Megan Derr The Lost Gods 02 Burning Bright

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."There's nothing to deal with.We're friends.Brothers.Never alone, yeah?" He dropped down next to Pechal."Scorching idiot.You shouldn't have run.We could have slipped out of the country all quiet like - Ailill even said he'd help.""What?" Pechal's brow furrowed."Why?"Raz cuffed him lightly."Because he's a good guy," he winked, "for a Highlander." His momentary levity faded."Look - I've got to get back.We're set to steal the comb in about an hour, and it'll take me most of that to get back into town.Lay low here, don't run off, and I'll be back later with supplies and everything.We're headed for the mill; after we get there we'll figure out what else to do.All right?""All right," Pechal agreed meekly."I'm sorry, Raz."The last of Raz's anger drained away and he tugged Pechal into a tight embrace."S'okay.Just don't be stupid again." He ruffled Pechal's curls."We're not going to let some stupid High Priest burn you." His voice caught as he said 'High Priest,'and he pressed on before Pechal could comment on it, ruthlessly shoving away the memory of green eyes."Stay out ofsight, idiot." Raz embraced him tightly one last time, then let him go."See you in a few hours."Pechal nodded, and satisfied he'd stay put, Raz turned and hurried back to the city.Unfortunately it was too late to grab a quick meal from a vendor, and he didn't have time to stop in a tavern.Well, he'd just eat later.The south end of the capital was far more quiet than it's northern half.From the palace the bells chimed eleven times.Razstuck to the alleys and shadowed portions of the main roads, carefully avoiding the priests walking about, no doubt insearch of their lost Candidate.A complication he hadn't planned for, but he'd make do.Shio and Shinju were somewhere, they'd distract the priests if itbecame necessary.Ducking into another alleyway, moving from memory - he'd explored the place thoroughly earlier thatday - Raz slowly made his away down the crowded alley until he came to a high stone gate.Houses in town were crowded together, climbing up rather than spreading out.The Earl Zholty's house was one of the moreelaborate ones, an overblown showcase of his wealth.Raz took a deep breath and then climbed up the gate, landing with aquiet thump on the other side.This was the same bastard who had apparently hired men to kill Pechal.Raz had never been so tempted to kill someone inhis life.file:///H|/NOVEL/New%20novel/2.htm[9/25/2009 10:21:36 AM]AmaSour FictionNot that ever been tempted to kill anyone.If he was comfortable with taking lives, he probably would have made himselfright at home in Ivan's little band.No, he stuck with stealing.Killing the stupid Earl wouldn't solve problems anyway, just create more.They'd attach the murder to the comb, and if theyfound out a Highlander had been in town searching for it - and Raz didn't doubt somehow they'd find that out -it wouldcause no end of trouble for Ailill.Which would be bad for business.As well as for his health.That aside, Ailill was fast becoming a friend.Sighing, Raz snuck through the garden to the servant's entrance.From inside his jacket he withdrew a small, leather bundleand slipped out a lock pick, guessing which size would most likely work.Right the first time.Smiling briefly, Raz set to work and had the lock open in seconds.Slipping inside, he silently began to make his way through the house.The servants' routes would be the wiser, except that servants were more likely to beawake at this hour and he couldn't risk running into one.So the main staircase it would be.This was always more fun with Pechal along.But his friend was alive, that's all that mattered.If he had to do this job solo in return, fine.Raz left the kitchen and stepped quietly into the entrance hall - even in the dark, the place screamed ofopulence.No doubt it was lavishly decorated with silk and satin, gilt-trimmed to the point of gaudy.Raz shook his head.Nobles.He paused at the foot of the staircase, noting that down a smaller hallway, light spilled from beneath a closed door.Bad - the master of the house was awake.Good - he wasn't in his bedroom.The only truly useful bit of information they'dbeen able to glean from the servants was that he didn't keep the gifts locked up in a study safe.No, the brilliant Earldecided his bedroom was the best place for them.Raz wasn't going to complain.Padding up the stairs, he hesitated briefly at the second floor landing before turning right, counting doors until he came to the third - Shio and Shinju had gotten most of the necessary information.Trusting them, Raz turned the handle and slippedinside.For a moment, all seemed well.He and the footman saw each other at the same time.Raz was across the room before the man could give a shout, a swiftkick sending the man to the ground.Raz drew a dagger from his boot after he'd pinned the man to the ground.He wasn't akiller, but he could act like one of the situation called for it."Don't do anything stupid," Raz said, voice quiet but hard.He pressed the edge of his dagger to the man's throat."The Earls' gifts for the Princess - where are they?"When the man didn't reply, he pressed down lightly with the dagger.Blood well up from the nick and trailed down thefootman's throat."Tell me," Raz said."There," the man said, eyes going to a short bureau on the far side of the room."But it's kept locked - only the Earl has the key.""Thank you.Fire serve you well," Raz said politely, then used the hilt of the dagger to knock him out.Standing, he moved the unconscious footmen to where he wouldn't immediately be noticed should someone glance into the room and went tothe bureau.It came up to just above his waist, made of some dark, heavy wood.Six deep, long drawers, decorated with gold handlesand fancy, abstract scroll work engraved in the wood.On the topmost drawer was a keyhole set in gold.Pulling out hispicks, Raz selected one of the smaller ones and set to work.This one took him two minutes, and they felt like two hours.At last it gave, and he quickly began to go through the drawers, throwing whatever was easily carried into the pack he slid off his shoulders.Most of the stolen items would be discarded,most of it too hard to fence.But taking whatever he could carry meant they wouldn't know the comb was the real focus ofthe theft.Where was it? Worried, Raz opened the final drawer and let out a soft sigh of relief.Nestled beside a thick rope of pearls, several rings and two bracelets were four combs - two gold, one that looked like jade, and one of Highland silver.Tucking it into a hidden pocket of his vest, Raz threw the rest into his bag, swung the bag onto his back and crossed the room to thewindow [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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