Page 123 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
“But how did theyknow? We’ve only just started courting today!” Brownie accepted Rufus’s offered hand. He tucked hers into the crook of his elbow and smiled down at her.
“Just because it took us a while to figure it out doesn’t mean it wasn’t obvious to everyone else that I was chasing you,” he teased.
“You weren’t chasing me,” Brownie grumped. “You were sitting in the wagon right next to me.”
“That’s because you let me ride with you,” Rufus pointed out. “Otherwise, Iwouldhave been chasing you, all the way to Servalt and back.”
“Nevertheless”—Aunt Glindy took a step to the side and waved them forward—“your parentsarewaiting.”
Brownie drew a deep breath. “Then I’ll leave Donna to you, Aunt Glindy. Her enchantment should run out in the next hour or so.”
“I’m going to head out as well.” Slake hopped up from the back of the wagon and shook himself. “I’ve a report to make at the palace. But I’ll be back to visit before your meeting with the guild leader.”
The grimalcat flew away before anyone could do more than bid a polite farewell.
Aunt Glindy raised an eyebrow at them having traveled with the mythical beast, but joined in the goodbyes, adding a slight bow to be polite. “That wasn’tyourgrimalcat, was it?”
“No.” Brownie shook her head.
Aunt Glindy sighed before waving the pair of them on as she led Donna away.
Brownie’s family home was almost a fortress in its own right, with a two-story wall that guarded the compound, a stable to the left, and a training field to the right.
Rufus followed Brownie as she tried to explain her family and the grounds as simply as possible. In the center rose a giant elegant tower with a few balconies and windows placed in strategic positions in case of attack. Eldest Uncle Derek lived there with his foxbride Sue, their foxson Luke with his human wife, Jasmine, and the fox granddaughter Lily. Luke’s sister, the storm giant Candace, had moved out to be an adventurer.
Strategically placed in four corners around the tower were four houses also build for giants, each with sliding doors and covered wooden patios that bridged the large and smaller units. In the front right, her forever single-and-happy Uncle Tobias; the back right was Brownie’s parents’; the back left was Uncle Ulric and his wife, Aunt Glindy; the front left was Uncle Ulric’s son and his troll wife Lucy and their four children.
There were smaller-size buildings in between which housed all of her nongiant uncles and their wives and children and grandchildren. It was a busy place.
They passed by her human uncle Bruce on his way to the palace. He lived in one of the smaller units, but he was rarely home, as his ratkin husband Benji lived in the palace, and they mostly stayed there.
Brownie explained all of this as they walked … and assumed that Rufus retainednone of it. Her family washuge, and just explaining this much was pretty overwhelming.
And she didn’t include her mother’s side.
Rufus, for his part, listened intently.
“And this is my house.” Brownie motioned toward a large building with open windows and delicate wind chimes hanging from the eaves. A collection ofmarigolds hung in planter boxes off the patio railings. The entire place was warm and welcoming.
Her father, wearing all black and sharpening a collection of throwing knives while sitting on a seat on the patio, was less so, though her mother, wearing a flowing green summer gown with floral trim along the seams, was watering the plants happily. They could not be more different; her father a rogue assassin and her mother a priestess of earth who specialized in blessing crops.
But they loved each other, and they loved her.
“Mother, Father!” Brownie beamed up at them, still linked arm and arm with Rufus. “Welcome back. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Greetings.” Rufus nodded.
“It’s a good thing we arrived when we did.” Her father eyed them, focusing mostly on Rufus as he slowlyka-shinkeda knife across the sharpening stone before resting the blade flat side down on his knees. “As I’m sure there ismuchto speak about before dinner.”
The slight to Rufus by not returning his greeting wasn’t a good sign, and was actually kind of rude, but Brownie didn’t worry.
Her father was one for dramatics, while her mother …
“Welcome home, dear.” Her mother put aside the watering can and smiled down at them. “Why don’t we all go inside for a nice cup of elder-raspberry tea? I just picked up a fresh tin of leaves from the Pixie Prim booth at the market this morning.”
“Alright.” Brownie squeezed Rufus’s arm, and they walked up the stairs together.
Her father placed the sharpening stone aside and stood, holding the shining knife in his hand. He flipped the blade a few times in the air, deftly displaying the [Knife Play] skill that all of her family prided themselves on. He finally sheathed the blade and clipped it to his belt, resting his hand on the clip. With a sweep, he gestured them forward with his free hand, all the while leaving the other in place and staring daggers at Rufus.
