“Maeve, you’ve returned. I was beginning to fear you’d fled into the woods and claimed a new identity.”
I chuckled and glanced around. “Is that an option?”
He chuckled, and I patted his little knobby knee.
“No, I’m just thinking.”
“That’s worse,” Twobble replied. “When you think, something changes.”
“That’s literally the goal.”
Twobble hopped down from the stool and fell into step beside me. His short legs moved quickly to match my pace as he held his clipboard against his chest with the seriousness of a military officer guarding state secrets.
“I’ve had three separate women ask me if there’s a curfew,” he said. “And if the orcs are allowed inside the Academy.”
“What did you say?”
“I didn’t say anything. I pretended I had a scone emergency and ran away. My concern is that one of these untrained and possibly unruly witches tries to cast a midnight confidence spell and accidentally summons an emotional support raccoon to fight off some imaginary wolf or orc.”
I shot him a look. “Where do you even come up with these things?”
He met it evenly. “Don’t act like it’s impossible.”
“Well, it might not be imaginary for much longer.”
He gasped, and I leaned over to speak, lowering my voice.
“I need everyone gathered in the banquet hall. Can you go round up students and teachers? We’re going to have a talk before this turns into whispered delusions.”
Twobble’s eyes widened. “And raccoons.”
“Exactly.”
“So, we’re having a battle prep talk for assembly number one.” His eyes widened.
“No, we’re having a conversation,” I corrected.
“A structured conversation,” Twobble said with obvious approval. “Those are my favorite kind. They always give me a role of some sort.”
“You’re going to help me organize the students quickly, and you’re going to keep anyone from sneaking out when it gets uncomfortable.”
Twobble puffed up. “So, I’m security.”
“Soft security,” I said. “No pelting scones at the witches or wolves.”
“What about the vampires?”
I chuckled and shook my head.
“I can be firm,” he insisted. “I can be so rigid that people will think I’m wood.”
“Please don’t become that hard. I’d miss my little buddy.”
He stopped and pressed his palm against his heart. “You’d miss me?”
“Absolutely.”
“Would you be able to carry on, or would you crumble and eat croissants all day in my honor?”
