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the north. I haven't had time to assess it yet. Furthermore, I don't want to
split my forces, otherwise
I would have Egidius dispatch some units to handle them."
"So what do we do?"
"Can anyone connect you to this place?"
"No."
"Then keep your head down. Keep your eyes open. And if any of them leave the
ghetto singly or in pairs, kill them.
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80
Take them out a few at a time. Pick them off from a distance."
"So be it."
"Did you lose my mother's shipment?"
"No." Jondries ran his finger around the rim of his glass. "I
had them brought here as soon as Heironim bought the place."
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"Good." Malthus took the lists from his pocket. "Have your people pick this
stuff up for me. Meanwhile, I want to see what Mother sent me and think about
this."
Malthus had discovered that the old wolf had a taste for certain types of
rare, fine wines. His mother had the connections to acquire them, have them
smuggled to Hell's
Widow, and held there for him. He had prepared the bottles before leaving
Hell's Widow with them. Sidera had offered to do it for him, to treat the wine
with one of her most subtle creations, but Malthus had insisted upon doing it
himself.
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81
CHAPTER FIVE
TREACHERIES
Malthus sauntered through the manor door with his saddlebags and a backpack
hanging from his shoulders. He walked into the Great Hall where he found Claw
sitting alone.
The hour was late, and the others who were normally to be found there had
apparently already gone up to bed.
"So you're back." Claw scowled at him. "Did you get everything on Aisha's
list? Or am I going to have to send
Kynyr?"
Lines around the chieftain's eyes and mouth suggested he was not feeling well.
Malthus repressed a smile at seeing it. "I
missed not a thing. And I brought back a few treats. My mother was very
generous."
"Hmmmph." Claw rubbed his chest, settling back in his chair. "You take too
many chances. It's going to catch up with you."
Malthus shrugged. "I promised to make a few more trips before it gets too
difficult to get there. One of them is for Old
Hereward." He lowered his pack to the base of his chair and sat down. "I
brought some things that you might like. A
merchant managed to get a wagon of wine through."
Claw's eyebrows rose at that and he leaned forward.
"Anything interesting?"
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Malthus gave a tiny smile, lowering his head with a glance to the left as he
fished out several bottles, and placed them triumphantly on the table between
them. "I think so."
Claw's eyes lit up at a label that featured a dragonfly.
"Faewin? Can it be?"
"I have three bottles of their Dragonfly label two of their reds and one
white."
Claw seized one of the bottles of red and turned it in his hands. "Aisha and
Merissa don't care much for it."
Malthus came out with several more bottles. "I picked up some of the fruity
Sharani wine they favor, so they needn't feel they have to share the Faery
stuff with us."
"Good enough. I'll reserve this for us." Claw grabbed the bell on the table
beside him and rang it. Kissie showed up.
"Two wine glasses."
Kissie returned with the glasses and Claw poured for both of them. She built
up the fire without being asked, and the two myn sat enjoying the wine.
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"How did you manage to afford it?" Claw asked suddenly suspicious.
Malthus gave him an affronted look. "I arrived here desperate for my nieces'
safety, not impoverished."
Claw nodded as he refilled his glass. "A very fine vintage."
"I know." Malthus lifted his glass in a toast. "To your health."
They clinked glasses and Malthus' smile broadened.
To your death, old wolf.
"This is even better than I remembered it."
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"I'm glad that you appreciate it. I made a deal with the merchant to hold back
six more for us when he makes his next trip through. Normally it sells out
long before he gets as far as Hell's Widow. However, he was on his way to
Iradrim and Creeya. His return trip, he'll be loaded with fine whiskey, gin,
and anisette. That kind of thing. He buys mead from your farmers. He's
concerned about the possibility of the supplies being interrupted, so I
suggested that he come talk to you about it when he's next through here."
"That's a mon after my own heart," Claw said in a far friendlier fashion than
he normally showed Malthus. "I
appreciate this."
After your own heart I'm after stilling it, old fool.
* * * *
Kady walked into the library sprattle-legged and limping, muttering dire
imprecations under her breath.
Cahira, sitting at the central table, had the newest book from the Assassins'
Guild out next to a large dictionary. The dwarves of Iradrim had unearthed a
library buried beneath their mountains that dated back to the first godwar.
Facsimiles had to be created before translations could be done because any
books brought out into fresh air crumpled to dust. The Guild had the
technology and skills to create the copies without damaging the originals; and
Cahira was their top intuitive translator. She stopped writing and laid her
pen down. "Are you all right?"
"I'm sore. No matter how hard I try, I can't evade Kynyr."
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"Kynyr is very good in the forests. He used to take wolf form to evade the
Dreaded Horde."
"His sisters?"
"And Finn's. They used to double-team the boys to catch them doing things they
were not supposed to do. Kynyr hid his fishing pole somewhere. He would take
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