Tales From a Second Hand Wand Shop- Book 1: They Were the Best of Gnomes. They Were the Worst of Gnomes.
Page 74
“Take a right at the intersection!” Offered Drimblerod again as he directed the puffing Nulu through the maze that was the backstreets of Aution. “That’s the quickest way out of town and the buildings are not as tall!” Once already, Grimbledung had to put out Door where a large piece of flaming wood had fallen on it.
“Rat!” Called Grimbledung again as he looked back from the wagon. He was not only keeping an eye out for Rat, but was also making sure the wagon didn’t catch fire again, “RAT WHERE ARE YOU!?”
“Grim! Up here!” Came a voice from above. Grimbledung looked up and running along the gutter of the building was Rat, “I’ve been trying to catch up for almost two blocks! For the sake of Vera’s Toes, tell that crazy Trolless to stop running for a moment!”
“Nulu, stop. Rat found us!” Grimbledung called to the front of the wagon. Panting, Nulu came to a stop. “It’s about time.”
“What are you complaining about?” Asked Drimblerod, “You’ve only been running not even 300 paces or so. Don’t be a Trolling.”
Nulu turned to glower at Drimblerod. She roughly dropped the tongue of the wagon, “You wanna pull the wagon? I’m not built to pull a wagon. I’m built to look good and run a Bar and Restaurant.” She looked down at her hands. Looking up, she narrowed her eyes at him, “I broke a nail.”
Drimblerod sat back in his seat. “Now Nulu, you’re doing a great job. Really.
“Let’s let Rat get up there and you can ride in back. Nice and cozy.”
“And I lost my business.”
“We’ll get you set back up. Promise!” He offered as Nulu moved by the wagon. Even with him sitting up on the back of the seat, they were eye to eye as she went past. “I promise!” He said again.
Rat moved to the front of the wagon as Grimbledung quickly jumped down and transformed the rodent. Quickly, he slipped the harness on the newly transfigured RatShambler. He gave a thumbs up sign to his partner and ran to the back of the wagon.
“Okay! Everyone on and we’re going to make it out of town in record time.” RatShambler shook his dingy coat and flicked his half tail. “Say when!”
Grimbledung rolled onto the back of the wagon beside Nulu. “When!” He called. With a lurch, RatShambler was at a gallop.
“You sure you are alright?” Pozzuoli asked again. “You don’t sound so good.”
“No. It has passed now. I guess that stupid Grimbledung didn’t know what he was doing after all. I’ll be fi ...” Sign exploded into an inferno. Within moments, the wall was crackling with flames.
“THOSE GNOMES!” Howled Pozzuoli, “THOSE CONNIVING GNOMES! Mamma! We need to go!” He called as he tried in vain to put out the now engulfed wall. In a moment of benevolence, he took a broom and knocked open all the lanterns. “Get out of here Pixies!” He shoo-ed the very relieved Pixies towards the door with the bristle end. “Go Pixies!! Mamma!” He called up at the ceiling. “Time to go!”
Already, Mamma Pozzuoli was moving down the stairs, “Don’t wait for me. Get on the Shambler!” She called as she huffed and puffed down the stairs.
When she got there, her husband reached down and swung her onto the back of the saddle. “Andiamo!”
With a kick of his heels, their trusty Green Shambler, Andiamo, took to a gallop. “Drimblerod and Grimbledung. Just you wait,” muttered Pozzuoli to himself.