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  "Brandrahoon ... what did you put in it?"

  Silkie tried to remember everything he had said when he gave it to her. Forever young ... forever mine.

  A sensation of first dizziness, and then a searing joy spread through Silkie so intense that she could find nothing to compare it to.

  "Drink it and then choose a way to die."

  She swayed in her seat as the fire lit her veins. A surge of anger cleared away the disorientation.

  "The sa'necari be damned. Let them face the wrath of the blood of Brandrahoon."

  Silkie returned the contents to the box, closed the lid, and slipped it back into the velvet pouch. She tied the strings to her belt, reached into another drawer, and brought forth a long dagger.

  Rising from her chair, Silkie faced the wall behind it and spoke the word that would reveal and open the spiritdoor. A panel of the wall shimmered, became transparent, showing a comfortable room with thick carpets behind it.

  Silkie entered the room and sealed it once more with a word. She lay down upon the floor, slit her wrists, and closed her eyes to await death and the transformation that Brandrahoon had promised her.

  "Soon, you bastards ... I'll be coming for you. Silkanna Mircala de Waejonan will have her vengeance."

  As blood loss dragged her toward oblivion, Silkie dreamed of Cullen and smiled.

  CHAPTER TWO

  A PASSION FOR KADY

  Lieutenant Kynyr Maguire slept, stirring restlessly without waking, his fists clenching and unclenching in his troubled dreams. His long, thick golden hair covered the pillows like a sunburst, circling his handsome face, now marred with the traces of illness from his wounds. A narrow fringe of close-cropped golden beard framed his face from sideburns to an inch from his chin. His lantern jaw, pronounced cheekbones with dramatic hollows beneath them, and cleft chin made Kynyr Maguire the visual epitome of lycan masculinity. Yet the image was flawed now by dark circles beneath his eyes, and the handsome angles had given way to a gauntness that aged his visage well beyond his nearly twenty-one years.

  Toward morning, his leg always began to throb and hurt. The poppy milk wore off, the muscles tightened around his wounds, and his leg stiffened. Then the pain led inexorably into nightmares before it released him into wakefulness. That morning was no exception.

  "I see them! Whip those horses up! Ramsey shouted.

  Kynyr slapped the long reins across the hindquarters of the horses and the wagon lurched as the startled horses broke into a run. Retreat was not an option. He knew he would never get the wagon turned. His only choice was to try and drive over them, break through to the bridge around the bend.

  Kynyr spotted a mon standing among the trees with a long bow. He brought the crossbow up, laid it across his forearm, and fired. The archer went down with a scream. He tossed the bow at his feet, grabbed the other bow, and fired at another. A hailstorm of arrows fell around them. Several struck Kynyr in the chest, and failed to pierce his armor. The wicked shafts hit his horses, sending the wounded beasts into panicked flight. The wagon careened out of control into the dip in the road near the turn.

  Kynyr writhed in his sleep, groaning. No. Nooooo!"

  Three arrows protruded from his thigh and two from his calf. Three of the shafts were black with crimson and brown fletching; the others were red shafted with blue and red feathers. He clutched his leg. Archers had one principal reason for coding their arrows: poison.

  Kynyr tried to reload the crossbow, but the out of control wagon seemed to hit every rough spot in the road, jarring him.

  Far back in his mind, submerged within the nightmare, Kynyr knew what was coming next; yet could not free himself from it.

  Eideard tumbled from the saddle and the wagon rattled past his still form. Kynyr cried out in rage at seeing his friend fall. Then the acrid scent of dark power swept over Kynyr and he glanced to the right. While he had no magic gifts, he could see the patterns of arcane energyand he saw the bolt of death strike his horses. They stumbled and fell. The wagon tongue struck the ground and the next instant Kynyr was tumbling through the air as the wagon heaved over.

  Kynyr struck hard, skidding into a roll. The arrows twisted in his wounds as the shafts broke off close to the skin, leaving just the heads embedded in his flesh. The pain nearly caused him to black out. He tried to drag himself up, but his wounded leg would not support him. Pain seared through him as if his veins were on fire. His chest felt tight, as if a fist pressed down on his heart and lungs. He recognized what was happening. Devil's Silver."

  He saw Ramsey fall with arrows in his chest and back. No!"

  Finn had nearly broken free, when he saw that Kynyr had been hit and turned back.

  "No, Finn! Keep going! Keep going!"

  "Kynyr! Finn sprang from the saddle, and ran toward him. I can't leave you behind."

  Barely three yards from Kynyr, Finn stiffened and stared down at his mid section as three arrows punched through his ribs and a fourth hit him in the belly. He swayed a moment before collapsing where he lay unmoving.

  "Finn.... Kynyr choked on the name. He crawled forward. His fingers brushed Finn's face. I loved you ... brother."

  The scene melted into another memory as Kynyr tossed and turned.

  Ramsey's face was flushed with fever and his breathing stertorous. His round cheeks had become sunken and the bones in his face stood out as if all the muscles beneath his skin had melted away.

  "Ah, gods, Ramsey. Not you too."

  Ramsey's eyes fluttered open. K-Kynyr ... I been waitin for ... you. Ramsey shuddered, struggling for breath. Get those ... assholes ... for me."

  "Yeah, Ramsey. I'll get them. Whoever's behind this ... I'll get them."

  Ramsey's body stiffened in pain for an instant and then his features went slack. Kynyr clutched his friend to his chest, but it was too late. A long howl of grief erupted from Kynyr's throat and shivered through the building as he held his dead friend.

  Kynyr lurched upright in his bed, clutching his leg. He blinked away the cobwebs in his mind and saw that Kady had left him a dose of poppy milk on the nightstand, knowing that he still woke in pain each day. Kady, always so thoughtful and kind; Kynyr envisioned her at her tasks and her image pushed away the unhappiness that lingered from his troubling dreams. He drank the drug, stretched out, and waited for his leg to ease.

  The door opened and his grandfather entered. Todd Sinclair had a strong, hearty face. The folded lines running from the wings of his nostrils to the outer edges of his lips were deep; the crinkles around his dark blue eyes were crevices in the stalwart earthiness of his features; his heavy eyelids did not lend themselves to clear expression of emotion, making any effort to read his features difficult even for those who knew him well. His calm, centered mien suggested a mon who did not go looking for trouble, but once it found him would be utterly relentless in dealing with it.

  Todd pulled a chair over to the bedside. We should talk."

  "About Kady?"

  "Among other things. You made me a promise, Kynyr. It's time to collect on it. Todd's heavy-lidded eyes narrowed to slits. His voice remained even. Todd did not have to raise his voice; Kynyr was sensitive to the subtle nuances that outsiders missed. In that much, Todd reminded Kynyr of his father, BranduffBran to the familywho had learned it from Todd.

  "What promise?"

  "To tell me everything that happened at Hell's Widow."

  Kynyr's fingers dug into the healing wound in his thigh as he sat up again. Todd left his chair, snagged the pillows from the far side of the big bed, and piled them high behind Kynyr.

  "We got to Hell's Widow without a hitch. There was no one on the road that day. I briefed Eideard and Ramsey on what Claw expected."

  "Find out who killed Cullen?"

  "Yeah. Eideard began to speculate about Ellie Remus ... saying she must have helped the sa'necari capture Cullen."

  "Did he say why he thought that? Todd returned to his chair and settled in, his thick wrists draped casually across
the chair arms with his elbows sticking out.

  "Not in so many words. Kynyr's eyes went distanced with reflection. I told them about Cooley ... Eideard insisted that we pledge ourselves as Cooley's uncles ... fill the place left vacant by his father's death."

  "Eideard was a good mon."

  "Mostly."

  "You still think he killed Ellie?"

  "He could hardly have left her alive after stealing her jewelry. Kynyr sucked in a breath. I assume it's her jewelry you found on Eideard."

  "I planned on packing it up and sending it to a friend in Creeya to sell. Set Cooley up a bank account in Havensword."

  "Can I see it?"

  Todd gave a curt nod and fetched it.

  Kynyr's eyes widened in surprise as Todd laid the casket of jewels next to him. The box was a foot and a half long, eight inches deep, and eight inches wide. Kynyr lifted the lid and set it on the other side of the bed. I had no idea there was so much of it."

  "It filled four pouches and one saddle bag. Todd watched Kynyr sort through the jewelry. There's at least ten thousand crowns there."

  "Wergild. Ellie drugged Cullen so they would take him without a fight."

  "Did Eideard know that?"

  "Yes. Kynyr came across a simple gold necklace set with jasper and obsidian. This is her jewelry. I recognize this piece."

  "You should not have told him. Todd took a heavy ring from the box; a piece of jade shaped like a temple.

  "I expected him to obey orders."

  Todd turned the ring over and thumbed a complex button in the underside. This is how she did it. A bloodstained needle emerged.

  "Cullen's blood?"

  "That's what Cahira says. It's coated with Yellow Moon. Hit's the blood stream fast."

  "Are you thinking of sending Cooley to Creeya?"

  "If it gets too dangerous for him here ... Either to Tiderider or StealsThunder."

  Kynyr considered while he returned the jewelry to the box. If Ellie had all this, why did she continue working as a whore?"

  "Find the one she worked for and you'll know."

  "You mean the sa'necari?"

  "Ayup."

  "I must go back to Hell's Widow. I promised Silkie I'd get her out."

  "Finish the story."

  Kynyr told Todd about arriving in Hell's Widow and staying at the Three Candles Inn. The lycan who owned it, Amos Raggat, informed them that Ellie had been spending money in conspicuous amounts, leading him to wonder if she had been paid for betraying Cullen and perhaps a bit more. Flavio, the clerk at the Crimson Lady, had tried to prevent Kynyr from seeing Silkie, until Kynyr brandished Claw's name at him. Once Kynyr got in to see Silkie, the madam told him that Ellie had betrayed Cullen, confirmed that Ellie had not done so as a result of intimidation, and promised to reveal the name of the sa'necari behind it if Kynyr would help her escape.

  "You should have kept your mouth shut about Claw. Todd glanced down and stared at a point on the floor, his lips tight.

  "You think that's why they ambushed us?"

  "Maybe. The only way to know for certain is to go back."

  "I intend to. My friends ... deserve their vengeance."

  "Then you haven't lost your nerve."

  A spark of anger flashed in Kynyr's eyes. Why would you even wonder about that?"

  "I know about the nightmares. You talk in your sleep ... loudly."

  "Just because I... Kynyr's calf spasmed and he grabbed it, grimacing.

  Todd threw the covers back. Let go."

  Kynyr drew the edge of his blanket across his loins and left the leg exposed.

  Todd's big, powerful hands worked on the cramp. When it eased, he studied the fading lines crossing his grandson's stomach. You were lucky. If Pandeena and I had gotten there a fraction later, they'd have had your organs out."

  Kynyr suppressed a shudder.

  Picking up Kynyr's cane, Todd examined the tip which wore a thick layer of cloth bound in place with a rawhide strip. Todd's bushy red eyebrows quirked. So that's how you've been sneaking up on Kady?"

  Kynyr flushed. Kady Wiggins was the only thing in his life that could completely throw him off stride and demolish all traces of maturity in a rush of dismay. He had always been an alpha male in his circlesexcept in relation to Toddand yet a bitch was bringing him to his knees in a way he had never experienced before. His primal instincts wanted to chase her howling as if he had lost his mind. Restraint seemed impossible at times, and yet he held it back with a two-fisted tenacity, and said quietly, She started it."

  "Kady? Don't lie to me, Kynyr. Todd's quiet, measuring gaze pinned Kynyr as securely as a mounting tack through a butterfly.

  "I'm not lying. She kissed me first. Kynyr's flush deepened to crimson, making his hair look more yellow than gold.

  "When?"

  "When I first woke up ... she kissed me. Kynyr remembered waking in the darkness, not knowing where he was and how he had gotten there, feverish and in pain from his wounds, thinking all his friends were deadand then Kady came in like a pale-haired angel bringing comfort, and kissed him.

  Todd looked dubious. One kiss and you're stalking her through the house?"

  Kynyr hated it when Todd put him on the spot with that gentle disapprobation. There were only two people who could make Kynyr feel defensive and flustered: his grandfather Todd Sinclair and his father, Branduff Maguire. Kynyr never wanted to disappoint either of them; or appear the fool in front of them. However, stir Kady Wiggins into the mix, and Kynyr felt like he was in over his head. Todd had taken Kady to the Willodarian Shrine and pledged himself as her guurmondruan archaic term that had fallen mostly into disuse, which combined a number of roles that included father, brother, mentor, and until Kady completed her training in the arts of war, protector. All of that ran through Kynyr's mind as he tried to decide how to explain his behavior. Uhmmn. She kissed me again the day of Ramsey's funeral. And she said she'd go to the Faire with me."

  "That could have been just a kindness, Kynyr. You shouldn't make so much of it."

  "There's something we weren't going to tell you. Kynyr shifted on the bed, and sucked in a breath, feeling as if someone had taken a straight razor to his pride.

  "Tell it. Todd crossed his arms and sat back in his chair.

  "The day of Ramsey's funeral, Preece Malloy attacked Kady. I chased him off ... Kady helped. Kynyr looked more embarrassed by the minute. Kady thought I couldn't take care of myself ... what with this damned leg. I came round the bushes, and Preece had her pinned on the ground ... and she... Kynyr swallowed, his lips tightening for an instant. His tattered audacity wavered, making it all the harder to speak of the event. Well, Kady ... screamed at me to go away ... that Preece would kill me."

  A knowing look came in Todd's eyes and his arms relaxed. And then what?"

  "I kicked him. He staggered back ... my damned leg buckled ... and then Kady tackled him around the knees and took him down. She hit him a good one in the grapes and landed one in his face."

  Todd chuckled. So you went to her rescue and she ended up rescuing you?"

  "Basically. Kynyr lowered his head, unable to meet Todd's bemused eyes. And then she wouldn't stop kissing me and telling me how worried she was about me. After that, I just sort of figured ... well, maybe it was okay to steal kisses. Kynyr's words came out faster and faster, jammed together between breathless pauses.

  "Keep one thing in mind, Kynyr. While a dog has a right to ask, a bitch also has a right to say no. Unwanted sexual advancesand kisses aren't innocent when they are unwantedis a subtle humiliation for a bitch."

  Kynyr felt as if he had been slapped. Kady alone kept the nightmares at bay that haunted the silences and lurked in the quiet moments since the ambush. If she hits me, I'll take that as a no and stop. Will that satisfy you?"

  Todd looked thoughtful. Don't cross the line with Kady. She's had enough grief. A tiny smile arrived to soften the seriousness of Todd's tone. Otherwise I'd have to take you over my knee."

  "As i
f you could. Kynyr's teasing grin covered some of his embarrassment. He had padded the cane so that it would make no noise when he snuck up to Kady and stole a kiss. He had become bolder after the day she kissed him, hidden in the trees following Ramsey's funeral. It had added a taste of sweet to the sour of grief, and mitigated the guilt edging his thoughts that day.

  Todd gave him an askance look. As if I couldn't."

  Kynyr's jaw clenched and then his grin broke through again. I'm younger than you are."

  "I'm better than you are. The student is not yet the master."

  "There's that."

  "Remember, Kynyr. Kady's taken a lot of rough handling. The Greenlea brothers and their friends raped her."

  "She's seemed a lot more like her old self since she killed Cormic Parry. Kynyr pressed for agreement on that. He needed her whole, wanted more than her kisses, wanted a full-blown courtship and he could not have that if Todd decided to stand in his way as her protector.

  "She did a righteous job of it. You should have seen her. A note of satisfaction entered Todd's voice. Cormic dragged her out of the chair, and the next instant she had knocked him down and was kicking the shit out of him."

  Kynyr lifted his eyebrows. Todd rarely resorted to foul language. She's got her confidence back."

  "Just in time."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Lawgiver's got myn repairing the scaffolds. Sentence has been passed on Donald Greenlea and Iollen Newell."

  "You think Caimbeul will hang them?"

  "Attempted kidnapping is not a hanging crime. Maximum sentence is one hundred lashes. I doubt Caimbeul will order that."

  "Why not? They deserve it. Kynyr had mixed feelings about the situation. The night before he left for Hell's Widow, he had promised Kady that he would avenge her honor when he returned. Kady, Todd, and now Caimbeul, had done it instead. Although Kynyr knew intellectually that there was nothing he could have done following the ambush and his wounding, he still felt as if he had let Kady down by not doing it himself.

  "They're village toughs who think pulling down a helpless bitch makes them big dogs."