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Cardfall Casino


“Majel?”

Seylin’s voice was soft, but firm enough to catch his wandering attention. He opened his eyes, beheld her sitting on the chair next the cot, and sighed.

“Well, old friend. How are you?” he asked.

“Unsettled, but that will wait for a moment. How does your head feel?”

He considered that seriously.

“The headache is gone, and my stomach is no longer offended. I believe I could stand, if you insist. Do you insist?”

She smiled, which called his attention to how tight her face was, how stern her eyes.

“Tell me,” he said softly.

She sighed.

“The Luzant—who refuses to give a name, and is strong-willed enough to resist a Command to relinquish it—is in the high-risk room at Riverside Security Office. I have filed a complaint on your behalf, and we are warned that we will likely be called to witness within the next few hours.

“That said, we have a problem.”

“Well, yes, we do!” Majel said sharply. “That person worked deliberately to ruin the casino. He pulled a gun and threatened to shoot into the crowd of those at game. I don’t doubt he was manipulating the wheel—”

“He was,” Seylin said. “Not only did he threaten patrons at play, he struck you with enough force that he might have inflicted real and lasting damage. Happily, you employ a Healer of superior skill, whose specialty is mind-burn.”

Majel eyed her.

“Mind-burn?” he repeated.

“Mind-burn. And, yes, it’s every bit as dire as it sounds. Dire enough that the law understands it as deadly force.”

Majel blew out a breath.

“Well then, it seems that our Luzant has made an error. Employing killing force is rather more than mere mischief.”

“Yes, but there’s more. You recall the signature found at Pacazahno, that had imprinted on the smashed readers?”

“Yes . . . ”

“Yes. I Saw that signature, at Pacazahno, and again tonight, before he locked his shields.”

Majel stared.

“The one who hates Deaf.”

“That one, yes.” Seylin sighed, suddenly looking very tired, indeed.

“Seylin, take the rest of the shift off,” he said. “You—”

“I’m exhausted. Terror does that, and I was certain I’d lost you. Majel—”

“I was foolish beyond permission. Even Elza said so. My excuse is that he was going to start shooting into the room—”

“Yes, yes.” She extended a hand and patted his shoulder. “I would have done the same. But I have shields—and a much longer reach.”

Majel smiled.

“Will you forgive me for having frightened you, Seylin?”

“Oh, easily!” She patted him once more and withdrew her hand, her face locking down into grimness again.

“I have one more thing to report, then I’ll go off duty and take some rest before we’re called to witness. You recall that our Luzant will not give his name?”

“I do.”

“As miserly as he is with his own, he is very free with his patron’s name, and has demanded that she be called to his defense.”

“This sounds like good luck at last. Who is his patron?”

Seylin’s shoulders drooped.

“Betya seelyFaire.”


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