Page 90 of The Dragon With A Girl Tattoo
“Magister?A mage, you mean?”I asked.
“No, magisters are different.They’re kind of specialized mages,” Ysolde answered.“They are pretty rare, since their field of study takes centuries to master, but that’s why people go to them for the really big spells.Dr.Kostich studied under a magister for a couple of hundred years before he shifted over to work on his archimagedom.Who needs more Bolly?”
I looked at Charity, who, when she noticed, cocked an eyebrow at me.“I’m willing to bet the First Dragon has the ability to make a dog immortal,” I told her.
“I’m sure he does, but whether or not he would is another question,” she parried, then to my surprise smiled broadly.“And I’m equally sure that any other demigod probably has that in his wheelhouse, as well.”
“Oooh,” Aisling said, her gaze on me.“That’s an idea.Would you mind asking Yrian?Or I can, if you didn’t want to get involved.”
“I don’t know that he has that sort of power,” I said slowly, musing on the idea.“I can’t see him refusing if he did.I’ll ask him later.”
“We’d be infinitely grateful if you could,” Aisling said, looking hopeful.“Jim is in despair as each year passes and Cecile gets more and more frail.We really need her immortalized now, before she gets more infirm.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I promised.
“I’m surprised we don’t have Pixie in our midst, not that she’s a mate, but still, this is an informal gathering,” May commented.
“That would have something to do with yesterday, which Brom and Pixie spent not talking to each other.There was some sort of a disagreement, with the result that Pixie holed up in her room and refused to come out, and Brom stormed around being so dramatic, Baltic sent him off to work on his archery with one of Drake’s men.This morning heralded the return of Pixie to public spaces, since Karma told her to make herself helpful, and we had her underfoot all morning until I remembered that she likes cooking, too, so she spent a much more fruitful time helping Pavel in the kitchen.I believe the hummus was her own recipe.”
“Please pass along my admiration for the hummus,” I said, plopping more of it on my plate.
“What about your band?”Thaisa asked as we all continued to munch.“That is, what will you do now that you and Yrian are together?”
“Oh, I angsted over that while Yrian was recovering, but as soon as he was able to focus on something other than healing all his wounds, he pointed out that there was no reason I couldn’t still sing with them, so long as he was around to protect me.As it happens, it’s kind of a moot point.One of my bandmates is dating a woman from the band who won the contest, and she texted me last night asking if I minded if Arwen—the girlfriend—joined the band.After a discussion, we decided that Arwen would take over my spot for most of the gigs, and when I wasn’t helping Yrian deal with his crazy mom and that Deus guy, I could pop in and perform with them.They said so long as I give them glamours, they’d all be fine with that arrangement.”I smiled, remembering how happy the ladies were that we’d worked everything out.
“In green dragon news, I caught Drake castle shopping online.”Aisling pursed her lips for a few seconds before laughing with us when we all gave in to mirth.“He claims it will be handy to have should someone else try to attack the sept, but we all know the real reason he wants a freakin’ medieval castle.”
“Jealousy,” May said, nodding.
Thaisa giggled, then said, “If we’re giving mate updates, here’s mine: Archer says he and Hunter are going to the Duat so they can dance on Xavier’s remains, but really, I think they just want to make sure that his body parts are secure in a way that makes certain he won’t ever be resurrected.”
“I don’t blame them at all,” Ysolde said, making a face at the empty bottle of champagne.“We all hope he stays dead.The light dragons are doing our thing—right now, that includes hosting Yrian and Becket, which I think is a perfect way for Baltic and Yrian to bond.”
“They seem to be an awful lot alike,” Phyllida said, pushing away her plate as she leaned back in the chair.“Both are kind of intense and watchful, if you know what I mean.Lordisa, I am so full, I’ll have to be on the treadmill for a whole week to work off this lunch.”
“Same, girl, same,” Aisling said.“And I agree that Baltic and Yrian are similar in that regard, although Yrian seems a bit ...er ...”
“Quirkier, I believe, is the word you’re searching for,” I told Aisling with a raised eyebrow.
Charity laughed as Aisling gave a little eye roll.“It is, in fact, exactly the word.He is quirky, but that’s part of his charm.”
“It is,” I agreed, and also leaned back, filled with good food, friendly and supportive company, and the knowledge that the love of my life was indoors having some male-bonding time.
I remembered the nightmare that was my life before Yrian, and sent a wave of happiness out into the universe in thanks.
