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Chapters (86)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. Booklist
  4. Dedication
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
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  32. 28
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  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
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  52. 48
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  55. 51
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  58. 54
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  61. 57
  62. 58
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  64. 60
  65. 61
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  67. 63
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  70. 66
  71. 67
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  73. 69
  74. 70
  75. 71
  76. 72
  77. 73
  78. 74
  79. 75
  80. 76
  81. 77
  82. 78
  83. 79
  84. 80
  85. 81
  86. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

“And I’m mostly fine. A little stiffness, a little pain.” He shrugged his shoulder, worked it a little. “The stressful part of tomorrow will be donning the armor and brandishing a sword in a battle between me and some guy who doesn’t have hemorrhoids.” And meeting Elle’s mother, but one thing at a time.

Elle burst into laughter, then leaned in and kissed him. “Looks as if there’s nothing to worry about. Did you practice your sword work today?”

“Every day. Tomorrow at two o’clock, I will raise my sword.”

“I suppose since it’s a mock battle, the winner is already chosen.”

Adam said nothing.

“Who’s going to win?” She wanted to wheedle the answer out of him, but he only hummed. She said, “I have Rune’s permission to close the shop so I can be there to cheer you on. Pick me up on the way?”

“Of course.” Adam leaned back in the chair. “What about Veda? Can’t she come down and relieve you?”

“Veda is doing such a good job as a reader of crystal balls, she has a line ten deep. Rune is not going to take her out of rotation for the shop.”

“I was actually right when I suggested her?” he exclaimed in astonishment. “I wonder what she foresees for the results of tomorrow’s fight?”

“I’m wondering about the result of tonight’s encounter. What do you think?” Elle smiled at him and thought how very much she loved him. “Can you raise your sword tonight?”

“I promise, it’s already raised.”

67

ON SATURDAY, TOURISTS HAD been in and out of Madame Rune’s Psychic Readings and Bookshop all morning, and Elle sold candles, books, orbs, herbs and velvet scarves with fringes and coins. She chatted with the enthusiastic, cajoled the disbelievers and at least a dozen times pointed out the sign that said Unattended children will be given espresso and a drum set.

One moment, the shop was full and she was racking up the sales. The next, in an excited rush, the customers vanished.

Elle checked the clocks.

In an hour, in the main festival arena, Adam and his opponent were due to battle each other for supremacy of Gothic. She couldn’t wait to catch a ride with Adam, take a seat in the stands and watch the enactment as eagerly as any tourist. It was not like she knew what the results were going to be. No matter how she teased, Adam, darn him, refused to tell her.

She had started the preparations to shut the shop—the gems needed to be put in the safe with the cash drawer, the new blinds needed to be pulled, the scanners needed to be shut down—when the door to Madame Rune’s opened. Elle turned to see if she could make one more sale—and Faith charged in, dragging Clarice by the arm.