For a single, beautiful second, Duke Elrath sat frozen, his face dripping, his mouth slightly open in shock.
Then.
"GAAAAAAAAAAH…!!"
Courtiers screamed, gagging. A knight fainted. The mage who'd opened the box vomited directly into his own robes.
Elrath shot to his feet, trembling with rage, his once-pristine ermine cloak now a biohazard. "FIND THEM!" he shrieked, voice cracking. "I WILL FLAY THEM ALIVE! I WILL DIP THEM IN ACID! I WILL…."
But halfway through his tantrum, a chunk of something slid off his chin and plopped onto his boot.
The Duke looked down.
And then he vomited too.
On a faraway hill.
The group climbed a gentle ridge, the path ahead lit by the golden hue of a late afternoon sun. Mita squealed with joy as Kaelen bounced her on his back, her legs dangling and arms gripping his neck tight.
Derek glanced over his shoulder and asked, finally unable to hold his curiosity. "Kaelen. What did you actually do back there?"
