Nadine suddenly shrugged. “Well I guess fire lady’s coming along. To the end of the elves then,” she said gesturing to Ashwa, who was walking across the plants.

“You really should help her with magic, Nadine. She’s new her and doesn’t know stuff like you do,” Jensen commented, then said loudly, “Hi Ash!”

Ashwa smiled faintly. “I’m afraid something is happening. Tell me.”

“What do you want to know, lady? How to burn food? I bet you’ll like that!” Nadine spat, then stormed back into the cottage. “Er, well…I wasn’t quite expecting that. I bet her pride’s hurt, youngster,” Dunce said, as he watched the short figure slam the door.

“I’m sorry for what I did, Dunce. Everything. I wish I wasn’t born now.”

“You’ll wish harder when I break you the news. Okay, here it goes. The faeries, or fairies now, they are going to attack the elves. Like the whole army. Jensen and Nadine saw them yesterday, while they were sending messages to our allies. They are levelling up. Like very fast. They have built tech-y stuff we have never seen before. So I’ll get to the straight point. You are going to be a hero. To save the elves from a bigger threat, even bigger then out silly old king. They have the sword I told you about. And you are to get it since we have not been peaceful with those guys for eternity,” Dunce said, and everyone was silent.

“Kay?” Ashwa managed, trying to shrug, but deep inside her, she felt giddy and unstable. Her heart leaped rapidly, and she saw in her companions eyes the same too.

"Kay," they all said, looking at each other determinedly. They were off to a quest.