“If it helps, I’m always naked.”
“And now I’m frightened again.”
“You know what?” Gary said. “Now that I think about it, I’m always naked too.”
“Tiggy be naked?”
My eyes widened because of the children. “No—”
“Tiggy be naked.”
And he dropped his drawers before holding his hands above his head and crowing loudly.
“He’s so wonderful,” Gary whispered to me. “We all are.”
I put my face in my hands.
“I’m hung,” Tiggy proclaimed loudly.
“I taught him that,” Gary said. “Because it’s true.”
“I am so glad they’re all back together again,” I heard Mom say.
“It was getting a little boring living in the refugee camp after our homes had been taken from us by evil wizards,” Dad agreed.
Justin cleared his throat loudly.
The crowd fell silent again.
Tiggy did not pull up his trousers.
It was good to be home.
“Thank you to Zal the Magnificent for that rousing rendition of… whatever that was,” Justin told the camp. “Truly. And since I now know who to blame for ‘Cheesy Dicks and Candlesticks,’ I’m even more grateful for your presence.”
Tiggy and Gary gulped audibly.
“I’ve already said most of what I could say,” he continued. “And I hope you take my words to heart. You are not alone. We are not defeated. We will not bow down to the shadows that crawl along our feet. I promise you, we will take back Verania.”
The crowd cheered.
“And now, I want to give the stage to someone who I think deserves our undivided attention.”
“He’s gonna do it,” I whispered fervently.
“Someone who has sacrificed much for King and Crown.”
“Oh my gods. Oh my gods.”
“Someone who will one day stand at my side at the throne in Castle Lockes.”
“Oh my gods oh my gods oh my gods—”
Justin looked rather pained as he said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you my….”
“Say it,” I hissed. “Yaaassss, say it.”
“I give you my best friend 5eva, Sam of Dragons.”