"I will take you," Mai offered.
"No, dear," Melinda said, taking her arm and pushing in between Val and the others. "I'll go with you. The rest of you go to the party. You deserve to have some downtime. Go on."
"Call me when you find out how he is," Griffen said. Val nodded. She was still upset with him. He didn't blame her.
Griffen saw them into the taxi. Everyone else was slapping one another on the back and swapping stories. The rest of the beer and throws were loaded onto the bus with them.
The party, thrown by Antaeus, with donations from the other three krewes, was being held in a huge auditorium. A lot of paradegoers who had bought tickets were there to share the fun and dance to the music. Three videographers had a huge flat-screen TV showing raw footage of the parades that they had just shot, complete with audio. It was so loud that Griffen had to put one finger in his ear to get a report from the hospital.
"Val says that Gris-gris will be okay," he reported to his friends and fellow kings. They were all laden with necklaces and other trinkets from one another's boxes. "He's going to keep the scar on his face. 'It's currency in the Quarter,' he said. Now she's going shopping."
Bert laughed. His temporary cast was covered with signatures from all four krewes. "I owe Gris-gris a lot for fighting that hard," he said. "He did more than I could to try and stop that man. He was like a supervillain!"
"At least we got the city protected against three elements," Cos said. "We'll try again next year."
"It won't be my problem then," Griffen said, cheerfully toasting his fellow kings.
"But you did it when it matter most," Etienne said. "Dat's why it had to be you, Mr. Griffen."
"You did a great job," Holly said. "Let me know if you ever want a third girlfriend."
Griffen found his throat had dried out. "Uh."
She laughed at him. "Just joking. You're sadly outnumbered as it is." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'm looking forward to continuing our fellowship."
"That was a damned dangerous thing, that ritual," Cos said.
Etienne nodded. "Coul' been worse. Rest of you was okay, but half the time in my dream, Mr. Griffen didn' get up again after the fire."
Griffen looked at him aghast. "You mean I could have died?"
The hybrid waggled a hand. "It was possible. But it didn' happen. No, sir."
Griffen sat back in his chair, speechless.
"Well, that explains a lot."
"What?"
He gestured with his drink toward the lieutenants. "Why no one in this group attacked me. I've been warned so many times that dragons either fight their way up the food chain or sign on to someone who has more power than they do."
"You was the sacrificial king. It wouldn't have worked without you. You did good, Mr. Griffen. All of N'awlins would appreciate it if they knew."
Griffen gave him a sour look. "Thanks a bunch."
Etienne smiled. "Well, okay, but would you have said yes if I tol' you everyt'ing I seen?"
"No!"
"Then you see why I didn't. Had to be done, and y'all did great." He grinned. "Didn't you have a good time?"
"Yes, I did," Griffen admitted. He felt a warm feeling over the whole experience. Literally. But a pebble of resentment had taken the place of the pinball of fire in his belly. "I have been used by people for their own purposes since before I got here. I'm tired of being the symbol for the union of dragons. I hated being thrown into situations for which I was not ready. It's no consolation to realize I could rise to the occasion. I have just been too nice to say no, I'm not ready, I'm busy, I'm tired, I'm not interested."
"But all the opportunities might pass you by," Jerome said.
"Let them," Griffen said. "I need to learn who and what I am. I know that I am not really everybody's patsy. I just have to stop acting like it."
Fox Lisa patted his arm. "You've been true to yourself, in the pacts you have made, the promises you have kept."
"Yes, that is me. But what do I want to do, once I learn who I am?"
She smiled up at him. "It will be interesting to find out."
"Oh, you will, Mr. Griffen," Etienne said. "I seen dat, too."
"When?"
Etienne shook his head. "Ain't good for ya to know dat," he said. "I'll tell you one day if you gotta know somet'ing."
Mai smiled at them, but her thoughts were troubled. Griffen was learning to think for himself. She would have to throw him off-balance again, or she would never be able to put him under her control.
Harrison came into the room. He made his way toward them.
"Have a drink, Detective!" Cos bellowed, hoisting one of Fafnir's plastic cups. "The flagon with the dragon has the brew that is true."
"Maybe later, Cos," Harrison said. He turned to Griffen. "Thought you might like to know I just had an instructive talk with our friend. He tried to tell me I didn't know who I was up against. He didn't have a warrant or probable cause for confiscation, or anything he can take to a grand jury. But I do, having him and his minions jump on floats during a Mardi Gras parade. I think the country's just sore enough about the Patriot Act to love a story about Homeland Security sneaking in and usurping the authority of the legal police force of the sovereign city of New Orleans during a unique heritage festival like Mardi Gras. I told him to get out of my city and don't come back." Harrison gave him a mean smile. "He said he won't. Homeland Security won't bother to set foot in this city ever again."
"Good," Griffen said. "Good riddance." He toasted the police detective. "Come on back and have that drink when you're off duty."
"I will," Harrison said. He looked pleased to have solved his murder and tossed the intrusive agent out of town. "I earned it. That and many more."
The party went on for hours. Griffen danced with dozens of ladies. The event was catered by one of the best houses in the city. He stuffed himself on crawfish etoufee and bananas Foster, washed down by the best Irish whisky. One excellent band succeeded another. It was a great party, capping an incredibly eventful day.
"And it's not even Fat Tuesday yet," Fox Lisa said.
"As far as I'm concerned, I'm just an observer from now on," Griffen told her.
He felt a soft kiss on his cheek. He turned. Rose stood there beside him.
"Thank you," she said. "I know it was hard. You did well. The city is almost completely protected."
"Thanks," he said.
"I owe you a favor," she said. "Ask me if you need me." She smiled at Griffen and slipped away into the crowd.
"Was that who I think it was?" Fox Lisa asked, wide-eyed. Griffen nodded. "Wow. This might be the best day ever."