Read Online When True Night Falls by C.S. Friedman - Free Book Online Page B

and crusades and natural disasters and was as much a part of me as the flesh that I wore ... and he took me on there. There! Tricked me, and put my very soul in jeopardy....”
    He drew in a deep breath, slowly. Trying to calm himself. “If the Forest is no longer my refuge, then no place will ever be. I could hide myself away with my books and my conjurings for a month, a year, a century ... but the threat would always be there. Will always be there, until I deal with it.” The pale eyes fixed on Damien. “You understand?”
    “I think so.”
    “You’ve always distrusted me ... which is appropriate, I assure you. But the day may come when that will be a dangerous luxury. Our relationship has been strained even here, on this ship, and I know you’ve had your doubts about the wisdom of our alliance. That’ll only get worse as time goes on. Our enemy seems adept at reading our fears and turning them against us—perhaps even feeding on them—and so I thought it best if you understood why I was here. How much is at stake for me in this venture. I thought that knowledge would be worth more than anything I could say about trustworthiness, or loyalty.”
    He could feel the power in those pale eyes as they studied him, weighing his soul for reaction. And for an instant—just an instant—it seemed to him that he could sense the uncertainty that lay hidden within their depths, the terrible vulnerability within the man. Because when all was said and done, the Hunter was no more comfortable with their alliance than he was. It was a sobering thought.
    “I understand,” he said quietly.
    I swore I’d kill him. He knows that when this is over I’ll try. How fragile is the thread that binds us together? Even more important: how fragile does he perceive it to be?
    With consummate grace the Neocount swung himself over the ship’s railing and onto the narrow rope ladder beneath. The natural grace of a predator , Damien thought. As repelled as he was fascinated by the insight. When Tarrant’s feet had caught a rung he paused, and looked at Damien. “Expose my quarters,” he commanded. “Tear down the walls that guard it. Bring my possessions into the daylight and expose them as well, so that nothing remains of my power.”
    “I imagine we’ll expose the whole ship when we reach port—”
    “Now, priest. Before the locals contact us. Our enemies also shun the sunlight, remember? Best not to confuse that issue.” A hint of a smile, ever so faint, creased his lips. “Trust me.”
    “You once cautioned me never to do that,” he reminded him. “But I’ll take care of it.”
    “At dawn.”
    He winced, and counteroffered, “Early. I promise.”
    Tarrant chuckled. “Good enough.” He began to make his descent—carefully, lest his ankle-length garments get caught between his feet and the rungs—but Damien stopped him.
    “Tarrant.”
    The Hunter looked up at him. And for a moment Damien saw in him not the cold-blooded murderer he was, but the man he once had been. A man of infinite vision. A man of faith.
    That’s still there, inside him. It has to be. But how to bring it out?
    “Thank you,” he said at last. “For telling me.” And he added, “It helps.”
    The Hunter nodded. His expression was grim.
    “Let’s hope it’s enough.”

    Rasya. He dreamed of her, and woke to find himself stiff with longing. They’d had such a good time together when the journey had first begun, what with his energy and her exuberance and a good bit of sexual know-how on both their parts. A perfect match, it had seemed. He’d hoped it would last. But then, as their navigational instruments began to fail, she grew increasingly restless. Tense. He made the mistake of thinking it was because of her work. By the time he realized the true cause, it was too late to salvage what they’d shared.
    I’ve got wards to keep me from getting pregnant , she’d told him, but what if they go, too? Hell of a time and place to be having kids,