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.(At least, thefinger-long curls of white and pink looked like p.149shrimp, except that theyhad two tails and that was another thing he didn t want to think about toomuch.)When he got down to it, in fact, there was very little he did want to thinkabout.It had all been very remote, his conversation with Morwyn partly, hesuspected, because of the wine and he d agreed to her terms without givingthem the full and careful analysis they deserved.But now he was thinking about it, thinking hard.The business about Ailillbothered him most not that he d been given a choice.It was either deal withMorwyn or see his family endangered.Perhaps he could find a way to fulfill the letter of his obligation and stillnot be an accessory to murder.IfMorwyn wanted Ailill dead, that was her concern, but the responsibility shouldbe hers as well.David s perplexed frown was still wrinkling his forehead when Morwyn returnedwith yet another ewer, this one in the shape of a slim-necked bird a stork orheron, maybe.More wine? Hell, I ll be high as a kite in no time, and then what ll happen?The lady did not seemGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlto be in any particular hurry to set him on his way, and David very muchfeared that her idea of dessert might include him.Not that that would be bad,necessarily; his body probably wouldn t complain.But his conscience certainlywould.He d been so close to Liz, and so recently.It had been marvelous to bethat close to someone else without guilt or fear.Very, very special.Anythingelse would seem very much like betrayal.David found himself blushing as Morwyn bent close and tilted the contents ofthe ewer into tiny, delicate goblets of smooth white jade, goblets thin aseggshells and more transparent.The liquid was thick and creamy green, yet itsparkled in his nostrils like champagne; its bouquet held a distant suggestionof mint.He took a tentative sip it was delicious, of course and all the while Morwyn seyes watched his every movement with that languid expression of distantamusement that he found so damned disconcerting.All at once he recalled thatshe could read thoughts, and then, to his horror, exactly what his thoughtshad been scant seconds before.His ears commenced to burning. So.you were going to tell me how I m supposed to do this, he venturedat last. Assuming I can find the palace, how do I get into the vault how do Ieven find it? Why so hasty, boy? Morwyn replied with elaborate indifference. Finish yourdrink, then we will talk.p.150 No, David said firmly, setting the fragile goblet down hard. We lltalk now!Morwyn s face stiffened as she eased down opposite him. Very well, shewhispered icily. We will talk, and you had better listen, because your lifemay depend upon what I tell you.Is that clear? She smiled primly and foldedher arms.David nodded slowly. Good.Now, as to where the Horn is, it is in plain sight, in the center ofhis treasure chamber, or so Ihave it on good authority; Lugh makes no secret of it. But? David interjected. I can just tell there s going to be a but rightabout now.Morwyn smiled disarmingly. Very perceptive, boy.Page 96ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlBut what is not known is the exact location of this treasure chamber, exceptthat it is somewhere beneath Lugh s palace. And? And that it is accessible only by an iron stair leading to it from Lugh sprivate rooms.The stair, at least, is common knowledge, though few haveactually seen it.But what is not nearly so well known is that there isanother way a secret way, known only to those who built the chamber, a waythat leads outside: an iron road with walls of glass.David raised suspicious eyebrows. I thought the Sidhe couldn t touch iron.Morwyn s nostrils flared with impatience. And so they cannot.But theSidhe did not build the vault, thePowersmiths did my grandfather, to be precise, which is how I know of itsworkings.He told me all about it, as much as he knew, anyway, for Lugh wascareful not to allow any one person to see the master plan.Thus, those whobuilt the road did not construct the chamber or the stair.This, however, iscertain: the walls of glass are in reality Walls Between Worlds; the World ofthe iron road is not theWorld of the stone to either side.Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlRealization began to brighten David s face. Oh, I see
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