"Anne Logston - Shadow 02 - Shadow Hunt" - читать интересную книгу автора (Logston Anne)

The knife poised, her eyes never leaving Tomor's, her left hand went to
the sheath at her hip. It drew a dagger blacker than night, shining darkly
in the lamplight. Its tip replaced the other at Tomor's throat, just under
his chin.

Tomor was shaking violently, perspiration dripping from his forehead
to the cushions.

"No. I'll pay. I'll pay."

She smiled.

"Yes, Merchant Tomor. You will pay."

Tomor had no time to scream as the black dagger thrust upward into
his brain.

She who called herself Blade withdrew the dagger, wiping it fastidiously
on the cushion, then laying it on the floor. It shimmered, vanished.

A tall man, hairless, his naked skin blacker than night, stood beside
Blade on the cushions.

"A fine gift," he said. "I really must thank you. Much more tasty than
the soul of that Rivero fellow. He hardly had time to feel fear."

He reached into the cushions, drew out a small silk bag.

"And he had your payment ready, all along."

Blade took the pouch and tucked it into her sash. She picked up the
black dagger from the floor of the room where she now stood alone, and
sheathed it.

Her steps in the hallway, in the entry, on the street, were as silent as
shadows in the moonlight.


ONE
"Damn it, Doe, you should know better." Shadow slammed her goblet
down so violently that some wine slopped over the edge. "You of all people
should know better!"

"I didn't say I thought you took it," Donya said mildly. "I only said
that's what it looked like. And of course it's all over town, you know,
despite Lord Vikram's best efforts to keep it secret, so of course on top of
stealing the ruby, he now thinks you're bragging it about Allanmere."

"Well, he should know better, too," Shadow grumbled. "Impotent old
wretch, you'd think he'd have a bit of gratitude that I saved his worthless