“You know,” Drew continued, pointing upwards. “The opposition.”
Andras tilted his head back to look at the ceiling. “The opposition? Are the Shadow Blades here? Did you see them go upstairs? Why didn’t you say anything?”
Why was Andras being so obtuse? Drew giggled again. Obtuse was a funny word too. “No, silly,” he said. “Jesus.”
“There’s a guy called Jesus on the upper floor?”
“Noooo,” Drew cried in exasperation. “Notupstairs.Up inHeaven.”
“Why would Heaven be upstairs?” Andras asked.
“The same reason Hell is underground,” Drew whined. “Ugh, why aren’t you getting this?”
“Because you’re talking utter nonsense. What is wrong with you? And where is Leila?”
Drew looked around, but couldn’t see his familiar. Panic gripped him. “The ants have taken her!”
Andras leaned over and looked under the table. “Or, she’s right here.” He disappeared for a moment and then sat back up, holding Leila in his hands. He looked at her closely, then peered at Drew. “Okay, I’m starting to put some things together,” he announced.
“’M not helping,” Drew told him. “Isuckat Ikea furniture.”
Andras carried on like Drew hadn’t spoken at all. Rude!
“Your familiar seems to be off her face.” Andras plonked Leila down on the table. She raised her head an inch, then fell forward and rolled onto her side,bokkingquietly.Her irises were black, but not as black as her pupils,but her pupils were so dilated at the moment that very little of her irises could be seen. “You also appear to be drugged,” Andras told Drew. “Have you taken something?”
“Is she going to be okay?” Drew asked, poking Leila gently and ignoring the question.
“I don’t think there’s much that can cause lasting harm to a familiar. She’ll be fine. I’m more worried about you. What did you take, Drew? You’re high.”
“I’m high?” He frowned, trying to figure out how that had happened. “I’ve never been high before. How did that happen?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” Andras said. “I’m guessing you took nothing, then, if you don’t normally do drugs?”
Drew shook his head and then stopped, since it made the ants much more active, and that was starting to make him feel sick. “I didn’t take anything. Though if I took a drug test, I might fail.” He giggled at that. “I probably shouldn’t operate heavy machinery either.”
“Kill me now,” Andras muttered. He let out a long breath, then froze. “Oh, shit. Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Think of what?”
Andras pointed at their empty plates. “I think you’ve had a reaction to the traanllylln. The leaves of that vegetable are used for medicinal purposes here.”
“Traaaaaaanalalalalanalalayn?” Drew sounded out.
“Traanllylln,” Andras corrected. “I thought the root vegetable part would be safe for you, but I think it’s drugged you.”
“So, it’s not the ants who did it?”
“No, precious. It’s not the ants.”
“Iknewthey liked me,” Drew said happily. He leaned his head on the top of the table right next to Leila. “Hear that, girl? The ants looooooove me.”
She tilted her head to the side and nudged his nosewith her beak.Bok!
“I’m sure they love you too,” he assured her.
Bok!
“Mmm, I’m hungry again too,” Drew told her. He looked up at Andras. “Can we order some more potato-like stuff?”
