“I would like you to help me, Val. You are the best, and you are my friend.”
The words touched me more than I would admit, but they worried me too. As I’d told my therapist, I made it a point to avoid developing friendships, lest people be hurt or used against me by my enemies. It was a lonely life, but it was safest for those around me.
“Thank you.” I patted her on the shoulder.
“How much would you charge to make the Pardus brothers leave me alone? I do not want them assassinated. I have no wish to do anything illegal or hurt them, even though they have threatened me, but I worry that their threats will escalate to more. I will compete fairly in business against them, but they do not wish to use fair tactics.”
“I understand, but are you sure someone else wouldn’t be better? It sounds like you need a negotiator, not an assassin.” How was I supposed to get these guys to leave her alone when my main tactic was brute force?
“You have recent experience with a dragon.”
All too recent. “I don’t think Zav will go set fire to their workshop, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“No, but they are now telling everyone that they can make dragon-slaying weapons. I do not believe this is possible for anyone but full-blooded dwarf and gnome masters in their native worlds. I do not believe it can be done at all with materials found on Earth.”
“Why are they telling people they can make them?”
“Demand is very high right now. Many people saw your dragon flying over the city a few weeks ago. Also, there is footage out there of the kraken in Lake Union, and the houseboat residents are afraid more sea monsters will come. The police will do nothing. They do not admit that magical creatures exist.”
I rubbed my face. “Zav isn’t my dragon.”
Nin shrugged. “You have spoken to him. Regardless, people are afraid. There is a huge demand for weapons that can protect humans from dragons. And the Pardus brothers claim to have them. They are selling their inferior weapons to scared people who believe they will work on a dragon. Val, people will be killed if they try to shoot a dragon.”
Especially if they shot at the new dragon.
If I couldn’t deliver a message to Zav, what might Dob do next to gain his attention? Something a lot more dramatic and showy—and deadly—than kidnapping a few rural children?
“I know you are experienced at dealing with the magical and also sensing magical artifacts and weapons,” Nin said. “If you go there and see their offerings, you will know that they can’t slay dragons. You could tell people, so they know.”
I wasn’t exactly a spokesman to the magical community—or the human community either—but if Nin wanted my help, I would do my best.
“I’ll go visit them and learn what I can. Maybe paint threatening graffiti on their walls.”
Nin smiled. “Good. Thank you. How much will you charge? I must negotiate with you, as I have learned from the entrepreneurship—” she pronounced that word with extra care, and I almost mentioned that I could barely say it either, “—lectures I take online. Even though you are a friend, this is business.”
“I won’t charge anything. You’re my supplier of my weapons.”
I wondered if the Pardus brothers somehow did have guns capable of piercing scaly dragon hides. If they did, I hoped Nin wouldn’t be offended if I bought one. I would still threaten them on her behalf, but if dragons were going to keep showing up in the world, I needed a way to defend myself and others from them.
Her smile turned into a disapproving frown. “Val, this is a business deal. We must agree on a fair price, and you must be paid for your time. Also, it is possible you will be injured in your encounter with them. Have you met them? They are strong and dangerous. I know you are also very capable, but you must be paid for the risk you will take.”
“What risk? I’m just going up to see if they have any good weapons for sale.” I winked.
“There will be risk in dealing with them. You could be injured.”
“I could be injured tomorrow at the yoga class I’ve been talked into going to—have you seen the pretzel shapes those people turn themselves into?—but it’s all part of the job.”
“I will pay you a fair amount when you return.” Nin nodded firmly, then held up a finger. “Wait here. I will bring you dinner.”
My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn’t stopped to eat on the way back. I would refuse to take Nin’s money for doing a favor, but I’d happily take dinner.
When she returned, she carried six dinners wrapped in paper. She stacked them in my hands. “These will fill you up during your long journey.”
“It’s only a half hour up to Bothell at this time of night,” I said dryly.
“That is only the beginning of your journey.”
“Hm, probably true.”
“It’s also possible that you’ll be mugged by a dragon on the way. They seem to flock to you.”
I sighed. Had she heard about the new one?
A knock came at the side door.
Nin frowned. “Nobody has an appointment to come by now.”
I sensed someone with a touch of magical blood out there, familiar magical blood. “It’s my mom’s roommate, Dimitri.”
“He is your mother’s roommate? He did not explain where he was from last time.”
“Actually, he lives in the van in her driveway. I think he would love some of your business advice.”
“I am still learning. I am not capable of being a mentor.”
“Just show him some of your brochures.” I opened the door and surprised Dimitri, who’d been about to knock again.
The six-and-a-half-foot-tall, pock-marked, refrigerator of a young man was standing outside and holding a pot with a fake cactus in it.
“Hello, Val,” he rumbled in his deep voice. “I didn’t expect to find you here.”
“Am I in the way? Did you come to court Nin?”
Dimitri’s eyebrows flew up, and he almost dropped his pot. “No, nothing like that. I… already met someone in town here. At the club.” Looking flustered, he glanced at me, then at Nin, then back at me. “I just wanted to thank her.” He looked back at Nin. “To thank you.”
“For what?” Nin looked puzzled.
“I’ve been watching your videos online for your food truck and figuring out some things I can do to help sell my yard art. I’m going to start recording videos for the internet, but I could use some help. My landscaping boss laughed when I asked him—he thinks my yard art is goofy. And Val, your mom only got footage of her nostril hairs when I tried to get her to use my phone to record me showing off one of my sentinels. This one, as a matter of fact.” He hefted the pot.
“She’s not that experienced with technological gizmos.”
I eyed the blue metal faux cactus. Since I’d seen his work before, I had a feeling those barbed thorns could shoot out and fill someone with holes.
“It was just my phone,” Dimitri said.
“Have you seen her phone?”
“The one where you pick up the receiver and make circles with your fingers to dial numbers by hand? Yeah.”
“It’s called a rotary phone. I promise you can’t record nostril hairs or anything else with it.”