...Somewhere Else...
     In this world... perhaps... or in another nearby. Who is to say what the boundaries are between realities. Or, even, how many realities there may be...
     Somewhere, there is a room decked out for a feast, golden cups full of golden liquid. Fragrant meats. And, not far from that, a chamber of cushions and pillows. Upon one cushion there lies a quartz pebble, roseate...
     And over it, the following conversation...

     "This wasn't really what we had in mind, Huw..."
     "Necessity is the Mother of Invention. Particularly when there's a wager on the line. Losing was not an option..."
     "You really should learn the other half of this spell, Huw..."
     "I shall, immediately. After you right it this one last time. C'mon, do us a favor."
     "Just so the record shows, this will be the four-thousand-sixty-fourth favor I've done for you. You are now, officially, on the Debtor Rolls for Fealty. You'll have to do the kitchens, I'm afraid. Take that down, Flora."
     A female voice: "On this the 17th hour of the fourteenth day of the ..."
     "That's very good, Flora. I trust you. Now, yes, Huw... I will right the spell and return your... treasure to its original and unblemished state, oh, should I remove the raven spittle? Or shall we leave that on as a complimentary bonus?"
     "Please remove it. Oh... and when you do reverse the spell, could you also, say, put it to sleep? Just for a bit..."
     "Four-thousand-sixty-five, Flora..."