She nodded and walked to find her date, and he was already seated at one of the tables.She sat across from him.“I just got a request for my services.I am a little rusty, but I think I can manage it.”
“What do they need?”
“Shaman stuff.Goblin shaman stuff.It’s like being a magical guidance counsellor.”She grinned.“But the clock is ticking, so I need to eat.”
She covered everything in hot sauce and got to it.Her stomach was groaning when she finished, and she sipped some lemonade to calm things down.
“Why the rush?”
“I don’t know if it will take five minutes or five hours.I work for goblins, rock trolls, and orcs in equal measure.”
He smiled.“That is adding ideas to your tattoo design.”
“Clans have locks on their shamans, don’t they?”
“Yes and no.Things can be negotiated.They can have access rights to you, but their kings would have to negotiate it first.”
“With you.”
He shrugged.“With whichever clan you decide to make your home.”
She nodded.“None has offered me a home.My sister owns a dozen, but my situation keeps me from legally taking land as mine.”
“Why does she own a dozen?”
“She buys homes that are in dispute with obnoxious neighbours, and then she takes care of the neighbours and offers her clients full price for the duration of the dispute, so they can have their home back for the same if they want it.Most just want a new place without dark memories.”
“Why buy it from them?”
“It makes the entire legal responsibility hers, and since she’s a real estate lawyer, she’s in a good position to take action against the annoying neighbours.It’s fun for her.”
“Where do the families go?”
“Ah, Cora has a good relationship with a nice real estate agent, Hannah Lee.”
He chuckled.“It was at her wedding where Cora met Abel-ur.”
“Well, that just ties things up nicely.”
Dem-rah appeared with a very human-looking goblin.She looked over, and the goblin king gestured.She nodded to him and looked at Tam-or.“It’s showtime.Shall I just let you know when I am home?”
“I will wait.”
“But it could be—”
“I will wait.”He reached out and touched her cheek.“But I have calls to make.”
“Oh.Okay.”
She got up and crossed the lot to where Dem-rah introduced her to his grandson, Arduk-wel.
“Hello.I am Navender Kibra.You may call me Shaman Never.”She extended her hand, and he took it.He was careful of his claws.“Now, what did you need to speak to me about?”
He looked nervously at Dem-rah.They were directed toward an empty lot behind the food truck.
She smiled as he looked awkward and said, “Just a moment.”
She crafted a moonlight meadow with shadowed boulders for sitting.“Here we are.Now, what is your concern, Arduk-wel?”
