“Because it does,” Trolzor said.
Svenn waved him off and started toward the stage.
Mulrox sat stunned, staring after the slug.
“Rodenia. Svenn knows Rodenia?”
“Yes, she’s a challenge, isn’t she?”
Mulrox practically fell off his stool.
“Wait, you too? How? When?”
Trolzor smiled and slapped him across the back. “It’s almost three. Aren’t you going to be late?”
He was. He had to get home but…
“You can interrogate us anytime. You have an appointment to keep.”
Mulrox shook his head but got up from the bar.
“We’ll talk about this later,” Mulrox threatened. He waved goodbye to the others and slipped out of the Slobber and Snore as Svenn launched into his first song.
* * *
Yahgurkin was waiting for him in her sword garden. Her giant sun hat cast a wide shadow so that Mulrox almost didn’t see the small, hooded rodent who stood next to Geraldine.
“Where were you?” Rodenia asked as Mulrox joined them. “If you’re late, I don’t have to do it. I’ve decided that those are the rules.”
Geraldine licked the squirrel on the back of her head, right between her ears.
“Toad, please!” Rodenia huffed. She smoothed out her fur once more. “This is ridiculous. The realms should stay sealed. Sounous on one side. Veralby on the other.”
Rodenia pointed a finger at Mulrox. “You of all ogres should know how much trouble this could bring. Do you know how hard it was finding those waxwings? Closing all the little holes. I don’t know how you convinced me to do this.”
“Because you owe us,” Yahgurkin said.
The squirrelmonk frowned, and her nose wrinkled in frustration, but she said nothing more. “It’s only once a month,” Mulrox said.
“Once a month, he says,” Rodenia muttered. She pulled the golden walnut from her cloak and then caressed it several times. “Irresponsible. Despicable.”
“Rodenia, do you know Svenn?”
“The slug?” she asked.
Mulrox nodded.
“Of course I know Svenn. Everyone knows Svenn. He’s a slug with six fingers! What a ridiculous question.”
“And Trolzor?”
Rodenia shrugged.
Yahgurkin looked at Mulrox, then back to Rodenia.
“They said they knew you.”
“People say all sorts of things. Now, are we doing this?” Rodenia asked. “You can trade a visit for information. I’m fine with that.”
“No,” Yahgurkin said. “Tree-with-frog-legs has new branches he promised to show me.”
Rodenia sighed. But she chucked the walnut into the air above her head. It hung in midair, as though wedged in mud, the air rippling around it.
Rodenia took hold of the walnut and, with one fluid movement, pulled forward. A small square of the world swung open, revealing a brilliant green hill with a lavender sky. It was empty, except a few lone butterflies wobbling amidst the waving grass.
“Where are they?” Mulrox asked.
“I suppose we’re a little late, but I thought Toad at least would wait a couple minutes.”
“I told you this was a mistake,” Rodenia said. She scampered up to the portal and stuck her head through, peering around. “Never make a date with a malcognito. They are the absolute wor—”
A torrent of malcognitos and logosophilos shot through the portal. They tackled the squirrelmonk and then hoisted her up onto their shoulders, passing her around on their backs.
“Greetings!” called a familiar singsong voice.
“Yvwi!” Yahgurkin called.
The squirrelmonk extracted herself from the malcognitos, getting to her feet and dusting off her cloak. “Enjoy your little reunion,” the rodent huffed.
* * *
Mulrox and Yahgurkin lay sprawled in the tall grass on the hillside below Mulrox’s house, looking out into the Woods Mercurial. They were staring up at the blue sky as Yvwi and the other ideas flitted in front of them. Geraldine was asleep and snoring between them, and Tork, who always insisted on coming, was busy building something behind one of Yahgurkin’s bushes. They asked her what she was making, but she maintained it was a surprise.
“Have you decided what to do about the letters?” Yahgurkin asked.
“Not yet.”
“Nervous?” Yahgurkin asked.
“No. Not really.”
“You should be! Your parents might be even worse than your ideas!” Yvwi said. “And you nearly destroyed the world when you met us. Your track record is terrible.”
Mulrox swiped at him.
“They may not even be alive. The letters did stop coming.”
“Maybe,” Yahgurkin said. “But I think they’re out there waiting to see you.”
It was almost too much to hope for. “How’s Tabiyeh?” Mulrox asked, turning back toward Yvwi.
“Ahh, you know logosophilos. Keeps to herself. The grinders haven’t gotten over their fear of her, but Toad-springs-eternal has taken her under her wing, much to Tabiyeh’s chagrin, and Death-with-a-kiss has sworn to toughen her up. They’ll make progress. Or not. Who knows?”
Mulrox chuckled.
“Your sword garden is coming along,” Yvwi said, floating over Yahgurkin’s head.
“You think so?” she asked. “Mulrox’s been helping, and I planted those clippings you gave me from Tabiyeh’s garden. The way she did it was all wrong, but she had some amazing specimens. I’ve been dying to carve a dendrool topiary over the path. What do you think? No one else seems to like that idea.”
“It’s no worse than that bloody tooth fungus.”
“I knew you’d agree!” she said. “It’ll be easy.”
They were quiet for a time, happily absorbing the sun and the company before Yahgurkin spoke again.
“Yvwi?”
“Yes?”
“You never told me your real name. Yvwi is your title, isn’t it? Like Tabiyeh’s was?”
“Yes, it’s a title.”
“Well…” she continued. “What is it then? Your real name?”
Yvwi shook his head. “A Yvwi’s true identity is a secret between him and his creator.”
“Oh,” she said. “Okay, I get it…” Yahgurkin’s broad smile faded.
“It’s okay, Yvwi,” Mulrox said. “You can tell her.”
“Really?” she asked. She looked so excited Mulrox almost laughed.
“Are you sure?” Yvwi said. “There’s no unknowing a thing like that.”
“Yes,” Mulrox said. “Tell her.”
“Alright then,” he said and flew down next to Yahgurkin’s ear.
Yahgurkin’s eyes grew wide. “Oh,” she said. “Oh, wow!”
Mulrox began to laugh.
“That’s terrible,” Yahgurkin said. “Really bad.”
“I know,” Mulrox said, his chest bursting with pride.
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About the Author
Kerelyn Smith is a writer of literary, speculative, and children’s fiction. By day she is a software engineer, but she gets up in the wee hours of the morning to write. She lives in Seattle, WA, with her partner and dog, and enjoys hiking, gardening, and overcomplicating things. Mulrox and the Malcognitos is her first novel.
* * *
Find out more at: kerelynsmith.com
Acknowledgments
Thanks to everyone who helped in the creation of the book. This includes a long list of friends, family, teachers, and coworkers who supported, mentored, and put up with me and my endless questions.
Thanks to Jenny Bowman, my wonderful editor, for her careful eye, encouragement, and advice. And to my proofreader, Carlisa Cramer. Your mastery of the language blows me away. I know my book is far better for having had you two a part of it.
Thanks to my cover team, Matt Rockefeller and Tim Barber, for giving me the best cover imaginable. Thanks to Matt for your enthusiasm, professionalism, and amazing ability to bring the novel to life. Thanks to Tim for being a fantastic collaborator and taking the cover to a new level.
Big thanks to my beta readers for their early comments and advice: Michelle and Ming Sun, Sofia and Sydney Eng, Kim Tsuchida, Tim Erickson, Betty Wallace, Harry, Sherry, Sierra, Eowyn, Koan, and Gwynnevere Smith, Greg Ackerman, Sue Young, Kristen Carrillo, Miriam Arkin, and all the others. Thanks to my ARC readers: Debbie Graber, Peter Rock, Paul Coccia, Katy O’Rourke, S.O Thomas, Gabriella Nordson, and more for cheering me on.
And the biggest thanks to my loving family who all played a major role in bringing this book to life. Thanks to my dog, Hubble, for the cuddles and kisses and sighs of exasperation. Thanks to my brother for pushing me to be brave. Also, apologies for giving your children nightmares. Thanks to my parents for being my biggest fans—Mom for always being there to listen and Dad for your limitless encouragement. And to my partner and love my life, Greg. You made this possible. Thank you for being endlessly patient, endlessly brilliant, and always having my back.
I love you all.
Mulrox and the Malcognitos Page 33