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Monday, April 20, 2167
The Gray Ward
Dragon Heights, Wyoming
I engaged my new phone in a staring contest while Garnet ran around the apartment, zooming to and fro as though the devils of some hell chased after her. Sometimes, she hopped on her wheel to run off some of her energy. Other times, she used me as a launching pad for her adventures.
Once I gathered the courage to call my parents, I would be laughed right out of the country. Me, get a kitten? A pet? Something other than me to care for?
Letting my breath out in a gusty sigh, I picked up the wretched cell, tapped the phone icon, and input my parents’ home phone number. If nobody answered, I would swallow my pride and use my father’s cell.
My father would at least hear me out before laughing at me. My mother would scold me, hear I’d gotten a kitten, and laugh without listening to anything else.
I pressed the green icon to connect the call and held the device to my ear.
Ring. Ring.
Click.
“Well, well, well. It seems our little hatchling has decided to join the modern world, purchasing a phone,” my father answered.
Damn. Betrayed by technology. “According to Mom, I was a torturous sixteen hour live birth, which was a curse of her own choosing, as she could have refused any offers of seduction from you, my loving father,” I quipped back.
“I know, I know, but we can’t tell her that. I like having accepted offers of seduction. As I see you are no longer embarrassed by the natural order of things, what’s wrong? You don’t call or ask for help unless something is truly the matter.”
I chuckled. “I am calling to notify you that you have a grandchild. She is a kitten, and her name is Garnet. She is currently tearing across my domicile. I don’t know what was in her milk this morning, but if I could bottle her energy, I would be the richest woman in the world within a week.”
“I see. According to your area code, you now live in Wyoming. Dragon Heights to be specific. Do you care to tell me why you are in Dragon Heights rather than in Miami where you belong?”
“The men are hot, the kittens are cute, and the city is welcoming of the strange humans of the world—and there isn’t an open hatred of necromancers or anyone who might resemble one. In reality, it was where I was at when I decided to join the modern world, purchasing a phone. Now you can text me at your leisure and inquire about my current status. But I will do my best to make certain you cannot track me by my phone.”
“I see we made mistakes raising you,” my father muttered. “But as you have bothered to contact me, I have some information that might be of use to you.”
“Can I ask for some specific information before you give me the bonus information?” I asked, wondering if my father might be able to help give me a clue on who might want to kill pilgrims or terrify the local brothel workers.
Or both.
“As you were wise enough to ask, yes. How can I help you?”
“Should I be concerned if I did some dragons a favor and they’re being frighteningly generous?”
“If you decided to go to Dragon Heights, and you did something for somebody, chances are the somebody is a dragon, wants to be a dragon, or is related to a dragon. If you do a dragon a favor or they feel they owe you a debt, they will do things like that. Frankly, you gracing them with your presence should be sufficient to get them to fall into line.”
“Dad,” I scolded.
“You are my daughter, and they should be worshipping the ground you walk upon.” After issuing a soft, displeased snort, he added, “What sort of gifts have you received for doing what?”
“I recovered animals from their rains for the bounty money. They audited my account, and they gave me cash and a carbunclo.”
“Excuse me, but did you just say they gave you a carbunclo?”
Garnet chose that moment to come barreling over to me, launched herself onto my lap, and squeaked at me. Giggling, I pinned my cell between my ear and shoulder and scooped the kitten up, snuggling with her. “She has little stone paws, and she loves mashed potatoes. I took her to a fancy restaurant because she wasn’t getting on well with the dragons who were keeping her. I have a reputation, Dad. I love animals, and the dragons know it. I threatened to take on the entire titanium clan if they rained kittens, puppies, ponies, or any pets on the city.”
“So, you’re saying you’re still in Dragon Heights.”
“I was, at some point, in Dragon Heights.”
Dad chuckled. “And you charmed the titanium dragons enough they gave you the carbunclo kitten the Chileans had gifted them for a favor?”