Thom, Lord of Trebond and the youngest living Mithran Master, poured a glass of wine for his guest, a mocking smile on his lips. “You can't imagine what a pleasure it is for me to have my sister's—friend—come to visit,” he said. “Particularly when it may be as much as your head is worth to be seen here, in the palace.” “Why not call me Alanna's lover, and be honest about it?” George suggested. The purple and gold brocade robe Thom wore over his stark black shirt and hose hurt the eyes; its cost would have fed a poor commoner and his family for a year. “As it is, I have a number of things I care to discuss with you. I couldn't be waitin' for your next excursion into the city to meet me.” “Particularly since I never go to the city,” Thom agreed. “So Alanna has returned to the desert, with the devoted Coram in tow. How selfless of her. Unless she was afraid Jonathan might convince her to take back her refusal? She needn't have worried; he's very much occupied with Princess Josaine these days.” George stared at Thom. If my lass had made no friends, only enemies, he thought, and if she'd been too frightened to let others know she was a human bein', disguise and all, she might well have turned out like this monster. He's all brain and cynicism now, with no heart left to him. “Well, you're a nasty bit of work, aren't you?” he remarked amiably. “Why don't we talk of your goin's-on here durin' All Hallow?” A look of grudging respect entered Thom's violet eyes. “I'm sure I told Alanna and you I was working on experiments.” George made a disgusted face. “And I'm sure it was no such thing. Didn't you feel my mother testin' your guardin'-spells? Or were so many tryin' to learn what you were up to that you took no notice of those left half-dead?” “I felt someone test the ward,” Thom admitted. “But I was—busy. I'm sorry it was your mother who was harmed, but she had no business prying into that kind of magic. She's fortunate to be alive.” “Glad you think so. And what experiments are so important that you must put such spells to protect them?” When Thom didn't answer, George pressed, “Who were you tryin' to raise from the dead?” Thom jumped to his feet, the mocking expression wiped from his face. “You dare to question me, George Cooper?” he yelled, fury radiating from him in waves. “Your relationship with my sister means nothing here, so do not think to try my patience!” George stood, his hazel eyes grim. “Don't think to threaten me, laddy,” he warned softly. “I won't stand for it.” “I have nothing more to say to you,” Thom gritted. “Get out.” “I'll take my leave, then,” George replied. “But I don't need my Sight to tell me you're in trouble, great sorceror or no.” He hesitated, then said wryly, “Doubtless I'll live to regret this, but for your sister's sake you may call on me in need.” Thom drew himself up. “I am more than able to handle my own affairs.” “Is that why you're shakin' so?” George enquired. “Best have a shot of brandy o steady your nerves, my lord. I'd hate to think there was anythin' in this world of ours could be beyond the skills of one such as yourself.” Bowing mockingly, he left Thom. And there's not a thing I can do or say, until I know what's ridin' him like the Old Hag of the Graveyards, the thief told himself grimly as he slipped out of the palace. But I'll bet every knife I own he's gotten himself into trouble that won't easily be fixed. (p 209)
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musetrash2012-06-05 01:36 am
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“Why not call me Alanna's lover, and be honest about it?” George suggested. The purple and gold brocade robe Thom wore over his stark black shirt and hose hurt the eyes; its cost would have fed a poor commoner and his family for a year. “As it is, I have a number of things I care to discuss with you. I couldn't be waitin' for your next excursion into the city to meet me.”
“Particularly since I never go to the city,” Thom agreed. “So Alanna has returned to the desert, with the devoted Coram in tow. How selfless of her. Unless she was afraid Jonathan might convince her to take back her refusal? She needn't have worried; he's very much occupied with Princess Josaine these days.”
George stared at Thom. If my lass had made no friends, only enemies, he thought, and if she'd been too frightened to let others know she was a human bein', disguise and all, she might well have turned out like this monster. He's all brain and cynicism now, with no heart left to him. “Well, you're a nasty bit of work, aren't you?” he remarked amiably. “Why don't we talk of your goin's-on here durin' All Hallow?”
A look of grudging respect entered Thom's violet eyes. “I'm sure I told Alanna and you I was working on experiments.”
George made a disgusted face. “And I'm sure it was no such thing. Didn't you feel my mother testin' your guardin'-spells? Or were so many tryin' to learn what you were up to that you took no notice of those left half-dead?”
“I felt someone test the ward,” Thom admitted. “But I was—busy. I'm sorry it was your mother who was harmed, but she had no business prying into that kind of magic. She's fortunate to be alive.”
“Glad you think so. And what experiments are so important that you must put such spells to protect them?” When Thom didn't answer, George pressed, “Who were you tryin' to raise from the dead?”
Thom jumped to his feet, the mocking expression wiped from his face. “You dare to question me, George Cooper?” he yelled, fury radiating from him in waves. “Your relationship with my sister means nothing here, so do not think to try my patience!”
George stood, his hazel eyes grim. “Don't think to threaten me, laddy,” he warned softly. “I won't stand for it.”
“I have nothing more to say to you,” Thom gritted. “Get out.”
“I'll take my leave, then,” George replied. “But I don't need my Sight to tell me you're in trouble, great sorceror or no.” He hesitated, then said wryly, “Doubtless I'll live to regret this, but for your sister's sake you may call on me in need.”
Thom drew himself up. “I am more than able to handle my own affairs.”
“Is that why you're shakin' so?” George enquired. “Best have a shot of brandy o steady your nerves, my lord. I'd hate to think there was anythin' in this world of ours could be beyond the skills of one such as yourself.” Bowing mockingly, he left Thom.
And there's not a thing I can do or say, until I know what's ridin' him like the Old Hag of the Graveyards, the thief told himself grimly as he slipped out of the palace. But I'll bet every knife I own he's gotten himself into trouble that won't easily be fixed.
(p 209)
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