[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.By the way, I notice you haven't stopped me yet."Radu didn't reply.His gaze shifted from Chaney's reflection to his own.It was only a black shape, but the ragged edges of his right cheek marred his silhouette.When he spoke at last, it was in a clear, soft voice."What do you know about me?""I saw your nasty little dungeon," said Chaney."I saw those pathetic wretches you murdered for your pleasure.""They were warriors.Each of them had a chance to defeat me.""After starving for how long under the care of that wretched eel you called a brother?""They were recovering their strength befo—"Radu coughed again.As the spasm subsided, he lifted his mask, turned away, and spat something red."Pretty," observed Chaney.Radu wiped his shadow-shrouded mouth with his sleeve.He turned back toward Chaney's reflection."You think you know something of the city because you slept in the gutters for a few nights," said Radu."You have never seen its heart.""Is this where you tell me how cruel Stellana Toe-malar once had a girl beaten for bringing her cold tea? Or perhaps that you butchered Thuribal Baerodreemer because he irritated you, but that's all right because he tortures house pets? Bugger all that.It doesn't matter who you kill or what kind of people they are.You kill for sport.You kill for coin.The gods built whole worlds of pain for people like you.""Have you considered the likelihood that your soul goes where mine does?""Indeed I have," said Chaney."The way I see it, there are two possibilities.One, our souls go their separate ways when you die.That's the one I prefer, naturally.Two, we go screaming down into the Abyss together.That one is not so appealing."Radu made a harsh little sound.It was like a laugh, only with a little spray of blood."So you hope to persuade me of my evil ways and set me on the path to redemption?""How callow do you think I am?" Chaney replied."Great gods, no.You're a black-hearted beggar withoutthe slightest hope of salvation.I have no doubt of that.""Then what are you trying to accomplish with this insipid talk?""Maybe I would like to see Laskar rid of you.He never did me any harm, and I hate to see a decent bloke burdened with the Malveen family curse.That's you, by the way—a curse on all those you love." Chaney watched for some sign that his words had stung Radu, but he saw none."Or maybe I'm just sick of having no one else to talk to.You're a rotten conversationalist.No doubt you've heard that before.""Once or twice," said Radu.Chaney nearly choked in surprise.For an instant he thought Radu had made a joke, then he realized that the long solitude must have affected Radu as well as him, and the man had simply answered out of habit—with no trace of irony."It seems to me you should reconsider your present course.Your problem has never been gold.It's reputation.Now that you've scared Pietro into obeying Laskar, the only lingering blot on the family honor is you, my friend.I know it's too much to ask that you fall on your sword, but you should at least leave Selgaunt.If you need a little boost of energy before you go, I don't think many would miss Drakkar, or Mad Andy.""We made a bargain," said Radu."A deal with a couple of murderous maniacs hardly counts.To them, you're nothing more than another monster they conjure for their sick little games.Where's the honor in that?""You know nothing of honor.""Well, I know that you're dying," said Chaney."Nonsense.""Oh? Then have we been sitting here because you so enjoy my company or because you wanted to enjoy the lovely flowers? You're unraveling, old son, and it's getting faster with each killing.You can't tell me you haven't noticed."Radu put the glove in his teeth and slipped it back on his hand.He replaced the mask with its steel cap and raised the collar of his cloak above his chin."If you murder this woman tonight, you'll only hasten your own demise."Radu rose, weak but steady as he walked away from the fountain."Then to the Hells with me," he said."To the Nine Hells with us both."*****Twenty minutes later, Radu paced back and forth before an open window in the bedchamber of the late Stellana Toemalar.Apart from the moonlight, the room was dark.Chaney stood before a wide vanity mirror.Behind him, almost indistinguishable from the gloom, stood the shadows of Radu's other victims.The beak-nosed Stellana Toemalar had joined them, as had the chambermaid with the unfortunate duty of sleeping at the foot of her mistress's bed that night.The shades kept their eyes on the floor, but Chaney heard their ghostly voices and knew why they clustered behind him instead of their killer.He felt a cold trickle of guilt running down the hollow interior of his ethereal stomach.He nearly leaped when a bat suddenly flapped into the room.The creature alighted on the edge of the bed.As Radu and Chaney watched, it quickly grew tall and shifted shape, transforming into a familiar human form.After a few seconds, Drakkar sat on the edge of Stellana's disheveled bed.He tapped the foot of his staff on the floor, and faint red light began radiating from its head.He touched the bloodstain on the pillow with the tip of his middle finger, and he wiped his finger on the sheets."I hope the old harridan was not too much trouble," hesaid."What a fierce one she was, especially to the gutter-kin who played too close to the walls.The children of Selgaunt would thank you, if they only knew.""Ask him why he wanted her killed," said Chaney.He tried not to think about the phantoms at his back.Their urgent moaning felt like a pressing need to urinate.Radu ignored him."Don't you want to know the reason why you're killing these people?" Chaney asked."No," snapped Radu."I beg your pardon?" Drakkar said.He rose from the bed, holding his thorny staff before his body.He kept his distance from Radu and glanced around the room suspiciously."Do you have a partner?"Radu drew a long breath, and Chaney could practically feel the heat of his ire.It pleased him to think he'd gotten under the man's skin, even as he was flush with power."I work alone," said Radu.Drakkar looked unconvinced."Have you found the letters, then?" "I told you—" began Radu
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]