They quickly began to unpack the goods. The meat pies smelled savory even through the paper and twine.

“Gigi!” The goblin spun around to see her friend Serena slowly gliding toward them. She looked significantly more pregnant than the last time Gigi had seen her a few weeks ago. The thought of little parasites growing larger inside her gave the woman a shudder. “What a pleasant surprise, but who is this?”

Drake stepped forward, offering his hand. “My name is Drake, nice to meet you.”

Serena took his ink-covered hand and studied it briefly before shaking. “It’s nice to meet you, we don’t get many humans here.”

“I’ve never met lamia either. You aren’t anything like the snake monster Gigi told me about.”

Serena frowned as Gigi’s mouth hit the floor. “Snake monsters... Oh, you mean lamias?”

“Yeah, she told me you were like snakes with arms, but really you’re like humans with snake bodies.” Confusion was plastered onto Serena’s face. She looked over the human with her reptilian eyes.

“He-he...didn’t mean anything by it!” Gigi tried to interject.

The lamia considered Drake coolly before a small smile returned to her. “No, he didn’t.” She raised her hand. “Did you know lamias can actually hear heartbeats through the ground? At least on dirt like this. It makes us impeccable at detecting liars.” She motioned to Drake. “Or sometimes just someone who is, well... Let’s say learning.”

“Yes! That’s it, he’s learning!”

“You can calm down now, Gigi,” her friend said sweetly. Her heart still felt like it was thundering in her chest. She wasn’t so sure she could calm down for the time being. “Gigi, I didn’t know you had a thing for humans,” Serena giggled.

“I don’t!” Gigi shook her head at her foolish companion. He held up his hands in surrender, confusion plastered across his face.

“Oh, that reminds me, do you know anybody who could look after the babies when my time comes?” She placed her hands on her swollen middle.

“Like, when the time for more babies comes?” Drake asked.

Serena nodded. Drake looked at Gigi, his eyes pleading. Gigi’s eyes filled with terror. She mouthed “No” at him.

“Maybe,” Drake said with a nervous smile. Serena looked at him with disappointment. Despite not knowing this woman, Gigi could see Drake felt bad. She silently urged him not to do it. Don’t give into peer pressure! “Actually, we would love to,” he amended.

The lamia’s face went from disappointment to elation in a moment. “Really? Oh, Gigi, this one is a keeper!” Serena hugged the two of them before her brood slithered up to the cart to claim the vaunted meat pies. “Also, just let us know when the wedding is, and the clan will help in any way we can.”

“The wedding?” Gigi asked dumbfounded.

“Yours, silly,” Serena laughed as she waved and slithered away with her children.

Gigi stood stupefied at the events that had just unfolded around her. She felt a burning anger at Drake, but for what? Stepping up to help her friend? It was so inconvenient though! Before long they were back on the road.

“Who are you getting married to?” asked Drake.

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“Nobody! EVER!” she exclaimed. “Also, I can’t believe you volunteered us for babysitting duty!” Gigi yelled at Drake as soon as they were out of earshot.

“Well, I guess I could just go by myself?”

Gigi frowned. Her own guilt trip had just backfired. Now it was her who felt shame. “No, no. Just ask next time, alright?”

Drake smiled and nodded solemnly. “Who’s next?”

Gigi checked the list. They were almost done, just the witch and Lady Beatrice left. “We have a witch to see.”

“Oooh, I’ve never met a witch!”

“Drake, you pretty much are a witch.”

Drake shrugged. “Yeah, but they know stuff about how magic works. Mine just kinda…works.”

They rode until they came to a small tower that spiraled up in the center of the village and connected to a small stone keep. In contrast to the machinist’s shop, the witch’s abode was not the least bit welcoming. Thick stone walls and a heavy iron door welcomed all who wanted to come near. Gigi supposed that made some sense from what she knew of the witch. She heard she was a scholar who highly valued her time.

Her name was Ariana Barbo, and Gigi had never actually spoken directly to her. She had only caught glimpses when she deigned to leave her little fortress for supplies and magical ingredients or to settle a conflict in town. The drow always wore a cloak out, making it difficult to catch more than glimpses of her dark purple skin and platinum-colored hair. However, it was clear she was tall and slender, moving with a grace only her kind possessed.

It was unusual that Ariana had ordered something. Gigi couldn’t recall the witch ever having any interest in the bakery before. As the pair approached, Gigi noticed a gargoyle napping above the door. The stone creature snored loudly, like rocks smashing together.

“Excuse me!” Gigi called up.

The snoring continued. Gigi sighed and picked up a nearby pebble. She threw the little stone with pinpoint accuracy, hitting her mark, and it bounced off the gargoyle’s belly. The golem grunted.

“T-ha-t h-hu-r-t,” it warbled lowly.

“Sorry!” Drake called.

“Yeah, sorry. Hey, we are here to make a delivery to the witc- Mistress Barbo.”

“W-hy d-d-i-dn’t y-o-u sa-y so.” The door slowly swung open and the gargoyle turned over, snoozing once more. Gigi turned to Drake and shrugged.

“Do we go in?” he asked.

"Well, it would be rude to not accept, I guess.”

They both cautiously crossed the threshold, the door shutting quickly behind them, casting everything into darkness. Ordinarily, Gigi wouldn’t be concerned. Goblins had excellent night vision. However, this was not a normal blackness. There was something magical about it. An electric charge in the air around them.

“Maybe this wasn’t a good idea?” Drake offered.

At that, torches flickered to life on the walls around them. They were standing in a vestibule with different corridors leading off of it. However, the torches only went one way, and it was down. Before them was a staircase that plowed directly into the bowels of the earth.

Gigi’s hair was standing on end. They should have just left the box with the gargoyle. She frowned and peered into the endless stairs below.

“Don’t worry, I can protect us,” said Drake.

“I’m n-ot w-or-ried.” She took a deep breath. ”Besides I’m taking care of you, don’t you forget that.”

Drake nodded with a smile and held out his hand to her. She hesitated a moment, her heart suddenly beating much quicker. Then she took the offer, putting her small green hand in his larger tattooed one. Together, they descended the stairs. Gigi was far more focused on them holding hands than the creepy ambiance. She hoped her palms weren’t as sweaty as they felt right now.

After what seemed a very long time, they came to another door. Drake knocked. The door slowly opened with an ominous creak. The couple entered a vast circular room, shockingly tall considering how deep underground they had to have been. The walls were lined with thousands of books. The entire room smelled of old paper and fire.

A gigantic lamp hung in the center, radiating light. Underneath it lay a heavy wooden desk with the witch furiously scrawling onto parchment. Ariana Barbo set her quill back into the ink pot and turned her sizeable pink eyes to her guests.