New Title 32 (33 page)

These weren’t normal conditions. The Cullans were already at the Trove. This flight was for the wedding party, our families, and our friends. Some knew what Rose really was, but most of our friends were still in the dark.

“Coming out” to Mom and Audrey had been easier than I’d feared. When Audrey said “prove it”, Rose portalled us to her mother’s lair and we introduced them to Arwydd. Mom was delighted and curious, just as I’d expected, but for Audrey it was a religious revelation. Seeing a totally new world meant God was bigger and grander than she had ever dreamed. We discussed bringing Dad and Audrey’s husband Ken in on things, but in the end, we agreed they weren’t ready.

Rose’s father and brother, now officially known as Hamish and Hamish Junior, weren’t really ready for this weekend either. If not for the fact that Harmony would be attending, they wouldn’t have come at all. However, Dragons practically worship social status, and Harmony was a full five-star, blue-blooded, grand dame of the polo club set—or whatever the Draconic equivalent to a polo club was. The Hamishes didn’t have enough clout to skip the wedding, so they sat in a two-person pod and stared out the windows with all the good cheer of someone on their third day of wearing raw wool underwear.

Before I took my seat, I took a moment to see how the Hamishes were doing. Neither showed signs of airsickness or nerves, just a pervading dour attitude at being cooped up for hours while surrounded by mere bipeds.

I did feel for them. The male Dragons had never liked being dependent on shaved monkeys for successful reproduction. Going to war against those same Humans hadn’t helped any. When we told Rose’s family we intended to get married, the Hamishes insisted I prove my worth by reciting my deeds and ancestry. I’m still not sure if I actually passed, or if they just got bored and decided I was good enough. I didn’t blame them for being protective; I’d feel the same way, were our positions reversed.

By contrast, Arwydd and Rose’s cousins Lara and Zayda spent the entire flight exploring the plane, playing
Warblade
with some of the other passengers, and sneaking off to the master bedroom suite in the tail section to practice their making-out-with-Humans homework.

Thank the Lady we weren’t flying commercial.

Nadia leaned out of her pod and waved at me. “David, Mother says Gordon dropped off a box of stuff he’d like you to look at when you get a chance. Want to bring everyone over for a meet and greet while pawing through Gordon’s stuff?”

“He’s letting us use a suite people normally have to lose millions to afford. Sure, we can have a look.” I caught Rose’s mental comment and snickered. “Yes, a very small price to pay to use the room.”

In point of fact, we were paying for the suite; we were just paying the rental price, not the ‘lose this much to be comped’ price. Normally, paying the rental price wasn’t really an option.

We breezed through the general aviation terminal in McCarran’s southwest corner. I stood back and played traffic cop as people exited the plane and made their way to the line of limos outside. Just as the Brick had done for Mister M, I checked people off on a clipboard, matching people and baggage to the appropriate limo. The jet’s flight staff was as good as gold; they located two missed bags and a forgotten purse before I had them marked as missing. Once the limo contents matched the tally marks, I took my place and we rolled out.

This weekend, the Trove was host to four thousand romance novel writers, agents, publishers, cover artists, and hunky, kilt-wearing cover models. It seemed a perfect time to have a wedding.

There was no fiddling with check-in this time. We went straight to the VIP kiosk and had our keys in two minutes flat. Rose and I and our immediate families were in the Sun Palace suite. Our friends and other guests were taking up four of the Epic-level suites. I didn’t think they’d have any complaint about the accommodations; Rose and I had stayed in one last month when we came out for Gordon and Lorena’s wedding and they were as well-appointed as any high-roller suite in the city.

Not that my folks have ever
seen
a high-roller suite...

As the concierge opened the doors and showed us in, Dad made it five whole feet before stopping in his tracks and staring at the marble, rosewood, and gold-leafed Elven opulence. Our butler, Doreen, tried to welcome him to the suite, but Dad walked right past her and into the living room area. He sank down into one of the throne-like leather recliners, put the foot rest up, and gazed into the blazing glory of the one hundred-inch super high-definition television. It took no time at all to find a repeat of his favorite life-in-a-pawn-shop television show.

After a moment, he came over to me and put his hands on my shoulders. “Son, I know I don’t say it enough, but I’m proud of you. I thought you were wasting your life, playing all those games. I thought you were a fool for quitting your job. I…I was wrong, and I’m sorry I ever doubted you.” He pulled me into an awkward hug, patted me on the back, and sat down again.

I don’t know if he heard me say “Thank you,” but I said it. I wasn’t sure what else I could say. As much as his approval meant to me, I couldn’t help thinking it came only because wealth was the one thing in my life he did understand.

Maybe that was enough.

Heedless of my emotional turmoil, Ken tapped me on the shoulder and asked, “So, Dave. Which of these broom closets did you stick Audrey and me in?”

“Second floor, take your pick. First come, first served.” I smiled and forgot to mention the elevator until he was halfway up the stairs.

Ken has been into finding and restoring antiques since he was a kid, and he loved the same shows Dad does. The two of them spent hours at flea markets and estate sales, holding intense conversations about their passions and their life experiences; something Dad and I have never been able to do. I tried, but I am not a person who will ever use ‘antique’
as a verb.

Ken came back down the stairs, grabbed another recliner, and surrendered to the television as well. The rest of us left the two of them to adore their new electronic girlfriend in peace while we got our luggage unpacked and stowed away. Well, most of us did.

The Hamishes hung up their suits, left their street clothes on top of the bed, and portalled home. They had to put in an appearance on the way to Vegas, but neither of them had the slightest interest staying on Earth a moment longer than was necessary. Arwydd managed to wrap a
Somebody Else’s Problem
spell around their absence, so no one should be expecting to see them again until the wedding.

Once we got settled, we left Dad and Ken in widescreen TV paradise and tromped over to the Forest Lord suite. After making introductions, I asked Nadia, “So, what did Gordon come up with this time?”

Aerin said, “These!” She and Angus held up six-inch-tall action figures of themselves, based on how they’d appeared in our battle against the Bloodmaiden. Aerin’s Emissary of Battle had her crescent-bladed guillotine weapon in one hand, while the other held a ball of gold energy. The figure also had a mantle of gold energy flowing from its shoulders to the ground, just as Aerin had.

“Watch this!” Aerin flicked a tiny switch and the figure’s spell ball and mantle lit up. So did a silver mongoose hidden in the figure’s hair. “Isn’t that cool?” she cackled. “I have a light bulb up my ass!”

Angus’ figure was the Dark Elven Warmaster, clad in black half-plate armor and wielding twin katana-like swords. This figure didn’t light up, but it could rotate its torso from side to side at high speed, executing three dual-sword attacks. Angus flicked the switch a few times and said, “I wasn’t sure about this whole thing, but I think it beats the shit out of Kung-Fu Grip.”

“And now, we get to…the big box!” Nadia passed a large box to Rose. “Gordon left this one for you.”

With a sharp intake of breath, Rose sliced the box open and removed a gleaming metallic purple Dragon, Darkrose Triumphant. She had an articulated neck, tail, and limbs, with one button to cause a tail whip and another for the wings to strike forward. Her roars and dialog were all Rose’s real voice, recorded in a Llewellyn sound studio.

Damn it, I really wanted one for a desk toy.

“I love it,” Rose purred. “Just think…this Christmas, children and geeks all over the world will be begging their parents and loved ones for the gift of…me!” She brushed a tear out of her eye and added, “And I’ll be getting a residual percentage from every sale! It’ll be the best Christmas ever!”

Yep, Gordon just made a friend for life. Odin was right again…

With arms and vestments friends should each other gladden,

Those which are in themselves most sightly.

Givers and requiters are longest friends,

If all else goes well.

I picked up the Emissary of Healing, a human woman with a chalice of water and glowing blue angel wings. “Looks a little different from Toni. How is Ms. Aguilar these days?”

“Settled in at UC Santa Barbara, working on her art and remedial academics;” Aerin replied. “Danya’s helping her build a portfolio and get some exposure. Next summer she’ll be interning at my foundation in Los Angeles, reading and evaluating grant proposals. She just turned eighteen and is living on her own, taking a good combination of meds for her bipolar disorder, and seeing a therapist for her other issues. Much improved, all things considered.”

Audrey leaned forward and asked, “Don’t you have an action figure too, David? Or were you involved with all this?”

“I do, but it’s not in this batch,” I said. “I’m the model for the Ranger class, whatever they wind up calling it. Mostly because I already have a leather kilt. Oh, and because Rose won’t work with anyone else.”

“Well, that makes sense.” She chuckled and looked away, shaking her head. “I suppose getting turned into an action figure is pretty much a dream come true for you.”

“Not really. It’s something cool, but I never thought there was a chance of it happening, so it never was a dream of mine.” That nudged my memory, so I excused myself and went outside to make a phone call.

I hadn’t forgotten about Boo and his family, or about Granfer Vic’s car. After BuzzCon, I’d turned the car over to a shop specializing in restoring antique and collectable vehicles. With all the damage from our drive to Vegas, fixing it up had cost a pretty penny. It was down to the wire, but the shop had come through. Granfer Vic’s car was in a transport trailer headed for Kayenta. It wasn’t the only gift I was sending that way.

The shop’s owner said, “The driver checked in five minutes ago at a gas station. He’s filling up and taking a comfort break. He’ll be back on the road in twenty minutes or so and in Kayenta within the hour.”

“Thank you, please keep me posted.” I tucked my phone away and went back inside. Even at this height, it was over one hundred in the direct sun. Just one more reason to see Vegas at night.

The ladies were in Nadia’s room looking at Rose’s dress, so I went back to our suite. I got my laptop and camera set up and tested, just to be sure I was ready for my call from Kayenta.

Soon enough, the call came in. Boo and his sister Jeanne were inside their office, looking surprised and nervous. Neither recognized me, of course.

I said, “Jeanne, Boudreaux. Good afternoon. My name is David Fraser, and you don’t know me. I’m calling because, even if you don’t know how, you were a great help to me. I have something that belongs to you. To your family. These gentlemen are returning it for me.”

Boo and Jeanne looked out the window when they heard the engine start. Boo stood up and said something profane in Navajo. Jeanne put her hands over her mouth and screamed.

Boo leaned into the camera. “Where you find that car?” He shook his head several times. “It was here. Here. Then it was gone. Where was it?”

I hesitated a moment before deciding to stick with the truth. Part of it, anyway. “It was on a mission from God. That mission is over, and…it’s time the car was returned to your family. The spell your Granfer Vic and his friends placed on it is broken. Everyone can see it now.”

He sat back, scowling. “A mission from God, eh?” He shook his head. “I suppose that’s as good an answer as any.”

“There’s one more item,” I said.

The truck driver handed Boo a heavy linen envelope. Boo flipped a pocket knife open with his thumb and slit the envelope enough to pull out the check. His knife fell to the ground, forgotten.

“Four million dollars,” I said. “Enough for a house for your parents, and one for your sister. Enough to hire some of the kids taking auto shop to work for you, and to hire your buddy Rosho to manage your place. Enough for you to do whatever you should be doing. Oh, and don’t forget to set some aside for taxes.”

He shook his head. “I…what is this for? Why are you giving this to me?”

I grinned and shook my head. “Some free advice, which I could have used a few years ago. Decide what your goals are, and talk to people already doing those things. Listen to what they have to say. Find a good money manager, one with references, a track record, and an interest in seeing you succeed. You’re going to have a lot of friends pop up out of nowhere. You’re going to have a lot of people you know turn into people you don’t. You’re going to have a few friends who stay friends, and you should treasure them. Listen to their advice. You don’t have to take it, but you should listen. You’re going to make mistakes, you’re going to fail, and you’re going to let people down. Don’t beat yourself up for it. Learn what you can and keep going.”

Boo gave me a slow nod. “You read lotta fortune cookies, man.”

“I suppose I do.” I  gestured to the check on the desk in front of him. “That is a certified cashier’s check. The money is guaranteed, and none of it came from drugs or any criminal activity. The business card in that envelope has a phone number on it. You can get a message to me any time with it.” I spread my hands and shrugged. “That’s all I had to say. Everything else depends on Boudreaux Yazzie, and I expect to hear great things of him.”

Boo sighed. “Well, shit. I guess I’m stuck being big damn rich. Gonna take time, think it through. Thank you for returning the car. I think I’ll drive it to the bank and put this check in before it gets lost. Or I wake up.”