by TR Cameron
The tiger-woman opened her eyes and gazed disdainfully at her. “I’m conserving my energy for when it’s needed next.”
“Ah. They say domesticated cats sleep twenty hours a day. Looks to me like you’re trying to break the record.”
“Jealous.”
She sighed. “Guilty as charged. I could use a nap.”
A sound from the side heralded the door to the receiving room opening. Her mentor, Phineas Margrave the Fourth emerged with a duffel bag in one hand and a small butcher paper-wrapped packet in the other. He grinned. “I see the kitty is resting again.”
Ruby laughed, and Idryll replied, “You’re jealous too.”
He nodded, and his impressive brown handlebar mustache bounced. “I’ll admit to that. Sleep is something I can never get enough of. Here, I brought you a present.” He threw the smaller of the two objects to her.
Her companion straightened in time to catch it and immediately ripped it open. Inside was smoked salmon, one of her current favorite foods. The shapeshifter grinned. “Thank you. I consider the fact that Ruby didn’t introduce me to this for so long to be an act of pure evil.”
Margrave nodded, looking serious. “As do I. It’s a wonder that you can even continue to be friends with her.”
Around a bite of salmon, Idryll replied, “I’m just the bigger person, I guess.”
Ruby rolled her eyes. “How about we get some work done for a change?” She headed into the workshop, and Margrave followed, laughing.
Once they were inside, she took her seat. He put his bag on the table, unzipped it, and proceeded to take out a box of tools, various components, and several smaller bags. He tossed the duffel to the side and sat. “So, what are we working on today?”
“First, let me show you my most recent success.” Ruby rose again and walked over to a cabinet, opened it, and withdrew a large drone. “Hold this up.” She handed it over. Margrave complied, and she used the controller to start the engine and to activate the bottom door. With a tinkling of metal, a couple of dozen caltrops fell out, cleanly separating as they dropped.
“Excellent. How’d you solve the clumping problem?”
“Put in a tube to redirect some of the airflow from the propeller through the storage compartment. It pushes them apart nicely.” She took it back from him.
“Innovative. That might work for your other vision for it, too.”
Ruby nodded as she stored it in the cabinet and kicked the caltrops off to the side. I’ll make Idryll clean them up later. That can be her work for the day. Give her something to complain about for a week or so. “Yeah, I think ejecting them out the back with the stream of air should prove effective. It would require a pretty major redesign since the duct would have to go right down the middle rather than only through one side of the thing. But it has promise.”
She sat again. “Okay, what I need from you is some help with locator tags and signal jammers. Plus, I’ve almost figured out the payload compartment for the tiny drone,” she gestured at the small device on the table that had bloodied her finger, “but haven’t quite gotten it working. I have the hardware in, but I can’t figure out the weight.”
He nodded. “Sounds like something I can help with. For the locator tags, I presume you want to use them on people, drones, cars, whatever?”
“Yeah. And they have to be small enough that people won’t notice them.”
“Magnetic?”
Ruby shrugged. “Some, sure. But we’ll want versions with an adhesive, as well. In case we need to plant them on someone’s clothes or on one of the plastic drones the damn PDA is using.”
Margrave’s expression turned serious. “I heard about your adventure with the Agency’s drones. What did you do to tick them off?”
“My existence is enough, it appears. Although I don’t think they like Morrigan or Idryll, either, so it’s more of an anti-magical-vigilante sort of dislike than something personal.”
From the other room, Idryll yelled, “I wouldn’t be too sure about that. You’re the only one who was in his bedroom.”
Margrave lifted an eyebrow, and Ruby rolled her eyes. “On his windowsill, technically speaking. I guess one of my legs was indeed in the bedroom. I thought he might want to have an actual conversation. Turned out, not so much.”
He shrugged. “Not a shock, I guess. Okay, the locator tags should be easy. I have the tech and some generic mounts in the toolbox, both adhesive and magnetic. A disc, you’re thinking?”
Ruby nodded. “Yeah, maximum surface for the size.”
He pulled out his notebook and jotted a few things down. “I can prototype that today, not a problem. On to the next thing. What sort of signals are you trying to jam?”
She frowned. They were entering an area of technology she wasn’t strong on. The basics of how electronic communication worked were part of her degree, but she’d always relied on existing technologies rather than innovating her own. “I guess I don’t really know the answer to that. Basically, I want to be able to use my equipment and interfere with others using theirs. That includes everything, drones, cell phones, encrypted comms, whatever.”
“That’ll be a little tougher. Probably the best plan is to get an off-the-shelf unit and refine it to a size you can carry. If we change the software to ignore the exact frequencies you use for your drones and comms, we’ll at least be part of the way there. I’d have to do some research to target other frequencies specifically, though. Blanketing them all is a waste of power if we can figure out which ones are most likely to be used.”
She nodded. “We can’t disregard the possibility that they’ll use an unexpected one. Maybe two modes?”
“Sure. It’s just adding a switch, basically. Probably,” Margrave corrected with a head shake. “This feels like one of those projects where you think you have it under control and it all goes sideways.”
Idryll shouted, “That’s the story of Ruby’s life.”
Ruby called back, “Hey, it’s been a while since you took a nap. Almost ten whole minutes. Maybe you should get to it.” She exchanged smiles with Margrave.
He said, “Let’s get to work.” They both picked up equipment and started applying tools to it. As they worked, they talked about small things, catching up on recent events. When she finished telling him the full story of the battle with the PDA, his expression was uncommonly concerned. “They really do have a bee in their bonnet about you.”
She scowled. “They suck.”
He laughed. “Apparently, that bee stings in both directions.”
“That would make it a wasp, I suppose. But yeah, they’re a major problem, even more than most people think.”
“Why is that? Other than the surveillance state they’re trying to bring into being in Ely.”
“We’ve got this rogue Drow whipping up the people in town, claiming that humans are repressing magicals. And here comes the PDA, acting in a way that exactly illustrates what he’s saying. They’re custom-made for each other. I can’t imagine Andrews is in bed with that chaotic bastard, but on the surface, it sure looks as if both are rowing in the same direction.”
“Not a pretty picture. Who are you going to deal with first?”
Ruby sighed. “That’s the problem. Right now, we’re very much reacting because we don’t have the information or the clarity to choose a direction. So, I guess whichever one pops their head up next. The good news is that Demetrius has narrowed down the locations of the PDA bases in town. Maybe, if we’re lucky, he can manage the same thing for the Drow and his group. I’m sure they’re in a warehouse somewhere, but there are a lot of those about.”
Margrave set down his tools and grabbed a bag that had been sitting next to him. “Then I guess you’ll want these.” He reached inside and handed over a bunch of patches with capsules mounted on them.
She recognized them immediately. “Daphne’s work?”
He nodded. “With an assist from yours truly, of course. The healing potions are no different than norma
l, but the energy ones are the kickier versions she created. She’s damn good at what she does. I took one the other day and forgot to sleep. Was up for forty-eight hours straight. Got a ton of work done, though.”
She laughed. “Perfect.” There were enough for her, Morrigan, and even Idryll, although how they’d stick one to her fur was an open question. Maybe we can shave patches for them. Somehow I don’t think she’d be in favor of that. The image made her laugh, and she shook her head. “This is fantastic, thank you.”
His hand disappeared into the bag again. “And, before you ask, I’m almost there on your dart reloads. I made the case, then I thought about it and realized that if I can spring-load them, they’ll be easier to remove. So, I’ll need a few more days.”
She nodded. “Appreciate it.”
He grinned. “Finally, take this.” He withdrew a small featureless black box from his bag and slid across the table. “I managed to shrink down the locator tracker even more. Right now, it’ll find all the people you’ve put implants in and interface with the tech in your mask. Once I get these other locators made, we can tweak the software to detect those, too.”
Ruby grinned. “It’s like Christmas up in here. You know what I’m going to ask for next, right?”
He sighed. “I imagine it’ll be about the most difficult thing you can think of, so, a deployment system for the locators? To put them in drones, or a gun, or something equally challenging?”
She laughed. “You know me too well. Got it in one. You’re brilliant, so that should take you what, a day and a half, maybe?” Her laughter continued as he stuck out his tongue at her with a look of exasperation.
“You know, I do have things to do for paying clients.”
“Yeah, but this is way more fun.”
Margrave rolled his eyes. “Your idea of fun is a little crazy, Ruby.”
From the other room, Idryll shouted, “That pretty much describes Ruby’s life. She’s crazy. What happens around her is crazy. It’s all just a big ball of insanity.”
Ruby called, “Especially those I choose to hang out with.”
He put his palm on his chest. “Present company excluded, of course.”
She shook her head. “Not a bit, old man. Where do you think I get my abundant level of lunacy from?”
Chapter Seven
Grinding Axes was as busy as she’d ever seen it. Magicals of every shape and size filled the bar, and she nodded toward a couple in the corner. “Even Kilomea tonight.”
Demetrius, looking dapper in black jeans and an untucked blue dress shirt, replied, “Oh, I met those two a while back. They’re vacationing here from Oriceran, seeing what Magic City is all about.”
“And they found the Axes? We’re a little off the beaten tourist path.”
He laughed. “There are tourists, and there are tourists. They aren’t the casino-going kind. They’re the learning about Earth kind. And I can’t think of a better place to see magicals coexisting happily than here.”
From behind the bar, Domick yelled, “Hey, strangers. Get over here.” They obeyed and exchanged quick hugs with each of the dwarven bartenders before they returned to serving their customers.
Demetrius said, “I’ll grab us drinks. You find the others.” Ruby nodded. It wasn’t that big a place, and she knew where to look. One of her roommates had thrown down a challenge at darts, and honor demanded a bout. Sure enough, Shiannor the elf, Daphne the witch, and Liam the dwarf were already near the dartboard, chatting and drinking while making practice throws.
They exchanged more hugs as Ruby arrived, and Shiannor commented, “You know, you’d think we’d encounter each other more often, given that we live in the same place.”
Ruby shrugged. “It’s a real busy life I lead. But fortunately, it’s also completely unrewarding.” The others laughed, and she slapped Shia on the arm. “Quit whining. You’re the least social of any of us. I’m surprised to see you out.”
Liam said, “He has his eye on someone who hangs out here. She hasn’t arrived yet, though.”
Daphne joined her in making the appropriate “Wooo” sounds, and the elf’s skin colored a little. She asked sweetly, “Do you think it’s warm in here, Shia?”
He scowled, muttered, “It’s my turn to throw,” and stepped away.
Ruby laughed and whispered, “Coward,” knowing his sensitive ears would pick it up.
Daphne said, “I’m so glad you could come out.”
Liam replied quickly, “Oh, it’s no problem. I wouldn’t miss the chance to hang with you.”
The witch smacked him on the chest with the back of her hand. “Shut up, you. I’m talking to Ruby, and you know it.”
He grinned. “Daphne’s very abusive, now that she’s a fancy business owner.”
The other woman beamed. “Speaking of which, here, I have something for each of you.” She reached into the overly large purse on the table beside her and pulled out a bunch of pins. Each displayed a stylized bright blue flask with a lightning bolt shooting through it. The background of the pin was an angled “D.”
Ruby snorted. “Subtle.”
Daphne offered her a theatrical scowl. “This, coming from someone whose family owns a casino, which is the very opposite of subtlety in every way. Besides, your people helped me create it.”
Ruby laughed. “Exactly. Like I said.”
Liam shrugged. “I don’t know much about branding, but it looks good to me.” He pinned it onto the black vest he wore over a white shirt. “Am I beautiful?”
Daphne giggled. “You’re always beautiful.” Ruby rolled her eyes. The two had always flirted, but of late, Daphne’s soaring confidence had also led to increased intensity in her wordplay with the dwarf. I wish they’d get a room. Wait, I guess I wish they’d get a hotel room, so I wouldn’t have to hear them.
Demetrius arrived. “Did I hear something about beautiful? You’re talking about me while I’m not here. That’s totally rude.”
Ruby resisted the urge to give him a good shoulder-check since he was holding their drinks. She took a pint of beer from his hand and tasted it. “Good. From the abbey?”
He nodded. “Special keg. Brand new. Doesn’t even have a name.”
She sipped again and detected cinnamon, as well as some other thing she could recognize. As always, it was delicious. She shook her head. “Abbott Thomas is wasted as a religious person. He should be a full-time brewmaster.”
Daphne said, “Maybe Spirits should become the craft beer source for Magic City. Open a restaurant carrying only the abby’s brews.”
Ruby blinked in surprise at the fact that such a brilliant concept had never occurred to her. “I’m definitely going to talk to my father about that. Genius-level idea. Your brain is firing on all cylinders, isn’t it?”
Demetrius shook his head. “Daphne, you shouldn’t show off like that in front of Ruby. You’ll make her feel bad about her own, shall we say, less impressive brainpower.” This time she did slam her shoulder into his, causing his beer to slosh onto his hand. He held it out. “It would be a shame to let even a single drop go to waste, wouldn’t it? Want to lick it off?”
She smiled sweetly. “Want to be coiled up on the floor in immense pain while I finish the rest of your drink for you?”
He pulled his hand away as if he’d touched a live electrical wire. “I’ll take that as a no. An emphatic one.”
Laughter rewarded his words. As Shiannor rejoined them, Liam said, “Okay, let’s take a minute for the reason we’re here. To Daphne, may your success continue until you rule the world.”
Everyone laughed, tapped their glasses together, and drank. They made a couple more playful toasts. Then the darts game began in earnest. The first round was Shiannor versus Demetrius. Ruby was the odd person out as Liam and Daphne talked with their heads close together, brows almost touching, clearly continuing their intense flirting.
Ruby finished her drink and headed to the bar for a refill. Jastrum, Domick’s twin brother, came ove
r. “The same?”
She nodded. “So, do you know Abbott Thomas?”
He laughed as he pulled the handle on the keg. “Every decent bar in Magic City makes a point of knowing Abbott Thomas. I swear he’s figured out how to use magic for brewing.”
She frowned. “He’s human.”
The dwarf delivered her drink and lifted an eyebrow. “Is he? Or is he a wizard in disguise?” He said the last as if sharing a secret, and she laughed.
“Conspiracy theories. I’m down. What else do you know? What other things do you think are going on?”
He spun out some well-rehearsed tales of Area Fifty-One UFO sightings, and she chuckled and nodded at the appropriate places while her body relaxed and her eyes idly scanned the crowd. She stiffened when she saw a familiar face in the corner, sitting alone with an empty glass in front of him. She tilted her head in his direction. “Does he come in here often?”
The bartender replied, “Yep, regular customer. Always alone, though. Has good taste in beer.”
The decision was impulsive, but she didn’t second-guess it. “Pull me another one, will you?” She took both glasses over to the table, set one in front of him, and sat on the opposite side. “Evening, Councilman.”
Grentham snorted at her with a scowl. “That title might’ve meant something once. Not so much these days. What is this?” He gestured at the drink.
She shrugged. “Whatever you want it to be. Gift from a stranger, attempt to lower your guard so you’ll spill all your secrets, peace offering, or maybe just one of those gift horses you shouldn’t look in the mouth.”
He snorted again but took the drink and sipped it. “So, what does Ruby Achera, the allegedly human daughter of a prissy Mist Elf family, want with me? There are rumors out there, you know, that you’re really half-human and not necessarily living with your birth parents.”
