Then Gleep got shot. To boot, that led to my finding out that there was a whole batch of problems the team had been handling without even telling me about them. Handling, as in putting themselves in the line of fire so I wouldn't be bothered.
It was disturbing to realize that I couldn't trust the team anymore. At least, I felt like I couldn't trust them because they didn't trust me enough to be open and honest about things anymore.
I was feeling confused and more than a little hurt, so I did what I usually do when things start crowding in on me. I retreated to the stables to hang out with Gleep.
Of course now, he was sleeping. Recovering from shock while his wound healed, Massha had said. I glanced over to be sure he was resting quietly, then went back to thinking.
The nice thing about the stables is that few people ever came here. I've been told that it's the smell that keeps them away, but when you've spent years with a pet dragon whose eating habits give him bad breath that would gag a maggot, it takes more than a bit of barnyard perfume to bother you. As a result, I had a place to go where I could be alone. A place where no one would intrude. A place where ...
"Hi, Skeeve."
The voice was easily recognizable, so I didn't even look around.
"Okay, you found me, Bunny," I said, heaving a sigh. "What is it now? More spreadsheets? Did Grimble misplace a decimal in the budget?"
She didn't answer, so I finally turned to face her.
As always, she was a delightfully curvaceous bundle who is a delight to look at. Now, however, she was staring at the ground and trembling slightly.
"Actually," she said softly, "I came down to see how Gleep was. I really didn't mean to intrude. I'll leave you alone and check back later."
She turned and started to leave.
"Whoa. Wait a minute, Bunny," I called. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just... it's been a rough day. That's all."
She stopped, but didn't turn back.
"So, so you want me to leave or not?" she said.
"Yes. No. I don't know," I stammered. "I'm so turned around ... I just don't know."
"That's really the heart of the problem, isn't it?" she said, turning at last. "If you don't know what you want, how is anyone else supposed to figure it out?"
"It's more than that," I said. "I just don't know who to trust anymore."
"What, you mean because of the little side project Guido and Nunzio took on without telling you?"
"You heard about that, huh?" I said, then a thought struck me. "Or did you know about it all along? Have you been part of this conspiracy of silence the whole time?"
"As a matter of fact, I didn't know about it," she said. "I guess they weren't sure that I wouldn't have felt obligated to tell you."
"That's a relief," I sighed.
"Is it?" she said. "I'll be honest with you, Skeeve. If they had included me in their planning, I would have gone along with it."
"You would?"
"Yes, I would," she said. "This whole thing with Queen Hemlock and the kingdom's finances has had you tied in knots, Skeeve. You really didn't need any other distractions."
"I see," I said. "I would have thought, if anyone, that you would be on my side, Bunny."
"When did it become 'sides,' Skeeve?" Bunny sighed. "We're all supposed to be on the same team. Remember?"
"Well, yes. But..."
"Have you listened to yourself lately, Skeeve?" she continued. "When I first walked in here, you nearly bit my head off because you thought I was coming to you with more problems. Now, in the same conversation, you're upset because Guido and Nunzio didn't come to you with new problems. You think you're confused?
Well, don't feel all alone. The whole team is confused right now."
"I don't... I just can't seem to get a fix on things anymore," I said.
"I've noticed," she said, turning to go. "Well, when you sort things out, or if you want someone to talk to, let me know. Until then, I think I'll just try to stay out of your way."
"Bunny, I..." I started to say, but she had already gone.
Terrific.
I leaned against Gleep's stall and let my thoughts whirl through my mind.
Now, on top of everything else, Bunny was upset with me. It was strange to realize just how much that bothered me. When her uncle, Don Bruce, first assigned her to me as my moll, she had come on so strong that she made me uneasy just to be around. Heck, she scared the pants off me. Since then, she had settled into the role of administrative assistant and personal confidante, performing with such competence and efficiency that she was now an indispensable member of the team. I had nothing but the highest respect for her, and wanted desperately for her to respect me in turn.
"Bunny ... right."
I looked up to find Gleep awake and staring at me.
"Gleep!" I said. "Are you all right, fellah? You're looking better and ... you're talking?"
I remembered now that, just before he collapsed, he had said my name, effectively doubling his vocabulary up until that point. I had been impressed at the time, but now ...
"Bunny ... right," he said again.
"Wait a minute, Gleep," I said. "You can talk? Why haven't you said anything before?"
"Secret," he said, then craned his neck to look toward the door. "Keep ... secret?"
"Sure, I'll keep it a secret," I said. "But... wait a minute. What do you mean 'Bunny's right'?"
"Friends ... love ... Skeeve," my pet said. "Skeeve ... not... happy. Friends ... try ... make ... happy. Not... know ... how."
Maybe it was his broken speech or the simplification it required, but what Gleep was saying made sense. It kind of summarized what a lot of people had been telling me. In an absence of information from me, the team had been left to their own devices at interpreting what it would take to make me happy, then acting on those interpretations. In turn, I had been looking at those actions without realizing what they were doing, and ...
"Wait a minute, Gleep," I said. "Those 'accidents' you've been having. Did they have anything to do with what you're telling me now?"
"Gleep," he said, chewing at his foot.
"Oh no," I said. "The 'dumb animal' bit won't work any more. Answer the question."
He looked at me levelly.
"Skeeve ... not... happy," he said. "Gleep ... love ... Skeeve."
If I thought my brain was whirling before, now it was doing loop-the-loops.
"But Gleep, I don't know what it will take to make me happy," I said desperately.
"Talk ... Aahz," he said.
"What?"
"Talk ... Aahz," he repeated. "Aahz ... help."
Actually, that was pretty good advice. Aahz had been my teacher and mentor long before he took me as a full partner. Not only had he seen a lot and been around for a long time, he had a vested interest in my well-being.
"Good idea, Gleep," I said. "But now that we're talking .. ."
"Talk ... Aahz," he said again. "Gleep ... sleep ... now. Hurt."
With that, he lowered his head to the ground, heaved a sigh, and closed his eyes.
Having been effectively dismissed by my own pet, I went to find Aahz.
I was so caught up in my thoughts that I barely noticed my surroundings as I made my way through the palace courtyard. Even though I wasn't seeing things, however, didn't mean others weren't seeing me.
"Hi, Skeeve. How's the dragon?"
It was Pookie, leaning against the courtyard wall in the shadows.
"Gleep? Oh, I think he'll be fine, Pookie. Thanks for asking."
"Any chance you have a minute to talk?" she said. "I know you're busy, but..."
She let it trail off.
"Sure, if you don't mind talking while we walk," I said. "What's up?"
"I wanted to talk to you now that things have calmed down a little," she said, falling in step with me. "Is what I've heard right? The whole thing with the Queen has been resolved?"
"That's right," I said, forcing a smile. "I'm off th
e hook. It turns out that her whole threat to abdicate and stick me with Possiltum if I didn't marry her was just a bluff. I'm still single, and she's going to handle the kingdom."
"Uh-huh," she said. "Well, in that case it seems like it's time for me to move on."
"It does?" I said, slowing slightly.
Truth to tell, with all the excitement that had been goin on, I really hadn't given much thought to Pookie and her continued employment. Apparently she had.
"Sure," she said. "I was only hanging around because there was some question as to how the Queen would take it if you turned her down. Now that we've cleared that hurdle, I can't see anything for me to do around here that can't be handled by Guido and Nunzio."
"I dunno, Pookie," I said. "I haven't had a chance to talk with the rest of the team, but I'm pretty sure they'd be interested in taking you on as a full-time member of M.Y.T.H. Inc. At this point, I don't think there's any question as to your being qualified."
"I've thought of that," she said. "No offense, but I don't really think it's for me. I still get too much of a kick freelancing through the dimensions to settle down to steady work just now. Besides, I've got a new partner now. I'd want to teach her the ropes a bit and get her some seasoning before she'd be ready to apply for a place in your crew."
I homed in on two phrases in her statement: 'new partner' and 'her/she.' Pookie hadn't met all that many people here on Klah, much less female people. Massha was about to get married, and Queen Hemlock wasn't budging. By elimination, it sounded like she was talking about Bunny.
"A new partner?" I said, trying to make it sound casual. "Anyone I know?"
"Don't know how well you know her," Pookie said. "But it's Spyder, if that's what you're asking."
I felt strangely relieved that she wasn't referring to Bunny, but her answer still left me puzzled.
"Spyder?" I said, frowning. "The guy from the Army that's been checking on the tax collectors? He's a woman? I mean ..."
"I guess you don't know her too well," Pookie said with a laugh. "Trust me, Skeeve. She's a woman. I know the difference."
"So, you're teaming with her now," I said quickly, trying to hide my embarrassment. "When did this happen?"
"Well, we've been working together on the tax collectors getting hijacked, and we hit it off pretty well," she said. "The kid's a little wet behind the ears, but there's plenty of potential there if anyone's willing to take the time to work with her."
For some reason, that reminded me of my early days with Aahz. As complex as things had become lately, I found myself reflecting on those times with a certain amount of nostalgia.
"Well, if your mind's made up, I don't see where I can object," I said. "Any idea how soon you'll be leaving?"
"It'll take a day or two to get her sprung from the Army," Pookie said, "but after that we can pretty much pick our time. The nice thing about being on your own is that you can name your own schedule."
"Just be sure to stop by and say 'Goodbye' before you go," I said. "If nothing else, I think you're due an extra bonus this round."
'That's sweet of you, Skeeve," she smiled. "But then, you've been a square-shooter all along. In case it doesn't get said later, I'll miss you. It's been a real experience."
With that she turned and headed off in the opposite direction.
Even though we hadn't worked together that long or that closely, I felt a certain loss thinking of her eventual departure. She had been part of the team, and it wouldn't be the same without her.
Of course, Massha would be leaving as well, now that she was getting married.
It made me wonder what other changes might be in store now that our work in Possiltum was finished.
EIGHTEEN
"I was hoping for a little fatherly advice."
J. CHRIST
"C'mon in, partner," Aahz said, beckoning me into his room. "I was wondering if you were going to stop by."
That was all the invitation I needed, and, after casually closing the door behind me, sank into one of room's chairs.
"Would you like something to drink, or are you still on the wagon?"
I had been making an effort to cut back on my drinking, but right now a drink sounded like a good idea.
"Some wine would be nice, thanks," I said.
"Coming right up," he said, moving to the tray containing several earthen bottles of wine and goblets that he always seemed to have in his room. "So. How's Gleep doing?"
"He seems to be healing up incredibly fast," I said. "That stuff Massha used on the wound is amazingly effective."
"Don't forget, dragons are tough," Aahz said, handing me a goblet of wine. "They heal fast even without magical
aid. On the whole, they're smart, too. Did I mention that when that yahoo let fly with his bow, that Gleep actually jumped in front of me? For all I know, he might have saved my life by taking that arrow."
"I didn't know that."
"Well, take it from me, he did," Aahz grimaced, shaking his head slightly. "You know, it makes me feel a little bad. I mean, I've been making snide comments about that beast ever since you got him, and then he goes and jumps in front of me when the shooting starts. I owe him some thanks, but how do you apologize to a dragon?"
I thought about my recent discovery of Gleep's ability to talk, but a promise is a promise and I decided to keep his secret, even from Aahz.
"Just take some time and talk with him," I said. "I think he can read the tone of people's conversation, even if doesn't understand the actual words."
"Do you really think so?"
"I'm certain of it," I said, sipping from my drink. "I was just down at the stables visiting him, and I'm sure he understood what I was saying."
"At the stables, eh?" Aahz smiled. "I kind of figured that was where you were."
"Oh?"
"Well, it's where you usually go when you're upset and want to think things over."
It seemed my secret retreat was not as much of a secret as I had imagined.
"Yeah. I was upset," I said defiantly. "Even you have to admit that this time I had reason to be."
"No argument there," Aahz said with a shrug. "If anything, I'm impressed that you've recovered as quickly as you have. I notice the specific use of 'was' when you referred to your mood."
"As you say, I thought things over."
"Can I ask what you came up with?" Aahz said. "Or would that be prying?"
I took another long drink from my wine.
"Well, there are a couple things that people have pointed out to me that I've come to realize are true," I said finally. "First off, that I'm not happy. Second, that until I figure out what it will take to make me happy, I'm making myself and everybody around me more than a little crazy."
"Bravo," Aahz said, clapping his hands lightly. "Couldn't have put it better myself. Who was it that managed to get that across to you?"
"Well, General Badaxe, for one," I said, smiling slightly at the memory. "Of course, he had to kick me in the butt first, literally, to get my attention."
"Excellent." Aahz smiled. "I'll have to remember that teaching technique. Go on."
"Well, trying to sort things out, I've been fairly successful at coming up with what I don't want to do. Case in point is mat I don't want to marry Queen Hemlock, and that's all the justification I need to step back from that situation. Same thing with running the kingdom if she had tried to abdicate ... which she didn't, by the way. If I don't want to do it, I don't have to. I've been letting myself get jerked around too long by what other people want or expect me to do instead of focusing on what I want to do."
"Again, no argument," Aahz said. "Go on."
I slumped slightly in my chair.
"That's the problem," I said. "I can't seem to come up with what I do want to do ... what it would take to make me happy. That's why I'm here. For a bit of sage wisdom and advice. So, talk to me, Aahz. What's the answer?"
Aahz took a sip of his own drink, then sighed and shook his head.
"Sorry, partner," he said. "I can't help you with that one."
I blinked in surprise, then saw red. All the anger and frustration I had been feeling lately came rushing to the fore, and this time, I didn't try to rein it in.
"That's it?" I snarled. "After all these years of nagging and lecturing me on stuff I didn't want to hear, when I finally come to you with a question, it's 'Sorry, I can't help you'?!"
I stood up and slammed my goblet down on the table.
"Sorry to have bothered you," I hissed.
"Sit down, Skeeve," Aahz said carefully. "We still have things to talk about."
"We'll talk later," I said coldly. "Right now, I've got to get some fresh air."
I turned and headed for the door.
"We'll talk now," I heard Aahz say behind me.
I kept walking, waving a dismissive hand over my shoulder.
"I SAID 'WE'LL TALK NOW!'!!!"
That was a tone I had never heard from Aahz before, and it stopped me in my tracks. I turned to face him.
He was on his feet, fists clenched and all his muscles taut, as if he was physically being restrained from throwing himself at me. Even his scales were a darker shade of green, and his golden eyes were positively glowing.
Looking at him, I experienced a series of flashback images, all overlaid on his current stance and posture. Aahz when he first suggested that I become his apprentice. Aahz when he discovered that I had bought Gleep. Aahz when I brought Markie home from the Dragon Poker game. The numerous times he had expressed his frustration at my ignorance and my fumbling efforts to learn magik. Aahz leaping into the path of the bug creature as it tried to trample me in the big game. The look on his face just before he agreed to leave Perv and return to Klah with me.
As fast as the images danced through my brain, my anger was dispelled.
"We'll talk now," I said, calmly.
I walked back to my chair and reseated myself.
It took a little longer for Aahz to settle down. He stood there breathing deeply for several moments, then drained his goblet and refilled it from the pitcher.
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