“Um … are you talking to me?” I stammered.
“Of course I’m talking to you,” she purred, coming close to me and twining her arms around my neck. “I’m certainly not talking to your dragon. I mean, he’s cute and all, but my tastes don’t run in those directions.”
“Gleep!” said the dragon.
I felt my body temperature soar. The touch of her arms caused a tingling sensation which seemed to wreak havoc on my metabolism.
“Um . . . actually I’m looking for a friend,” I blurted.
“Well, you’ve found one,” she murmured, moving her body against me.
“Aah … I… um.” Suddenly I was having trouble concentrating. “What is it you want?”
“Hmm,” she said thoughtfully, “Even though it’s not my normal line, I think I’d like to tell your fortune … free.”
“Oh?” I said, surprised.
This was the first time since I reached the Bazaar that anyone had offered me anything for free. I didn’t know if I should be happy or suspicious.
“You’re going to have a fight,” she whispered in my ear. “A big one.”
“What?” I exclaimed. “When? With who?”
“Easy, handsome.” she warned, tightening her grip around my neck. “When is in a very few minutes. With who is the rat pack over my shoulder . . . don’t look right at them!”
Her final sharp warning checked my reflexive glance. Moving more cautiously, I snuck a peek out of the corner of my eye.
Lounging against a shop wall, watching us closely, were a dozen or so of the ugliest, nastiest looking characters I have ever seen.
“Them? I mean, all of them?” I asked.
“Uh-huh!” she confirmed, snuggling into my chest.