Page 6 of The Dragon Shifters' Enemy
Caden linked fingers with Valerius.He took a breath.“I know why people sympathize with some of what they say.”He glanced over at Wally.“There’s always been thumbs on the scale to help or hinder us.Some people have had a wholefistagainst them.Some humans likely feel that way. I know that good, talented people aren’t able to achieve their dreams because they’re human.And you can’t just say ‘oh, if you work hard enough!’Because working hard can’t make you a Shifter.”
Claire was blinking rapidly.Lisa looked like she wasn’t breathing.Carlos was simply nodding along as if Caden hadn’t just said something revolutionary.
“Before I became the Ninth Dragon Shifter, I was working for Wally.”Caden grinned at the Rat Shifter who did a little salute.“I was still working for him afterwards, too, because I love that job.”
“Don’t worry, kid, you always have a place selling merch.You’re a natural!”Wally chirruped, which had everyone smiling.He rocked back and forth on his heels, grinning like some good gnome.
“The thing is though I wasn’t sure if I could get any other work.I know my parents were worried that I wouldn’t be able to have the life they’d had,” Caden explained simply.“They thought that the opportunities for humans just weren’t there anymore.”
Carlos continued to act as if this were all so very natural and casual, just a conversation with a really good listener, “And what do you think is the cause of that?”
“I think some of it has always been there.Inequality.But…” Caden rolled his lips as he clearly thought hard about how to say this, “But things have changed for humanity since Shifters came out of the shadows.”
“Such as?”Carlos spread his hands as if he had no idea what Caden would say and maybe he didn’t.
Caden gave his father a sheepish smile.“Mind if I use you, Dad?”
His father nodded.“Go ahead.”
“My father graduated top of his class at law school.He did finally get into a firm and he made partner.But no matter how brilliant he was, when someone was choosing a lawyer they would often choose a Raven Shifter over him as the main party to represent them,” Caden stated.“Now, I’m sure that people might say: well, maybe your dad was good at school, but not as a lawyer.Or maybe your dad doesn’t have the personality to pull in clients.”
Grant gave his son a grin.
Caden continued, “But the truth is that people wanted the Raven Shifter as their lawyer, because that person had been practicing law for over 200 years. We know that experience does count for things. Not to mention, a vast majority of judges now are Raven Shifters.Maybe that client believed that a Raven Shifter judge might just believe a Raven Shifter lawyer’s argument a little more.Now, I’m not saying that’s true.But I think we all can agree that’s not out of the realm of possibility for it to be so, or for people to believe it is enough so that it affects their decisions.”
Lisa turned to Grant.“Do you think that there is prejudice in the legal system against human lawyers and maybe even human defendants?”
Grant gave her a tight smile.“I think that human or Shifter, that weallhave prejudices, Ms.Yang.”
Lisa, of course, decided to press her luck as she asked, “You are set to work for the Supreme Court, Mr.Bryce.What part does your son play in your getting this position and what influence might he have over future decisions of the court?”
Grant met her gaze evenly.“I imagine that my son being the Ninth Dragon Shifter raised my profile.Most jobs--especially the prestigious ones--aren’t always obtained by sheer raw talent.What I intend to do is to make sure that I am always checking my prejudices so I am aware of them.”
Claire, whose head had been up from her phone, was glancing around at each of them.“This is really cool.Like no one talks about this stuff.I mean they do, but with their friends or Jasper Hawes just screeches it.”
Valerius let out a huff of a laugh.“Yes, he does that.But he does not serve the people he alleges that he wishes to help by his violent actions.
“It’s not just humans though that feel and actually have been prejudiced against,” Caden said as his eyes slid to Rose who was holding his mom’s hand.“The day I became the White Dragon Shifter and hid in the Below I met Rose.”
She gave him a quirked smile.
“I hadnevertalked to a Swarm Shifter before, and though I am a Dragon Shifter, I’m ashamed to admit that I was scared of her,” Caden said with a self-conscious shrug.
“Bee stingers cannot pierce a Dragon's hide.”Valerius gently reminded him and, more importantly, their audience.
Caden laughed.“I know!But I had heard all these terrible things about Swarm Shifters.”He looked up at Rose who grimaced.“I thought they were bad people.I’m sure that all of us can think of a type of Shifter that means the person is bad.”
“But--but Swarm Shifters are murderers and stuff.No offense to your friend! But a lot of them are.That’s their nature, isn’t it?”Claire asked.
Valerius repressed a smile as Caden answered dryly, “Not only is she my friend, but also one of my Councillors.Just like Chione is to Valerius, Rose is to me.”
Claire’s mouth dropped open.“Oh!Well, that’s… uhm, wow, you’re really brave!I mean--”
“Like I said, I was scared of her too.I thought probably the same things you do about Swarm Shifters.I was wrong.You are wrong, Claire,” Caden stated simply and Rose looked down.
Valerius thought he might have caught a tear in her eye.
There was silence in the room.No one said these things.Not really.Not Dragon Shifters anyways.There was a hierarchy that had stood the test of time.But he was on the top of that hierarchy so it suited him.
