“Straub?”
Ryan sniffed. “Yeah. Man to watch. Might be worth chilling that cold-heart son of a bitch before we move on. I know he’s got this weird change, and losing his cock and balls and all that. But there’s still something deep-down, fundamentally evil about Straub. Caught him trying to get me under with that silver toy of his. Nearly managed it, too.”
“Keep away from him until we break and run. The deaths that I see are linked to him.”
“I couldn’t do it with her. And that’s all there is to it, lover. Couldn’t.” Ryan let go of Krysty’s hand and rolled over onto his back again.
THEY SLEPT until the full fury of a chem storm broke around three in the morning, making the windows rattle, sending roof slates clattering into the courtyard. The room was brightly lit by the constant lightning, and demonically heavy rain pounded against the casements.
As it finally moved away toward the west, Ryan slid to the side of the bed, stroking Krysty’s breast, feeling the nipple harden at his touch.
“You want to, lover?”
He took her right hand and guided it over the flat, muscular wall of his stomach, until she could check it for herself. He felt her smile as her strong fingers tightened around his hardness.
“I want to,” he whispered.
IT WAS STILL RAINING steadily as they all went down for breakfast. Doc was dozing when they looked in on him, but his mind seemed to have returned to the present. He was aware of why he was ill and what had happened to him, asking for food, though Mildred urged caution for the time being.
To Ryan’s surprise, they found that the countess was already seated at the head of the table, eating half of a honeydew melon, sugared, with a side dish of raspberries with clotted cream.
She smiled at them. “Awful storm last night. Done some damage to the roof and smashed a window in the east wing on the first floor.” She gestured for them to help themselves from the row of silver chafing dishes on a long sideboard.
They served themselves from the usual array of eggs and meats and fish and fruit, sitting down and eating, mostly in silence, until the countess spoke again.
“Hope it didn’t disturb you too much. The storm. How is the dear old Doc?”
“On the highway back to health,” Mildred replied. “Could be up and moving in a couple of days if there’s no infection.”
“So, you’ll be leaving us then?”
Ryan answered her. “I think so. Been good staying here, and we appreciate your hospitality. Thanks from all of us, Countess.”
She nodded and smiled graciously. “We don’t see many outlanders here who carry their own sense of power, Ryan. We have travelers and mercenaries and third-rate traders. Failures and losers. Mostly wanting free food and beds for a while. I turn them away. My only interest is in winners. Losers just get caught on the wrong side of the line. I don’t know them. Don’t want to know them.”
During the short speech, her manner changed. The glossy, friendly mask slipped sideways, and the real nature of the ruthless woman peeked through. Her hooded eyes narrowed and her lips grew tight and thin. Her hands clenched, knuckles whitening around the silver spoon.
Straub shuffled in his seat, smiling nervously at Ryan and the others, trying to hide a small shrug of apology but terrified of showing it to his mistress.
“What are your plans for today?” he asked Ryan, seeking to ease past the moment.
“Thought I’d take a walk and look out over the gorge later,” he said. “All this rain should have made the big river kind of spectacular.”
The bald man nodded. “Sounds a good plan. Perhaps I’ll come with you.”
It was about the last thing that Ryan wanted, but he saw no reason to upset Straub, not when they would so soon be leaving the ville. “Sure.”
“Too wet,” Jak said.
“I’ll stay and keep an eye on Doc.” Mildred took a last sip of water from the goblet and stood. “You going to go out wet-walking, John?”
The Armorer shook his head. “Rain doesn’t have much appeal for me, thanks. Take a rain check, I guess.”