Page 68 of Gifted Thief
‘Probably.’ I pointed down. ‘Hey, look! I can see sheep!’ I pried off another of his fingers. They were remarkably fat and squat; clearly he wasn’t a piano player. ‘Before I go, do you want to know what the hardest part of skydiving is?’ The Bull stared. My grin widened. ‘The ground.’
‘Alright! It’s Cul-Chain. My true name is Cul-Chain.’
A wave of power filled me. It wasn’t just an emotional reaction, I felt a physical surge as well. ‘Let’s test that, shall we?’
‘There’s no time!’
‘I’m off,’ Bob announced, breaking into our conversation. I’d almost forgotten he was there. He pulled his parachute cord and jerked upwards. ‘I’ll catch up with you later, Uh Integrity!’
I looked down. The ground was getting dangerously close. ‘Let go of me, Cul-chain,’ I ordered.
The Bull released his grip. Crapadoodle – it worked. I lunged forward and grabbed him again, while he closed his eyes and muttered a prayer. I’d have to hope that the first time wasn’t simply a fluke. ‘The library,’ I said aloud.
For one heart-stopping moment, nothing happened. Then I felt the tug. Both the Bull and I fell onto the hard, stone floor, smack bang in front of a grey-haired Sidhe who was so astonished he dropped the pile of books he was carrying right on top of us. Ouch.
I picked myself up and pushed off the books. Stretching a hand down to the Bull, I offered to help him up. He screwed up his face. ‘Piss off.’
‘You could be a little more polite,’ I told him. ‘Especially as you’ve sworn fealty to me now.’
‘I’ve done no such thing.’
I turned my head, addressing the older Sidhe who was still staring at us. ‘Leave us.’
He didn’t need telling twice. He pivoted on his heel and ran off.
‘Cul-chain,’ I said in the most dulcet tone I could manage, ‘be more polite.’
The Bull’s expression tightened. He bowed, however. ‘Yes, Miss Adair.’
‘Taylor,’ I said. ‘Until Clan Adair is resurrected, call me Miss Taylor.’
He bowed again. I clapped my hands. I could get used to this.
‘How did you do it?’ he asked. ‘How did you do the teleportation?’
‘Beats me,’ I shrugged. ‘I’ll let you into a secret – I didn’t think I’d get any Gifts. When I didn’t get a fever, I was sure of it.’
‘That’s not what I meant.’ There was a dangerous glow in the back of his eyes. The Bull still hated me probably more than ever now. But his fear was greater than his hatred. With my knowledge of his true name, he’d do whatever I asked even if that meant slitting his own throat. ‘How did you bring me along with you?’
I frowned. ‘Eh?’
‘I know other Sidhe who can teleport but they can only bring themselves and the clothes they are wearing. They can’t even hold a cupcake and bring it with them.’
No wonder he didn’t seem concerned when I grabbed hold of him in his room. Thanks to Bob’s machinations, the Bull already believed I could teleport before I did so – but he didn’t think I could include him on the trip. Interesting. ‘You will tell no one about this.’
The Bull nodded. Then there was a tiny twitch at the side of his mouth.
I smiled. ‘I almost forget. It’s like Simon says, isn’t it? I have to say your name to force you to do my bidding. Cul-chain.’ I rolled the word around my mouth like a tasty treat. ‘You will tell no one about this. And you will order your Clan to keep quiet too.’
He snarled. He also said, ‘Yes, Miss Taylor.’
I circled round him. ‘Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? Why did I become your ward?’
‘Aifric commanded my Chieftain. I either agreed to take you in or lost several key lands to the north.’
I rubbed my chin. ‘But why you?’
He looked defiant. ‘I’m the Bull.’
