I got a day off too. The first day I left the shop in the hands of my employees was the hardest. It was like leaving my child in the hands of strangers. But by then, I'd been open for over a month, and Arena and Raef knew their way around the inventions. They'd also proved themselves to be trustworthy, far from strangers. Although it was hard to cheat me when I knewevery item in the shop, exactly how many of them we had, and had the reckoiner to count the money.
After my first day off, it got easier, and I was able to leave the store without feeling as if I'd come back to find it empty. Or on fire. And it was about time I had a social life. It was part of my fresh start. An integral part.
As I said, I didn't think about the Dragon King. He was handsome. That was undeniable, but so was the last Dragon king I'd known, and King Dhrostan had not been good to me. So if the Dragon King of Sken had so easily forgotten about me, it wasn't so hard for me to return the favor. Much harder to forget was Rontor. Every time I went out, even if it was just with friends, I saw things that reminded me of my old lover.
“Oh, Gods,” I whispered.
My companion, an Argaiv man named Edal, didn't notice my unease. He was too busy talking about himself. Again. I let him go on about whatever it was this time and focused on the Ricarri man walking up the sidewalk toward us. He was big, but all Ricarri were, so that wasn't what lanced pain through my heart. It was his features. They had the same severity with a hint of kindness that Rontor had. And I knew exactly what that kindness was reserved for. Or who, rather.
The vanrussa walking beside the Ricarri had her head lifted, her long fur brushed back and shining with health. Vanrusas were valuable dogs to anyone, but they were only bred by Ricarri and were especially coveted by the mountain folk. This dog was a paler gray than Rontor's Mivi, but had the same bearing, and kept looking up at her master as Mivi used to look at Rontor. As we both had. But what stopped me in my tracks was the collar around the dog's throat.
Dark green. Studded with silver. Silver loop at the back attached to a leash.
I had one just like it that Rontor had given me. I had worn it all the time, not just when going to see him, as he bid me to. Wearing it had made me feel safe. Closer to him. Now it lay in a drawer. Safe from me. Ironically, Mivi had rarely worn a collar.
I went down on one knee as the Ricarri approached. Both he and Edal looked at me in surprise. Going still, I held a hand out to the vanrussa.
“Sorry, do you mind?” I asked the Ricarri absently.
“She doesn't like . . .” he trailed off as the dog sniffed my hand, then came forward and nuzzled my face.
“Hello, sweet girl,” I whispered, tears coming to my eyes as I stroked her fur. “You are beautiful.”
The dog made a soft sound, then licked my cheek.
“I've never seen her react to anyone like that,” the dog's master said.
I looked up at him. “A friend of mine had a vanrussa. She must sense how much I miss her.” I stroked the dog once more, then stood up. “Thank you for allowing me to touch her.”
The vanrussa leaned into me, lifting her head for another pet. I had to oblige.
“She allowed it, not me. Her name is Leeya,” the Ricarri said and held out his hand. “I am Furn.”
“I'm Galin.” I shook his hand. “It's a pleasure to meet you both. Just being able to touch a vanrussa has lightened my heart.”
“I have a place two blocks from here, on Ruby Lane.” He pulled a shiny item from his pouch and handed it to me. “I breed vanrussas. If you decide you'd like one of your own, come by and see us.”
I gaped at him as I took the token. I knew exactly what it was. If you weren't Ricarri, you had to be very rich or very special to own a vanrussa. Usually a bit of both. Dogs were sold only by referral or invitation and were known to cost several gold coins. Around the price of a carriage, maybe more, depending on the carriage. The token I held was an invitation.
I bowed to Furn. “I am greatly honored. Thank you. I own a shop on Citrine Lane called Galin's Emporium. I'm an inventor. Once I make enough for the purchase and care of a vanrussa, I will come by to visit you and your wards.”
Furn smiled broadly at that. “I like that you think about them as my wards. I do as well.” He smacked a thick hand on my shoulder. “You will make a good master.” He tugged on Leeya's leash. “Come now, Leeya. Say goodbye to your new friend.”
Leeya yipped, and I gave her one more stroke before she walked off with her master. Master. Me? I'd make a good master? Huh. Life is funny, isn't it?
I stared down at the token in my hand—base metal, nothing special about the nugget, except that it had a dog's head stamped on it. I clenched it in my fist and held it to my heart, joy infusing me. It almost felt as if Rontor were still looking after me.
“What in Fulgark's name was that about?” Edal asked.
I looked at him, taking in his dark hair and eyes. His lovely face didn't seem lovely anymore. Why was I with thisman? He bored me. And all he was interested in was himself. He liked me because my pale looks enhanced his darkness.
“I'm sorry, Edal, but I don't think this is going to work between us. Good day.” I turned and walked away.
“What? Galin?” Edal called after me.
“It's not you, it's me,” I called back.
That seemed to mollify him a little. Truly, what did he care? I wasn't important to him. He barely knew anything about me. He hadn't bothered to ask. That Ricarri had learned more about me through his dog than Edal had on our three dates. I chuckled to myself. Then I blinked. Thinking about a Ricarri hadn't brought a pang to my chest. This was what I needed. A companion that wasn't sexual. Just someone to keep me company. Someone with four legs and fur who would be unwavering in their loyalty.
