that. Besides, to a seasoned drinker such as myself, getting drunk isn't nearly
so simple as it once was. As my system grows increasingly pickled, alcohol has
less and less effect on it. I suppose eventually I shall reach a stage where
alcohol has no effect on me whatsoever, but I hope and pray I shall have
departed this sad vale of tears long before then. But whatever you do, Davey,
don't have me cremated. There's so much booze in my body it would probably burn
for a fortnight.'
'Don't talk that way,' said Holly. 'It's depressing.'
'I'm sorry,' said Arthur immediately. 'How are you feeling now, Holly?'
'Better, I think.' She smiled at him tremulously. 'Do you think I could have a
sip of your drink?'
'Of course,' said Arthur, and handed her his glass. 'Approach it carefully; it's
rather potent.'
Holly took a cautious sip, and then swallowed hard. She pulled a face and thrust
the glass back at him. 'And you drink that stuff for fun? You're tougher than
you look, Arthur.'
'Why, thank you, my dear. It's nice to be appreciated.'
They shared a smile. David stirred impatiently. 'Don't encourage him, Holly. We
might need his sword yet.'
'If we ever reach the stage where everything depends on me and my poor skill
with a sword, then we will be in serious trouble,' said Arthur calmly. 'I have
all the fighting skills of a depressed rabbit. I never was much of a warrior; I
always believed in seeing the other fellow's point of view. Preferably over a
glass of something. No, Davey; if trouble occurs, I have every confidence that
you will defend us nobly. You're the swordsman here.'
'That's right,' said Holly. 'You always had to be the hero, David, even when we
were young. I'd be the captive Princess, and you'd be the valiant hero on his
milk-white charger, come to rescue me. I always needed saving back then for some
reason or another.'
'I remember,' said Arthur. 'I always had to be Davey's squire, even though I was
the eldest. I didn't mind. My father was furious when he found out, though.
You're a viscount! he used to thunder. The son of a Lord! Try to act like one! I
always was a disappointment to Dad.' He shrugged, and taking a healthy sip from
his drink, looked directly at Holly. 'They were good days, then. When we were
young, and the world was so simple.'
'You're getting maudlin, Arthur,' said David warningly. He turned to Holly and
smiled reassuringly. 'There's really nothing to worry about, Holly. I'll protect
you, just as I always have.'
'And I'll do my bit, however small,' said Arthur. 'I would defend you with my
life, Holly.'
Holly smiled genuinely for the first time, and reached out to clasp each of them
by the hand. 'I feel so safe with you two here. My guardians.'
'They've been gone too long,' said Katrina suddenly. 'It shouldn't take this
long to check a few windows. Do you suppose something's happened to them?'
'It's too early to start panicking,' said Fisher. 'They haven't been gone an
hour yet.'
'Is that all?' said Holly. 'It seems longer.'
'It's the waiting,' said Fisher. 'Time always drags when you're waiting for
something to happen.'
'It still seems too long,' said Katrina stubbornly. 'I'm sure Jamie didn't
intend for us to be left alone this long. Something's happened, I'm sure of it.
I think someone ought to go after them and make sure everything's all right.'
'Don't look at me,' said Arthur. 'I may be drunk, but I'm not crazy.'
'Damn right,' said Fisher. 'No one is to go off on their own. It isn't safe.'
'Who the hell do you think you are, giving everyone orders?' said Katrina
angrily. 'Hold your tongue, and remember your place. David, if Arthur hasn't the
courage to go, I'm sure you'll…'
'Not this time, Katrina,' said David firmly. 'For once, I find myself in
agreement with Arthur. If the freak is roaming about out there, a man on his own
would make a perfect target. And no, you can't send one of the servants,
either.'
'Thank you, sir,' said Greaves. Brennan grinned.
Katrina slumped back in her chair and pouted. 'So; we just sit here and wait for
them to come back, do we? What if they never come back?'
'They'll be back,' said Fisher.
Holly looked at her. 'How can we be so sure?'
Fisher smiled. 'I have faith in my brother. We've been through a lot together.'
'Yes,' said Katrina darkly. 'I'll just bet you have.'
Fisher looked at her with a slightly raised eyebrow, and Katrina decided to go
back to pouting.
The trip down through the Tower seemed to take forever. The stairs fell away
endlessly before them, curling round and round the inner wall. Hawk's thighs
ached from the strain, and his back ached from the tension of constantly waiting
for an attack. They were at their most vulnerable on the stairs, and the freak
must know it. He'd never get a better chance at them. But landing corners came
and went without an ambush, and doors passed unopened. Hawk's scowl deepened. He
almost wished the freak would attack and get it over with. But they reached the
ground floor without incident, and Jamie led the way back to the drawing room.
Hawk brought up the rear, sword at the ready, his gaze still darting from shadow
to shadow. He was beginning to wish he hadn't left the sledgehammer up on the
third floor. Alistair and Marc moved close together, also with swords at the
ready, almost treading on Jamie's heels. Hawk didn't blame them. It was always
when you were nearly back to safety that your adrenalin really began to pump. It
was only then, when you stopped thinking about your mission and started thinking
about being able to relax and take it easy again that you realized how much you
had to lose if something were to go wrong at the last moment. He hung back a
little, giving himself room to move, and swept the surrounding corridor with a
steady, professional gaze. It wasn't likely the freak would make a move now,
after turning down so many other, better opportunities, but Hawk wasn't about to
drop his guard just because safety was so near at hand.
Jamie reached the drawing room door, banged on it with his fist, and called out
his name. Marc and Alistair moved in close behind him, staring almost hungrily
at the door as they listened to the barricade being dismantled. Hawk stood with
his back to the door, watching the corridor. He looked left and right at random,
careful not to give any attacker a pattern he could anticipate and elude. There
was a movement to his right, and he looked sharply round to find Alistair beside
him, looking slightly sheepish.
'Must be getting old,' said Alistair gruffly. 'Forgetting to watch my back, just
because I'm nearly home. You'd make a good soldier, lad. You've got the right
