"- go three days and nights without food, meditating upon your neglect of my teachings. Make me search the castle for you, will you? Hah! What bard can you be if you are not always prepared to learn more?"

With that, Caswallawn took Marchwyr by the ear and led him out, through the kitchens, out the kitchen door and down a winding green path. Where the path ended, there lay a small, windowless hut, with a great lock on the latch that held the door shut.

Thrusting him inside, Caswallawn shut the door immediately. Marchwyr attempted to fling the door open once more and escape, but was met only with a sturdy door. He heard the key crunching the lock shut.

"Three days, Marchwyr," the raspy old voice called out, as gradually faint footsteps signalled his leave.

Marchwyr looked around the room, but could see only pitch black. He stumbled to the floor, and sighed, knowing there was no way out until his punishment were served.

(Who's up for altering the story just a bit? - Before, the girl said he had months to compose his verse for the contest. How about making the contest in three days, so that the punishment conflicts with the contest and would mean he wouldn't be able to make it? Makes it a little more interesting, and could speed things up a bit ... )