"They can't really talk to each other. I'm not sure what the meetings of the independent cuddlers squad could accomplish, considering."

"Lots of cuddling? And independence?"

"I don't think Cricket wants to cuddle with Berathyme."

"Nor Berathyme with Cricket," agrees Edarial.

"Awww. Now my heart's broken."

"Sorry, Zevros. Cricket would let you pet him, if that would help."

"Really? Is it because I taught him curse words?"

"It didn't hurt."

Zevros snickers. "That's me! The guy that teaches familiars long strings of expletives."

"Why does it amuse you so much?"

"Eh, maybe it's growing up with Berathyme being all - 'I am a royal familiar, I don't give a damn about anyone or anything, leave me' and then having her spout out curse words."

"But Cricket doesn't project that attitude much at all."

"Yeah, but it's still fun!"

"Well, he appreciates it, even if I don't especially. He likes to know what what he's saying means and makes me explain it every time he has a new phrase."

Zevros snickers. "Sorry?"

"I'll live."

"If you didn't I think Edarial would make faces at me, and that would be terrible."

"That would assuredly be the worst consequence of my death. Perhaps one day I will complete my immortality hex and you will be spared this awful fate."

"That would be great, thanks. I hate it when he makes faces at me."

"All my work will be justified if you can live a life void of having faces made at you. Hurray."

"I know, right? Keep up the good work, Iobel, the least amount of disappointed Edarial faces, the better."

"I exist to serve."

"Good queen. Fulfill my basic whims on how I'd like my brother to treat me."

"By living forever. I'll be thrilled to comply."

Zevros snorts with laughter. "Sounds like something you'd like to do anyway."