Part 9 (2/2)
George watched as Payne did as he was told. The little guy held his head low as he settled on the steps. Once the fairy-demon's wings rested against his back, George turned to look at Kepler's motionless form. ”I think it's a bad idea to walk up on a jaguar when his pride is hurt. I don't think he wants to be asked if he's okay.”
Athena squeezed George's arm. ”But he's not moving.”
”I know. Let's give him a bit.”
After a moment, Payne began to antagonize Kepler from the steps. ”La, la, la, Payne think Kitty won't call Payne Freak no more!”
George pointed. ”Don't say anything else.”
”But-”
”Not another word!”
Slowly, George approached the giant cat. ”Kep, you okay?”
” Ugggggh ... my head. I hate that freak.”
”You scared me,” Athena said as she shoved past George. ”Let me have a look at you.” She squatted near his jaw and used the bottom of her dress to wipe his nose. ”You'll be okay. You have a nasty cut, but it's nothing some healing mud won't fix. You're going to look frightful for a few Peaks.”
George studied the wall. ”Kep, look at the huge dent you put in my house. I can see the outline of your face.”
”Not funny, George. Do you see me laughing? I hate that little freak.”
”I get it, I get it. You don't like him.”
”No! You don't get it. He's going to drive me insane. Take me back to Grayham if you're going to allow him to stay. I could be lying in my pa.s.s without irritation. I could be devouring people in peace.”
George was caught off guard. He did not expect Kepler to react this way. He had a decision to make-it was either Payne or Kepler, and he needed to choose now. ”I'll tell Payne to go. Your friends.h.i.+p is more important to me than he is. Just give me a moment, okay?”
”Fine. I'll be inside with Athena.” The giant cat brushed past George, and then he strolled past Payne without a glance. After squeezing through the frame, the door of the home slammed behind him.
Payne cringed.
George took a knee beside the fairy-demon. ”I'm sorry, but I've got to say this. I don't want you around any longer. I can't afford to have a goswig that doesn't listen. You need to leave.”
”Payne no go. Payne be really, really, really gooder. I like here. Um, and ... Athena gooder to Payne.”
”I understand, little guy, but you don't listen, and you're creating problems. I'm sorry, but you have to go. Goodbye.” George shook his head and went inside with Athena.
Payne stood on the steps and stared at the heavy wooden door. Tears began to flow from the corners of his eyes. An agonizing series of moments pa.s.sed before he lowered his head and vanished.
George and Kepler appeared in Brayson's office a little while later. The left side of Kepler's head was swollen. The brown healing mud Athena had administered stuck out like a sore thumb on his thick, black fur.
”What happened to you?” Brayson asked as he stood from his desk. He closed a large, heavily bound book and walked across the room.
Kepler responded with a grunt and moved to a comfortable spot to lie down.
”A wall hit him,” George responded.
”What do you mean?”
”It's a long story.”
”Where's Payne?”
”I told him to go home. He's more trouble than he's worth.”
Brayson sighed. ”Too bad. I'm not surprised you couldn't handle him. He could've been an a.s.set to your growth. He could've been the strongest goswig on Luvelles. If you're unable to control him, it's best you found out now.”
George rolled his eyes. ”I could've handled him. The problem isn't me. It's the relations.h.i.+p between Payne and Kepler. I was put in a position of choosing, so I chose the one I knew I could count on.”
Brayson thought a moment as he looked out the window to the land below. ”Loyalty is important. But if you're able to handle Payne, then Kepler needs to try harder. As I said, the fairy-demon could be useful.”
Kepler snarled. ”I can't stand the freak. I won't travel with him.”
Brayson smiled. ”When you met George, did you like him at first?”
”No, but he was easier to stomach.”
Brayson nodded in a fatherly manner. ”I'm sure he was, but look at you now. Your relations.h.i.+p has grown, and two friends have appeared before me, choosing each other's friends.h.i.+p over any other. If you take the moments necessary, perhaps, just perhaps, you could find a similar relations.h.i.+p with Payne.”
”I doubt it,” Kepler sneered.
The Head Master moved to the jaguar to look closely at his face. Kepler winced as Brayson touched a sore spot, and then the Head Master went to a bookcase at the center of the room. He removed a small vial. Opening the lid, he motioned for the cat to open his mouth. He poured a drop of the potion under Kepler's ma.s.sive tongue. It was only a short series of moments before the swelling began to reduce.
Brayson watched as the last cut on the jaguar's face mended. ”I trust that feels better?”
”Yes ... much. Thank you.”
George spread Kepler's fur to study the cat's skin. ”There's no scar. I've never seen anything like it. He healed in a matter of moments. How's that possible?”
Master Id handed George a different vial. ”The healers in Floren are the best at what they do. You'll find no stronger magical cures than what they possess. If you have a pulse, they can fix you. I want you to keep this vial with you. It's not as powerful as what I've given Kepler, but it will do the job. It will take longer for its effects to work. The vial I possess is rare and I don't wish to part with it. You'll need something to keep Kepler healthy. You'll need it, because I'm not going to allow you to abandon Payne.”
”What?” Kepler growled. ”I said I won't travel with that freak.”
Brayson looked Kepler in the eyes and moved within a hand of the deadly beast's snout. He spoke with authority. ”You're going to find a way to get along with Payne. This conversation is over, and the matter is settled.”
Kepler tried to object, but found his ability to argue had been stripped. The giant cat could only watch as Brayson waved his hand across one of the windows. ”Seek Payne,” he commanded. A moment later, the window zoomed in on the fairy-demon's position. He was sitting on top of George's house, waiting for the mage to come out. ”George, take a look.”
George moved to the window. ”I can't believe it. Kep, come look at this. The little b.a.s.t.a.r.d hasn't left.”
Brayson waved his hand to release his magic, allowing the cat to speak. ”So what? Just give him enough moments. He'll go away. That's what freaks do.”
Brayson moved across the room and took a seat behind his desk. After putting his feet up, he looked at Kepler. ”You need to change your att.i.tude. You're not getting out of this. You're going to learn to work together.”
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