"Oh.... You're kind of a record setter for treason aren't you, Vendacious? Everything to us was a lie,
复件 (67) air max2, while Steel learned all the truth about us. You figure that means we daren't kill you now?" Laughter, and Vendacious's pacing stopped. He sees control coming back to him. "More, you need my full-membered cooperation. See, I exaggerated the number of enemy agents in Woodcarver's troops,
复件 (90) air max2, but I do have a few -- and maybe Steel has planted others I don't know about. If you even arrest me,
mbt shoes sirima, word will get back to the Flenser armies. Much of what I know will be useless -- and you'll face an immediate, overwhelming attack. You see? The Queen needs me." "And how do we know this is not more lies?" "That is a problem, isn't it? Matched only by how I can be guaranteed safety once I've saved the expedition. No doubt it's beyond your mongrel mind. Woodcarver and I must have a talk, someplace mutually safe and unseen. Carry that message back to her. She can't have this traitor's hides, but if she cooperates she may be able to save her own!" There was silence from outside,
复件 (86) air max2, punctuated by the squeaking of animals in the nearer trees. Finally, surprisingly, Pilgrim laughed. "Mongrel mind, eh? Well, you have me in one thing,
复件 (5) air max, Vendacious. I've been all the world round, and I remember back half a thousand years -- but of all the villains and traitors and geniuses, you take the record for bald impudence!" Vendacious gave a Tinish chord, untranslatable but as a sign of smug pleasure. "I'm honored." "Very well,
复件 (4) 复件 air max1, I'll take your points back to the Queen. I hope the two of you are clever enough to work something out.... One thing more: the Queen requires that Johanna come with me." "The Queen requires? That sounds more like your mongrel sentiment to me." "Perhaps. But it will prove you are serious in your confidence. View it as my price for cooperation." Vendacious turned all his heads toward Johanna, silently regarding. Then he scanned out all the windows one last time. "Very well, you may have her." Two jumped down to the cabin's hatch while another pair pulled her toward it. His voice was soft and near her ear. "Damn Pilgrim. Alive, you're just going to cause me trouble with the Queen." His knife slid across her field of view. "Don't oppose me with her. I am going to survive this affair still powerful." He lifted back the hatch and daylight spilled blindingly across her face. She squinted; there was a sweep of branches and the side of the hut. Vendacious pushed and pulled her cot onto the forest floor, and the same time gobbling at his guards to keep their positions. He and Peregrine chatted politely, agreeing on when the pilgrim would return. One by one, Vendacious trotted back through the cabin's hatch. Pilgrim advanced and grabbed the handles at the front of the cot. One of his pups reached out from his jacket to nuzzled her face. "You okay?" "I'm not sure. I got bashed in the head ... and it seems kind of hard to breathe." He loosened the blankets from around her chest as the rest of him dragged the cot away from the hut. The forest shade was peaceful and deep ... and Vendacious's guards were stationed here and there about the area. How many were really in on the treason? Two hours ago, Johanna had looked to them for protection. Now their every glance sent a shiver through her. She rolled back to the center of the cot, dizzy again, and stared up into the branches and leaves and patches of smoke-stained sky. Things like Straumli tree squigglies chased each other back and forth, chittering in seeming debate.