scratches. She still is. Every time she fought tooth and nail. All it got her
was a reputation on the island and a lot more customers with ideas of taming
her.” She shuddered.
Lowan Vigeles refilled her vessel a third time and urged it upon her. Then he
asked quite calmly, “Did you kill the proprietor?”
“I didn’t get the chance.” She took one more drink, then set the wine aside. She
hadn’t come here to get drunk with her father, and there were things she had to
do come daylight. She didn’t need a fuzzy head. “There was plenty of blood
letting, though, when I broke her out. Some customers tried to get in the way.
But as soon as Daphne spied her keeper she grabbed one of my daggers and leaped
at him with a screech that, I swear, made my flesh crawl! The man didn’t even
get a chance to fling up his arms. I tell you, she carved him like a mince pie.
I had to drag her off and hustle her down to the quays before the entire island
came after us. Good thing I had a boat waiting.”
“Where is she right now?” Lowan asked softly.
“Rosanda volunteered to bathe her. It’s probably the first bath she’s had since
her capture. Speaking of Aunt Rosanda, can you keep her busy out here for a few
days? Very busy? I don’t want her spreading word of Daphne’s return. I want that
pleasure for myself, and I want it to be very special.”
Lowan frowned. “Now I see. Daphne’s just a tool for you, isn’t she? Another
thorn to stick in Shupansea’s side?”
Sometimes, Lowan Vigeles could be irritating, particularly in the accuracy with