Ethan Gray watched the Scabbed Apprentice—little Blanche—bolt down the hallway like a spooked rabbit. He stood in his doorway, rubbing the back of his neck, thoroughly confused. One moment they were having a civil conversation about peanuts and grapes, and the next, she was fleeing as if he’d grown a second head. Millie, of course, had looked terrified the entire time, her small hands trembling.
It took Ethan a few moments to process the rapid-fire warning Blanche had barked at him before she vanished. When the words finally settled in his brain, he couldn't help but chuckle. She wasn't just being difficult; she was playing the role of the protective big sister. In her world, he was still a suspicious, alcohol-scented giant, and she was the only thing standing between Millie and disaster.
