It takes a surprising amount of courage to place one's hand into an unseen area when your mind is thinking about vermin.

When one consorts with assassins, one must expect to dance along the edge of a knife once or twice.

A kiss for luck, demoiselle?" It is a magnificent, lusty kiss and I feel nothing but deep regret that it may be his last. Just before he pulls away, he whispers in my ear. "Duval said to give you that should I get a chance. It is from him.

I am a handmaiden of Death. I walk in His dark shadow and do His bidding. Serving Him is my only purpose in this life.

He smiles then, and even though it is well past midnight, its as if the sun has just come out.

I have found it is surprisingly difficult to remain sad when a cat is doing its level best to sandpaper one's cheeks.

He does not start guiltily, as he should, but frowns in annoyance. "Who are you?" I slip my hand through the slit of my overskirt, and my fingers close around the hard wood of the crossbow tiller. "Vengeance," I say softly.