Marlow and I need to talk.
13.Solid Ground
Marlow
The cabin door slams open with such force that it rattles on its hinges and Wynn bursts out in full bloodhound mode. His nostrils flare dramatically as he sniffs the air so conspicuously that I can hear his exaggerated inhalations, followed by a curse as his search yields nothing. Where’s the fire? Did Timmy fall in a well or something?
“Damn it,” he mutters under his breath after another futile sniff. “Of all the times to actually cover his scent…”
“What are you doing?” I wonder from behind him.
"Oh…" Wynn startles slightly, spinning around to face me. He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly, trying to mask his embarrassment now that he's been caught. "You didn’t go far."
"Nah. I’d probably get lost or run right into trouble."
I lean casually against the weathered wooden wall of the cabin. He was so consumed with trying to track me down and find me in the wilderness that he didn't realize how close I was. I stayed right here, so there's no trail to follow.
Wynn shuffles closer, shoving his hands into his pockets awkwardly. "Look, I was too hard on you before. I’m sorry."
The whole 'getting lost in the vastness between planes of existence’ thing can scare anybody. But I wasn’t expecting him to get over his anger so soon. Oh. I've got a sneaking suspicion about why he changed his tune. “What did Iggy tell you?”
"About how you two met."
Alright then. I sigh heavily, dragging a hand down my face. Guess it’s time to explain.
"My abilities lie in summoning and partnering with creatures. Instead of partnering with dragons or monsters, I prefer working smaller. It didn’t really make me popular in the underworld. Fortunately, I’m a stubborn bastard and didn’t let that stop me.”
Wynn smiles at the joke. I keep going.
“Partnering with the smaller, so-called lower creatures fell out of favor long ago. Guess it’s just easier to boss them around.” I huff, my gaze dropping to the dirt beneath my boots. “One of the many reasons I’m glad Iggy and I relocated.”
Addressing the redwoods behind him is easier than talking to the guy in front of me, so it surprises me when he moves. He doesn't end up going far, parking himself against the wall next to me.
“Basically, if I summon something and form an agreement with it, completing it successfully gives me power. Iggy’s my only permanent partner so I can spread the love around. I can’t give free rides, but I don’t ask for much. That’s what I do. Invite as many little buddies as I can, have them make the bed or listen in on a conversation, and then pay them with food or some trinket.”
Wynn gets where I’m going with this.
"Oh my god. That's why you're bad at everything,” he realizes.
I wince. "Yeah."
"Sorry. I mean, the creatures, they do everything for you?"
"I know how it sounds, believe me." Clenching my fists, I barely suppress the urge to fidget. Why am I even embarrassed? He knows how helpless I am. "Me having an army of underworld minions to do my chores for me. They make being an investigator real easy too, they’re the perfect spies.”
"It sounds like a pretty sweet deal,” he says softly. Not judging me, he just waits patiently for me to continue.
"Yeah." The tiny creatures of the underworld agree. "Sometimes I run out of jobs for them all. Had some imps come up with a play once just to keep them busy. Had one flick the lights off and on just because there was nothing else to do." I peek at him from the corner of my eye, groaning as I admit my inadequacy. "So now you're asking me to pull my weight and help you, but it's been years since I did these things for myself and…"
I don’t even make my own coffee anymore. Gremlins do it for me.
"Guess I got too reliant on them." I sigh and thunk my head against the cabin wall. "Now I'm useless."
Wynn shakes his head. "Hey, no. I was upset and too harsh when I said that."
"You were right.” Shame prickles hotly along the back of my neck. “My powers are all I have to offer and I can’t even use them. The cops confiscated my rings that help me navigate."
"No, I was wrong," he insists. "I'mgladyou're useless."
