by Neishai
Daemion speared one of his people, a woman with something strange, almost reptilian about her features and quick movements, with his gaze. By her intense expression, it appeared that she had been watching them the entire time. He nodded once and she rose from her table, taking a large sturdy leather bag with her as she approached their table. As she set the bag on the tabletop and opened it, Daemion said, "These are for the four of you, as a down payment for your services."
The brown-haired woman reached inside and pulled out a multi-colored orb, oblong in shape. At first it appeared to be a painted egg, but when she handed it to the nearest person, Cheyno, it became apparent that it was more than that. It was heavy…and very warm!
His eyes widened in surprise. "It's…"
"Not edible!" Lilian said, and snatched it out of his hand.
Daemion's was an indulgent smile. His assistant, yellowish slit-pupil eyes narrowed, was not so tolerant. "There are four eggss, one for each you," she said, with a slight hiss with every word that ended with an 's' sound. The child recognized this slur as a sign of her anger. "Each will hatch soon, and all have been tested to verify their worth, though it would not take long for you to find out on your own." She lifted an eye ridge as the creature inside the egg kicked and Li started.
"So I see," the dragon healer said, eyes not even flickering up to look at the woman, Shalazan, standing over her.
Vash shook his head negatively as Aqu made to pass the egg to him. "But I--" he began as Aqu returned it down the line, the "snake woman" placing it inside the hot leather bag. Steam wafted up from the opening at times, before she closed it. Her hands came back dusty and a little gritty, as if covered in sand. Aqu rose his hand to silence Vash. Now was not the time to argue. They all knew firelizard eggs when they saw them. Who from their 'locale' had not? And who did not know the relative worth of such an egg?
Daemion seemed a little surprised and gazed at each one. "You've seen eggs like these?"
Lilian nodded. Cheyno said, "Flitter eggs. Of course we know what they are."
Lucifer shook his head in a little confusion. "Well I don't know what that is, but they're called dragonflies, where we got them." The quartet eyed him in varying degrees of skepticism. "They look like miniature dragons, but come in six colors, and are quite mean at times. But they're highly intelligent, and quite capable, for the person…strong enough to handle one, to follow simple commands."
Cheyno nodded with conviction. "Flitters." Lilian began to agree with a wide grin, but glanced at Vash and dropped the smile. Aqu remained impartial, offering nothing of his opinion on the matter.
Vash on the other hand, wasn't so sure. Mean? Firelizards were known for their friendly dispositions. He eyed the woman with the bag suspiciously. Daemion and Lucifer both noted his reaction and passed between them a meaningful look. Vash was proving once again that he had much more to offer than they had first surmised, should he survive Imprinting to an 'evil flit,' such as these. The creature itself would prove to be a 'keeper' as well, as Lucifer had mentioned, but only to one strong of body and mind. Both he and Daemion had discovered this already, as had the woman at the head of the table, Shalazan.
With a word from the child, three 'firelizards' appeared out of the shadows. They brought with them a whoosh of air, and some foul, unnamable odor. A Silver landed on Daemion's shoulder, careful not to impale the clothing with his sharp talons. He glared at those present, looming over the boy's head like a metallic vulture. He turned his head back and forth, as if looking for someone. A Purple, more reddish than bluish, had landed on Lucifer's shoulder. She sat regally, all graceful curves and deadly beauty for all of her armaments: bristly hair, long horns, teeth, and claws. She was an obvious match for Lucifer, down to the similar violet hue in his condescending eyes. For the woman, finally a shadow-dark flitter appeared, glancing about cautiously. He spotted his rival the Silver and screeched. For a second, which seemed an eternity to those around the table -- and the entire inn, its occupants dropping everything, even the occasional fork or leg of poultry, to watch -- he hovered, daring the Silver to attack. His tail thrashed in the air warningly. The Silver made a derisive grunt and appeared not to notice. Satisfied, the Black landed on his chosen shoulder; the Purple preened in satisfaction.
Daemion smirked. "I can see from your expressions that these creatures are not quite what you had in mind. They are from a distant planet known as Danach. I had Shalazan here gather a few from a resident who was trying to get rid of them. Can't imagine why," he added slyly, eyes half-lidded and a smile gracing his lips. He scratched his dragonfly's chin.
"Do we have a deal? Anything you can carry home tomorrow night will be the rest of your payment, of course."
There was a general consensus, four varying degrees of enthusiasm, each word of consent obviously for a different reason. Shalazan left the bag with Cheyno and returned to her seat across the room. She glared balefully at any of those without the brains to go back to their supper. Slowly, normal noises began to fill the hall once more, as people were forced to stop holding their breath.
Daemion's Silver spread his wings and crowed at the Black. He turned his head and glared, from behind Shalazan's flowing brown locks. Daemion shushed his small bond and rose in his seat. "Good then. We shall meet here tomorrow night.
Others at the table stood as well: Lucifer, a seducer and conscienceless killer; Vash, a slightly insane, now-dragon-less instructor of dragon riders; Aquxianal the moody, morbid healer; the thief and dragon healer, his sister Lilian; and her handyman lover, the easy-going Cheynoron. What an unlikely-looking bunch, but who better to start with? the boy thought.
Cheyno grinned and said to him, "Thank you Mr. Dragas. We'll see ya tomorrow, tho' we're ready for our first assignment now!"
"Give it a rest Cheyno. Why start tonight when we can celebrate?" Li grinned and pushed him out of the booth and lead him away, the bag of eggs carried between them.
Aquxianal shrugged and waited for Vash before following. "Thanks," the latter said softly, draping an arm across his lower back.
"Vashena…" Aqu began, before their words were swallowed by voices in the crowded inn.
Lucifer and Daemion watched them go, and the outside door closed behind them. "You were in excellent form tonight," Daemion commented. "Usually we play things a little differently, but I have a feeling about them. I know they will be worth all the trouble. We had to prove who was the boss, while allowing them to relax in our company."
Lucifer stood with his arms crossed, a scowl still etched in his brow. He shook his head slightly. "Father, I don't like this. It was easier when it was just you and I. No guards," he tossed his head at one of the men sitting at a nearby table keeping an eye on them. Mistaking the gesture for a nod, the man smiled broadly as he and his companions lifted their mugs high. "No lackeys," he sneered.
The "child" patted him on the arm. "On the contrary my son, I believe this will be most entertaining. These folk shall keep us on our toes, but in the end, we'll get what we desire."