She Becomes The Hero In Another World 69 She Finds Herself In A Flowery Fix

The carriage halted before entering the village, as a large herd of cows was in the process of heading further into the town. Robin leaned her head out the window, admiring the wildflowers growing on the right side of the road.

"How long until the cow herd clears?" She asked.

"It will most likely take a while." Jasmine sighed. "Cow herds aren't hurried, especially when they are heading through the center of town. Otherwise, if there should be a stampede, then many people could get injured. It is one of the pastural laws."

"Hmm? Hey, Gerard, Ponzu! You two want me to teach you another neat new recipe?" Robin asked.

"What? Here? Now?" Ponzu askes, his eyes sparkling as he replied from his seat out front.

"But where's the food?" Gerard asked. looking around, but all he could see were meadows and cows.

"You wanna show us how to cook a cow, or make cheese?"

Robin chuckled. "Nope! This dish, I a.s.sure you, is strictly vegetarian. Heheh." For a certain amount of time after her parents death, Robin was unable to eat anything with meat in it. So she had to turn to vegetarian foods, instead. This next dish was something that had peaked her interest in the past.

"Okay, I'm in!" Ponzu jumped down from the carriage. Everyone else was curious about what she was about to do, and so, they also got down from the carriage.

While Christian and Keith set up an insect repellant magic barrier, Robin took Gerard and Ponzu to help her out.

Robin did not have to go far.

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Gerard looked down at the small basketful of snapdragon, geranium, dandelion, and clover blossoms in his hands. Then he looked up at Robin, confused.

"Robin, I thought you were going to teach us a new recipe. Why are we picking all these flowers? Some of these are even weeds!"

Robin looked up from her larger basket. it was overflowing with blossoms.

"Oops! I got carried away, since there are so many good choices, here." She laughed sheepishly. "All right, then. Let's a.s.semble the dis.h.!.+"

Gerard's face was one large picture of confusion. Christian had an inkling of what was going to happen, since he had known that Robin was knowledgable about plants.

"What are we going to do, then?" Jasmine chuckled. "You can't expect us to be like fairies and eat flowers!"

Robin paused.

"Actually, that's exactly what we're going to do!"

She grinned.

"Let me teach you the recipe for spring flower salad!"

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Back under the barrier, on top of a picnic blanket, Robin was busy showing Ponzu the blooms.

"Wisteria, although pleasant in flavor, should be consumed in moderation." Robin instructed, as she showed Ponzu the delicate edible blossoms.

"Redbud are common tree flowers in the spring. Black locust blooms are also a tasty flower. These snapdragons can be bland to slightly bitter, but still edible."

Each time she named a flower, she lifted it up for Ponzu to see.

"Primrose blooms and Daylily flowers are also good. The Daylily buds are tasty when fried or fresh. Clover blossoms are nice, too.

The others that I have here are edible blooms as well: Pansies, Violets, marigold, geraniums, chicory, bachelors b.u.t.tons, Bee Balm, Chamomile, goldenrod, chrysanthemum-petals only, mind you, for those-, and last of all, the dandelion flower.

"Unlike the others, where not all of the plant can be eaten, this common weed is actually entirely edible. the flower, stem, leaf, and even the root is consumable. But, the root is better roasted and made into a drink. The majority of greens used in the spring flower salad will be dandelion leaves, for lack of some good lettuce greens."

Robin then carefully removed the pistils and stamens from all of the flowers except the tiny ones, before storing half of them away in her magic bag.

"I'll save some of these for some other recipes later on." Robin explained. Then she mixed all of the flowers together with the dandelion blooms and greens.

"And, done! Just sprinkle some honey water over it, and you're all set!" Robin's eyes curved up as she smiled.

"These are all edible?" Jasmine asked, somewhat unbelieving.

"Trust me, there are way more." Robin stretched, as she answered.

"I just picked the ones that were easiest to recognize."

Then Robin took out a gla.s.s bottle with a watery yellow liquid in it. "Here, try this." She dripped a bit onto a dandelion bloom and stuffed it into Ponzu's mouth. Ponzu, was surprised at the flavor.

"Honey?" He asked, after ruminating for a few moments.

"Honey water." Robin replied. "Boil some water, and wait for it to cool to less than burning hot, then add honey and stir. once the two are completely mixed together, it's ready to go."

Buzzzzz.

Bzzzzzeeeeee.

Bzzzuuummmmmm.

Robin, curious about the sound, glanced back at the magic barrier behind her. A veritable swarm of bees and bugs were buzzing around at the edge of the barrier. She could also see a few poisonous moths and monarch b.u.t.terflies joining into the buzzing crowd.

Robin turned to Christian. "You didn't set up a scent barrier?" She asked.

"I didn't know I needed one." Christian replied.

Robin wanted to cry. She retrieved all the salad into her magic bag, then stood up.

"Here is not the best place to eat this, then. If we don't leave soon, we will be surrounded by a swarm of bugs that mean business! Christian, is this barrier moveable?" Robin asked.

"Why the worry? They're just bugs." Christian shrugged. Robin raised an eyebrow.

"Then have fun fighting through a gnawing, biting, stinging, hungry crowd of hundreds to thousands of crawly, flying bugs, that don't care if you're a prince or a pauper." Robin shrugged in return, as she gathered up the picnic blanket. Then she sighed as she pondered their predicament.

'Will a light barrier work? but, no, light usually attracts bugs....wait....'

"That's it!" Robin smacked her fist into her palm as an idea came to her.

"What is it?" Gerard asked, curiously.

Robin smiled mischievously and placed her hand on Gerard's shoulder.

"I've got an idea, but I'm gonna need your help, kiddo."

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It only took a brief five minutes to set up, but soon they were ready. The number of bugs trying to get past the barrier had tripled in that time. And so, Robin finally put the finis.h.i.+ng touches on her contraption, and places a bright, bug attracting, glow spell on it.

Then she tossed it out of the barrier.

"Do it, now, Gerard!" She called.

Gerard summoned a strong breeze, making it flow from him out towards the glowing object. It glided far away from them over the nearby meadow, a certain perfume exuding from its wings. The smell led the swarm of bugs to circ.u.mvent the anti-bug barrier, and hurry to follow after the item.

"Remind me of what that thing you made was called, again?" Jasmine asked, impressed.

"A paper airplane?" Robin replied, as she successfully pulled off a group cleanse spell. The airplane would not fly too far, but the scent of honey on the paper would ensure that the bugs would be more interested in the plane.

"Now, while they are distracted, we should quickly make our way back to the carriage." Robin said, and immediately set off back the way they had come. While 36 feet isn't that far, Robin didn't know when the swarm of bugs would return. Even though cleanse can do wonders, it does not affect the items within her magic bag. And so, she was uncertain whether the smell of honey would still be emnating, and attract more bugs.

The rest of the group followed after her, too, since they had no intentions of standing in a cloud of bugs in the near future.

Robin opened the carriage door, and playfully gave Jasmine her most courteous bow.

"After you, milady~." She smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she held out a hand to help Jasmine onto the carriage. Robin had gotten the most wonderful idea from the ball she had attended a few nights ago. Since Prince Christian seemed to have forgotten common courtesy with his cousin, then he needed to relearn by example. She would show this befuddled prince how he ought to treat family.

Jasmine laughed mirthfully, understanding the roguish smile on Robin's face. "You have my thanks, Sir Robin." She said, lightly placing her hand upon Robin's as she got into the carriage.

"You are only too welcome, milady."

Robin turned to look at the dumbstruck expression on the faces of the rest of the party. Then she shrugged.

"Sorry, gents. I don't offer such services to men~!" She said cheekily as she hopped into the wagon. Christian woke up from his daze and his face turned a bit red as he jumped up after Robin.

"Why that little rascal!"

The others started sn.i.g.g.e.ring once he was out of sight, but then they, too, entered the carriage.