Chapter 23

                                    

                                          
Chapter 23
                          
King Midas
                          
	It took all four of them to hold the crazy satyr back.
                          
	"Woah Coach!" Jason said. "Bring it down a few notches." A younger man charged into the room. Vivian guessed he must be Lit, the old guy's son. He was dressed in pajama pants with a sleeveless T-shirt that said cornhuskers, and he held a sword that looked like it could husk a lot of things besides corn. His ripped arms were covered in scars, and his face, framed by curly dark hair, would've been handsome if it wasn't also sliced up.
                          
	Lit immediately zeroed in on Jason like he was the biggest threat, and stalked toward him, swinging his sword overhead. "Hold on!" Piper stepped forward, trying for her best calming voice. "This is just a misunderstanding! Everything's fine." Lit stopped in his tracks, but he still looked wary. It didn't help that Hedge was screaming, "I'll get them! Don't worry!"
                          
	"Coach," Vivain pleaded, "they may be friendly. Besides, we're trespassing in their house."
                          
	"Thank you!" said the old man in the bathrobe. "Now, who are you, and why are you here?"
                          
	"Let's all put our weapons down," Piper said. "Coach, you first."
                          
	Hedge clenched his jaw. "Just one thwack?"
                          
	"No," Piper said. 
                          
"What about a compromise? I'll kill them first, and if it turns out they were friendly, I'll apologize."
                          
"How about this," Vivian said. "I thwack you with the bat then say sorry."
                          
"Meh." Coach Hedge lowered his club.
                          
"I like girls who like violence," Lit said. It took Vivian a few seconds to understand that he was trying to flirt with her.
                          
"Threatening is my this. Violence is Coach's," Vivian shot back.
                          
Lit huffed and sheathed his sword. "You speak well, girl —fortunately for your friends, or I would've run them through."
                          
"Appreciate it," Leo said. "I try not to get run through before lunchtime."
                          
The old man in the bathrobe sighed, kicking the teapot that Coach Hedge had smashed. "Well, since you're here. Please, sit down."
                          
Lit frowned. "Your Majesty—"
                          
"No, no, it's fine, Lit," the old man said. "New land, new customs. They may sit in my presence. After all, they've seen me in my nightclothes. No sense observing formalities." He did his best to smile, though it looked a little forced. "Welcome to my humble home. I am King Midas."
                          
"Midas? Impossible," said Coach Hedge. "He died."
                          
They were sitting on the sofas now, while the king reclined on his throne.e. Tricky to do that in a bathrobe, and Jason kept worrying the old guy would forget and uncross his legs. Hopefully he was wearing golden boxers under there.
                          
Lit stood behind the throne, both hands on his sword, glancing at Piper and Vivian, and flexing his muscular arms just to be annoying.
                          
Boys just can't take no for an answer Vivian thought.
                          
Piper sat forward. "What our satyr friend means, Your Majesty, is that you're the second mortal we've met who should be—sorry—dead. King Midas lived thousands of years ago."
                          
"Interesting." The king gazed out the windows at the brilliant blue skies and the winter sunlight. In the distance, downtown Omaha looked like a cluster of children's blocks —way too clean and small for a regular city
                          
"You know," the king said, "I think Iwas a bit dead for awhile. It's strange. Seems like a dream, doesn't it, Lit?"
                          
"A very long dream, Your Majesty."