Page 33 of Stone Sentinels

“Well, they spoke of dragons and harpies and the like. What do you make of them?” she ask an’ I really need to kicks her. I don’t know what she up to, but I don’t want none o’ her shit.

“I ain’t too fond o’ big scary monsters. I already havin’ ta deal with you.” I take me a big breath o’ air. “The throne o’ the gods you keep goin’ on about ain’t gonna be so goods as you think.”

“What makes you say that?” she snap.

“’Cause there ain’t gonna be no one for you to rule, no one gonna be there to see you do it.” I cross my arms over my little belly. “Take this word o’ wisdum from Flumph. I learn a long times ago that there always somethin’ bigger an’ stronger than me. If you figures that out for yourself, you ain’t gonna have problems.”

“You’re saying that even if I get the throne and the crown, I’ll still have to defend it?” she ask an’ then look like she thinkin’ ‘bout my words.

“Yeah, that what I say.” I looks over at the Mother Heifer. She still tryin’ to seem all innocent-like. Even to me. But I ain’t dumb. I ain’t fallin’ for that shit. “I think you gots a problem like Aima.”

“What problem?”

I shrugs. “You got your head an’ your heart splits in two. I seen the way you gots all jealous-like over the thought o’ Pretty an’ Variant gettin’ it on. I don’t know why you ain’t as disgusted by it as I be, but hey... I ain’t the sort to judge.”

“I was not envious.”

“You were makin’ that stomach-flu face an’ givin’ her dagger eyes,” I says. “You loves him, dontcha? You don’t wanna, but you does? Right?”

“No.” Then she smile real wide like. “Do you really think I would ever reveal a weakness to you?”

“What’s the harms in tellin’ me?” I ask, shakin’ me head. “You said youself, they don’t fuckin’ listen even when I tellin’ them the truth. I ain’t nothin’ to them giants but someone to look after things.” My heart hurt a little, ‘cause that true... or, it were. Back before we came here, I wasn’t no good to nobody. Now I got friends who actually likes me, an’ a protector. Masky, he a good egg, I can tell.

Mother Heifer sighs an’ cross her legs, starin’ off into the darkness as she talk. “I suppose there isn’t any harm in telling you, Fluff,” she start.

“No, there ain’t.”

“Part of me is infatuated with Variant. I would not call it love, but it is something...”

“There? See? I knews it.”

“You knowing the truth doesn’t matter,” she spit back at me. “You’ll be dead before sunset, and I’ll be long gone from here.”

“What you mean?”

She shrug, real casual like. “Now that Theren has found a portal from the Unseelie Kingdom that leads to The Veil, all it will take is a simple message to Variant and he will ride swiftly through these lands with an army of bloodthirsty orcs and demons fighting beside him.”

She shuts the hell up once we hear the gargoyle lumberin’ above the ceilin’ boards o’ this small ass room. An’ good thing too ‘cause I was gettin’ right sick o’ all her bullshit.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

BARON

The Veil

Dragan shields himself in smoke and shadow to stand guard over Morrigan and the little faerie creatures taking refuge in the cellar. He nods his head to me and I return his gesture. Though we may not always see eye to eye, the gargoyle and I have a mutual respect for one another’s skill in battle.

Furthermore, Eilish is out there, and we both care about her. A lot. I’m not sure who cares more—it’s easier for Dragan to show his emotions than it is for me. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t feel them to the same extent

Eilish means something to me. She means a lot to me and that’s a vulnerability I don’t enjoy having.

I sheathe my dagger and creep out the back door, shadow walking through The Veil like a phantom on the wind. And while I can’t see Pyre, I can sense him as he follows.

We part at the tree line. He moves to higher ground while I slither through the barren forest, feeling the dark chill of winter. Dozens of Unseelie soldiers lie in wait to attack, should their king give the order. I retrieve one of my blades and douse the edge in poison. The poison’s slow acting, weakening the soldiers in increments so they don’t think something is amiss.

I move quickly, touching each of them with my blade. It will feel like nothing more than an insect bite or something prickly caught in their clothing.

I shadow walk to a large tree that towers over the clearing, bending and twisting in a way that only ancient trees can, as if it has submitted to the will of the wind. I touch the bark of this tree, feeling its energy and silently asking permission to climb its great heights. Pyre has taught me to be respectful of this world and everything in it. I carry his teachings with me wherever I go in The Veil.

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