"Where's Raya?" he asked, looking around. "Is she okay? Did she get snacks too?"
"Raya is in my pouch. Being useful. Unlike some familiars."
"I'm useful! I found the snack room!"
"You found—" I stopped. Took a breath. "Chubby. Is there anything else in the snack room? Besides cookies?"
He thought about it. The toast crumbs drifted to the floor.
"Lots of boxes," he said finally. "Big ones. With writing on them. I couldn't read the writing because I was focused on the cookies, but it looked important."
"Important how?"
"It was sparkly."
"Sparkly important or sparkly decorative?"
"Both?" He shrugged, a gesture that looked ridiculous on a round, floating creature. "I'm not an expert, boss. I'm a consumer."
Malphas made a sound that might have been a laugh. "Your familiar is delightful."
"He's a menace."
"A delightful menace."
"You're not helping."
"I'm observing."
