Chapter Nineteen

"You're…what?"

Of all the creatures Bev had thought might be responsible, dragon wasn't on the list. Perhaps a beast of some kind, maybe a wolf or large bear. But dragon…well, that certainly put things into a much different category.

"Dragon shifters, dearie," Rita said.

"What in the world is that?" Bev asked. "You three don't… Well, you don't look like dragons."

"So kind of you to say," Gladys said.

"We're not dragons all the time," Janet explained.

Rita nodded. "Just some of the time."

"When we need to stretch the wings a bit," Janet said.

Bev was having a hard time imagining what that might look like, but put it aside. "So you think whatever's happening in town… That it's a—what did you call it, shifter? Like you?"

They nodded solemnly. "Quite sure," Rita said.

"It's why we came into town," Janet said. "We felt the pull of someone about to take their first shift."

"Good thing we got here when we did," Gladys said.

"Is it always this destructive?" Bev asked.

"Well, usually, we find out who it is and can guide them away from any buildings," Janet said.

"But we're still trying to pinpoint our new shifter friend," Rita said.

"Really?" Bev frowned. "You don't know either?"

Rita gestured to the sky. "Typically, we can sense the magical aura of a shifter—especially when they're this close to a full-fledged transformation."

Gladys shivered. "But this town is practically brimming with magic, so we haven't been able to narrow it down much."

"There's a magical river flowing underground," Bev said. "Runs right by Alice's place, as a matter of fact." She paused. "What do you mean a full-fledged transformation? Didn't we just see one?"

Rita chuckled. "That was merely a preview."

"A real dragon is three times that size," Janet said, almost like it was nothing.

"What we saw was a half shift. Probably a human body with dragon wings." Gladys chuckled. "Can be a bit frightening the first time you see it."

Bev swallowed, glad she hadn't seen that sight up close.

"A dragon coming into their own happens in fits and starts. You breathe fire one day, the next you sprout giant wings. It's only for a split second, you see, then it goes away. But eventually…" Janet sighed, looking up at the moon. "You change into your final form. And it's best if you're around other dragons when you do so they can keep a handle on you."

"Then what?" Bev asked.

"Then we'll give them instructions on how to keep themselves and the rest of the town safe, and head off on our merry little way," Rita said.

"Looking for our next shifter," Gladys finished.

Bev watched the three of them, their odd behavior finally making sense. "Is this some sort of…well, I don't know if I'd call it a job, but—"

"Used to be," Rita said, a little sadly. "But now we're the only three dragon shifters left of the official guild."

"There used to be thousands of us." Janet scowled. "That is, until Her Majesty came into power."

Bev had heard that before. "But I thought the queen had dragons guarding her castle?"

"Indeed. The queen likes dragons plenty. But dragon shifters?" Rita sniffed. "Those are a bit too dangerous for her liking."

"Didn't like how we could hide in plain sight, you know," Gladys said. "We could be sitting at her table then transform into a monster capable of eating her."

Seeing the destruction in town, Bev had a rare moment of agreement with the queen.

"Now it's up to us to carry on the knowledge," Gladys said. "And find as many others as we can scattered throughout the countryside."

"Especially since dragon shifters are all but outlawed in these parts," Rita said. "We have to be careful of the queen's soldiers. They'll waste no time taking us away in handcuffs if they think we might possibly change."

"Can't you turn into a dragon and eat them?" Bev asked.

"They place potent anti-magic amulets on us," Janet said. "We use them, too, especially with newly transitioned shifters to keep their magic at bay. But that's after they get their first shift out of the way."

"Based on the timing of these incidents, we're getting close to the full shift," Gladys said. "I don't suppose you have an idea who it might be, do you?"

"I have theories," Bev paused. "Though I'm not sure I know what I'm looking for anymore. Would someone become a shifter through their parents?"

"Bloodlines do play into it." Janet nodded. "Obviously, we're related."

"But with most of the stronger lines wiped out, we're left to find flukes and abnormalities," Rita said. "Once upon a time, the Guild would've ignored such an abnormality, but…well, we can't afford not to seek them out."

Gladys smiled. "Any shifter's better than nothing."

Bev couldn't imagine what a powerful dragon might look like—and hoped she never did. "So there's no telling who it could be?"

"It manifests sometime in early adulthood," Gladys said. "We've been keeping a close eye on the youngsters in town. Especially ones who've been close to the concentrations of magic."

"And there's been plenty of that going around," Bev said. "We can safely rule out everyone who was at the town meeting. The scones were covered in magic."

"Oh, we knew," Gladys said, with a sparkle in her eye. "Very clever, that."

"If we hadn't been afraid we'd be triggered into our own transformation, we'd have eaten the lot," Rita said.

"Who wasn't at the town meeting?" Janet asked.

"Allen Mackey and his girlfriend—fiancée—Vicky Hamblin," Bev said. "But I was standing right next to them just now."

"Mackey, the baker?" Rita asked. Bev nodded. "We investigated him but found his magic to be the wrong kind."

"His mother was a pobyd," Bev explained. "But Allen doesn't use magic in his confections these days. That ring he gave Vicky was all that he had left of his mother's magic."

"It seemed a bit different," Rita said.

"Nobody else was missing from the town meeting?" Gladys asked.

Bev shook her head then stopped. "How young is young adulthood? Could it be one of the local kids? None of them were at the town meeting.

"It very well could be. We've been trailing Bardoff around town, hoping we might see something from one of them," Janet said.

That certainly explained why they seemed to be everywhere the kids were. "Vicky's brother and his two friends were near Earl's backyard," Bev said. "He thought they were sneaking into his workshop to drink his spirits. If they accidentally handled the mayor's potent magical resin—" She stopped. "Grant had two of my magical scones."

"Well, that certainly could've caused something to happen," Gladys said.

"Can you tell us anything about the siblings?" Rita asked.

"I don't know much about them, other than that their mother died several years ago and their father left them in a lurch," Bev said. "His two friends, Valta and PJ, are always with him. Maybe they've seen something they want to share."

"We've tried talking with them, but they don't seem too friendly," Janet said.

"There's more than one way to lay an egg," Gladys said.

Bev started. "Do you…lay eggs?"

"Oh, don't be silly," Rita said, waving her hand.

"I'll see what I can find out," Bev said. "How much time do we have before they…well…transform for real?"

The three shared a look, silently conversing with one another. "Days at this rate," Janet said.

"Maybe less." Gladys tutted.

Rita nodded. "If they're already taking shape, even for a moment, then we're getting close to the full thing."

"What if that happens before we get to them?" Bev asked.

"Then there's a chance the whole town could burn down, or be stomped flat, or people could…well…" Gladys gestured toward the town.

Rita finished for her. "Get eaten."

"Right. Let's avoid that," Bev said. "Why don't I take another crack at the kids? I'm friendly with their parents and guardians. Maybe there's something new they want to share." She wasn't optimistic, but at least she knew what she was dealing with. "Especially if I let them know you're here to help."

"Oh, don't mention us until you're sure," Rita said.

Janet nodded. "Must keep a low profile."

Bev hardly thought that they'd kept a low profile during their stay in Pigsend. "Fine, I'll make sure I know who it is before I reveal you. But at least if they know someone's in town to help, maybe they'll be more eager to share information."

"We'll stay as long as it takes," Gladys said. "Every shifter reveals themselves eventually."

"Unless we get wind of a queen's soldier." Rita pursed her lips. "Then we must leave."

Bev stopped. "Really? Just like that? Even if we don't know who's transforming?"

"We can't jeopardize our own safety," Janet said. "We're all that remains of the dragon shifters in this world."

"If we're captured, there'd be no one to help the next shifter who needs it," Rita said. "And that is a fate that cannot be allowed to happen."

~

The grannies wanted to keep searching the countryside for the shifter, promising Bev that they were perfectly capable of finding their way back to the inn and were more equipped to search the dark fields and towns than Bev was.

In the darkness, Bev lay awake, staring at the ceiling and trying to imagine what it must be like for the poor soul who was transforming into a giant dragon. Her heart softened toward Grant, who'd been nothing but rude and cagey to her for at least a week. Was he simply hiding all his stress about the mysterious happenings?

Unfortunately, the Hamblin siblings had moved back into their newly rebuilt apartment the night before, so Bev had to wait to ask them about where Grant might've been. Allen hadn't been much help, telling Bev that he and Vicky had celebrated late into the night as he dropped off a basket of peach preserve pastries.

Mid-afternoon, Bev and Biscuit took a walk down the street to the seamstress shop. Earl was there painting the outside a bright white, and to Bev's surprise, Grant and Valta were helping.

"That's right, easy brush strokes," Earl said, standing behind them. "Nice work."

"Getting into a new profession?" Bev asked.

"Well, my usual helpers seem to have disappeared this morning, and these kids seemed keen to help," he said, looking around. "Have you seen the gran—er, those marvelous ladies?"

"I think they're out for a walk," Bev said, hoping the lie was believable. "They'll probably show up once they see you're back at work. You know how they are."

"Indeed, I do. Wouldn't be surprised if they were halfway to Middleburg!"

"Really?" Bev frowned. "Why?"

"Getting more wood," Earl said, a little curiously. "And in the meantime, I've got these two strapping young folks who said they were eager to help me finish the job." He slapped Grant on the shoulder.

"Good to hear," Bev said. "Is Vicky inside?"

"Yep." Grant dipped his brush back in the can. "Why?"

"Just wanted to…congratulate her," Bev said, walking by him as he glared at her. "We didn't get a chance to talk last night before that thing showed up. Whatever it was."

"Yeah, it was something, wasn't it? Saw you go running after it," Earl said. "Did you find it?"

Bev shook her head. "Disappeared into the sky."

He pushed back his cap and whistled. "Looked awfully big. Where do you think it came from?"

"Haven't a clue," Bev said, walking toward the front door. "Did you happen to see anything, kids?"

Valta took her brush to the walls. "I was home in bed."

"Same." Grant stepped beside her to paint.

Bev started. He certainly hadn't been home because his home was still under construction. But he ignored her, so Bev didn't press, walking by them and into the shop.

Inside smelled of sawdust and fresh paint as Apolinary worked on a dress hanging on a mannequin and Vicky sat sewing, her ring glinting in the morning light. But the newly engaged seamstress seemed anything but overjoyed.

"I've got this giant, beautiful ring, and all anyone can talk about is that stupid monster," she whined as Apolinary shook her head. "The Brewer twins barely eked out a congratulations before bringing it up. Hey, Bev."

"Morning, ladies," Bev said, walking up to the counter. "Sorry to hear your big night was overshadowed."

"Besides that, what does it matter if you get congratulations or not? You're engaged, isn't that what matters?" Apolinary huffed. "I've got to get the rest of the fabric off the wagon. Do you think the paint's dry in here? Don't want to risk it getting all over everything."

"Seems fine to me," Vicky said, adjusting her ring again.

Apolinary waited, seeming to want Vicky to help her, but the other woman kept gazing at her new jewelry. After a moment, she scoffed and disappeared out the door.

"Vicky, you should probably pull your head out of the clouds, or you might find yourself out of a job," Bev said with a chuckle.

She tutted, putting down the tunic. "What can I do for you, Bev?"

Out the window, Grant was getting chastised by Earl for his too-fast brush strokes.

"What in the world are they doing with Earl?" Bev asked.

"Oh. This morning, the two of them showed up and asked Earl if they could help." She shrugged. "Guess Bardoff gave them the day off school. Or maybe that giant monster scared them into wanting to help out for a change instead of cutting up."

Or maybe they're feeling guilty because one of them did it. "Well, good for them. I'm glad they've gotten some good direction."

"Well?" Vicky prompted. "What can I do for you?"

Bev wasn't ready to leave the conversation, so she turned to the one topic Vicky wouldn't mind talking about. "When's the wedding?"

"I don't think it'll be too far off," Vicky said, standing. "I'm sure my mother's family will want to come. Not that they've given us one lick of help since she died, but—"

"Where are they from?" Bev asked. Of course, she didn't think Vicky would outright say her family were a pack of dragon shifters, but any clue would be helpful.

"Sheepsburg," Vicky said. "I've got two stuffy aunts and an insufferable uncle. They never forgave my mother for marrying a farmhand, so I never hear from them." She smiled, with a little sneer. "You'd better believe they're going to be invited, though. Show them what we've been doing here in Pigsend."

"Your father was from here, then?" Bev asked. "Why did he fight in the war?"

"Don't believe anyone had much of a choice," Vicky said. "But for him, it was the money.Of course, if he'd done the honorable thing and died, we might've gotten a few silvers from the queen every month."

Bev nodded. "Do you know what he did in the king's army?"

"Foot soldier, I reckon," she said. "Why so interested?"

"Just curious." Bev pushed a scrap of fabric along the counter. "Lots of folks fought for different reasons, I hear. Didn't know if he had a vested interest or—"

"That's right." She smiled as she put the last bolt on the table. "You don't remember anything before the war, do you?"

Bev shook her head.

"He went because the king was offering money," Vicky said. "Nothing more, nothing less."

Bev didn't know Vicky well enough to ask her whether she was hiding some magical ability. But she did notice the green bauble on her finger. "Did Allen tell you where he got that?"

She looked at the ring and smiled warmly. "Not really. He said it's very precious to him."

"It is," Bev said. "Just… Just be careful. I know it would kill him if anything happened to it."

"Why in the world would you say that?" Vicky asked, frowning. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Bev sighed, hearing Grant getting another earful from Earl. "Nothing. Let me know when you have a date, and I'll be sure to clear the books at the inn."

~

"That was absolutely pointless," Bev said to Biscuit as they walked back to the inn. "And a few hours wasted. Good thing we didn't get another big dragon swooping over town."

He stopped, his nose twitching and the hair on his back rising.

"What is it?" Bev asked, as she opened the front door. Once inside, she stopped short.

"Well, Bev," Dag Flanigan said. "So good to see you again."