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“Of course you did. Everyone does,” he whined.
He shook his head as he pulled himself up to sit, draping his elbows over his knees.
Paige shot a glance at Dewey. “What does this have to do with slaying dragons?”
“I’m cursed,” the man moaned. “If I do not slay a dragon once per year, I turn into a frog.”
“What?” Paige asked, her features pinching in confusion.
The prince flicked his gaze up at her. “You heard me.” He jabbed a finger at his lips. “Look, it’s already starting. If I don’t slay a dragon soon, I’ll turn into a frog.”
Paige searched the sky as she tried to recall fairy tales involving frog princes. Her eyes went wide, and she poked her index finger in the air. “Wait a second. You’re the frog prince. All you have to do is find a princess to kiss you, and you’ll be cured.”
“Unfortunately not. I’ve tried it. I’ve tried it with as many princesses as I could find. Multiple times, actually. It does nothing.”
“Maybe you haven’t found the right one,” Paige said with a shrug. “You know, true love or whatever the fable is.”
He shook his head. “No. The witch who cursed me told me how to fix it.”
“Right, slay a dragon. But you can’t keep killing things. What happens if you run out of dragons to kill?”
“There is another way. Water from the Pool of Yearning. One sip will cure me.”
Paige grinned at him. “Oh! Super simple! Just go get some water, then.”
“You don’t understand. The Pool of Yearning is beyond the troll bridge which is nearly impossible to cross. Even if you cross that, you must go through the Forest of Isolation, a desolate place that causes most men to go mad. And finally, if you manage to make it to the other side, you must face the Fairy of Fright. She guards the pool and will kill anyone who attempts to drink or take the water.”
He picked up a twig and tore it in two before throwing it down on the ground in disgust.
“Paige,” Dewey whispered, “wrap it up. We need to find that tree.”
Paige pressed her lips together into a thin line, lowering her eyes to the ground for a moment and heaving a sigh. “Well, I’m really sorry to hear all of this, but we can’t help you. We’ve–“
“But you must,” the prince shouted, scrambling to his knees and kneeling in front of her.
He grasped her hands and squeezed them.
“Uhhhh,” Paige murmured. “The thing is, we really need to find this Witchlock tree and–“
“I know where it is. I can take you there if you’ll only help me.”
Paige crinkled her forehead. “You said you didn’t know where it was.”
“I lied,” he cried. “I do know where it is.”
“We don’t believe you, Bub,” Dewey said, crossing his arms over his chest as he hovered above the man.
“It’s true. I know where it is!”
“Oh, really? Prove it. What’s it look like?”
“Blue bark with purple foliage. There is but one in the kingdom. And I shall take you straight there if you help me.”
Paige and Dewey exchanged a glance. Paige lifted her shoulders in a silent question. Dewey gave a slight shake of his head.
“Here’s the thing, Prince Whatever-your-name-is,” Paige said, adjusting her glasses.
“No dice,” Dewey interrupted, swinging his arm out in a slashing motion. “You tried to kill us. We owe you nothing. On top of that, we’d probably find the tree faster without you. And we wouldn’t have to risk our lives with this Fear Fairy to find it.”
