Page 241 (1/2)

Hejun grunted ‘I was beginning to suspect him and the dead bitch’

‘Dead bitch?’ Rucket’s eyes ild as she looked round ‘He makes love to a dead bitch?’

‘One freak accident-’ Tehol began

‘If you shaved your head,’ Shand said to Rucket, sputtering with rage, ‘we’d all see how truly ugly you are!’

The guard was looking alar staff

‘Worked hard on that one, did you?’ Rucket asked ‘Tehol, what’s all this about stealing theirone man? Is he still alive? Still sane? Did he volunteer at the Drownings?’

‘You want to seefor the knife at her side

‘Oh, how pathetic,’ Rucket said ‘Here, compare that with my rapier here’

‘Get her!’ This from Rissarh, as she launched herself across the table It collapsed beneath her a ed to wrap her are squealing sound as she was pulled over The rapier sprang free and slapped hard against Shand’s out-thrust wrist, sending the knife spinning Hejun then snagged Rucket’s sword-arm and twisted the weapon loose A finely polished boot shot up to strike Hejun in the belly She groaned and sagged

Tehol pulled Bugg back a step ‘I think you were right about this not being a good idea’

Grunts,patrons, the yowl of a cat in the kitchen

Tehol sighed ‘We should go But first, arrange with the er four bottles of fine wine, for when they’re finished beating on each other I predict that by dawn they will all be fast friends’

‘I’, it’s the way of things Coly, the bodyguard led the way out of the courtyard

Outside, Tehol brushed i, wouldn’t you say? Noe should see if we can scrounge so that burns – on our way ho sounds from the restaurant courtyard suddenly increased

Tehol hesitated ‘I’m tempted by the sounds of firewood production in there’