how they sold the vials of healing water without any of the other merchants knowing. "Your daughter says that my deed was most cruel, and now I am starting to think it. What has recently happened to our son could only be my punishment."
There was a desperate look in his wife's eyes. "I don't care what you have done, so long as there is plenty of water left to heal him."
"I am afraid I've sold every vial I had, sparing none of it for ourselves." Taruk said. And his heart broke when his wife crumpled in her seat and wept. Taruk knew that only Indri's healing water would be able to cure their son. He also knew that only tragic measures would be able to convince Indri to give him water for his son's sickness. What he'd done was most unforgivable, and Indri would surely inflict a very grave punishment upon him. "Tilula, go now with your mother and help aid our little heart. I must be alone so I can think."
--
Taruk's friend shivered in the cold night air. The weather was turning nasty, a suiting backdrop to the task they were about to do. "I have never groveled in my whole life, Taruk. Now here I am by your side, planning to beg for mercy in front of our victim. How odd the way life works."
"This was the only way I could think of. My son's life is on the line." Taruk said, standing in front of the hedge that separated Indri's house from the rest of the forest. New buds were already forming on the hedge, aided by droplets of sparkling water. But now the buds were well-protected against thieves by an outer mesh of thorny vines. And all Taruk could do was raise his voice to call the forest's master. "Indri! Come out of that mansion of yours. I wish to speak with you."
A frog-like head peeked out from a window on the mansion just beyond the hedge. Indri's face looked even more monstrous now that it had a scowl on it. "Have you no shame, Taruk?! You violate my garden, sell what is supposed to be in my keeping and spread news of my ugliness throughout the land. Why should I help you when you've brought only nothing but trouble?"
"I merely wish to acquire more of your water," Taruk called again. He felt Indri's anger deeply, and tried to be braver in front of his men. But he was cowering inside. Indeed, his limbs were shaking inside his robe. He, fingers trembling, unlaced his purse from his belt and held it out for Indri's inspection. "Here. I have all the money from the water I have taken from you. I have also added the profit I gained. You can have all of this, so long as you give me some water."
"I am not interested in gold, of which I have plenty already," Indri grumbled.
"But you must help me! My son means more than anything in the world to me, even my life."
"Your life?" Indri asked interestedly. He rubbed his chin and eyed the men that were with the merchant. "Perhaps that can be arranged."
Taruk gulped, and he had a feeling that he shouldn't have said anything so dramatic. There was a glint of evil intent visible in Indri's eyes, even from this far distance. "You will help me?"
"I will," the forest prince said, "in exchange for your life."
"What?! No, Taruk!" Anif dashed from among the rank of men and grabbed the merchant by the sleeve, even as Indri continued to give out his instructions.
"One of you will have to behead him, and toss his head over this hedge. As soon as I catch it, I will command my sprites to draw water from the spring."
The friend raised his clenched fist in the air and disrespected the prince of frogs with his gesture. "What kind of animal are you?! A cruel beast that has no consideration for life!"
Indri laughed cruelly. "Did you consider the life of my flowers when you stole the water from their heads? I think not. It's the merchant's head or nothing. Hurry up. I haven't got all night."
"But-"
"Hold your peace, my friend." Taruk finally said. He turned towards Anif slowly.
"You cannot possibly be considering his offer." His friend winced when he realized that Taruk was not listening to a word that he was saying.
"I brought this upon myself, thus I will face it like a man." Taruk called for his other companions to come closer. And when the others were gathered about, he crossed his arms and prayed that they would not make an uproar against his commands. "Gather sticks and draw them among you. Whoever will draw the shortest will have to behead me."
"Taruk! I will not permit this!" his friend rebelled, but he continued on. The other men seemed to understand that he'd decided his fate. He was going to give his life in exchange for the chance of his son living.
"There is an axe in my pack that we can use. And when you return to the village, tell my wife that we were able to purchase the water. But tell her also that we were attacked by wild animals - and that I had not survived. It will make my death more bearable."
Anif too finally realized that he could do nothing to change Taruk's mind. He fervently prayed that he would not pick out the shortest stick. Brave as he was, he could never behead a man he considered his brother.
"Then? you leave us no choice." He turned to the others as well. "You all heard him. Gather those sticks."
But before the company could disperse, a slight figure broke into the circle they'd formed.
"Father, no!" she yelled as she stumbled into the midst of the men.
"Tilula?"
--
That voice.
Indri knew that voice. He'd heard it many weeks ago, while he was at the merchant's residence. It was the voice of that lovely girl, the one who went into her brother's room everyday and kept him company. It was the lovely voice that chimed like little bells in the wind. And Indri was curious to know the owner of that voice. He'd not seen the girl's face, for he'd been hiding behind the curtains. But now was his chance to finally get a glimpse of that mysterious lady.
"Who is that with you, Merchant?" he asked curiously, leaning out of his window. But he could see only a vague figure, for the sun was setting over the horizon and taking its light with it.
Taruk ignored Indri, too surprised was he by the appearance of his daughter. "Tilula, what in the world are you doing here? Did you follow me?"
Tilula too ignored her father's words. She could not believe that her father was just going to let one of the other men kill him so that her brother would be saved. "You cannot give up on life. Think of Mother, and all the heartache you'll give her if this should come to pass."
By this time, Indri was getting impatient. There was a new emotion in his black heart. This emotion felt like a thousand or so needles were pricking his chest at the same time.
"Who are you, girl?" he called, causing the merchant's daughter to look up to where he was.
Tilula looked up and saw the prince of frogs. For a moment fear seized her when she beheld his strange eyes, and the green tinge of his skin that seemed greener with the setting of the sun. But then she found her voice when she realized that the man was waiting for her answer. "My name is Tilula. I am this merchant's daughter."
"You seem fond of your father," Indri said. He too had been speechless when the girl raised her gaze to meet his. In the fading sunlight, her exquisite beauty was enhanced. What had been a shadow just moments ago now beheld perfectly beautiful eyes like black pearls, and skin as pale as the full moon. The girl's auburn hair spilled in dark waves over her shoulders. His breath caught as the girl gazed pleadingly up at him.
"He is a good father and husband, and a fine man of the village. If he has offended you, it is only because he wishes to protect the rest of us." Tilula said. "But I am no consequence or loss to anyone. If it pleases you, I shall take his place."
Taruk was alarmed. He would not allow his daughter to be harmed in his stead. He would rather die than see his own blood pay for his sins. "No! Tilula, what are you saying? Am I so heartless that I should choose myself over my daughter? Nay, I will not let you die in my place."
Indri saw the drama that was unfolding in front of his gates, and this amused him somewhat, for he had never seen a braver father or daughter than these two. Truth be told, he hadn't really meant to go through with such a morbid execution. He would have watched until the axe
was raised over the merchant's head, and then stopped everything before it could descend.
He had meant to teach the man a lesson, before sending him away without the kindness of the healing water. The current argument before his gates was an added bonus and worth the threat. But he became serious when he realized that their bickering would go nowhere.
"Indeed your father is right. It will not please me to see a delicate flower beheaded at my doorstep." This was his chance to get what he wanted, and he was not going to let it go to waste. "But it will please me if you consent to live under my roof until the full moon."
"You will spare my father's life?" Tilula asked him.
"If you stay behind until I can return you."
"Nay! Never!" Taruk thundered. "I will not give my daughter's purity to you."
This annoyed Indri. Did the man really think he was a dirty old pervert? He'd never so much as held a woman's hand. Not even the older sprites had any appeal to him. "I will not touch her in that way. She will be safe, clothed and well-fed in my keeping."
"Father, 'tis our only hope. You heard him. He said I would be safe." Tilula urged. She was not going to let either her father or her little brother die, never mind her fear of the notorious Indri.
"I do not trust him, love." Taruk whispered.
"He never thought to chase after you when he discovered you stole from his garden. Give him this one request." she replied. "I will walk into his garden and by the