Free Cloak (YA Fantasy) by James Gough Page B

sure?”
    “Certainly.” The doctor clicked his beak.
    With caution, Will held out his hand to Manning. “Um, sorry. I’m new to this.”
    The deer-like woman sniffed and flashed a set of tiny buckteeth. “No harm done, Tuttle.” She smacked the back of his hand so hard that Will was sure she’d left a mark.
    Beside Agent Manning, the other two figures emerged from under their masks. Both men were much larger and sweatier than the deer-woman. The taller of them used a monogrammed handkerchief to mop his scaly, knife-like face. He was completely bald with a long, thick neck and small eyes that swiveled in opposite directions like glistening beads on the end of tiny round pyramids. His wide mouth was lined with thin lips. He had a nose like a thorn and a ridge of scales that ran over the top of his scalp like a Mohawk. Smaller ridges stretched from his chin down his throat. His scaly skin was the same color as the hood he’d been wearing, but it slowly changed to match the green bread racks stacked to the ceiling behind him.
    A chameleon, guessed Will.
    “Agent Santiago Flores. Master of camouflage and reconnaissance,” said the chameleon-man with a flowery, Spanish accent. He offered the back of his scaly, three-fingered hand. Will and Flores tapped. At the point of contact, the enchant’s skin remained the same color as Will’s glove. The agent flexed his fingers, morphing the hand’s color to the same mottled blue as the bread bag under it. “It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance.” The chameleon lifted his thorn-like nose and swiveled both eyes Will’s direction.
    “Um, yeah, nice to meet you too.” Flores’s spinning eye sockets and changing color were a bit unnerving.
    “Agent Tony Rizzuto. You can call me Rizz.”
    Will backed away. It was the ram who had mugged him in the park. The same brown eyes with slightly horizontal pupils. The same heavy jaw and goatish muzzle. Two huge horns curved from his head. They were carved with ornate etchings of snakes, eagles, tigers, and other animals. Half of the ram-man’s right horn was missing and the broken portion was covered by a sliver cap with a skull and crossbones. He had long, coarse hair that was pulled into a ponytail and partially obscured his human ears.
    The agent gave Will a knowing half grin and extended his hoofed hand. “Sorry about the park. No hard feelings.”
    Will eyed him with suspicion.
    “Aw, don’t leave me hanging, kid.” Rizz held his hand closer.
    Will reached out to tap hands. Instead, Rizz made a fist and bumped knuckles.
    “Cultural expert and communications guy, at your service.”
    Kaya stood. “These agents have been handpicked. They are the best of the best.”
    The three agents removed their over-suits and adjusted their clothes.
    Will ran his eyes over the team. There were no mirrored sunglasses or dark suits like the Secret Service.
    Kaya almost looked the part. She wore a dusty gray suit with high boots, a simple cotton blouse and a jacket. But the outfit was perfectly tailored, and Kaya’s stunning beauty made her look too much like a fashion model to ever pass for a government agent.
    Val Manning, the little deer-like agent, wore tan camouflage head to toe. Her military shirt and pants pockets were packed with knives and daggers. A blowgun with darts hung from her belt and a machete was tucked in her combat boot.
    Agent Flores brushed lint from his black Italian suit and smoothed his pink, silk shirt. A gold chain hung beneath his open collar. From his breast pocket he produced a small mirror and admired himself, pursing his lips.
    Rizz flipped up the collar of the black bomber jacket and propped his scuffed biker boots up on a stack of fruitcakes. His ripped jeans had tufts of ram hair poking out the holes and a dark t-shirt with the words Kiss a Herbivore stretched across his barrel chest. Rings covered his hoof-like thumbs. He caught Will’s eye and cracked his knuckles.
    “Not what you expected from