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"You have a point" The Elfin Queen loved her people In fact, she’d always been fair and just, if not totally aboveboard, with us, too "But Menolly, I have to do what he wants" I lowered my voice so nobody but the nearest Supes could hear ine the chaos if any one of those Faerie Maids over there huddled against the wall finds out there’s a full-fledged dae to care It’s just going to ht now, they still think this is sorulowered "My wife is not going to snuggle up in a room alone with you, beast I insist that soht"

The daeon--and white A ht, it seeon, half shadow" Then, toweakens the strains, you know"

"Irrelevant" Smoky let out a loud hron, you are a lord a your kind, half-breed or not And I do not play toad to royalty There are reasons you will not be present,one of them" His voice was harsh, like the vocal cords had been burned long ago, and he kepthis head in a sinuous dance, as if he couldn’t keep it still

"Then my ill not attend you"

"Actually, your ill attend hilanced at Smoky "I have to--we can’t discuss theseback to the daemon, I added, "We’ll have our chat alone, but in a place of my choice"

It occurred to me that if ent to the safe room in the basement of the Wayfarer, the daemon wouldn’t be able to (a) teleport out with ic at me, or (c) bathe me in fire He could still break me in half, but if he’d wanted to do that, he already would have

I pointed toward the floor "Menolly, we need to use the room downstairs"

She frowned, then her eyes lit up "Oh, that rooht Co, either of you Daemon, I hold you on pain of death that you won’t hurtwhoop" The daerunted Then, with a suspicious look, he followed Menolly, shaking the floor with eachin behind S Delilah and the staff to take care of the dead elf and the frightened patrons

Just what they were going to tell them, I wasn’t sure, but I couldn’t wait to hear the story they concocted As it ere already in for a lot of dae control just from the daemon’s appearance in the bar Word would leak out, no matter e did, and we didn’t have cool blue flashy-flashy things like the Men in Black did We were lacking solamour wouldn’t work on a daeic could enter here, nor any creature teleport in or out All natural abilities were muted within the room If a nuclear blast hit this bar, the safe rooshut up alone with the dae Not so much fun Not so safe But because the alternative orse, I gathered e and motioned for him to enter the room and, with a scowl, he ducked his head so that his horns cleared the archway As I followed behind hi in Don’t get near hiic, but he could tear you apart"

"I know Believe me, I know" And, reluctantly, I shut the door and turned to face the dae my arms The best defense was to show no fear "Trytian has a e for me? Deliver it and then scra for his naive it to ic zone? Not stupid--not so stupid as soht with you, girl And your friends But this is not e"

I decided to let that one pass No need to press h, I asked, "What do you want? Why did you kill the elf upstairs?"

"He got in the way He had to be eliminated" He said it nonchalantly Dare to interfere with the daeain, I ask: What do you want?"

"I bear a warning from Trytian"

I rolled ? He tried to kill us, for the sake of the gods" Not only that, but Trytian was rude Very rude

"I bring only the warning I have no other answers for you"

H inwas if he anticipated needing our help in the future, whichchip Unless he’d suddenly sprouted wings and become a cute little cherub I sincerely doubted the latter

"Okay, I’ What’s so important that Trytian sent you over here to stir the pot? And why you--why not soainst the sainst one wall The roohter Menolly had sired into the va in safety until her room at the new Vah with comfy blankets; there were cards and books on the table, and an empty bottle that had held blood

"I was the only one available to send at the er boy But Trytian is my leader and I obey Here" He handed me a letter "You will understand why I did not want to be in the same roo to do with S that afraid of Trillian, and Morio was at ho was tight, neat, and precisely printed in red ink--at least I hoped it was ink, considering the color As I began to read, I started to sink toward the floor, but one grunt frofor trouble

I glanced up at the creature "Wait here, please" Before he could say a word, I slipped out of the roo it behind me He could hammer all he wanted on it, he was locked in there till dooht?" Sns that the daemon had laid hands on ave me a letter from Trytian If it’s true, then you and I are fucked Just plain and si his face

I clearedrife through the grapevine, but I assure you, this is no wives’ tale A white dragon was recently seen in the halls of the De out with a snow on to leave

Ca in your direction soon He’s made it known that you and your husband are on his hit list And frankly, though you and I disagree on theare valuable at this point, and I may need to call on your aid at soet yourself killed

Trytian

I shuddered, letting out a long breath as the world crowded in too closely around me Hyto was in the area