Dragons Luck

It had been a long while since she had taken the time simply to enjoy that. Her job was hardly demanding; she could change a beer keg or unload boxes faster and better than any of the men at the bar. Still, it seemed when she got home there was always some major or minor crisis that drew everyone’s attention. A part of her was grateful for that. After all, it distracted her from her own worries.

It was nice, though, to take a few minutes of solitude, with nobody else intruding on her thoughts. It didn’t last as long as she liked. The gate opened and closed noisily, stirring her from her thoughts. Despite a bit of irritation at the interruption, there was a small smile on her face as she saw her brother approaching. Some company was always welcome.

“Hey, Big Brother, it’s barely after midnight. What’s the matter, you sick?”

“Just didn’t feel like drinking. Shocking, isn’t it?” Griffen said.

“Very. What’s the matter? No female companionship to stroke your . . . ego?”

“Wasn’t really what was getting to me. I’ve spent the day wrapping up the conclave. Most everyone’s left town, or at least gone back to their own parts of it. Though I’m afraid to say a few will be back.”

“Yeah, but some of them are okay. I think there is a good chance of Robin and Hobb coming down here to settle,” Valerie said.

“I wouldn’t know . . . None of the changelings wanted to see me today. Tink just left a voice mail on my phone. Thanking me for all my courtesy and assuring me none of this was my fault.”

“Which you won’t believe even if it’s true,” Val said.

“You know me so well, sister of mine.”

Val smiled and stared up at the stars.

“Have all the chats you need to? Harrison, for example?”

“Tried that one; he gave me a very definite ‘you don’t call me, I will call you.’ A lot to get his head around I suppose.”

“Ya think? How about Fox Lisa? I half expected you and her to end up here tonight. You know, ‘talking’ things over.” Val smirked.

“You couldn’t be more wrong. Lisa is currently staying at Mai’s.”

“What?!”

“You heard right. It seems when Lizzy burst in, Mai took it upon herself to gather up the waitstaff and get them out the back. Clear out those who really didn’t need to see dragons brawling. I’m amazed that no one else had the sense to think of it.”

“For the most part everyone ignored the waiters all night—something about the fog . . . or a ward . . . or something,” Val said.

“Yeah, and I’m glad Mai did remember. I don’t trust whatever Estella and the rest had cooked up to deal with the image of warring dragons. But it still left her and a still-pissed Fox Lisa alone in an alleyway. And I have no idea yet what they have talked about,” Griffen said.

“Mhmm, and whether it is good or bad, both will enjoy making you sweat it out. So they decided to camp out together. You do realize your love life is going to start becoming one of the Quarter’s most popular spectator sports?”

“Maybe I should have Jerome start a new betting pool.”

“He’d give you lousy odds. Sit down and shut up, Big Brother. Join me in a little stargazing.”

Griffen did as he was told, pulling up a lawn chair and setting it next to Valerie’s. He stared upward, watching a light cloud drift over a sliver of moon. It seemed to glow and sparkle as it obscured and revealed stars in its passing.

“So what does it look like to you?” Griffen said, looking for a shape in the cloud.

“Perfect timing,” Valerie said.

It was such an odd comment that Griffen looked over at her. She knew that she was worrying him but couldn’t help it. Even in the darkness, he could see the twin trails of tears that had begun to streak her face.

“Val!” Griffen sat up straight. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing . . . everything. No, nothing. I’ve just made a decision I should have made a while ago.”

“And that would be?”

“To tell you something. Relax, Griffen. Lean back, look at the stars, or at least not at me.”

Again, Griffen did as he was told, though this time it was obviously a lot harder. She watched the tension in him as he leaned back and looked upward. The night went silent, but for the soft sounds of Valerie crying. It wasn’t sobs, it wasn’t sniffles, just the gentle flow of emotion too long pent up. Griffen watched the cloud and waited.

“I’m sorry I held this back . . . You’ve just been so busy. So many things going on. Romance, the conclave, so much pressure, so much responsibility. I wanted to be strong for you, Big Brother.”

“You are one of the strongest people I know, Valerie. Even though I’m still ticked that you could hide something like Lizzy from me, the reasons you did it for . . . Well, stupid as it was, strong and brave and self-sacrificing doesn’t cover it. I’ve always admired that. Hell, I’ve always envied it, a little.”

“That’s because you’re a dope.”

“Well, of course.”

Griffen’s eyes flickered to his sister. She smiled a bit, so he did, too, then looked back up.

“I’m pregnant.”