Page 70 of A Conduit of Light
Karuslaughed heartily.Shewished she had been there to seeFiguerahpepper her with questions.
Aloud knock came at the door.Karusrose from the bed and opened it a crack.
“Icame to see howMoirais doing.AndIhave a few questions for her as well if she’s up to it.”
Revichstood at the door, his hands shoved into his pockets.Itwas one of the few timesKarushad seen him frown so much in a day and she decided to stifle her grin.
“I’llask.She’snot dressed currently, so you’ll have to wait out here whileIdo it.”Sheclosed the door and turned back to the bed.Moirawas already out of it, having climbed down the side, holding onto the blankets, now rummaging naked inKarus’sold dresser drawers.
“Areyou looking for something to wear?”
Moirawas pulling out some ribbons and tying them behind her, covering her chest and most of her lower half.Sheshrugged and climbed to the top of the dresser, the cinnamon bun on the plate next to her, and she began picking off pieces of the icing. “Ididn’t know you already knew the bog monster.”
“What?”
“Thebog monster?ThethingIwarned you about when you got yourself lost in the forest?”
“Revichis the bog monster?”Karus’slaugh boomed through the small room, causingMoirato jump and flutter in place for a moment before coming back down to continue her treat.
“Ofcourse, he is.Haveyou actuallyseenhim?Rummagingaround the forest blindly, jumping into the murkiest waters, causing a ruckus wherever he steps.Imade him jump in place for an hour once.”Shetook in another mouthful. “Hehad to clap, too.”
Karuswas beside herself in laughter, no doubt irritating the bog monster behind the door.Wipingtears, she stammered, “Ithought you had never met the bog monster.That’swhat you told me.Itwas something you’d only encounter once.”
“Well, hopefully you’d only ever encounter it once.AndIdidn’t really meet him—Ididn’t even ask his name.Ijust made him jump.”
“Canyou really curse someone to never have happy dreams again?Isn’tthat what you said you’d do?”
Shenarrowed her eyes, leaning forward. “No,Ican’t.Anddon’t tell me you actuallylikethe bog monster?”
Karusshrugged. “Actually,Ifell in love with the bog monster.Andhis name isRevich.”
Moirastuck out her tongue in mock disgust.
“Though,IbelieveIwill never let him live this one down, so thank you for giving him a name.Iwill use it wisely.”
“Ifyou want to love monsters,Ihave some more suggestions for you.”
“Maybeanother time.”Karusgrinned.Shewas beginning to like this faerie. “Hewanted to ask you some questions.Ican turn him away if you’re not up to it.”
“Questions?Sure,I’llanswer his questions on one condition.”
“Andwhat is that,Moira?”
“Hebrings me another one of these.”Shegestured to the top-eaten cinnamon bun, her smile full of sharp teeth, her mouth covered in sticky icing.
Chapter34
Rev
“Wecan work togetheron this,Moira.Youand us.Yourkind and ours.Whathave you learned of theBlight?”
Ithad taken ages for the cook to make another batch of these damned cinnamon buns—they seemed to haunt him now.
Thefae sat quietly, her green hands a mess, the ribbons around her body out of place on her spongy form.Hehad heardKaruslaughing at whatever she had said and that had irritated him even more.
Hehated being irritated.Itwasn’t something he was used to and he sulked the entire hour it took to make the buns.Surely,Liaknew some magic to speed up the process.Heknew she had been a channeler in training decades ago, but knew little else about her and thought it was best not to pester the one who made your food everyday.
Moiragrinned, her smile so alarming and feral. “Well…let’s see.Iknow, for one, our name for it is much better than yours.”Shelooked up to him casually, shrugging. “Namesare important, you know.”
