Shadowrun - Novel - 18 - Worlds Without End.pdf

Shadowrun Caroline Spector - Worlds Without End
planted could be easily accessed. She seemed to be
asleep.
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Caroline Spector X
"Up to your old tricks again," I said. f
" "Tis nothing," he said. "A harmless amusement." m
"What would Oonagh say?" I knew I had to play J
along.
"What she doesn't know . . . Besides, this is all
rather off the point. You wish to know where the
Seelie Court is currently residing."
"Yes." |
"Perhaps they don't wish to be found." '
"No. I suspect they don't. And I suspect I know
why they don't want to hear from me."
Finvarra smiled at me. His teeth were yellow and ,
very long. |
"Now we're getting somewhere," he said. "Per- |
haps I can help you. If you are willing to do some- ;
thing for me." |
"And what might that be?" I asked. "\
"A test," he replied. "A simple challenge of your
will. My subjects will be more than happy to admin- ,
ister it. If you succeed, we take you to the Court. If -H
you fail, well, that will be your lookout, won't it?" •
"And who decides whether I win or lose?" J
"Why that, dear mother, you will have to figure «
out for yourself." •
With that, the boat sped away from me. It left u
barely a ripple in the water and the mist closed m
around it, hiding it from my sight. I stepped forward, J
the edge of the lake touching my toes. What now? I J
wondered. j»
"Well, that was helpful," said Caimbeul. !•
I spun about, ready to give him a cutting remark J
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WORLDS WITHOUT END
when behind me something burst forth from the water
and grabbed me.
In a flash I was being pulled down into the blackness.
The water was freezing and I hadn't caught a
breath. I fought against the urge to inhale. My eyes
were open, but I couldn't see much. I looked down
and saw that I was being held by a each-uisge. My
legs were helplessly stuck to its chest and forelegs.
Its clawed hands were clasped about my thighs. The
head was that of a horse with razor-sharp teeth.
It would pull me down into the water until I
drowned and then feast upon my flesh, except for my
liver, which it would no doubt spit up at Caimbeul's
feet. It was a prospect I didn't relish.
I let myself go limp, playing dead, hoping this
would slow its descent. It did. Then I jerked my
arms apart and uttered the words. Between my hands
a whirling of water started. It began to glow and lit
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