“How-” The word came out as a croak, and Lalo swallowed, trying to make his voice obey him.
“She’s still alive,” said Gilla, “but she still bums.” She looked at him apprehensively.
Lalo made it to his feet, remembering how he had felt when the Black Unicorn leaped off the wall, and went to her. The Unicorn had been the child of his pride, and it was only one, though the worst, of his sins over the years. But
Gilla’s only sin had been born of her despair. Perhaps it made them fit mates for each other, but he could hardly say that to her now.
Instead he rested his arm across Gilla’s massive shoulders and began to softly stroke her hair. Latilla moved restlessly in her feverish sleep, then stilled again. She was flushed, and it seemed to him that her cheekbones had grown more prominent, so that he saw the skull beneath the skin. His arm tightened convulsively, and Gilla turned her face against his chest.
“You were right about the Unicorn,” he said softly then. “But we got rid of it.
We’ll find some way to deal with this, too.”
Gilla straightened and looked up at him, her eyes luminous with unshed tears.
“Oh, you ridiculous man! You make me ashamed for all those years when I thought
I was the only one with anything to forgive….” She took a deep breath and heaved herself to her feet.
“Yes, we’ll do-something! But first we need to wash up and get some food!” The floor shook slightly as she strode to the door and called for the girl who had been waiting on them.
By the time they had finished eating, Lalo felt marginally more effective. In the distance the deep beat of temple drumming mingled with the confused roaring of the mob. Myrtis’s servants said that the high priest of Us had agreed to perform a sacrifice for Dyareela when sunset came. It was hoped that the scent of bull’s blood would appease the goddess and the mob. If it did not, the combined might of the garrison, the Stepsons, and the 3rd Commando might be insufficient to prevent royal blood from running where the bull’s blood had flowed, and with such provocation, the Emperor was unlikely to wait until the