Page 41 (1/2)

I went to the door and peered out into the hall It was e the i arrival of coffee and trouble

"Cous," Piaras said hoarsely

I looked back overin theloosely from his hand He looked like he was about to be sick

Any nerves I had gave way to cold rage "Who said that?"

"Inquisitor Balmorlan and the ambassador"

"They lied," I snarled "You didn’t kill anyone"

Hope flared in Piaras’s dark eyes "He’s alive?"

"We don’t know yet" Best to tell the truth "Regardless, it wasn’t your fault Your song was used to cover up the real attack"

Piaras stood there, absorbing what I’d just said I could see his anger building "They tried to forcethat I’d done it with your help" His voice had taken on a steely edge "Baloblin spellsinger I kneas lying, but I didn’t knohat had really happened"

"That goblin attacked Justinius, not you I was trying to stop him"

Taltek Balmorlan had just joined Rudra Muralin on my personal shit list

I looked back down the hall Still eet out of here first, talk later"

We carefully stepped past the wards and out of the cell I stared down at Rance, quicklyhis appearance I pushed outith a touch of power I looked down

And I was still me

Oh crap

Personal pep talk time Just relax, Raine You and Piaras are perfectly safe; no one wants to lock both of you up or use and abuse you for the rest of your lives; the Saghred’s not going to eat your soul or drive you crazy Everything’s good; everything’s fine

I tried again No dice

"Danored his clenched jaw, Piaras looked surprisingly cal to work, is it?"

I rolled Rance over, started stripping hi them to Piaras "Doesn’t look like it We’ll just do it the old-fashioned way I talked my way into this place If I have to, I’ll blast our way out You wouldn’t happen to know any quick and really dirty spellsongs, would you?"

His slow grin told me he did and that he’d welcos or slarin broadened "Dealer’s choice"

I was glad to see that grin and the resolve growing behind it I s you cards, hasn’t he?"

Piaras tucked the last dagger into his belt "And ht I had corrupted the innocent

I gave him the blackjack "Put on the pendant, and let’s see if at least that works"

Piaras slipped the chain over his head and vanished along with all of his new lethal toys

I nodded in approval "Okay, this could work nicely"

"What could work?"

Piaras’s voice coot fifteen minutes--or less if that pendant craps out on us," I told hiht where Tanik Ozal’s e the narrow service stairwell Piaras and I were now in I’d told him my plan, but the reality of any plan was that it was subject to change at any time for better or worse

My plan had just lost most of its options There were several exits we could have taken fro out of the embassy with his new invisible friend--not for Raine Benares, elven public ene fast Any moment, that captain would return with coffee and find Rance, or Rance would come to and sound the alar short of stunned e reached the first floor without running into anyone There was a definite advantage to after- to the blueprints, we had to cross an open office area at the back of the embassy, as well as the main corridor, to reach the entrance to the baseoal

That tunnel led to the harbor and freedoht here"

"Why didn’t you answer ic "We need to cross--"

Sirens wailed and lightglobes set into the walls flashed red Prison break discovered

I swore "Take et separated"

He did and we ran