Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 128061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Patty screamed, her whole body jolting. Dave slowed his advance, his expression softening with humor, which quickly turned to surprise. Her scream turned into a snarl of rage, and she launched forward, hands out like claws. She barreled into his stomach, not at all daunted by his size.
Dave made a sound like ha-oooah as he tried to back-pedal. Her weight wasn’t much compared to his, but such a solid hit was plenty to knock him off balance. He tripped over his own feet and tumbled to the ground. She rode him down with fists flying. His back had barely touched dirt before she was up again, standing over him, kicking his midsection.
Loud laughter erupted from the trees, and the two other basajaunak showed themselves, bent over and guffawing.
“Mom!” Ulric lurched toward her, laughing. “Mom, stop! It was a joke. Stop kicking him!”
“That was…excellent,” Nessa said, watching with a delighted smile. “I will remember that scene for the rest of my days.”
Patty gave one more mighty swing of her foot before she stopped, looking down at him.
“Oh. You must be the basajaun,” she said, all friendliness now. “I’ve heard so much about you! It’s nice to finally meet you. Here we go.” She reached down for him, and he flinched away. The other basajaunak laughed harder. “Oops. You’re okay now. You can get up. You just startled me, is all. You’ll be okay. Just walk it off.”
“What manner of creature are you?” Dave asked, avoiding her continued reach.
“She’s a garhette,” I said, walking forward. “A female gargoyle that doesn’t shift. And who have you brought? I recognize one of you, of course. Welcome, Her. Treat these woods as your own. Let me know if you need anything.”
The basandere I’d met in Dave’s lands stepped forward, still chuckling. “Hello again. Thank you for having me. I am very excited to start this new journey. Your wood is very lovely. More than a wood, though, right? It has a presence within it.”
“Oh…” Dave had never mentioned that, but I guessed it had to be true, since it was connected to the house. “Yes, Ivy House is magically connected to these lands. Or did you mean the gnomes?”
“Not the gnomes. Funny little creatures, those. One cleaved my foot, so I stomped on it. But the other, yes, I feel it. The living things are a little confused about it. That is why the wood is not quite settled. I can work them around, though, do not worry. They are eager for harmony.”
“She is very good at managing a forest,” Dave said. “I cannot feel all that she does. She has a real gift.” He turned to the basajaun I didn’t know. “He was intrigued by your visit to our lands. He expressed an interest to stay on my mountain and check things out.”
The new basajaun stepped forward, a hair taller than Dave and just a bit sturdier.
“Greetings,” he said, and bowed to me. “I request admittance into your territory. Forgive me for not seeking it earlier, but Bul—Dave said you were busy and that we could wander through the wood until you were finished with your meeting.”
“Perfect timing, yes.” I offered him a small bow. “Welcome.”
“In exchange for my admittance, I will help Dave protect these lands,” he continued, and it occurred to me that I should’ve initiated the trade. That was how these creatures worked, which could be a bit tedious when you didn’t feel like bartering. Thankfully, this basajaun was doing it for me.
“That sounds good,” I told him, then repeated, “Welcome.”
Stepping around me, he stood in front of Austin. “Alpha,” he said, lowering his head. “I wish to make a similar trade. I know that your territory is vast, and also that you have non-magical humans within it. I understand the perils of showing myself to such humans and will be careful.”
Austin nodded his acceptance.
Finally the basajaun turned to Niamh. “I want that rematch. I will soon start making the special brew.”
Ah. So this was the basajaun who’d wrestled drunk Niamh through a fire. Promising a rematch was as good a way as any to get him here.
“Use my back garden for making it if ye want,” she said with a shrug. “It’ll keep the human hikers from discovering it on the mountain and drinking it all up, thinking it’s moonshine. In exchange, I’ll want an equal share in what ye make.”
The basajaun’s face split into a smile. “Good trade.”
“Yes, those hikers can be very curious,” Dave said, looking off in the direction of his territory. “They would probably do as she says and end up poisoning themselves. I do not need a bunch of dead humans littered around my camp.”
“Great. Let’s get to that last connection request, shall we?” I lifted my eyebrows at Patty.
“Good idea!” Patty turned and swished through us all, headed back toward the house.