"Treant?"

"Ancient Tortoise?"

"Wyvern?"

"Wraith?"

"A lizard wizard?"

"Gorgon?"

"Dragon? Ah, we already said that. Drendil did too, didn’t they?"

Keith was the one offering the answers, as he was the only person not under the influence of the spell. If Henrietta guessed incorrectly then she'd be attacked by the magic, and if she guessed correctly it would break the spell - and it was possible the Drendil Army would take the opportunity to turn around and attack.

Miss Gerda shook her head at each guess. When Henrietta had an idea she spelled the word in the air for Keith and he asked for her.

Keith scratched his chin, "you said that you gave them a hint? What was the hint?"

"Wait, don't tell us!" Henrietta cried, covering her ears. "Keith!"

"What?" He raised an eyebrow, "I can't imagine a Master Class like your Knight Commander doesn't have points in Intelligence - or at the very least someone at his side who's solely there for their Int Stat."

"You have 85 Intelligence! No one in the entirety of Drendil has over 60, and they work in the tax offices, not the army." Ria countered. "Shouldn't you be able to answer this riddle in your sleep?"

"Do you know how many answers I've come up with for this riddle? 794." Keith could think of even more that fit partially. His mind easily compartmentalized the possible answers for each line of the riddle. By cross referencing all creatures with a high risk at birth, with a leathery skin, who lived long, and who could be purchased at market or a guild across the continent… there were just too many that fit. His innate skill lay in complex magical formulae, memorizing, placement and comprehensive deconstruction of mana networks. Not solving children’s riddles.

"We should narrow it down with the second riddle, or we'll still be here long past when the army crosses back over the border." Keith tried to say this gently, he knew how much fun a good challenge was. Any other day he might have relaxed and just stayed here guessing riddles until sunset lit the horizon. But he was itching to get back. "So, Miss Gerda? The second part?"

"Its birth is labourous, it can be bought

Its flesh is leathery, all over taut

It lives as long as elves or fae

In time, It's name will fade away.

You need the light to see it clear,

But time in sun, its greatest fear.

It dwells inside and underground

Fire burns It's body brown."

"Well that didn't help." Keith was still left with 245 possible answers after processing the new data. “We’ll need the next hint.”

"Actually," Ria's smile was radiant and she let out a short laugh. "I think I've got it! Oh Gerda, that's so clever!"

Keith frowned. "What is it?"

"I can't say." The princess pointed in the direction of the retreating army. Her eyes sparkled as she teased, "And I'm not telling. You wanted the extra hint! Now you can use it to figure out the riddle yourself."

"You know, Princess." Miss Gerda hid a smile behind her hand. "You've had a lot more practice with my Riddles than his Majesty."

"Still." Ria linked both hands behind her head and craned her neck back to gaze up at me. "It'll be fun."

"Ah, well then. I'll just have to entertain." Keith wanted to bend over and kiss her nose. But he couldn’t afford to get stuck in another dimension right now.

He rattled off a few correct answers - Phoenix, World Serpents, Fox Spirits to various undead or dungeon born monsters. After another half-an-hour, he sighed, "we need to leave soon. What's the third clue?"

Miss Gerda recited,

"Its birth is labourous, it can be bought

Its flesh is leathery, all over taut

It lives as long as elves or fae

In time, Its name will fade away.

You need the light to see it clear,

But time in sun, its greatest fear.

It dwells inside and underground

Fire burns Its body brown."

Wind tears up words you've never heard

Earth will scour, mud mark blurred

Its body alone, can untold feed

Only Water makes it bleed."

Keith slapped himself in the forehead, carefully missing his glasses. "I can't believe I didn't see it immediately. A Book."

"That's right." Henrietta stood up and stretched. "It's [A Book]!"

The world distorted as countless mana particles dispelled a dimensional veil over the bridge. It rippled in waves down the river to both sides. The sheer force of the Spell left Keith breathless; it was a work of art.

"Would you two like to come in for a cup of tea?" Miss Gerda asked. Keith was about to politely refuse, he really needed to monitor the retreating army, then thought better of it. Portal travel was much faster. He sent Construct: Lulu a new task.

Then Keith turned to a bright and cheerful Henrietta and offered his arm. "Shall we?"

"Thank you." She took his arm and everything was right with the world.

They wandered underneath the bridge to Miss Gerda's portal door. It was artistically ornate with a collection of flowers carved into the arch. He was again surprised by the complex Spellcraft the Troll had used in creating her home. It had a subtlety and workmanship one didn’t often see in her generally brutish and overbearing race.

If he didn't convince her to join up with the Dark Horde, then he would kick himself. This tea was the perfect opportunity to do so…

It also portalled Keith and Ria to their home drawbridge.

Even if she didn't want to join his forces, Miss Gerda would be required to start immediate work as bridge maintenance officer and road waterway inspector. That included signing the usual magically enforced contracts for loyalty and vacation days. And he needed to investigate who in the tax department had failed to notice that a single troll now controlled every one of his major bridges.

He couldn't have just anyone opening up a portal into his castle without some assurances. If she refused… they could cross that bridge when they came to it.

And Keith just knew that Henrietta would be so disappointed if they needed to destroy the bridge troll if she were a true threat. And for now he needed to be thinking of a suitable reward for holding off the Drendil Army. It was a lot to think of over cheese biscuits and a delectable pumpkin spice cake.

Luckily, Miss Gerda did not disappoint.