Free The Grimjinx Rebellion by Brian Farrey Page B

medallion that sparkled with magic.
    â€œIs please to be eating, Bright Eyes.”
    Ahead, Gobek’s pained voice rose above the sounds of the creatures. Kneeling, I squinted and looked around until I spotted Gobek near the center of the room. He was holding a tray of food, standing in front of a cage smaller than the rest.
    â€œIs good food,” he said. “Is healthy food. Is not healthy not to eat.”
    No response.
    â€œIs upset. Gobek is knowing how to fix that. Is watching Gobek, Bright Eyes.”
    Gobek set the tray down. His greasy flesh folded in on itself and, a moment later, he was a dweek—a giant, furry worm with a single eye at one end. The dweek wrapped itself into a coil, like a spring, and began bouncing back and forth between the ceiling and floor.
    That did the trick. I heard a soft giggle. A familiar giggle. I moved closer and finally saw Aubrin sitting in the cage. She leaned against the bars as the dweek changed back into Gobek.
    â€œIs smiling,” Gobek said, his teeth clenched. He moaned.
    Aubrin reached out to him. “You’re hurt.”
    Gobek waved his hand. “Is always hurting. Is not to worry, Bright Eyes.”
    â€œPlease let me out, Gobek,” Aubrin whispered, flashing him her smile weapon.
    Gobek looked unsure. “Is difficult, Bright Eyes. Is up to Overlord.”
    Overlord?
    â€œGobek!”
    A chill tickled my back. The voice had come from the far side of the room. I curled up into a ball, keeping one eye on Gobek. A tall figure stepped into the shadows and towered over the Creche’s caretaker.
    â€œThe gaolglobes are howling,” the Overlord said. “Find out why.”
    I knew the voice. But I couldn’t place where I’d heard it before. I squinted at the tall silhouette in the darkness, trying to get a better look.
    Gobek sighed. “Is always howling. Is set off by tiny things. Gobek is thinking gaolglobe magic is not very good.”
    The Overlord roared. “Go!”
    Gobek turned his large, sorrowful eyes toward Aubrin. “Is having learned her lesson, Overlord. Is maybe time to return her to other seers, yes?”
    â€œShe should have thought of that before she tried to start a rebellion with the other seers.”
    I had to stifle a laugh. So that’s why Aubrin had been removed from the seer dormitory. She’d done what any Grimjinx would have done: rallied the oppressed and tried to revolt. I’d never been more proud of my sister.
    â€œAnd she still refuses to share her prophecies with us,” the Overlord continued. The silhouette shifted, stepping forward into the light to reveal a man. The candlelight reflected off his bald pate and a twisted face I’d tried very hard to forget over the last year.
    It was Xerrus.
    I could still picture his sanctum at the top of the Onyx Fortress in Splitscar Gorge. Bubbling cauldrons, balanx skeletons, and cages filled with creatures he’d fused together using forbidden magic. The fact he was here meant I’d been right. He’d been working for the Palatinate the whole time.
    Xerrus walked slowly around Aubrin’s cage. “But I think I’ve found a solution. One that will make her much more cooperative. You see, child, I once tried melding two creatures into one. It proved more difficult than I first thought. Then I turned my attention to making creatures out of pure magical energy. Gobek was my first real success. He made me realize that anything is possible.”
    Xerrus dropped to one knee quickly and pressed his face up against the bars. Aubrin didn’t even blink. “And I’ve been thinking: maybe I gave up on my initial experiments too quickly. Maybe there is still a benefit in fusing two creatures. How docile you’d be if I combined you with, say, a hedgewump.”
    Gobek’s slimy hands shook. “Is not necessary, Overlord. Gobek is knowing that Bright Eyes will be good girl.”
    Xerrus lashed out,