Jennifer Scales and the Messenger of Light by MaryJanice Davidson Page A

they knew what we are?”
    “I imagine,” he replied carefully, “that for weeks, the entire town has been learning who you and I are, via the Blacktooths.”
    “Then why hasn’t anyone come to kill us?”
    “Because of me,” Elizabeth answered. She nodded at her daughter’s stare. “There is a sacred agreement among beaststalkers which protects each beaststalker’s family and friends. Many beaststalkers have used this unwritten law to extend protection to others—people who are afraid of monsters they’ve seen, or have heard of. They move into towns full of beaststalkers so that they aren’t afraid anymore.”
    “And because we’re family, we’re okay, even though we’re weredragons?”
    Her mother nodded. “The idea of a beaststalker wanting to protect a weredragon has never come up before. I imagine the townspeople of Winoka are struggling with that dilemma as we speak.”
    Jennifer realized something. “That’s why Mrs. Blacktooth didn’t kill me in front of you that day last spring.”
    “Yes. Even if she had managed to kill you before I intervened, it would have been hard for her to explain to others.”
    “Eddie said we might be attacked soon anyway.”
    “As I said, Winoka is struggling with the idea of our family, and the problems we pose. I’m not exactly a favorite in this town to begin with. I have often disagreed with those in power. I’ve been excluded from the local church, as you know. What you don’t know is that church is run by city hall—and it has many people in it I once counted as friends. Their distrust made my participation impossible. As more people learn about your father, that distrust will evolve into hostility. Fewer and fewer of them will care about beaststalker law.”
    “The murder of Jack Alder makes things worse,” Jonathan added. “Hank Blacktooth was friends with Jack, just like I was. And just like my sources discovered weredragon DNA on the scene, I am sure his have as well. In fact, he and others may even guess that the murderer is related to me. That will add fuel to the fire.”
    “Then we can’t stay here!” Jennifer couldn’t believe they were all still in the well-appointed living room. “We’ve got to get out of Winoka!”
    Her parents nodded. “Your mother and I have been talking about this since you showed an interest in Pinegrove. We thought you might learn the truth eventually—and that you would feel this way. It might not be a bad idea for you to make for the farm again, and stay there for some time. You could relax a bit before the trials, next week.”
    Jennifer had almost forgotten about the Fifty Trials and the Blaze. In fact, she had never really gotten around to telling Skip that she couldn’t go to the Halloween dance. The time, it seemed, was never right—and, anyway, how would she explain the Fifty Trials, and the reason for them? But now none of that mattered.
    “Not just me—you and Mom have got to come, too! None of us should be here! We should never have moved here!”
    Elizabeth stood and held her daughter’s hand. “Honey, your father and I can’t go just yet.”
    “What?” Jennifer yanked her hand away from her mother. “That’s crazy!”
    “The crescent moon comes tomorrow.” Jonathan stood up, too. “Your mother will stay here to protect me. I need a day or so to figure out what happened to Jack, plus my work for the new hospital center—”
    “You’re nuts.” Jennifer spun and ran out of the room. Feeling tears gathering, she shook them away. She didn’t want to think about what staying now would mean for her parents. If dozens of beaststalkers came knocking tonight, her mother would be overwhelmed. And her father, without a crescent moon, would be unable to help much. Why didn’t they see that?
    She knew it was useless to argue. Still fighting back tears, she went up to her room. In a few minutes, she had on her leather training armor and twin daggers. That was all she would need. Without saying