The Gift of Volkeye (42 page)

As she wrapped each plant in soft cloth, placing them in individual boxes, she realized that, in this instance, she wasn’t really preparing purchased merchandise for a customer. Instead, this was the first step in packing for a move to her new home…wherever it was. If she had the foresight to witness this moment, years before, Ya Minj would’ve thought herself mad. However, for all the absurdity of the situation, she could do naught but smile.

2

Zynathian had been frantically searching for at least three quarters of an hour and had seen hair, nor hide of a gigantic beast. But he did encounter many strange ones, all of which he’d done a study on at some point in his life. The one Ya Minj spoke of, however, sounded like something unusual, because she would’ve told him exactly what to look for otherwise. After all, she was a scientist and would’ve known its breed and all other sorts of distinctive details.

He cut through a thick patch of wandering shoppers, suddenly stopping and running his hands through his hair as desperation seized him. He didn’t just want to retrieve the plants because he knew he’d be missing out on one of the most profound studies of his life, but he so eagerly sought them mostly because Ya Minj had been in tears over them. It would not do to disappoint her so early in their relationship.

Zynathian spun about in a circle, eyes quickly skimming his surroundings. He stood on his tiptoes and jumped up and down, peering over the heads of taller people. Nothing. Angry and disappointed, he went to lean against a beam nearby and let loose a flurry of loud curses that gained the attention of all in the vicinity.

“Mind your business!” he spat.

Just as Zynathian began to accept defeat, he was startled out of his mind. He turned white as a ghost and scurried away from the beam, which had just spoke in a raspy growl.

“Excuse me, mate…do ya’ mind?” it asked, irritably.

Once he was several feet away, Zynathian spun around, eyes running from the webbed feet all the way up to the huge blue eyes. He was astonished for he’d never before come into contact with a creature this large that was actually intelligent. In his experience, beasts of this size were usually exactly that—
beasts
. However, this one here defied all that he knew. Zynathian was certain that he’d found
him
. It was unmistakable, even with the hooded black cloak, hiding most of his body.

“Pardon my rudeness, I thought…”

“…That me wuz’ a wall, me knows,” he said with a chuckle. “Whatcha’ looking for, matey? Ya’ seem upset about somethin’.”

“I was looking for you, actually,” Zynathian said observing the large box in the beast’s arms.

“Me?”

“This is going to sound really funny, but I was wondering if I could buy back those plants from you? My fiancé, Ya Minj, thought that she really needed the money at the time and…”

Zynathian was cut off as a loud voice bellowed from the innards of the box.

“FIANCÉ…WHAT!?” it asked. “Mawg, who is this person?”

Maugrimm lifted the flaps on the side of the wooden box to reveal two large, sandy brown eyes gazing at Zynathian. Its vine shaped body wiggled about with agitation as Maugrimm removed them from inside. With accusatory eyes, he looked at Zynathian and huffed: “Who the hell are you?”

“You must be Khyetarah?” Zynathian smiled.

“Yeah, what’s it to ya’? And why are you going around lying, telling people that you’re engaged to my mom?”

“It’s a long story…”

“So she wants ‘em back, huh?” Maugrimm interrupted, sighing. “I just wanted some company is all.”

Zynathian sighed, seeing that he’d upset Maugrimm with this.

“Why? She needs the money. It’s not like we won’t see her again…Maugrimm agreed to let us visit her once a month. Of course we’d all much rather have not been sold, but Maugrimm here ain’t too bad a guy. He’s damn funny and gives us plenty of food!”

“Me ain’t never seen anything eat a foot-long, cheese dog as fast as this little guy…almost took me damn fingers off, he did!”

“Oh…well, Ya Minj doesn’t need the money anymore and…I don’t know…maybe we can all work something out,” Zynathian said, looking at Maugrimm. “Again, forgive my rudeness, but…would you mind taking off your cloak, so I can get a better look at you?”

Maugrimm scratched his head at the odd request but agreed. He sat Khyetarah and his friends on the ground then pulled the cloak off. He walked out of the shadows, so Zynathian could see him clearly.

“My god!” was the response he got, as the man observed his magnificent bone structure and horned body.

“For the third time, forgive my terrible manners…but
what
exactly are you?”

“Me ain’t gotta’ clue, mate.”

“Where do you come from?

“The sea—in the really cold parts where the water is frozen over.”

“Have you a family?”

“None that me can remember.”

Zynathian stood in silence a moment, shocked that he’d found something even more wondrous than the acclaimed
Khyetarah Vyx Mune and friends
! He realized that it must’ve been sadness from selling her most precious creations (not to mention, the cloak), which had led Ya Minj’s notice of Maugrimm’s beauty to slip by her.

In her line of work, she surely would’ve acknowledged such a thing…under normal circumstances,
Zynathian thought.

“No family? Any friends?”

“Yeah, there’s Belch. He likes to cook, and he’s always thought about opening up a restaurant, but he can’t seem to find a decent spot yet…And, on occasion, there’s a woman in me life, but me’s really good at screwing up relationships! It’s especially difficult right now, because me’s in-between homes...last girlfriend kicked me out!”

“Oh, sorry to hear that. So if you haven’t a place to stay at present, where will you and the plants be sleeping until you find a new home, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Khyetarah and his friends reared their heads with this question, hoping Maugrimm had a decent answer, as he hadn’t relayed this important detail to them. They were born outdoors, so it wasn’t as if they were incapable of sleeping outside, but they much preferred not to, having been spoiled by Ya Minj’s hospitality.

“Haven’t figured it out yet, mate.”

Khyetarah Vyx Mune sighed. “Oh hell, that’s just wonderful!”

“Now don’t get your panties all in a bundle there, matey, I’ll figure something out.”

“Well perhaps we can all help each other,” Zynathian said with interest, hoping his idea would work. “Ya Minj is going to come and stay with me, and since she’s going to miss you all so terribly…perhaps you all and Maugrimm could come as well for a while. It would be a great chance to get to know each other, and then sharing the plants won’t be any hassle at all.”

Zynathian paused, contemplating one more incentive to nudge Maugrimm in the right direction.

“Also, if you do this for me…I will build your new home for you exactly where and how you want it, brick by brick.”

Their jaws dropped open as they stared at Zynathian.

“You’re serious?” Maugrimm said. “What kinda’ work do ya’ do that allows ya’ so much money?”

Zynathian took off his backpack and pulled out two more canvas sacks of Arhyz. Though each was only a third of the size of the one he gave Ya Minj, it was still a ridiculous amount of money to be carrying around.

“I’ll explain that later, once we’re home,” he threw one of the small bags at Maugrimm and put the other away. “That’s just for safekeeping…you interested?”

“Deal!” Maugrimm said, noticing Khyetarah express his relief. He too found Zynathian’s offer irresistible.

Zynathian scooped up Khyetarah and the others in his arms. “Excellent! Let’s make our way back to Ya Minj!”

Zynathian turned around, near running smack into his fiancé. She was breathing heavily with beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. It was clear that she thought Zynathian was lying about dead somewhere, ripped limb-from-limb at Maugrimm’s hands.

“Where the hell have you been, mister? I…” Her thought cut off as she looked above and saw Maugrimm peering down above Zynathian. “I’m sorry, sir, I just couldn’t bear to part with my plants. Zynathian’s not responsible, please don’t hurt him!” she begged, grabbing Zynathian’s hand and pulling him several paces away. However, she was taken aback as he and Maugrimm bellowed with laughter.

“He’s not going to hurt me, dear. In fact, he and the plants are coming with us.”

“Oh,” she said with uncertainty, looking the massive creature’s body over, noting his beauty for the first time. Ya Minj was skeptical of Zynathian’s plan (whatever it was) because of the sheer size of Maugrimm.

“When you see how big my home is, you’ll not be so worried,” he assured her, facing all of them.

“Though we’ve caught each other’s names from light conversation thus far, let us introduce ourselves properly, for we’re still complete strangers embarking upon a very rare, if not altogether ridiculous, living arrangement,” Zynathian said, motioning for Ya Minj to begin.

She rolled her eyes. “I’m Ya Minj, the fool, who sold her most prized creations and then sought their safe return,” she said, laughing, looking to Khyetarah to see if he was angry with her. His smile told her otherwise.

“Maugrimm…
Mawg
, to me close pals. Me is obviously a much stranger creature than most are used to meetin’. Everybody thinks something like me is s’posed to be dangerous, stupid, or both!” he spat in jovial manner. “You guys ain’t no exception…hell, me bets you’re surprised that me can even talk, ain’t ya’!”

Zynathian and Ya Minj turned red in the face at his accusations.

“Bauba…Toku…Eyeadore,” the three other plants added.

“I, the most exceptional mind in all of mankind, am Zynathian—
Brain of a God
—Volkeye!” he boasted.

They all got a chuckle out of this, and Khyetarah, realizing that he wasn’t the only comedian amongst them, took his turn.

“And I, the most unique plant in all creation, am the devilishly handsome, incredibly suave, mackin’ on all the ladies, pimp-daddy, Khyetarah Vyx Mune…and don’t you forget it!” he said, swelling with pride.

“You should go into standup, you little smart ass!” Ya Minj bent down and kissed him. “I thought I’d lost you all forever.”

“Have no fear, all is well, mom.” Khyetarah winked at her.

She smiled and stood waiting on Zynathian’s next move, as did they all. Finally…

“Well, Maugrimm, if you have everything you need, I suppose we’ll head to Ya Minj’s tent, wherever it is, and help her pack the rest of her things.”

“Let’s do it,” Maugrimm replied.

As they began to make their way through the crowd, they were startled by sudden cries. A crowd fenced in the spectacle, making it difficult to see. Deciding they would investigate, Maugrimm elbowed his way through people. Zynathian followed with Ya Minj and the plants.

Upon arrival, they found that a vicious brawl had ensued, involving two Zebra-striped creatures and a muscular black man, who appeared to be protecting his wife. She stood off to the side with her hands clasped over her mouth, watching the horrid event.

“You don’t take what you please from me…especially not my wife!” the man roared between a flurry of kicks and punches.

Zynathian noticed the man wasn’t speaking to those he was fighting, but his rebuke was directed towards a tall, bald man with a unibrow, standing off to the side. Several monstrosities flanked the man, and a wicked grin lay upon his face as if he knew victory was already his.

Zynathian shivered with unease as he gazed upon the man’s unibrow and other features. He looked so very like someone from his past! He pushed the thought from his mind, for it brought back horrid visions of the murder and bloodshed that consumed his late teenage years. Those events were only fourteen years past and still heavy on his heart. Zynathian had no desire to revisit them. Instead he focused on the matter at hand.

“Two on one, with five more standing off to the side! How is that fair?” Zynathian rubbed his goatee in dismay. “He’s only trying to protect his wife! I wonder what they tried to do to her?” he asked angrily, unable to completely divert his attention away from the strange man, wondering what his last name was.

Khyetarah also had in interest in the bald man with the unibrow. “Who is this clown?” he asked.

“Oh, he’s an awful man,” Ya Minj insisted, “he’s been coming around my shop twice a day for the last few weeks, ever since we set up camp here. Today, however, there were three visits from him, the last of which was right before you arrived, Zynathian. All he does is stare at me and whisper in the ears of the striped ones out there fighting now,” she told them.

The people in the crowd were becoming more unruly by the second, throwing bits of Arhyz in the air, placing their bets on the match. The fighting husband was not getting very good odds. He grimaced as a blow landed in his back left side, bruising his ribs.

Ya Minj and Maugrimm continued talking.

“Yeah, me heard of ‘em. The last name is
‘Xyecah’
methinks,” Maugrimm said.