“We just find out his name and that's it?” Ivan scratched his bald head, staring at the manor in front of them.
Fox sighed and dragged her hand down her face, clearly annoyed with her companion. “Did you hear nothing that woman said? No one has discovered the fool's name.”
Ivan swung his triple-headed flail in an arc. The three heads had metal spikes at least an inch long. “I say we torture him until he talks!”
It was useless.
They found the manor Aunt May described, but had no plan.
Stenson paced, worrying about Autumn Rose. His aunt was very specific about this eccentric lord of magic. She didn't go into all the details, but he had tricked Stenson's mother into living with him. When she discovered the truth, she ran, pregnant and afraid, and never looked back.
Fox walked over to Stenson. “We'll figure something out. We found his home. Let's set up camp and think.”
The three found a spot hidden behind one of the gigantic oaks. They couldn't set a fire, but they could sleep. Stenson lay down, using his pack as a headrest. His mind wandered through various memories of Autumn Rose; the way she laughed when he tickled her side, the softness of her lips and the rosy blush on her face every time he said I love you. His heart felt disconnected. He knew they could never be, but at least she would have been happy.
Now, with her missing ...
A bunny hopped in front of him. Stenson was used to animals and shooed the creature away. Instead of fleeing, it stayed, staring at him. “Shoo,” he said again, more forcefully.
The bunny hopped closer.
“Ahh, dinner!” Ivan plucked the bunny up by the scruff of its neck. It wriggled around, twitching its white whiskers.
Stenson had eaten rabbit once or twice. It wasn't the best meat, but it filled his stomach. He stared at the creature, feeling a slight tinge of guilt about roasting it.
The bunny dragged its paw across its chest almost in the shape of a L.
Ivan closed his hand around the animal's neck, ready to snap it.
“No!” Stenson cried, and Ivan stopped.
“You got a problem eating rodents?” Ivan said. His face scrunched in confusion.
Stenson gently took the bunny from him and set it on the ground. He wasn't sure if what he saw truly happened or if his mind had gone mad with grief. On a whim, he swiped his finger across the left side of his chest, tracing the letter L.
The bunny copied him.
“It can't be! Autumn Rose?” He fell on his knees, peering at the creature, hoping it wasn't true. The bunny hopped up and down. Stenson fell back, his eyes widening.
“Is that what you caught for dinner?” Fox asked, and pointed to Autumn Rose.
“He thinks that's Miss Rose,” Ivan said, scratching his head and looking completely bewildered.
“Why would he think that?” Fox tried to grab Autumn Rose, who leaped into Stenson's lap.
“It is. I know it is. He must have cast a spell on her.” Stenson carefully picked up Autumn Rose. “Did he do this to you?”
Autumn Rose jumped and nodded as much as a bunny could.
He exhaled. “We can't undo the spell or the contract, unless we know his name. I am so sorry.”
He bowed his head, afraid to look his love in the eye, even if that eye belonged to a rabbit.
Autumn Rose bounced up and down. All three companions looked at one another.
“Do you know his name?” Fox asked, squatting on the ground.
Autumn Rose took a giant leap in the air, landing back in Stenson's lap. Stenson smiled wildly and stood, holding her in his arms. “She knows!”
“And how do you suppose she is going to tell us?” Fox asked.
Stenson's excitement faded and he frowned, holding Autumn Rose closer to his chest. “I don't know.”