Page 3 of Elixir of Strife
“An even better obstacle course,” I added.
Roscoe smiled.
“Seriously though,” I continued. “The illusion was very nicely done. Would have worked really well if our pretend filing cabinet didn’t turn out to be a dumpster filled with buzzsaws. You were right, Ross. This seems like a cool way to test out different infiltration scenarios. Now, if only someone could tap into their infinite riches and get us some office space, even like a plain warehouse — ”
Max stamped his foot. “No. Absolutely not. And I told you anyway, I don’t have access to infinite riches. The family disowned me, okay? But only because I walked away first.”
Tina shook her head and tutted. “But the Brillantes are never far behind you, Maximo. Always remember that. Always keep an eye out.”
He glanced over his shoulder, squinting at her. “There’s one right now.”
She sniffed. “I’ve told you how many times now? I may still work for the Brillantes here and there, but my loyalty lies with you.”
And yet another figure entered through the mouth of the alley, a strapping gentleman in a waistcoat, arms festooned with tattoos. A very stylish waiter, a hipster barista, only we weren’t allowed to call him that, because he’d punch us in the mouth.
“Johnny!” Max called down the alley. “Good old Johnny Slivers, come to deliver us some drinks.”
“Oh, sure,” Johnny replied, his hands decidedly and disappointingly empty. “I just came out here to bring you kids some lemonade on a tray, didn’t I? Get fucked, Max.”
I clucked my tongue as Johnny drew nearer. “Gotta admit, very sad that you didn’t come out here with drinkies. Not even a bottled water?”
Johnny shrugged as he leaned against the brick wall. “Butler services cost extra, on top of the beverages. Maybe if Maxy here would kick in some spare scratch for refreshments, eh? Ask the rich boy, Witch Boy.”
Max pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes crinkled shut in frustration. I stifled a laugh. Johnny was joking, of course. It was really, really cool how the guys had basically made a spot for me in their circle of friends, down to Johnny repeatedly calling me by that silly nickname.
Truthfully I couldn’t decide if I preferred “witch boy” or “little lion.” I knew that Tiamat mainly used that second one to flatter me, tickling at the most impressionable parts of my lizard brain that longed for status, significance, importance. I hadn’t heard it in a little while, though, no sudden visitations from the slinky dragon goddess.
Maybe she only turned up in times of trouble. I wasn’t sure if I was more intrigued or frightened by the possibilities. I flexed my fingers, sensing the heat of phantom flames, of the bluish-green dragonfire of Tiamat’s gift. I curled my hand into a talon, grasping at nothing.
I had to confess: I missed the surge of power.
“But the main reason I’m here,” Johnny continued, fishing inside his pockets. “Ah, there they are. You left your phones with me while you did your fun little obstacle course. They wouldn’t stop going off. I bet it’s the Jade Spider.”
Max and I practically dove at Johnny. He yelped as we snatched our phones back. For all our differences and quirks, that was the thing that tied us together, this love of adventure, of discovering something new. Another infiltration, another relic to find, another heist.
Okay, job. Max really didn’t like the H word.
My eyes scanned the Jade Spider’s messages, but I found myself reading and rereading the words all over again, hardly able to absorb anything in my excitement. Another job, another adventure, which almost definitely meant more shenanigans on the way. More danger. More trouble. The very kind of thing that might rouse the curiosity of a certain goddess.
And didn’t she say something about introducing me to other dragons?
2
MAX
Abrisk, cool breeze graced my skin as I stepped out of my car. The morning had given us a rougher, warmer start, but the weather seemed to be settling in Dos Lunas, or maybe it was just the environment. The Jade Spider had asked to meet us at a plant shop, of all places, but what a plant shop it was. I adjusted my sunglasses, whistling at the sight.
“You’d think they were selling luxury handbags out of there. Damn.”
Leon shut the passenger door and trotted over to join me, hand above his eyes to shield them from the sun. “Super fancy, for sure. Maybe they sell rare, high-end plants, you know? Like, um — huh, you know, I’ve got nothing. Plants are cool, though. Wish I had the patience or the talent for taking care of them.”
I held back a smirk, secretly enjoying how much of a chatterbox Leon could be. It was cute how he could take an active interest in anything and everything, like so much of what we saw and did together was a new experience for him, even when it wasn’t.
But I didn’t blame him for coming up empty on expensive plant exotica. From everything I knew of his magical heritage, his witch clan relied on ingredients and reagents that were most readily available. A kitchen knife doubled as a ritual dagger. A lump of coal could be a nondescript arcane time-bomb.
“I don’t know much about pricey plants myself,” I said, leading the way to the shop. “As for rare magical plants, though? That’s a whole different can of worms. But first we have to see if this place is even magical to begin with. I suppose we’re about to find out.”
Leon kept pace with me, then nudged me with his elbow. “Hey, you might want to take off the shades when we get in there. It’s a little douchey, you know? Walking around indoors with sunglasses on, especially since we’re about to meet a client.”
