Page 80 of Storms & Sacrifice
“I’m not a kid!” Who tries to make a grown man stand ina corner?!
“Yet your behavior continues to be that of one.” He puts the book down and stands. “I am completely serious, David. You are going to stand in the corner with your pretty red ass on display until I am satisfied. Now if you need one, I am happy to get you a gag, but short of an emergency, I do not expect to not hear another word out of you until I say otherwise. Am I understood?”
I open and close my mouth, instead nodding my assent, and I try not to roll my eyes as I turn back to the corner. I move my hands back to my head, and I hear Sir walk back to the couch. Then...nothing. It’s silent, other than the occasional sound of a page being turned. Just me and the corner.
At first, I try to use my corner time to think of a new plan to expose Councilman Murbank, but eventually my mind drifts, first to my friends, then to traveling, then to food, and eventually, nothing at all. I’m not sure how long I stand there, but it has to have been at least a couple of hours when Sir’s hand on my back gets my attention, just in timefor lunch.
I yelp when my butt makes contact with a chair in the kitchen, having forgotten about the strappingandplug for a brief moment. Lunch is small, just some grilled salmon on bread, I suspect because of whatever is planned for later. When we’re finished eating, he removes the plug but keeps the cage on. I still don’t know what’s happening, and even though I’m allowed to talk now, I don’t bother asking since I know he won’t tell me. The rest of the afternoon is quiet, which only makes me feel antsier the more I anticipate what’s coming.
There’s a knock on the door in the late afternoon, and Khazak opens it to reveal Ragnar and Nylan. Ragnar has a case of what looks like bottles of beer, and Nylan is holding some kind of pie. I can see Ragnar and Khazak sharing an awkward moment, but Ny doesn’t seemto notice.
“Happy birthday, David!” He gives me a one-armed hug as he steps inside. “Are we the first ones here?”
“Yes, you are.” Khazak shuts the door behind the two of them. “The others should be on their way.”
“Then we should drink these now because I didnotbring enough for everyone.” Ragnar comments, making a beeline for the kitchen.
“I know his father probably made something a million times better, but this pie was my mom’s recipe, so I hope you like it.” Nylan shows me the circular dessert, a golden crust surrounding a sea of brightred fruit.
“Your family’s coming?” I turn to ask Khazak.
“That wasn’t a surprise, was it, sir?” Nylan bites his lip.
“No, it is alright, Nylan.” Khazak shakes his head with a chuckle, helping Ragnar find a bottle opener.
It’s his family who shows up next, arms full of even more food and drink. Everyone except his two youngest siblings, who I’m sure had something much better to do. Nylan was right. Rurig did make something: a big two-layer cake that I later learn is a combination of chocolate and coffee. As soon as he’s inside, Orlun sticks a hat on me, round and made of leather with a pair of wooden antlers sticking out of either side.
“That makes you ‘King of the Hunt,’” he tells me as I adjust it on my head.
“Thank you!” IthinkI have it on straight. “Uh, what am I supposed to do now?”
“What? Nothing. You just wear it.” The older orc shrugs.
A few more guests show up after them, first Brull, who very loudly announces his arrival, then some people I know from work: Arik, Orim, Glasha, and Nikka. I’m happy to see all of them, and not just because they all bring me gifts either! Most of it is stuff for traveling, like a new bedroll and knapsack from Khazak’s family, or socks from Orim (they’re a lot more important than you’d think). Nylan brings me not just the books I asked for, but a few extras he thought I’d like. However, my favorite gift by far comes from Glasha and Nikka: smoke bombs! I’ve seen Glasha testing them out while training; they’re apparently an invention of Nikka’s. You flick off a small clay cap and toss it to the ground, and a thick cloud of white smoke fills the area: Perfect for confusing your enemies andescaping.
After the gifts, the drinks start flowing in earnest, and the party really gets started. By which I mean people start to chow down. Rurig went all out, making a lot of fried things, stuff you can eat with your hands. There are some fried venison dumplings, those chicken nuggets I had at the festival, and these tiny little steak sandwiches. Everything is amazing. Have I mentioned how much I’m going to miss the food here? I’m stuffed by the time we’re cutting the cake, but I make sure to leave room for a slice of Ny’smom’s pie.
“Thish ish really good,” I say with a half-full mouth to the elf standing next to me. The filling tastes familiar, like what they stuff in the dar-buk buns.What did Khazak call that fruit? Some kind of berry? Startswith an S.
“I’m glad you think so.” He grins. “My mom would have liked you,I think.”
“I wish I could have met her.” If she raised someone like Nylan, she had to be pretty great.
“I remember your mother as a very kind and warm woman.” Khazak comes up behind me, cutting his own piece of pie as he talks. “I am sorry I did not get to know her for very long.”
“Thank you, sir.” Nylan offers us a smile that’s only sad for a second. “Since I have you here, can I ask fora favor?”
“What is it, Nylan?” Khazak asks before taking a bite.
“Tomorrow is actually me and my Sir’s anniversary.” He scans the room for Ragnar, who is over on the couch saying something to Brull. Possibly arguing.
“Congratulations. How long have you guys been together now?” Iask next.
“Eight years.” The surprise on my face must show because he follows it up witha “Right?”
“Has it really been that long?” Khazak muses. “I still remember how anxious he was before your first date. As if you had not been our friend for over a decade at that point.”
“He was so nervous he almost threw up twice during dinner,” Nylan tells me quickly, holding up two fingers.
