Hi!

The awesome picture you can see with this chapter is by the talented @AshleeLDevlin!
You can check out more of her works on DeviantArt: http://suhlini.deviantart.com/

Previously on 'Someone please punch Bree in the face' (trying out a new title, what do you think?) :
Bree finally comes back with two bad news:
1) She's still alive. (Not a problem, a bunch of readers apparently know just how to fix this.)
2) Anselm was badly burned and broke his leg.
Right before he passes out, though, he gives Hailey a mysterious, worn velvet pouch and three words "Go to Sperodyfis".
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Chapter 33

I left Anselm to the care of the healers as I was only getting in their way by staying at his side, and went towards Chase, who was standing a few steps away.

"What did he want?" He asked, worry evident in his eyes.

I showed him the small pouch and untied the string that kept it closed. A silver key fell into my hand. The handle's intricate design resembled a flurry of feathers which assembled to form a frame around a butterfly-shaped, bright blue gemstone.

"Wow. What is it a key to?" Chase asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know, but it's important. Anselm told me to go to Sperodyfis."

Chase nodded. "If we can find answers somewhere, it'll be there."

"What is this place anyway? I mean I know that boy in the robes with the peryton -Esmond, was it?- came from there, and Aiden told me it was 'cool,' whatever that means, but that's about it."

"It's more that just 'cool,' believe me, and I'll explain everything later, but first Bree needs to hear about this." He looked around us, searching for her telltale red hair. "It's weird to think that with Anselm hurt and all the other officials away with the king, she's actually the one in charge of everything, now."

I raised an eyebrow. "She is? That's a scary thought."

"Hey, be nice. It can't be easy to have so much responsibility at just eighteen. Plus, I know she is beating herself up about letting Anselm get hurt. She tries not to show it, but I've been her second in command long enough to know."

"Hm," I grunted in acknowledgment, but my opinion of her wasn't going to improve much just because she felt bad about what happened to Anselm, especially after she called him an 'old geezer.'

Chase caught her attention and signaled for her to come see us with a jerk of his head.

"What is it? Please don't waste my time with anything stupid, I have stuff to do," She snapped. Still, with what Chase had just told me in mind, I was able to detect a note of stress which didn't go with her usual holier-than-thou attitude.

I retold what had happened with Anselm and showed Bree the key.

"I've never actually been to Sperodyfis," she said, "but from what I've heard, everything will make much more sense if you just go there."

Chase was in agreement, and so was Autumn, who had just joined us.

"Obviously," Bree mused, "Hailey, you must go, as the princess and person to whom Anselm entrusted the key." Then she paused. "Unless, of course, you're too scared to undertake such a journey. After all, there won't be any five stars hotels on the way there."

I glared at her. "I'll be just fine, thank you."

"Okay, if you say so." Bree shrugged. "Whatever you may say, you have to admit that if you went alone you'd get lost or, best case scenario, die."

Autumn's mouth fell open, "Did you just say 'best case scenario'?"

"Are you deaf, or just stupid? I don't have time for your slow brain here. Anyway, as I was saying," Bree continued, "Hailey, you'll need someone to go with you. I'll go pick out two guards to accompany you on your trip."

"Wait," Chase frowned, "I thought I was already going with her, why do we need two guards?"

"What put that thought into your head?" Bree questioned.

"Well," Chase faltered, "I don't know, but I want to go with her."

Bree sighed dramatically. "I see what you're playing at here. Well, this is going to be painful, but I'll say it: Chase, I would actually appreciate if you stayed, as I do need and value your help and opinion for this situation, because you are a bit less of a moron than everyone else."

Chase stared at her, a bit wide eyed. "Wow. I'm guessing this was supposed to be a compliment?"

"Don't let it inflate your ego, you're just a bit less of a waste of space than other people."

"I'm... Flattered?"

"Hi, Flattered, I'm Bree. So, great, you're staying."

Chase seemed to regain his bearings. "Right, first off, don't make 'Dad jokes'. You're eighteen, and they're not funny. Second, no, I know you can manage without me, I'm still going. I mean, if that's okay with you, Hailey. If you don't want me to come, that's okay, I just-"

"No, it's fine," I said, my voice coming out a bit higher-pitched than I expected. I cleared my throat slightly, trying to hide the stupid smile that came unbidden to my lip. "That would be great."

Bree shook her head, "You two... Okay, fine, you can both go on your little trip. I'll find a third person to go with you who actually has some knowledge about Sperodyfis, though."

"Actually," Autumn spoke up timidly, afraid to get another rebuke from Bree, "I'd like to go, too. I mean, I do know a lot about that place, even if I've never been myself. My dad went there twice, and he's told me stories..." She fell into silence, and she, Chase, and I waited expectantly for Bree's answer.

The redhead stared a her for a long time, then, finally, gave us her decision.

"Okay, you can go."

Autumn and I smiled in relief and looked at each other brightly.

"But!" Bree interrupted our silent cheer, "Listen to Chase, and don't do anything stupid like you so often do, both of you."

"We won't," Autumn promised, too happy to feel insulted.

"Won't do what?" Aiden's voice piped up out of nowhere, making us all, except Bree, jump in surprise.

"Aiden. We've been over this. Stop giving people heart attacks," Chase said.

"If they can survive looking at your face, I think they can survive me popping out unexpectedly."

"You're right. After all, I am drop-dead handsome," Chase smirked, showing his usually hidden sense of humor.

Aiden rolled his eyes. "That was a lame comeback. So, what were you talking about?"

"Anselm gave Hailey this key and told her to go to Sperodyfis. Bree just agreed to let Autumn come with her and I."

"Cool," Aiden grinned. "Surprise trip! When're we leaving?"

Bree raised an eyebrow, "They are leaving as soon as they get some stuff packed and all the information they need."

"We are leaving today, then, I see."

"Aiden." Bree scowled. "The Elite Archers are required to all stay here."

"Except me, 'cause I'm awesome, and Chase would die of seriousness without me."

"Especially you, because I said so."

"Oh, wow, killing argument here. I can't fight with this logic."

"Aiden..."

"Bree..."

"You are the most annoying person on the planet, I swear. You're still not going, though." Bree stayed firm.

"But whyyy?" Aiden whined.

"Bree," Chase said, "Please let him come with us."

"All the Elite Archers must stay here, and that's final. You three are going on an important mission ordered by the Royal Advisor, and Aiden is staying here with all the others. We'll either join the other villagers in that town near here or do whatever further instructions the king sends us."

We greeted her decision in silence.

"Now, come with me, I'll give you instructions and supplies for the trip. Autumn, go get your peryton, she'll come with you to carry things."

Then, ignoring Aiden's mutters about the unfairness of being replaced by a peryton, she strode off, leaving us to follow as well as we could.
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Your votes on the previous surprise chapter encouraged me to give you this one, so keep voting if you want more:) Thank you!