What is this? A serialized story. Link to first part here.
Before Abner can even look behind his shoulder the golden lion pounces, wrapping his enormous paws gently around Abner's torso and bringing him to the ground with a soft thud. Abner laughs.
"Garrott!" he protests, as the lion proceeds to lick his face with his shiny metal tongue, "Stop that! You gave Estelle here quite the fright!"
At this Garrott the lion turns his attention to Estelle and ambles over to her, rubbing his head on her shoulder. Estelle cringes slightly but does not move a muscle.
"Is this your pet?" she asks, hardly daring to move her lips.
"No, not pet exactly," replies Abner, "he's a magical guardian of the water gardens. Been here for centuries. It's his duty to look a bit intimidating but he's really just a big kitten. You needn't be afraid of him."
Estelle allows herself to relax a little, and extends a hand to pet Garrott on the mane. The large beast responds with a sort of tinny purr, and Estelle finds herself losing all fear of the creature.
"This is my pet," announces Abner proudly, and Estelle looks up to see a medium-sized lizard marching towards them down the water garden path.
If there is something that frightens Estelle more than Garrott just did a moment ago, it is medium to large-sized lizards. She is wary of them as a rule, after having a nasty encounter with a few crocodiles on the Nile during one of her frequent adventures with her late father. She doesn't mention this however, as she does not want to be impolite.
"Her name is Lemony Fresh," says Abner, reaching down to scratch Lemony's head, "she is my best friend in the world."
Lemony slaps her tail as if to say she appreciates the statement, and the feeling is mutual. Estelle can tell she isn't the eat-you-whole type of lizard that's met before, and might not be so terrifying after all.
"She's very nice," says Estelle.
"I know," says Abner, "well, come on then, a quick look through the fig grove, then we'll go round to the hedge maze."
Abner, Estelle and Lemony leave the water gardens. Garrott follows them to the perimeter, then nods his giant head to bid them adieu and returns to his post atop the grandest fountain, regal and glowing in the sunlight.
The fig orchard on the right side of the front lawn is ripe with fruit and Abner and Estelle pluck several figs from the trees to snack on. They offer one to Lemony but she prefers to snack on the caterpillars and ants that are going about their business on the ground.
Abner is just reaching for a ripe fig that is particularly high-up in the tree when he is surprised by a savage kick in the shins. He looks down in angry surprise to see his little cousin Elvin, who has snuck up on him rather quietly.
Elvin Denathar is a cherubic-looking little three year old boy who is so cute that most of his family ignores his penchant for causing utter chaos and destruction wherever he goes.
As Abner holds his throbbing leg and jumps up and down in pain, doing not his best not to yell nasty things at Elvin in front of Estelle, Janely bounds in to sight.
Janely is Elvin's sister, and is just the same as Elvin except two years older, much bossier and more clever. She and Elvin are both giggling which reveals their razor sharp teeth, of which they make frequent use for biting their unsuspecting victims.
Unfortunately for Abner, Janely and Elvin have declared him their favourite cousin, which seems to more accurately mean their favourite cousin to beat up, even though he is several years older and twice their size.
"These," says Abner with a sigh,"are my little cousins Janely and Elvin Denathar."
"Very good to meet you," says Estelle, with some trepidation. They seem to her like perfect brats.
Janely and Elvin don't give Estelle a second glance. They are circling Abner much like two hungry hyenas would circle a lame antelope. Lemony nips at their heels, but it doesn't help much. They are inching closer, and seem about ready to strike.
Fortunately for Abner, it is just then that a deafening crack of lightning strikes the large brass weathercock atop the castle's roof and the sky grows dark with storm clouds. A torrential rain pours down, soaking their clothes immediately. Janely and Elvin make disgruntled high-pitched squawking noises and skittered away.
"Come with me!" shouts Abner, though even he can't hear himself through the rumbling downpour, and runs toward the large oak doors of the castle. Estelle follows him as fast as she can, astounded at how quickly the sky turned from bright blue to dark grey. Lemony brings up the rear, looking extremely fed up. Abner is fed up too. It isn't the first time Nana Gray has rained out a perfectly nice afternoon.
