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Aurienne clutched at her pearls.

12

Osric the Microbe

Osric

A few days later, in the depths of a forest, Osric wrapped up a job by dragging corpses into tragic poses next to an upturned carriage. The effect was moving: a terrible accident had befallen the party. There had been a disastrous roll down a hill, resulting in ever so many broken necks. And just like that, the Mercian king had lost one of his chief retainers and Osric had made a fat pile of thrymsas, courtesy of the king of the Danelaw.

Fairhrim had an instinct for catching him post-kill. Her deofol pressed at Osric’s tacn with insistence until it was permitted to come through.

The deofol materialised on the highest corner of the upturned carriage. From that vantage, it studied the bloodbath, then leapt to Osric’s shoulder.

The genet was only a creature of seith, but Fairhrim’s skill was such that it had weight. And, Osric discovered as twenty pins punctured his cloak, tiny seith claws.

“Ouch,” said Osric.

“I didn’t want to wade through the blood,” said the deofol.

“That’s barely a puddle,” said Osric.

“A puddle? It’s so big, it’s got its own tide.”

“You share your mistress’s propensity for dramatic overexaggeration.”

“Funny,” said the deofol, switching to his other shoulder. “She accuses you of the same.”

“What do you want? And retract your damned claws.”

The deofol retracted a single claw. “Did you free the horses?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“They’re innocent beasts.”

“And you’re a champion of the innocents, are you?” asked the deofol.

“What do you want?” repeated Osric.

“Aurienne wishes to enquire about your availability for a meet. Noon, two days from now.” With reluctance, and sounding as though it had practised this bit, the deofol added, “She acknowledges your preference for nighttime meetings. However, it’ll be her only chance to get away.”

“Where?”

“Take a waystone to the Moist Oyster. Follow the signs for the clinic forPthirus pubisinfestations.”

“The clinic for what?”

“Just follow the signs. She’s got something to show you. She asks if you could refrain from committing mass murders on the way, but I see it’s already too late.”

“I’ll be there,” said Osric. “I may have an interesting find of my own to share.”

The deofol made a retching sound. “We’ll have none of that reciprocity malarkey, thank you.”

“It’s at her request.”

“Oh, is it? Well, that’s all right, then. She is perfect and can do no wrong. Unlike you.”