Page 46 of Geoffrey the Very Strange
"Of course." He wiped at the unexpected moisture from his eyes. "Of course. I'll get my things and settle accounts after work today."
"When you're ready, hoglet." She nodded toward the house. "Cormac is in the front room. Just so you know."
"Oh. Thank you." His contented mood soured. Cormac was sure to be angry about the zombie shell attack and would have some nasty things to say. Ah, well. Best to get it over with.
Aspic opened the door cautiously, but Cormac didn't fly at him with angry taunts and insults. He crouched in a ball with his feet pulled up on the bench by the fireplace, a thick quilt wrapped around him despite the warm day, not even a glance in Aspic's direction.
"He hasn't said a word since the attack."
Startled, Aspic whipped around to find Ishi in the doorway to the kitchen. He gulped a breath, hand over his heart. "Please don'tdothat."
"Apologies. I forget to make noise sometimes." Ishi ambled over with a glass of water for Cormac, which he took and held without sipping, staring into the cold fireplace. "He hasn't reacted much to anything, to be quite honest."
"That's… not good."
Ishi sat beside the ailing pixie and coaxed him into taking a sip. "It was quite terrifying even on the outside of the attack. None of the wounds are deep, but there are so many, and his wings are in tatters."
This level of shock wasn't new to Aspic. He'd been in war-torn cities. "Does he have anyone? Is there someone we should write?"
"Frida has contacted the pixie enclave on Mount Mullix. His parents are on their way."
"Good. That's good." Aspic twisted the hem of his tunic in both hands. "I'm having some uncomfortably mixed feelings about this."
"Understandable." Ishi sighed and retrieved the water glass. "He was terribly cruel to you. Cruel to everyone."
"You don't know the half of it," Aspic muttered.
Ishi raised an eyebrow but let it go. "Tempting to take some joy in comeuppance. But you're not cruel, Aspic. So it doesn't sit well with you."
"You've said it better than I ever could. I hope he recovers at home with his family." Aspic put a foot on the stairs, preparing to go up to change. "Thank you, Ishi. For all you did."
"Normally I would say,my pleasure. There was nothing pleasing about that night." Ishi shuddered visibly. "For my friends, though, it was the least I could do."
There was that feeling of warmth overflowing his heart again. Aspic hoped it didn't leave a mess on the floor.
When he had cleaned up and tugged on a clean tunic and kilt, he headed off to work. The morning was wearing on, much later than he normally would have arrived at the shop, but he had the feeling that Mr. Talondon would understand that nothing was normal yet.
Ryu stood out in his yard, hands on his hips as Aspic walked by. He had a hand half-raised to wave when a shriek stopped him cold. He searched the yard frantically for a leaping zombie shell, met Ryu's steady gaze as he smirked, andoofedas a small body collided hard against his legs.
"Aspic!"
He glanced down to find Mari plastered against his legs. She held up her shrimp stuffie in both tiny paws.
"Shrimpie says thank you!" The child didn't seem to have any mode of speech beyondloud. "She says she likes your pink hair!"
Loud, maybe, but she still made Aspic smile. "You're very welcome, Shrimpie. And I like your… very bright carapace."
She ran giggling back to her papa, who lifted a hand in greeting. "All right there, Aspic?"
"I'm well. How are things here?"
"A mess."
Aspic cringed at his dark frown.
"Oh, I don't blame you. But Geoffrey has some things to answer for. He owes me a new box for the brick oven, for one."
"I know he's starting on reparations today. He should be by later." Aspic gave them both another wave before he continued down the street.
