Page 74 of Office of the Lost

Crispin stood on his tiptoes in a failed attempt to match Fromlith’s stature.“We need your help to…enlistthe services of a certain archosaur wizard who owes me a favor.”

Fromlith sat onto a giant stone chair that the bulk of his body had previously hidden from view and he scratched his chin, a sound akin to a woodsman sawing down a tree.“Me mother’s a-visiting soon for her summer stay, and I was planning to finish off the addition before she arrived.”He indicated a large pile of stone that had apparently crushed two or three of the pretty purple trees when it had been laid down.“Perhaps a week from Frorsday?”

Crispin exchanged a look with his mother.He had no idea when Frorsday was, but a week or more away was too long.

The Queen of Fae cleared her throat.“Mister….”She glanced at Crispin, one eyebrow raised.

“Flokrion.”He whispered it, but Fromlith probably heard anyhow.Giants had excellent hearing, what with the ears that were as big as a fae.Or a human.

“Mister Flokrion, I’m afraid our request is quite urgent.Something is sucking all the Chaos out of the Connected Worlds, and if we don’t put a stop to it, your beautiful house may soon collapse, like a house of cards.”

That got Fromlith’s attention.He sat up and then looked worriedly over his shoulder at his home.“You don’t say.”

Crispin tried again.“Look, Leo’s in danger.You remember Leo, right?”

Fromlith leaned forward so that one of his huge eyes was just above Crispin.“Leo’s in danger?”

Crispin nodded.“Someone has taken him, and we have to get him back.Will you help us?”He took a deep breath.“I’m sure my mother can send someone, once this is all over, to help you build your addition.”

Cerillia hissed, but at a stern glare from Crispin, she silenced and finally nodded.“I would be honored to help you enlarge your… house.It’s truly like nothing I have ever seen before.”

Giants weren’t great with nuance, and Fromlith rose to full height, beaming with pride at the perceived compliment.“So kind of you to say, miss.It’s built of nothing but the finest stone from Mount Aspire?—”

“It’s truly lovely.”Crispin cut him off.“But we must hurry.”A stand of trees in the distance was markedly losing its brilliant color.

“Of course.Do I need anything?”

Crispin shook his head.“Just your giant self.”He pulled Thea out, relieved.

“You know, we giants are resistantishto magic.”

Crispin laughed in spite of the gravity of their situation.“I’m quite aware.That’s why you’re perfect for this position.”

Fromlith blushed, momentarily turning as purple as the forest.

“Thea, can you take us to Earth 2?”

“Of course, boss.But how ishegoing to fit through?”

Fromlith chuckled.“Don’t worry about me.You three… or four…?”

Thea flashed.“Four.Thank you for recognizing me.”It was said with a bit of an edge, as ifsomeonehad been remiss in that department.

“You four go through, then I’ll follow.”

Crispin frowned.Thea was right… the portal was barely large enough for fae-sized entities.“You sure?”

Fromlith gestured them toward the portal, and the wind of his hand’s passage nearly knocked Crispin off his feet.“Go on, little ones.”

Crispin sighed.If Fromlith said he could do it, well, maybe giantish magic included the ability to… smallen?… when necessary.“Come on then.”The portal showed the same tidy park he and Leo had arrived at, what seemed like a lifetime before.

But where was Minkis?

“Mink?”

The squirrel was suddenly there, on his shoulder.Or had he been there all along?

“Hello, Minkis.Good to see you again.”Fromlith sounded genuinely happy to see the little squirrel.

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