Page 67 of The Knucker King

Trewoofe huffed before stuffing the two ash cakes into his mouth to free up a hand. He reached and popped the cork off the jar. He carefully tipped some powder into his broth before placing it back on the shelf. He swirled the bowl, dissolving the powder, and gulped at the mixture, using it to wash the ash cakes down.

He let out a sigh, his belly pleasantly full. “Much better.”

“That is good!” Ashling exclaimed.

Trewoofe tidied up after himself, sealing the jar and placing the bowl on table. “What now?”

“You should probably rest more. You have been through a lot, after all.”

He pouted. “I do not want to rest yet. I would like to do something.”

Ashling bobbed in the air. “What would you like to do?”

Trewoofe considered the question, casting his gaze around the cosy cottage.

“I would like to help Avice; she has done much for me these past…” He frowned. “How long was I sleeping for?”

“Three full days.”

“Nature’s blessing!” he cursed, scrubbing his face with his hand. He paused for a moment, before scratching his claw tips against the stubble growing there. “That is new.” He glanced down at the rest of his body and wiggled his toes. “All of it is new…”

“Lord, are you alright?” Ashling asked.

Trewoofe tapped his claw to his chin. “Yes, I am. I think that I need to be educated on being human, and I would also like to help my little witch.”

Ashling floated for a moment, his flames swirling. Trewoofe watched as his light flickered from blue to purple and back again.

“I have an idea!” He flitted to the basket by the door and landed neatly on the handle. “You can clean her clothes from yesterday. Avice does not like the chore. Last time, she bullied the Pillywiggins into doing it.”

Trewoofe snorted. “I am surprised she could get them to do anything.”

“She is very scary when she wants to be!” The Wisp bounced up and down. “Come, come!”

He moved carefully through the room and peered into the basket. He picked out the cloak within and held it up. He recoiled at the sight and smell. The front of the garment had been shredded, and it reeked of Tall Ones.

Trewoofe’s heart caught in his throat. “What happened to her?”

“She did not mention it, but it looks like she was attacked in the Underneath.”

He seethed, pulling his lips back in a snarl. “Attacked? How dare they! I will rip them limb from limb.”

“Lord…?”

Trewoofe stayed rooted to the spot, trying to swallow down the rage he felt. It took every scrap of his self-control to not burst out of the cottage, shift back into his Knucker body, and reap his fury onto them.

Ashling floated over to his extended hand and landed on his knuckle. “Lord, would you still like to have human lessons? I have had another idea.”

He blinked down at the Wisp. “Yes, I apologise. Please, tell me your plan.”

“Avice does not want you wandering around without clothing. Perhaps, seeing as this cloak is ruined, you could clean it, and make it into a tunic for yourself to wear?”

Trewoofe glanced down at himself, he knew he was a mess, more linen than skin and running around with a scrap of material around his hips.

“You can teach me this?” he asked. “And it would help Avice?”

“Yes, and yes,” Ashling chimed. “Follow me, I can show you how!”

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