The Prophecy Machine

50

There was no decision now, no choice to make. He let Letitia go, clutched his blade with both hands, swept it in a quick and deadly arc at the fellow coming on his right.

The Foxer looked stunned, grabbed his throat and tumbled to the floor. Finn knew he'd done his best, done what he could, and knew if he took one out, the other would surely bring him down. He stepped back, stumbled, felt the blade strike, felt it bite into his splint.

Finn had seldom known such agony in his life. His weapon was lost, but he didn't greatly care, for Letitia was gone, out of his sight. Through a veil of awful pain, he gazed up at his foe, saw the Foxer grin, saw him raise his sword for the final deadly blow-

— closed his eyes, opened them again to an unearthly howl, saw the Foxer stagger, saw him reel, saw blood begin to spout, saw, in a wonder, a deadly, disembodied head. Saw, an instant after that, a blade thrust through the Foxer's back and out his chest.

The Foxer collapsed. Sabatino drew out his sword, bent down and tore Julia loose from the grisly remains of a nose.

“I believe this is yours,” Sabatino said, holding the lizard well away, tossing it to Finn. “I'd clean it up if I were you. Can you stand? Where'd the pretty go?”

Sabatino looked weary, bloodied, somewhat out of sorts. Finn dropped Julia's head in his pocket, along with her other parts. Julia rattled and complained, snapping at empty air.

“Thanks for your help,” Finn said, “I'm busy right now. I don't know where she is, she's gone. I've got to find her. Sabatino? Can you give me a hand? Your father, did he make it all right?”

“I'm afraid not. Couldn't get to him. Bastards already did him in.”

“What did they-”

“You don't want to know. Father was mean at heart, crazy as a goose. But no one deserves a fate as cruel as that.”

“I'm sorry for your loss. If you could help me to my feet …”

Sabatino shook his head. “If she ran back there, friend, I fear she's a goner as well. We'd never get her out. Best we try and save ourselves. I doubt we can even handle that.”

“I guess you didn't hear. I'm not leaving without Letitia Louise.”

“Ah, you're serious, I presume. Let's get you up, then. Won't do a bit of good, but I suppose we could try.”

Finn gave him a long and thoughtful look. “I feel I should be straight with you. There's no reason you have to go too. You won't win favor with me, don't think you will. I despise you for an arrogant lout, and a liar to boot. Nothing you can do to change that.”

“One thing you forget,” Sabatino said, with a nasty grin. “If you don't happen to make it out, craftsman, I win the lovely prize …”