THE BLUE BOY
by Lynn K. Hollander
Chapter 19 -- Departures
SUNNYDALE
"It's not quite that simple," Ann told the female shouyu.
The guardian lion snorted. "You know who they are now, don't you?"
"Yes, but we're no longer enemies, at least for the moment. We have a truce. Baudier, the guardsman, may return. I don't think anyone else will. The witches seem upset with us as does Cham, who doesn't like it that we don't use gates. Antrag says we let Ingelram get too dirty and we shouldn't let him turn blue."
"Foolish woman. He is a fine enough cub, for a human or whatever he is."
"I like him, too. His parents may come here; or I may go to them. That is unsettled. You know what Darcy's two forms are. Now, there are two things my mind: First, all of Darcy's relatives may not be his friends. Second, Darcy's family now knows where he is. Again, delicacy and restraint must govern our actions. If his mother arrives here looking for him, we must invite her to come in; also his father. His aunts, uncles and cousins are to be permitted to come to the door, where I will speak with them."
"Grrrr."
"It is not perfect, but we are in the world, and perfection is very rare here."
"Very well."
"Baudier may be accompanied by one or two strange men, men like himself. Again, they may come to the door, where I will speak with them."
"Very well," the shouyu repeated. "It is not as incautious a modification as I feared."
"I would not endanger any of my household, if I can avoid it. Are the cubs becoming too fond of him? He must return to his parents at some point."
"He is interesting, and they enjoy his company, but they will not be unhappy too long when he goes home."
"Good. Now, with those exceptions, you may return to full defense mode. Communication has been achieved and we can concentrate on safety."
"Excellent. Someone is coming."
"Tara's car," Ann said. "With Tara, alone. I think I know what this is about."
***
"It's just that she's upset," Tara said.
"Dawn is careless," Ann said. "I am aware she has had very little actual practice in human behavior, but her carelessness could have endangered her friends."
"No real harm was done and she is very young."
"Tara, parts of her are older than Gang Long and any of the yunü. She has no reason not to know that in this body, she is mortal and can die; and she is not ignorant of the fact that one girl's death can cause a great deal of pain to other people. However, being very young, empathy is just a word to her. She cannot understand that her case can apply to people beyond herself. At the very least, she endangered herself and refused to consider anyone's feelings but her own." Ann shrugged and continued: "Very well, she is upset. Nonetheless, I will not withdraw my comments. Those things being so, why are you here?"
"She would rather I took her shopping for her school clothes."
"As planned?"
"What do you mean?"
"Can you drive in San Francisco?"
"Oh, sure."
"I agree, but with these conditions: Gang Long goes with you, Alice Kearney joins you in San Francisco, you all spend the night in the condo, and no one goes to the No Mirrors Bar."
***
The shouyu's roar was chopped off abruptly. Ann, Spike, Yanghao and Gang Long, in the small north room, having a late supper, all looked up.
"Expecting anyone?" Spike asked.
"No, and I've never met this person," Ann said, standing up.
"Just one?" Yanghao asked.
"Yes," Ann said. She left the room and went out the back door. The vampire, the dragon and the yunü followed her.
"Greetings," the tall blue woman standing on a silver disc on the terrace said. "I am told you speak Alvish."
"Yes, we do. I am called Ann, this is Spike, Gang Long and Yanghao."
"I am Naeva. Ingelram is my son."
"Fruit bars, and a vegetarian lunch."
All the yunü, except Xiuling, who was in the nursery, watching over the sleeping Darcy and the cubs, had appeared on the terrace. While Spike had told Naeva of Darcy's arrival, Ann and the yunü had produced chairs, tables and torches. As Naeva sat and accepted a glass of wine, Ann took a chair facing her. Spike moved to a chair by her side. Gang Long did the same, on Ann's other side. Yanghao stood by Gang Long's side, while Jiding stood by Spike. The other yunü stood beside the serving table.
"I understand he is sometimes a finicky eater." Untroubled, Naeva smiled around at her hosts.
"To some degree, but we found foods he seems to enjoy. Fruit bars, and a vegetarian lunch when he is at school. We've been offering him a selection of items at dinner."
"It seems extremely fortunate that he found you," Naeva said mildly.
"It was, but this is Sunnydale. What is unusual in other locations is normal here."
"Why did you want to talk with me, or Lache?"
"What do you know of a man called Magal?"
"It is not an uncommon name," Naeva said.
"The one I have in my basement, the one who was trying to kill Ingelram," Ann allowed the faintest hint of impatience to color her deep and beautiful voice.
"Ah." After a moment, Naeva continued, "As I said, it is not an uncommon name. For example, my husband's brother's son, who will be taking Ingelram's place in Mindo as one of the hostages, recently materially aided an Omapoolian refugee of that name." Naeva smiled gently at Ann. "It is not, of course, the same man."
"Of course," Ann agreed, smiling back.
"I had a long and fruitful talk with that charming young man, Baudier, who arrived with your invitation."
"I hoped that you would."
"He showed me a sketch of a body that had been found in Mindo. I recognized Ardon, a close friend of my husband's nephew, but I could not help Baudier determine what he had been doing in Mindo. Baudier was disappointed but not surprised."
Ann nodded. "For so young a man, he is very wise. It sounds as if Darcy's life at home will be uneventful."
"Yes," Naeva said, with cool certainty. "It will."
***
Darcy hugged all the yunü, then Gang Long and the cubs. He bowed formally to the female shouyu, who purred loudly. Darcy then hugged Spike, who hugged him back and handed him to Ann.
Ann whispered to the little boy and set him on his feet.
Naeva, taking Darcy's hand, stepped onto the silver disc. She and Darcy vanished.
"That was interesting," Spike said. "In a way, I'm almost sorry it's over."
"It's not," Ann yawned. "Oh, Darcy's safe, but I still have to do something about Grayman. I admit I was hoping Darcy's parents would want him."
"Why do you think she didn't? I mean, I can see Naeva ordering off with his head. That's one icy and determined lady."
"Oh, easily."
The shouyu and her cubs disappeared. Gang Long and the yunü vanished. Ann gestured the torches out and the food and wine away and went into the library. Spike, eyeing the paling east, also went in.
"She didn't," Ann continued, "want any fuss. Darcy's cousin tried to have him killed, but now may not be the best time to make a point of that by having a trial and execution. I guess I'll give him to Frank, if Frank wants him."
"It's comfortable, having the balance in our favor. How are you going to do it?"
"Get a slug, from the 9mm and give it to Frank. If it matches, I'll arrange delivery."
"Don't you have one already? Didn't you take one out of Jesse?"
"It was in the wall behind him, we found it when I was straightening up Willy's. Jesse wanted it. He thought it would look good as a pendant, with a lot of gray and black diamonds and a few inset 24 carat gold stars in a platinum setting on a heavy snake chain. Gaudy, and useless as evidence."
"You bribed him? You saved his life and you had to bribe him, too?"
"It never pays to have a bartender mad at you, Spike. Be sure to admire it."
Ann ported out.
Spike went up to his room, which was not empty.
The waiting yunü was in her celestial guise. She smiled at him. "I stayed to say good-bye. Everyone else has already gone home."
"I'll miss you. I enjoyed having all you girls around."
"If the Eldest Dragon invites you to guest with her, as she may, and you accept, as you may, you should know I get you first."
"All right. I'd like that."
"Good," Jiding said. "I thought you were going to be recalcitrant again."
"Next time, I'll know better," Spike said.
Jiding kissed him. Eventually stepping back, the yunü smiled at him. "See you," she said, and vanished.
*********