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Geoffrey watched Desmond fall over, dead again. “Wow. No wonder Hector wears a helmet.”

The truck screeched to a halt. Geoffrey lashed out with red.

Roman took the cuts and stopped the streaks that went for Lynnette. He gripped two tendrils, one in each hand, and made them tremble. They burst apart, and their remains shrank back to Geoffrey. Roman jumped out of the truck, smashing the pavement with both feet.

The ground flung Geoffrey up. He tumbled through the air.

The big man caught him. He set Geoffrey down and ran for the truck, spitting as it started to drive off. The acid would have reached the girl if Roman hadn’t shielded her with his back.

And then they were gone.

Geoffrey walked over to the big man and patted him on the shoulder. “Good effort, Mr. Giant.”

He returned a pat of his own on Geoffrey’s head.

“What a disappointing day this turned out to be. Lost my balloon-hat. Lost my snake. And I didn’t even get to kill the Queen. That advisor-guy will be upset, if we ever see him again. I wanted to feed him to the snake after he paid me, but I suppose that won’t be happening, either.”

The big guy just kept patting him on the head, and Geoffrey began to feel like some sort of dog.

“You don’t talk much, do you?”

The giant looked at him vacantly.

“How about a name, then? Do you have one?”

The man’s reaper arrived, descending from the sky along with Ezmortig. ‘His name is Moss,’ the reaper said. ‘And mine is Ozmere. Moss can’t speak. And even if he could, he wouldn’t have much to say. He’s a rather simple fellow, but he’s good at following instruction, and that’s what matters.’

They waited, and soon, Desmond revived. They started the walk back to Belgrant Castle together.