House rules, it read across the top. In a tidy font, a list of requests for the renter went down the page. Take the garbage out before leaving, no pets on the furniture, air conditioning to be turned off at departure… and a new addition in Thad’s execrable handwriting. No dragons in the hot tub!
“I suppose the homeowners won’t object to that addendum,” I said calmly.
“He’s not coming back, is he?” Thad asked.
Given that I sensed Zav loitering on a cliff top less than a half a mile away, he probably was.
“It’s fine. If he does, it’s work-related.” Or saving-my-life related. I wanted to know what Shaygor was up to and if I needed to watch out while I was trying to spring a trap to get a goblin.
“Work-related.” Thad frowned at me. “That… man—” despite his addition to the house rules, he seemed unwilling to admit that Zav might be a dragon, “—was standing by you like some creepy, possessive boyfriend. He wanted to kick my ass.”
“It’s more likely that he would light your ass on fire.”
Amber nodded, definitely a believer after her encounter with Shaygor.
“Val—”
“I get it, Thad. It’s fine. When have you known me not to be able to take care of myself when it comes to guys? Or anything?” I wouldn’t point out that numerous dragons had proved they could immobilize me and compel me to do their bidding. He didn’t need to know about that.
His shoulders slumped, some of the tension finally leaving his body. “Never.”
“But thank you for still caring.” I rested a hand on his shoulder and smiled at him.
He managed a forced smile back. “Always.”
A thump came from the landing upstairs as Shauna maneuvered out a second suitcase that matched the pink-stars one by the door. She glared icily down at me. I lowered my hand and gave Thad a punch that I hoped looked more manly than flirty.
“Amber, can I talk with you for a minute before you go?” I touched my necklace, hoping she would accept the request if she believed it was about the charm I’d given her.
Amber glanced at Shauna’s frosty face. “Yeah.”
She grabbed her own suitcase and her laptop bag and walked out onto the porch with me, looking warily around for Zav.
“He’s over there.” I pointed to the tree-filled hills, though I could only sense him, not see him.
“He didn’t leave completely?”
“No. I need to talk to him, but I wanted to say goodbye to you guys first.” I heard harsh whispers coming from the foyer and closed the door on them. “Especially to you. I’m less enamored with the girlfriend.”
I shouldn’t have said that. It wasn’t mature or adult-like.
But when Amber snorted in agreement and said, “Tell me about it,” I felt a twinge of pleasure at having something in common with her.
“Do you want your charm back?” She dug it out of her pocket.
If they’d been heading straight back to Seattle, I might have said yes, but Sandpoint was only about eighty miles to the north. Shaygor might be able to track her down at that distance. And if Zav, who I knew was the only reason Shaygor hadn’t come after me again, stayed here with me… Shaygor would be free to go after Amber.
“Eventually, yes, but I’d like you to keep it for now, until you’re back in Seattle and I’m positive the dragon that attacked you is gone and back in his world.” However I would achieve that.
“Are you more vulnerable without it?” Amber surprised me with the question.
I wouldn’t have expected her to care enough to ask. “Yes, but I have a weapon that can hurt a dragon.” I waved toward Chopper’s hilt. “And Zav is watching out for me.”
“The scary guy in the robe? He’s way more…” She flexed her hand in the air, groping for a word. “Strong-feeling than anyone else I’ve met. Sometimes, I get a weird feeling and can guess when people have power, but there was no mistaking it with him. He was really intense.”
“I know.”
“And he seemed to be, like, staking a claim on you.”
I shook my head. “He’s another dragon. They don’t understand Earth women. Or Earth in general. But we’re… kind of stuck working together right now.”
“He sounds super dependable then.”
“Not much is dependable in my life. I’m used to it. Keep the charm for now. I’ll come get it back when there aren’t any more vengeful dragons around.”
“Are you sure? I think you’re in more trouble than you’re telling me, and I’m leaving so those dragons shouldn’t care about me anymore, right?”
“I hope not, but I can’t be positive. Take it. I’d rather not worry.”
Her brow wrinkled. Maybe she didn’t believe I worried. Why would she?
“Take it.” I nodded as encouragingly as I could and stepped back.
Amber looked dubiously at the charm in her hand but grabbed her luggage and walked out to the dock. I hoped she wouldn’t lose it along the way. Getting it off the bottom of the lake would not be easy.
The rumble of a motor drifted across the water. Mom put away her book and helped Thad and Shauna arrange the luggage on the dock. Amber went over to talk to her friend. I hung back, leaning against a column on the porch. I wasn’t a part of their group.
As they climbed into the boat, I walked around to the back of the house, not wanting to watch them leave. Zav had mentioned goblins spying on the property—or spying on me, more likely. That artifact was strong enough that they would be able to sense it in my backpack from a ways off.
Which was exactly what I wanted. I had several hours of daylight left. It was time to set some traps.
20
I pitched my tent on the lawn and set a few trip wires and traps around the house, what I could fashion out of the rope and limited gear in the Jeep. Amber and Thad and the boat that had picked them up were long gone when my trap-setting took me close to the dock, and I sensed a magical trinket. A familiar magical trinket.
My cloaking charm rested on top of a post, not dropped but placed carefully where I would find it. I gazed to the north in the direction my family had gone. By now, they were in a car heading up to Sandpoint. Shaking my head, I threaded the charm back onto my leather thong.
I did my best not to worry as I finished setting up, the artifact in my backpack. I wouldn’t risk setting it down and letting it out of my sight. It was time to capture a goblin or two and get some answers.
But would they come with Zav lurking in the hills? If his aura was noticeable to me, it would be to the goblins too.
I wished I could speak telepathically with him—he could hear me when he was paying attention, but that wasn’t the same as me being able to reach out—so I could get his update on Shaygor. And tell him to fly off to the north or stifle his aura somehow. But I’d have to find an elf to teach me how to use my power.
“Someday,” I murmured.
As the sun set, I turned off all the lights in and around the house, everything except a couple of nightlights inside and dim solar-powered lamps around the deck that refused to be turned off. I slipped into my sleeping bag in my tent to wait.
Zav, perched on a nearby hilltop, emanated power like another giant nightlight. Or lighthouse.
Will you go away, please? I tried to project the thought in his direction.
Not surprisingly, I didn’t get an answer. A moment later, I sensed him spring into the air. Maybe he’d heard me and would fly north to keep an eye on the town.
But he flew toward the house. I groaned, sat up, and opened my tent flap.
There are traps out there, I thought. Be careful if you land.
He landed in the yard. As if puny mongrel traps would be strong enough to vex me.
I’m less worried about your vexation status and more about having to redo them. I’m trying to capture goblins.
His great black head came into view—almost came through the opening of the tent—violet eyes glowing softly in the dark as he gazed in at me.
When you have acquired your goblins, you will leave this place and return with me to locate the dark elves?
As long as I can get answers from them and figure out how to keep them from terrorizing this town with their sasquatch allies. Or magically compelled minions, as the case may be. If you want to speed things along, you could go capture a couple for me.
I sensed them when I first arrived, but they are hidden to me now. They have something akin to your cloaking charm.
I know. Guess I’m back to doing it the old-fashioned way then. Capturing one with a trap.
These are meager traps. I do not think you will be successful.
Thanks so much for your honesty.
I am always honest. His eyes closed. Almost always.
Except when you’re trying to save others from the Dragon Justice Court? I could sense his discomfort, even emotional pain, at the choice he’d made, and couldn’t help but feel guilty.
I should not have been dishonest. Zav opened his eyes again. But I did not—do not—wish to see you standing before the court and being condemned to punishment.
Thank you. I don’t want to see that either.
You did not understand the law of dragons, and I know you were defending yourself from Dobsaurin.
Yes, I was. He was an asshole. He deserved what he got.
Zav’s unwavering gaze discomfited me, and I resisted the urge to squirm.
Do you believe all dragons deserve that fate? he asked.
Just the ones who come to Earth and start killing people. This is our world and has nothing to do with your court.
All worlds fall under the jurisdiction of the Dragon Justice Court. We flew the skies and hunted here before your people evolved into your present forms.
Are you sure? I’m pretty sure dragon bones aren’t in the fossil record.
Dragons did not die here. They hunted.
Well, I’m trying to hunt some goblins, and I think your big aura is going to keep them from coming down to get this artifact. Will you take a nice flight around the lake for a while?