"The lover of the Prince?" she repeated, looking at the pair. "What tie does a pixie and a phouka have to the Prince?" she asked then.

"I am his humble servant," Phouka replied. She quit fluttering and landed before him. She was nude and neutral, smooth and pale all over. She got very close to the Phouka and studied him with her dark gaze. And she sniffed.

"You do not lie," she decided. "You may take one gem, but only one. And in return you will give me something."

Phouka looked to Winter and then to her.

"What do you wish?" he asked, fearful.

"A song," she said. "A new one to my ears."