not, you do not need to know. You will not be hunting them, Executioner."
"Not tonight," I said. The trembling was quieting. That cold, icy center of my soul, the place where I'd given up a piece of myself, spread outward. I was calm, deadly calm. I could have shot them all and not blinked. "But you said it yourself, Traveler: there will be other nights."
Jason was talking in a low voice and Sylvie was answering. I glanced at her. She wasn't crying. Her face was pale and strangely stiff, as if everything was held inside, tight and hard. Jason undid the locks on the chains and she slid down the wall. He tried to help her pull up her pants, but she pushed him away.
I knelt beside her. "Let me help, please."
Sylvie tried to pull the pants up herself, but her hands weren't working right. She kept fumbling and finally collapsed to the floor in tears.
I started to dress her, and she let me. She helped where she could, but her hands were shaking so badly, she couldn't do much. Her pants were pink linen. I couldn't find the underwear. It was gone. I knew she'd been wearing some, because Sylvie wouldn't go without. She was a lady, and ladies didn't do that.
When everything was covered, she finally met my eyes. The look in her brown eyes made me want to look away, but I didn't. If she could have that much pain in her face, the least I could do was look at it. No flinching. I'd even stopped crying.
"I didn't give them the pack," she said.
"I know," I said. I wanted to touch her, reassure her, and was afraid to.
She collapsed forward, sobbing; not crying, but sobbing like she'd cry out bits and pieces of herself on the floor. I put my arms around her, tentatively. She sagged against me, holding me. I held her half in my arms, half in my lap, rocking her slowly. I leaned over next to her ear and breathed a sound into it, "He's dead. They're all dead."
She quieted slowly, then looked up at me. "You swear it?"
"I swear it."
She huddled against me and said softly, "I won't kill Richard."
"Good, because I'd hate to kill you now."
She laughed, and it turned it into more crying, but softer now, quieter, not quite so desperate.
I looked up at the others. The men, dead and alive, were staring at me. "Rafael comes with us, no more debating."
Padma nodded. "Very well."
Fernando turned to him. "Father, you can't let her do this. The wolves, yes, but not the Rat King."
"Hush, Fernando."
"He cannot be allowed to live, if he does not submit."
"You weren't rat enough to be dominant to him, were you, Fernando?" I said. "He's stronger than you'll ever be, and you hate him for it."
Fernando took a step towards me. Padma and the Traveler both held him back, a hand on each shoulder.
Jean-Claude stepped between us. "Let us be on our way, ma petite. The night grows long."
The Traveler stepped away from Fernando slowly. I wasn't sure who he trusted least, me or the rat-boy. He started unfastening the chains that held Rafael in place. The wererat was still unconscious, oblivious to his fate.
I got to my feet, and Sylvie came with me. She pushed away from me, tried to walk and nearly fell. I caught her, and Jason caught her other arm.
Fernando laughed.
Sylvie stumbled. She looked like she'd been slapped. The laughter cut more than any words. I laid my lips against her cheek, cradled her face against mine with my free hand, lips by her ear. "He's dead, remember that."
She leaned into me for a moment, then nodded. She straightened and let Jason help her walk towards the stairs.
Jean-Claude lifted Rafael in his arms as gently as he could, balancing the man over his shoulders. Rafael groaned, hands spasming, but his eyes stayed shut.
I stared at the Traveler. "You'll need to find another horse to ride," I said. "Hannah comes with us."
"Of course," he said.
"Now, Traveler," I said.
Arrogance spread across his face. It was a look I'd never seen on Hannah's face before. "Do not let one act of magical bravado make you foolish, Anita."
I smiled and knew it wasn't pleasant. It was bitter and arrogant and angry. "My patience is all gone tonight, Traveler. Get out of her now, or..." I shoved the Browning into Fernando's groin. They were all huddled that close.
Fernando's eyes widened, but he wasn't nearly as afraid as he