Dragons Wild (gm-1) by Robert Asprin

Author:Robert Asprin [Asprin, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sf
ISBN: 1-4362-0155-1
Publisher: ACE BOOKS
Published: 2008-03-19T04:00:00+00:00

Twenty-seven

Once in a while, everyone needs advice.

Valerie found herself pacing back and forth in Mose’s living room, which wasn’t really large enough for her stride. After about four steps, she had to turn and start back the other way. Mose watched her progress and leaned back in his chair, seemingly completely relaxed. It was a good act, considering her nervous energy had him practically twitching. Being in tight quarters with an agitated female dragon was something he had learned from long experience to avoid. He was thinking that he either needed to calm her down or jump out the window and seek cover.

“What am I doing here?” Valerie said.

“Well, not to put too fine a point on it, but I was about to ask the same thing,” Mose said.

She waved off his comment with an impatient gesture.

“Oh, I didn’t mean here, Mose. I meant here!”

“Thank you for clearing that up.”

Valerie drew her self up sharply, but saw his twinkling eyes and the laughter lines on his face start to deepen. With an exasperated sigh she folded herself into a chair. Sitting stiff backed and wire tight, she seemed to tower over Mose’s relaxed form. Her expression, however, had relaxed marginally, and she clasped her hands in her lap to keep them from fidgeting.

“I’m not making much sense am I?”

“Well now, I wouldn’t go that far. Let me take a guess.”

Mose steepled his fingers and looked over Valerie closely. She didn’t realize some of the changes that showed in her. Her strength and natural confidence had grown, as had her pride. Though she hadn’t changed dress habits as drastically as her brother, what she wore began to cling to her differently as she began to hold herself differently. More noticeably, though, she had a new light burning in her eye, that even with Mose’s long experience he couldn’t quite place.

He looked over her long enough, that she felt like getting up and pacing again. Finally he opened his hands wide and spoke.

“You meant here as in New Orleans. Big Brother Dragon has been changing and growing and coming into his own, and you’re wondering where yours is. Feeling restless.”

“More like useless. I came down here to protect Grifter, even if he thinks it was his idea to protect me.”

“And you’ve been doing a fine job at it by my reckoning.”

In a flash she was up on her feet again and Mose fought a reaction to wince. She tried to pace, gave up on it, and contented herself to lean against the back of the chair. Her hands gripped it so hard it creaked, but she didn’t seem to notice.

“Fine! How do you figure fine! I haven’t done a single thing, and he’s got his other protectors now.”

“Jealous?”

Mose braced himself, but it was a necessary risk. Instead of another outburst, Valerie looked shocked, and with the shock came serious consideration. She sighed and leaned more against the chair, folding her elbows under her to brace herself.

“Oh, hell, I can’t be. It’s good that he’s got things working so well.

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