jewelry and artifacts inside. Jason, Seph, and
Snowbeard made arrangements to meet regularly and examine and experiment with
the talismans and amulets in the vault. They seemed almost giddy in their
optimism that Jason's treasure would offer them an advantage in the war that
everyone seemed to think was inevitable.
Madison was less enthusiastic.
The Dragonheart still glittered enticingly in a corner of her mind, one more
thing she'd have to try and ignore. The presence of this treasure in Trinity
did not make her feel safer. In fact, she felt like Trinity had become a target
that would be noticed, sooner or later, by those who would destroy everything
she cared about.
Heir 3 - The Dragon Heir
Chapter Six Passages
Well, thought Jason. Jack is
the talk of the town. I'm glad it's not me.
Jack's dad, Thomas Swift, had
returned to Trinity for Christmas, determined to show off to the locals by
throwing the party of the year.
Word on the street was that
Daddy had hired a party planner, who'd been working on the thing for months. He
called it a Midwinter Solstice party, but it was more of a debutante party for
Jack, if they had that kind of thing for guys. Thomas had brought a small
contingent of business associates and social climbers and preppy kids from
Boston, so Jack could “network,” he said.
The local guest list had
started out to be just as exclusive, but Jack had turned it into an open house
by passing out invitations at school. In fact, he'd begged all his friends to
come, so he wouldn't be marooned with a crowd of old people and East Coast
lawyers.
The Lakeside Club was totally
fancy—a huge Victorian palace with a
ballroom set next to the lake. Tiny lights embroidered the dock and gazebo,
glittered on the snow, and flickered in the winter-stripped trees. There were
huge wreaths over the fireplaces, and bells and greenery on all the tables.
It would have been even nicer
in the summer, when the party could spill out onto the terrace by the lake and
they might have been a little less fussy about the dress code.
Even Hastings had returned
from Britain for the party. Jason spotted the wizard several times over the
course of the evening, cruising the room with a glittering Linda Downey at his
side. Jason had hoped to take him aside and get some news from Britain, but the
wizard and enchanter were always the center of a crowd.
Jason felt sorry for Jack.
Thomas worked the room like a life insurance salesman at a funeral, towing his
reluctant son along. Jack towered over the big shots in his custom-tailored
suit, since nothing off the rack would have fit him. His hair was tied back
neatly because he'd refused to chop it off for the occasion.
The place was packed, of
course—Jack was the hometown Mr. Popular.
And the food was incredible—shrimp and little crabmeat pies, fruit towers, and
platters of desserts.
Jason thrust his fingers into
his neckline, loosening the tie Linda had inflicted on him. He guessed the
spectacle was worth putting on a jacket—temporarily,
at least.
He drifted into the bar,
thinking he might find it unattended, and found Becka Downey and Thomas Swift,
Jack's parents, nose to nose, arguing.
Battle of the litigators.
Jason withdrew into the shadows, but he could still hear everything.
“I have to say, I'm
worried about Jack,” Thomas said.
“Really? You've hardly
spoken to him since Christmas.”
“Well, I assumed you were
handling things. With his grades, he shouldn't have any trouble getting into an
Ivy League school. I offered to pull some strings if there's an issue. And yet,
he's seriously considering going to Trinity?”
“Trinity is one of the
best liberal-arts schools in the country. And he can go there for free.”
Thomas waved his hand,
dismissing free. “I told you I would finance his education. Maybe
his undergraduate school doesn't matter. But, frankly, he seems totally
clueless about what he wants to do. He has to start strong, you know, or
Snowbeard made arrangements to meet regularly and examine and experiment with
the talismans and amulets in the vault. They seemed almost giddy in their
optimism that Jason's treasure would offer them an advantage in the war that
everyone seemed to think was inevitable.
Madison was less enthusiastic.
The Dragonheart still glittered enticingly in a corner of her mind, one more
thing she'd have to try and ignore. The presence of this treasure in Trinity
did not make her feel safer. In fact, she felt like Trinity had become a target
that would be noticed, sooner or later, by those who would destroy everything
she cared about.
Heir 3 - The Dragon Heir
Chapter Six Passages
Well, thought Jason. Jack is
the talk of the town. I'm glad it's not me.
Jack's dad, Thomas Swift, had
returned to Trinity for Christmas, determined to show off to the locals by
throwing the party of the year.
Word on the street was that
Daddy had hired a party planner, who'd been working on the thing for months. He
called it a Midwinter Solstice party, but it was more of a debutante party for
Jack, if they had that kind of thing for guys. Thomas had brought a small
contingent of business associates and social climbers and preppy kids from
Boston, so Jack could “network,” he said.
The local guest list had
started out to be just as exclusive, but Jack had turned it into an open house
by passing out invitations at school. In fact, he'd begged all his friends to
come, so he wouldn't be marooned with a crowd of old people and East Coast
lawyers.
The Lakeside Club was totally
fancy—a huge Victorian palace with a
ballroom set next to the lake. Tiny lights embroidered the dock and gazebo,
glittered on the snow, and flickered in the winter-stripped trees. There were
huge wreaths over the fireplaces, and bells and greenery on all the tables.
It would have been even nicer
in the summer, when the party could spill out onto the terrace by the lake and
they might have been a little less fussy about the dress code.
Even Hastings had returned
from Britain for the party. Jason spotted the wizard several times over the
course of the evening, cruising the room with a glittering Linda Downey at his
side. Jason had hoped to take him aside and get some news from Britain, but the
wizard and enchanter were always the center of a crowd.
Jason felt sorry for Jack.
Thomas worked the room like a life insurance salesman at a funeral, towing his
reluctant son along. Jack towered over the big shots in his custom-tailored
suit, since nothing off the rack would have fit him. His hair was tied back
neatly because he'd refused to chop it off for the occasion.
The place was packed, of
course—Jack was the hometown Mr. Popular.
And the food was incredible—shrimp and little crabmeat pies, fruit towers, and
platters of desserts.
Jason thrust his fingers into
his neckline, loosening the tie Linda had inflicted on him. He guessed the
spectacle was worth putting on a jacket—temporarily,
at least.
He drifted into the bar,
thinking he might find it unattended, and found Becka Downey and Thomas Swift,
Jack's parents, nose to nose, arguing.
Battle of the litigators.
Jason withdrew into the shadows, but he could still hear everything.
“I have to say, I'm
worried about Jack,” Thomas said.
“Really? You've hardly
spoken to him since Christmas.”
“Well, I assumed you were
handling things. With his grades, he shouldn't have any trouble getting into an
Ivy League school. I offered to pull some strings if there's an issue. And yet,
he's seriously considering going to Trinity?”
“Trinity is one of the
best liberal-arts schools in the country. And he can go there for free.”
Thomas waved his hand,
dismissing free. “I told you I would finance his education. Maybe
his undergraduate school doesn't matter. But, frankly, he seems totally
clueless about what he wants to do. He has to start strong, you know, or
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