His frown deepened. "I don't know what you mean."
I sighed. He probably didn't. Sorcerers were people who got their magic through demonic -- or worse -- power. They bargained for what they got and bartered their souls for money, comfort, lust, power. But some were a version of possession. People weakened by some flaw: mental illness or even a flaw of character. The right kind of flaws can attract evil.
Niley led the other men back around the corner. He and Richard were not holding hands anymore. Richard's face was tight and angry. Shang-Da and Milo's faces gave nothing away as if nothing had happened. Niley looked happy, pleased with himself. He clapped Linus Beck on the back, and the eunuch raised the other man's hand to his mouth and kissed it.
Maybe I didn't know as much about eunuchs as I thought I did. I thought it meant sexless. Maybe I was wrong.
"Linus will search you for wires, then we can talk."
"I don't want him touching me. Nothing personal, Linus."
"You fear my master," he said.
I nodded. "You bet."
"I must insist it be Linus, in case you have some magic or other about your person that would disturb us."
I frowned at him. "Like what? The holy hand grenade?"
Niley waved the comment away. "Linus must search you, but if you like, you can have one of your men accompany you."
I didn't like it, but it was probably the best offer we were going to get. The waitress came to take our order, and I realized I was hungry. You learn to be able to eat in the midst of disaster and gore, or you get another line of work. They served breakfast all day. I ordered pancakes and maple-cured bacon.
Richard looked shocked. "How can you eat?"
"You either learn to eat in the middle of disaster and gore, or you get another day job, Richard."
"Very practical, Ms. Blake," Niley said.
I looked at him and felt a small, unpleasant smile curve my lips. "Just of late, Mr. Niley, I've become very, very practical."
"Good," he said, "very good. Then we understand each other."
I shook my head. "No, Mr. Niley, I don't understand you. I know what you are, and what you'll do, but I don't understand why."
"And what am I, Ms. Blake?"
The smile grew. "A bad guy, Mr. Niley; you're a bad guy."
He nodded. "Yes, I am, Ms. Blake. I am a very, very bad guy."
"Guess that makes us the good guys," I said.
Niley smiled. "I know what I am, Ms. Blake, and I am content with it. Are you content?"
We looked at each other for a long moment. "My state of mind isn't really any of your business."
"Answer enough," he said.
"Let's order," I said.
Everyone ordered, finally even Richard. When the waitress walked away, Linus, Richard, and I headed for the rest room so he could search me for listening devices and magical booby traps.
I only had one question. "Which bathroom are we going to use?"
35
We used the men's room. Linus's hands felt strangely soft as if there were no muscles under his skin, just bones and flesh. Maybe he'd given up other things to serve his master. He was creepy, but he was thorough. He even ran his fingers through my hair, which most people forget to do. He behaved himself, even when his hands were on delicate areas. He didn't give Richard any reason to grump at him. Me, either.