Page 37 (1/2)

"You looking for me?"

Leesha turned to see Ellen on the other end of a very long sword that pressed into the base of Leesha’s collarbone

"Hey!" she said, taking a step back "Careful Do you kno hard it is to get blood out of silk?"

"Won’t be a problem if you’re dead," Ellen replied, then looked up, over Leesha’s head, and s Leesha carefully turned, and there was Jack, packing his own big sword and wearing a nasty expression

"Oh!" Leesha said "Well Excuse me I didn’t mean to intrude on your woodland rendezvous"

"You’re not intruding," Jack said "In fact, you’re the guest of honor"

Leesha felt the first pricklings of panic, but tried to keep it off her face

"I was thinking of hunting renegade wizards" Ellen shrugged "You up for it, Jack?"

"I’ that he had a surprisingly wicked smile And he used to be so nice

"We want to knohat happened to Jason," Ellen said "And what part you played in it"

"I have no idea what you’re talking about I haven’t seen Jason for days"

"Jason’s disappeared," Jack said

"Well, that’s a shalared at her "You two have been hanging out"

"Have not"

Ellen’s blade pressed into her throat again

"OK, fine I hang out with a lot of people" She conjured up herexpression "I mean, it’s nice of you warriors to be worried about Jason and all, but I think he can take care of himself"

"Jason’s our friend," Ellen said "And we’re wondering who you’re working for"

"Whatfor someone?"

"You’re a trader Traders are always in it for the cash" Ellen looked down her long nose at Leesha "Still, it’s hard to believe anyone our age would be such a mercenary"

That’s what she was A mercenary She’d sold Jason out No matter how many times she told herself she’d had no choice Still It wouldn’t do Jason any good if she got kicked out of the sanctuary, and Barber ended her pathetic life

Leesha drew herself up to her full height, which, to be honest, wasn’t that impressive The warriors still towered over her "I don’t answer to you Nohy don’t you run along and hone your weapons or rattle your swords or whatever warriors do in their spare ti we’re here in the sanctuary, where attackiant sword into its case, she reached for Leesha

From force of habit, Leesha spoke her i as she did so it was useless And it was Crap

Ellen gripped her wrists, bending her arms painfully behind her back Jack lifted the tip of his sword so it rested at the base of her throat

Jack sical swords Even in the absence of ic, they retain a certain functionality"

Which couldn’t be argued with, really

"So what’s up, Leesha?" Jack said "Why are you still here?"

"You wouldn’t hurt me," Leesha said Which ordinarily would be true Jack was so the heroic type Unless he was angry Angry warriors could lose control Who knew Jack and Jason were so tight?

Then there was Ellen, isting her ar them out of their sockets Ellen wouldn’t hesitate to hurt her She still held a grudge about Leesha and Jack

No attack ic It was unfair

She couldn’t help Jason Wherever he was, he was beyond reach And if Jack and Ellen knew she’d played a role in his betrayal…But she could give up Warren Barber She hated Warren Barber’s guts And all his other parts

Besides, traders were not known for giving their lives for their employers

"Okay," she said "Ease up What would you like to know?"

In answer, Ellen pushed Leesha down to her knees in the tall weeds, still keeping hold of her wrists "Tell us about Jason," she said

"I’m not sure what happened to him, but I can tell you that Warren Barber was involved" That was perfectly true

"Warren Barber?" Jack looked totally blindsided "I thought he was dead or so"

Leesha shook her head "Nope Unfortunately"

"Why would he go after Jason?" Ellen asked from behind