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The girl managed a ragged lungful of dusty air. Wiping her nose, she looked to her own basket.

“Never mind the candles,” she mumbled, in a thick, odd voice. “They're gone, aren't they, now? just a scattering of bones. Never mind.” She crawled towards the bundles of twine that had fallen from the breached basket, and when she spoke again her voice was young, normal. “We need the twine. We'll work all night and get one ready. Dadda's waiting. He's right at the door, he's looking up the track, he's waiting to see me.Advertisement

She stopped, a shiver running through her. The sun's light was almost gone. An unseasonal chill bled from the shadows, which now flowed like water across the road.

“Here it comes, then,” the girl grated softly, in a voice that wasn't her own.

A soft-gloved hand fell on her shoulder. She ducked down, cowering. “Easy, girl,” said a man's voice. “It's over. Nothing to be done for her now.”

The fishergirl looked up. A man swathed in black leaned over her, his face obscured beneath a hood's shadow. “But he hit her,” the girl said, in child's voice. “And we have nets to tie, me and Dadda-”

“Let's get you on your feet,” the man said, moving his long-fingered hands down under her arms. He straightened, lifting her effortlessly. Her sandalled feet dangled in the air before he set her down.

Now she saw a second man, shorter, also clothed in black. This one stood on the road and was turned away, his gaze in the direction the soldiers had gone. He spoke, his voice reed-thin. “Wasn't much of a life,” he said, not turning to face her. “A minor talent, long since dried up the Gift. Oh, she might have managed one more, but we'll never know will we?”

The fishergirl stumbled over to Rigga's bag and picked up a candle. She straightened, her eyes suddenly hard, then deliberately spat on to the road.

The shorter man's head snapped towards her. Within the hood seemed the shadows played alone.

The girl shrank back a step. “It was a good life,” she whispered. “She had these candles, you see. Five of them. Five for-”

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“Necromancy,” the short man cut in.

The taller man, still at her side, said softly, “I see them, child. I understand what they mean.”

The other man snorted. “The witch harboured five frail, weak souls. Nothing grand.” He cocked his head. “I can hear them now. Calling for her.”

Tears filled the girl's eyes. A wordless anguish seemed to well up from that black stone in her mind. She wiped her cheeks. “Where did you come from?” she asked abruptly. “We didn't see you on the road.”

The man beside her half turned to the gravel track. “On the other side,” he said, a smile in his tone. “Waiting, just like you.”

The other giggled. “On the other side indeed.” He faced down the road again and raised his arms.

The girl drew in a sharp breath as darkness descended. A loud, tearing sound filled the air for a second, then the darkness dissipated and the girl's eyes widened.

Seven massive Hounds now sat around the man in the road. The eyes of these beasts glowed yellow, and all were turned in the same direction as the man himself.

She heard him hiss, “Eager, are we? Then go.” Silently, the Hounds bolted down the road.

Their master turned and said to the man beside her, “Something to gnaw on Laseen's mind.” He giggled again.

“Must you complicate things?” the other answered wearily.

The short man stiffened. “They are within sight of the column.”

He cocked his head. From up the road came the scream of horses.

He sighed. “You've reached a decision, Cotillion?”

The other grunted amusedly. “Using my name, Ammanas, means you've just decided for me. We can hardly leave her here now, can we?”

“Of course we can, old friend. just not breathing.”

Cotillion looked down on the girl. “No,” he said quietly,” she'll do.”

The fishergirl bit her lip. Still clutching Rigga's candle, she took another step back, her wide eyes darting from one man to the other.

“Pity,” Ammanas said.

Cotillion seemed to nod, then he cleared his throat and said, “It'll take time.”

An amused note entered Ammanas's reply. “And have we time? True vengeance needs the slow, careful stalking of the victim. Have you forgotten the pain she once delivered us? Laseen's back is against the wall already. She might fall without our help. Where would be the satisfaction in that?” pqdm.com