Chapter 173: A delicate mix of strength, torture, and compassion

Chapter 173: A delicate mix of strength, torture, and compassion

Gangrene paced back and forth in the tent, irritable. The three squad leaders and Grackle were wary of saying anything. The general was prone to violence even in a good mood. The human attack had injured him badly, with so many of their mages and archers focusing their fire on him. Potions, cheese, and regeneration were doing what they could to put him back together. The pain of his wounds and the hunger accompanied by rapid healing made him irritable and dangerous. "This has been a disaster from the start. Scouting reports failed miserably at finding out this Hollow's defensive strength. They should have been crushed by the spider raid and be happy for us to march in and kill off the eight leggers. Obviously, that didn't happen. And Rifkin is late getting back to us with better information."

The leader of the first squad ventured a question. "Is it possible they have some treaty with the spiders? The appearance of that large, mechanical monster is suspicious."

Gangrene paused. "Possible, yes. Likely? No. Even my dealings with the spider clans have shown they can't be trusted. The machine the dwarves are feeding beer to is known to me. An outcast the clans wanted dead and duped into leading the first raid. I assume the main spider army is still out there, scouting and waiting to attack. That's the only way the first raid failed so miserably. They sent in their outcasts, and the hammer blow is yet to fall."

Larry looked at Rifkin. "Rifkin is sad and having a bad day. Larry can tell. Maybe if Rifkin weren't a SNEAKYBADGUY! he wouldn't be so sad!"

Something clicked in Milo's brain. According to Larry, there were sneaky guys, bad guys, badsneaky guys, and many other types of villains. But there had been some specific times that Larry had used the term 'sneakybadguy' and said it that way.

"Larry, who gave you too much cheese when you wanted to be strong?"

Larry looked at him with sad eyes and shook his head. Old Healer was looking at Rifkin. "Newly made Cheese Fiends are very malleable and are often forced to bond with the person who gives them the cheese. They can't disobey some orders and may not remember what happened correctly."

Larry was hopping from one foot to the other. "Yes, that is what happened to Larry. Rifkin gave Larry cheese so he could be strong like Justin and be a guard! So much cheese! Larry remembers all the flavors, and he got so strong! But Rifkin was a sneakybadguy and made Larry forget things and not be able to tell everyone that Rifkin gave Larry the cheese. So Larry doesn't."

Rifkin hissed through his gag and glared at Larry. Larry said, "Oops, sorry, Sneakybadguy, Larry remembers some things better, and now he forgets that he must not say that...."

Everyone was very quiet as Larry stood there, thinking hard. He turned to Rifkin. "Larry is a Hero now, and Larry doesn't have to do what RifkinSneakyBadGuy says anymore! Rifkin should remember that the next time he thinks he is being sneaky. Larry will know, and Larry will catch him!"

Rifkin was trying to squirm under Smiley's cot and away from Larry. Smiley turned his head. "You go hide somewhere else. I don't like you anymore, either!" Rifkin looked around the circle of ratkin and saw no sympathy. Old healer started to say something but was interrupted by Gendifur. She had heard what Smiley and Larry had said, and she was a very angry healer.

One not-so-dainty hand grabbed Rifkin by the scruff of his neck, and the other ripped off his gag. "You gave little Larry cheese?! You turned him into a fiend?!"

"I am the Cheese Master! You can't do this to me! I will give cheese to whoever I want! You can prove nothing! Put me down, woman." Brutus rolled his eyes, and several people looked alarmed. No one intervened as Gendifur slammed Rifkin into a wall three times.

Smiley nodded. "Yes, she is a delicate mix of strength, torture, and compassion."

Brutus looked at her and got misty-eyed. "And she's all mine."

Smiley whispered to Tallsqueak. "Brave Man!"

Larry was sitting near Justin, holding a Cheesy Pancake near his nose. Justin sniffed twice and then opened his mouth slightly. Larry pushed the pancake in. Justin swallowed and opened his mouth. Larry happily fed his big brother Cheesy pancakes until the plate was empty. Then Justin opened his eyes and looked around. Larry hugged him quite tightly. "Justin is awake!"

Justin mumbled something that might have been, "Yes, I am awake. Good job, Larry." Or it might have been, "I can't breathe, and why does your fur smell like lilacs?" Eventually, Larry released his big brother, who sank wearily back into his bed. Gendifur took his pulse and stuck a piece of cheddar into his mouth. "Eat this; you need it. You got bit dozens of times."

Justin chewed on the cheese. "Yeah, I didn't expect to make it out of that one alive. What happened?"

Larry patted Justin on the head. "Big Brother Justin is a hero. Killed lots of spiders. Larry was in Flowertown and heard the fight and came and stomped spiders who hurt Justin! Spiders all smushed. Fairies and Puffyfurs and Tallsqueak all helped."

Tallsqueak added, "All true. Larry killed hundreds of spiders and carried you back. Both you and Larry almost died."

Justin took in Larry's bandaged form, the fluttering fairies, and how different he looked. "It sounds like Larry was the Hero then."

Larry nodded. "Larry and Justin can be heroes together, now."

Larry turned his head suddenly, listening. "Someone is Sad! Larry needs to go be a Hero!" The fairies flew after him.

Milo turned to Brutus. "I need to go talk to Gangrene."

The guard nodded. "Right behind you, Scout Master."