| Untitled |
He threw his arms fiercely about the other...He threw his arms fiercely about the other man"Oh, Marius, I truly didn't know if you would come Stupefied by more than altitude and a sleepless night, Devin saw the self-crowned King of Quileia, the crippled man who'd killed seven armed challengers bare-handed hi the sacred grove, lift the Prince of Tigana clean off his feet and kiss him loudly on both cheeksHe lowered a red-faced Alessan to the path and held him at arms' length for a close scrutiny "It is true," he said at length as Alessan's grin fadedYou really did doubt meI should be outraged, PigeonI should be wounded and hurtWhat did Pigeon Two say?" "Baerd was sure you would be here," Alessan admitted ruefully"I'm afraid I owe him money "At least one of you has grown up enough gucci handbag to have some sense," Marius growledThen something seemed to register with him"What? You two young scamps were wagering on me? How dare you!" He was laughing, but the blow he suddenly clapped on Alessan's shoulder made the other man stagger Marius hobbled back to his chair and sat downAgain Devin was struck by the all-embracing nature of the glance he turned on themOnly for an instant did it flit over Devin himself, but he had the uncanny sense that Marius had, in that one second, sized him up quite comprehensively, that he would be recognized and remembered should they meet by chance even a decade hence He experienced a weird, fleeting moment of pity for the seven warriors who had had to battle this man, bringing merely swords or louis vuitton damier spears, and armor and two good legs to meet him in a night grove Those arms like tree-trunks and the message in those eyes told Devin all he needed to know about which way the balance would have tilted in those battles despite the ritual maiming, the severed ankle tendons, of the consort who was supposed to die in the grove, to the greater glory of the Mother Goddess and her High PriestessFor anyone's greater glorySeven times he had not diedAnd now, since that seventh time, there was a true King in Quileia again and the last High Priestess was deadIt had been Rovigo, Devin remembered suddenly, who had first given him that newsIn a rancid tavern called The Bird, either half a year or half a lifetime ago "You must have been slipping or lazy or patent leather chanel handbag already fat last summer in the Grove," Alessan was sayingHe gestured toward the scar on Marius's forehead"Tonalius should never have been able to get that close to you with a blade The smile on the face of the King of Quileia was not, in truth, a pleasant thing to see"He didn't," Marius said grimly"I used our kick-drop from the twenty-seven tree and he was dead before we both hit the groundThe scar is a farewell token from my late wife in our last encounterMay the sacred Mother of us all guard her ever-blessed spiritWill you take wine and a midday meal?" Alessan's grey eyes blinked"We would be pleased to," he saidHe gestured to his guards"In that case, while my men attend to laying things out for us you can tell me, Pigeon, and I hope gucci knockoffs you will tell me, why you hesitated just now before accepting that invitation It was Devin's turn to blink; he hadn't even registered the pause Alessan was smiling though"I wish," he said, with a wry twist of his mouth, "that you would miss something once in a while Marius smiled thinly, but did not speak"I have a long ride ahead of meAt least three days, flat outSomeone I must get to, as soon as I can "More important than me, Pigeon? I am desolated Alessan shook his head"Not more important, or I wouldn't be here nowMore compelling perhapsThere was a message from Danoleon waiting for me at Borso last night Marius's expression changed swiftly"I am deeply sorry," he said"It could not have been easy for you to come here first, knowing new cartier watches th6:42 PM - Tuesday, February 2, 2010
|
Description
Home User Profile Archives Friends Recent Entries - Tremazzo had always been thus, cool and direct as... - "That would indeed have been worse," Sandre... - In the stillness of that pass below the heights... - I have no hair left to cut It was Alais,... - Baerd shook his head"What will you do?" "Speak... Friends |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||