Page 150 of Phoenix's Fire

"Zasen probably would've handled it," Lansin assured me, "but I was headed that way, so I sent her. Shadow was already on someone else."

I nodded, glancing at the lighter of the two dogs. "I'll pay whatever you're asking."

He still looked confused. "Youwant a dog?"

"Ayla does," I corrected. "I don't think she even knows she can have one, and Zasen told her they were expensive. She doesn't really understand money, so she'd never think of it, but Kanik said the dog saved both of them, and..." I sighed heavily. "Look. Right now, I don't give a shit how much the thing costs."

Without looking, Lansin reached down to rub the top of the black dog's head. The brindle leaned in, almost like she was hoping for some affection as well. After a few rubs, Lansin shifted his hand to her, and I watched as the dog closed her eyes contentedly.

"Your friends are fine," Lansin assured me, but he rocked his head from side to side while he petted. "And Ayla is a natural with the dogs. I sent Holly to attack that guy, then Ayla just took over. She sent her after another, held him, and by the time I got there, Ayla was saying she'd order the dog to rip his throat out."

"See!" I said, thrusting both hands at him as if he'd proven my point. "The girl doesn't understand things like 'out of the box,' but she can do this."

"She can do dogs?" Lansin asked.

Which made me pause. I hadn't really thought of it that way. When Kanik had said the dog saved their lives, I'd only cared about whether it could save them again in the future. Still, Lansin had a good point. Ayla didn't have a job. She said she wanted to hunt like Zasen, but I wasn't convinced she truly liked that part as much as just being able to walk around the woods safely.

Or the town.

Or our house.

Having a dog would mean she was never without a weapon. She also wouldn't be alone. No matter what, if someone bigger or stronger than her tried to push her around, she'd have backup. This dog could be more to her than simply a pet or something to protect her when the Moles came.

It could be the start of her future. Ayla could make her own way of life if she wanted. Now, I wasn't sure if she'd be interested in that, but I had seen how much she liked Holly. The way she smiled each time she touched the animal made it very, very clear.

"Is she actually good with them, or are you just securing your sale?" I asked. "I'm buying the dog regardless."

"No, she's good with them," he assured me. "I mean, most Reapers are used to them, and I'd say ninety percent of us actually like dogs. The other people are just weird. But Ayla? The way they think makes sense to her. Show, repeat, and praise. She's gentle with them, but not a pushover. She's not scared of them at all, and she isn't horrified at the idea of actuallyusingthem - which they love. Most importantly, Rymar, she's quiet. Ayla says what she wants, gives praise, but it's always clear and concise, not mixed up in a jumble of silly human stuff."

I was nodding as he made his points. "So shecoulddo this? Raise, or train, or work with dogs?"

"Shit," Lansin said around a laugh. "I mean, yeah. She'd need a kennel if she's going to have a few, but that's really the only limitation. Well, I guess for you Dragons, it'd just be an extra room. You know, if she ever had puppies."

"She could breed dogs?" I asked, realizing this gift might be even better than I'd originally thought.

Being here in town while they'd left had been hard. Before, when the Moles attacked, I'd been busy making sure medics were able to get to people. I'd been responsible for organizing the doctors and directing people both to and from the attack. First responders, family, and everyone else who'd been worried had all come to me, and that hadn't left any time to worry about whether or not my closest friends were alive or dead.

But this?

It would give Ayla options. She could make her own decisions about how deep she wanted to get into the hobby - or job. And as far as I cared, if she wanted to make this her own thing, I would completely support that, but I'd decided to buy the dog simply because it had saved their lives once, and I hoped it would do so again and again.

"Ayla could not only breed but also raise, and train, then sell." Lansin nodded. "We don't have enough to supply the demand here in Lorsa, so we double the prices when we offer them here. I mean, I've had four people say they wanted to talk to me before we leave. I think two are serious."

"I'll - "

He lifted a hand before I could double down. "And if you're serious, she's yours. Well, Ayla's. Holly isn't an easy dog. She will chew on things. She will need to run - probably a lot. Living with a hunter and fighting Moles?" He nodded. "It'll help her burn off energy. She alsolikesAyla."

"Just let me know what I owe you," I told him, "and I'll run it over to Naomi's tonight."

Lansin ducked his head and chuckled. "Here's the thing. I've been telling everyone here she's worth twelve thousand. I'm willing to take ten for a good home. For you - well, her?" he smiled. "Pay me eight, and I'll write up a list of every command she knows to go with it."

"You might end up changing your mind," I warned.

He gave me a wary look. "Why?"

"Because I'm hoping you'll give her the dog and not mention it was paid for. Say Holly took a liking to her or something. I don't know or care, but I don't want..." I grunted, trying to explain that I didn't want credit for this.

"Ah.." Lansin nodded. "You like the girl, don't want her to think you're trying to buy her affection, so you're being one of those beneficial benefactor types?"

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