“I’m Kaelren,” I say, and I lower my voice, softening it in a way I rarely do. “These are members of my crew. We come from a place called Wynmire, and we know Elle very well.”
Peeble, still perched on Leo’s shoulder, bursts out laughing. “Yeah, you do.” They nudge Leo’s neck. “If you know what I mean.”
Leo’s face goes from pale to blood red in a single heartbeat. He turns to me, and the broom comes back up. “What did you do to her, you savage?”
Mora steps between us, hands raised. “Whoa, whoa. I think we need to take a step back here. Elle is alive, but it's complicated.”
“Complicated?” Leo’s voice goes up an octave. “Well, tell me where I can find her so I can bring her home.”
It’s a punch to the gut. If he only knew how much we share that sentiment.
Bryx clears his throat. “Well…buddy. That might be a challenge. Elle has taken, let’s call it a little vacation. It’s literally a once-in-a-lifetime, out-of-this-world experience.”
I place my fingers between my eyes and massage the oncoming migraine. This day couldn’t possibly get worse.
WHACK.
A sharp sting connects with the back of my legs, hard enough to buckle my knees. I spin around, hand already reaching for my blade.
No one’s there.
WHACK. The sound cracks through the air again, and pain blooms across my shins.
“Down here, you imbecile.”
I look down.
Standing at roughly knee height is a garden gnome. A real one. Round-bodied, white-bearded, wearing faded blue trousers, a stained gardening vest, and a pointed red hat that has seen better decades. He’s holding a walking stick made from gnarled root wood. Based on the throbbing in my legs, he knows how to use it.
“Who the hell are you?” I ask.
WHACK.
“What the—quit hitting me!”
“The name’s Raskel, and I’m here to help you fix what your dumbass broke.”
WHACK.
I look up. The others are staring. Peeble has left Leo’s shoulder and is hovering at eye level with the gnome, practically vibrating with delight.
“Oh, I like him.” Peeble’s wings hum with pure joy. “Please, keep going, Mr. Raskel. Leo, sweetheart, do you all have that wonderful treat called popcorn? This looks like it’s going to be quite the entertaining show.”
“Raskel,” I say through my teeth, “I’m trying to be patient with you, but if you—”
WHACK.
“THAT’S IT!”
I take one step toward the gnome, and Sarnyx’s hand catches my arm. She pulls me aside with the firm, practiced grip that says she’s done this before.
“Let’s take it down a notch.” She turns to the gnome. “Raskel. Please tell us why you’re hitting our fearless leader, and where you came from.”
Leo, who looks like a man whose reality has been disassembled and poorly reassembled in the last ten minutes, gestures toward the back patio. “Why don’t we…sit down. Before anything else attacks us.”
We follow him around the side of the house. Last time I was here, I didn’t get the chance to look around. I was too busy pulling Elle through a collapsing boundary between worlds.
I can see why she loved it here.
