Page 8 of Wanted: Rogues and Bards

Hapi blinked at him, blinked again, and there were some high-speed calculations going on over there. Then he actually unbent enough to give a slight smile. “I do not mind questions.”

“Delightful! Thank you for indulging me. First, where does your source of power come from?”

Fenric ate his soup and watched as Maxie somehow charmed his very tight-lipped friend into a full-blown conversation. He hadn’t heard Hapi say this much at once since they’d accidentally capsized the ship six months ago. Of course, that time Hapi was pissed because all his skelebabies had gotten washed away, and he’d had to start all over again rebuilding his army. Plus, he’d gotten wet, and Hapi was very catlike in that he preferred to get wet only on his terms.

However, this kid got him talking in five seconds flat.

Fenric looked at Maxie and, for some reason, the word “formidable” came to mind.

“Storm’s here.”

Rain had barely finished speaking when a low rumble of thunder rolled overhead. Maxie jumped, his wide eyes snapping across the table to Rain in wonder.

“It wasn’t magic,” Hapi cut in before Maxie could praise the pirate’s weather forecasting. “He has sharp hearing. He heard the thunder just a minute ago. The rest of you didn’t because Malfas and Bel were bickering again.”

Rain reached across the table and smacked Hapi on the shoulder. “It’s not just that. My old bones also ache when it rains.”

“All right,” Fenric interjected before a fresh round of fighting could start. “Storm is finally breaking loose. Malfas, head up to the attic to make sure the seals you put on the roof are still holding. No one wants to wake up drenched because the roof leaked through the night. Bel, is there any way you can make some room among all your books so our little puppy here can bunk with you? You’re the only one enjoying a single right now.”

Belstrom rose at the same time as Malfas and nodded. “Of course. It would not take much to reorganize my collection to create a suitable sleeping area for the young man.”

Maxie stood as well. His eyes had grown so heavy in the past several minutes, he’d nearly fallen asleep in his stew. “Are you sure it’s not any trouble? I don’t wish to be a bother.”

“Not a trouble in the slightest,” Belstrom reassured him, adjusting his glasses on his nose.

“Hapi and Rain, can you clean up from dinner?”

“What about you?” Hapi inquired, his eyes narrowing suspiciously, as if he suspected Fenric was dodging dish duty yet again.

“Oh, I can help,” Maxie volunteered, clearly eager to prove to them that he could be helpful in some fashion.

“No, you need a bath. You’re still covered in grave dirt and smell like a stable.” Maxie flushed at Fenric’s harsh assessment while Rain tumbled into peals of laughter. “I’m going to get you settled in a bath and show you where Bel’s room is so you can get right to sleep.” Fenric’s eyes snapped back to Hapi. “I’ll be back to help with the dishes when I’m done.”

Hapi huffed, likely confident Fenric would take his sweet-ass time with Maxie so he didn’t have to scrub even a spoon.

With the jobs divided up, everyone hopped to their tasks. One good thing about being part of a group was that when everyone pitched in, no job took too long. They alternated cooking and other daily tasks when they were between jobs.

After Belstrom and Malfas pounded up the stairs, Fenric motioned for Maxie to follow him. The poor man looked dead on his feet. All the energy he’d felt after escaping the coffin, walking to the house, and talking throughout their meal was now gone. He could barely keep his eyes open and swayed with every step. Fenric was half afraid he’d fall asleep in the bath and drown himself.

At the top of the stairs was a small hallway with four doors, while a wooden ladder jutted down from the ceiling, serving as a way up to the attic, though it was little more than a crawlspace. Definitely not enough space to serve as another room. The walls on the second floor looked as if they’d been painted white at one time, but the years of dirt and grime had turned them into a dingy grey. Thankfully, they rarely kept more than a lone candle burning in the hall, so they didn’t often have to see their worn surroundings.

Fenric left Maxie in the doorway of the tiny, narrow bathroom that held a sink with a faucet, a toilet, and a small wooden tub. He still couldn’t figure out how Belstrom was able to contort his massive form to fit in the tub. Fenric barely fit in the damn thing.

“Wait here. I’ll be right back.” He darted into the bedroom he shared with Hapi and grabbed one of his few spare shirts and a pair of pants that were mostly clean. Certainly cleaner than Maxie currently was. On his way out of the room, he snagged a cake of soap.

“Here,” Fenric said, thrusting the stack at Maxie. “Malfas is good with mending spells. He can fix your clothes tomorrow. Then we can set Hapi’s skelebabies loose on the laundry so you can have your own clothes back. This will get you through the night. Just grab whatever towel you can find in there that’s dry. When you’re done, Belstrom’s room is directly across the hall from the bathroom. He’s making space for you now. Just watch out for his books. He builds impossible towers with them, and I don’t want you to get bludgeoned to death in your sleep if they were to topple over.”

Belstrom’s deep voice tumbled out of the room Fenric had just pointed at. “You realize I can hear your slanderous remarks.”

“It’s not slanderous if it’s true,” Fenric called back.

There was an angry huff but no further argument from the barbarian. He didn’t have a leg to stand on. His books were constantly falling over. Usually on him.

“Fenric, I wish to thank you for all the assistance you have given me this evening. I’m so touched by your generosity and how warmly you and your companions have welcomed me into your home. If there’s anything I can do to be of service, you need only to ask.”

Fenric chuckled and lightly pushed Maxie into the bathroom. He was surprised the kid didn’t fall asleep in the middle of his speech. “Wash up and get some sleep. We’ll figure out tomorrow when it gets here.” He paused in the doorway, one hand on the doorjamb. “I’m assuming you know how to use the faucets and toilet.”

“Oh, yes, we had—” Maxie had started off enthusiastically but stopped sharply as if suddenly realizing what he was about to reveal.