Book 2: Chapter 125 (1/2)

“That’s a cake?” Emile asked, his eyes widening.

“Yup,” Vur said as he walked over to Tafel’s side, transforming back into a human. “It’s for Tafel. Just like this whole party.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Happy late-for-this-year-but-early-for-next-year birthday! Let’s go to the center of the plaza.”

“This party was for me?” Tafel asked, blinking hard as Vur pulled her along.

“Uh-huh.” Vur nodded. “I tried to get you a star as a present too, but it got really hard to breathe and I fainted before I could reach them, so I decided to gift you the continent instead. Do you like it?”

“You didn’t have to,” Tafel said and bit her lower lip. She smiled and hugged Vur. “I like it. I like it a lot.” Her nose crinkled, and she drew her head back. “But please, rinse out your mouth with something.”

“I have just the thing!” Minerva said, lifting a barrel with her talons.

“Something not from her,” Tafel said, staring into Vur’s eyes.

Minerva flapped her wings as she hopped towards them on one foot. “What? You don’t trust my taste? Who was the one that adopted you, huh? Huh?”

Tafel sighed as she released Vur and patted Emile’s head. “You had it rough.”

“Not really,” Emile said, blinking at his mom. “I’ve never seen Mom like this before. Alcohol’s evil. I knew it.”

“If alcohol’s evil, then call me a midget!” a dwarf shouted from off to the side. Vur walked over and took a drink off the table, rinsing his mouth with it.

“You’re a midget,” Emile said, sticking his beak into the air while looking down on the dwarf.

“Eh!? What did you just call me?” the dwarf asked as he lumbered to his feet. “I’ll have you know I’m tall for a dwarf!”

“See? It poisons the mind,” Emile said and nodded at Tafel, ignoring the dwarf.

“Excuse me?” the dwarf asked as he tromped up to Tafel, his face bright red. “I’ll have you know, alcohol makes my wit sharper! My fingers become faster! The words come out easier! The—wait, am I arguing with a bird?”

“Not just any bird,” Emile said, puffing his chest out. “A phoenix.”

The dwarf scratched his beard and raised an eyebrow. “I thought penguins were taller than that.”

Emile hissed. “I said phoenix!”

“Eh….” The dwarf picked his ear with his pinky, pulling out a glob of earwax. “I have more important things to do than arguing with a penguin. There’s supposed to be a coronation ceremony today for the new king. I have to prepare myself to flatter him. I hope he’s as simple as our previous king.” The dwarf smiled and hiccoughed. “See you around, talking penguin.”

“I’m never going to drink,” Emile said, his beak hanging open. The dwarf staggered back to his seat and sipped on his tankard.

“That’s a good resolution,” Tafel said with a nod. “Don’t grow up to be like our mother, got it?”

“Nonsense! I’m an excellent role model,” Minerva said, her voice slurred. “Anyone who says otherwise is a cow.”