Elfhome

The tengu writhed on the ground, trying to escape him. Tommy pinned him in place with his foot, reversed the rifle and placed the tip of the barrel at the center of the tengu’s forehead. He released his hold on the tengu’s mind, letting him see the rifle. “And no one fucks with what is mine.”

The roaring of the crowd grew, indicating that the race was nearly done. The tengu team would be free to look for their missing shooter, and the grandstand would be swarming with idle race goers, hanging out between races. If he killed the tengu, there could be hell to pay. He kicked the tengu in the temple, knocking him unconscious. Bingo scrambled up the ladder to join Tommy on the roof.

“Don’t kill him, but get him down off here.” Tommy turned to watch the end of the race.

The leaders were coming around the last turn. Blue was tight and low, leaned so close to the inside wall it seemed like it had to be peeling off his jacket. Oilcan was tucked close behind, his spell chain nearly touching Blue’s lift engine. The human flicked out as they hit the straight, moving to try and pass the half-elf. The tengu whipped around the curve and poured all his power into speed and surged forward. Oilcan continued to slide right, blocking him. The tengu tried to shift left and Blue darted into his path. They roared toward the finish line, the lead two weaving a dance to keep the tengu blocked.

Team Big Sky won. Team Tinker took second. Team Providence took third.

#

Oilcan stopped Tommy before he reached the tengu team. “Don’t hurt them, Tommy. This has been bad enough for the racing. Don’t take it any farther.”

“This is their gun. They were going to use it on you and Blue.”

Oilcan’s eyes widened at the blood splattered rifle, but still, he shook his head. “You beat them. If you take it farther, it’s only going to look bad on you.” He indicated the sekasha in the stands.

Tommy flung the rifle into the tengu’s pit. “Clear out and don’t come back. All tengu teams, from here on out, are banned from the race. All tengu are banned from the race track. They are banned from every place that I have influence over. I offered a fair race and fair odds and you tried to grind that into the mud, and I will not deal with you again.”

“Do you think we care?” the captain asked.

“Take your dishonor back to your flock. Tell your shame to Jin. Then tell me if you care.”

It took a minute, but then it dawned on the male that in Pittsburgh, with the elves holding a sword’s edge to the throat of all that was non-elf, he and his cohorts had just fucked themselves over royally.

#

Windwolf arrived while Tommy was working in the money room, totaling up the day’s take. His sekasha walked in like they owned the place and he swept in behind them. The large, normally very secure room suddenly felt like a broom closet.

“What are you doing here?” Tommy saved his work and closed the windows on his datapad.

“I heard there was trouble here today,” Windwolf said.

“Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

The tengu team had slunk away, taking their unconscious shooter with them. The races continued without incident and no surprises in the betting. Between the attendance fees and concession receipts, they covered all their expenses and made a good profit. All in all, a good day.

Windwolf tilted his head, as if utterly confounded by Tommy. “Why do you fight the idea of forming a household beholden to me so much?”

“Why do you expect me to put my life into your hands? Because you were humane enough to recognize the truth — that we’re more human than we are oni? That we hate the oni as much as you do? Why should that be enough to make you our master?”

“As part of the new treaty, all of Pittsburgh must become part of the elfin culture. The half-oni must form a household.”

“We are a household.”

“And be part of a clan.”

“Because you refuse to trust us unless we’re your slaves? We’re good and honorable people.” He had realized today that he had always had, at his core, that human nobility that he recognized in John. For years he had run a fair race for no other reason that it seemed the right thing to do.

“It is the elfin way: those who serve are protected, those who protect are served.”

“The elfin way is wrong. You have no right to be my master. You’re no better a being than I am, and you don’t have my trust, and I don’t owe you anything. I will not enslave myself and my entire people just because you say I have to.”

“Yes, you owe me nothing,” Windwolf said patiently as if he was speaking to a child. “But I owe you my life. I do not seek to enslave you, but to protect you from my people and the others that would harm you.”

“I will protect my people. I always have. And I always will.”

20: Blackbird Sing

“Tommy, Keiko Shoji is at the gate. She says that Jin Wong wants to meet with you.”