Chapter 13

Somewhat miraculously,the radio in the jeep still worked, so Lucy called her captain to report in. After some swearing, he dispatched personnel to pick up all three of the detainees and bring her another vehicle.

I sat in the grass outside the market with Malcolm and my wolf, who I was beginning to think of as Daisy. It wasn't the name I would have chosen, but she didn't seem to mind it—in fact, whenever someone said it, her ears twitched. I wondered what Sean would think of her name.

In the meantime, vendors in the market focused on cleaning up the mess the troll had made of their inventory. Most of the shoppers left. Several gave my wolf hard stares. In answer, she either stared back or sat on her haunches with her tongue hanging out, like a large, friendly dog. How she decided who to stare down and who to charm, I didn't know. I'd tried talking to her telepathically, as we'd done before she leapt from my body. To my disappointment, it didn't work, even when we were in physical contact.

While Lucy was occupied getting her bags and gear and keeping an eye on the unconscious troll, Malcolm and I discussed whether to head out on our own or go to the roadhouse.

Daisy's opinion was clear. When I suggested we part ways with Lucy, she growled.

"I know you want us to stick around, but I'm concerned about Lucy's special talent," Malcolm told her. "She can make people do things. We saw her use it on both the troll and the woman she arrested. Who's to say she won't try to use it on one of us?"

That was exactly what I was concerned about too. "She might decide she wants the whole truth from us about who we are and what we're doing here," I told my wolf. "I'm not sure my shields can protect me from that kind of magic."

Daisy raised her head. She looked at Lucy, then at me, then mimicked biting the air.

Malcolm rolled his eyes. "Here we go again with wolf charades."

I raised my eyebrows. "Oh, come on, Malcolm. That one's obvious. She's saying Lucy can't use it on me because she won't allow it."

He sighed. "Well, as long as Daisy's with you, I guess you're safe then, but what if Lucy tries to mess with me?"

Daisy chomped the air again, but in Lucy's direction.

I laughed. "Well, there you go. She'll protect you too."

"I feel honored," Malcolm said. "I've got a wolf bodyguard. This must be like how you feel when Sean's with you."

My smile faded.

"I'm sorry," he said immediately. "I didn't mean to bring him up. Way to go, Malcolm," he muttered.

"It's okay. I'm not that fragile." I turned back to Daisy. "We need to find Mariela and that scroll. Why do you want us to stick with Lucy? Is there something we need from her?"

She stared at me.

"Something we need from someone at the roadhouse?"

She snuffled and laid her head back down on her paws.

"Is that a yes?"

No reaction. I had a feeling she understood me perfectly well, but chose not to answer.

"Fine, be that way," I said, exasperated.

"Did you just lose an argument with a wolf?" Lucy asked, dropping her gear on the ground next to us. "Sorry, didn't mean to eavesdrop. The wagon should be here any minute. Once we get these jokers loaded up and our gear stowed in the new ride, we'll be on our way."

"Can I ask a question?" Malcolm asked. "Is there a name for that special skill you've got?"

She tore open a first aid pack and cleaned the cut on her forehead without needing a mirror. "I've got a couple of special skills. Some I'll talk about, and some I won't, just like you and Alice. I assume you're referring to pushing."

"Pushing, yes." Malcolm's tone belied his unease. "That's a handy skill. Seems like there might be some ethical concerns there."

"It is handy. And yes, some definite ethical concerns, if you're good at it. Luckily, I'm not that good at it." She wrapped the soiled disinfectant wipe in its packaging and stuck it in her pocket.

"Why ‘luckily'?" I asked.

"Because like with most special skills, being good at something means you might be useful to someone."

I knew that all too well, unfortunately. "Good point."

She glanced at the far side of the parking lot, where two jeeps and a large armored personnel carrier were pulling in. "Finally. Let me sort all this out. Any chance your wolf can look less like a wolf?"

Daisy rolled onto her back and showed us her belly, her tongue lolling. In that pose, she looked very dog-like if you didn't look at her too closely.

Lucy paused. "I know she's not a shifter, but she understands every word we say. I'm also aware she chose to let us put that collar on. I don't know why I'm this comfortable around her. I'm not even really a dog person."

"Stone!" A familiar voice bellowed across the parking lot.

Lucy winced. "Captain Ellis. I was afraid of that. I'll be back." She turned and headed for the lead jeep, where a man in an officer's uniform stood with his hands on his hips.

"What do you think?" Malcolm asked when she was out of earshot.

I watched Lucy talking to her captain. He spoke at length, pointing at the unconscious troll, the market, and her smashed vehicle, and then waving his hands to encompass the area. She let him finish, then replied. Whatever she said, it was brief, and it brought an abrupt end to the captain's tirade. He gave her a nod and started issuing commands to the half-dozen soldiers who'd come with him to the scene. They fanned out to follow his orders.

"I think Lucy's a good Guardian," I said finally. "I also think she's really, really good at pushing, and we need to be careful."

"You think she pretends she's not good at it for the same reason you pretend to be a mid-level mage?"

"Yup. It takes one to know one, maybe." I gingerly rubbed Daisy's head. She showed me her teeth, but didn't move away.

"Takes one what?"

"A liar," I said. "A liar, and someone who's pretending to be someone she's not."

"So who is Lucy, then?" he asked. "Besides a maverick Guardian?"

"I don't know, but I get the feeling whatever the answer is, it's why Daisy wants us to go with her to the roadhouse." I scratched Daisy's head. "Is that right, Daisy-dog?"

She growled, then wiggled her back in the grass. I had no idea what that meant, but it looked like I was going to a Broken World roadhouse in the company of a Guardian with mysterious abilities, a snarky ghost, and a magical wolf.

What could possibly go wrong?