Lost Covenant A Widdershins Adventure by Ari Marmell

Author:Ari Marmell
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Published: 2013-12-03T06:00:00+00:00

Cyrille chuckled. “Oh, we do. Just not until morning. Sleeping at night is just so ‘common.’ So what's everyone up to, then?”

“Remarkably boring stuff, for the most part,” she said with a shrug. “At least, the ones with rooms on this side of the house. The twins seem to be practicing card tricks.”

“They do that,” Cyrille said with a nod. “Card tricks, coin flips, all that. I think they think it's creepier, or at least more impressive, if they perform all their little quirks and tricks in unison.”

“Fifi,” Shins continued, “whose room is a mess, by the way, is experimenting with hairstyles in the mirror and, believe it or not, not playing with that silly glass lantern of hers.”

“The miracles of the gods are many and strange.”

“And the one girl who wasn't at your family meeting the other night…” Widdershins trailed off abruptly, blushing.

“Marjolaine,” Cyrille offered with a half smile. “And yes, she does that. Frequently. Mostly because of how much it upsets Mother. You'd be surprised how many servants have been dismissed—or been beaten by Malgier—because of her. Why are you looking at me that way?”

“This is a really frog-hoppingly awful family you have, Cyrille.”

“‘Frog-hoppingly’?”

“Don't change the subject.”

“Shins…” Cyrille rose from the bed, then glanced back at it as if only just now realizing what it was. His gaze flickered to meet hers, and his face reddened, but he kept speaking. “They're not all that bad. Well, I mean, Malgier, maybe, and a few of the others. But mostly we bring out the worst in each other. House politics, status. There aren't a lot of Delacroix bloodlines left in any positions of wealth.”

Fewer than you think. But even Widdershins, to whom tact meant little more than the past tense of tack, knew better than to say that just now.

“We've given a lot to Aubier,” he continued. “Provided for many of its poorer citizens. We're just…” His hands twitched as though literally groping for words.

“Rude and bad-tempered as badgers in the process,” she finished for him.

“Um…”

“Badgers with hemorrhoids,” she clarified.

“Shins…”

“Badgers with hemorrhoids and ingrown toenails.”

“Were you going to tell me why you sneaked in here?”

“Oh! Right. I need an extra set of eyes, and someone to tell me who's from Aubier and who's a stranger. You're elected. Let's go.”

“Wait, what? Go? I don't—”

“You believe I'm trying to help you and your family, yes?”

“Yes,” Cyrille answered without hesitation.

“Then trust me. I need your help to help me help.” And then, much more softly, “What? It made perfect sense, and he followed it just fine!”

Indeed, Cyrille didn't appear at all confused. If anything, the expression on his face suggested…

Disappointment? Hurt? Why the figs would he be hurt?

He stood, tense, arm rising as though he wanted to reach out to her. “Is that…the only reason You're here?” He sounded almost plaintive.

“I don't…. Why else would I be here?”

Cyrille's hand fell back to his side. “Never mind. Wait just a minute, let me get my boots and my sword. Then you can explain to me how you plan to get us both off the property.

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