:She still didn’t have to lock you in a box,: said the wolf, emerging from Cricket’s thoughts. :If she does that again, I will eat her.: Cricket laughed. :You wouldn’t do that.::No, I would not. But as your companion and protector, I must bristle and play the part.:

Yes,” Lisa said with the usual blank honestly. She frowned. “Was that a sincere question? Or a scolding rhetorical question akin to Harilotecca’s speech patterns?

You must be a rich human,” went on Holonie. “You could have come here with bodyguards, dogs, something. But you came here alone. Very risky. Nearly insane. Completely stupid.”Elbryn laughed his flat, humorless laugh. “Thanks?

He was a tyrant who had enslaved and murdered the elves and betrayed his own people. [...] Emperor Qalduun had existed over a thousand years ago and had been forgotten by no one except for the humans, who liked to pretend none of it had even happened. It was hardly shocking that none of Elbryn’s human caretakers would have spoken to him about Qalduun. Humans were notorious for covering up history rather than learning from it.

Elbryn smiled. “You know, you never told me your name,” he said, looking at her fondly. “No,” Holonie answered simply, “I did not.” Elbryn stared at her, his eyes suddenly weary, and Holonie heard the exasperated thought on the surface of his mind, Elves. “Fair enough,” he said aloud.

Either way, I’m still very [...] and wanting,” said Elbryn with a sad laugh. “So take care of it.” “With a lady present? That would be unthinkably rude.” “You’ve been rude to me before,” Holonie pointed out. “But I like you now,” Elbryn said.

Is there n-nothing you can do?” Parmida asked, wiping her tears away with the heel of her hand. The unicorn laughed softly. “She asks for a boon after shooting me in the ass.

Lisa’s head was tilted back and she was staring at the wall with her mouth open. “It’s . . . beautiful,” she whispered, touching a slender hand to her breasts. “It’s graffiti,” Rigg said flatly.Lisa shook her head in awe. “And it’s beautiful.” Rigg peered up at the wall. “Huh?

As Eldon continued to look around, he was anxious to realize people were gathering in the square. They paused to glower in disgust at Tobias, and a few bold children riding past on bicycles slowed down to stick out their tongues. Eldon heard Tobias mutter something under his breath, and as the children rode away, they lost control of their bikes and crashed into each other. “Toby!”“Are you rested now?” said Tobias, ignoring Eldon’s shock.