Page 41 of Geoffrey the Very Strange
Aspic trotted up to them, rubbing his hands together. "Hello, Cecil. Hello, my dear." He dropped a quick kiss on Geoffrey's lips, right in front of everyone, and Geoffrey's face heated a few hundred degrees. "The zombies are at the butcher's being taunted. I thought maybe one of our flyers could lead them here."
"I…" Geoffrey cleared his throat. "I need all the flyers here. It will have to be someone on the ground. Someone who can outrun them."
"Oh. Well." Aspic's grin slipped to something not nearly as convincing. "I suppose that's me, then."
"Aspic… no…" Geoffrey felt his words starting to tangle. "You've done so much. I don't want you engendered."
"I'm demon fast." Aspic looked so determined that Geoffrey's heart sank. "I won't be in any danger."
"But you're not centaur fast." Theo, the owner of The White Stag loomed over them. "Come, young sir. I'll take you up and we'll do this together. More hands will make a better trail."
"Thank you, Theo." Geoffrey wiped under his eyes with the heels of his palms. This was not the time to start crying, no matter how overwhelmed he felt.
"Marshall your troops, Geoffrey," Aspic said softly. "It's time."
Geoffrey closed his eyes, trying his best to center himself. Then he raised both arms, long sleeves fluttering in the rising wind. "Up! All the flyers up into the clouds! Spread out and don't pour your vinegar until you're above the cloud cover!"
With fluttering, floating, and the flapping of great wings, the aerial contingent leaped for the sky. Even little Sundrop went with them with a vial Ishi had given her.
Theo reached a hand out, and Aspic swung up onto his broad chestnut back before he cantered off down Marigold Street toward the butcher's. Geoffrey stood alone again, but this time not as a solitary figure in the square. The remaining townsfolk still milled about or stood in an attitude of waiting.
"It's not safe here," Geoffrey called out in the strongest voice he could muster. "I can't make you go, but stay back from the bait. And you mustnottouch me once I begin to call the storm."
They moved back from the pile of bait, though many of the larger and braver folks—Ryu, Dire, Clover, Heliotrope—formed a rough circle around Geoffrey a respectful distance from him.
"Gods, I'm scared, Cecil," Geoffrey whispered.
"You got this, boss. Does it help or hurt if I say everyone's depending on you?"
"A little of both?"
"Fine, then. Just do the thing, Geoffy. It's the thing you're really good at, so it's gonna work."
Geoffrey couldn't help a nervous chuckle. "Thanks, Cecil."
Ridinga centaur nearly bareback was uncomfortable and rather awkward. Theo was wearing a blanket, since the morning was chilly, so Aspic didn't have to think about his butt and balls sitting directly on Theo as his kilt rode up. Still. He didn't want to squeeze his legs too tight. That seemed rude. Not to mention he had no idea where to put his hands to hang on. Theo's bare waist seemed intrusive. Around his chest seemedextremelyintrusive.
Theo finally took pity and placed Aspic's hands on his shoulders. "You're going to have to be able to stay on if I have to run back to the square at top speed."
"Good point."
As Theo approached the heavy stone building where Drez, the troll butcher, had her shop, he slowed to a walk.
"Great Epona." He tossed his long hair and took several nervous side steps.
The ground floor of the shop had nearly vanished under a layer of shells and stones, each trying to climb up their compatriots and leap toward the second-floor windows. Mussels, clams, murexes, ceriths, augers, small conchs, chunks of limestone, and now even bones of every shape and size competed for space. The horde had reached a frightening size that could have taken Theo down and smothered him within seconds.
Drez hung out one window, Katya out another as they tossed small bones, probably chicken or partridge, down to the horde. The jeers and taunts probably didn't affect the zombies in any way, but Aspic could understand the need for them.
"Katya!" Aspic called out. "How did you get up there?"
"I climbed the weaver's drainpipe." She pointed to the next building over. "And jumped across."
Aspic blinked. The jump had to be at least twice as far as Katya was tall. "Um. All right. We've come for the bones."
Katya shook her head. "There hasgotto be a joke in there somewhere."
"Theo!" Drez bellowed as she pulled a heavy sack up to the windowsill. "Can you catch?"
