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"No But souess is, it's Macall"

"There's soot himself a neord, a rare bronze one he stole in Malta I h

ear the sword's hilt is covered with jewels, and its blade is deadly enough to slash a man in two Word is he's saved it especially for you, brandishes it every day and claih your heart, then step over your dead body and make off with the black diamond"

"My, ainst the wall, looking thoroughly unconcerned

Aurora felt her insides knot

"Anything else?" Julian inquired

"Not until Macall stops waitin' and does somethin' And if he does, I think ye'll know about it before I do"

"I think you're right Well, enough about Macall I have another matter to discuss with you What do you know of an old sailor, one who's retired fro at a local pub?"

Stone blinked "Hell, Merlin, that could describe thirty men"

"No It couldn't When I say old, I hty, even a few years past, but with a quick reat memory—one that's filled with stories of the sea"

"That old, huh?" A thoughtful frown "Now that ye mention it, there was this fellow—I think his name's Barnes He was in a couple of the pubs I checked out in Fowey—the Brine and the Cove—drinkin' and chortlin' about his days at sea I didn't give hiht, not until ye just said what you did To tell ye the truth, I was too busy findin' out if anyone had seen Macall to pay attention to e ye're describin' And real friendly to everyone, like he's a regular customer there" Stone frowned "I don't think he's trouble, if that's why yer lookin' for him"

"It's not" Julian straightened, his gaze fixed on Stone's face "Describe him"

"Like I said, I wasn't watchin' him too close Let's see Gray hair—as left of it anyway Stooped shoulders—hell, he was old as the hills Whiskers A scratchy voice That's all I remember"

"It's enough" Julian rubbed his chin thoughtfully "Fowey—one port west of here That would explain why I've never h I've never frequented either one The Brine is on the wharf, and the Cove is about athe riverbank"

"Yeah And ye o in 'em, but Macall does—him and his sword He's been in each of those places three or four tiettin' drunk and askin' about ye So stay the hell away from there, Merlin Ye'd be lookin' for trouble"