naturally possess the facility to curse others – indeed, I have no such ability myself, as I have not studied it. I doubt that she would be in possession of a wide range of curses.”
Calvin exhaled. “Well,that’sgood news, at least.”
Sieval hovered there anxiously, obviously upset that it hadn’t been able to answer all of his questions in the way that Calvin had wished, and Calvin chastised himself for not being as positive as he could’ve been. Sievalhadbeen helpful – at least they had some ideas they could work from, now. And hehadenjoyed meeting it, and having the opportunity to go flying with Diana.
Forcing a smile onto his face, Calvin nodded his thanks. “Thank you, Sieval. You’ve given us a lot to work with.”
Sieval’s brow creased in disappointment. “I only wish I could have been of more assistance.”
