>>5804301When you opened them, Nemenmo was gone. So were the rest of her people, and their Fairy Court. The daylight-torches no longer burned, the carvings were dead and inert. Instead, you found Logan Pearce sitting a few feet from you, legs dangling over the edge of the rocks, beneath a sun that was noon-high in the sky.
You sat bolt upright, startled. Muffins, who you found leaning against you, lifted all three head and stood up, regarding you with worried interest.
“W-what time is it?!”
Pearce looked back at you, just as surprised by your sudden outburst as you were by the time of day. He stood up, quickly hurrying to you, and helped haul you up to your feet as well. He patted you down, wiping the sand from you, though he needn’t have bothered; most fell away, so fine and smooth it failed to cling to your tattered fabrics or your sweat-dampened skin.
“Thank the bloody gods,” Pearce exhaled. “You were out like a snuffed torch, Tips. Couldn’t wake you for ANYTHING.”
“Where is… Where are the Ashurati?” you asked.
Pearce shrugged expansively.
“When we woke up, they were all gone,” he explained. “I guess they considered their debt paid after… Whatever you did up here all night with that girl.”
You caught the subtle jab—and maybe a twinge of jealousy—and flushed at it.
“Learned a spell,” you muttered. “A pretty damned useful one, I’ll have you know.”
“Oh?” Pearce said, with a smirk. “So it was a magical evening, you’re saying?”
You punched your large friend’s arm, and he made a show of pretending to be hurt. You both laughed.
“Shut up,” you said with a grin.
You stretched and roused yourself, partaking in a bit of ‘breakfast’ (dinner for Pearce, who ate with you) before descending to join Rudolfo and Terzo, who were playing cards and sharing a poorly-hidden flask. Your father stood up when he saw you coming, guiltily passing the flask to Terzo, who made no effort to hide it at all as he took another swig of the content.
“My boy!” Rudolfo said with a knowing grin. “Back from your conquest, I see? A chip off the old block, ey wot? I know well that nothing is quite like the love of an—”
You shot him a withering look, and your father trailed off, and then cleared his throat with a cough.
“Anyway, it’s good to see you safe and sound and, ahaha, REFRESHED,” he said, tapping his nose and giving you a saucy, knowing wink. “I trust you have a plan for our grand adventure going forth, wot?”
