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perception. "Gloriel, this is my cousin, Dree."
Aejys acquired a room and sent Josiah up to rest, taking Dree with him, while
she remained in the common room with Gloriel. Over a cup of mead, Aejys gave
Gloriel the full account.
Gloriel watched Aejys handle the cup, using two hands to accomplish what
others did with one. "That is a grim tale. I am sorry about your hands. So
what brings you here? Are you going to Shaurone again?"
"No. We're on our way to Norendel to fetch Dree's children, among other
things." Aroana grant that I have better fortune rescuing them than I did
saving Laeoli.
"Catkin children are sweet and wonderful. But be careful in Norendel. Carliff
will not tolerate misbehavior of even the smallest kind in his realm.
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Otherwise he should give you no trouble. He isn't evil, you know."
"Yes, I know." Aejys thought about Dree's words. The catkin had chosen to
remain in the rooms with Josiah while he slept.
"Good. I've spoken with him many times in my wanderings. An honorable king,
he is. His undead defend all the living in his realm. Meeting him and his
shakes people's misconceptions about the undead."
Aejys raised an askance eyebrow.
Gloriel gave her shoulder a gentle push. "None of that, Aejystrys Rowan!
You've made your reputation on understanding the misunderstood."
"I'll grant you that. But I doubt I'll ever be comfortable with the undead."
"Dig deep enough in every tolerant sort and you'll find a bigot someplace."
Aejys winced and shook her head. "I'll try to keep fairness uppermost in my
mind when I finally meet Carliff."
"Good mon. Now you wouldn't be looking for a guide, would you? I'm between
tasks and quite free until midsummer's eve."
"I would be glad to have you. But there is more you should know before I take
you up on it. I'm going after the Spiritdancer. And Margren and Mephistis are
in Hoon's Valley."
Gloriel was thoughtful for a moment. "Dangerous. But I'm still offering."
"I'm accepting. We'll need horses, supplies, and enough people to handle
trouble if it comes. But not so many as to be conspicuous."
"I can take care of that for you."
Aejys fumbled with her pouch and, after several tries, managed to get some
gold coins out. She pushed these across the table to Gloriel. "Will this cover
it?"
Gloriel pocketed the coins. "Nicely."
She started to rise, but Aejys caught her arm. The ranger winced slightly,
looking down at the twisted fingers, but recovered quickly, smiling in an
attempt to cover her faux pas.
Aejys' stomach tightened and she pulled her hand back, hiding both of them in
her lap. She did not like looking at them either. "I need to talk to the
fireborn, especially Kalestari. Can you take me there?"
"When do you want to go?"
"Tomorrow morning. First light?"
"Be ready. I'll meet you here." Gloriel settled back in her chair, looking
for any way, even a lame one, to make up for her reaction. "Do they hurt?"
"Sometimes."
"I'm sorry."
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"Don't be."
* * * *
Lord Wrathscar sat in a large wing chair before the fireplace, staring into
the flames sending dancing shadows across the room. Gylorean Galee sat across
from him, her legs drawn sensuously into the chair. Bryndel stood before the
fireplace.
"The deed was done?" Wrathscar asked him.
"Yes. What they say of the bi-kyndi is true enough. The first mon died, but
not the second. I had her for the rest of the night. She woke in my bed,
confused. Especially when I told her she had been drunk and come there freely.
I have had her twice since then. It is always the same. The first mon dies."
"Did she remember anything?"
"No, father."
"Next time, double the dose," Galee said languidly. "Then the first mon will
not die. Enough of this and we will break her. Even Talons Trollbane can be
broken. Now get back there before the drug wears off. I don't want her getting
free. She's still dangerous."
Bryndel sighed unhappily. He did not want to break Talons, but he was
desperately afraid of Galee.
"And when you are the Grand Master, Lord Wrathscar," Gylorean Galee said, "I
will be second to none, save you." And when all the betrayals are done, I will
rule Creeya and the Guild. By the time that interfering Hanadi Majios and her
accursed shadow hound return there will be nothing for them to salvage.
* * * *
Galee found the mon in a tavern near the south wall in the Poor Quarter. It
was smoky and ill lit. She smelled him before she saw him, crossing the room
to sit at his table.
"I hear you've been talking about the heir," Galee whispered, leaning close
to him. "About helping Bryndel rape her."
He looked up, frightened. "No, Galee, I swear."
"Come outside with me. We need to talk."
"Galee, I swear!"
"Come outside," she hissed. "Don't make a scene, I'm warning you. I can kill
you here and no one will think anything of it." She touched his chin with one
finger, lifting his head, raising his eyes to hers. She snared his mind. "Come
along."
His eyes glazed and he followed her out.
Galee leaned against him, stroking his arms. She tasted his fear as her long
claws emerged from beneath her primary nails, and she shoved four of them into
the artery in his arm, pinioning it with her other hand to make certain she
got the full load of her venom into him. He stiffened, his eyes rolling up
into his head as he slumped against her. She carried him into an alley and
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left him there: dead. It would probably have taken only two fingers to kill [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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