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Mike growled low in his throat as he found his feet again, eyes gleaming in the
flickering brilliance. Something moved through the blackness, flaring light.
Candlewax dripped, spattered, ran.
The thing lurched closer, stepping onto the bed. Sebastien glanced about
wildly, caught up a rug from the floor, and swung just as Garrett, half-pinned,
shouted a word of magic and hurled her wand like a throwing knife.
The rug came down on the dark thing s crown, dashing candles out. Garrett s
wand vanished into its breast, silver tip first. The thing wailed, spinning wildly,
reaching for Sebastien with groping, malformed paws. He skittered aside like a
toreador, swinging the rug again, smashing the thing in the face. A final candle
fluttered out as it fell forward, keening, clutching Sebastien s shirtfront, and Garrett
saw the horror in his eyes as it started to enfold him in devouring blackness.
And then it sagged to its knees, slid downward, cloth tearing in the grasp of its
suddenly human hands. It fell, curled inwards, and buried its face in its knees,
dappled moonlight shaking in short red curls.
* * * *
Duke Richard waited for her in her parlor, flanked by city Guards. The early
afternoon light crept in through white eyelet lace, gilding his hair. He had his hat in
his hand, as if he did not intend to linger, but Mike sat on his shoes, tongue lolling.
When she entered, he dismissed the Guards.
 Richard, she said, when the door was closed.
 Investigator Garrett.
She came a few steps closer, and did not let her hurt show in her face.  I m
glad to see you, your Highness.
His jaw worked, and the hat tumbled from his hands as he came to her, pulling
her close, all but crushing her in his arms.  Abby Irene. His voice broke.
She leaned into the embrace for a long, quiet moment, listening to the
pounding of his heart. When he finally let her step back, she did.  I m safe.
 But barely. And I wasn t there to protect you.
 Sebastien was, she said, and regretted it immediately.  What s to become
of Officer Forester? He d been taken away in chains before sunup.
 He s cooperated. Named his accomplice. Or his handler, more like the
Lord Mayor s pet sorcerer.
 Neither one implicated the Mayor?
 Stayed silent as the grave. To hear Forester tell it, LaMarque the
sorcerer offered him revenge against the lad who ruined Forester s sister. Forester
took him up on it, not knowing the price. And then LaMarque and Peter Eliot, of
course, but neither one of them has or will admit that used that consent, once
granted, to enslave him. From what he said, he killed the Carlson family first,
consumed them ... and then chased the lad out into the street to deal with him more
messily.
Garrett shuddered.  What about the splintered door?
 Misdirection. A smart lad. He ll hang, of course.
 Of course. The door was shut; the curtains were drawn. She laid a hand on
his shoulder, leaned her face against his sleeve.  They must have thought I was
close.
 You were. He put his arm around her shoulder.  I would have been next, no
doubt.
She nodded. This is wrong. And yet ... what else can we do?  It is a pity that
we cannot arrange a search of the Lord Mayor s domicile. I feel certain that we
would find a rifle which I could match to the bullet fired at me.
He let the silence hang for a moment before he continued.  What I don t
understand is how Forester got admittance to the houses. I know there are rules of
consent and so forth, for these dark things to do their will. He looked away. And
he s not mentioning Sebastien, although it s costing him something not to.
 Each of the houses invaded had apparently received a surprising bargain on
candles recently. And an action can provide consent as easily as a word.
 I am afraid I m not following you, Abby Irene.
Garrett counted breaths before she answered, pressing her face to his arm.
 Consent must be offered, she said.  Express or implied. But think. You awaken,
cold and alone. In darkness with a banked fire. You feel a presence looming over
you. What is the first thing you do?
 Reach for my pistol.
 After that.
 Strike a light. Oh!
 Strike a light, yes. And reach for the candle by your bed. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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