by Gavin Green
***
Stout fingers ran along the screen of the computer monitor, testing the texture of the strange surface. Kazimir couldn't understand humans and their strange magic, nor did he care to learn. Some of their ways were just too alien, and he usually had better things to do.
He looked over at Gideon, who was leafing through a journal at the desk. Kazimir leaned back in the office chair as it groaned under his weight, looking around at the feminine décor of the bedroom. He sighed at being so out of his element. "So, Gideon," he finally said with his rough voice, interrupting the other's investigation, "it concerns me to see you scouring through a girl's journal like an insecure suitor. Surely you didn't ask me here for advice on romancing a human?"
Gideon stopped his perusal. "What?" He turned to Kazimir. "No, of course not brother; I care for the girl in only a protective sense, I do. I only be making sure nothing... out of sorts be making its way in to lil' Jane's diary, I tell ya true." He shut the book and turned to the big morpher. "Me request to chat with ye had to do with keeping her safe."
Kazimir frowned. "As I told someone earlier, I'm not the one to carry out sentry duties, little brother. For you or another brother or sister, I might agree to it. But not for a human, no matter how special she might be."
The small morpher shook his head as he said, "That not be my intent, brother; I know ye you’re your freedom to meet challenges and uphold yourgood name, I surely do. I only be askin' that ye keep any words of lil' Jane away from others' ears, I would. Like I be sayin', protective, I am."
"Are you sure that is all that makes you ask this?"
Gideon nodded his head solemnly. "She be just an innocent, brother. No longer a child is she, but not of age for wisdom… as much as her kind can have, anyway."
Kazimir sat forward, which made the chair groan again. "Have no fear, friend Gideon. Besides the elder Aldritch, I had no intentions of bartering that information out."
"I ask ya kindly," Gideon said with a hopeful smile, "not even to his ears would her story reach, I be askin' of ye."
With mild surprise, Kazimir asked, "Not even him? I believe Aldritch has some sort of investment with this household. I am sure he has no dark heart for any here."
Gideon wrung his hands. "I know, brother Kazimir, I surely do. But that elder's motive's be remainin' all his own, they do. And me not knowin' of such, I be worryin' that he might be usin' lil' Jane's gift for a benefit that not be her own, says I."
Before Kazimir could answer, they heard the mother and daughter enter the house downstairs, with conversations being had between them and the man of the home.
The big morpher stood and looked back at Gideon, with his frizzy hair, handsome sheep horns, and worried face. Kazimir gave a small grin and nod. "Concern yourself no longer, brother. While I had planned to barter her story to the elder dryad, I can easily sell him another story." He straightened his heavy fur vest. "I'll take my leave of you now, but I will not be far should the magistrate trouble you again, at least for a while."
Gideon stood and bowed. "Right kind of ye, brother, it is, says I."
Kazimir made a few strides toward the bedroom door, but then stopped and turned around. "And in the business of keeping safe, keep yourself away from the holder of the lakeside cottage to the north; else you might be a pot of lamb stew over that man's fire."
