She smiled.“I know.It is one of his most attractive features.”
Reymark said, “Sorry to interrupt, but did you really break Rein’s arms and legs?”
“Oh.Sure.They are being held together with my will for now.If he tries to run, I will know, and he will be unable to go anywhere.I have found it to be a very effective method of control.”
Reymark wanted to know.“Does it hurt him?”
“Not until I want it to.”She kept eating.
Day-ek asked, “Have the mages ever tried to recruit you?”
“I work for them now and then, but they hate having an orc in their polished halls.I am a reminder that they don’t own all the access to magic.”
Reymark nodded.“You have so much wild magic in you, I am surprised you can talk.”
“Oh, Uncle Matthias insisted that we learn how to talk and dress and interact with others before we were four.”
He chuckled.“Uncle Matthias?”
She sipped her lemonade.“Oh, yes.I grew up here, was educated by mage tutors alongside my sister.”
She felt Dem-rah approach with Tam-or.
She heard the rough voice.“My pretty princess, Sweet Pea.”
She turned and grinned.“Hello, Uncle Sticks.”
She was hugged tight in a four-armed embrace.“You are looking as unapproachable as always, pet.”
Never chuckled.“That’s the job, Uncle.”
Jennor frowned.“He’s your uncle, too?”
Dem-rah stroked her crest of braid.“He had no idea what to do with two little girls, and I had a few by then, so he asked me for help.”
Never smiled.“They made a play group.I never understood why Uncle Matthias kept us around until I heard that if Elsinor gives you someone, you take care of it.”
Dem-rah nodded.“That is the truth.Have you seen her since?”
“Now and then.I have bumped into her, Al, and Jerricho on occasion.”
Dem-rah smiled.“What did you talk about?”
“Oh, I taught Elsinor how to hunt.How to gather the threads until they formed a column that could not be denied.I also taught her about being prey.I learned that from Cora.”
Dem-rah was surprised.“You consider Cora prey?”
“Oh, no.She just looks like it in silhouette.That’s the key.You have to look vulnerable so they come in close.”
The goblin grinned.“You heading out to let your hair down?”
“Oh, yeah.The braid is nice, but I need to scrub my scalp every now and then.First, I eat, then I rest, and somewhere in there, I unravel and take a hot soak.”
“You know where she moved to?”
“Yes.”She pulled up her phone.“She moved here.”She showed him the map.
Tam-or was standing behind him, eating, and he chuckled.
