Seek you sums and yields
Killer of beasts kind and true
In this filth hereby be adorned
Save and prevent until healed
Sentenced until then are you.
“She said I am to be sentenced here, like this, until I have saved as many lives as have been lost,” he clarified.
Bella lowered her arms in thought.“An odd rhyme, to be sure, andsums and yieldsis an abstract and therefore indeterminate number.You will not know when you have reached it.You could be stuck like this foryears.”
“I am well aware.”He had clearly already come to that realization.Bella felt bad about pointing it out.
She exhaled.“Well, maybe you are only tied to the water and muck and not the pond.I could carry some of it in a bucket....”
“Ah, a personal servant!I like that idea.”
The comment had Bella whipping her gaze to him.“Are you the king?The duke?Is that why you’re here?”
He paused for the barest of seconds.“I am neither.But you are right.That was not the jest I intended it to be.I apologize.”
Bella nodded, glad that the creature was not too haughty for penitence.“Well, I can head into the village to see about purchasing a bucket to carry you.”
“Purchasing?No, no gentleman would allow a woman to spend coin on him.But wait, I have an answer.You will need this.”The frog jumped into the pond and disappeared beneath its slimy surface.He emerged a few seconds later with a coin in his mouth.He swam to the shore and dropped the coin, then spat.“So disgusting!I cannot get the taste of this pond out of my mouth.”And his little hands swiped at his mouth over and over.
“Interesting.You knew there was a coin down there?”
The frog shook his head.“The second I realized you would need coin, the image of where it was filled my head.”
“The enchantment on the pond provides for you,” Bella said, her mind puzzling it out.“Very interesting.”She collected the coin, not recognizing it.“Thank you so much for this.At the risk of sounding uneducated, may I ask what is its value?I am not from around here and have not seen its likeness.”
“Enough for a bucket and a fine meal for you.And a wineskin to hold water for traveling.Maybe a little more....”
“A treasure indeed.”She tucked the coin into her pocket and patted it down.“I’m Bella Schaus, by the way.Of Esch-Sur-Sûre.And you are?”She raised a brow to the bullfrog.
If a frog could pale, this one did.“You...want...my...name?”
