"A new partner?" I said, trying to make it sound casual. "Anyone I know?"
"Don't know how well you know her," Pookie said. "But it's Spyder, if that's what you're asking."
I felt strangely relieved that she wasn't referring to Bunny, but her answer still left me puzzled.
"Spyder?" I said, frowning. "The guy from the Army that's been checking on the tax collectors? He's a woman? I mean ..."
"I guess you don't know her too well," Pookie said with a laugh. "Trust me, Skeeve. She's a woman. I know the difference."
"So, you're teaming with her now," I said quickly, trying to hide my embarrassment. "When did this happen?"
"Well, we've been working together on the tax collectors getting hijacked, and we hit it off pretty well," she said. "The kid's a little wet behind the ears, but there's plenty of potential there if anyone's willing to take the time to work with her."
For some reason, that reminded me of my early days with Aahz. As complex as things had become lately, I found myself reflecting on those times with a certain amount of nostalgia.
"Well, if your mind's made up, I don't see where I can object," I said. "Any idea how soon you'll be leaving?"
"It'll take a day or two to get her sprung from the Army," Pookie said, "but after that we can pretty much pick our time. The nice thing about being on your own is that you can name your own schedule."
"Just be sure to stop by and say 'Goodbye' before you go," I said. "If nothing else, I think you're due an extra bonus this round."
'That's sweet of you, Skeeve," she smiled. "But then, you've been a square-shooter all along. In case it doesn't get said later, I'll miss you. It's been a real experience."
With that she turned and headed off in the opposite direction.
Even though we hadn't worked together that long or that closely, I felt a certain loss thinking of her eventual departure. She had been part of the team, and it wouldn't be the same without her.
Of course, Massha would be leaving as well, now that she was getting married.
It made me wonder what other changes might be in store now that our work in Possiltum was finished.
EIGHTEEN
"I was hoping for a little fatherly advice."
J. CHRIST
"C'mon in, partner," Aahz said, beckoning me into his room. "I was wondering if you were going to stop by."
That was all the invitation I needed, and, after casually closing the door behind me, sank into one of room's chairs.
"Would you like something to drink, or are you still on the wagon?"
I had been making an effort to cut back on my drinking, but right now a drink sounded like a good idea.
"Some wine would be nice, thanks," I said.
"Coming right up," he said, moving to the tray containing several earthen bottles of wine and goblets that he always seemed to have in his room. "So. How's Gleep doing?"
"He seems to be healing up incredibly fast," I said. "That stuff Massha used on the wound is amazingly effective."
"Don't forget, dragons are tough," Aahz said, handing me a goblet of wine. "They heal fast even without magical
aid. On the whole, they're smart, too. Did I mention that when that yahoo let fly with his bow, that Gleep actually jumped in front of me? For all I know, he might have saved my life by taking that arrow."
"I didn't know that."
"Well, take it from me, he did," Aahz grimaced, shaking his head slightly. "You know, it makes me feel a little bad. I mean, I've been making snide comments about that beast ever since you got him, and then he goes and jumps in front of me when the shooting starts. I owe him some thanks, but how do you apologize to a dragon?"
I thought about my recent discovery of Gleep's ability to talk, but a promise is a promise and I decided to keep his secret, even from Aahz.
"Just take some time and talk with him," I said. "I think he can read the tone of people's conversation, even if doesn't understand the actual words."
"Do you really think so?"
"I'm certain of it," I said, sipping from my drink. "I was just down at the stables visiting him, and I'm sure he understood what I was saying."
"At the stables, eh?" Aahz smiled. "I kind of figured that was where you were."
"Oh?"
"Well, it's where you usually go when you're upset and want to think things over."
It seemed my secret retreat was not as much of a secret as I had imagined.
"Yeah. I was upset," I said defiantly. "Even you have to admit that this time I had reason to be."
"No argument there," Aahz said with a shrug. "If anything, I'm impressed that you've recovered as quickly as you have. I notice the specific use of 'was' when you referred to your mood."
"As you say, I thought things over."
"Can I ask what you came up with?" Aahz said. "Or would that be prying?"
I took another long drink from my wine.
"Well, there are a couple things that people have pointed out to me that I've come to realize are true," I said finally. "First off, that I'm not happy. Second, that until I figure out what it will take to make me happy, I'm making myself and everybody around me more than a little crazy."
"Bravo," Aahz said, clapping his hands lightly. "Couldn't have put it better myself. Who was it that managed to get that across to you?"
"Well, General Badaxe, for one," I said, smiling slightly at the memory. "Of course, he had to kick me in the butt first, literally, to get my attention."
"Excellent." Aahz smiled. "I'll have to remember that teaching technique. Go on."
"Well, trying to sort things out, I've been fairly successful at coming up with what I don't want to do. Case in point is mat I don't want to marry Queen Hemlock, and that's all the justification I need to step back from that situation. Same thing with running the kingdom if she had tried to abdicate ... which she didn't, by the way. If I don't want to do it, I don't have to. I've been letting myself get jerked around too long by what other people want or expect me to do instead of focusing on what I want to do."
"Again, no argument," Aahz said. "Go on."
I slumped slightly in my chair.
"That's the problem," I said. "I can't seem to come up with what I do want to do ... what it would take to make me happy. That's why I'm here. For a bit of sage wisdom and advice. So, talk to me, Aahz. What's the answer?"
Aahz took a sip of his own drink, then sighed and shook his head.
"Sorry, partner," he said. "I can't help you with that one."
I blinked in surprise, then saw red. All the anger and frustration I had been feeling lately came rushing to the fore, and this time, I didn't try to rein it in.
"That's it?" I snarled. "After all these years of nagging and lecturing me on stuff I didn't want to hear, when I finally come to you with a question, it's 'Sorry, I can't help you'?!"
I stood up and slammed my goblet down on the table.
"Sorry to have bothered you," I hissed.
"Sit down, Skeeve," Aahz said carefully. "We still have things to talk about."
"We'll talk later," I said coldly. "Right now, I've got to get some fresh air."
I turned and headed for the door.
"We'll talk now," I heard Aahz say behind me.
I kept walking, waving a dismissive hand over my shoulder.
"I SAID 'WE'LL TALK NOW!'!!!"
That was a tone I had never heard from Aahz before, and it stopped me in my tracks. I turned to face him.
He was on his feet, fists clenched and all his muscles taut, as if he was physically being restrained from throwing himself at me. Even his scales were a darker shade of green, and his golden eyes were positively glowing.