Page 54 of Search for the Lost
Crispin tore his gaze away from the bucolic scene. “The Black Forest is the darkest, densest forest in the Connected Worlds, covering over a hundred-thousand acres of rough country.”
Leo finished his sandwich and went for one of the chocolate chip cookies. “Sounds charming.”
Aspin snorted but said nothing.
“It’s decidedly not. It’s also filled with rogue brigands, giant spiders, and lots and lots of WOES.” Crispin shivered. He’d never seen a WOES, but he’d heard its blood-curdling howl.
“Woes? Like sad things?” Leo tilted his head.
“No… W-O-E-S. Wolves of Extraordinary Stature.” Crispin shivered. He’d come this close to being a meal for a pack of them.
Comprehension dawned on Leo’s face. “Oh, like RoUSes.”
“What?” There were so many Earth references he just didn’t get.
Leo grinned. “Rodents of Unusual Size. From Princess Bride.”
Crispin shook his head. “Is she a friend of yours?”
Leo stared at him as if he’d grown antlers… again. “You’ve never seen The Princess Bride? We’re going to sit down and watch it as soon as… well, as soon as this is over.” His eyes narrowed. “Why not call them WOLF? Wolves of Large Fangs? I mean, that seems like a huge missed opportunity.”
“But that’s the same thing—”
“It’s not. Because it’s singular, see, but it’s plural for all the wolves.” Leo seemed quite excited about his new acronym.
Crispin didn’t want to take it away from him, so he sidestepped. “So the WOES—”
“The WOLF.” Leo finished his cookie and thankfully left the apples alone. For the moment.
Crispin sighed. Not going to win this one. “The WOLF are taller at the shoulders than a fae… or a man. No one goes in there without a good guide and a lot of firepower.”
Aspin rolled his eyes again. It was a wonder they didn’t roll right out of their sockets. “No one but Mother, apparently.”
Crispin snorted in spite of himself. “No one crosses Mother. I’d imagine she just glares at them and they slink away, tails between their enormous legs.”
Aspin chuckled, amused in spite of his disgruntlement. “So what’s the plan, little brother? If she is in there—which I’m not entirely convinced of—how do we get to her without becoming WOES food—”
“WOLF food.” Leo didn’t seem to notice the murderous glare Aspin shot at him, as he was currently staring at the wood-and-stucco buildings of a small village passing by outside. “So German.”
“WOES food. I suppose you have a plan?”
Crispin nodded. “We hire a guide.” He looked out the nearest window as the bahn-bahn slowed down. “And here we are. The last pub before the entrance to the Black Forest. Welcome to Koniglichen Titten.”
Leo laughed. “Oh, that’s good.”
Aspin glared at the two of them, wishing someone else would be an adult with him. “What?”
“I took a little German in high school, and that’s definitely German.”
“The place?” Earth was a confusing world. So many place names.
“No, the language. It means The Royal Titties.” Leo bared his teeth in a wide grin.
Aspin snorted. “Does it really?”
“One hundred percent.”
And with that, their confectionary transport ground to a sudden and convincing halt in front of the regal breasts.
