Lurvana stepped closer to him, her body almost touching his. "I want you to show me a good time," she purred, her voice low and seductive. "I'm terribly bored at this party, and I could use a little excitement. What do you say? Want to make out with me in the fountain?"

Ren took a step back. He was used to aggressive women, but he wasn't used to not just ignoring them. He had to satisfy her one way or another. "Uh, I don't think that's a good idea. I have a girlfriend, and I'm not really interested in that kind of thing."

Lurvana rolled her eyes, looking bored. "Oh, please. Don't be so boring. I promise I'll make it worth your while."

Ren shook his head, feeling a mixture of frustration and irritation. He wasn't sure how to handle her, and he didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize the quest. "I'm sorry. I'm just not interested. Maybe you could find someone else to . . . um . . . show you a good time?"

Lurvana huffed, looking annoyed. "Fine. Suit yourself, adventurer. But don't say I didn't give you a chance to have some fun." With that, she turned on her heels and walked away, leaving Ren feeling relieved but also slightly uneasy. He knew that he had dodged a bullet, but he didn't know how fair he handled that one.

[Lurvana is unsatisfied and angry!]

Ugh . . . Ren could only wish that it wouldn't affect the overall quest and that Queen Floraia was still satisfied in the end.

He got two out of three. Surely that was a passing score.

I wonder how the Princess was faring. Ren thought and swept his gaze to find her with an elf, looking like she was going to murder someone.

The elf she was with was wearing a colorful jacket with ruffles and a feathered hat that looked like he would fly at any moment.

[Severus, True Elf Dandy. A male, a distant relative of Floraia, insufferably rich. He is a foppish cad who delights in taunting and teasing mortals. He's not especially well-liked by most, though he gets weepy and apologetic when drunk.]

Ugh . . . Ren hoped that Elena would at least try to be courteous, if not patient.

Ren quickly went to the Princess's side and asked, "What's going on?"

"Well, well, well," Severus said as Ren approached them, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "If it isn't the mortal adventurer. How delightful."

Elena rolled her eyes, clearly not in the mood for Severus's antics. "This guy just approached me out of nowhere."

Severus put a hand to his chest in mock surprise. "Guy? Why, my lady? I'm the richest elf in here. True born and noble. Don't tell me you're not charmed by my presence. I'm hurt."

Ren couldn't help but chuckle at Severus' over-the-top behavior. He found him funny than annoying. "I think you're doing a pretty good job of charming us. In a unique kind of way."

Severus grinned, clearly pleased with himself, not realizing Ren's sarcastic tone. "Ah, I knew you adventurers had a sense of humor. Tell me, have you ever heard the tale of the time I single-handedly defeated an army of orcs with nothing but my wit and my rapier?"

Ren raised an eyebrow, looking skeptical. "Uh, no. I can't say that I have."

Severus clapped his hands together, looking delighted. "Oh, it's a marvelous story. You see, I was traveling through the mountains when I stumbled upon a band of Orcs. They thought they could take me on, but I showed them what a true elf can do. I dazzled them with my wit, charmed them with my manners, and then skewered them with my rapier. It was a triumph, let me tell you."

Elena looked unimpressed, clearly not buying Severus' tall tale. "Is that so . . ."

Severus pouted, looking hurt. "Oh, come now, my lady. Don't be like that. I promise I won't regale you with any more tales of my heroism. Unless, of course, you want to hear about the time I defeated a dragon with nothing but a silk handkerchief?"

Ren couldn't help but laugh inwardly at that. The elf could jape, and he was amused if nothing else.

Elena opened her mouth, but Severus already spoke without stopping.

"Ah, yes. It was quite the battle. The dragon was breathing fire all around me, but I simply dodged and weaved with my graceful elven movements. And then, just as it was about to unleash its final blast, I pulled out my trusty silk handkerchief and waved it in front of its eyes. The dragon was so dazzled by the fabric that it lost its focus, and I was able to strike the killing blow."

Ren and Elena exchanged amused looks, clearly not buying the story.

"Let's scram . . . ," Ren whispered at Elena's ears, and the latter giggled.

As Severus launched into another of his dubious tales, Ren and Elena quickly made their escape. They weaved their way through the crowd of partygoers, making sure to avoid any other archfey who might want to engage them in conversation.

[Severus is not happy and angry!]

Ren hoped he rattled his perfect teeth in annoyance.

They soon found themselves in a quiet corner of the garden, away from the noise and the revelry of the party. Elena leaned against a tree, looking up at the stars while Ren stood next to her, his hands in his pockets.

"I'm glad we got away from that fey," Elena said, a small smile on her lips. "I don't think I could have taken any more of his stories."

"Yeah, he certainly has a way with words."

Elena nodded in agreement. "I have had enough of talking to these feys. Three is more than I could handle."

That got Ren worried. "How many Feys did you talk to?"

"That makes that guy three."

"And how did they go?"

Elena grinned, her eyes twinkling in the moonlight. "Curious?"

"Well, our performance dictates this quest, after all. If we went badly, then you might find yourself back in the elven realm."

Elena's expression fell, and for a moment, worry crossed her eyes. That got Ren worried as well.

Don't tell me . . .