I raised my chin. How old will I get?
He opened his mouth, then shook his head. Its not that kind of foresight. I dont get dates, just possibilities. And if I did know, I dont hate you enough to tell you.
She doesnt know any other coyote walkers, said Honey. She is married to a man who will be young a hundred years from now. She wants to know that she is not going to leave him tied to a woman who will slowly die on him.
Laughingdog looked at me. I dont know. Most walkers age like humansmost are mostly human anyway these days. Coyote doesnt walk this ground much anymore. He smiled a little, but it wasnt aimed at me. Most of Coyotes children dont have to worry about a long life, anyway. A fool and his life are soon parted, you know.
Im only halfhuman, I told him, mouth dry. Id never said it before, even to myself. But Laughingdog needed to know it all so he could give me an accurate answer. Coyote is my father. Sort of my father. He was wearing the skin of a rodeo cowboy who didnt know that he was Coyote at the time.
Gary Laughingdog tilted his face toward me. Really? He grinned. Exactly half sister in truth, then. He let out a huff of air and shrugged. You are the only real sibling Ive metbut those of us closer to the magic in our heritage tend to live longer.
I sat back in my chair, feeling lightheaded.
Death could find you tomorrow, though, Laughingdog said. So dont get overconfident. Knew a boy who was Ravens child, and he died from measles when he was six years old. He watched me, glanced at Honey, and his eyes gleamed gold from a stray glint of light off the overhead fluorescent tubes. But you didnt come here to ask me that.
I need to talk to Coyote, I told him.
He scooted his chair back from the table abruptly, as if to get away from my words. Both guards came to alert, and Luke had his hand on his weapon.
No one needs that kind of trouble, the man who apparently was sort of my half brother said.
Startled by his extreme reaction I said, slowly, Ive talked to him before without the world being destroyed.
Has he tried to kill you yet? he asked.
I started to say no before realizing it wasnt true. Not deliberately, I said instead. Im pretty sure it wasnt deliberate. I paused. Either time.
Honey stared at me.
Laughingdog sucked in a breath. Ye gods, woman. Why would you want to invite Him into your life?
Because I gave him a fae artifact, and if I dont get it back, the fae who came to visit me in the middle of the night might turn the TriCities into a barren graveyard.
Laughingdog made a funny, high noise, then coughed. He waved off the guards and managed to tell them that hed just swallowed wrong, and his choking became chortles while he was still trying to catch his breath.
When he could breathe without laughing again, he said, What did you do that for?
Which? I asked.
Give Coyote an artifact
some freaking fae wants, he said.
Because at that moment it was the best thing to do, Honey said coolly. Sometimes the only action you can take leads to more trouble. But she would have considered that when she did it. Mercy is no fool, no matter what her heritage. It is not for you to judge. Can you contact Coyote or tell Mercy how to?
He looked at her. Mercy isnt the only one who protects her own here, is she? He shook his head, and to me he said, Spent all my life trying to make sure He didnt visit me. Why would I want to know how to call Him? To say, Hi, Father, could you fuck up my life any more than I already have? Gee, thanks. I think that will work?
Stress made his voice sound thinner, and he glanced around the depressing room before he said, Not that He didnt come anyway and screw with me. But at least I didnt invite Him in, you know?
This meeting had been useful, if in an entirely different way than Id intended. But if Laughingdog didnt know how to call Coyote, then no one did. If Beauclaire killed me, it wouldnt matter how fast I aged.
When did he come to you? I heard Honey ask through my despair. Was there any pattern? Did he say anything to you about why he came? Funny how clearly that capital letter disappeared when Honey talked about Coyote.
Laughingdog closed his eyes. The last timeHe stopped in long enough to make sure that Id spend a few years here in prison instead of getting safely back to my apartment when I left the bar at closing time. I was walking down the sidewalk, and there He was. He said He was pleased I was about to become interesting again. The expression on his face was suddenly horrified, and I felt a wave of the same magic that had sent me sneezing. Dont do that, he told me as the pupils in his eyes widened until the brown was a narrow ring around it.
Dont do what? asked Honey.
But I knew.
Dont be interesting, I said. Thank you for talking to me.
He shook his head, his face bleak. Dont thank me for that.
I reached out and touched his hand. It didnt seem too forward an action when he was my almost half brother.
Dont worry so much, I murmured. I have support.