“What just like that? You're not going to tell the chicken plucker you're leaving?""She already knows," Grimalkin said picking his way across the yard. "And incidentally, 'the old chicken plucker' can hear every word you say, so I suggest we hurry. After she is done with the fowl, she intends to come after you as well.”

“Oy, prince,” Puck circled back, frowning. “What are you doing? If you didn't know already, the old chicken plucker is on her way, and she's gunning for Winter and Summer stew.”

“I’m going to kill you one day,” I told him as we hurried after Grimalkin, back into the swampy marshland. It was not an idle threat.Puck just laughed. “Yeah. You and everyone else, prince. Join the club.”

“Grimalkin yawned and licked his whiskers. 'Not dead,' he replied. 'Hardly dead. But she changed her name and appearance so many times, even the oldest fey would hardly remember her. She likes to keep a low profile, you know.' Puck frowned, knitting his bows together. 'Then how is it you remember her?' he demanded, sounding indignant. 'I am a cat,' purred Grimalkin.”

“Does a crow become a salmon simply because it wished to? You do not know the first thing about mortality, prince-who-is-not. Why would you want to become like them?""Because," Grimalkin answered before I could say anything, "he is in love.""Ahhh." The Witch looked at me and shook her head. "I see. Poor creature. Then you will not hear a word I have to say"I was in love. With a human.I smiled bitterly at the thought. The old Ash, if faced with such a suggestion, would've either laughed scornfully or removed the offender's head from his neck.”

“Robin Goodfellow," I said, giving him a challenging smile, "don't tell me you're afraid."His green eyes flashed with a familiar defiance, and he stepped close taking my hand. "Not on your life princess," he returned, smirking. "Though don't think I don't know what you're doing. If we all end up as llamas, I'm going to spend the rest of my life following you around saying 'I told you so' in llama-ese.”

“If you're new, then perhaps you've seen it. Have you seen it, by chance?”I frowned. “It?”“Yes. It.”“It...what?” I asked cautiously, facing the old faery again. “What are you looking for?”“I don't know.” She sighed heavily, seeming to shrink in on herself. “I don't remember. I just know I lost it. You haven't seen it, have you?”“No,” I told her firmly. “I haven't seen it.”“Oh.” The old creature sighed again, shrinking down a little more. “Are you sure? I thought you might have seen it.”“So, anyway,” Puck broke in, before the conversation could go in another circle.”