Page 64 of Wizards & Weavers
“You see now?” Augustin exclaimed, holding the damp whistle stone out on the flat of his palm. “These things arereusable, at least. It takes a specific infusion of wind magic to make them work the way I want them to. But if I’m to take this enterprise to scale, I’m going to need more whistle stones.”
Braiden folded his arms and smirked. “Whatever happened to being tired? This sounds like trading one exhausting career for another.”
“I’m only keeping things in mind for the future,” Augustin said. “Planning, as it were, in case Weathervale truly is so welcoming of my concoctions. So, what do you say, weaver? Let’s put aside our problems. I’ll take your word that you never had sinister plans with my grandmother. You’ve been forthright about finding something to save your shop, and now I open myself to you.”
“Agreed.” Braiden offered his hand. “No more secrets. We work together.”
Augustin clasped his hand and shook it. “No more secrets.”
“What’s this about secrets?” Elyssandra piped up from the door.
She was peeking in past the threshold, fingers digging into the doorframe like she’d been listening the entire time. Warren’s long ears poked into the room, his body just out of sight.
“Nothing,” Braiden grunted, “and never you mind. You two are so nosy.”
Augustin swept his hair out of his face and chuckled. “To be fair, we did spend a good bit of time yelling at each other.”
“It’s awfully nice of the two of you to clean up in here,” Elyssandra said, slyly changing the subject. “But you should know that the room can handle itself. The leaves fall off and fade away over time.”
“Then what was all this effort for?” Braiden threw his hands up and turned to the wizard. “Did you know about this?”
Augustin only shrugged. “I needed to work out some of my emotions. And it made for good exercise.”
“And I’m just tired and sweaty,” Braiden grumbled.
“Oh, look!” Elyssandra pointed toward the back wall. “Your bed must be ready, Warren.”
His bed? Warren took a running start and dove into something that resembled a very, very large flower. He landed in a pile of petals big enough to use as blankets, slipping his legs under layer upon layer of velvety covers. He wriggled into a comfortable position, wearing a blissful grin.
“Wait,” Braiden said. “Are you saying we’ve been cleaning up for Warren this entire time?”
“And you didn’t even have to,” Elyssandra reminded him.
“But thank you all the same,” Warren said, eyes shut, still smiling.
“How come Warren gets his own bedroom?” Braiden asked.
This time Augustin scoffed, visibly offended. “The cottage makes room when it’s needed. I told you. That’s what Elyssandra said. Isn’t that right, Elyssandra?”
She nodded. “The cottage must have decided there was good reason for the two of you to stay in a single room together.”
“Right. And that was for me to learn that Augustin sleeps naked and snores like a dragon.”
“Well, I never,” Augustin said, stomping dramatically for the door.
Warren sat bolt upright in bed, eyes wide open, ears standing at attention. “What’s this about sleeping naked I’m hearing?” Incorrigible, really, every inch the gossip that Elyssandra was.
“Well, now you’ve gone and done it,” Elyssandra said, shaking her head at Braiden. “Look. Augustin’s sulking again.”
But Braiden knew that he wasn’t. He caught Augustin’s smirk on the way out. Something between them had shifted after that handshake. Braiden would still take every opportunity to annoy and tease him, of course, and he was prepared to take it as often as he dished it out.
“He’ll be fine,” Braiden said, smiling.
“If you say so. But what’s this about whistle stones?” she asked.
Warren twisted around in his new bed until he was lying on his stomach, elbows planted on the edge of the mattress, his chin in his hands. “And what’s this about my grandmother promising you moongrass filament?”
Braiden shook his head and tutted. He should have known there would be trouble keeping secrets from sharp-ears and long-ears. Then again, it wasn’t as if he and Augustin had made any real effort to keep their voices down.
