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The young woone down, and the two before her had their blades pointed at her
"Drop your weapons," the er was pressed so close that anywoman eyed the men, then Yrene’s captor, then Yrene herself Calrin "Coet them"
Yrene’s stomach dropped The man had only to shift his wrist and he’d spill her life’s blood She wasn’t ready to die--not now, not in Innish
Her captor chuckled "Bold and foolish words, girl" He pushed the blade harder, and Yrene winced She felt the dampness of her blood before she realized he’d cut a thin line across her neck Silba save her
But the girl’s eyes were on Yrene, and they narrowed slightly In challenge, in a coht for your miserable life
The two men with the swords circled closer, but she didn’t lower her blade
"Drop your weapons before I cut her open," Yrene’s captor growled "Once we’re doneyou pay for our comrades, for all the money you cost us with their deaths, hter, but the young woman just watched him The mercenary hissed "Drop your weapons"
She didn’t
Gods, she was going to let him kill her, wasn’t she?
Yrene couldn’t die like this--not here, not as a no-name barmaid in this horrible place Wouldn’t die like this Her ht for her, had killed that soldier so Yrene could have a chance to flee, to ood for the world
She wouldn’t die like this
The rage hit, so staggering that Yrene could hardly see through it, could hardly see anything except a year in Innish, a future beyond her grasp, and a life she was not ready to part with
She gave no warning before she stoe of the ht up her arer frout Drove it with every bit of rage she had burning in her He groaned as he doubled over, and she slairl had shown her
The man collapsed to his knees, and Yrene bolted To run, to help, she didn’t know
But the girl was already standing in front of her, grinning broadly Behind her, the two ed aside as the young woed him into the dark mist beyond There was a muffled scream, then a thump
And despite her healer’s blood, despite the stomach she’d inherited, Yrene barely made it two steps before she vo her again, s faintly "Fast learner," she said Her fine clothes, even her darkly glittering ruby brooch, were covered with blood Not her own, Yrene noted with some relief "You sure you want to be a healer?"
Yrene wiped her mouth on the corner of her apron She didn’t want to knohat the alternative hat this girl ht be No, all she wanted was to smack her Hard
"You could have dispatched them without me! But you let that man hold a knife to irl smiled in such a way that said yes, she was most certainly insane But she said, "Those et some real experience in a controlled environment"
"You call that controlled?" Yrene couldn’t help shouting She put a hand to the already clotted slice in her neck It would heal quickly, but ht scar She’d have to inspect it immediately
"Look at it this way, Yrene Towers: now you know you can do it That ht and had almost a foot on you, and you downed him in a few heartbeats"
"You said those rin "To h of today I think I need to go to bed"
The girl sketched a bow "And I should probably be on my way Word of advice: wash the blood out of your clothes and don’t tell anyone what you saw tonight Those ht have more friends, and as far as I’m concerned, they were the unfortunate victims of a horrible robbery" She held up a leather pouch heavy with coins and stalked past Yrene into the inn
Yrene spared a glance at the bodies, felt a heavy weight drop into her stoirl inside She was still furious with her, still shaking with the reood-bye to the deadly girl as she vanished
CHAPTER 6