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Guessing what he meant to do, I bit the inside of my lip, but the boot that slahme," the Talian mentioned as he drew back his boot "And this"--he kickedthere would be more of the sa a bit while I e of the deck There was railing to contend with, but not a great height of it

"Zarath wanted her alive, did he not?" one of the suits inquired

"So he will have her," Celestino said "A few broken bones will not make any difference to him"

When his boot struck ainstThe fourth time he ca until I collided with the railing

I was up and over the side before anyone could react, and plummeted down the side of the ship like a stone Before I fell between the hull and the dock into therope with rabbing on in midfall nearly wrenched o Once I stopped bobbing I swung h momentum to make the leap to the dock

I collapsed on the boards as soon as I landed, and for a ain Then I heard fast, heavy thuds and the gangway bouncing and struggled to my feet

I hiked up lanced back Celestino and his way, but they weren’t chasing

Slowly I turned round to see Dred toward me with an unhurried pace He wore a new set of powder-free clothing, over which he had put on Lucien’s greatcoat, and carried a strange black club covered with scarlet symbols

"Oh, hello, Lucien" I had nowhere to run, and too many reasons to stay "Did you have a nice nap? Sorry about the headache A little chao fetch some for you from a cart?"

"I knew you would return" He didn’t try to club rab me, but put his knuckles under my chin to tip up my face "Mortal love makes you this foolish But even if you could dispossess me, woman, the spirit of your man will not return to this body"

"I know" And I was a fool for thinking I could do this

Soroaned, and I heard the door of the way station rattle "You out there I can’t get out Helpas he stroked ertips "You ca the spell That will not happen You may watch instead In a fewto me"

I turned my face away "Not if I break the spell first"

"It is not one spell, foolish child It is thousands upon thousands Once it is released, not even I could stop it" The scarlet sylow "But I shall use it to send you into a waking dream, where you will know every time I take my pleasure of your pain and your flesh, where you can do nothing but feel it"

"How delightful" I shuffled back and reached behind me for the way station’s door latch, and from it removed the iron rail tie I’d used to keep Montrose imprisoned inside "I can’t fathom why everyone finds you so utterly repulsive," I mentioned as I pocketed the spike "I mean, other than the way you talk, behave, think, and srabbed hold ofit as he jerked me close "Open your mouth"

"Go back to hell" I spat in his face

He took hold of my throat with one hand and cut offinto death was such a terrible relief that I gasped

Zarath’s hand clapped over my mouth at the same time he releasedI didn’t realize he had shoved a stone into ue and went down ht to stop it, coughing and retching violently Nothing came out, and then I felt it in ht

Zarath put his mouth next toShe is inside you now, and she will keep you fro any spell I have only to release her fro will devour your spirit, and you will be nothing"