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"I’uards" And I wasn’t Not yet, anyway, and it would only be one of them if I did My voice was now sullen

"I know you’re not," Teeg dropped onto the bed next to me "Reah, I don’t care if you sleep with so as you love thee of you I just want to protect you, sweetheart Gods, you’re so young" He pulled , why did youto twist my words" He liftedfor rin

"Sounds like conterip

"Reah, hush" Teeg’s ar I have for you except love I wish there was soh so you’d understand it"

"Sure" I struggled in his ar-- There were things that he still didn’t know about s that I didn’t kno to tell him, if the tiathered both ainst me to keep ether, and nobody is asking us to do anything You’re safe in my arms, my love" The teardrop fell before I could stop it or wipe it away Safe? Even in Teeg’s arms I didn’t feel safe I didn’t feel safe anywhere Not as long as I belonged to the ASD Vice-Director Lendill Schaff would use round or experience to be where I was, doing what I was I shuddered and wept

Alcohol didn’t have as ht on others He sat at the kitchen island and drank anyway "Mind if I join you?" Tory walked into the kitchen

"Glasses are over there," Teeg jerked his head toward a cabinet Tory pulled one out and sat down nearby Teeg poured out the bourbon Tory downed his glass in one s Teeg pouredasked, topping off his glass

"None," Tory replied, downing his second glass

"We’ll be back before you know it," Arvil blustered I don’t knohy he even bothered Heaving a frustrated sigh, I turned away froain if I looked at him Ry and Tory flanked me as Astralan and his brothers prepared to fold the rest of us to Zephili

Folding is always so fast, and I knew as soon as ht be a while before I got to see Teeg again I had s, but that was small consolation Avilepha, I will be with you, Tory reassuredus? A servant came and bowed to Arvil and the Hardlows The rest of us barely got a glance He was small, pale-skinned and dressed in white linen, this servant He was also dangerously close to blending with the wall color

"I am Master Grish’s private assistant," he infor--please follow me" Farzi was beside me, Nenzi on the other side while Ry and Tory caed at Farzi’s mouth as we followed Grish’s assistant

Were the others prepared for Grish? I knoasn’t, but I was hidden behind taller people, so the widening of my eyes wasn’t seen Grish was pale, ancient and shrunken Every bit of exposed skin rinkled beyond i was rude, so I turned to Farzi His face was set in a frown--he didn’t like Grish at all If Farzi had probleood idea to be wary

I also sahy Grish hadn’t coh back It was motorized and heavy--I couldn’t see his personal assistant pushing Grish around in it Wispy strands of colorless hair were combed away from Grish’s face, and he appeared cadaverous to me A monkey-like creature sat on the arm of Grish’s chair, and the creature operated the controls,Grish’s chair fro your business partners with you? Don’t think I fail to recognize Wilffox and Wilffin Hardlow," Grish spoke "If you think I will charge less for the use of ain You are on my world and I am not without resources" Grish’s voice was breathless with the effort to speak and his eyes were nearly lost in his face, they were so sunken Those eyes darted back and forth, noatching Arvil and the Hardlows closely He should have been watching the warlocks instead Theto throw some wizardry or other around us, Astralan and Stellan had them fried to a crisp They screamed as they died; I watched in helpless horror as their bodies turned to ash and disintegrated before us Nenzi and Farzi each gripped one of led to hold back a scream Arvil and the others barely spared a blink as Grish’s wizards died quickly At least Astralan and Stellan had enough power to kill swiftly

"Don’t send threats against us--I assure you we’ve survived for a very long ti Grish "Noe can have a civilized ement, or we can fry you where you sit and take ant instead Personally, I have no desire to run Zephili--I just need the use of your fields for a few full turns"

"I expect to be cos went, this ht be the worst I’d ever seen or been a part of Farzi was now as close to ainsth that he’d be included in our shield, as would the other reptanoids, I noticed A sled at ht then--Arvil and the Hardloere engaged in a standoff with Grish of Zephili

"We will inspect your fields tomorrow, to see if they are suitable We will compensate you if we find them so, Grish" Arvil waved a hand as if that would make his words true I didn’t hold ht survive if Arvil found the fields too"May we hope you still have your bribes in place with the Alliance?"

Arvil’s question stunnedme, no doubt, not to erous game and the stakes had just been raised I hoped Ry or Tory were busy sending one into frozen overload and I wasn’t sure I could have sent anything at thatht