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make my escape, and be long gone by morning.
I would like to mention that any warrant for my arrest
stemming from the questionable legality of the origin of my
name is invalid. As is traditional, as a newborn I was named
by my legal guardian, and therefore had naught to do with
where the name came from.
My dear hunters, sleep well and enjoy the view.
Long live the king, and the Spylord s reign.
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Spychild
Nearly trembling with humility, Crow crumpled the
note and squeezed it in his fist until his knuckles turned
white and black wax wedged itself under his fingernails.
The view? he wondered, and moved into the rickety
room. At the window he rubbed away the years dust
and peered out through the small cleared space. In the
distance, over the arrangement of thatched and stone
rooftops alike, stood Madon s Keep. It stood out with
such clarity from this vantage point that Crow knew 
knew there was something significant about it& .
But what was he supposed to think? His attention
had been directed there by the greatest trickster of all
time. Was it a clue, a joke, a trick? Something
completely meaningless just to turn the wheels of his
clutching mind?
He sighed and shivered at the same time, thinking at
least the inn would offer some shelter from the cold.
And as he stood there thinking that, a masked face
peered in from the outside of the small area of glass he
had rubbed clear. Crow s heart jumped, but before he
could force any sensible thoughts to enter his blank and
racing mind, the masked face opened its wide black jaws
and breathed fog on the clear patch of glass. The outside
world blurred from view, and it was only a shadow that
passed in front of the window and climbed out of sight.
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10: Things That Never Were
 A limit is a challenge. A threat is a promise. Danger is
where you feel safe  and if you are afraid of the dark, you will
go to war with your greatest ally.  Clevwrith s words to
Despiris, nearly five years ago.
Seated at the fire pit, Despiris watched the ashen plumes
of smoke rise up and blend with the depressing gloom
of the cloudy afternoon. There wasn t much to do while
daylight reigned  nothing except sit and wait for the
promising thrill of a lively night.
She could always go to sleep  and awaken at dusk as
she usually did  but she wasn t tired. She was just
bored, waiting.
A single ray of golden-red sunlight seeped through
the gap of two parting clouds, and Despiris gazed at it
blankly as it touched down on the pile of ashes and
illuminated the pillar of waning smoke.
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Spychild
Clevwrith entered just then, as if the sunlight had lit
his way or announced his return. Out of the corner of
her eye, Despiris saw him pause to consider her.
 Couldn t sleep? he asked.
Tilting her head upward, Despiris regarded the
isolated sunbeam.  Not enough sun. Only then did
she look at her master.  Where were you?
 Playing with the king s advisor, the Spylord
replied, moving into the open fire chamber.
 It s been nearly three days. I hope you had your
fun.
Grinning, Clevwrith sat down beside her.  He s an
interesting character. Hunching to rest his elbows on
his knees, Clevwrith watched the last flickering coal die.
 What has kept you busy while I ve been gone?
 I ve been practicing. But everything is so calm and
dull without you here to stir things up.
 You don t need me for that, Des. I ve taught you all
I know. It s up to you to put it to use now. He shifted
and regarded her face to face, his clear blue eyes
meaningfully willing her to listen.  If you ever find an
opportunity to test your skills, and especially to test
your limits, do not hesitate to take full advantage of the
situation. If you ever discover potential for a game, play
it. His face was completely serious despite the words
of a trickster through and through.  Promise me you ll
do that.
She searched his eyes briefly.  I promise, she vowed
with a hint of a smile.
He held her eyes, that same look of pride alight in his
expression. Despiris smiled tentatively in return, not
certain exactly what passed between them. But then a
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breeze stirred loose strands of brunette hair into her
face, and the contact was lost.
 Is there somewhere we can go tonight? she
questioned, all traces of the unfamiliar feeling gone.
Clevwrith smiled at her eagerness and let his eyes go
blank in thought.  What did you have in mind?
 Anything.
 Then you call the shots. I ll get some sleep and be
up in an hour. Surprise me.
* * *
Clevwrith only ever let himself get as far as the shallow
fringes of sleep, so when an aberrant air current wafted
over his sleeping form, an alarm went off in his head.
He came awake in that instant, but did not blink or
flinch. No, he waited until he felt the warmth of a body
crouched over him, and then he sprang into action.
Lashing out, he had the intruder knocked over and
pinned to the ground in a moment, holding a knife
against the assailant s throat.
 Oh. Hi, Des, he said casually, but did not slack off.
Despiris let her breath out.  You said to surprise
you.
 Well done, he praised comically.  But your guard
was down.
 But where is your second dagger?
Without releasing her, Clevwrith reached for his belt
knife, finding it gone. With that hand off her, Despiris
was granted freedom enough to hold his own pilfered
dagger to his throat, giving away where the weapon had
disappeared to.
Clevwrith caught his breath and then chuckled
resignedly, humbled and amused with a twinkle in his
eye. And out of his sleeve came another dagger.
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Spychild
 Enough, Despiris said.  This is not the extent of
my surprise, and it would be in your best interest to let
me up.
 Really? Fine. You first.
 No. I don t trust you, she refused, and kept her
weapon poised.
 Then just inform me now. Here. Like this. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]