“…you seen that ghost parrot? Absolute menace…”
Spencer filed it all away. Witches and familiars, the usual kind of things you would find in a paranormal town. But not useful.
“…and that little purple dragon…”
Spencer’s attention honed in instantly, he didn’t turn though, just listened.
“…always about, that one. Bit odd, but sweet enough…”
“…belongs to Jessica, don’t it?”
“…something like that…”
Mark’s foot slowed slightly beside him and yet Spencer’s gaze remained forward.
“You thinking what I’m thinking?” Mark murmured.
“No,” Spencer replied calmly.
“You’re lying again.”
Spencer didn’t deny it this time. A purple dragon, small and unassuming but present enough to be noticed, but not enough to be questioned…
“Too obvious maybe?” Mark asked.
“Or exactly the kind of obvious everyone ignores,” Spencer countered.
Mark exhaled slowly. “We’re really doing this, aren’t we?”
“We’re following a lead.”
“That’s a very polite way of saying we’re about to stalk a small dragon.”
Spencer gave him a flat look.
Mark shrugged. “Just clarifying.”
They continued walking, but Spencer’s thoughts had already shifted. Here, in a town that specialised in the strange, there was a dragon, the only dragon by the sound of it, but it wasn’t enough to confirm anything but it was enough to wonder…
Spencer’s jaw tightened slightly.
“According to the brief,” Mark said, “she’s violent.”
“According to the brief,” Spencer replied, “everyone else failed.”
Mark snorted. “Fair point.”
“You’re hesitating,” Mark added.
Spencer didn’t like how easily his brother read him.
“I’m considering variables.”
“You’re hesitating and that doesn’t help us, Spencer,” Mark added.
They turned back toward the Ferret’s Mott eventually, the familiar warmth of the place spilling out into the street as they approached and, inside, it was just as lively as before. They didn’t stay long but just enough to be seen by the locals. Making their presence known before they headed up to their room.
Mark dropped onto his bed immediately, arms behind his head. “I hate it here,” he declared.
