Side Quest

Written for day 5 of the Pandemonium challenge

You’d think riding through an enchanted forest on a unicorn would be a childhood dream come true. The unicorn, a bitey gelding named Sunshine had clearly been given something off the “do not feed” list the stable gave out with the rental. He’d been gassing both flora and fauna for miles.

My bodyguard Diggy wasn’t doing much better. His steed was a skittish little thing that nearly threw him twice before we left the barn. He was currently trying to convince her the mushrooms growing on the path were okay to just step over.

I took advantage of the break to look at the map again.

“Is that actually helpful?” Diggy asked.

“Not really, but I feel like it’s better than wandering around for forever.”

Since accepting my role as the Chosen One, I’d been helping collect the spells we would need to save the world. Diggy and I had traveled to some unusual places. Looking for a book, hidden in a tree, in a forest of trees enchanted to look exactly the same was a new one.

“Do you ever wonder why every wizard had to hide their books? Why not just leave them on the nightstand?”

“The one we’re looking for today contains spells that would get us executed in three worlds.”

“Not this one, right?”

He grabbed the reins tighter as his unicorn shied from a byzar. I watched the little insect fly to its hive. I slid from the saddle and followed it.

“What are you doing?” Diggy asked.

“This is the only tree that’s different.”

“Yeah. You’d have to be crazy to stick your hand in a byzar nest.”

Byzars were similar to wasps, but one had enough venom to kill an adult goblin.

I grabbed something from my bag.

“This is flower jelly. If I coat my hand in it and go very slow, I shouldn’t disturb them.”

“I’ll do it.” He said.

“It was my idea.”

“But I’m immortal.”

“It’ll still hurt.”

He grabbed the jelly and smeared it on his arm. I held my breath as he slowly put his hand in the tree.

He was up to his elbow, when he said, “I think...oh no.”

“Oh no?”

“I’m stuck.”

“Don’t panic.”

“I’m not. I’m going to have to yank it.”

I stepped back, ready to run. I heard the angry buzz and took off, before they could leave the tree. Diggy’s footsteps slammed behind me. That’s when it hit me, a big Sunshine gas cloud. We gagged, eyes watering. The byzars stopped mid swarm. The lucky ones retreated. The ones in the front dropped. We mounted and took off.

“Break wind, Sunshine!” I shouted.

We made it to the edge of the forest before we slowed.

“Well, there’s something I never want to do again.” Diggy said, rubbing a bite on his hand.

“We still need that book.”

“This book?”

He pulled it from his pocket.

“How did you...nevermind. With the spells in here, I’ll be ready to fulfil my destiny.”