When Demons Walk by Patricia Briggs Read Free Book Online Page B

“I’ll do it. What do you want me to do with this one?” He gave the captive’s wrist a twitch and the man beneath him yelped.
    â€œWhat was he doing when you caught him?” asked Kerim.
    â€œRunning.”
    The Reeve shrugged. “Let him go. There is no law against running, and he is no worse than most of the guards around here.”
    The Easterner untangled himself, letting his prisoner scramble out the door.
    â€œWhat is your name, sir?” asked the Reeve turning to the Southwoodsman guard.
    â€œTalbot, messire.” Sham saw the older man straighten a little at the respect that Lord Kerim had shown him.
    â€œHow long have you been a guard in Purgatory?” Kerim asked.
    â€œFive years, sir. I was a seaman on the ship that served the son of the last king. Since then I’ve worked as a mate on several cargo ships, but the merchants like to change crew after each voyage. I have a wife and family and needed steady work.”
    â€œHmm,” said Kerim, and smiled with sudden mischief that animated his broad features to surprising attractiveness. “That will mean that you are used to proving yourself to those that you command. Good. My health problems have kept me from attending to Lord Hirkin as he should have been. I have need of someone who can keep an eye on such as he, without being subject to the consideration of politics. I would be pleased if you would accept the post of Master of Security—Hirkin’s recently vacated post plus a few extra duties.”
    Lord Kerim raised his hand to forestall what Talbot would have said. “I warn you that it will mean traveling to the outlying area and keeping an eye on the way that the nobles are running their estates as well as managing the city guards. You’ll will be the target of a lot of hostility—both because of your nationality and your common birth. I will outfit you with horse, clothing, and arms, provide living quarters for you and your family, and pay you five gold pieces each quarter. I tell you now that you will earn every copper.”
    Talbot looked at the Cybellian and smiled slowly. “I’d like that.”
    The Reeve turned to speak to Sham and then took two steps forward until he could peer into the windowless bedroom. “Did you see where the boy went?”
    The newly appointed Captain of the Guard shook his head.
    â€œNay,” said Talbot, “but that one’s a wee bit canny.”
    At the Reeve’s puzzled look, he explained further. “I mean he has the reputation of being a magician. I’ve seen him here and there, and asked around. Most of the folk in Purgatory leave him alone because he’s a right hand with magic—that includes the guardsmen.” Talbot hesitated then nodded his head at the old man’s slight form. “He seemed pretty upset by the old man’s death. Wouldn’t want to be in the killer’s shoes right now. I’d rather face a crazed boar than anger a sorcerer.”
    Sham watched from a corner of the room that the three men had ignored, thanks to her magic. She wished they would hurry and go; she wasn’t certain how much longer she could hold the spell.
    The Reeve knelt to examine Hirkin’s body. “After the way he threw this thing at Hirkin, I’d be more worried about his knife.”
    Talbot shook his head and muttered something that sounded like “Easterners.”
    Â 
    L ONG AFTER THE three men had left, Sham huddled on a nearby rooftop and watched the old man’s cottage burn to ashes without scorching either of the buildings next to it. She closed her eyes wearily and shivered in the warmth of her magical flames.

THREE
    F or the past several days Sham had been following the new Master of Security as he haunted the back streets of Purgatory looking, according to the Whisper, for her. The contrariness of it pleased her, and she’d had little enough else to do.
    Neither she nor the