Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 21341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 107(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 107(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Maybe Kate is right about not bothering with the costume.
CHAPTER
FIVE
SESSAH
I stand on an icy plain, the wind whipping at my mane as Mardok and Hassen argue in front of me. At my side is my precious mate, shivering despite the many layers of furs she wears. Poor Sam did not realize how cold the brutal season can be until she came to Croatoan with me. She never complains, though, just slips her gloved hand into mine and stands a little closer so I can protect her from the worst of the wind while Mardok and Hassen slow things down.
"I made up a schematic," Mardok says to Hassen again. He holds a rolled-up skin out to the other male. "If we approach the building of the snow maze in an orderly fashion, we'll be more productive. We need to have a plan before we start."
"Why? It is a maze, a twisty path and nothing more." Hassen throws his hands up. "Why do we need to scheme about anything?"
"Schematic! I've said it's a schematic twice now! You're not keffing listening!" He glares at Hassen, who shoots a smirk in our direction even as Mardok frantically unrolls the skin. "Take a look at it, will you?"
Hassen just raises a hand in the air. "I need to see nothing. I know how to make a maze."
"Oh, you do?" I call out. "What is your plan, then?"
Hassen gestures at our surroundings, at the snow that even now drifts over our boots. "We gather snow. And we dig a path until we get lost. Then we dig another. A maze. See?"
"Oh lord," Sam breathes.
"A maze," Mardok says in a slow voice, struggling to reason with Hassen and his dense head, "does not go in a straight line. It has twists and turns. Just digging a tunnel in the snow will not be a fun game."
"It will if I do it."
I smother a laugh behind my hand, because I can tell that Hassen is being deliberate in his foolishness just to tease Mardok, and yet Mardok has not figured this out. He is too serious at all times, Farli's mate, and no doubt Hassen has decided to play with him.
"Maddie's gonna be a widow if this continues on for much longer," Sam murmurs at my side. "Maybe you should step in."
I do not know anything about mazes, but I do know that making Sam happy is the reason I wake up every morning. So I step forward, my hand outstretched. "Show me this skin. I will have a look."
Sam follows after me, her hand brushing down the side of my fur-lined tunic.
"I made a plan last night," Mardok says as I take the skin from him. "If we set up a good base for the maze, we can always improve upon it in the future. It's important to start with the right foundation."
"...or we can just dig holes in the snow and hope for the best," Hassen chimes in.
I eye the unrolled skin and...now I am confused. Covering the skin are drawings of lines everywhere, squares upon squares upon squares. I turn it to the side, wondering if I am looking wrong. "What is this?"
"A grid—" Mardok begins.
Sam makes a pained sound. "You want to measure out this entire field in a grid?"
"It would ensure accuracy," Mardok says, voice stiff.
"It's a Halloween maze," Sam protests. "It just needs to be fun, not accurate."
"See?" Hassen says, clapping Mardok on the shoulder. "We go with my plan."
"No," both Mardok and Sam say at the same time.
"You have an idea, my heart?" I ask my mate. Normally I would not volunteer Sam for anything. She is not shy, but she does not like attention. She does not like the eyes of others upon her, because she does not always trust their motives. Back with my people, however, she has relaxed quite a bit. It helps that I have known all of them for many hands of seasons. There are no strangers here, not even Mardok. In fact, Sam is the stranger. It is very different from Icehome Beach, where newcomers seem to appear regularly.
She feels safer here. More relaxed.
I will go wherever she pleases, but a small part of me is glad that she enjoys Croatoan. My parents are glad to have all three of their sons near them, and my brothers Rokan and Aehako have their families here, too.
Well, right now Rokan and his mate Li-lah have taken their kits to visit Icehome Beach. But they will return soon enough, and definitely in time for the birth of our kit.
Our kit.
Just the thought staggers me, and the skin in front of my eyes blurs.
"It's a maze for little kids," Sam says. "We need to keep it small and friendly. We don't want anyone feeling claustrophobic or scared. It's meant to be fun. I think you've got some good ideas here, Mardok, but what you have might be too complicated."