A bed spring...with a potion...good god man, that is a terrible pun.
I'll be back soon. If you leave, I'll hunt you down.
[He goes into the Nexus and begins opening doors, holding an image in his mind of what he needs.]
[he mutters as he looks into each room]
Soap bubbles...furniture made of watermelon rinds...kitchen supplies...a busy street....ducks...
[Then he opens a door into a glade with a pond. The water looks odd, too blue. Liquid approaches carefully.]
Now, what do you do?
[There has to be a way to test it, and to retrieve it if it's the right thing...The old man said not to let it touch him, and it seems prudent to take care.]
[Leaving the door open and memorizing the way, Liquid goes and fetches a few things.]
[He comes back to the glade with an indignant duck tucked under his arm.]
Be quiet, you. This won't hurt a bit.
[He holds the struggling fowl from behind and delicately lowers it so that its beak touches the pool. Instantly, it droops and is still. Liquid lifts it to check. Still breathing, but in a deep sleep.]
[He smiles.] Perfect.
[He sets the duck down on the grassy shore and brings out the items he's retrieved from the kitchen supply room: a pair of tongs and a small Tupperware container.]
[He takes the lid off the container and, using the tongs, dips it into the spring. It fills with deep blue liquid. He lifts it out and carefully shakes off any lingering drops on the outside, then lids it.]
[He allows himself a smile of satisfaction as he gets up to make his way back.] There. That should buy me an answer, old man.
Probably getting things wrong, haven't read any Xanth in forever
I'll be back soon. If you leave, I'll hunt you down.
[He goes into the Nexus and begins opening doors, holding an image in his mind of what he needs.]
[he mutters as he looks into each room]
Soap bubbles...furniture made of watermelon rinds...kitchen supplies...a busy street....ducks...
[Then he opens a door into a glade with a pond. The water looks odd, too blue. Liquid approaches carefully.]
Now, what do you do?
[There has to be a way to test it, and to retrieve it if it's the right thing...The old man said not to let it touch him, and it seems prudent to take care.]
[Leaving the door open and memorizing the way, Liquid goes and fetches a few things.]
[He comes back to the glade with an indignant duck tucked under his arm.]
Be quiet, you. This won't hurt a bit.
[He holds the struggling fowl from behind and delicately lowers it so that its beak touches the pool. Instantly, it droops and is still. Liquid lifts it to check. Still breathing, but in a deep sleep.]
[He smiles.] Perfect.
[He sets the duck down on the grassy shore and brings out the items he's retrieved from the kitchen supply room: a pair of tongs and a small Tupperware container.]
[He takes the lid off the container and, using the tongs, dips it into the spring. It fills with deep blue liquid. He lifts it out and carefully shakes off any lingering drops on the outside, then lids it.]
[He allows himself a smile of satisfaction as he gets up to make his way back.] There. That should buy me an answer, old man.