Robert Asprin - Dragons Luck

“Yo’ right ’bout that. Dis is silly discussion. Let da humans ’ave their list.”

“Actually, it’s not that silly a discussion. I for one want to know what type of security would be installed. After all, it needs to be as safe as possible, without blocking out the people who need it. This is supposed to be a discussion on information technology. Even if you don’t use the database, might as well make it as safe and good as possible,” Griffen said.

“That I can agree on,” Jay said. “I, for one, don’t intend to give anyone my whereabouts, especially over the Internet. Yet I’ve a few ideas that might help make such a system work for others.”

“Well, sho’,” Kane said, “I reckon I gots some ideas my own self.”

And with that the conversation was off on a much more productive route. Griffen leaned back in his chair, proud of himself and how he had handled it. But still there was that bit about the “humans” that he just couldn’t quite let go.

They had been into it for about forty minutes when there was a knock at the door. Someone close by, after checking with the group, opened it to find one of the hotel bellmen holding a large package.

“Sorry to interrupt, but this delivery came in for your conference. Catering, I think. It was sent to this meeting room, and specifically to an…” He checked the label. “Al Shifters.”

Griffen exchanged a look with Jay. He knew he hadn’t ordered any catering, but a delivery for Al Shifters? All shifters?

“Does it say who it’s from?” Griffen asked.

“No, sir, it came anonymously, which is why I thought I’d bring it in direct instead of phoning in. Just in case, you know?”

“Yeah, it’s appreciated. Thanks,” Griffen said. “Just leave it on the table.”

The bellman put it down, and received a tip from Griffen before departing. As the doors closed, Griffen reached for the package. Only to find Jay way ahead of him.

“After all, for the meeting at least the shifters are my responsibility.”

He opened the package.

Inside was a cake.

Specifically a cake from the Three Dogs Bakery. Specializing in gourmet treats for cats and dogs. It looked like chocolate, but Griffen suspected it was some substitute intended for dogs’ stomachs. Carob probably.

Kane was growling, as were several other shifters. Though one leaned forward, and Griffen could see his nose twitching.

“Mmm, that smells good.”

Lowell laughed, as did several others around the table. The vampires in particular all seemed to be smirking.

“Dis yo’ idea of a joke!?” Kane snarled. “You send dis cake, yes or no?”

“No, no, of course not. Still it is rather funny,” Lowell said.

“If no you, then who? I tink it one of yo’ vamps.”

“That’s ridiculous! Why would we?”

“ ’Cause you vamps always lookin’ ta make trouble.”

“By teasing a bunch of animals. Please, why would we bother?”

“Animals!”

Griffen stood up.

“Gentleman, please! Mr. Kane, there is nothing that says Lowell or anyone else sent this… cake. Besides, it was obviously just someone’s idea of a joke, nothing to get this upset over.”

“How would you feel if I sent you a set of gator-skin bags?”

Griffen stopped to think about that one.

“Would you include a nice card?” he said innocently.

Kane stared at him, then broke out laughing. He thumped the table hard enough the cake jumped.

“Oh, dragon boy has sense of humor, yes indeed. I may likes you after all.”

“Well, I’m glad that’s settled,” Lowell said.

He reached for his water glass and took a sip, only to spray it over the table in an ugly spit take. Kane started laughing harder, only to be joined by the changelings. Nyx, who had messed with the contents of Griffen’s drink when they first met, said through her laughter, “What’s the matter? Can’t handle your holy water?”

Most of the table was laughing now, and though it was at Lowell’s expense, the tense mood had broken. Lowell even managed a weak smile as he grabbed up a napkin and wiped his mouth.

“Not an allegory this time?” Griffen said.

“Oh, it is. It is. But the minx changed my water to vinegar!” Lowell said.

That set off another round of laughter. All and all, Griffen figured the first meeting could have gone a lot worse.

Thankfully, everyone decided to tactfully ignore the few shape-shifters who did divvy up the cake.

Griffenfound himself mildly amused that such a loose assemblage of people would adhere to an orderly schedule. He realized that it would be next to impossible to run a conclave such as this without one. A schedule was what seemed to separate the conclave from a drinking party and gripe fest. Griffen wasn’t entirely sure he wouldn’t have preferred the latter.

The meetings scheduled were more open-discussion forums. No decisions were made. Instead it was more on the order of agreements, treaties, and arrangements. All largely on a personal level. This was no governing body, there was no enforcement arm of the conclave keeping a check to make sure agreements were honored.

It was simply that anyone who broke their word would have a mass of witnesses against them, and their word would never be honored again. That and being denied entry to any future conclave kept people from violating their oaths, or more often than not kept them from giving oaths in the first place. Griffen was beginning to realize how important one’s word and honor could be in supernatural circles.

Then there were the demos. A few of these would be away from the hotels. One in particular that had caught Griffen’s eye was a voodoo demonstration by Estella at her home. That was a couple of days into the conclave, though. Today was something that also intrigued him but apparently didn’t need any special location. The hotel would do just fine.

The room chosen for most of the demos was about half the size of the one in which the opening ceremonies had taken place. For the most part, this was Griffen’s first look at the business of conventions, and he had to admit he was impressed. The room the hotel provided met all the requirements. A small elevated stage had been assembled in no time flat on one end. In front of it were rows of folding chairs, padded and more comfortable than Griffen would have expected. Next to the stage their was a door leading to a small adjoining room, which they were using as a combination green room and changing room.

Changing… that brought to mind another feature Griffen liked about the room. Locks on the inside, and no windows.

“I have to admit I am fascinated by this demo, but don’t really understand why it’s being put on,” Griffen said.

He was sitting in the front row, though at the end of the row, not center stage. Jay, the spokesmen for the shifters sat next to him, and next to Jay were two of the other upper-level shape changers. They were half-turned to watch the door as people filed in. As usual, people tended to clump into groups, with at least a few seats left empty between each group. However, Griffen noted that each of the groups attending the conclave had at least some members at this demonstration.

“In this crowd, there are always many reasons for anything. As you may have noted,” Jay said.

Griffen couldn’t help but nod. It seemed to him that no one in the supernatural communities seemed to do anything for simple motivations.

“But really, a demonstration on shape-shifting?” Griffen said.

“On different types of shape-shifting. Thus we educate not only the non-shape-shifters present, but broaden the horizons of the more limited shifters. If it weren’t for meetings such as these, some of those present would be lucky to meet even a handful of other shifters in their entire lifetimes. Despite the concentration here, we are not all that common,” Jay said.