Then again, there were more players in this game than three.
“Now, isn’t that fascinating,” Lowell said. “ A garou agreeing with another type of shifter. I’m amazed one of you isn’t trying to mark territory on the other’s leg.”
Tail glared, but Kane threw out a bark of laughter. Short, sharp, loud. “Bark” was definitely the word.
“Good point dere, vampy. Still, what is said can no be took back. You tink you betta den us or no, dragon?” Kane said.
“Honestly, how could I know? I haven’t really gotten a chance to know any of you,” Griffen said.
“Den sit down and play dem cards, boy! Dat de best way to know people.”
“Yes, Mr. McCandles,” Margie said, “Solve it all neatly and sit. I for one would like some new blood at the table. These four have grown far too predictable.”
Griffen surrendered to the inevitable and sat. Once already a comment had been made, offhandedly, about the animal-control specialist having excellent judgment. It did seem the best way to settle things. He also noticed that her stack of chips was higher than the others’.
Griffen acquired some chips, and the next hand was dealt. He kept one eye on the table, and one firmly on Tail. Griffen didn’t know what Tail had expected from this conversation, but it was clear he wasn’t happy. He glared at his cards and muttered in a voice just loud enough for the others to hear.
“Figures he would be coddled up to by the
Margie stiffened, and the rest of the players went still. Even Tink, whom Griffen thought of as fairly laid- back, had gone rigid. His eyes were wide, shocked. Kane was growling low in the back of his throat.
“That was uncalled for,” Lowell said.
“Low. Real low,” Kane said.
“It’s not my fault if she wants to suck up to the dragon,” Tail said.
Several of the others spoke at once, all angry.
“What business is it of yours?” from Kane.
“She wasn’t sucking up to anyone,” said Tink.
“How dare you imply—” started Margie.
“HOLD IT!”
Griffen hadn’t moved a muscle, but his voice was hard and loud enough to cut through the rest. Everyone looked at him, and he slowly, carefully considered Tail.
“What do you mean ‘human’?” Griffen asked.
The others looked about uncomfortably; it was Margie who answered.
“Those who are magic see those who simply do magic as less. Humans playing with things they don’t understand,” she said.
“But what you do, call it magic or not, it is natural to you, isn’t it?” Griffen said.
“De hoodoos, animal control, dey borderline. You notice we don’ got no vodoun or wicca at the table,” Kane said.
“Spell slingers are seen as lesser. Only the truly powerful ones are respected enough to even be invited to a conclave such as this,” Lowell said.
“So when Tail called her human, he was calling her second-class. One who didn’t belong?” Griffen asked.
The others nodded. Griffen ran that over in his head several times, but it was a slippery concept. To give himself a bit more thinking room, he asked the obvious follow-up question.
“Then how do you all feel about normal, mundane humans?”
If anything, everyone seemed even more uncomfortable. Tail had lost most of his angry look and now seemed merely embarrassed. Griffen hoped he regretted his comments. Margie spoke first again, perhaps because of the accusation.
“Feelings are mixed of course. But definitely less. They are so limited, and so arrogant with it. Thinking they are so much, when they do so little. And so much of what they do is harmful to themselves and everyone else,” she said.
“Ignorant and proud of it,” Kane said.
“Blind,” Tink said, his voice so sad that Griffen was sure he was dwelling on some specific memory.
“Individuals can be respected. Individuals are capable of great glory, love, miracles. But as a whole… sometimes…” Margie said.
“What?” asked Griffen.
“I hate them,” she finished, and hung her head slightly.
Griffen cranked the turrets around and focused again on Tail. Griffen would have to consider what they had all said, but later. These were heavy concepts, but it was obvious that Tail had meant harm with his words. That had to be addressed now and not allowed to pass.
Besides, he had finally figured out what to say.
“You seem to have a bad habit of insulting women when I’m around. So are you jealous of me… or of them?”
“What are you implyin’?” Tail said, angry again.
“Nothing, nothing at all,” Griffen said.
His tone was full of false innocence, and no one at the table missed it. Margie looked up again, and Kane sniggered. Before Tail could respond, Griffen continued.
“But you should know that it takes more than this to get under my skin. You are just making an ass of yourself in front of everyone. Good thing Jay is your speaker, or you might be reflecting on all the other shifters.”
“ ’Cept us,” Kane said smugly.
“I—” Tail started.
“You are being an ass,” Lowell said, though surprisingly gently.
Tail stopped and looked around the table. He looked at Margie. For the most part she had remained calm, stiff but collected. He took in a long, slow breath.
“I apologize,” he said.
She nodded and looked back at her cards. Tail turned his attention back to Griffen.
“I’m used to being the biggest fish in the pond. Ain’t no shifter never who outdid me. Then you come and do nothing and get fawned over. So in that way, maybe I was jealous. I guess a part of me was hopin’ to draw you into a fight.”
Griffen was surprised once again. Tail was being honest, open, and—for him—eloquent. If this kept up, Griffen might have to reevaluate his whole situation. On the basis of a card game.
“I can understand that. But, Tail, I haven’t seen you do anything either, and I never challenged the respect you were shown.”
“Well, damn. You’re right. Guess you are better then me, without doin’ a damn thing.”
This time Griffen didn’t need a moment’s hesitation. “Not better,” Griffen said. “Just different.”
The delayed hand was finally played. Then another. It would have become nothing more than another card game. Though one where some peace was made. Would have been.
If Tammy hadn’t walked into the lobby.
She flounced in, scanning the room, about an hour after Griffen had sat down. He actually heard her before he saw her. She let out a tiny, girlish squeal when she saw him, and when he turned to look, she was already rushing his way.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you, Grif—”
She stopped a few feet from the table, eyes fixing on Tail. He and the rest were watching her. Hard not to considering her enthusiastic entrance. Griffen caught a bit of tightness around Tail’s eyes, a bit of anger that was being suppressed. But suppressed well.
“Don’t worry, girl,” Tail said gruffly. “Still don’t like that you cheated, but it’s been pointed out to me that I’ve been being an ass. So let’s forget the whole thing and start over?”
“Come join the game, Tammy,” Griffen offered, nodding to a chair that could be pulled over.
