She balanced it on her palm, reaching to within inches of his face. You mean this? She’d smiled and the wispy tip of a cobweb dangled from the corner of her mouth. Yes, she! I mean that. He’d reached for it, but she’d snatched it away and hidden it behind her back. She danced behind the tree, laughing. Come on, Fee, let me see it. Okay, she’d said, peeking her head around the trunk. But only if you’ll play something. He’d been incredulous. He’d stood in front of the Oak, hands on his hips. If I’ll play something? Seriously she, have we met? He’d motioned for her to hand it over, laughing how to read a fertilizer label at the game. Give me the flute and I’ll play whatever you want. Oh look, she’d said, pointing behind him, you have company. She’d stuck her bottom lip out and ducked behind the trunk.
I guess it will have to wait. He looked up at the gray stone ceiling as he remembered. He rubbed his sweaty face with his hands. How he’d wanted that flute! He’d never seen an instrument so perfect, not in all of his fifteen years.
He’d wanted to play it, immediately. And then, of course, his duties had gotten in the way. He’d turned to see what she had been pointing at, and that’s when he’d seen them. He could still see the boy as he’d been that day, bouncing up and down beside his travel worn father, eager as any light heart to see the Rowan Oak. Welcome! had called as they walked closer. Perhaps the sooner he showed them around, the sooner he could get back to that flute.
Hi! the boy had called, his bright smile stretching from ear to ear as he drug his father behind him. We’ve come to see the Oak. Does it really tell your future? I want to be how to read a fertilizer label captain of a mighty ship one day! Can I see that? Can it tell my future? Of course not, Brent, his father had said. It’s not real. He’d looked and scoffed. Just fairy tricks and nonsense had smiled at Brent, ignoring the father, and knelt in front of the boy. Would you like to see what’s possible, young man? Yes please, Mr. Fairy, sir! Call me he’d said, and winked at Brent. Let’s save ‘sir’ for the old bones, huh? Brent had laughed and reached for hand, then looked up at his father, how to read a fertilizer label making sure it was alright. Go on then, boy, Gantry mumbled. I’ll wait here. Gantry had stood just outside the clearing that surrounded the Oak, rolling his watery eyes, wishing they’d get on with it so he could get his boy and his load of iron ore back to town?
How to read a fertilizer label and apply correctly
She had said, stepping from behind the tree, maybe you could play for us. The deep blue and green spots of the feathered branches, like eyes of a peacock feather, reflected in the flute’s shining surface. Would you like that? he’d asked the boy. Yes please, Mr. Fairy, sir! eyes widened with mock irritation. I mean, yes please, Mr. He’d ruffled Brent’s blonde hair. Just okay? Brent smiled sheepishly. Okay. she handed the flute, her face alive with excitement. What should I play? he’d asked. Just look at the boy, she’d said. Concentrate on him and I bet the magic will happen. Brent had laughed and shrugged his shoulders, but had smiled and did as she’d suggested, concentrating on the little boy as he put the flute to his lips.
He’d been shocked by how warm it’d felt, nothing like the cool metal he’d been expecting. And when he began to play his first sensation was that the flute was pulsing, almost with a life of its own. It’d been disconcerting at first, frightening even, but as he’d continued to play, the music had carried his heart with its flowing rhythms, filling his mind with its soft, enchanting melody until there was nothing he could hear or see or think of but the music. What had happened? he thought, resting his hands on his knees as he sat in the sweaty cell. One minute I was playing the flute, and the next minute, everything was wrong. Brent!!!
The spell was broken as Gantry Neulock’s voice had rumbled through the summer air. He’d rushed to his son, who lay crumpled on the ground, unmoving. The boy’s eyes were open, but had glazed over, staring into nothingness. dropped the flute and felt the boy’s forehead. It was ice cold. What happened? he’d asked how to read a fertilizer label Gantry. Is he sick? As if you don’t know, Gantry had spat at him. I don’t..., began, flustered by the man’s accusation. I don’t know what happened at all! Please sir, let me help. I can take him to my mother, had said, reaching to scoop Brent from the ground. The man shoved, sending him skittering backward. Get your filthy hands off him! he’d snarled. What did you do? What sort of evil is this? I don’t know, pleaded. Honestly, I don’t. Please. My mother can help him. She’s not far. Gantry gathered his son into his arms how to read a fertilizer label and glared. You won’t get away with this, fairy! And then he was gone, running from the Enchanted Wood.
He’d stood for a minute, watching them go. His mind couldn’t make sense of it. How suddenly everything had changed. Fee, did you see that? he’d asked, turning around. But she and the flute had been gone. He climbed to his feet and stood in the middle of the Tower room, his fingers laced behind his head. One minute she’d been there, with the most magical flute he’d ever seen, and the next, she was just gone. She’d vanished so quickly it was almost like she hadn’t really been there at all. For a second, time seemed to stand still. she saw Graven’s men coming at them, closing in on her and Rhiannon, but somehow they were moving slowly, like they were trudging through thick mud or impossibly deep snow.