Unicorn the Unicorn Chapter Nine

Unicorn the unicorn left the now crowded inn and began to prance frantically back and forth; not being able to come to a decision at once was something new to his experience, and he did not care for it in the slightest.

He continued like this for what felt like an eternity, when he heard a soft voice call out to him,

“Unicorn.”

He looked in the direction from which the voice seemed to be emanating, there was nothing to be seen besides a lamp post.

“Come closer, unicorn. That is, if you aren’t afraid of little old me.” the voice challenged.

Unicorn’s nostrils flared. He walked up to the post, expecting a trap to spring at any moment.

“Well? Will you not show yourself? Or is it a lamp post that wished to speak with me.”

“Up here.” said the soft voice.

Unicorn looked up, and found the source of the voice: a small, bristly spider, sitting in the center of an intricate web woven between the lamp and the post from which it hung.

“Would you like to find your friend, pretty unicorn?” asked the spider in a mocking tone.

Unicorn’s eyes widened, then narrowed in suspicion. “Why would you be willing to help me, spider? Unicorns are the natural enemy of all venomous creatures, and your kind are not famous for their acts of generosity.”

The little spider shook up and down in her web, “This spider has a name, thank you very much. It’s Teardrop,” Teardrop sketched a curtsy, “And to prove you wrong about the generosity of spiders, I will give you two reasons why I would wish to aid you: Firstly, we share a mutual enemy in the spymaster, for he kidnapped me, and stole my precious venom for use in his experiments.” Teardrop’s body shook with anger. “Thankfully one of his apprentices was careless, leaving my jar open, and I was able to escape, after leaving him with my kiss.” she said in a lurid voice.

Unicorn snorted with distaste. “I do not wish to hear details of your venomous exploits, Teardrop. You have given me one reason to believe you, what is the second?”

The small spider made a shuddering noise that might have been laughter. “The second reason is the best, for you see I know when I tell you where to find your friend you will try to rescue him, and it will surely mean your doom. I saw your knightly friend storming out the front of the inn after all the commotion started in the town hall, when a winged thing swooped down and snatched up up like an owl with a mouse. One of the spymaster’s pets, most likely. It was headed toward his alchemical fortress. If you go due east, you will not be able to miss it.”

Unicorn felt hope flutter in his heart, but he knew to be cautious, for spiders were mistresses of deceit.

Should Unicorn trust Teardrop and head east?

1. Yes
2. No