There was a moment of frozen shock, during which time Úlfnaor got to his feet, his eyes fixed on the glittering jewellery. Sól murmured something, and the Aoire turned his head on a stiff neck to look at him. Sól said something again and Úlfnaor sat back down, his face dark with rage.
‘Take them,’ said Le Garou, pushing the bracelets to Razi. ‘They are your property once more.’
Christopher’s hands knotted in his lap, but neither he nor Razi moved to touch the bracelets. It was all Wynter could do not to reach for Christopher’s hand and clench it in her own. She could not bring herself to look into the Wolf ’s face, and so kept her attention focused on the toes of his expensive boots.
‘It was Jean who stole them,’ he said. ‘At the Wherry Tavern, I believe? In the process I understand he attempted to harm your boy. He is, of course, yours to do with as you wish. None of us will intervene.’
Wynter could not help it: she raised her eyes to see Le Garou’s expression. It was blandly patient, as if Razi’s reply were a simple formality. She could not believe the Wolf ’s audacity. It had certainly not been Jean who had done those terrible things at the tavern. It had been the shadow-riders, the lower-ranking Wolves, those men who now lurked in the forest, hidden and out of reach – and they had done it with David’s permission, as reward for their patience on the long trek from the Moroccos. But Jean was an unruly whelp, foisted upon David at André’s insistence, and, according to Christopher, David could not wait to be rid of him. So now he presumed to use Razi for the task?
‘I do not understand, David,’ said Razi politely. ‘Have you mistaken me for someone else?’
Le Garou’s certainty slipped a little and he frowned.
‘You have taken me for a trash haulier, perhaps,’ asked Razi, ‘and so see fit to request that I divest you of your rubbish? Or do you simply wish to insult my intelligence by offering me your dirty work in the guise of favours?’
Le Garou blinked. When he next spoke, it was with carefully contained anger. ‘In my new life we are to be more than just neighbours, al-Sayyid. You must accept that I am now a trusted ally of his Royal Highness and soon shall prove myself the same to his Majesty the King. With my contacts here and in the court of the Sultan, I should be a useful friend to you, if you but have the sense to receive me as such. I have come to you this morning with no accusations made about the events of last night, and have offered a token of peace and reconciliation. One simple act on your behalf will be enough to benefit me and restore your honour. Do not make the mistake of rejecting my kindness.’
‘I wish you the joy of your new life, David. May it grant you all the prosperity that you deserve, but I must ask you to take yourself and your kindness from under my nose. The stink of you is enough to make me retch.’
‘So be it,’ snarled David as he snatched the bracelets from the fire-stones and pushed himself unsteadily to his feet. ‘You’ll find pride is a threadbare cloak when you’ve fallen from favour, my Lord. You will feel the cold soon enough, and will regret turning aside a genuine alliance.’ He weighed the silver bracelets in his hand and looked Christopher up and down. ‘They’re not half as pretty without bells attached,’ he said, ‘but I suppose you are a man of simple taste. You must regret the loss of your trinkets, boy. It must sting that your master cares not to get them back for you. Still, my own Boys will be glad to have them returned; they get such pleasure from wearing them. Adieu, al-Sayyid. I shall give your best to the Prince when next I speak with him.’
There was a short, tense silence after he left. Then Christopher put his head into his hands and groaned. ‘Good Frith, Razi. If this doesn’t work, I swear I’ll skin you alive.’
Sólmundr nodded in agreement. ‘Oh aye,’ he said. Wynter eyed his grim face and tried to convince herself that he didn’t mean it literally.
Instead of listening, Razi was leaning to the side, looking down the alley. ‘David must be very certain of his position,’ he murmured. ‘If