The darkness gathers

[big-si-1974.livejournal.com]

He wandered over to the counter and sliced the meat apart, then tossed it too the coyotes in the corner, they were getting big, he wondered how he could train them he was a little lacking in that department, perhaps he could get them to go after the gardener.

 

Smiling he walked to the table and set about his gear, checking the armour making sure there were no dents, then carefully checking the swords as well, he dressed and leapt to the door, suddenly he was disappointed, the memory of that damn cocoon, he had so wanted to see the look on the face of that damn Rolling Thunder wannabe.

 

Still their would be time for him later, first he had to find that damn Ragabash Quickrunner, the insult of taking the sword would have to be avenged, but not by death, that would earn the little dog some kind of renown in his death, no he decided embarassent would be better, let the pup lose face in their moot…

There is a perfect and correct way to prepare oneself for death.

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

It's called living.

---

I know before he tells me. It's the kind of thing you do know, when you've done this job for as long as I have. Some things about you - they don't change.

And... it's OK. We've had longer than I ever dared hope for. Three months - an entire season - spring into summer. Riches undreamed-of. A day would have been enough. An hour. One kiss.

Dancing's done. Time to pay the piper.

I put aside my distaff and I pick up my spear again. And I turn to face the man who I've loved, and lost, and left to fall into despair and drink, and at the last, impossibly, incredibly, loved again; and I can see it in his face too, the foreknowledge of both our deaths.

"Orders?" I ask.