Silverdun.
Without warning, Paet took a thick glass paperweight from his desk and hurled it at Silverdun's head. It struck Silverdun's temple, and Silverdun, who had been leaning back in his chair, fell over backward and crashed to the floor.
'Ow!' said Silverdun, picking himself up.
Paet shrugged. 'I learned everything I know about management from Master Jedron,' he said.
'Bastard!' grumbled Silverdun, clutching his hand to his head.
'Paet,' said Sela, tentatively. 'What if I didn't go?'
'Excuse me?' said Paet.
'I've got a project going; something I've worked out from going over a number of documents, and-'
'Analysts I've got,' said Paet. 'But I only have one of you.'
Sela looked down at her lap and said nothing.
'Sela,' said Paet. 'Would you excuse us, please? I'd like to talk to Silverdun and Ironfoot alone.'
Sela nodded and stood up. She glanced at Silverdun and smiled primly.
Once they were alone, Paet came around to the front of his desk and leaned back against it.
'You're going to be in Unseelie territory,' he said in a low voice. 'And that means that it is absolutely imperative that neither of you is taken, dead or alive.'
'What does that mean?' said Ironfoot.
'If one of you is killed there, you must bring the body back with you.'
'Why?'
'I can't tell you that. If it happens, the answer will be obvious, though I don't recommend trying it just to find out.'
'What if carrying a body around isn't feasible?' asked Silverdun. 'If one of us is dead, it probably means that things have gone badly.'
'True,' said Paet. 'In that case, it is equally imperative that you sever the head, if possible, and return with it. That's better than nothing.'
'And why is that?' asked Ironfoot.
'Because Mab has ways of getting information out of you, even if you're dead.'
'Failing even that, however,' he continued, 'you must ensure that the body is destroyed utterly. Preferably by fire.'
'Well, this is quite a conversation we're having,' said Silverdun.
'What if we're captured alive?' asked Ironfoot. 'What do we do then?'
'If one of you is taken, the others must do everything in their power to retrieve him. If, however, that is impossible, the one who's been captured must end his own life. All you need do in that situation is concentrate very carefully on dying. You will not only die, but your body will explode in a most dramatic fashion.'
'Urn,' said Ironfoot, 'I'm not aware of any spell that allows that to happen.'
'It's not a spell,' said Paet.
'With no offense to Silverdun,' said Ironfoot, 'I have far less trouble lopping off his head than I do Sela's. I just can't imagine doing it.'
Paet stared at him. 'I thought you understood, I was only referring to the two of you. If Sela dies, leave her.'
With that, Paet ushered them out of his office and shut the door behind them.
How great is Mab?
You might ask how deep the sea, how fiery the sun! Perfection itself bows before her.
How gracious is Mab?
Mab's grace and mercy know no limits.To her people she is a mother.To her allies a protector.To her enemies a correcting hand. Even those whom she has slain cry out their gratitude from the afterlife, thankful now their wickedness is at an end.
How wise is Mab?
