Never Deal with Dragons (12 page)

I nodded to Hian-puo’s group, waiting until they’d had a chance to settle onto the perches. I motioned for Rime and his team to help themselves to the plates of mostly raw bacon heaped upon platters at regular intervals along the table. It was my version of donuts and coffee. Happy, comfortable people were more likely to listen in negotiations. I hoped the same held true for these dragons.

“Mr., ah Rime—” the file hadn’t included a last name for the dragon “—I’m so glad you had no problems finding our offices. I trust your flight to Lord Relobu’s territory was uneventful?”

There were few airlines that managed to remain open after the war and dragon discovery, and fewer still that attempted long-haul flights overseas, but the idea wasn’t unheard of. The news that one of these planes had a run-in with a dragon mid-flight was not so rare. Luckily for the humans stupid enough to fly on one of these planes, dragons were pretty adept at changing directions quickly. Still, the encounter normally ended with a scared pilot and a disgruntled dragon.

“Yes.” Rime’s fore-claws clacked noisily on the table as he reached for the plate of meat. His claws were shaky and uncoordinated, and I wondered whether the dragon was fighting an illness.

In fact, Rime reminded me of my father in the early days of his drinking problem, during those brief periods when my dad was trying to quit.

I nodded toward the long troughs of fresh water against the wall. “For you and your team. Shall we get started?”

Other than my core group of Richard, Carol and Trian, I had a single dragon guard, Dreru, present. Trian had insisted I have a dragon bodyguard, and I had insisted on Dreru. The smallest of Trian’s dragons, with his slight stature and easygoing nature, Dreru could almost pass as a civilian. I’d asked for Plob, but Trian had turned me down flat. Apparently Plob and his meaty fists scared only me.

I guess Dreru’s presence was all for the best. My plans of presenting a noncombative front weren’t needed after all. No matter how scary my guards, Hian-puo’s were scarier. I’d met several of Trian’s dragons, and I’d yet to encounter one with as many horns and claws as Rime’s second in command. I gave him a nod and a slight smile of greeting, but he barely looked at me. He was too busy staring at Trian.

Rime slid onto his perch across from me, and didn’t even bother introducing his companions. He leaned over the table, and I had to make a conscious effort to keep my body still. I really hate snakes. I pulled on the sleeve of my suit, trying to make sure all visible skin was covered. I did
not
want to scream like a little girl if Rime accidentally—or on purpose—rubbed against me.

“What is this?” He hissed, deliberately showing me his forked tongue. “Relobu not only sends a human to do his bidding, but a female? Is he so weak he cannot find a better champion?”

I almost gagged at the smell of his breath.
What had he been eating?
The odor was strange, an odd sickly sweet I’d never before encountered in a dragon. We didn’t know why, but dragons were strictly carnivores, and sugar didn’t usually tempt them in the least. At least none that I’d met.

“Mr. Rime, this meeting is designed as a mediation session. There’s no reason for Lord Relobu or Lord Hian-puo to require a champion. Today, we’re here to get to know one another better, and to become confident that we all understand the needs of both parties. Richard, how about you go first? Can you tell me what Lord Relobu hopes to gain from these talks?”

“Yes, of course. Lord Relobu wishes to ensure the safe return of his business envoy. In addition, he would like, with Lord Hian-puo’s help, to establish some guidelines for the future on what is expected to secure the appropriate permissions should Lord Relobu send his subjects into Lord Hian-puo’s territory.”

“Thank you, Richard. Mr. Rime, can you share with us Lord Hian-puo’s goals for these talks?”

Rime stretched his neck until his bloodshot eyes were inches from mine. “
My
lord wishes to inform Lord Relobu that he will not countenance intrusions upon his sovereignty, in any form.”

“We were not intruding upon his sovereignty—”

“Richard, right now we’re just trying to flesh out the goals of these negotiations. Later, when we’ve established the boundaries of our talks, we’ll discuss the difficulties experienced by both parties.”

Richard gave me a disgruntled look—I imagine he expected me to be on his side of all arguments—but he nodded. Rime’s eyes flicked between Richard and me before turning to Trian.

“If we are only talking, then why is Relobu’s enforcer here?”

“Trian is here at Lord Relobu’s request. Just as Hian-puo has sent your companions.” I kept my voice calm, but firm. There was a fine line to walk between the appearance of amiability and a doormat. It was my job to walk it. And it was time to get to the meat of today’s gathering.

“Mr. Rime, one of the main topics that need to be discussed today is the future of Lord Relobu’s team currently in Lord Hian-puo’s custody. Could you tell us how Lord Hian-puo would like to proceed in order to see them released?”

“No.” Rime shifted once again on his perch, and I felt Trian twitch beside me.

I shot a glance to Carol. She was wearing the exact same “oh-no” expression as I’m sure I was. This was the fun part of negotiations.

“Excuse me?”

Rime leaned forward. “The team sent to Shui-Tech will not be released.”

“I’m afraid that isn’t an option, sir. I believe Lord Relobu is willing to offer concessions for their release. Richard?”

“Lord Relobu offers Lord Hian-puo personal use of ten thousand acres of prime cattle territory, located south of the Mexico City area, for a period of three years.”

Since the war and ensuing climate changes, land dedicated for raising cattle was a precious resource. Although humans still outnumbered dragons about three hundred thousand to one, dragons required a large supply of food, and most couldn’t survive in the colder regions of the world. It wasn’t often that dragon lords left their own territory, but it was common practice for the clan heads to send delegates with messages to their foreign counterparts. So for Hian-puo’s diplomats, ten thousand acres of farmland in the southern portion of Relobu’s territory was a king’s ransom.

And Rime had to know that.

The dragon paused for a moment. “Lord Hian-puo will consider your offer. You will have word of his decision in two months.”

Leave Lord Relobu’s team in the hands of the Chinese dragon for two additional months? I didn’t have to look at Richard and Trian to know the time frame would be rejected.

Richard beat me to the punch. “Unacceptable. Lord Relobu requires the conditions of the Shui-Tech team’s release be settled today.”

“No.” Rime snarled at Richard, his red eyes silently daring the man to disagree.

“Mr. Rime. I have staff here,” I motioned to Carol, “who would be able to draw up a contract today.”

“I said no!” Rime jumped from his perch as he lunged toward me, stopping only when his neck encountered the blade of Trian’s sword.

“Sit. Down.” Trian said through clenched teeth.

Rime jerked once, involuntarily. His gaze flicked down to Trian’s sword hand.

“We keep Lord Relobu’s team, until such time as the negotiations can be moved to Lord Hian-puo’s territory.”

“No.” It was Richard’s turn to attempt a lunge across the table. I put a firm hand on his chest.

“Sit down. All of you.” My voice shook, but I kept my eyes on the dragons across from me. All of them were crowded around their leader, claws and teeth fully visible. They hadn’t appreciated Trian’s actions in the slightest, and every eye in the room, save mine and Carol’s, threatened murder.

For a moment after my order, no one moved. But then Richard eased slowly back into his seat, and Trian adjusted the position of his blade until there was an inch of space between it and the leathery hide of Rime’s throat. I heard the slide of Dreru’s heavy feet on the stone floor as Trian’s guard returned to his previous relaxed position against the wall.

Hian-puo’s dragons followed suit, grudgingly, by settling back onto their perches.

Richard, who seemed to have regained a small hold on his temper, asked the next question.

“How do we know our team is unharmed?”

“Your team is in good health.” Rime’s tone made it clear he currently wished otherwise. Trian paused in the middle of sheathing his blade.

I needed to regain control of the meeting. Now.

I cleared my throat. “We appreciate you sharing that information. However, I’m afraid that isn’t going to work for Lord Relobu. Please don’t take offense at this, but we have no way to know whether you are telling us the truth.”

I braced myself for another explosion, but Rime only nodded before he unlatched the satchel at his waist and tossed it on the table with a single claw. “The photographs inside are from yesterday morning, as you can tell by the date of the newspaper held by Lord Relobu’s team. They are unharmed and being detained at a secure location.”

Richard and Trian hurriedly opened the large bag, and studied the grainy print. Six figures, three human and three dragon, stood in a loose group for the photo. One of the humans sported a sling on his arm, but the team appeared otherwise in good health.

I looked to Trian. He gave me a small nod. This was the entire team, and they were still alive.

I mulled my options, then sighed. “Rime, thank you for this reassurance. As you can certainly appreciate, Lord Relobu is eager to resolve this issue. Today.”

“They encroached upon my liege’s claim to sovereignty.”

This was the same reason the dragon had stated earlier, and it didn’t give me much information to go on. “How? How did these men break the law?”

Rime started to answer, but he stopped as a small shudder ran through his body. I could see beads of moisture clinging to his hide. He looked like Emory after a brisk walk down the hallway. Or a drunk gone too long without liquor.

It occurred to me again that Hian-puo’s dragon might not be well.

“Are you okay?”

Rime’s guards turned their heads to gaze curiously at their leader. Rime’s claw rattled along the table surface before he quickly jerked it back. Without answering my question, he rose and gestured to his guards. “We’re finished here.”

The guards traded confused glances, but dismounted from their perches.

They were leaving.

My question about Rime’s health had been a mistake. A huge one. Pretending like I’d never voiced my concern, I tried to get the dragon’s attention back to the original discussion. Kindness wasn’t working. In fact, I’d only managed to make him angry. So I tried something different.

“No, sir, we are not finished. You are holding a foreign dragon lord’s men without cause, without trial, and without informing their leader of their location. You must understand I will have no choice but to inform Lord Relobu that you mean this to be an act of war. I cannot believe you want him to treat it as such.”

I looked him straight in the eye, and willed him not to call my bluff.

Rime looked me over, his expression clearly communicating his disgust. “We will discuss this at another time.”

“Is there a reason we cannot discuss this now?”

“My lord requests that we discuss this at a later date, and as he is currently unable to travel, he asks that you join us at his residence in a month’s time. Included with the newsprint are directions to Hian-puo’s palace.”

I looked to Carol, who’d grabbed the bag from the table. She nodded her assurance that he was telling the truth. But something was still fishy. Only moments before, Rime had appeared to seriously consider Lord Relobu’s offer of pastureland. And now he was acting as if he had no authority to make a deal on Hian-puo’s behalf.

A month was far too long to leave Lord Relobu’s men without working for their release. I didn’t want to go to China. And I knew Richard and Trian preferred to avoid a trip—and the delay—as well, but I was afraid to push Rime any further, for fear he’d do as he’d threatened and walk out without any chance of a deal. I settled for attempting to move the trip up.

“The time frame is unacceptable. One week is as long as I am willing to wait before informing Lord Relobu our attempts at an agreement have failed.”

I waited, tense, as Rime appeared to mull over my offer. “Very well, one week’s time. I will inform Hian-puo of your scheduled arrival.”

After breathing a quick sigh of relief, I opened my mouth, intending to persuade Rime to provide us additional information on either our men or the specifics of our visit, but it was too late. He and his guards were already stepping from their perches and slithering toward the door.

Moments after Hian-puo’s delegation had disappeared, the conference room doors swung wide once again to reveal five DRACIM staffers sent to deliver “lunch.” Each man held the lead to a haltered cow. Blinded by means of a strip of cloth wrapped around their eyes—we’d learned the practice helped minimize the likelihood of a stampede when their bovine senses alerted them to the presence of hungry dragons—the cattle bawled miserably at their fate. And although their lives had been spared for at least another day, the pitiful cries echoed the disappointment of my first solo assignment.

Emory’s boss, Allan, was going to kill me. Because there was no way this negotiation would be over by the end of this week.

I sighed and let my shoulders droop. I turned to the only dragon still present.

“So, Dreru. How hungry are you?”

Chapter Eight

Later the next day, I walked into our apartment and tossed my backpack on the couch.

“You’re home early.” Carol was curled up in the recliner, flipping through one of her glamour magazines.

“I am. I’ve read every bit of the paperwork we received from the China office on Hian-puo, and I’m still nowhere near developing a sound strategy for speaking with him.”

I’d already written off the Beijing office, so I’d been surprised to receive a packet in my office after the meeting. I opened it and browsed the contents. There wasn’t much there. Just a three-page summary of Hian-puo’s known activities. None of which had happened with the help of DRACIM, so my information on Hian-puo as an individual was seriously lacking.

Included in the packet was a list of recent visits by Hian-puo delegates in Lord Relobu’s territory. Rime had made two trips to North America—one eight months ago for Doeho and Isiwyth’s mating ceremony, and one to New York for a meeting with the board of a new business venture. The report hadn’t mentioned the name of the business, so I’d gone back to work in an effort to cross-reference the information with the DRACIM library, but came up empty-handed.

After four hours of spinning my wheels, I had to admit the Chinese dragon lord was more than half crazy. I couldn’t find any distinguishable pattern to his business, personal or intra-dragon dealings.

Hian-puo seemed to buy up human businesses based on whim, and then let them fall into disrepair with neglect. And those were the lucky ones. The one thing I did have was a large list of businesses in China of which Hian-puo had forcibly assumed ownership.

It made me realize just how lucky we were to have Relobu as the reigning dragon monarch.

The report didn’t give me much more. Other than the dragons living in his territory and considered his subjects, there were only a handful of encounters between the lord and outside influence of any sort.

While the Tulsa DRACIM office owed nearly half of our revenues to the local dragon lord, the Chinese office was so idle it was almost nonexistent. I guess I couldn’t blame them. If a dragon didn’t feel like negotiating, you couldn’t negotiate. End of story.

“You know—maybe it would be a good idea for me to hit Richard up for another dragonscript expert. When I asked you to help me out, I didn’t think the case would take this long.”

In truth, I’d already asked, and although Richard had promised he’d do his best, the odds of securing a replacement within a week were slim. With the language being around for fewer than fifteen years, there weren’t that many experts in the field. All of Relobu’s employees familiar with the script were already on other projects, and I couldn’t ask a DRACIM staffer to sign away his or her rights to company-paid compensation if they were injured.

I’d been lucky to have a linguaphile for a roommate.

Carol looked up from her magazine. “Oh, please. There isn’t anyone else, and we both know it.” She gave me an overly bright smile. “I haven’t taken a vacation in years, and if I don’t use up some of my holiday balance, I’ll end up losing it. I’ve always wanted to see China.”

I gave her a sidelong glance. “Have I ever mentioned you’re the best friend ever?”

She waved away the reminder. “And don’t you forget it. Besides, I kinda like this combat training. I’ve always wanted to learn how to properly knee a guy in the balls. It would have come in handy with some of my ex-boyfriends.”

I stuck out my tongue. “First of all, the combat training is designed to help us protect ourselves from dragons, not ex-boyfriends.”

Carol laughed. “I guess Trian wouldn’t be a good choice if that were the case.”

I had to grin at that. “Exactly. But I really am concerned about your safety. The rules don’t work the same in China as they do here. I’m not sure I can guarantee you won’t be hurt. Richard’s coming with us. He can make time for any translation or contracts I need help with.”

“Nope. I’m coming, and it’s final. Richard hopes Hian-puo will agree to an interview while we’re there so he can finish his latest book.”

“Yeah, he’d told me about that.” Carol’s new boyfriend was itching to get a good rounded view for his historical account of dragon creation. Hian-puo was the only member of the original hatch of dragons who Richard hadn’t been able to meet yet for the book. Apparently the Chinese dragon lord didn’t enjoy socializing. He’d literally flown the coop the instant he’d been able, settled in the Chinese wilderness, and proceeded to build his dragon empire, relocating it to Beijing as soon as his army was large enough to successfully overpower the human population.

“Speaking of Richard, are you going to force me to institute a no-fraternization rule while we’re there, so Richard won’t ditch me to get away from you?”

She gave me a sly smile. “What makes you think he wants to get away from me?” She batted her eyelashes.

Carol had a point. Since I’d introduced them, the happy couple had spent almost every waking moment together. They’d bonded over their shared love of linguistics, and last night Carol had returned from her dinner date waxing poetic over his impeccable taste in clothing. Apparently they’d stopped by her office for Carol to check on the darkroom results of a CreaTV fashion shoot, and Richard had helped her choose the proofs.

“Do me a favor, will you? Promise that if it doesn’t work out between the two of you, you’ll wait until we get back to Tulsa to break it off. There’s only so much room for uncomfortable ex-boyfriend vibes, and I’ve got dibs on them all.”

“Ya know, you could just sit down with Trian, talk through whatever the issue is, and call it good.”

“I’ll pass on that, thanks.” Normally, Carol’s advice would be great. If you rubbed elbows enough times with a former significant other, eventually the awkwardness disappeared. I’d done it myself with a guy at DRACIM I’d dated briefly before Trian. The first few weeks after the breakup were a little uncomfortable, but before long, he’d started dating Tracy in accounts payable, and I’d met Trian. A month or so later, and we even took a lunch break together when Tracy was busy elsewhere.

But Trian? Trian was different. Maybe it was because the breakup had been so sudden. Or because it hadn’t been a mutual decision like with Steve and me. Then again, it probably had more to do with the fact that he stole from me and then avoided me completely for a full year.

Oh, who was I kidding? It was because I still have feelings for him. I’ll admit it. Four weeks after I’d first met him, I started mentally planning the wedding. I’d fallen in love, and fallen hard.

Which made his betrayal that much harder to handle.

I really needed to find some good news to reflect upon. At this rate, my stomach was going to transform into a giant ulcer.

“Well, I’m heading for bed. I told Dave I’d come in early and get some of my projects wrapped up before we leave. I’ll see you at Relobu’s at nine?” Carol stood and placed her magazine back on the coffee table.

“Yeah. Sounds good.” My trip down memory lane left me slightly depressed, and I knew sleeping would be out of the question. “I’ll be up for a little while longer.”

* * *

The rest of the week went by quickly, with me splitting my time between dragon research and the endless sessions of combat training. Sessions spent in the company of a man that I
so
didn’t want to be attracted to. When Friday rolled around, I was almost relieved to board the private jet that would take us to Hian-puo’s castle.

When a Relobu employee told me we’d be making the trip to Beijing in a plane, I’d expressed my trepidation about placing myself on a piece of equipment that was in danger of being knocked out of the air by a flying dragon. Trian had assured me that Lord Relobu was a stickler for keeping his jets’ navigation equipment EMP-corrosion free.

In addition, Trian had taken the liberty of expanding the number of dragon guards. This time I didn’t get a choice on their appearance. The dragons were all much larger than Dreru, who would also be accompanying the team to China. The five dragons would provide an air escort as we made our way east to discourage any trouble from unplanned dragon visitors.

I settled into the plush seat of the jet next to Carol, and waited while Trian, Richard and the two human members of the security team, Dan and Henry, took their places in the remaining chairs. The mood inside the plane was somber, and I once again berated myself for maneuvering us into the position of having to make this trip at all.

Carol gave my hand a squeeze. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just the plane, all these people—I’ve managed to turn this negotiation into a full-out circus.”

She looked me in the eye. “Myrna, no one blames you for this. Richard thought you did just fine. You need to look on the bright side. We’re getting free clothes out of the deal.”

The dress I’d purchased for the meeting with Rime at DRACIM was now only one of the many outfits charged to Relobu Holdings for this assignment. Richard had determined I, along with Carol, required additional wardrobe items for the days ahead. She’d been ecstatic when Richard had told her. I, feeling terrible about the added expenses I was rapidly adding to Relobu’s invoice, couldn’t bear the thought of shopping for fancy clothes. Luckily, Carol didn’t have such reservations, so I’d sent her out on a mission to dress me appropriately. The plane’s cargo hold was now filled with suitcases of my clothing that I’d never seen before.

The engines fired, and we started the slow roll toward the runway. I gripped the arms of my seat even harder. This flight was my first trip into the air, and I was more than a little nervous. Carol did the same.

I wondered how my great-grandparents had ever managed to treat flights as a routine occurrence.

The plane bumped along the paved airstrip as it gained speed, and I soon felt a strange weightlessness as the jet’s wheels left the ground. We were airborne. Flying with the dragons. The thought made me forget my momentary fears, and I felt a smile stretch across my face.

“Myrna, look!” Carol pointed out the window. Dreru flew over our right wing, his long neck stretched out, scales glistening, as he powered through the air. He saw us through the window and dipped out of sight, only to reappear seconds later, flying upside down. How was that even possible? I laughed and gave him a wave. Dreru grinned before doing a slow, midair roll to resume his original position.

Carol looked at me and giggled, her eyes shining with excitement. I turned to Trian, who had taken the seat across the aisle from mine, to see whether he’d caught the show. His hands gripped hard on the leather-upholstered chair, and his eyes were clenched shut. Richard leaned toward him and whispered something in his ear, but Trian shook his head, and Richard turned back to gaze out the window.

Trian afraid to fly? That was something I hadn’t expected. It suddenly occurred to me that I’d never seen him like this. I’d never admit it, but somehow the fact made him more appealing. He was human after all.

We climbed in altitude for a few more minutes before I felt the plane level out. Trian was no longer gripping his seat, but his face was pale and wan. When he caught me looking, I smiled.

“Flying isn’t your favorite thing, huh?”

“It’s not the flying I mind—it’s being stuck inside this aluminum box. I’ll be fine.” His last statement was said quietly, as if he were convincing himself.

Richard leaned forward. “There’s a conference table near the back. Shall we?”

We unbuckled our seat belts and headed to the back of the plane. The conference table was made of polished wood, and was surrounded by plush office chairs upholstered in a neutral brown. The sight of the expensive furniture calmed me somewhat. If Lord Relobu was willing to fork over the money to furnish a plane to this level of opulence, it was a good bet the navigational circuitry was as safe as Trian had promised.

Even if currently Trian didn’t believe it himself.

Richard seated himself in the chair at the head of the table, and passed around the stack of folders. “I took the liberty of combining some of Myrna’s research results with my own. This is all we have on Hian-puo. It’s not much, even with Lord Relobu providing some of the personal details. In the last ten years, Hian-puo hasn’t left his castle. Any contact with things outside of his home happens through one of his generals.”

I met Richard’s eyes. “How sure are we that Hian-puo is actually the one pulling the strings?” It was no use speaking with Hian-puo if he were only a figurehead.

“We’re pretty sure.” Richard’s lips tightened. He pulled a photograph from his folder and slid it down to me. It took me a moment to realize what I was seeing. It was a dragon—a dead dragon—covered with cuts so deep and vicious there was no question that it had died a slow and painful death. I picked it up from the table before Carol could see. She tended to be squeamish around blood, and this photo made me sick to my stomach.

“This was one of Hian-puo’s former generals, Ju Bai. The dragon lord killed him when he learned Ju Bai had attempted to leave the territory in the company of another dragon, Ju Bai’s niece. The general was attempting to smuggle his female relative out of the country because the Chinese dragon lord has a nasty habit of increasing the size of his family with children without asking the female whether she’s willing. Hian-puo was alerted to Ju Bai’s movements when the general didn’t check in at the castle during the designated time frame after his last assignment. Hian-puo keeps a close eye on his subjects, and does not tolerate disobedience.”

I was silent for a moment, trying to absorb what Richard had just told us.

“You’ve noticed an increase in the security personnel on this trip.” Trian nodded to Henry and Dan, who observed the conversation from the far end of the table. “Hian-puo should realize that Lord Relobu will consider it an act of war should any of us be injured, but I’m not going to rely only on that as a deterrent. I’ve done my best to choose staff I can guarantee will remain professional and polite while still protecting your safety.”

“I understand.” And I did. It was one thing to appear friendly and accommodating, but quite another to put lives in danger for the sole purpose of looking easy to work with. I’d take the extra security any day.