“Why can’t you say? The requirements aren’t public?”
Zin shook her head. “It’s considered a ‘natural fit’ process. What the Rangers look for in a Candidate is largely a mystery. They say the true signs of a Ranger will emerge naturally, and if they give off hints, people will game the system.”
“That makes training difficult,” I said with a sympathetic look to Zin. “I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
“Hold on, don’t you wiggle out of this one,” Poppy said, pointing to me. “Even though Zin’s not telepathic, she’s got a point. What is Ranger X to you? You can’t keep secrets from us, you know. We’re your cousins and your friends, so that’s a double no-no. Spill the beans, Lily.”
“There are no beans to spill!” I shrugged, stalling with a huge gulp of coffee. I took my time swallowing, but even so, both pairs of eyes bored into my skull until I relented. “Fine, you want the truth? There’s nothing between us...anymore. We’re just working together to find The Magic of Mixology, that’s all. Nothing more than that.”
“Why don’t I believe you?” Poppy narrowed her eyes at me. “I think there’s more to it than that.”
“You’re a skeptic, and you’re as bad as Hettie trying to set me up on a date. I’ve hardly been here two months and you all are acting like I’m turning ‘spinster’ on my next birthday.”
“Well, you aren’t getting any younger,” Zin pointed out. “No offense.”
“You can’t talk.” Poppy jabbed a finger at Zin. “You’re more interested in learning how to fight people than love them.”
“There are more important things than getting married.” Zin pointed her nose up and sniffed. “I’d say becoming a Ranger is one of them.”
“So?” Poppy asked sharply. “Where is X now? Has he bought you dinner yet or something?”
“I told you! We’re just working on the case. Come here, I’ll show you the map we made last night.” Turning from the bar, I led the girls into the storeroom.
“Last night, huh?” Poppy followed me inside, surveying the hectic display in the room. “Did he stay over?”
Off to one side of the storeroom was the semi-hidden staircase that led a few floors up through a twisty, turny passageway. At the top was the attic—I warmed thinking of my trip upstairs with X just hours before.
“No, of course not,” I said. “We were working. That’s it. We have a working relationship.”
“Your relationship is a piece of work,” Poppy grumbled. “Get over it and just make out with him already.”
I waited a moment, praying my ears would stop burning red. “Look. Do you see the ropes? That’s what we were doing all night. Believe me, it wasn’t romantic.”
“What am I looking at?” Zin stomped in a few moments later, her leather pants making slight squishing noises as she strode across the bar with thick, intimidating boots that somehow looked stylish. The whole vibe matched with her leather jacket and heavy eyeliner, complemented by the straight-edged bob falling just below her chin; the style a little longer in the front and shorter in the back.
“I thought you were telepathic,” I said, unable to help myself. “Why don’t you tell me?”
Zin crossed her arms. “Maybe I’m not telepathic, okay? I’m still working on finding my Uniqueness.”
“Your uniqueness?”
“Every Ranger has some quality that makes them a unique asset to the business,” Poppy explained. As the part-time dispatcher for Ranger HQ, Poppy often had surprising insight into the top secret agency. “For some, it’s a learned skill. You know, like the ability to kill someone with a pinky nail or tie five hundred different styles of knots or speak six languages.”
“That’s a lot to learn,” I said. “What’s the other option?”
“Some have natural tendencies that make their Uniqueness easier to learn. For example, there’s one Ranger who can sniff out a poisonous potion from miles away. He’s got a natural skill, but he’s trained himself to be the ‘go-to-guy’ when mysterious potions show up on The Isle.”
“Those are the only options?” I asked. “Where does telepathy come in?”
“There’s one last group,” Poppy explained. “Those born with an advantage. You know, the shape shifters and what not—those who can add a unique twist to the agency.”
“It’s difficult to find a Uniqueness that hasn’t been taken already,” Zin said. “I thought about knife throwing, but there’s already an expert. Same with archery. There’s nothing left!”