Page 61 of Storms and Crones
“Watch out!” a voice shouted before a wagon barreled down the new road. Wesson was at the helm and Mrs. Gebur bounced along at his side.
Mrs. Gebur rummaged into her pouch and drew out a ragged doll. She stood up on the box as they neared the dragon and stretched her arm back. “Take this, cursed thing!”
She threw the doll at the dragon and the ragged toy struck its back. The shadows fizzled and the doll sank into the depths of the darkness before the whole thing exploded. The blast made us stumble backward and kicked up dust. The air cleared a moment later and revealed the shattered remains of Belmonte’s cane.
The Matriarch’s face drooped farther than her boobs. Dreda grinned down at the crone. “Looks like we took care of it mighty easily.”
The wagon screeched to a stop not far from us and Mrs. Gebur was nearly catapulted off. Ben hurried up and caught her before she tipped over. She smiled at Ben as he helped her down in a safer fashion. “I should have known it was you when you visited the house. You were always getting into trouble.”
Ben grinned. “It’s good to see you again, Wynn.”
“I wondered where this road would end up,” Wesson spoke up as he hopped off the wagon and sauntered up to the heavy horse that pulled the vehicle. “Didn’t think it’d be in the middle of a tussle.”
“We were just finishing our duties,” Deor spoke up as he sauntered over to Wesson and clapped a claw on the man’s shoulder. “And thanks to your curiosity, the deed is done.”
Wesson shrugged. “Truth be told, I saw the lights out this way and figured Ben would need some help from Mrs. Gebur.”
Ben grinned. “I think everyone knows me far too well.”
The large gray wolf I had seen earlier came into the center of our little group and his sharp yellow eyes fell on Cal. “Your Highness.”
Cal bowed his head. “Your Majesty. I have arrived a little early, but I hope that will not ruin the signing.”
Eall chuckled. “On the contrary, it makes it all the more important before your human companions bring more trouble with them.”
Most of the werewolves departed with their captives, but that still left a sizeable group around us. I sidled up to Ben as the humans and Deor made their acquaintances.
I leaned against his chest and tilted my head back to grin up at him. “So if this is what the betrothal is like, what’s the rest of our lives together going to be?”
He smiled. “I don’t know, but I can’t wait to see.”
Neither could I, and as I snuggled into his chest and looked out on our friends I had no doubt it would be full of fun, friends, and more than a touch of adventure.
