“What happens when the darkness comes?”
Marlow’s eyebrows shot up.“It’s my understanding she wastorn from her family for six years of her life, then lived doing without asingle luxury, not to mention several necessities, for the next twenty.Is thisa woman who cannot absorb the dark?”
“I cannot be an ambassador or sit amongst a council withmembers who have never in their lives picked up blade or bow in loyalty to thisrealm.”
“Then tell Tor it’s not for you.He won’t mind.”
“He needs me.”
“Tor could rule the entire Northlands on his stubbornarrogance alone.Fortunately for we underlings, he has Cora to even him out.”Marlow shifted closer and his voice lowered.“Tor doesn’t need you, brother.Heknows what you did.He knows what you gave.He wouldn’t blink to release youfrom duty and continue to give you his love and esteem for who you are and whatyou’ve done.”
Loren started twirling his whisky in his glass again.
Until Marlow suggested, “Take up the mantle your fatherdropped.”
“Quiet,” Loren whispered his warning.
“Tor wishes to continue those operations from Ludlum’sreign, it was his idea to begin with.And I’m certain he’d be happy to recruityou.It’s likely he hasn’t suggested it because he knows he’s already asked toomuch of you.”
Loren narrowed his eyes on his brother.“I said,quiet.”
“You’re already doing it, for the gods’ sakes.You’d have alot less hassle from the local constabularies if the king was at your back.”
“Can you—?”
He felt it.
Stopped speaking.
Turned his head.
And saw them approaching.
“Delightful.And I thought tonight would be boring,” Marlowdrawled.
Loren’s fingers closed securely around the glass.
They kept coming.
And in the mood he was in, he was more than ready for it.
Satrine
I took a healthy sip of wine, and said to Mom, “Sothis is where we’re at.”
I set the wineglass down on the dining room table very closeto the bowl of tuna Mr.Popplewell was hunkered over, snarfing down, and liftedmy hands to grab fingers as I counted it down.
“No doubt, being no call, no show for over a month, my jobis toast.”
Mom lifted her glass and said, “Mine too.”
“All my friends, your friends, our family, Keith, Aunt Mary,various acquaintances, perhaps the news media, definitely the police, have beenalerted to our disappearances.They’ve freaked, spent countless resourcestrying to figure out what became of us, are terrified of what might havebefallen us, and if we should get back, healthy and happy, we can’t just say,‘Had a wild and wacky vacation in a parallel universe.Oh myGod!Youshould try it some time.’In fact, we have no excuse as to why we disappearedat all.”
“Word, my girl,” Mom agreed and sucked back a sip.
“Dad has likely cashed in those emeralds, used all thatmoney on wine, women and poker, and is probably trying to figure out how to getus back so he can attempt to fleece us or sell us again.”
“Asshole,” Mom muttered, reaching to the bottle to pour usboth more wine.
