Black City Saint by Richard A. Knaak

Author:Richard A. Knaak
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781633881372
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Published: 2016-02-03T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

Kravayik, of course, was happy to be of service to me, even though I was bringing a woman—an unmarried one at that—into his personal quarters. Neither of us were worried about the clergy, since most of them barely even recalled that he lived there. However, I still didn’t like bringing her to the vicinity of the card, even though it was as secure as ever.

“All will be well, Master Nicholas,” the exile quietly assured me. “I long ago made up the attic just in case some poor wayfarer needed a roof over his or her head.” He shrugged. “Perhaps another sin on my shoulders, but even though I also had to make certain that my dear employers wouldn’t think of going up there, I thought at the time the benefits would perhaps balance the scales out.”

“You thought right.” I was pleased by his planning ahead. It made me feel a little better about what I was doing. “I don’t think St. Michael’s is secure enough. It’d take Oberon much more effort to do anything here, even with his thugs.”

Kravayik put his impossibly long hands together as if in prayer. “The poor benighted souls. This war cannot go on. The news said another one was bumped off last night, the stiff left on the street—” He frowned, but not at the death. “Dear Lord, I begin to sound like that noisome Fetch, if you and Heaven can forgive me for saying so.”

He already knew what I planned and despite his words had already said a prayer for the lycanthrope’s safety. I wasn’t sure if one prayer was enough for Fetch, but I wasn’t about to turn away any type of help, including divine intervention. Not that I’d ever received any of the last before. I seemed to be a saint in exile in more ways than one.

Claryce had been warned somewhat about Kravayik and so she accepted him with a grace he honestly appreciated. I was so used to being alone most of the time that I’d forgotten that someone like Kravayik had once been of such stature that he’d constantly been surrounded by those seeking his favor. Now, he had only his new beliefs and his prayers. I knew that they were more than enough to satisfy him, but Claryce’s company was certainly an added pleasure for the exile.

“Have you eaten yet?” he asked her, as he led her to her hiding place. “I have been dabbling with local dishes. I am especially fond of Italian food. I would be delighted if you joined me in a meal. Today, I cooked an eggplant dish . . .”

I marveled for a moment how talkative Oberon’s former hunter suddenly was. He knew better than to speak about the card, fortunately.

I looked around for Diocles and was gratified to find that for once he wasn’t waiting in some corner for me. Why he’d decided to leave me be for this once, I didn’t know or care. I had enough to deal with.

The

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