– hasn’t a chance in the world. The contagion’s even gotten to your sister.
Her life, you understand. It’s very fragile. The Stepsons might take her.
Hawkmasks use her only to talk to Stepsons. Right now they’re not talking at
all. Not to these. Not to stupid men who’ve thrown away every alliance better
men had made. Moruth, too – Moruth the beggar knows your name. And hers. He
remembers the fire, and you, and her, and it’s a guess where he casts the blame
– as if he needed an excuse at any time. What will you pay for my help? What
coin do you have, Mor-am?’
‘What do you want?’
‘Whatever. Whenever. That does change. As you can. Never forget that, hear? They
name me vampire. Not quite the case – but very close. And they will tell you so.
Does that put you off, Mor-am? Or is there worse?’
He grew brave then and kissed her on the lips.
‘0 be very careful,’ she said. ‘ Very careful. There will be times – when I tell
you go, you do not question me. Not for your life, Mor-am, not for your soul,
such as it is.’ Another kiss, lighter than all the rest. ‘We shall go do the
Stepsons a favour, you and I. We shall go walking – oh, here and there tonight.
I need amusement.’
‘They’ll kill me on the street.’
She smiled, letting him go. ‘Not with me, my friend. Not while you’re with me.’
She turned away, gathering up her cloak, looked back again. ‘It’s widely said
I’m mad. A beast, they call me. Lacking self-control. This is not so. Do you
believe me?’
And she laughed when he said nothing. ‘That man of theirs -go outside. Tell