Chapter 86: Smitten

Chapter 86: Smitten

"It looked like shit," Roger said, his annoyance morphing into disapproval.

I roared with laughter at the conversation's shift in tone.

"I thought it looked pretty good," I said, wiping a tear from my eye.

He shook his head.

"You've done it all wrong—attaching the palings directly to a pole makes it less sturdy, and given time, the nail will warp out of the pole you've driven them through."

"Er, thank you... I think? What should I do to make it better?"

He cocked his head, then nodded as he reached a decision.

"I'll go get my tools. I think you'll need more help than a bit of instruction."

Without another word, he turned on his heel and marched off.

I blinked at his back as he strode over the sandy flats.

"My man doesn't pull any punches, does he...?" I whispered to myself.

I looked back at the fence.

"It's not that bad... is it?"

***

When I spotted Roger returning, I couldn't help but grin; he'd brought helpers.

Barry and Maria walked behind him, the former easily keeping pace, the latter having to take hurried steps with her much-shorter legs.

I'd brought over the rest of the materials for the fence, and I organized them into piles as my soon-to-be-helpers got closer.

Maria reached me first.

As she approached, I worried about how to act in front of Roger, but she settled that internal debate for me.

She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me into a hug, getting to her tiptoes. I wrapped my arms around her waist, matching the strength with which she gripped me.

Her tiny body fit mine, and as she pulled closer, I could feel her heart fluttering—mine hammered in response.

"Morning, Fischer," Barry said, raising an eyebrow and smiling at me.

"I missed you," Maria whispered, squeezing my arm as she withdrew.

The comment brought me up short, and I let go of her, blinking at nothing before returning my attention to Barry.

"Uh, g’day... mate."

His eyebrow raised higher, and he shook his head with a smile.

"How was the trip?"

"It was great!" Maria answered for me. "We went fishing, ate a bunch of tasty food, and even rescued a little bunny. It was an eventful few days."

As Maria mentioned food, I could have sworn Barry's eyes sparkled.

"Jealous that someone else had some fish, mate?" I asked. "I'd be happy to have you around for some more later, if you like."

"I'd be a fool to turn that down, Fischer." Barry turned to Maria, a glint still in his eye. "So, what did you think of his cooking?"

"Oh, I did the cooking, but the fish was so tasty!" Her eyes darted to her father. "Oh, uh, sorry, dad."

Roger set his toolbag down and shook his head.

"I don't wanna know anything about your heretical activities. I'm here to fix this abomination of a fence."

I held up both hands.

"Abomination seems a little harsh..."

Roger ignored me, picked up a hammer, and strode for my glorious, definitely-not-abominable fence.

He put the claw behind a paling and shoved the handle, removing the nails in a single movement.

"You're missing the supporting structure."

He moved on to the next one, removing the paling with a similar push—flexing his dad-strength on us mere mortals.

"Running one of these palings from side to side will make the entire fence stand against a storm. This thing..." He kicked the bottom of my fence. "Wouldn't stand up against time, let alone an ocean front."

I glanced at Barry, who nodded his agreement. Maria shrugged at me, as clueless as I was in the mystical art of wooden dividers.

"C'mon, Fischer," Barry said. "I'll show you how to do it. Maria can learn from Roger."

I smiled at her as I followed Barry, and she grinned back, giving me a quick wave.

***

By the time the sun had crested the horizon, half of the fence was erected.

"Alright, you guys may have had a point about my previous work," I admitted.

Roger gave me an unreadable look.

"Does that mean you're willing to admit your fence looked like sh—"

Maria slapped his arm.

"Play nice."

He turned his unimpressed face toward his daughter, and I laughed.

"I'll freely admit the fence wasn't the best, but hey, it wasn't the worst for a bloke that's never built one before."

We stood in the shade of a tree by the edge of my forest, having a quick break.

Roger and Maria had worked up a sweat in the day's heat, but Barry and I, having been on the receiving end of some otherworldly System shenanigans, were unaffected.

"There you are," a feminine voice called.

I turned to see Sharon and Helen walking along the treeline with trays in hand. Paul walked behind them, all his attention focused on the pitcher and cups in his hands.

From the corner of my eye, I watched Roger; the way his face transformed at seeing his wife was magical.

I hadn't seen a smile from him all morning, yet at a single glance of his beloved wife, hard lines melted, and corners of his mouth relaxed, curling up.

"Finally, some good company," he said. "Maria and I have been boxed in by buffoons all day."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Roger! Was that a joke? If you're not careful, people might assume you're having a good time."

The lines on his face firmed again, and Sharon burst into laughter.

"Happy to help," Barry added.

Roger just grunted, which I took to be Roger-speak for, I'm happy to help you any time, my stalwart, handsome, and humble neighbor.

"To show my appreciation, what do you all say we have a little feast tomorrow night? I'd be happy to do it today, but we probably don't have enough time."

Maria and Barry's eyes lit up, and a scowl sprouted on Roger's face.

"I won't be partaking in any heretical food, Fischer."

I held up my hands.

"Who said anything about heretical food? I can make plenty of things that don't involve fish, if that's not to your liking."

"We can all bring something," Maria said, bouncing from foot to foot. "Mom and I can make your favorite stew, dad!"

Roger glanced askew, his face going shrewd.

"... with lamb?"

She nodded.

"Of course! We even bought some of those spices you like from the caravan."

His face calmed.

"I suppose that would be nice..."

"I can bring rum!" Barry said.

We all turned to him.

"You have rum?" I asked. "Where did you get rum?"

He beamed.

"I made it from sugarcane juice. I've been experimenting with it over the last week, and the boys at the forge helped me make a still."

"Hot damn, Barry! I'm not much of a drinker, but who can turn down a glass or two at a celebration?"

Barry nodded his agreement.

"Alright then—it's settled. You guys sort out the food, and I'll handle the drink. I suspect Helen will want to make a dish, too."

I grinned.

"It's a date."

Roger's scowl returned, and he glared at me.

"It is not a date."

"It's a figure of speech, dad," Maria said, rolling her eyes as she grabbed him by the arm. "Come on, let's get back to mom. She'll need a hand with dinner."

***

"Er... Sebastian?"

Sebastian, the leader of the Church of the Leviathan, cleared his throat.

"Uh, Master, I mean," Gary corrected.

"Yes, disciple?"

"It looks like Fischer has put up a fence."

Sebastian stomped to the edge of the roof, narrowing his eyes at the distant structure.

He started laughing. It was soft, fleeting, but it grew as it continued, transforming into an unhinged cackle.

Gary openly winced at his boss's villainous activity.

"Does that mean we should stop trying to summon a—"

"Dare not finish that sentence, Gary!" Sebastian spat, his laughter cutting off in an instant.

"We know not who could be listening to such words."

Gary nodded.

"Yes, boss."

"Besides, do you really think mere wood can keep our plans at bay? A single sheet of thin tree, versus a creature of sheer and utter darkness?"

"I thought you didn't want us to say such words..."

Sebastian blinked at him, then snarled.

"Sit in the circle, Gary! It's time to meditate."

Gary sighed.

"Yes, boss."

***

As the sun set in the sky, the creature emerged from her burrow.

She was still growing into her body, and her instincts knew it was safer to eat when the brightness of the day had disappeared.

Her head poked from the hole, and she froze, watching her surroundings for a long moment.

Seeing no movement, she emerged, bounding twice before freezing again.

This process repeated, and by the time she felt sure of her safety, the sun had left the sky. She was chewing on a blade of grass in the shadow of night when an alluring scent crossed her path.

She stopped, her senses overwhelmed by the smell. She raised her nose up, and it twitched fast as she breathed more of it in.

With how thick it was, she could almost see the trails of scent that called to her. With bounding leaps, and making sure to watch her surroundings, she heeded the call.

Between trunks, over grass and fallen logs, and beneath bushes, she traveled onward.

The smell grew stronger, and as she caught sight of the source, her mouth salivated.

A field of green stalks grew from the ground, the soil below them brown and free of grass. It was surrounded by trees, hidden deep in the forest.

She glanced around, and after seeing no movement, she could control herself no more; she dashed for the stalks, running between them and toward the field's center.

As she was deep in the patch, she bit into a stalk without hesitation.

It was sweet, similar to the dark berries that grow on bushes in the forest.

Losing herself to the flavor, Cinnamon took another bite, absolutely smitten with her grand discovery.