Citrellisha knelt before the king: "Your majesty, I request a boon." he looked at her slowly up and down. "What remarkable colors you are, my lady." she sighed. He had said this every day for the past year. Nothing had come of it. "Yes, your majesty. Now about the boon..." "What about it?" "Could you at least hear me out, just this once?" she pleaded. She was tired of grovelling, but nothing else would do. She prepared herself for another curt "no." And then he surprised her. "I know what you want, fair Citrellisha. You want an owner. And though I do not usually respect such wishes, you..." he stopped, his words, as usual, slooooww, "are an exception all to yourself. I shall give you directions to Hoppity's cave. I think you will like her, though it is hard to tell."