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Walking to a small cherrywood table on which sat a faceted crystal decanter and six tued amber liquid in the decanter He handed one of the tumblers to Janvier and said, “Your blades are from Neha’s land” The Cajun, as all called Janvier, was now one of his trusted people, but they didn’t have between them the relationship Raphael had with his Seven

That was to be expected Janvier wasn’t yet past his third century—even Venoest of the Seven, had over a hundred years on the vampire with the bayou in his voice However, Raphael saw in Janvier the sa he’d seen in Venom, in Aodhan, in Illium, and in the others of his Seven: the Cajun had honor so deeply woven into his bones that it would take a cataclys the worst years of his existence

“Yes” Janvier took the drink, his posture easing now that the report was done “Neha gifted theetting into trouble and she enjoyed my wit too much to hear I’d lostback, the vampire withdrew one distinctively curved blade in a smooth motion, held it out handle first toward Raphael

He took it, tested the weight and heft It was heavier than it appeared when Janvier used it That weight, along with the razored edge, explained how the Cajun was able to slice off heads with a single swipe Interestingly, however, the weapon appeared decorative at first glance, the carved bone handle inset with s the eye away from the honed death of the blade itself

“Neha favored you” More than Raphael had realized—because he recognized the workmanship behind Janvier’s blades now that he’d handled one “These were created by Rhys hieneral, a man who’d been a weapons maker in his youth, and to this day

It was said he only created a new set once every decade

Janvier took the blade back, slid it into the specially designed scabbard “Rhys is responsible for much of my skill at the kukri”

“And, like Venoest member of his Seven had been Made by the Queen of Poisons herself “He es to rudge against me”

“Perhaps that’s why she’s been known to refer to the two of us as Charm and Guile” A faint smile “I’ve never worked out which one of us is which”

They spoke for several more minutes before Raphael walked with the vampire to the front door

“Sire” Janvier paused on the doorstep after shrugging on the leather jacket he’d left with Montgo red of his —is it still—”

“She is cleared” Had been for a number of years, ever since her abilities first came to the attention of the Tower, her blood covertly obtained and tested for compatibility with the process that led to vampirism “But, Janvier”—he held the otherthe offer quietly made her”