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"Mychael, I’m fine Tam killed the Khrynsani to protect me"

My voice was firm and assured, and Mychael didn’t buy it for a second I wasn’t sure how I felt about itable to recognize black ic, stop it in its tracks, and take down its practitioners He held out his hand tohis eyes from Tam

I didn’t take his hand, I didn’t look at Tam, and I walked out of the alley without either one of the the Guardians clean up thefilled with dead Khrynsani Mychael calance at ed, he stayed in the shadows until he reached his oblin allies They were standing to the side, out of the streetlights, and the boy ith the dark, rough leathers-- dressed for doing so

"You okay, h to protect ive ic onover to where Taone I wasn’t surprised

Vegard looked where I was looking and nodded "I understand, ma’am" The blond Guardian’s ax was sheathed over his back, but the blade still held a faint glow He hesitated unco I can do to help" His voice was soft, but his pale blue eyes were solemn with resolve

My throat felt suddenly tight "Thank you, Vegard"

Mychael finished speaking with the watcher and crossed the street to where ere

I took a breath and blew it out "So, as the kid?" My question sounded brisk and businesslike Good for er"

I knew Taon landed with a plu atback

"My ride to the citadel, I take it?"

Mychael’s expression darkened "I want you out of the central city now Kalinpar is the fastest--"

"And quickest way to get around," I finished for hiet out of here"

Chapter 10

"In my office, please"

That was a pleasant surprise I half expected Mychael to say, "In my containment rooms," without the "please"

Those were the first words he’d said to me since Kalinpar had landed with us in the citadel’s courtyard While airborne, the noise from the wind had made it difficult to carry on a conversation Difficult, but not impossible Yet Mychael had been silent in the saddle behindbecause he wanted to ood idea what so to be

Mychael kept up his self-imposed vow of silence all the way to his office The Guardians we passed saluted their paladin, but no one said anything They took one look at Mychael’s expression, made the smart choice, and kept theirhis thoughts to hi the lines of getting an explanation fro about possible escape routes

Mychael closed his office door behind us and went straight for the cabinet where he kept the whiskey Now there was a thought I could agree with He started pouring hioing to wait for an invitation to sit down that ht not come I ran my hands over my face and left them there They could make themselves useful and help me hold up et one of those, too?" I h my hands "Or are the condemned not allowed a last drink?"

Mo beside h He held a glass of the blessed a one of theine you do" Mychael didn’t go behind his desk to his office chair as I’d expected Instead he pulled the other guest chair next to h of a man who’s had way too much dumped on his already overburdened shoulders I didn’t need a flash of brilliance to knohose fault that was