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“Shaddo, Archerr, and I will hold the Queen’s square Once Talon rises”
Hours yet It would be hours yet And all any of them could do ait
Talon pressed two fingers against the deceased Warlord’s head, then took a step back, shuddering
Felt like pebbles in a bag ofif the head had exploded fro field at one ti the ability to explode bone and brains and still leave the skin intact indicated a frightening level of skill in the use of Craft and power
More than frightening since that level of skill belonged to a dog ore Birthright Opal and was still growing into his full strength
“Have you seen anything like this, Talon?” Archerr asked
The First Circle—and Gray—had gathered at the Healing House to look at this corpse Talon scanned their faces Wasn’t one of them asn’t sickly pale Not that he bla it hard to be in this room
“No, I haven’t,” Talon replied “Passing flesh through flesh is dangerous to the point of stupidity Healers do it, sinking their hands into a person to heal injuries inside the body, but that’s a controlled, steadyto do it so they don’t lose parts of themselves within the other flesh”
“This was fast,” Ranon said, his voice oddly hushed “So daht he missed Until I saw the blood on Darkht he missed the bastard”
“Shaddo and I were behind this one,” Archerr said, tipping his head to indicate the corpse “Da disappear like that We weren’t even sure e’d seen”
“No hesitation,” Shaddo said “The Scelties Before we had ti the Fast Hell’s fire, they were fast”
“Wasn’t just the Scelties on the street either,” Spere said “Duffy knew He told Moore there was an attack in the village, then left Moore to defend the people working in the landen community while he went out for the shepherds and livestock And Keely herded every child in the Queen’s square as playing outside into the nearest house”
Talon listened to the men Good men And every one of them, himself included, hadn’t really understood what lived inside those s around Vae, they really hadn’t understood that these dogs were Blood who had been given exceptional training in Craft—and in fighting
Once things cal to find out exactly what the Scelties could do
“They weren’t waiting for me,” Ranon said quietly “Vae could have taken that bastard She wears Purple Dusk He wore Su hi him pinned, but she could have broken his defensive shields and attacked I thought she aiting forfor Darkmist”
That bruises you, doesn’t it?Talon thoughtIt hurts your heart some to realize they weren’t sure they could count on you to defend one of them Now you all know the answer
Powell cleared his throat “How did this et his hands on Khollie in the first place?”
“Snatched hi to Darcy, the three of the to the about the voice and stayed put, but it sounded friendly, and Khollie had no reason to think anyone in the village would hurt him, so he moved toward it So did Darcy, but from another direction That’s why he picked up the scent and realized the voice was coht shielded That made hih to grab The moment he disappeared, Darcy and Vae warned the other Scelties and launched their attack You know the rest”