When Ellindris finally stopped wailing she flew off on her own saying she needed some time to collect herself. Enkaiein followed her outside, meeting Jasmine, who was drying her own tears, by the moat.

“I don’t know how to fix this,” Jasmine said. “I want to but I don’t know how.” She fingered the pendant nervously, looked out at the moat where the dead birds still bobbed in the water like buoys and scrunched her eyebrows together.

“Kurventhor is depending on us,” said Enkaiein, “We will find a way to help him.”

“We?” Jasmine asked, “You’re going to help me?”

“Of course,” said Enkaiein, “How could I not?”

“I’ll help too,” said Princess Salina. Jasmine and Enkaiein whirled around to see that she and Prince Albert were holding hands, standing there looking ready to go on a quest. Swift neighed behind them. Jasmine took a surprised step backwards seeing the spitting image of herself standing there looking royal and proper.

“I intend to help as well,” said Prince Albert, “If my father permits it.”

“You’re asking permission?” Princess Salina blinked up at Albert as if that were the most astonishing thing that had happened all day.

“You can hear her?” Jasmine asked. “And what’s with the new look?”

“Oh!” Prince Albert said, “The most amazing thing happened in the Hall of Truth! There were these lights and they all spun together and broke the spell on Salina. I have never seen something so bizarre in my life!”

“Ah, the Veins,” said Enkaiein. “They are surely curious creatures. No matter where you are in the world there is always a Vein somewhere nearby.”

“Uh, hello!” Jasmine interrupted, “If they broke the spell on Salina then what about Kur?”

“We asked them,” said Prince Albert, smile gone as if it had been whisked off his face like leaves on the wind. Jasmine immediately got off the offensive. She knew that look. He tried and failed. That’s what that look meant.

“Well I suppose it wouldn’t make sense for it to be that easy,” said Jasmine.

“Yes, most things that are worth doing are difficult,” said Salina. Jasmine wanted to tell her to get off her high horse but she didn’t think Swift would appreciate that too much.

“Right, well. We still need a plan of some sort,” said Jasmine, “Any ideas?”

“There is Olden,” Enkaiein said, but his tone was grave and heavy.

“I’ve heard that word tossed around but I still have no clue what it actually means,” Jasmine said. “Aside from Fragmaroginog wanted to open it.”

“He succeeded in opening it,” said Enkaiein, “Which is a problem in itself if you want to take that into consideration.”

“Hm,” said Prince Albert, “Is this Olden place where that monster came from? The one that attacked us during our battle with Fragmaroginog?”

Enkaiein nodded.

“If Olden is where monsters come from, then we must find a way to close the portal,” said Princess Salina, “Lest our entire land be torn asunder. I have little faith that the beasts from beyond the rift are as kind and noble as Great Enkaiein.”

“Spare formalities, Salina,” said Enkaiein, “We are friends and friends need not call each other by such stringent titles.”

“Yeah, yeah okay,” Jasmine said, gripping Kurventhor’s pendant a bit tighter in her hands without meaning to, “So what do we do? Go to Olden, find a way to fix Kur and then come back and seal the portal?” Saying it that way made it sound way too simple. Jasmine begrudgingly remembered her trip through the Icy Mountains, how Lindargra had phrased the start of that journey in a similar manner and then smirked as if she knew how tough it would really be before sending Jasmine off.

“I see no reason to dawdle,” said Prince Albert, “I will fetch my father. Perhaps he can also assign us some help. The knights served us well in our last encounter with a beast from beyond. I assume with enough payment and the promise of adventure they will aide us again.”

“Right,” said Jasmine, “You do that.”

“I suggest we all eat before we leave,” said Princess Salina, “Traveling on an empty stomach is slower and more aggravating than when one is fully nourished.”

“Amen to that,” said Jasmine, and they all made their rounds in the castle, recruiting whoever they could for the mission and eating their fill at the table of the King.

“You have duties here,” said King Allard, “Duties that do not include another quest. Our lands are still ravaged from war.”

“But father! We are indebted to Kurventhor! We cannot leave him in his present state!”

Jasmine bit her chicken, glad it wasn’t her getting that look from the King.

“There is no guarantee that there will be a cure in this Olden of which you speak,” said Allard. His tone was like ice. Or a rock, or something else that wouldn’t move if you shoved it.

“Please, my King,” said Princess Salina from her spot across Albert, not at all afraid of the expression on King Allard’s face. She placed her fork delicately next to her plate. “It is not only Kurventhor who requires this journey, but also the rest of these lands. Olden is a place of a great many dangers and monsters. Even if we do not travel within its borders, we must close the gateway before something equally horrifying as that bunyip makes its way through.” She smirked and added, “Or would you prefer to restore your Kingdom only to have it destroyed all over again?” Either she was always that snarky or she was enjoying the fact that she could even make those kinds of remarks, Jasmine mused.

“What Princess Salina says is true,” said Enkaiein. “Olden is a place incomprehensible to all that have not been there. I must stress the importance Kurventhor’s recovery as well as sealing the gateway.” But unlike Salina, Enkaiein also remarked, “It is your place to judge whether your son is permitted to help us with this task, but his aide would be much appreciated and quite useful. He has skill with a sword, as he has already demonstrated time and time again.”

King Allard could not believe a beast so ancient was siding with his naïve, if pure-hearted, son. And Salina had never openly criticized anyone in the royal family before, either. At least not to Allard’s knowledge. He turned his eyes to Jasmine, watching her swallow a morsel and pick up another, scooping loudly in the silence, her fork scraping the plate with an irritating noise.

“And I suppose you agree with them,” said the King.

“Obviously,” said Jasmine. She took a breath, let it out. “Look, I may not be from this world and I have no idea what it’s like to have to rebuild an entire kingdom after a war. Heck, I haven’t ever even witnessed what wars are like in the first place, at least not as someone directly involved. But what I do know is that Kur saved not only this kingdom, but countless others, when he got locked inside this pendant.” She held it close to her heart. Seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. “And, well, I can’t just let him suffer like this after all he’s done for me. It wouldn’t be right. That’s like if you locked Enkaiein back into that weird room after he helped you. It’s too backwards to be the right thing to do.”

The King looked upon them all, remarking inwardly how strange the company was that he presently kept. A great ancient beast, a girl from another world whose face was half scorched, his son, and a princess who had spent the majority of her time here in the castle under an intricate spell. But as out of place as they all seemed to be here in Castle Albreton, he could not bring himself to argue any further on this matter.

“Do as you will,” he said, “It is clear to me I will not win this argument, no matter my status as King.”

“Thank you father,” said Prince Albert, “We shall return once our quest has been completed.”

Princess Salina smiled at Jasmine, a smile that reflected the same expression she had used to greet Jasmine way back when, when she was still called Mythos. Jasmine returned the expression with a cockeyed smirk of her own, uncomfortable and awkward but sincere. She finished her plate in record time, excused herself and then made her way back to the main hall of Castle Albreton.

The red knight was there, waiting.

“I heard there’s another quest to be had,” he said.

“You heard correctly,” said Jasmine, “But what’s it to you, anyway? I thought you’d be running off to your family or something now that the whole Fragmaroginog thing is over. Or, well. Sort of over. I suppose it isn’t really actually over, is it?”

The red knight paused, looked her up and down and then laughed.

“What.”

“Forgive me, lass, but I have never heard something phrased so inarticulately. Do all maidens from your realm speaks as you do?”

Jasmine did her best to give him a death glare. It wasn’t very effective. He wiped his eyes, bowed.

“My apologies, Lady Jasmine. But to answer your question, I have no family to return to. The quest is my life. This kingdom and its defense are my only purpose.”

Jasmine crossed her arms, “If that’s true then where’d you get those silver arrows of yours? They’re obviously bewitched.”

“With quests come opportunities, some of which include rare artifacts.” His grin was disgustingly charming. It put Jasmine on-edge. Either he was an outright arrogant asshole or he was trying to seduce her. Neither option was something Jasmine appreciated at the moment.

“Whatever. Just don’t get in anyone’s way.”

Enkaiein entered now, with Prince Albert and Salina in tow.

“I see we have more help than we first anticipated,” said Enkaiein. He bowed the way horses do, tucking one leg under his body while dipping his head downward. “I thank you, Sir Knight.”

The red knight returned the gesture with a bow of his own, but it lacked the formality Jasmine had expected. “Anything to aid the kingdom,” said the knight.

Fat chance, thought Jasmine. Could he be any more suspicious?

“I suggest we get moving,” said Prince Albert, checking his sword before he slid it back into its sheath. “Since we’ve all rested and eaten.”

“Yes,” said Salina.

The red knight gestured for Jasmine to walk in front of him with a devious smirk. It really made her think he just wanted to get a look at her ass, honestly. But she went ahead anyway, because it was proper etiquette and she didn’t want to start something with someone who had magical silver arrows at his disposal.

It took only three days to cross the plains. It was easier than last time with a smaller party and Enkaiein’s guidance. The King had apparently led everyone towards the swamps the long way, but maybe it was just a trick of the mind because Jasmine didn’t remember the path being any different.

“Hey, Enkaiein,” she asked, “How come it isn’t taking as long to get there? It seems like it’s the same road.”

“I was wondering that myself,” said the red knight.

“Ah, Jasmine,” said Enkaiein, “Olden is a strange place. It is not unheard of that it encroaches on other lands.”

“Do you mean to tell us this place grows of its own accord?” Prince Albert asked, totally flabbergasted by the possibility.

“That is what I mean, yes,” said Enkaiein.

“Freaky,” said Jasmine as Salina pulled an uncomfortable face.

“Terrifying,” said Salina. Jasmine shrugged. She was more afraid of the things that lived in Olden, like that bunyip, than she was of the place itself.

Ah, but Jasmine. Jasmine had never been to Olden. None of them except Enkaiein knew how dangerous a place it was, regardless of the locals. After that the only person intent on idle conversation was the red knight, and on occasion Prince Albert. But it was obvious to Jasmine that Albert was just trying to clear the tension caused by walking in silence for so long. It was surprising then, when Salina started up a talk with Jasmine out of the blue once they could see the border to the swamplands dead ahead.

“Jasmine, I have been meaning to ask something of you,” said Salina.

“Hm?” Jasmine still walked forward, but she turned her head so she could see Salina gaining on her in a jog in her peripheral vision. Enkaiein led the way, ahead of the two of them, and Prince Albert was humoring the red knight with some asinine chatter about weaponry and the like. Jasmine had been walking in silence for a time herself, stewing her brain over what she was going to do about Kurventhor, so Salina’s sudden break of that silence came as a welcome surprise. “What’s up?”

“Well, you see,” Salina paused as if deciding whether or not to continue.

“Spit it out, lady.”

“It concerns Albert.”

Jasmine hadn’t expected that. She jutted one of her eyebrows up, edging Salina to continue with a tilting gesture of her head.

“It was obvious to me even when I was mute that you were attracted to him and you have spoken to me less and less since I regained my voice and my relationship with Albert. I knew you would not be foolish enough to pursue him after discovering my identity, but you have also distanced yourself from him. I was hoping… He and I were hoping that you would remain a friend even after we rekindled our love for each other. We did not mean to hurt you. We just do not know what to do if you refuse to speak with us.”

“Salina, you’re pretty dumb.”

“What?”

Jasmine sighed, “I haven’t been speaking to either of you because I haven’t been speaking to anyone. My only priority right now is to get Kurventhor back the way he was, to save him. I just don’t have time to get caught up in daily conversation. But I don’t hate you or anything, and Albert’s too freaking noble to be really hated by anyone, if you ask me.”

Salina let out a relieved sigh and smiled, “Jasmine, your heart is kind. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, I guess.”

Everyone knew something was wrong the moment they reached the border of the swamps. Jasmine trudged through the sloshing water to catch up with Enkaiein with Salina not far behind. Prince Albert mounted Swift and offered his princess a ride, which she gratefully accepted. The red knight and his steed quickened their pace as well. Not only was there a sense of urgency that Jasmine had never felt before positively hanging on the air, but something else was awry.

Kurventhor’s ice had either melted or vanished and the bunyip trapped inside was gone.