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grurip did not lessen I squeezed back, and she drew a single dhheiba from our purse The Gaselli and the Manticore recoiled, but could not take their eyes froht of it in my hand, my own flesh Was this what Vhummim meant, about the thrill of the rare trade? I felt sick

“That would buy an arreen man breathed He took it soleo easily, but I let it go

“Can you sing or juggle or act? Can you balance on a branch? Do you have any interesting deformities?” Grotteschi tore at the unco horses

“I can juggle,” Oubliette said, blushing in the face of the great lion “I once had a lovely ball, and I learned well And—” She turned slightly, so that her bark-back was clear, and flicked her dun tail with a flourish

The red lion’s face softened, and Taglio’s allant little man sank to his knees before my friend and put his hands to her face

“Oh, poor child of Aukon! You should have said so from the first,” he whispered

In such a e joined the pair of theray wind

Though we asked to ith Taglio, panting to hear reat scarlet Manticore and not trouble her little feet I would not leave her side—I would never leave her, never—and reluctantly, we slunk off toward the jangling blue cart, and cli room for ourselves in the coil of Grotteschi’s thick, reen barb But the tail flesh arm as a sun-baked brick, and ere soon quite comfortable The feel of it beneath our backs was soft and fire drum

She turned her rey red hair around her shoulders thickened on her neck and chest, curling below her chin so that she really did see of the pride, save for her woman’s face She licked at the stiff, wiry fur

“You want to hear of the odalisque, yes? Of the tea-round with theyour heels with her bony hands, than in here with s of the Manticore are famed by those who survive them, and I knew her, too”

Gingerly, Oubliette reached out a hand to stroke Grotteschi’s brilliant fur The serpent-lion purred and hissed all at once, and her eyes softened

“Listen, darling, infant things! And tell azelle…”

THE

MANTICORE’S

TALE