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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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At the end <strong>of</strong> my instruction, Annah nodded quietly. "Aye, I hadn't thought<br />

<strong>of</strong> those things, I hadn't." She frowned. "I would've figured it out eventually,<br />

so <strong>do</strong>n't think yeh're some Festhall teacher or anythin', jig?"<br />

"Just trying <strong>to</strong> help."<br />

Annah scowled, turning away. Her voice came out in a low, sharp hiss,<br />

"More like yeh're tryin' tae make me look like a fool, yeh are."<br />

I blinked, "What in the hells are you talking about?"<br />

"Here yeh come, stridin' inta Pharod's Court, an' him all bowing and<br />

curtseying <strong>to</strong> yeh, playin' the boot-lick, then he ORDERS me tae go with yeh,<br />

which he's NEVER <strong>do</strong>ne, and yeh start puttin' on airs about how yeh know<br />

more than me... what gives yeh the right?," she snarled, baring her fangs.<br />

"Who <strong>do</strong> yeh think yeh ARE?"<br />

The woman truly was a coiled viper, calm one moment, snapping and hissing<br />

the next. I never knew around Annah if my next word would earn me a smile<br />

or a stab, but for some reason I never asked her <strong>to</strong> leave. I was <strong>be</strong>ginning <strong>to</strong><br />

wonder exactly why I had asked <strong>to</strong> go out with her in the first place, "I'm<br />

JUST trying <strong>to</strong> help you, Annah."<br />

"Oh, aye? Are yeh sure that every time I nick somethin' from someone's<br />

purse, or spring a lock, yeh aren't just shakin' your head <strong>be</strong>hind your back,<br />

going, 'clumsy, stupid girl, she <strong>do</strong>esn't know how it's <strong>do</strong>ne.' Does that make<br />

yeh feel <strong>be</strong>tter about yerself, <strong>do</strong>es it?!"<br />

"Annah, I only showed you those things <strong>to</strong> make you even <strong>be</strong>tter than you<br />

are - I wasn't lording it over you. I <strong>do</strong>n't think you're clumsy, and I <strong>do</strong>n't<br />

think you're stupid."<br />

Annah frowned, her tail flicking back and forth as if she still wasn't quite<br />

convinced. "Aye, well - yeh'd <strong>be</strong>st <strong>be</strong> careful. I <strong>do</strong>n't take kindly tae pity, I<br />

<strong>do</strong>n't."<br />

"Let's try pickpocketing now," I sighed. She seemed calm enough now. If the<br />

girl needed <strong>to</strong> she could shed anger like a snake shed its skin, "When you try<br />

and pick someone's pockets, you should use your body <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong>tter effect; it<br />

shouldn't <strong>be</strong> <strong>to</strong>o hard for you <strong>to</strong> distract a mark from his <strong>be</strong>longings. And --"<br />

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