“Are you hot?” The words tumble out of my mouth as always.
“Daphne,” Nash scolds with a frown.
“I don’t mean sexy. He’s just missing his shirt in a frozen forest.”
“You arrived in a ballgown,” Theo points out.
“I didn’t realize my destination, so that doesn’t count.”
“I hate it when her nonsense makes sense,” Hart grumbles as he slides a full plate containing a little of everything toward me.
I dig into the strawberry-topped stack of pancakes and groan in delight. “This is delicious,” I call out to Mrs. Fox, who is busy cooking up a storm in her kitchen. Sir Sweeps-A-Lot attempts to help her by sweeping away any stray bits of food and making her giggle.
“Mr. Yak here is going to help lead us through this land and into the next,” Theo informs me.
“That’s amazing,” I mumble between bites of food. Everything here is so freaking good. Will she send us off with supplies? I’m not even sad there’s no sausage.
“I’m trying to figure out why we should trust you,” Charming says.
We blink at him and Malachi leans over the table. “You are a stowaway on this crazy adventure, not a main character. You have exactly zero influence or power over what happens.”
Charming huffs and folds his arms, but he wisely keeps his mouth shut.
“However, he makes a good point,” I decide with a glance at Mr. Yak.
He jumps to his feet, and I gasp.Oh my Idols.“Why are you naked?” I screech.
“You owe me a gold coin,” Hart says to Theo.
“You are concerned about his state of undress more than his bottom half being a yak?” Malachi asks.
“The name gave it away. Also, we’ve battled aggressive giant flowers, dined with crazy rabbits, and played games with a tyrannical queen. I am not surprised by half animal people, and if you are, then frankly, I am disappointed. However,” I point at Mr. Yak’s sausage, just swinging around for everyone to see, “no one needs to see that.”
“Why is it growing?” Theo asks as he blinks at the elongating penis.
“Stop looking at it,” Mr. Yak snaps. “It responds to attention.”
“Dude, are you not in charge of your dick?” Malachi asks, incredulity threading his voice.
“Language,” Mrs. Fox shouts.
“Sorry, ma’am,” he responds.
My magical broom creeps closer. I point at him. “Don’t even think about it. Your incident with Percy is still embarrassing.”
Mr. Fox hands Mr. Yak a towel, who huffs as he folds it around his waist.
“When you’re quite done ogling my nether regions, I can lead you across the realm and to the portal that leads to where the brothers reside.”
“You’ve heard of them?” I ask. Because I’ve been starting to worry the All Knowing sent us on an unachievable mission.
“Of course. I’m invited to their quarterly shindig.”
“Their what?” I wonder. Shindig? Like the digging of one’s shins? These Grimm brothers are dark.
“Shindig. It’s like a party.”
Oh, that makes far more sense, even if it is an odd word for it.
