The alchemist stuck one finger in the pile of ash and began to swirl it around while upending his tea in one swig like it was a shot of vodka and putting it back on the tray. “You still at the land in the redwoods?” he askedIsaac.
Isaac nodded. “With six other skyborn, and over fifty protectiveshifters.”
Rufus stopped and his eyes snapped up to meet Isaac’s. “What are youplanning?”
Isaac shrugged. “The same thing I’ve been planning since we joined thealliance.”
This time the alchemist appraised his friend with a respectful gaze, still stirring the ash with his finger. “Finally gonna take that pecker shit-for-brainsout?”
I tried not to laugh at what I assumed was Rufus’ term forArdan.
Isaac justnodded.
Rufus swirled the ash more. “Can I help?” It was hard for him to ask that, you could tell. He still didn’t like Isaac, but he did. It was aparadox.
Isaac shrugged. “If it’s okay with them.” He extended his arm towards Keegan, Logan, andI.
Before I could answer, Keegan flicked his eyes to the pile of ash. “You make that whole again, and you can come to the landanytime.”
Rufus grinned. “I love a goodchallenge.”
Without taking his finger from the ash, he reached behind him and pulled a book from the wall. Behind the book was a small jar of gold-colored powder. He set the book on the desk and grabbed the powder. Popping the top off of the jar, he poured the powdered gold into the pile of ashes and began swirling again, replacing the jar and thebook.
“You want to know the ironic thing about you coming to see me?” he asked, while stillswirling.
“What’s that?” I played into hisquestion.
“You need me to make this staff whole again, but I can’t do it without the healing power of the skyborn. I need ascale.”
Logan stepped forward. “I’ll give thescale.”
Rufus made a face. “I’m sorry, friend, it’s her staff. She will wield it. Therefore it must be reborn of her healingpower.”
Shit.
Keegan shot a look at Isaac. “You didn’t tell usthat.”
Isaac shrugged. “I didn’tknow.”
We didn’t bring a big enough team to shift and get one of my scales. The druids were crawling all over Northern California by now if my dream was any indication, I couldn’t risk the lives of my friends just for thisstaff.
‘You need this staff. Without it, Isaac said your dragon might not survive anothermonth.’
I blanched. He’d saidthat?
‘I can’t risk everyone’s life. We brought a small team, and even if we went back for more, the druids are likely all over by now, just waiting for one of us to shift.’ I was giving Logan a face, mentally trying to impress upon him that I didn’t want any more deadfriends.
Rufus gasped suddenly, watching Logan and I. “Wait a second. Are youmates?”
He must have picked up on our mental conversation somehow. Inodded.
The alchemist smiled genuinely. “Why didn’t you say so? Dragon mates! His scale will do just fine if you’re a matedpair.”
Whew.Crisis averted. I think the whole room sagged inrelief.
Logan thrust his arm forward quickly and partially shifted, the black scales appeared upon it. It was as if he was afraid Rufus would change his mind. The alchemist looked fascinated but never removed his finger from that pile of now golden shimmering ash. Keegan walked over and plucked a scale, Logan barelywinced.
“Better take two … one for payment,” Rufus said,smiling.
