Page 66 of The Poison of the Earth
Lilac clears her throat. “I... am surprised.” She nods to Ollie. “I understand your actions better now, I think. I hope we can speak more. I know my Rosetta loves you, and she’s a wonderful judge of character.”
Ollie positively beams in pleasure. “Thank you Lilac,” she responds softly. Turning to address us all, “I am thankful you all trust me enough to have kept me alive thus far. I promise I shall not be a...disappointment.”
Something about the way she says that word. ‘Disappointment.’ It echoes in my chest oddly.Who said that to her? And why? And when will I be able to burn the life out of them?
Lonan speaks, “We shall think on what Larkstead had to say. I would prefer we figure out something else they will settle for, but we’ll see.”
A thought hits me and I grin unexpectedly. “Korben, you could marry one of their sons.”
“Me? Oh shit no, not this fungus. I can’t be tied down.” And he quickly crumbles into nothing. More precisely, he crumbles into spores, drifting on the air currents.
We chuckle. “Well,” Lilac starts, standing, “Rosie asked for some help with Mabon Fest prep. I’m going to do that, assuming you have nothing else for me, Lo?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Have fun.”
As Lilac slips out the room, Lonan looks between the two of us, Ollie at his right, me on this left.
“Do we need to do anything else to get ready for the fest tomorrow? Lonan asks.
“I need to help cook frost the small cakes we made, but I’m sure it’s too early,” Ollie says with a tiny smile on her face.I love it.
Lonan looks to me, “Anyone we need to murder right now?”
I snort as Ollie giggles.
“No, then?” Lo continues, “In that case, I propose,”
I cut in. “Oh boy, here we go.”
Ollie giggles again and smiles at us both.
Lonan restarts, “I propose we play a game.”
I groan.This cannot end well.
“Cards. Commander’s Cup.”
Ollie looks intrigued. “How do you play that?”
Lonan stands, gathering our plates and heading for the kitchen. “I’ll teach you, sweetheart.”
He returns with a tray. He sets it down and I see the deck of cards, a bottle of Cook’s homebrew, and three large glasses already filled to the brim.
Ollie now has the good sense to look a bit concerned.
“Will I be at a disadvantage? Since you both know this game?” She sounds worried. Bless her little heart. She should be.
“Nay, it’s really just a drinking game with some cards mixed in,” I respond.
She sits up, intrigued. “What are the rules? What is the goal?”
Lonan puts a mug in front of each of us, then places the bottle of homebrew in the center of us and arranges the cards face down in a circle around it.
I groan again. “The goal is to get drunk, baby.” I rub my head. “Lo, I don’t think our little mate is going to be able to hold her drink well enough for this game.”
Ollie smiles sweetly, “No, I want to play Kai. Tell me the rules.”
Lonan grins. “We take turns flipping a card. The cards have different rules. Ace, we all drink, two’s, you choose someone to drink, three’s, you drink, four’s you have to tell a truth, five’s—”
