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Of course, since Garrek had not agreed to the bride program, he’d received no human manual and once again did nothing in response. But instead of letting her hand drop, as my wife had, Magnolia suddenly reached forward, taking Garrek’s in her own. She did not attempt to shake it, but appeared to give it a small squeeze before releasing Garrek’s thick blue fingers. When she let go, Garrek curled that hand – and only that hand – into a fist at his side.
“We have food for you,” Magnolia said. “Oh! Who’s this!” She turned her smiling face up to Killian.
“Don’t get too close,” Garrek said quickly. Before Magnolia could take a single step, his dark blue tail shot out, creating a barrier that kept her from getting too near to Killian’s mount. “He’s a biter.”
“The shuldu?” Magnolia asked, sounding concerned and eyeing the beast’s muzzle.
“The boy.”
“Oh.” She smiled again. “One of my younger brothers went through that phase. Sometimes expressing big feelings can be hard.”
“Big… feelings?” Garrek asked.
Ha! He was one to ask with such an incredulous tone about large feelings when he was the one with eyes as white as his convict-ward’s!
As if sensing the fact himself, he averted his gaze from Magnolia with what looked like a not-insignificant effort.
“Get down,” he told Killian again. When the boy didn’t move or even appear to acknowledge Garrek’s command, he sighed and rubbed at his jaw. “Get down on your own or I will have to lift you down.”
“Hey, Killian,” Magnolia said in a conspiratorial sort of voice, as if her words were meant just for the boy on the shuldu. “I have some pretty cool things from Elora Station if you’d like to see them. Have you ever been to Elora Station? No? Well, come down and let me show you!”
Killian’s white eyes were wary, but without saying a word his small body suddenly slithered into action, hooking his leg over his seat, sliding down the saddle, and landing in a half crouch. When he straightened, his head was nearly as high as Magnolia’s was. He was young, but Magnolia wasn’t tall for a human – at least, not tall compared to Darcy.
“Would you like to hold my hand?” Magnolia asked. “It can be scary visiting a new house. But I’ll give you a tour, if you’d like. You have to promise me, though. No biting.”
Garrek made a bitter sound.
“Good luck,” he muttered, “getting him to agree to-”
“I promise.”
Garrek gaped as Killian slipped his green-blue hand into Magnolia’s brown one. The two of them headed towards the house, and Darcy and Sora followed.
“How in the great dusty blazes did she do that?” Garrek snapped.
“The human females are a wonder,” I said proudly, watching Darcy’s back, the regal sway of her hips as she walked, “are they not?”
23
DARCY
Outgoing Tablet Communication Darcy Dubois: Hey. Some big blue guy named Garrek just arrived. He’s apparently travelling Oaken’s way and he’s going to bring Magnolia along. They’re leaving tomorrow morning if you want to come and say goodbye.
Incoming Tablet Communication Cherry Dawson: No way! I bet Magnolia is happy! She seemed so sad about not getting to meet Oaken.
Outgoing Tablet Communication Darcy Dubois: She’s over the moon. Or, moons, I guess.
Incoming Tablet Communication Cherry Dawson: I’ll let Silar know. We’ll be there.
Incoming Tablet Communication Cherry Dawson: How are things going with you and Fallon?
Outgoing Tablet Communication Darcy Dubois: …
Incoming Tablet Communication Cherry Dawson: ???
Outgoing Tablet Communication Darcy Dubois: You could have warned me about the tiny dick tail situation.
Incoming Tablet Communication Cherry Dawson: OH MY GOD I’M SORRY!!!!!!
