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“I don’t get therin

“That is not my concern; it is the fact that they are all but witless once you have finished with them”

“Witless? Who itless tonight?”

Circenn tensed but said nothing

“Where are the hallows, Circenn?” A glint of mischief kindled in Adam’s remote eyes

Circenn turned his back fully to the fairy

“You did protect them for us, did you not?” Adam asked “Don’t tell me you lost them?” he chided when Circenn failed to reply

Circenn turned back to face his wide, head cocked, arms folded; his usual position when quietly furious “Why do you wasteme questions when you already know the answers?”

Adaantly “Because the droppers at the eaves will be unable to follow this splendid saga if we do not speak of it aloud”

“No one eavesdrops in my castle”

“I forgot,” Adam purred, “no one misbehaves at Castle Brodie Ever-spotless, ever-disciplined, perfect Castle Brodie You bore on of restraint you pretend to be is a waste of the fine breeding that forged you”

“Let us have done with this conversation, shall we?”

Adaht What happened tonight? Templars were to meet you at Ballyhock They were to entrust the hallows to your care I heard they were ambushed”

“You heard correctly,” Circenn replied evenly

“Do you understand how iiven sanctuary in Scotland, now that they’ve been disbanded?”

“Of course I understand,” Circenn growled

“And how i hands?”

Circenn waved Adam’s question aith an impatient hand “The four hallows have been secured The e, the spear, the cauldron, the sword, and the stone were rushed back into Scotland, despite the war going on Better they rest in a country torn than with the persecuted Te ripped asunder The hallows are safe—”