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"Sounds like a daet us out of there"

"First we need a da for the elven aet ourselves down to the harbor and reap the benefits of Tanik’s expertise"

Chapter 21

Tanik Ozal’s yacht was the Zephyr She was sleek, beautiful, and expensive--the same way I’d heard that Ozal liked his women She was also docked uncomfortably close to the yachts of the people who et their hands on hred in the catacombs of the Mal’Salin family estate in Mer was under the very noses of the people who ht noas about the safest woman on the island

The as down and the harbor was a dark lobes One slip over fro the royal elven standard Had to be Taltek Balh slender brass cannons glea--or giving chase once she was under way

On the Zephyr’s port side were two goblin yachts One flew the royal Mal’Salin standard with two intertwined serpents battling for dooblin yacht bore the single red serpent of the Khrynsani Phaelan had been right; the bow of the Khrynsani ship was pointed toward open water The deck and the interior were allow Spooky The only way I could see the Khrynsani flag was fro the dock

All of the yachts looked like they had iven the Even thea few too many while out on the town I’d take a tipsy or drunk crew over sober and alert any day

"Looks like no one’s ho me You’ll be an added bonus"

My lips narrowed into a thin, angry line "If he grabs rin "I think he remembers that from last time"

Tanik Ozal looked like so, bearded, and barrel-chested, with a booh Tanik liked to enjoy himself, and most of the time he could be enjoyable to be around

I still didn’t trust hih Maybe it was because I didn’t want to Tanik Ozal would sht His fees were obscenely high, but I’d found over the years that ealthy people wanted so to pay for it

Occasionally Tanik’s cargo was a huglers had lines they wouldn’t cross I don’t think Tanik had found his yet

Phaelan hit the high points of what had happened at Sirens I wasn’t in theto anybody

I parted the curtain and peered out theof Tanik’s main salon It was still too quiet I trusted quiet even less than Tanik Ozal "So where are your neighbors?"

Tanik passed a drink to Phaelan "Let’s see The Mal’Salins were at that recital One of their nieces was singing or soh Nightshades to kidnap two spellsingers and their maestro

"Balmorlan’s probably still at the embassy And who the hell knohere those Khrynsani bastards are You see theo at all hours, but you never hear the about the, love?"

"No, thank you" So far Tanik’s hospitality had been faultless He’d even giveninto an embassy, and a much-welcome assortment of bladed weapons I’d asked for picklocks, and Tanik had provided a professional-quality set I knew Piaras was being held behind wards, not iron locks, but I liked being prepared for any possibility

And Tanik didn’t try to grab own I think he saw h the door and knew better than to even think about touching ot a job to do, and you want to keep a clear head"

"And I’ into that embassy isn’t quick work"

"There’s a first tietting young Piaras on his yacht and out of this harbor, you can rest assured that will not happen" Tanik s all of his teeth

"Thank you But what I’ to Piaras in that eht noant him out of there Phaelan tells me you know it inside and out"

"Do you knohere he’s being held?"

"Upstairs"