by Grace, Viola
He smiled. “You don’t need to convince me. If I had the chance, I would hire you as my personal aide in a heartbeat.”
“That’s sweet. You could never afford me.” She grinned.
“I get the feeling that a truer statement has never been uttered. Did you know that we did this entire conversation in Jianoan?”
“Of course. I didn’t want any of the locals to listen in.” She dabbed her mouth with her napkin. “I may be a little wild, but I am not indiscrete.”
He smiled. “Shall I return you to the museum?”
“Please. On foot, though. There is no reason to startle the locals.”
He grinned and got to his feet. She stood and reached up, stroking her finger along his cheek. She licked her fingertip and smiled. “Very nice ganache.”
He closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them.
“What was that?”
“I just counted to ten very quickly. Come on. I will take you back before you get me into trouble.”
She grinned and linked her arm with his. “I have enjoyed this afternoon. Thanks for the distraction.”
“You are welcome. Why did you need a distraction?”
“I was about to rearrange the gallery, and that always makes the curator a little ill. She doesn’t like change in her territory, but she accepts that some of the artifacts need to be repositioned.”
“Why?”
They were on the sidewalk, and the museum loomed ahead of them.
“What?”
“Why do you reposition the artifacts?”
“They don’t like each other.” She looked at his surprised face and laughed. “Most of the objects that we have are cursed in some way or another. Those curses carry the imprint of the ages, and that imprint is made of either souls or emotion. Those emotions can clash. Societies can clash. If the objects that are made of pure emotion are set next to each other, visitors become uneasy, the objects lose or gain power. This has an effect on the way that they operate, and containment can be nullified.”
“That sounds serious.”
“It can be. The impact of the leaks is usually felt once the visitors have left the museum. Their anger, lack of luck, or even increased libidos can be out of control. They won’t know why, but their lives will suddenly go wrong.”
“Has this happened?”
“Sixteen times in the last three years. I have separated the two warring items, and they are happy now.”
“What were they?”
“A corset busk and a codpiece from the fifteenth century. I am sure you can guess at the difficulty.”
“Men versus women?”
“Worse, boys versus girls. Both of the original owners were teens trying to be too old for their actual age. They were in a constant state of trying to outdo each other, and it bled out of their containment into the visitors. The flirting that began in the gallery continued on with an effect for two days. It wrecked three marriages. It might even have saved one or two.”
Inoth blinked. “That is something I never considered.”
“Yes, because of the situation that creates the objects and the countries wanting to get them off their hands, we have a number of items that are passive on their own and deadly with the wrong neighbor.”
“What happens with the right neighbor?” His voice was low.
“Harmony, building on their better natures, and an excellent display for their viewers. With the right partner, they can educate, entertain, and enhance the knowledge of those viewing the gallery.”
They entered the museum, and she smiled at security. He waved them through.
“So, you truly live here?”
She chuckled. “I do. Not in the museum but nearby. This is my home, and I am glad to have it.”
“So, being a docent pays well?”
Eltrinia laughed. “For what it is, it does.”
“Are you happy with your funds?”
She snickered. “Yes. There are a few other avenues of income that are helping, and if I wanted to purchase a piece of property, I could.”
“Really? Is it the sort of work you did last night?”
She laughed. “No. It is something that I am uniquely suited for.”
She looked at the nearest ancient clock, and she sighed. “I am afraid that I have to part ways with you now. I have to get ready for my evening event.”
He blinked. “Already?”
“I have to be ready by six. We spent an hour just deciding on the cupcakes.” She chuckled. “Well, it has been nice to see you again, informally, Ambassador.”
Inoth sighed. “I hope that we can do this again soon.”
She nodded. “I hope so, too. Thank you for the afternoon out.”
He stopped, faced her, and lifted her hand to his lips. “Thank you for the recommendation. I look forward to another adventure on another day.”
She felt the heat from his lips against her skin, but he didn’t make contact. He was flirting again.
A flick of a glance told her that the workers at the museum were watching, and the ladies were sighing with smiles on their faces.
Inoth stood straight, winked, and left the museum by the door they had just walked through.
She felt the change in the air when he transported.
A quick glance at the chronometer told her she was cutting it close, and she quickly walked back through the museum, the teahouse, the arboretum, and finally her quarters.
Orisa rated some semi-formal clothing. She was Trin’s mother-in-law and deserved respect for accepting an unknown bastard as her son’s mate, with the serious possibility of no grandchildren on the horizon.
With a fresh change of clothing, all traces of frosting removed from her face, and her hair pulled into a low twist, she was ready to meet the wife of the senator of the entire continent.
Chapter Four
Orisa was looking at the projection of the dragon when Eltrinia stepped up to her and said, “It is a lovely depiction.”
The senator’s wife smiled. “It is. I know the dragon who posed for it. He is surprisingly shy, considering that he let himself be scanned and measured for this particular project.”
“Hello, Rish. Has it only been two days?” Eltrinia extended her hands.
Rish gripped her hands and inclined her head. “It seems longer.”
“I have that effect on people.” She gently skimmed Rish’s current mood and awareness. There was a sly sense of what Eltrinia was doing, but it was more amusing than anything else.
“So, have you decided on a place for dinner?”
“If you don’t mind, the curator has asked us to join her so that she may act as my agent. I am hardly old enough to be acting solely on my own behalf.” She winked.
Lady Lefarge blinked. “Ah. Yes. That will be acceptable, and the second part always slips my mind.”
Eltrinia released Rish’s hands. “Well, then, we can head up to the private dining room.”
“Lead the way. I haven’t been here in years.”
Eltrinia walked through the building with her acquaintance and explained a few of the displays on the way.
Rish looked at her in surprise. “You really know the ins and outs of this place.”
“Of course, I do. It’s my home.” She chuckled.
“You know, you have an apartment in the capital anytime you want it.”
“I don’t want it. The djinn contamination gives me the ability to teleport, and my dragon is nowhere near willing to come out and play. I don’t know what the other interference in my design will bring.”
“We will discuss that over dinner. I have a very specific position in mind for you, and I will explain it in detail.”
Eltrinia grinned. “I know. That is also why the curator is going to be there. She’s my legal guardian according to all of this continent’s traditions. She handles my money.”
Rish laughed and then asked about one of the displ
ays of ancient tablets that was positioned behind thick glass. “That looks familiar.”
“It should be. It is on loan from the Lefarge Collection. It is the marriage contract for a son of the Brion clan to be sent to the eldest daughter of the Lefarge family as husband.”
Rish blinked. “I didn’t know about that.”
“Yes, it hearkens back to the days when the dragons were matriarchal.”
She chuckled. “Well, I knew that part, but I didn’t know that the tablet was on loan here.”
“The senator sent it over two weeks ago.”
“Ah. That would be why. It has been a busy few weeks.”
Eltrinia smiled. “Come on. I can take you on a private tour of the building after we eat and negotiate.”
“That sounds like fun. Okay, let’s go, but I am really interested in your gallery. I am eager for a full tour.”
“That can be arranged.”
They walked with a few slight explanations as to the plants that they passed in the arboretum. Eltrinia knew them all.
The curator was waiting for them in the private dining room with a family-style meal waiting. “Lady Lefarge, please be welcome. I am here only as counsel and observer.”
“Curator. It is good to see you again. Please, call me Rish.”
The curator inclined her head. “Please be seated. I will endeavour not to get in the way.”
Eltrinia sat at the round table, next to Orisa and across from the curator.
The mechanicals rolled forward and engaged in service. Eltrinia smiled at a few of her favourites being placed in her dish. She was a huge fan of beef stew and the bread that accompanied it.
Rish was grinning at a pork chop with thinly sliced potatoes and a luxurious cream sauce.
The curator had both on her plate, and she looked quite pleased with herself.
They settled in to eat, and Rish began her pitch. “So, Eltrinia, your particular skills and mindset have begun to point us in a specific direction. We want you to be an agent of the senate.”
Eltrinia wrinkled her nose. “Would that mean that I would be bound to the same rules and regulations as the regular hunters?”
Rish paused. “Possibly.”
The curator put some stew on her fork, and she murmured, “Consultant.”
Eltrinia chuckled. “What about calling me a consultant?”
Rish frowned. “You wouldn’t have the protection of the senate.”
“I don’t have it now and wouldn’t have it as an agent. I would still be subject to the laws of whatever city or demesne I was in. There is no immunity for agents in foreign lands, and I do believe that is what you are describing.” Eltrinia tore her bread up and used it to mop up the gravy of the stew.
Rish smiled slightly. “That is a very cogent argument.”
“Thank you. So, how well would this consultancy pay, and can we put a limit of how many times per month I can be called upon?”
Rish paused. “Why?”
“This is my job. This is where I work. People here depend on me. Private tours through the on-loan gallery have increased dramatically, and that means more money for the museum, raises for the employees, and a generally more fun atmosphere. That makes the curator happy, and that makes me happy. So, I only want to leave here a maximum of two times per month for no more than three days per assignment.”
Rish blinked. “That is still a week a month, more or less.”
“Yes, but I don’t want to be unreasonable. My work here can also be used in my assignments. I don’t doubt that the curator will be willing to vouch for me in my travels.”
The curator gave her a dark look, but she nodded. “I will be responsible for her as she wanders the world. Keep in mind that she is banned on pain of death from Jianoa.”
Rish nodded. “That is already in the file I had prepared and sent over. She won’t be put in danger. We just need someone who is adept at data filtering, and Eltrinia is definitely uniquely suited for that particular situation.”
Eltrinia finished her food and smiled. “Well, that is accurate.”
The curator frowned. “Is she authorized to use all means at her disposal in self-defense?”
“Provided that she is operating within reasonable parameters, yes.”
Eltrinia smiled. “I am always reasonable. Oh, how are the three that we brought in last night?”
“They still have four weeks of gestation remaining based on the information that you sent to us and the data in their tank units. Do you want to be there when they come out?”
“I do. If they are anything like me, they are going to come out confused and looking for information. If they haven’t been getting the information that was dumped into me in the last weeks, they are going to be children. They are going to need to be clothed, educated, and protected until they can grasp what they are.”
Rish suddenly had a motherly expression. “Was it horrible?”
Eltrinia chuckled. “I knew that I was alive. I knew what words were before I spoke, and I learned quickly. It was like there was a priming charge in my mind.”
The ruby dragon leaned forward. “What is the first thing you remember?”
“Hearing words, definitions. The first time I was fully exposed to light, I remember a storm with water hitting the tank, and then, I was falling. I fell for what felt like forever, and then, I was walking up the beach and the sun was becoming bright.” She smiled. “I can still feel rocks and sand between my toes. It was my first tactile memory.”
“So, we need to be careful with what these girls’ experience.”
“Definitely. I would move them out of the capital if you have them there. They will need a place to learn to be human before they can be dragons.”
Rish nodded and then glanced at the curator. “You know about this?”
The curator smiled. “I do now. How many of them are there?”
Rish answered, “Three.”
“Send them to Rekker. It is the most secure city, and the mages there have no interest in science. The temperament of nature and magic dragon is also very even. Aelemilial is an excellent teacher.”
Rish paused. “It is a good suggestion. I will bring it to the council, who is managing this situation.”
The curator nodded and left it. Eltrinia smiled. She knew that her guardian simply wanted to take the tanks and keep them safe, but it would rapidly get out of control if they kept finding more dragons who were nearly complete. They needed a finishing school or something to help these girls grow into dragons.
The mechanicals cleared the table and brought in the dessert course.
Eltrinia sat still while she was served apple cobbler and ice cream, as well as strawberry shortcake.
Everyone was served something specific, but Eltrinia liked the fruity-creamy items on her plate.
Coffee was served as well as a pot of tea. By the time they had gotten through the dessert and were sitting back, they were ready to resume the conversation.
“So, rate-wise, we were thinking, a thousand a day.”
The curator raised her brows. “Why so much?”
“The danger factor. I also need a lot of training for each event. Well, I would, if I couldn’t learn in my particular way. As it is, I think that I will request an additional thousand if I am required to gain a physical skill, five hundred if I have to pick up a language.”
The curator leaned forward and smiled. She was waiting for something.
“How about five hundred for physical skill and two fifty for a language.” Rish wasn’t really serious, but she had to act on behalf of the council.
The curator sipped her coffee and smiled. “Alrighty. My turn. Eleven hundred for physical skill and six hundred for a language.”
The negotiations were on.
Eltrinia sat back and watched the two older dragons bickering good-naturedly back and forth. The point that the curator finally managed to get through was that Eltrinia w
ould not need to relearn what she had already absorbed. Each new situation would be a one-time expense that would not need to be repeated. It was far less than training her for the necessary time would cost if she was a standard dragon.
After an hour, the deal was struck.
Eltrinia exhaled. There was even a clause being put in that would give her the option to reject a partner they had paired her with. When she finally took on her dragon, there would be a new series of negotiations as she would not be as valuable as she was right now. Now, she could go to places where dragons were not welcome. No magic could pull her dragon to the surface if it didn’t want to go.
This was the best time to be traveling on behalf of the museum and engaging in espionage for the guild.
When the ladies finished shaking hands on negotiations, they both burst out in laughter. It was a queen fight for a modern age, and money and wits were the weapons.
Chapter Five
“I really enjoyed that.” Rish was still smiling as they approached the gallery.
“Dinner or the heated negotiations?”
Rish smirked. “Both.”
Eltrinia shook her head. “You both looked like you were enjoying yourselves.”
“We were. She was right about Rekker. It is an excellent choice. I think that might be your first assignment when I get clearance. Aeli would be so impressed. I don’t think she has ever seen a djinn before.”
“I am hardly a djinn.”
“You are closer than anyone else born on this continent.”
“I also wasn’t born.” She wrinkled her nose. “Here we are. My tiny domain.”
Rish smiled. “So, what is your favourite piece?”
“The comb of my ancestor. She has quite the history, and that is where they got the genetic material to create me.”
“Really?”
“So, I have been told.” She smirked and led the way to the comb of Adular the Defiant.
“By whom?”
“My dragon. She knows all about me. It has been a little disconcerting as she enjoys laughing at me, but she gives me tidbits when I am relaxing or when I see something that she recognizes. Adular is my djinn component.”
