Page 17 of Explosive Chemistry

His kitchen was on the far end of his rambling house. Liliana explored with her fourth eyes without leaving the couch. Like Liliana, he had a section of his home dedicated to his work. Some rooms were like guest bedrooms, but with narrow, high beds. All empty now. His kitchen, on the other side of that part of the house, even had an autoclave, the big metal dishwasher that sterilized surgical instruments.

Every window in his house was open. It let in the cool, damp night air, so it almost felt like a sheltered glen in the woods, rather than a house.

His living room was relatively small and filled with a big, overstuffed armchair that looked like it was at least a century old and the worn, but comfortable couch she sat on. The couch and chair surrounded the fireplace, burning merrily to chase away the chill. The ticking clock calmed her nerves, and the crackling warmth seeped into her bones, until she almost felt relaxed. Doctor Nudd’s home was a good place, filled with peace and music and the welcoming scent of a hearth fire.

“I already know you are here, Siobhan. You don’t have to hide,” Liliana commented to the empty room, loud enough that the sprite should hear even in the next room under the goblin’s bed. She closed her fourth eyes so as not to disturb the sprite.

Siobhan popped her head up from behind the couch. “Wasn’t hiding.” She came around to face Liliana, hands in fists on her hips. “You going to tell anyone I was here?”

Liliana shrugged. “My father taught me it was dishonorable to tell other people’s secrets.”

“Who else’s secrets do you know?”

Considering, Liliana tilted her head. She could not think of any answer to that which would not, in itself, give away other people’s secrets. “That is not a question I will answer.”

Siobhan grinned at her. “Good answer, spider girl.”

When Doctor Nudd came back and handed her a cup of tea, Liliana said, “I like your clock a lot.” The tea smelled of cinnamon and orange peel, two of her favorite flavors. And it was properly brewed from hot water and tea leaves, not produced instantly from powder or syrup like some things that passed for tea these days.

“You like old clocks?” Siobhan asked.

“I love clocks.” Liliana smiled.

“Clocks are class.” Siobhan ran a hand down the carved and polished wood of the old clock, watching the brass pendulum swing back and forth for a moment. “All that intricate interwoven delicate machinery, just to keep track of time. Normals invent the most amazing things.”

“I like the sounds they make,” Liliana said. “And they always know the time. I don’t always know when I am.”

“I think I almost understood that.” The flower sprite perched on the arm of the couch to Liliana’s right. Sitting up there put Siobhan’s eye level even with Doctor Nudd’s as he settled in the big armchair by the fire to sip his own tea.

“You must remove the needle from the badger.” It was one of the turning points in the goblin’s future that Liliana had seen.

“And you’re speaking nonsense again, spider girl,” Siobhan said. “Is that a requirement for fortune-tellers?”

“Not you.” Liliana ignored the irrelevant question. “Doctor Nudd. You must remove the needle from the badger.”

Doctor Nudd’s broad face scrunched at the bushy brows. “I’m afraid that makes no more sense to me than it does to Siobhan.”

“You don’t have to understand,” Liliana told him. “Just remember.” She was afraid he wouldn’t remember her advice at the crucial moment. She needed him to remember.

The spider-kin reached across to the big armchair and touched the back of his hand. “You gave me your sweater because I was cold and took glass out of my skin. I don’t want you to die. Remember to remove the needle from the badger.” For a moment, she looked at the goblin, forcing herself to meet his big, wrinkled, oak-brown eyes with her dark blue first eyes.

Doctor Nudd’s deeply tanned face managed to look flushed. He looked down at her small hand on his gnarled fingers. “I shall certainly do my best, madam.”

Liliana nodded and patted his hand, smiling. He would remember. It would buy him time. She would take care of the rest.

She sipped her tea contentedly, enjoying the warm peace of the gentle goblin’s home. This social visiting thing wasn’t so hard, really. She could do this.

Doctor Nudd sipped his tea too.

The ticking of the clock and the crackling of the fire seemed strangely loud in the silence.

Siobhan downed half a bottle of dark beer in a few gulps. “Well, as much of a barrel of monkeys as this is, I’m going to dash.”

Liliana looked around the room, confused. She didn’t see any monkeys.

Doctor Nudd’s eyes widened. “Oh no, no. No need to rush off so soon.”

“Well, you know me. Places to be, toys to tinker with.” Her nimble feet got her to the door before Nudd could lever his large frame from the armchair. She didn’t take the bass guitar with her, so Liliana assumed she would return another time and play music with Doctor Nudd again. Maybe they would let her come next time they played and dance in the grass.

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