"The bow was owned by Saundor, a very powerful, very old archfey. He'd been betrayed by the woman he loved. Centuries ago, millennia even. So long ago he couldn't remember anything about her but the betrayal. And it had turned him rotten inside. Literally. He lived in the heart of a tree, and he was so twisted and rotten inside that that this vicious, viscous sludge poured out from the tree, poisoning the land all around. It was horrible. Stuck to everything. And smelled disgusting."

That wasn't the worst thing, though. Nor the hardest part of the story to tell. Vex had to steady herself, taking a deep breath, holding it as long as she could, then letting it out slowly.

"He said I was like him. That I was the only one who'd understand. That he'd give me the bow, give me the way to help my friends kill the dragons, and then I would be his. Forever. Because we were the same, broken and twisted and not letting other people see us for who we were.

"He was wrong, and we killed his ancient, viney ass. But you see, he'd forgotten what Fenthras really meant. It's an Elvish name, and I mostly don't give a shit about elves or what they care, but this was important. Its name comes from two words; it means 'protection' and 'growth'. That's its purpose. But a few thousand years on his own, and Saundor wasn't anything but his own poison and pain."