Page 44 of Dragon in Denial
“In the beginning, no. But Delilah thrives on control. It was while she was methodically stealing the dealers from the other distributors that I and the other gargoyles came into her service.”
“How?” Ketu asked, while at the same time, Antoinette said, “Why?”
“Gargoyles exist to protect others from evil spirits,” Argyle explained. “Hence the reason most of us reside in or around cemeteries and religious institutions. However, that concept has evolved over the centuries. Today, some act as hired bodyguards, taking payment for protection, but only if the person paying them is worthy, of course. Others, like myself, are part of an organization, and we are assigned to protect beings when they are threatened.
“Delilah knew this, of course. Gargoyles and witches have a longstanding relationship; our magic has been intertwined for centuries. Her mother, Ginger, is a good person, worthy of protection. She convinced Ginger to work in her shop, and then she came to me and asked for protection for her mother. You see, the other distributors had begun to rebel against her attempts to steal their business, and were retaliating.
“As Ginger was a good person caught in the middle, I agreed to protect her. My fellow gargoyles came along as a favor to me, thinking this would be a short-term assignment. Once we were committed, she cursed her mother, forcing her to be bound to both her and that plantation.” He glanced at Ketu, who nodded, apparently understanding what he meant by “that plantation.”
“We, too, were bound by the curse. Connected to Delilah through our commitment to protect Ginger. Delilah is a very clever witch. She had done her research and understood precisely what she was doing.”
“That’s not very encouraging,” Ketu muttered.
“Hang on,” Antoinette said. She grasped Argyle’s arm. “You said she thrives on control.”
He glanced down at her hand, like he was surprised she was touching him. “Yes.”
Turning to Ketu, she said, “But she’s the middleman, right? Those warehouses where we, er…”
“Flew together for the first time?” Ketu supplied.
“Yeah. Anyway, those warehouses are owned by Darius. I’m pretty sure that’s where the drug is being manufactured.”
“I knew there was something suspicious about that place,” Ketu said.
“Darius is supplying the drug to her to sell to the dealers at street level,” Antoinette pointed out.
It made sense. Didn’t it?
Ketu nodded. “You’re right. So if Darius is providing the drug, she’s not truly in control.”
“Exactly,” Antoinette said. “Now all we need to do is make her aware of this.”
“You play a dangerous game,” Argyle warned.
“No, hear me out.” But before Antoinette could continue, Ketu said,
“If we point out to her that being the distributor is not really being in control, she’s going to want to destroy Darius.”
“Yes,” she said, nodding vigorously.
“That will not stop the sale of that mind-altering substance,” Argyle said.
“It will if we also convince her that’s not the way to be in control, not really,” Antoinette said.
“I’m not following you,” Ketu said.
“There’s a better way to control a colony of dragons,” Antoinette pointed out.
Ketu stared at her.
“We convince her she wants to be reeve.”
