Page 38 of Taking Jenny
Her claim intrigued me. “Are you really that good?”
“I once stopped a man from jumping to his death off the Ravenel Bridge by having sex with him.” She sipped her coffee again. “I still get Christmas cards from him every year.”
“You’re so good, you stopped a man from killing himself?” Discord gaped at her.
Jenny merely smiled and nodded, before she nibbled her rannat-topped bread.
I tried to prevent my mind from running wild with that colorful bit of information, but alas, my imagination had always been stronger than my will. I cleared my throat, adjusted myself as subtly as I could manage since my trousers had begun to strain, then said, “Well, then I doubt we’ll be seeing Tiger anytime soon. Surge, how are we coming with strategies for the trial and yourothertalents?”
My diminutive friend said, “Jenny and I have only worked on strategies for the past two days. Do you believe my other talents could come into play for her? I didn’t want to overwhelm her with too much information.”
“What other talents?” Jenny asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
I ignored her question for now and explained to Surge, “The mountainside of the trial has all sorts of plants and mineral resources, as well as a cold water stream. Plenty of tools for someone with the right knowledge, wouldn’t you say?”
He nodded. “We’ll cover a few things today, then.”
My gauntlet driver chirped and I scanned the message, then growled under my breath.
Longshot gave me a knowing look. “Only Justice gets that kind reaction out of you.”
I tipped my head back in anger, not wanting to see their faces when I told them what I’d just read. “It would seem our illustrious ruler wants Jenny current on all the latest dance steps, so that when she attends the ball the night before the trial, she can charm the crowd into betting more money in the Illiapol pool.”
“Moons above,” Discord cursed, rolling her eyes. “Why?”
“He does not believe anyone takes her seriously as the avatar since she’s human. The only way to garner the gamblers’ attention is to make her dally with them on the dance floor, asa means to introduce her to them.” When I met their eyes, my three friends looked disgusted and Jenny seemed confused.
“Wait,” she said, piecing together what I’d just said. “So what you’re saying is that Justice wants me to dance and flirt with the people who will gamble on my life, because they don’t think a human can win Illiapol?”
I nodded. “The bets are at an all-time low, since they discoveredyouare running the trial. The state makes quite a bit of money from all the gambling, based on who has been selected as the avatar.”
A fire torched behind her eyes as she tossed the last bit of her bread onto her plate. “He wants me to debase myself, in order for him to make more money?” she snapped.
To my ever growing fascination, she was even more attractive when angry and my blood thrummed in response. “Essentially, yes.”
“Oh, fuck that guy,” she said furiously. “Which one of you is the best dancer in this group?”
“That would be me and Discord,” I said.
“Fine. After my workout with Longshot and whatever the mystery thing is with Surge, I want those dance lessons,” she insisted, jutting her chin out stubbornly. “Will you give me a small advance on my winnings? I want to place a bet.”
I smothered a grin, because it was the first time I had heard her so confident about winning Illiapol and that was exactly the spark she needed. “Yes.”
“Good.” She drank the rest of her coffee then clanked her cup back onto the table. “Oh, and can you place the bet for me, too? I don’t know how.”
“Consider it done, Jenny,” I said, happy and delighted to do that favor for her.
“Thank you.” She stood up and glanced to her left. “Longshot, you ready to get started?”
He gave a small smile as he pushed to his feet, as well. “At your service.”
“Then let’s go.”
She marched off to run the paths in the woods behind my house.
“Is any of that true, Mal?” Surge asked, once they were gone.
“What do you mean?”
