Wit'ch Storm by James Clemens

Author:James Clemens
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780345417084
Publisher: Del Rey
Published: 1999-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

Around them, the sounds of bars dropping into place sounded from behind all the doors. They were being locked in with the two lords.

Finally, one of the two pale figures spoke, his words quiet but reaching Krai quite clearly. His words were soft and did not attempt any false pretenses. “Thank you for coming. Now which of you circus performers is the elemental who escaped our hunt last night?”

MOGWEED HEARD THE SHARP INTAKE OF BREATH FROM KRAL. THE

shape-shifter had sensed Krai’s edginess after his strange faint in the back halls. Since then, the mountain man’s suspicions had been high. Mogweed had feared for a while that he might call off this evening’s meeting. Luckily, the man had a fool’s courage and had continued forward.

“Now come,” the lord continued from the dais, “if you step forward, we’ll let the others live.”

While Krai and Tol’chuk recovered from the shock of the lords’ casual revelation of their ill’guard status, Mogweed thought quickly. He had a dozen plans worked out in his head. None of them supposed the lords would speak so boldly and openly. He had expected artifice and trickery. Still, Mogweed twisted a way to use this to his own advantage. He cleared his throat. He would have to be just as bold. He stepped forward. “I am the one you seek,” he stated simply. “If you know of our troupe, then you must know of my talents in controlling our wolf. It is my magick. I can beast-speak.” He placed his fists on his hips. “Now let the others go free.”

The twins glanced to one another briefly, the smallest smile thinning their lips.

Krai hissed beside him, “Don’t do this, Mogweed. Their tongues lie. They mean to kill us all.”

Mogweed, with his back to Krai, rolled his eyes. The fool thought he meant to sacrifice himself. Such honorable men as Krai were quite blind to any subterfuge under their noses. He ignored the mountain man’s further protests. “Let the others free,” he said, “and I will give myself to you freely, without a fight.”

Tol’chuk snatched at his sleeve, but Mogweed shook loose and took another step toward the dais. He needed to convince these two minions to take him to their master. Once there, he could reveal the whereabouts of the wit’ch and gain not only his freedom but the gratitude of the king of this land.

Mogweed saw the amusement in the twins’ eyes at his veiled threat. This pair would need more convincing. As he stepped forward, he snatched up the black stone bowl from where it rested on a nearby crate. “Do not be deceived. I escaped you before when you had the advantage of surprise. Don’t think that I can’t harm you now.” Shuddering at the touch of the foul stone, he held up the bowl like a trophy. “This I took from one of your ill’guard brethren— after I destroyed her and ground her bones to dust. Be warned!” He thrust the bowl toward the pair.

With satisfaction, he saw fear dampen their frozen smiles.

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