We didn’t leave for almost a whole day after that. I went and brought Shu and Nomius inside so that everyone could get to work sorting out the house. I say everyone… it was mostly Nomius, Shu and I that did the physical work. Kiyui spent most of the night talking with his father. Emotionally sorting things out, you might say.

  The house was beyond disgusting. The number of rats in the cellar was sickening… and cleaning up the shit they left behind after we killed them was horrendous. The blood stains in the living room couldn’t be removed because the blood had been absorbed by the wooden floorboards. So, we had to take them up and replace them. Kiyui cleaned up his dad’s hair before making a point of taking him to the town the next morning to get new floorboards. He wanted the whole town to see them together so that people would stop thinking his dad was a murderer.

  While they were gone, we tore up the floorboards and underneath was just full of insects and bugs and all manner of tiny vile creature that you wouldn’t want near you under any circumstances. I am really not a fan of insects… or spiders for that matter. Flora still creeps me out.

  When they got back with the new floorboards, we started laying them, while Kiyui and his dad removed the broken mirror from the house. I can see what Kiyui meant when he always referred to Shu as being soft and gentle. He doesn’t have the incredibly feathery sounding voice that Kiyui has. He also has a different smell to him… lavender to be precise… which is supposedly a calming smell but my mother has always hated it for some reason.

  I can tell Shu has a soft touch from his hands when he hands us the floorboards. His hands look very delicate. Comparatively once I position the board and Nomius’ giant terrifying, scaly, scarred hand holds the nail steady while he hammers it, it is clear to me that Nomius’ hands are likely far from gentle.

  It took us most of the day to get the place to a state which looked vaguely liveable. We said our goodbyes in the early evening, while the sun was still up. Kiyui’s dad never passed comment on Nomius and I. Never made a crack about him having strange travelling companions or anything. Well, apart from that thing about not expecting a goblin to be such a good friend. But in the grand scheme of things, that is pretty tame, given the views that people normally hold of goblins.

  He said goodbye to us just as he did to Shu. I would have said that it was odd, given this village’s attitude to outsiders… but given everything he went through with Kiyui, I suppose he has let go of such attitudes and simply sees us as friends of his son. Which is significantly better than a tiny psychotic goblin and a giant vicious lizardman… which is the general impression that I would have expected.

  Kiyui promised that he would make a point of visiting in the future… which his dad seemed to appreciate. It would have been nice to stay a bit longer… but we really should get Tadwick back to civilisation as soon as possible. He could have died in that Vampyre attack. This life really isn’t safe for children. Plus… to be honest… I half expect to return to find that Flora has eaten him. Like I said before… she still creeps me out. I think it’s the spider thing… definitely the spider thing.

  After that, Nomius placed me on his shoulders again… urgh… and we were walking back through the village and on our way back to camp.

  It was nice to see the village in the light of day. Last night it was pleasantly lit by lanterns but it isn’t the same as seeing all the beautiful colours of the flowers… the different grains in the wooden beams of the houses… even the moss on the well. Goblins have good night vision but, even so, we don’t really see colours well in the dark.

  We got to the edge of the forest with a bit of time before the sun set.

  Kiyui: “Before we get back to your brother, Shu… I just want to say thank you. You didn’t have to help us sort the house out like that.”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Shu: “Of course I did. Just because I haven’t seen you forever, it doesn’t mean I stopped caring about you.”

  Kiyui placed his hand on Shu’s face in a delicate and friendly manner and Shu closed his eyes and leaned his face into the hand. Is this a cat thing? I feel like it’s a cat thing.

  Kiyui: “I missed you guys so much when I was away.”

  Shu: “We missed you too.”

  Kiyui: “If you’d like… I’d like to thank you… like I used to…”

  Shu: “Are you sure? It would be lovely… but you don’t have to.”

  What the fuck are they talking about… just thank him so we can go.

  Kiyui: “I’m sure. I’ve missed you… and I missed doing this.”

  Kiyui kissed Shu gently on the lips and started moving his hands down Shu’s chest. Oh shit… he thanks people with…fuck… maybe I can just whisper to Nomius.

  Dwynfel: “Nomius… we need to leave… now.”

  Nomius walked us behind a nearby tree and lifted me off his shoulders. Once I was safely on the ground he dropped in invisibility and let go of me.

  Nomius: (Signing) “Why?”

  Dwynfel: “Just trust me on this one.”

  It took less than half an hour for us to get to the camp from the edge of the forest. When we got back, Tadwick was asleep, still wrapped in the flower. Flora was stood over him… looking at him with that weird tilted head thing that she does. I still find her impossible to read. I wish she didn’t wear a mask all the time… but at the same time I dread to think what is under it. Phoenix was sat next to the fire… carving her wooden sculpture again.

  There was a pile of dead vampyres to the side of the camp but no sign on Damecus or Shai.

  Phoenix: “Took you long enough. Where are the other two?”

  Dwynfel: “They should be along soon.”

  Nomius: (Signing) “Where… Damecus?”

  Dwynfel: “They not back yet?”

  Phoenix: “They got back this morning, hence the pile of dead bodies. Shai needs them to prove to the village that they are dead. They are currently hunting us some dinner.”

  Dwynfel: “Bit late to go out hunting, isn’t it?”

  Damecus emerged from the woods carrying a boar over his shoulder. Shai emerged behind him carrying a smaller one.

  Damecus: “I am not as adept at hunting as Nomius. Dusk helps me conceal myself.”

  Dwynfel: “I see you found all the Vampyres then.”

  Shai: “They’re easy to lure out. They can smell blood from a mile away. Your friend set a trap by smearing his blood all over the place.”

  Damecus: “These creatures are not very intelligent.”

  Kiyui & Shu emerged from the woods. Kiyui immediately went over to Tadwick and sat down next to him. He began stroking Tadwick’s head. It really is sweet how much he cares for the boy.

  Shai: “Why the fuck are you so flushed?”

  Shu: “I’m just a bit out of breath, ok.”

  Shai: “You run all the way here or something?”

  I was expecting them back a bit later... maybe they did decide to run back here. That way they wouldn’t be alone in the woods once it got dark. Or maybe he just didn’t last long. Which would at least make me feel better. Knowing I’m not the only one with longevity issues would be quite the relief.

  Kiyui: “Oh, leave him alone Shai. He’s just a bit out of practice.”

  Shai: “At what?”

  Kiyui went to answer but then Tadwick began to wake up. Kiyui looked down at him and kissed him on the forehead.

  Tadwick: “Kitty?”

  Kiyui: “Hey Tadpole… how are you feeling?”

  Tadwick: “My arms are all stiff.”

  Flora bent right down and it looked like she was sniffing the flower that was wrapped around him. She waved one of her hands and the flower opened.

  Flora: “Healed… move now.”

  Flora instantly moved away from Tadwick and went back to investigating the trees… which was what she was doing before the vampyre attack. She just continued as if nothing had happened.

  Kiyui: “Thank you, Flora.”

  Tadwick: “Fank you, Flowa”

  Flora simply waved one of her hands at them and started… caressing the trees again. Tadwick climbed onto Kiyui’s knee and wrapped his arms around him. As he cuddled into Kiyui until he fell asleep again. Damecus and Shai started skinning the larger boar in preparation for cooking it.

  I guess this won’t be happening for much longer. We’ll be back at Kataravonia within a week. I wonder what will happen to everyone then? I wonder what happened after we left. Am I going to return to find my mother has been run out of town for harbouring a goblin? Oh gods… I hope my mum is alright.