The woman hisses.
“Look”—Bunce is uncowed, even trussed up like a hog on Solstice—“I know this looks bad. But we’re not part of that vampire business. And if our friend is caught up in it, she’s in trouble and needs our help. You have to let us go.”
The woman rolls her fingers, clacking her rings together. “What is your judgment, Shepard?”
“I believe them,” he says.
“Soft,” she says. “Believe everyone.”
“I spent two days with them, and the only things they harmed were those vampires.”
“And my ram.”
“I’m sorry about that,” I say again.
She waves one hand. “Let them go, bloodeater and mage. The kitten stays with me.”
“What?” everyone but her says.
“Does she mean me?” Simon asks. “I’m not a kitten!”
She sighs. “Fool kitten. Lost hatchling.”
The Normal is looking at Simon, as if Simon has replaced me as the best riddle. “No.…”
The woman walks over to Simon, to get a closer look at him. “Orphan. Must be. Flying with mages and bloodeaters—the shame of it.”
“I’m not an orphan!” Simon objects. “I mean, I am. But I didn’t hatch from anything.”
“I thought he was a demon,” Shepard marvels.
“Pfffff.” The woman is circling Simon. “Red wings. Sharp tail. From the north like me. Precious hatchling. Lost.”
“No, no,NOOO,” Simon says, realizing what she means.
“Croowww-ley,” I swear.
Penny goes for: “Fuck. Me.”
“I’m not a DRAGON!” Simon shouts.
“Not yet.” She pets his wing. “Are kitten. Someday dragon. Someday ferocious.”
“He’s not a dragon!” I say. “Those wings were spelled on.”
“This one is not a dragon, and that one is not a vampire. Am blind, am I? Am foolish?” She’s snarling at me again.
“No,” I say. “It’s not you. It’s us. We’re very confusing.”
“I’m just a Normal with wings!” Simon insists.
“Dragon wings.” She nods. “Great Red.”
“Look closer,” he begs.
“Smell him!” Bunce says. “Does he smell like a dragon?”
The woman frowns at Bunce. Then she reaches for the ropes around Simon’s chest and pulls him to his feet. She leans in tohis neck to smell him. He raises his chin. She walks behind him and presses her face into his tied-up wings.
