desert rose. They stopped at the hut where they had slept, and the horses
rested, and they ate bread and cheese.
‘Three more hours will bring us within sight of Sanctuary,’ the fat man said.
‘We’ll get your family aboard the Sailfish, and the Raggah can search for us in
vain.’
He paused, then said, ‘What do you intend to do about Eevroen?’
‘Nothing,’ she said. ‘If he gets in my way I’ll brain him again.’
He laughed so much he choked on his bread. When he’d cleared his throat, he
said, ‘You are some woman! Brave as the goddess makes them! And supple in mind,
too! If I were not vowed to chastity, I would woo you! I may be forty-five and
fat, but…’
He stopped to stare down at his hand. His face froze into an expression of
horror.
Masha became equally paralysed.
A small purple spider was on Smhee’s hand.
‘Move slowly,’ he said softly through rigid lips. ‘I dare not move. Slap it when
you’ve got your hand within a few inches of it.’
She got up and took a step towards him. Where had the creature come from? There
were no webs in the hut. Had it come from outside and crawled upon him?
She took another step, leaned over, and brought her hand slowly down at an angle
towards the thing. Its eyes were black and motionless, seemingly unaware of her
presence.
Maybe it’s not poisonous, she thought.
Suddenly, Smhee screamed, and he crushed the spider with his other hand. He
leaped up then, brushing off the tiny body.
‘It bit me! It bit me!’
The dark swelling had started.
‘It’s not one of the mage’s creatures,’ she said. ‘Its venom may not be deadly.’