Page 67 of Serving my Dragon
“Thanks,” was my dry reply. “What are you doing?”
“Blessing your family by taking them on as servants.”
“Servants for what?” I exclaimed as my family watched, heads bobbing between me and Polly, much like a tennis match.
“Everything. A dragon has many needs, you know. There are the knights who protect. The household staff for maintaining my home and feeding me. The handmaidens for the more intimate care I require. The farmers who ensure a proper food supply. Accountants to keep track of my expanding hoard, and apparently, I need an investor as well for the less tangible funds.”
I blinked as Polly named off a multitude of roles, each more ridiculous than the next. “You’re the size of a dog,” I finally exploded. “You have a cave for a home. No treasure. And given your inability to keep anything a secret, will most likely end up locked away in some lab being studied by scientists.”
Polly’s chest puffed but before she could reply, Mama scolded. “As if we’d let anyone take Pollita.”
“You won’t have a choice if the government sends the army.”
“Bah, they wouldn’t dare harm Peru’s first and only dragon,” declared Carmelita.
My cousin, Sophia, nodded and gesticulated as she took over, saying, “The more of us who know about Pollita the better. While initially it’s best she remains hidden away as she grows, eventually we will reveal her existence.”
“You’d tell the world?” I exclaimed.
“To protect her. Once Pollita has a public quinceañera”—a coming out party that many females enjoyed when they turned fifteen—“it will be very hard for anyone to come after her. We will rally the people, get them excited. Start a social media channel and campaign that will make her famous.”
I stared at my family. “You’re all nuts.”
Kayleigh put a hand on my arm. “Not necessarily. It’s actually an interesting idea. Rather than sweeping Polly’s existence under the rug, bring her out into the open. Make her so well known that the government and other groups wouldn’t dare to come after her.”
“There are some who will still come after her,” I pointed out.
“Hence why we shall work on protecting the citadel,” Juan declared. “I have some friends in the military who owe me some favors.” Of course he did.
“It will be fine, mijo,” Mama stated.
I rubbed my face. “And how long do you figure before she’s exposed?”
“That will depend on Pollita, I’d say,” Juan drawled. “Once we return to the jungle, we will begin honing her defensive and offensive techniques immediately.”
“I’ll help on my days off,” Santiago offered.
“Me too,” Manuel added.
One by one, my family volunteered to help Pollita learn and grow. Even Mama. I blinked at them.
“Are you all seriously going to take turns staying in the cave?”
“Of course, mijo. The burden shouldn’t be yours alone. After all, you have a business to run.”
Polly harrumphed. “As if poking at people’s teeth is more important than spending time with me. And don’t you dare mention your bills. Once I find that hoard, I will provide for all my servants.”
“Tell me more about this hoard. How would you feel converting some of it to crypto currency?” Lorenzo, who worked cybercrimes, knew the scams in the online world, but also the right places to invest. He’d been investing his and Sophia’s meager savings and actually turning it into a nice little egg. I’d been meaning to take him up on his offer to help me with my own finances.
I ended up sitting in a chair with Kayleigh in my lap, the pair of us listening but not contributing much. Didn’t need to since Polly held court. Literally. And my family lapped it up.
I never even realized I’d drowsed off until Juan gently shook my shoulder. “Off to bed with you two.”
My yawn almost swallowed my head. “Where’s Pollita?” I asked. She and Mama had disappeared from her throne.
“Lola’s got the dragon settled in her room so you can have a good night’s rest. I’ll walk you home.”
By walk, he meant actually driving me the five houses because of my stiffening and sore leg. Much appreciated.
