“What is the wolf boy speaking of?” Segrid said with his odd inflection suddenly.
“No idea what either of you two chatty Kathys are yammering about,” Ben put in mildly, the sound of his spoon scraping his bowl loud, to Alfie’s sudden growling.
I barely paid them any mind. I had an appointment with a chili tainting Faun.
∞∞∞
“What about her?” Alfie asked, not so subtly jerking his chin in the direction of a tall, slim woman with flowers in her hair.
“She’s part siren, water wench, not a nature being,” Segrid announced, to a dirty look from the woman in question, who turned with a glare at us and flounced off.
Grimacing, I shook my head.
Ben, upon meeting his landscaping crew, was busy talking with a tall woman with purple hair, her thicker frame hidden beneath baggy coveralls, and a short, squat, similarly dressed Gnome. The flat cart he had was nearly full. I knew now why he’d insisted on this particular nursery, not that I was complaining. Honestly, if I thought I could, I’d try and rid myself of the rest of these idiots. The fools were glued to my hip, furthering my embarrassment by boldly pointing out potential women I could approach. This was a whole new level of mortifying.
I’m in Hell.
William, wandering along the flowering plants, had several women flocking around him, flirting outrageously. Will’s smile was polite but tight. He didn’t like feeling fawned over and or fought over like a piece of juicy meat. Plucking a raisin from the complimentary box they gave us at the gate, I chucked one of the dried grapes at the insufferable wretch’s head. It was all so easy for him, but he never took the bait. William blinked as a sun-dried, sweet projectile smacked him clean between the eyes.
Watching me, Alfie grinned, pulled his box from his jean pocket, and began chucking them at the Satyr when he wasn’t paying attention.
“This isn’t working. I say we put a pin in it and torture Will.” A sneer pulled at my lips as I watched a small, slip of a woman pull yet another bit of pond muck greenery from Will’s still damp hair. If only they knew.
“We tried,” Segrid agreed solemnly, squinting into his empty box of raisins like he was hoping for just one more.
“We’re all in agreement?” Alfie muttered through the corner of his mouth as we all quickly turned our backs and pretended to examine the rose bushes in front of us. The blooms were beautiful, I noted offhandedly, and the whole place had this wonderful aroma—I couldn’t put my finger on it but I was drawn to it.
“You tried,” I agreed somberly, grinning as Alfie glanced over his shoulder and snickered.
“He’s glaring at us still, isn’t he?” I murmured through the side of my mouth.
“I can hear you!” William fairly snarled, swatting at his head.
Segrid wandered off for a few moments, coming back with a few more boxes of raisins. “The purple-haired one with the lime in her eyes smiles like my sunshine. She shies, but she is kind. You should be choosing her,” Segrid boomed out, then shoved a box of raisins at me.
The purple-haired woman in question raised her questioning gaze towards us. Her head didn’t lift all the way, her long hair obscuring her features. From what I could glimpse, she was plain looking, boxy, her hair bright against a face that could easily be lost among the crowd. Nothing special stood out about her. She was tall and broad shouldered, perhaps even taller than me. Other than her hair and those eyes, or the fact she was quite tall, nothing stood out that made me wish to pursue her. I wasn’t drawn to her. Everyone else hadknown, they’d just known when they’d found their one. I had no knowing with her. I should know, I would know, wouldn't I? Love at first sight and all that crap?
Lime green eyes met mine before quickly darting away. That was perhaps her best feature, I corrected, but I quickly dismissed her. She wasn’t for me. Her face flushed with a pink and green blush. Glancing between her and Segrid, I scowled. “Stop that,” I told the Troll King. “I think we’d decided we’d tried.”
Continuing with our torture of William, trying to keep Segrid from eating all of our ammunition, I’d all but forgotten the purple-haired woman when Ben approached.
“We’re all set. Let’s go.” The Cyclops turned and started to walk away, expecting us to follow.
At the last moment he turned, arching an eyebrow.
“Yeth, mathter?” I taunted.
Ben gave a grunt. “You got a date, green bean. Best go home and fix yourself up. She’ll be coming by tonight for dinner.”
“I- What?” I spluttered.
Marching back to me when it looked I was going to protest, the Cyclops got in my face. “You have a date.” His eye flashed, and I could feel the heat of it on my skin. His voice was low, deadly. I had no plans to see who would win in a battle between us.
“I hope she likes chili,” I blurted, then pushed my glasses back up my nose. They were currently fogged with Cyclops’ breath. Blergh
Ben pulled back and clapped me hard on the back. “Good man.”
Segrid came up and did the same, grinning as he passed. “We have done it!” he said joyously, like he thought he’d actually had a hand in it.
