But just before her flicker was gone, she felt the vines give way at her neck. Revi took a deep breath and let the light come back into her eyes. Her neck freed, but when she tried to move the rest of her body, it had maintained the grip of the vines. Her answers now could very well mean life or death.

"I'll Give some of my potatoes if you let me go" Revi felt silly saying it out loud again but thought it might be detrimental to change her mind now.

"You put the value of your life the same as these potatoes?" A strange feeling of confidence welled up in Revi.

"Yes, have you never heard of my potatoes? They are of the finest quality in all in the land! let me go, and I'll give you some of my fine potatoes."

"Hahaha!" The voice laughed at Revi for what seemed to her to be an excessively long time.

A cold sweat built on Revi's forehead as It just occurred to her then that her attacker may have seen this whole interaction as a jape. She feared such a mocking would provoke her death then and now.

"You've gained my interest. What is this thing you call a potato, girl?"

Revi did her best to hide her shock. She did not expect her silly bribe of potatoes to gain interest, and more than that, she did not expect that anyone would be ignorant of the existence of potatoes. Her life and the life of her family had revolved around the growing of tubers up to leaving her family home just months ago. But it was common knowledge that the potatoes came from the continent they lived on now.

Revi knew this was her best chance of escaping the situation. Revi cleared her throat and then spoke in her most timid voice, taking a few seconds to compose herself entirely.

"I would be happy to tell you… but I'd humbly ask that you release your tight grip of me so I may freely speak" it was now Revi felt for the first time all the annoying months of training as an "Attendant" finally really came in use for her.

"Yes, I shall release you, but do not try anything foolish," said the voice of the flame.

Flowering vines crept away from Revi's body, the sensation was not pleasant and showed in Revi's face, but she was relieved. She patted herself down again and cleared her throat in a ritualistic manner after she stood.

"Let me tell you now the great value of potatoes I offer."

"Do so now, a girl, before my patience wears away."

Clearing her throat once more, Revi began again with her best merchant voice. "Aw yes, potatoes are a prized commodity of my homeland" A slight tinge of pretension came over her voice with every word.

"Are these potatoes an ornament, jewel, or precious metal girl?" The voice sounded as if it honestly didn't know.

"No, more precious than any gem or metal. My potatoes have skin like gold and a body full of ivory, and you can eat them!"

"It is an ornament that is to eat. What value does that have to me?" 

She found herself stuck vacillating between being a Charismatic trader or the timid maid with every exchange.

"I shall tell you now. Have you ever been awake at night, cold and alone, not knowing what to do with yourself? But then remember you have one more potato left in the steamer. So you take that potato with you to bed and press it to your heart. In that instant, you find yourself no longer cold and no longer alone. But just as you find comfort, you realize you are hungry. That's when you take that potato and eat it then and find yourself full! That-that is the power of the potato! If you were to have some of mine, you would have warmth, a bedfellow, and food."

 Revi stood panting from the strain of performing her rant, a rant she had recited in one breath. Revi was certain now she had finally truly gone too far with such a silly scenario.

The voice went quiet for quite a few seconds before speaking again. "I'm to understand you humans exchange names and titles before making deals."

"Ah, yes, before we continue, I shall properly introduce myself. I am Revelry" As Revi spoke, she gave the fire her best ceremonial bow.

"You call yourself Revelry only. It was my understanding humans with only one name are of low standing. Are you a commoner girl?"

Revi thought fast she knew anyone who looked down on people, especially those they deemed "common." Fainting nobility seemed to be her best bet. "Aye, no, my proper name is Revelry Reynolds."

She doubted whatever stood in front of her would not be able to recognize the name was familiar. The fire flared and flickered like the guttering of a candle but with high speed and intensity. With a great burst, it erupted into a human-like shape.

 The fiery female figure seemed shockingly familiar to Revi. The outline was unmistakably that of a naked woman but made of blue-violet fire. After a few moments, Revi realized the character was a duplicate of herself. Walking from the top of the mound of flowers to Revi, the new flaming woman stopped just before her and spoke in Revi's voice.

"I am Wraventide."