So, how is that for a solution?
'And if he draws attention to you, what then?'
Huh! But their atention has never been absent! They have sought me for long and long! And as always, I shal rely upon you to hold them at bay.
'And if he places himself in jeopardy, maybe gets himself killed?'
What is that to us? Or should I say, to me? For plainly it is a great deal to you! But I take your point. You are asking: why sacrifice a valuable ally? Is that it? Wel, for one: his value is not yet proven. This could be the ultimate test. And for two: if he is indeed my Man With Two Faces - the Mysterious One of my dreams - then he'll sufer no harm. How can he, and still come to me at the time of my coming forth?
'But... before he can seek them out - the Drakuls and the Ferenczys - he must know of them. And you have always forbidden me to speak of them. As you lie secret in the world, my Master, so must they, else alert men to the presence of us al!'
A good argument, (Radu seemed genuinely pleased with her). But a false one. Do you think I would let someone loose in the world with that sort of knowledge, without that we place certain strictures upon him? Of course not! You have told me he is in thrall. True?
'Beguiled,' she nodded. 'And by now addicted to your wine. He knows nothing at al of you; nothing of me, except that I am an innocent, a friend, and possibly - '
A lover?
B.J.'s silence answered for her.
All to the good. For I tell you, Bonniejean, that if he is not your lover,
or does not at least aspire, then he is not a man by my books. Which means he is not my man!
'And if he does ... aspire?'
What? And should I send you out to whore for me? (But seeing her confusion): Oh, ha-ha-ha! And now you would tell me you have no mind of your own, and that you are guided in all things by me. (His sarcasm smoked like acid as the laughter faded from his thoughts). Huh! And you know how I cannot abide a liar!
'You ... you're playing with me.' She stuttered. This ... this has to be a word game. It must be!'
Indeed! Radu growled. And if you cannot win them, then do not play them! Certainly not with me ...
B.J. waited, tried not to tremble, and eventually he said: Very well. And did I not hint - and more than hint - that you should use your woman's ways, your female wiles, on him? Better ways than poisoned wine? Other ways to enthrall a man? Aye, but use them on him, Bonnie Jean, not on me!
'Yes, my master,' she bowed her head.
See to it, then, and when next you come make report.
'Yes, my master.' She curled herself up.
And Bonnie Jean, do without the wine. If you have weaned him on it, now wean him of. Doubtless it served its purpose, but an end to that now. I want a man, not a sot. And finally - in the event that you do seduce him, or he seduces you, whichever - one last thing. Be sure, absolutely sure, that nothing of you, of us, gets into him. Above all else, be sure of that. For when he comes to me, he must be human - al of him.
'I understand.'
So be it. And now sleep well, my Bonnie.
'And you, my ... my ... my Master.' (His final words had been a command, and she was his thral. Already B.J. was yawning, her eyes closing).
And as he felt her slipping away, and knew that she would not hear him: Aye, sleep well, Bonniejean. For if I was up - or when I am up- there shall be no sleep for you, but a night such as you never imagined. Indeed, a night to die for! One of us, anyway ...
In the grey dawn B.J. woke up, changed her dressing, saw that the scar was knitting and no fresh blood flowing. There was a cold cut of cooked venison in her pack, courtesy of Auld John. Washed down with strong tea, it served as breakfast. Then she saw to the cleaning of Radu's feeder and stored it away. She should have attended to it last night but had been too weary. And finaly she took her departure. As she