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‘We’re glad to see that you are enjoying yourself,’ said Garovel.

Horatio and the other bodyguards caught up again, but they must have been growing accustomed to it by now, because none of them bothered to chastise Ibai. Horatio was looking even more haggard than the last time Hector had seen him.

“By the way, Garovel,” said Ibai, “the last time we spoke, I believe you promised me a story time.”

‘Ah, I suppose I did.’ The reaper began floating away, and Ibai walked with him.

Hector made sure to keep pace as well so that he would always be between them. He remembered what Garovel said about not antagonizing Ibai, but that didn’t mean he was going to leave Garovel wide open to a sudden attack.

‘What kind of story would you like?’ said Garovel.

“Something exciting!” said Ibai.

‘Hmm. Alright. Are you familiar with the story of the Dáinnbolg?’

“Of course,” said Ibai, “but I’d be more interested to hear a story of your own.”

‘It IS a story of my own,’ said Garovel.

That made the aberration blink. “What do you mean?”

Garovel spared a glance at Hector. ‘I mean I used to live there. Before all the devastation, that is.’

Hector had more than a few questions of his own now, but he decided to let their conversation play out.

Horatio Blackburn, however, chose to chime in. “You used to ‘live’ there? As in, before you were a reaper?” The man’s own reaper looked interested as well.

‘That’s right,’ said Garovel. ‘Chergoa and I grew up there.’

“Wow,” said Ibai. “What was it like? Was it fun?”

‘I suppose it depends on what you consider fun.’

“Were there birthday parties?”

‘No, I’m afraid there weren’t.’

“Pity. But there had to have been some parties, right? Seasonal celebrations and the like?”

‘Sure.’

“Then I think it could’ve been fun,” said Ibai. “But anyway, what was the story you wanted to tell me?”

‘Well, you see, when my sister and I were very young, we witnessed the slaughter of an entire village of people. It was quite bloody, and in the span of a single day, the village became a ghost town.’

Hector saw Horatio and the other guards shift uncomfortably, but it was Ibai who responded first.

“That’s horrible. I thought you said this story would be exciting.”