Castle Hearstwhyle was quiet on a cold winter day. Winter always slowed the traffic of mortal visitors, of the "clients" who sought to objectify the mythical captives of the castle. Men, and some women, who wished to sample the beauty of ethereal creatures.<br/>In a room with the smell of spring two soldiers sought out an elusive creature called the Ghillie Dhu, a forest sprite of some ambiguity. They searched beneath the bed and in the shadows, frustrated that their promised toy was not to be seen.<br/>"Bloody ripoff!" one of them exclaimed. "I came to fuck a fey not play hide-and-seek with one."<br/>"Let's go find a nymph," the companion shrugged. "They're female anyway..."<br/>As the soldiers left the large room with potted plants one of the small trees twisting toward the window shook. A creature revealed himself, shaking a disguise of bark and leaves from his androgynous body. Clothed in a leafy loin cloth with wild black hair and large dark eyes he stretched to the sound of twigs snapping.<br/>Taskill groaned, glad to be rid of the abuse just this once. Byrn was out of the castle and this was the only chance the creature had to break rules and dodge the usual degradation.<br/>He listened closely until the soldiers' feet had faded down the steps to a lower level of the castle. Taskill peaked his head from the door of his prison-room and crept down the hall, lithe form twisting the corners with ease. A familiar nymph stood at the end of the hall and cocked an eyebrow.<br/>"Taskill? What are you doing out of your room? I heard some soldiers ordered you to play with."<br/>"They changed their mind, my dear nymph," he cooed. "But you can order me if you please."<br/>The redheaded beauty flipped her hair and laughed, "In your wildest fantasies. You are in trouble now, Taskill."<br/>"Have I<em>woused </em>the<em>wath </em>of the<em>wymph</em>?" he played silly, raspy voice low.<br/>"No. But Byrn is back in the castle. He will know you dodged your duties."<br/>Taskill's irises shrank to cat-sized slits. "He is back? No, he was to be gone all week!"<br/>"He is downstairs, returned from his trip."<br/>"Fuckstockings!" the strange fey exclaimed, long nails in his own hair as he pulled it. He began to fidget, cast looks back and forth in anxiety and then dart back to his room.<br/>His raven friend Medea was perched at a potted spruce by the window. Her eyes opened as he gave her his arm. "Warn everyone the wizard has returned. But be quiet, my love."<br/>He opened his door and allowed the stealthy bird to spread her wings and fly down the halls of the castle like a shadow. She knew not to squawk or cause trouble. Taskill was grateful that he was allowed this pet. She came in handy for occasions like this...<br/>He was not the only one to break rules while their master was out. Everyone deserved a warning when the man slipped soundlessly back into their prison.