Page 40 of Accounting for Drakes

Orwon smiled. “I’ve got that. I have a very large guestroom and can stow everything in there for the night. At dawn, I will move it to the main hall.”

Nanny nodded. “Everyone, stand away from the flowers. Get behind us, please.”

The family parted and backed away from their efforts. Orwon held out his hand, and the entire mass was covered in black. A guest suite was visible, and the flowers filled the room. When he dropped his hand, the portal closed, and the flowers were safe.

Leena looked dazed. “We did it!”

Nanny opened a com link and left a message for the housekeeper and the majordomo. They would know where to get started the following morning.

Nanny smiled at Orwon. “It looks like you need a place to sleep tonight.”

He smiled. “Really? I hadn’t put that together at all.”

The men in the gathering laughed as they were all hugging and slowly drifting into different directions. Mal came up, hugged Leena, and then whisked his wife off for the night after she locked up.

Nanny linked arms with Orwon and asked, “So, shall we adjourn for the evening? Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

He chuckled. “Lead the way, my lady.”

She walked him through the quiet streets and eyed a few would-be thieves in the shadows. They caught her gaze and melted away against the buildings.

“So, you have a reputation.” Orwon chuckled.

She shrugged. “One of my forms has wings and a tail. A very long, sharp tail.”

“And the claws.”

“Of course.”

“I like you very much.”

She smiled. “I think I like you as well. You certainly know your way around a floral arch.”

He sighed. “Misspent youth.”

She giggled, and they walked to her home inside a wall inside the wall.

Nanny opened the gate and stepped inside her sanctuary.

“Oh, my. I am definitely in your territory here.” Orwon looked around her courtyard, where the fountains, plants, and fruit trees were all well-tended and healthy.

“Yes, you are. Yorath doesn’t even know about this place. One would think he would catch on to another drake on his world.” She chuckled.

“I understand why. You have marked the stone. It says don’t look behind the walls.”

She smiled. “You are very smart. Come this way. I have a guestroom.”

“Just one?”

Nanny chuckled. “Only one bedroom that you will be seeing.”

She walked him into the house and up to the guestroom she was offering to him. “Thank you for tonight. It was nice to see you interacting with normal folks.”

“None of them are drakes?”

“Not one. All blissfully human.”

He smiled. “I will see you in the morning. Five?”

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