[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Sit down before you fall down, Adriana snapped. She dropped the broom, rushing
over to join Baker where Pili was sprawled on the floor. I couldn t tell whether or not the
old woman was breathing. I started to take a step forward, to see if I could help. But the
world swam when I did.
One of the guards grabbed me and shoved me forcibly into a chair. Pressing on my
back, he forced my head between my knees.
Breathe. Deep and even. Just keep breathing.
I breathed. Slow and steady. When the world steadied, I lifted my head to see Adriana
and a third uniformed guard giving CPR to Pili. I heard: I have a pulse, followed by
weak coughing.
Oh, thank God. Adriana sat on the floor, looking utterly weary. I wasn t positive that
she wouldn t have keeled over had her back not been propped up against the wall. CPR
is hard, nerve-wracking work.
Ren appeared, priest in tow, and disappeared an instant later no doubt in search of
a doctor.
The priest stared wide-eyed at the acid water eating its way through the floorboards.
Praying fervently in what sounded like Italian, he opened a black valise and pulled out a
plastic gallon jug of holy water.
I didn t watch him. I was looking at Adriana. How did you know? My voice was still a
little hoarse and breathy. I was shaking. I couldn t seem to stop. I knew it was over and
my feet were as far from the smoking mess of acid as I could get them, but I couldn t
seem to get warm and I couldn t stop shaking.
Pili told us last night that she was going to do this for you. I felt it start even over at the
palace. I felt when it went wrong.
Ren was back with the doctor. Pili was stirring now. She was still terribly pale and too
weak to sit up. But she was breathing and moving. She was alive.
You should have the priest look at her. Bless her. Just in case.
Ren turned to the priest, her Italian fluid and fluent. He frowned and nodded but didn t
immediately move to obey. Instead, he continued praying and pouring holy water around
the edges of the pool burning through the floor.
She spoke more sharply, her eyes flashing with irritation.
He didn t like that. Not one bit. He snapped out a retort. She rose and opened her
mouth, but Adriana interrupted her, using her full name to get her attention.
Eirene! Let him do his job. He knows better than we do what the lingering effects of
this sort of thing can be.
You do not give me orders, she snarled at the other princess, her beautiful face
distorted with fury. Adriana stiffened and I decided to intervene. We didn t need them to
get in a catfight. Now was so not the time.
Can it. Both of you. I spoke quietly, without a whole lot of inflection. Frankly, I didn t
have the energy. He was a greater demon and he nearly manifested right here. Unless
we want there to be a permanent weak spot in the realities where he can come and go
at will, you need to let the priest do his job. That s more important than who outranks
who.
You Ren opened her mouth to say something hateful. I could see it in her eyes.
They were narrowed, darkened slits.
That is enough. I turned to find Queen Lopaka standing tall and regal in the doorway,
flanked by Chiyoko and the dark-haired queen whose name I hadn t been given.
Daughter, enough. Please. The dark-haired queen stepped out from behind Lopaka
to meet Ren s gaze. For just a moment I thought she d argue. She was so angry
angrier than the situation deserved. It didn t make sense.
There was a pause and if her mother said anything to her mentally, it wasn t for public
consumption. Still, Ren calmed fractionally and gave a small formal bow to her mother,
who reached forward to stroke her daughter s fiery hair with a withered hand.
The temperature in the room began to drop and a ghostly wind stirred. Ivy. Not now.
Please. Not now. I was too tired to deal with one more thing, even the ghost of my baby
sister.
The dark-haired queen s eyes widened, then narrowed, and she gave me a glare hot
enough to blister.
Her name is Stefania, said Queen Lopaka s calm voice in my head. It was a planned
insult on their part, not giving you their names. I didn t push the issue. I pick my battles
carefully. As should you.
Good advice, no doubt. I gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. Stefania was still bitter
and almost as unhappy as Ren. Then again, I got the impression that this was their
normal state. The pleasant, happy Ren of my first encounter had apparently just been a
really good acting job. At least the argument was over.
Now if Ivy would just settle down.
What is the matter with your spirit? Adriana s voice in my head this time, sounding [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl fopke.keep.pl
Sit down before you fall down, Adriana snapped. She dropped the broom, rushing
over to join Baker where Pili was sprawled on the floor. I couldn t tell whether or not the
old woman was breathing. I started to take a step forward, to see if I could help. But the
world swam when I did.
One of the guards grabbed me and shoved me forcibly into a chair. Pressing on my
back, he forced my head between my knees.
Breathe. Deep and even. Just keep breathing.
I breathed. Slow and steady. When the world steadied, I lifted my head to see Adriana
and a third uniformed guard giving CPR to Pili. I heard: I have a pulse, followed by
weak coughing.
Oh, thank God. Adriana sat on the floor, looking utterly weary. I wasn t positive that
she wouldn t have keeled over had her back not been propped up against the wall. CPR
is hard, nerve-wracking work.
Ren appeared, priest in tow, and disappeared an instant later no doubt in search of
a doctor.
The priest stared wide-eyed at the acid water eating its way through the floorboards.
Praying fervently in what sounded like Italian, he opened a black valise and pulled out a
plastic gallon jug of holy water.
I didn t watch him. I was looking at Adriana. How did you know? My voice was still a
little hoarse and breathy. I was shaking. I couldn t seem to stop. I knew it was over and
my feet were as far from the smoking mess of acid as I could get them, but I couldn t
seem to get warm and I couldn t stop shaking.
Pili told us last night that she was going to do this for you. I felt it start even over at the
palace. I felt when it went wrong.
Ren was back with the doctor. Pili was stirring now. She was still terribly pale and too
weak to sit up. But she was breathing and moving. She was alive.
You should have the priest look at her. Bless her. Just in case.
Ren turned to the priest, her Italian fluid and fluent. He frowned and nodded but didn t
immediately move to obey. Instead, he continued praying and pouring holy water around
the edges of the pool burning through the floor.
She spoke more sharply, her eyes flashing with irritation.
He didn t like that. Not one bit. He snapped out a retort. She rose and opened her
mouth, but Adriana interrupted her, using her full name to get her attention.
Eirene! Let him do his job. He knows better than we do what the lingering effects of
this sort of thing can be.
You do not give me orders, she snarled at the other princess, her beautiful face
distorted with fury. Adriana stiffened and I decided to intervene. We didn t need them to
get in a catfight. Now was so not the time.
Can it. Both of you. I spoke quietly, without a whole lot of inflection. Frankly, I didn t
have the energy. He was a greater demon and he nearly manifested right here. Unless
we want there to be a permanent weak spot in the realities where he can come and go
at will, you need to let the priest do his job. That s more important than who outranks
who.
You Ren opened her mouth to say something hateful. I could see it in her eyes.
They were narrowed, darkened slits.
That is enough. I turned to find Queen Lopaka standing tall and regal in the doorway,
flanked by Chiyoko and the dark-haired queen whose name I hadn t been given.
Daughter, enough. Please. The dark-haired queen stepped out from behind Lopaka
to meet Ren s gaze. For just a moment I thought she d argue. She was so angry
angrier than the situation deserved. It didn t make sense.
There was a pause and if her mother said anything to her mentally, it wasn t for public
consumption. Still, Ren calmed fractionally and gave a small formal bow to her mother,
who reached forward to stroke her daughter s fiery hair with a withered hand.
The temperature in the room began to drop and a ghostly wind stirred. Ivy. Not now.
Please. Not now. I was too tired to deal with one more thing, even the ghost of my baby
sister.
The dark-haired queen s eyes widened, then narrowed, and she gave me a glare hot
enough to blister.
Her name is Stefania, said Queen Lopaka s calm voice in my head. It was a planned
insult on their part, not giving you their names. I didn t push the issue. I pick my battles
carefully. As should you.
Good advice, no doubt. I gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. Stefania was still bitter
and almost as unhappy as Ren. Then again, I got the impression that this was their
normal state. The pleasant, happy Ren of my first encounter had apparently just been a
really good acting job. At least the argument was over.
Now if Ivy would just settle down.
What is the matter with your spirit? Adriana s voice in my head this time, sounding [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]