From Jewel to Jewel

Aurora caught her breath, and then her Laundress spoke, "If I am to help you, child, I must know what cozening this is. Was this the work of some unhappy enchantress?"

"In some way, Aurora broke, for I am the unhappy enchantress. My beautiful form was not the product of my own meager flesh, but the result of the Emerald of the Breastplate of the High Priest of the Temple."

"So this is your true form?", her Laundress threw back her head and cackled.

Aurora blushed and through her arms over her scanty offerings.

"Well, we must recover your emerald.", the Laundress continued.

"Those nasty goblins took it!"

"Goblins! Excellent!", smiled the Laundress.

"Excellent?! HOW?!", Aurora fumed.

"Foolish girl, do you not know that a goblin will always gamble, that they will take any bet offered? We have only to go to their customary location and make them a wager.", the Laundress explained.

"Where is their customary location?"

"The Pink Unicorn."

"The Pink Unicorn?!"

"The Pink Unicorn."

"The PINK UNICORN!?!"

"Yes, the Pink Unicorn, is there an echo?", the Laundress was now getting peeved.

"But it is a hive of scum and debauchery, only the lowest harlots and whores go there!"

"I have gone there, and you are lucky I know of the place! We shall leave at once.", and the Laundress rose, the water falling from her as she dwarfed the pale imitation of her mistress.

Aurora could only nod.