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.Okay, she hadclothes at her loft.Was it a good thing or a bad thing that she was now fashion aware enough toknow that those clothes were too scruffy?Tinker sighed."I really don't want to run around Turtle Creek in a dress.""Domi, I would rather wait until we could gather a Hand.It would not be wisefor us to go alone."Tinker wasn't getting the hang of the elfin 'we' despite having Pony at herside every moment for nearly two months.She was thinking of just trottingover by herself and seeing how much the Ghostlands had shrunk.Well, shesupposed that could wait.Page 36 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlShe used her walk-in closet as a dressing room, stripping out of the gun beltand her nightgown.She considered her informal gowns, called day dresses.Shehad bullied the staff into taking off the long sleeves, but the dresses stillhad bodices that accented her chest, tight waists, and flowing skirts.Herchoices were sable brown, forest green or jewel red, all in gleaming fairysilk that clung to her like wet paint.The red one, at least, had pockets anda shorter skirt.She had to admit that she looked fairly kicky with her newgunbelt riding low on her hip.She added her polished black riding boots andthe ruby jewelry that Windwolf had given her.She practiced drawing her pistoland pointed it at the mirror."You looking at me? Uh? You looking at me?""No,domi , I can not see you." Pony said from the other side of the closetdoor.She laughed, holstering the pistol."Did Windwolf find the monster thatattacked me and kill it?""No.""Okay." She came out of the closet."Since we can't do anything about TurtleCreek, let's focus on the monster.""Domi, I do not think we should go after the dragon alone.""Dragon?""It was an oni dragon and very difficult to kill.""Well, yeah, which is why I should figure out how to kill it.The oniprobably have more than one.There has to be a way to take down its shields soanyone with a gun can kill it."Pony looked at her nervously, as if he suspected she was going to hunt downthe oni dragon and poke it with sticks.Tinker felt the need to reassure him that she didn't have anything thatradical in mind."I want to start with Lain; she's a xenobiologist.Whenyou've got a problem outside your field of specialty, you go to an expert."* * *A flat bed semi-trailer sat parked in front of Lain's stately Victorianmansion.A yellow canvas tarp covered something lumpy.The xenobiologist stoodon the trailer, leaning on her crutch, watching Tinker park the Rolls.Something about Lain's face made Tinker suspect that somehow the trailer washer fault."I thought you might turn up today." Lain said."Well, apparently I need a small army to go back to Turtle Creek, andWindwolf has all thesekasha today except Pony and Stormsong."Saidsekasha had already split up into Blade and Shield.Stormsong had movedoff to scout the area as a Blade.Pony trailed behind Tinker, acting asShield."So, I thought I'd come talk to you about the monster that attacked meyesterday." Tinker said."Thesekasha are saying it's an oni dragon.""Ah." Lain made a sound of understanding."I suppose I should thank you forPage 37 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlyour present.""Present?" Tinker eyed the trailer apprehensively.What had she done nowwithout realizing it?Lain flipped up one corner of tarp to reveal limp willowy branches."Theytold me that you sent it."The black willow!"He eats the fruit of the tree that walks." Tinker shiveredas recognition shivered down her spine.It was just too weird having anotherpart of her dream show up with her name attached to it."I sent it?""That's what they told me," Lain said.Tinker could remember finding the tree, but she she didn't order this.Orhad she? She turned to Pony."Did I ask.?" His look of concentration madeher realize that she had been so rattled that she was still speaking English;she switched Elvish."Did I ask to have the black willow brought here?""You said you would love to give it to Lain."That apparently that had been enough of an order for Pony.Tinker really hadto keep in mind that thesekasha took her word as law.While she had beensmothered in attention, the elves had bound up the long limp branches andsturdy trunk-feet and hauled it to the Observatory hill.Once at Lain's,however, they'd abandoned it trailer and all.Lain had warned her once about elves bearing gifts.Tinker winced, realizingthat she had become one of said elves."I'm sorry, Lain." She made sure she was speaking English, afraid that shemight insult Pony for her own stupidity."I didn't know they were going tobring it here and dump it on you.""It's a matter of gift horses and teeth, I suppose." Laying her crutch down,Lain nimbly swung down off the trailer, her upper body muscles cording to makeup for her weakened legs.On the ground, Lain reached up for her crutch, andthen turned to rap Tinker smartly on the head with her knuckles."Learn tothink before you open that mouth of yours.""Ow!" Tinker winced."I'm bruised there
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