18
The drink fizzes in a rather appealing way, but it’s way too sweet for my tastes. I grimace and resist the urge to ask for a glass of water to help wash it down.
“Okay,” I say instead. “What happens now?”
Oberon smiles. “Now I give you your third task.”
I blink at him. Once. And then again. He’s suddenly blurry. “You mean furth tashk,” I say, slurring the words, and losing all concept of numbers.
“SHE’S DRUNK AS A SKUNK!” Pandora screeches, pointing a finger at me.
“Yes, dear, she is,” Oberon agrees easily, not even wincing this time at Pandora’s unfortunate volume. “Your third task is the hardest,” he tells me, “And to keep you from thinking up any more tricks I’ve given you a little something to muddle your mind.”
I scrub at my face, and try to focus on giving Oberon my best de
