Chapter 72 - Pinhurst Cold-Steel Part 1 (1/2)
”Yep, those are my boys, Cynrik is 12 going on 13, and Brance is 11. We figured that since they're going to be taking the exams, we may as well swing by so I could introduce you to them and pick up that project I asked your Dad to do for me.”
Maeve broke into a wide grin before scurrying back behind the counter and ducking down in search of something. ”Dad just finished them up, not sure why you wanted these little things made, but everything is right here.”
BANG
Reappearing from behind the counter, Maeve dropped a large wooden crate onto the counter, drawing Cinyah's attention, and even causing the two boys to whip around like scared rabbits and look for the source of the noise.
”Hey, knuckleheads, get over there; your Mom has a present for you.” Rikard, who had entered silently as if hiding from someone, hissed at Cynirk and Brance before sneaking off to the stairs leading to the shop's second floor.
Noticing his father's sketchy act, Cynrik picked up on something and, with narrow eyes, looked back and forth between Rikard and Maeve. Then, as he watched his father head up the first couple of steps, a sudden thought popped into his head, and his lips curled into a cynical smirk.
Without wasting any more time, to not let his father escape from what was sure to be an exciting event, Cynrik dashed forward as fast as he could, blurring into an afterimage, and swiftly appeared behind Rikard. Using his left hand, he reached out and grabbed the man by the back of his neck and, in one smooth movement, threw Rikard with as much force as he could muster, flinging him from the stairs with a yelp and sending him in the direction of Cinyah and Maeve.
”BOY, WHAT ARE YOU…”
CRASH!
Rikard landed fifty feet away with a loud crash, sliding to a stop right at Cinyah's feet.
Stunned at the fact her husband was just flung across the store by her son, who was significantly weaker than him, Cinyah's mouth dropped open.
”OH, HO HO! If it isn't my ex-boyfriend and the man who stole my best friend from me.” Maeve had a very different reaction when she saw the man suddenly appear in front of her thanks to the young boy across the store.
Feeling betrayed by his oldest son, who tossed him to the she-wolf known as Maeve, Rikard jumped back to his feet and dusted himself before acting as if nothing had happened.
”Hello Maeve, how have you been? Have you eaten today?” Rikard tried playing off how awkward he felt just being near his ex by asking a bunch of irrelevant and random questions rapidly, while Brance and Cynrik crept up on the scene, with faces full of excitement.
They had grown bored with their mother constantly harassing their father, and now it was as if a scene from a lousy drama show was playing out right before their eyes. Cynrik and Brance were fully invested in just how their father would get himself out of this situation within a couple of words.
”Are you married? How bout kids? You always liked kids; I'm sure you have a couple of munchkins by now, right?” With each passing second, Rikard seemed to get more frantic, as Maeve's face, which only seconds ago was full of smiles, fell from playful to displeased to full-on aggravated to finally a look of disgust.
”SHUT UP, YOU BIG LUMMOX!” Then, acting like twins, both Cinyah and Maeve shouted in unison before smacking him in the head from both sides.
Breathing heavily, both women lashed out at Rikard and started batting him over and over on the head until he shut up and stood frozen in place.
One final smack echoed before being followed by silence.
”pppppffftt HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!”
Which was broken by the person who started the whole skit, Cynrik, who burst out laughing so hard that tears streamed down his cheeks.
”No way, haha…Dad…haha, he got abused by not just Mom, but even this Auntie. Sucks to be you, Dad… OWW HEYY AUNTIE OWW HEY STOP!” The moment Cynrik started making fun of Rikard, Maeve appeared next to him and reached out, grabbing his ear and giving it a good twist.