Brothers to the Death (The Saga of Larten Crepsley) by Darren Shan Read Free Book Online

negatively. I asked out of hope, not expectation. I have business elsewhere and I’ve come far out of my way. I will have to flit to make up time.”
    “It is odd that you detoured if you had a pressing appointment,” Larten noted. “Why the rush to speak with me if you did not expect a positive response?”
    “You’re getting sharper with age,” Wester chuckled, then all of the humor drained from him. “Does Alicia still live in Paris?”
    Larten felt his insides tighten. He had a good nose for danger, having had so much experience of it over the centuries, and he caught a strong whiff of it now.
    “Yes,” Gavner answered when Larten was silent.
    “The same place as when I last visited the city with you?” Wester pressed.
    “No,” Larten said softly. “She has moved a couple of times since then.”
    “Good,” Wester sniffed. “This might have nothing at all to do with her—I hope that it hasn’t—but I heard a rumor and felt it was vital that I inform you. That’s why I came, even though time was against me.” He looked around and dropped his voice, as if afraid of being overheard. “Randel Chayne has been making inquiries about you.”
    “I’ve heard that name before.…” Gavner said, trying to remember where.
    “He is the vampaneze who tormented Tanish Eul,” Larten said. “The one who killed people who were close to Tanish.”
    Gavner’s breath caught in his throat. “Why is he asking about
you
?”
    Larten shook his head uncertainly. “I have had no dealings with Randel since that night in Paris when Tanish blamed his murders on me. I have not even thought about him. The two of us had no quarrel with one another. It was Tanish he hated, not me.”
    “From what I hear, Randel Chayne hates all vampires,” Wester said morosely. “But he had a special spot in his heart for Tanish, and if the rumor is true, he might have transferred his attention to you.”
    “Tanish did not have any close friends in Paris until I came along,” Larten said, thinking aloud. “That is why Randel focused on business associates of his. But maybe he has decided to hurt me in order to punish Tanish—no one outside our small circle knows that Tanish is dead. Randel would find it hard to pinpoint my location, but if he knows about Alicia…”
    “How could he?” Gavner snapped.
    “It is no great secret,” Larten said. “We were open friends with Tanish when I lived in Paris. If Randel Chayne has been making inquiries about me, he will surely have heard of Alicia. If he also learns that I have been making trips to the city in recent years, he might correctly assume that I have been visitingAlicia and target her in the hope of discovering my whereabouts.”
    “I’d have gone to warn her if I could,” Wester said, “but I didn’t know where she was living. Even if I knew, she’s never met me, so she would have had no reason to trust me. I thought it was better to bring the matter to you.”
    “You did right,” Larten said. “We will return to Paris as soon as we can. Ideally I would like to flit, but as that is not possible, we must—”
    “What are you talking about?” Gavner interrupted. “Of course you’ll flit. Her life might be in danger. Sylva’s too. I can’t flit yet, so you’ll have to go ahead of me.”
    Larten shook his head. “We must continue to lead the Nazis astray.”
    “To hell with the Nazis!” Gavner shouted. “I’ll take care of them. You have to warn Alicia and Sylva.”
    “I cannot,” Larten snarled. “I am on a mission of vital importance to the clan. You are my assistant. I cannot leave such an important task in your hands.”
    “Don’t tell me you’re going to put your duty before Alicia and Sylva’s safety,” Gavner roared. He tried tosquare up to Larten, but the hole was too tight for him to do so.
    “He must,” Wester said softly, laying a hand on Gavner’s broad shoulder. “I have to put my duties first too. We are tied by the vows we take when we