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"And I couldn’t let her sic her hellhounds on you They’d rip you to bits"
"She’ll probably do that anyway Calling the hounds off was never part of the deal All she offered was a one-for-one exchange: the falcon for Kane’s release That’s where I got stuck It’s an iht it through, I couldn’t come up with an acceptable solution"
"Besides," Mab put in, "there’s even more at stake" Awe crept into her voice "The white falcon can kill the Morfran"
"I was as surprised about that as anybody," Dad said "In fact, I was planning to come over and discuss it before you called me here I don’t know if Vic told you, Mab, but I’ve been trying to read the book And now I finally understand what it was tellingthe falcon part of this brain The Morfran is the falcon’s food" He clicked his beak in as perhaps the avian equivalent of sers"
"What happened last night, Evan?"
"I was perched on a rooftop near the harbor, looking out at the water and trying out different things I ure out a way to break this"--he opened and closed his wings--"to her gently So there I atching the planes coo Now that I think of it, Mab, I probably saw yours land Anyway, all of a sudden there was this claer Good lord, I’ve never felt so hungry Like what I felt while reading the book, but stronger I didn’t even try to understand as happening; I siuide me, and you sahat happened The falcon wanted the Morfran"
"You expelled it frolanced at Kane "I mean, the PDH who attacked Mab" Dad’s talons hadn’t done her facethe Morfran out before it fed on her Not that that ain
"It’s clear," Mab said, "that the falconwar If we act now to destroy the Morfran, Pryce’s deth to march out of Hell We could prevent the war"
Silence fell upon the table I closed hter, of a bloody sword in my own hand If only we could turn the path of fate so that instead of solidifying into reality, those visions would dissolve and fade like a bad dreaht have a chance
"So," Kane said, "let’s look at e’re dealing with, point by point" His logical lawyer brain was taking control of the conversation Good He spoke dispassionately, holding up his free hand and counting off each point on his fingers "One, there’sTwo, there’s her threat to kill Vicky" He paused and looked at my father "I’ve hired four of the country’s top witches to shield her apart the full moon, if we can convince her to stay home"
"I already told you I can’t pro youraway; she blew it apart like dandelion fluff When the Night Hag co will stop her"
"Unless," Mab said, "we can think of a way to make Mallt-y-Nos call off her hounds" She nodded at Kane "Please continue"
"Three"--he ticked off another finger--"the white falcon carries the spirit of Vicky’s father Four, the Night Hag wants the falcon And five, the falcon can kill the Morfran--but only if it’s free of the hag’s control"
Each point felt like a hundred-pound weight settling on my shoulders "See?" I said "It’s impossible"
"Hush, child You can’t think that way There’s always a solution" But the way the loomily at the table, seemed to contradict that notion
"Okay" Dad’s voice auntlet, I ht"
"I’ll escape again The first ti, I’ll fly away Same as before"
"It’s too risky" Mab shook her head "Mallt-y-Nos would not have proposed the exchange without soets her hands on you, Evan, I’ away this time"
"What about a substitute?" Kane said
"Where would we get one?" I asked "It’s not like they sell white falcons at pet stores"
"True, but we h Remember when I was stuck in wolf form? Roxana Jade created a charm so that everyone who looked at ot a different bird--a parakeet or a canary or soave it the appearance of the white falcon"
"It wouldn’t work" I shook my head "The bird would have to wear the char will inspect every inch before she releases you"
"I believe Mr Kane has the right idea," Mab said, her eyes alight "Although we can effect the substitutionTell her you’ve agreed to the exchange, and set up a time and place"
"And then what? If not Dad or a charive her?"