Nikolas and Company Episode 2: When Boats Breathe And Cities Speak by Kevin McGill

Author:Kevin McGill [McGill, Kevin]
Language: eng, fra
Format: epub
Published: 2014-05-28T05:00:00+00:00

The walk past Manor Major and toward Manor Minor was a muddy, miserable affair for Nikolas’s designer tennis shoes. As he tried to find some semblance of dry ground, thoughts battered around his head. Sheriff Silas won again, like Grand was a wuss or something. Why didn’t Grand just chuck him out of the council?

“I done told you that Sheriff Silas was a bogworm.” Malmedy’s bottom lip curled as she readjusted the red-and-white polka dot handkerchief over her hair. “All sneaky and schemin’ like that. I’s not surprised, no I ain’t!”

Dangus reassured them that Manor Minor was a splendid home, though not nearly as large as Manor Major. From their angle and in the middle of night, it seemed good enough. It was a simple two-story brick house, but most of it was enshrouded by trees.

After a few more minutes of breaths and steps, Dangus sped up with a cackle. “There ya go. A few repairs and she’ll be like new.”

On seeing the entire house, it became clear Dangus had been a little too optimistic. Manor Minor looked to be losing a one-hundred-year battle with the forest. Two trees hung over the house, pushing their branches into windows and doors. Large cracks scarred the brick, and the roof quivered with thousands of what Malmedy called “good for nothin’ moss bugs.” Weeds and tree roots bullied the walkway, making it almost dangerous to walk over.

This was home? Nikolas thought. He stopped and looked at Grand. “This is stupid. The sheriff’s jerking you around. Do something.”

But Grand just walked by silently.

“Those Harynne are supposed to have our backs. Traitors . . .” Nikolas’s voice edged off as he considered another idea. “What’s the most powerful weapon on Möon? You know, like an explosive device.”

His grandfather halted, and moved his attention to Nikolas. “How much power should one creature possess?”

“Just—you know—just what it takes to beat the other guy,” Nikolas said. “Like you. Beronn made you mad, so you dropkicked him off the Mottle Craw.”

Foggy breath rose from Grand’s mouth like a chimney as he stared at his grandson. He turned slowly around and continued walking. “Life is not always so simple, Nikolas.”

It should be, Nikolas thought to himself.

No other words were exchanged while they navigated down the fragmented walkway and to a front door pulled open by vines. When they got to the door, Grand gently laid Xanthus down and unsheathed his axe.

“Stay far behind,” Grand warned as he used the axe head to push the door open. A gust of brown leaves rolled past, beckoning them into the dark house.

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