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The Harlequin :: Гамильтон Лорел
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Her voice came in a rush of rain and wind. «I know who your master is, wolf. You have betrayed me, and I will not forget it.»
When I could no longer smell jasmine or feel rain against my skin like some invisible presence, I asked Jake, «How do I keep her from popping in to see me?»
«There's a charm for that.»
I gave him a look.
«People used to think she was a demon, but whatever they thought she was, one human witch made a charm a very long time ago, and it works.»
«Is it a holy symbol?» I asked.
He smiled. «No, it's magic, not faith.»
«Isn't all magic faith?» I asked.
«No, sometimes it's just magic.»
The concept was too hard for me. «You got one of those charms on you?»
«Always, but I'll get one for you. We should be safe for the rest of tonight.»
«I hope those aren't famous last words,» I said.
«What do we do with them, Anita?» Truth asked.
I looked at Jake. «He broke your laws more than mine.»
«Kill him under your laws, we won't argue. We suspected one of us was being paid as an assassin, but we didn't know who. Then Pantalone volunteered to come check out Malcolm's church. It was just a visit, and a report back to the council. He usually only takes killing jobs, so we were suspicious. If Columbine had won Jean-Claude's lands, it would have been Pantalone who ruled here. We are allowed to leave the service of the Mother now, because she sleeps. Once she wakes, all that are in her service will be trapped there.»
«So you came to spy,» I said.
«And to help keep you alive.»
«Thanks for that.» I glanced back toward Remus's body. «I wish everybody were still alive.»
«I'm sorry about that, truly. He was a good man.»
I turned back to Wicked and Truth. «Did you guys wade into the dark and cut off his hand without being able to see anything?»
«Yes,» Wicked said.
«Of course,» Truth said.
«Then take his head.»
Pantalone, with a missing arm, stabbed, shot, moved in a black blur. Truth was his own dark blur, his sword so fast it looked like lightning. He took him through the heart again, except spitting him this time the way Pantalone had spitted Remus. Wicked's blade glittered outward and the head went spinning. It wasn't just impressive. It was lovely in a macabre sort of way.
«Someone put the head in a sack. We'll burn it later, separate from the body.»
«We should take the heart, too,» Olaf said.
I nodded. «You're right.
Her voice came in a rush of rain and wind. «I know who your master is, wolf. You have betrayed me, and I will not forget it.»
When I could no longer smell jasmine or feel rain against my skin like some invisible presence, I asked Jake, «How do I keep her from popping in to see me?»
«There's a charm for that.»
I gave him a look.
«People used to think she was a demon, but whatever they thought she was, one human witch made a charm a very long time ago, and it works.»
«Is it a holy symbol?» I asked.
He smiled. «No, it's magic, not faith.»
«Isn't all magic faith?» I asked.
«No, sometimes it's just magic.»
The concept was too hard for me. «You got one of those charms on you?»
«Always, but I'll get one for you. We should be safe for the rest of tonight.»
«I hope those aren't famous last words,» I said.
«What do we do with them, Anita?» Truth asked.
I looked at Jake. «He broke your laws more than mine.»
«Kill him under your laws, we won't argue. We suspected one of us was being paid as an assassin, but we didn't know who. Then Pantalone volunteered to come check out Malcolm's church. It was just a visit, and a report back to the council. He usually only takes killing jobs, so we were suspicious. If Columbine had won Jean-Claude's lands, it would have been Pantalone who ruled here. We are allowed to leave the service of the Mother now, because she sleeps. Once she wakes, all that are in her service will be trapped there.»
«So you came to spy,» I said.
«And to help keep you alive.»
«Thanks for that.» I glanced back toward Remus's body. «I wish everybody were still alive.»
«I'm sorry about that, truly. He was a good man.»
I turned back to Wicked and Truth. «Did you guys wade into the dark and cut off his hand without being able to see anything?»
«Yes,» Wicked said.
«Of course,» Truth said.
«Then take his head.»
Pantalone, with a missing arm, stabbed, shot, moved in a black blur. Truth was his own dark blur, his sword so fast it looked like lightning. He took him through the heart again, except spitting him this time the way Pantalone had spitted Remus. Wicked's blade glittered outward and the head went spinning. It wasn't just impressive. It was lovely in a macabre sort of way.
«Someone put the head in a sack. We'll burn it later, separate from the body.»
«We should take the heart, too,» Olaf said.
I nodded. «You're right.