Page 5 of Stone Sentinels

“There are things in life that bear no answers, Eilish,” she says with a smile that seems like she’s hiding something. “Sometimes you must accept the fact that things happen the way they’re supposed to and we all play a part in the theater, even if we might not understand why or how.”

I nod, but I’m not happy with her response. She knows more than she’s saying, I’m convinced.

“Now, shall we prepare for dinner?” she asks.

Baron and Flumph’s paranoia is starting to make sense.

***

FLUMPH

The Veil

That Mother Heifer been threatenin’ me like I a nobody. I ain’t a nobody, I Flumph. I a valued fuckin’ member o’ this group, an’ I be damned if I lets her push me ‘round any more.

Somethin’ with big ‘ol hands grab me by my wings and pull me into a closet. I start screamin’ at the top o’ my little lungs, but no one hear me. “Don’t fuck me! I ain’t fuckable! My body ain’t mades for it!”

A hand cover my mouth to shut me up an’ I finally peel open my beady eyes.

“I will release you, but you need to silence yourself,” a voice say. It take me a second ta realize it only Masky.

Thank my fuckin’ balls.

I nod an’ he release me an’ I start buzzin’ an’ turn around ta face him. Finally, I gets my chance to talk to him an’ I’m taking it! “That Mother Heifer ain’t who you thinks she is!”

“Tell me, sprite,” he answer real nice like.

I nods. “I hears her talkin’ to Variant an’ she gots plans for all o’ you, an’ Pretty, too. I ain’t hear everythin’, but I hears ‘nough to know she up to somethin’.”

“And what has she said?”

“Well, her crazy ass want me to find a way to open a rift here to The Veil…” I start befores I notice him lookin’ all pissed-off like. “Masky?... you lookin’ real mad-like... You ain’t mads at me?”

“No, I am not. Please continue.”

I ain’t never seen him lookin’ so angry before.

“She won’t tell me why’s she want ta figure a way into The Veil, but she wants it all the same.”

He nods. “Flumph, did Morrigan mention anyone named Abedon?”

“Yeah, she talks ‘bout Abbey lots. All the time, even.”

“Did she say where he was?” he ask in that deep, rumbly voice.

“She don’t. I only gets pieces ‘cause she talk in her sleep while she doin’ that projectin’ thing she do that scare the butt-fuck outta me.” I take me a big breath. “But Noni an’ I hears her speakin’ to someone in the fuckin’ mirror, too.”

“Theren?”

“The Unseelie fucker? Why him?”

“I believe they’re working together.”

“Oh,” I shrug. “Maybees.”

“I know Theren is one of the last Catoptromancers left in the realms.”

“What the fuck’s that?”

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