One Realm Beyond (26 page)
She strolled over to a big open book where she signed her name and then searched the recent pages, flipping them slowly. Though an occasional smile lightened her expression, more often she frowned fiercely. Bixby’s expectations of meeting delightful, interesting people plummeted with each scowl. She hoped the dragon would at least find a few pleasant acquaintances in the registry.
Totobee-Rodolow looked up at her and winked.
“There are many I would rather not meet again.”
A pleased shiver went up Bixby’s spine. The dragon had heard her thoughts and answered. The chance of being constants with this elegant dragon grew with the strength of their friendship.
This time Totobee-Rodolow frowned at her.
“Don’t assume this is a long-term arrangement. Remember what I told you to begin with.”
If Bixby didn’t want the dragon reading all her thoughts, she would have to get out a different crown, one that guarded
her mind. But she didn’t really mind Totobee-Rodolow sifting through her mind. She trusted the dragon to have her best interest at heart.
Bixby finished filling in the information and took it to the counter. No one came to collect her paperwork, and she couldn’t see over the ledge to the office. She cleared her throat, then cleared it again, only louder.
Finally, Penny Lunder noticed and came to the window. “Thank you, Princess Bixby.”
She gasped. “Oh, please. Don’t call me that. Bixby is good enough.”
“As you wish. I’ll make a note of that on the documents that are distributed to the faculty.”
“Can’t we just not mention it at all?”
“Well, that wouldn’t accomplish much. Your mother is famous for her skills, and therefore you’ll be easily identified. Child, your name has been on our books since you were born.” Penny stood on tiptoe and leaned over the counter to peer down at Bixby. “Have you inherited her gifts?”
Bixby had the answer for this, a question as familiar to her as her own skin. “My mother says it will take maturity — in other words, time — before we can be sure what abilities I might develop.”
“I see.” Penny straightened and tapped the vellum papers against her chin.
Totobee-Rodolow walked over to look Penny in the eye. The gems implanted on the dragon’s face flashed in the late-afternoon sunshine. No — they glowed. Bixby watched with fascination. The radiance came not from the sun but from behind each precious stone. And it increased.
Totobee-Rodolow spoke to Penny Lunder in a low tone,
with evenly spaced words. “You are not to gossip, Penny Lunder. The girl seems average, perhaps even a little lacking in possibilities. There is nothing of note to tell.”
The glimmering gems faded until the flame behind each disappeared.
Penny Lunder looked at the dragon without expression, then startled as if she had just come out of a daydream. “Oh, yes, what was I saying?”
“You were about to hand Bixby a schedule for the next week’s activities.”
“Yes, I have it right here.” She smiled without warmth, and her words sounded perfunctory. “I hope your initial week is pleasant.”
“You are too kind. Good evening, Penny, dear.”
Totobee-Rodolow guided Bixby out of the building.
Bixby barely waited until they cleared the massive doors before she started in with her questions. “Penny Lunder seemed much friendlier when we first went in. Did you do something?”
“Anyone who was after information would go interrogate Penny Lunder first. She keeps her eye on the comings and goings of the council members, and she has all the records at her disposal. Plus she likes to be the one in the know, and she relishes gossip.” Totobee-Rodolow prodded Bixby to resume walking down the street. “Other than that, she’s a very pleasant person.”
“But you disarmed her. How?”
“Years and years and years ago, I knew a wizard.”
“Really? Was it Chomountain?”
“No, but one of his commanders. He taught me the power of suggestion.”
“Will you teach me?”
Totobee-Rodolow gave her a stern look. “Perhaps. It isn’t as easy as it looks. And with some people, changing their thinking is impossible.”
“And your gems had something to do with it, didn’t they? I wonder if I have a crown that would substitute for your gems.”
Totobee-Rodolow had picked up the pace. “Come along, darling. Our next stop will be so much more entertaining.”
No longer strolling, but almost sprinting, Bixby worked to keep up. She had little time to inspect the houses, shops, people, and conveyances they passed. She did note that several dragons walked on the street beside important-looking people. She might look important as well if she weren’t jogging to keep up with an elegant, dignified dragon.
Panting, she asked, “Where are we going?”
“To eat.”
“Why must we hurry?”
“We are going to the Sky Realm, a very busy restaurant. We want to beat the crowd and get a good table.”
Bixby had very little experience eating in places where one paid for the food. She imagined some tables being fancy and others being plain, but this didn’t seem likely. “Are some tables better than others?”
“Of course not, darling. Some tables are situated so that one can see everyone else in the room. Some are tucked back a little along the side so one can eat without being on display. And some tables are next to the paths that waiters and customers traverse as they go about their business. It’s annoying to be where the traffic is heavy, unless you want to waylay someone you expect to encounter at the Sky Realm.”
Bixby gave up trying to keep up with Totobee-Rodolow and grabbed hold of her arm. The dragon hardly noticed. Bixby was
able to float with her feet barely skimming the cobblestones. Her parents had not been favorably disposed toward her ability to float. Perhaps, since it was one of the talents her mother did not possess, they were prejudiced. She saw no harm in discreetly rising above the ground, but her mother thought it could draw undue attention to her daughter. And her father was all for being inconspicuous when not performing royal duties.
She knew if anyone wondered about the two racing down the street, that person would think the girl was unusually graceful. If she had time, Bixby could lengthen some of her skirts and float higher. But it wouldn’t do for her to let anyone catch a glimpse of the space between her toes and the pavement.
Bixby caught her breath and was able to pepper Totobee-Rodolow with more questions. “There is no real sky realm, is there? I’ve never heard of one.”
“No, just the nine planes in our planetary system. Our sun does have other sets of planes, but none are called sky realms.”
This was one of the academic subjects Bixby had loved. “I studied those in school. Not that I actually went to a school. But my tutors provided those geography, astrology, and general science lessons.”
“When you were two?”
Bixby heard the sarcasm in Totobee-Rodolow’s voice. The dragon knew way more about Bixby’s upbringing than Bixby had relayed. She wondered how much information the dragon pulled from her thoughts and how much she had learned from other sources. Keeping her secrets had become difficult, but Bixby trusted Totobee-Rodolow not to tell.
Bixby lowered her voice. “I was probably five when I finished those studies. I remember kicking up a fuss because my mother wouldn’t take me to any planes but the ones in our stack.”
“And you wanted to see them all.”
“Exactly.”
They turned a corner. The dragon pivoted so quickly, Bixby swung out like a ball on a string. Her collection of lace skirts fluttered like flags. She managed to get herself perpendicular to the sidewalk, but glanced around to make sure no one had seen the mishap.
When she looked straight ahead again, she felt her mouth drop open. “There must be a thousand people on this street. How far to the restaurant?”
“About twenty-two steps. And, darling, there are not more than two hundred as far as we can see. There might be more down in the shopping district.”
“Shopping?”
“The best. Perhaps tomorrow.” Totobee-Rodolow stopped in front of a beautifully carved entry. Tropical trees curved over an arch made by two glass doors. Bushes and birds embellished the sides. A huge frog sat under one of the leaves near the base of the carving. Rich green tones accentuated the depressed areas, while the figures were polished a honey gold. Extending from the top of the entry to a roof overlaid with glittery gold tiles, a thick blue paint textured the outside of the building. A few lighter areas suggested clouds, and birds in flight crossed between windows.
A doorman pulled open one glass door and gestured for the ladies to enter.
Suddenly, he held his hand up, palm toward them. “Excuse me,” he said when they stopped. He looked carefully into the dragon’s face. “Forgive my impudence, but could you be Totobee-Rodolow?”
A
quick glance at Totobee-Rodolow proved the dragon to have retained her composure. Bixby held her breath and tamped down the urge to flee.
Had someone from Effram sent spies to find them and prevent their reporting the injustices in that plane? The council could overturn a wicked ruler. History books told of earlier times when none of the ruling classes would dare ignore the council’s mandates. Although, somewhere in ages past, the council had become the backbone of evil regimes, supporting instead of thwarting corruption.
Totobee-Rodolow smiled graciously and bobbed her head. “Yes, I am.”
He stepped closer and spoke in hushed tones. “Madame, it is me, Clarart. Do you remember me?”
“Of course I do, darling.” She put a hand on his arm. “You
are still dear to me. We must talk.” She looked around, then patted his arm and let go. “We will be discreet. Are you on duty for the rest of the night?”
“Yes, Madame.”
She beamed at him, and Bixby noted again that her toothy smile just didn’t have the usual dragon fierceness. “You’ve advanced in positions since I saw you last. Marvelous. I’m so glad for you. I will slip you a note when we leave so that we can have a long chat tomorrow. You must fill me in on the things I should know.”
“With pleasure, Madame.”
Bixby trailed Totobee-Rodolow into the restaurant, now stepping on the polished wood floor instead of floating. The maitre d’ also recognized her dragon friend and fussed over her long absence.
“We are so glad you have returned to us. Let me get you your favorite table, and perhaps some of the Dirogne valley wine.”
“Thank you, Finnry, I haven’t had a glass of that divine nectar for years. I think since the last time I was here.”
A waiter appeared to guide them to a table, but it took ten minutes to cross the room. Many people stopped their progress to say a word to her temporary constant. Totobee-Rodolow smiled pleasantly, obviously remembered each person, and introduced Bixby D’Mazeline as her friend. She sidestepped every reference to whether she had returned for good or only for a visit.
Bixby swallowed often and offered only minimal comments. She’d attended social gatherings at home, but these strangers seemed to have an even higher standard of behavior than her mother. She wished she’d listened just a tad more
attentively when her mother explained council town etiquette. It all seemed like so much posturing and the production of great walls of façade.
They finally took a seat, Totobee-Rodolow directing her to a chair on the back side partially in the shadow of a tall fern. Bixby hoisted herself up, with her legs tucked underneath her in order not to look like a child at the table. She hated to sit with her chin next to her plate.
The dragon eased her long body into a special chair on the same side, but in the light. Her scales glimmered in peacock colors. Her face bore slanted eyes with a thick fringe of eyelashes. Dragons didn’t ordinarily have eyelashes or eyebrows. Totobee-Rodolow evidently felt that was a mistake, as she often shape-shifted lashes. For eyebrows, she simulated a ridge of darker scales above her eyes. Along with her fashionable form, she elongated her tail to gracefully wrap around the table’s base.
The waiter bowed. “I will bring you the wine, Madame.”
“Thank you.”
As soon as he was beyond hearing them, Bixby whispered to Totobee-Rodolow. “I don’t drink alcohol. It messes up my gifts.”
“Neither do I, darling.”
“But — ”
“It’s a code, darling. They will bring us a bubbly, clear beverage that tastes divine and has no alcohol whatsoever. This is a dangerous town, little one, and more dangerous if you do not have your wits about you.” She patted Bixby’s hand. “Now in that wonderful hamper of tiaras and crowns, do you have a circlet that obscures your presence?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Well, dig it out and put it on, darling. I want you to see the people I point out to you and remember them, but I don’t want them to take particular notice of you.”
Bixby put on two circlets, one in gold and the other in silver. They were both simple with a minimum of fashioned leaves and tiny flowers. The silver tiara would help her remember everything Totobee-Rodolow said.
The waiter returned with two glasses and a bottle. He looked at the second glass when he placed it on the table as if it were there by mistake.