Page 106 of Tiger's Trek
“Hush,” he mumbled. “I know you’re probably mad.”
Her paw came out and swiped at him.
“Stop that,” Nik said. “I’m going to rescue you. I promise. I’m just glad to see you’re all alive. I’ll bring help. You’re scheduled for the Games, but I’ll try to get you out before that. You’re owned by the Death Draughtsman. He’s not at full power yet. We can beat him now if we put our heads together. Stay safe. I’ll be back.”
Just then two men turned the corner. “Did you hear something?” one guard said.
“Nah. Don’t know why you’re always thinking someone’s down here. Just us and the cats and the man who’s staying over for dinner.” He started chuckling.
“I don’t think it’s funny. Bound to be us one of these days.”
The other man shrugged. “We’re all zoophagans, ain’t we?”
“What’s that? Zookeepers?”
“Nah. Carnivores. They eat meat. We eat meat. Only fitting we end up meat for something.”
“Not me. I’m top of the food chain.”
“No, you ain’t. Lots of things what can eat you.”
“Like what?”
“Like them, for one.”
“Yeah? What else?”
“Snakes.”
“Snakes? I don’t think so.”
“Yeah, they can. Great big ones.”
The two men wandered off and turned a corner, still arguing.
“Glad you have men smart as carrots taking care of you,” Nik mumbled. “I’ll hurry,” he promised, and followed behind them.
It took another hour for him to find his way out of the compound, and then two more hours to make his way back to the main game area and then to the section that looked familiar enough to him that he could find the rooms where Pasha and his girls were staying. He discovered the right floor, turned the corner, smoothed back his hair, and prepared to knock—when he noticed the room had been abandoned, and everything inside it had been destroyed.
Chapter26
YOU CAN’T LIVE ALL YOUR LIFE IN ONE SET OF FEATHERS
“We’ve got her bolt of fabric, then,” Veru said. “I suppose we’d better try to complete the third task before she returns.”
“This one will take the longest time, I fear,” the red knight said. “I wish you luck. I’ll send my brother to you. He’ll be coming this evening.” He picked up Veru’s hand and bent over it, placing a kiss on the back and then turned it over and gave her his magic comb, folding her fingers over it as he did.
“Oh, Polden, no,” Veru said. “I couldn’t.”
“But you must. Don’t you see?” he said. “She will ask how it was done. I dare not keep this with me. She will gather virgins and use them. I won’t have it.”
“But won’t she do that anyway?” Danik asked.
He shook his head. “It’s unlikely. It would take far too many and too much hair to grow the wool for even one sheep before a full moon. Without the comb, she won’t be able to get more of the precious wool. She has enough to keep her happy for the time being. I’m hoping by the time she realizes what has happened, you’ll be long gone with the comb.”
“But can’t she simply conjure another comb?” Veru asked.
“The comb was not made of her magic. She acquired it as she does most of her magic—by stealing it from others. What she doesn’t understand is that the most powerful magic never works well when stolen, only when gifted. This is why I am gifting it to you.”
