Page 68 of Familiar of the Witch

‘I don’t know what they’re doing there but yes, dicking about might be included.’

‘Reynard and I are going to have words,’ he promised darkly.

‘Just don’t do it near Shirdal,’ I advised. ‘He’s all protective. It’s sweet.’

Tom grimaced. ‘Noted. I don’t want to piss off Shirdal. Now, do you want the dog?’ He gestured to Indy, who was still busy wagging at us with her whole bum.

At the mention of her name, she went to give me a lick across the face, ‘No!’ I said firmly. ‘No kisses!’

She made a sad noise but went back to nuzzling me instead. This time she kept her teeth in check. ‘Good girl,’ I praised her. I knew first-hand how smart hellhounds are. I had spoken to Gato a number of times, albeit he is a special case.

‘Indy,’ I started, ‘I’m here to see you. I need to make a potion to help my mum. She was in the third realm too much and her mind is fractured, lost in time. I need to brew her a potion, a potion that’s never been made before. I think if I used something from you it might help her. I really need to speak to her and get some information from her. I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t essential. Can I take something from you – some hair, a nail clipping, perhaps? I won’t use it for anything other than Mum’s potion, you have my word and oath.’

Indy studied me for a long moment, her body tense and her tail eerily still. Then she strode to Bastion and nudged him firmly. He raised an eyebrow. ‘What?’ He didn’t speak hellhound. Nor did I.

‘She wants you to do something?’ I guessed.

‘Yes, but what?’

I shrugged. ‘You’re the one she’s trying to talk to. You figure it out.’

Indy barked then batted his hand with her head. He looked at her for a moment before shifting his hand to his talons. She barked again, gave a wag then sat down and offered him a paw. Relief surged through me; she was offering her paw for clippings. She was willing to help.

‘Thank you, Indy. Thank you so much.’ I struggled to keep my emotions hidden. I couldn’t have Tom reporting that I’d grown soft since my appointment as the Crone.

My words distracted her. She stood back up, came over to give me an enthusiastic lick on the face. This time I let her. I stroked her on her back and kissed her giant forehead. ‘Thank you,’ I repeated softly.

She wagged heartily before seeming to remember that she was supposed to be doing something else. She sat back down and held out her right forepaw again. Bastion carefully trimmed her nails and took a little patch of her fur. When he set her paw back down, she lifted it up again and pawed him firmly. He took a little more of her fur and looked at her quizzically. She barked at him.

‘Look,’ Bastion said, ‘I’m just going to hold still. You do whatever you think you need to do with my talons, okay?’

Indy lifted her paw up and promptly used his claw to cut her front leg. Blood welled up. I hastily threw open my tote bag and rifled through it for an empty vial. I caught the blood as it dripped down her outstretched leg. ‘Warn us next time!’ I chastened.

She gave me a flat look.

‘Sorry, you’re right. Thanks. Just thanks.’

She gave me a satisfied look and a toothy grin. She hadn’t cut herself too deeply and the blood soon slowed. She sat back down in her bed behind Tom’s desk and carefully licked her paw. ‘Do you want me to heal it?’ I offered.

She snorted derisively and went back to licking, so I guessed that was a no. I stoppered the vial and stowed it carefully in my tote bag.

‘You want me to arrange a helicopter ride home for you?’ Tom offered politely.

‘No, thank you. I like riding on Bastion.’

Tom snickered. ‘I bet you do,’ he muttered, smirking at Bastion.

Bastion’s eyes narrowed and I heard the rumble of a growl. The smirk fled Tom’s features. ‘Touchy!’ he noted, holding up his hands.

Bastion held his eyes a moment longerbefore stepping back. I heard Tom’s little sigh of relief. They might be friendly, but Bastion wouldn’t letanyonedisrespect me. It gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling.

There was a chewing noise and we all turned to Indy. ‘Indy!’ Tom barked. ‘Bad dog! Those are my inclement-weather boots!’

A grin tugged at my lips. ‘You call your welly boots “inclement-weather boots”?’ I did air quotes with my fingers.

The tops of his ears pinked and he cleared his throat. ‘Welly boots seems a bit childish.’

‘Gumboots?’ Bastion suggested.

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