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Startled out of his brooding introspection, the Dark Man quickly put a clamp on his emotions. "Not ideal, but good enough. The moon will be past full and the stars are favorably aligned." |
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"Is that how you discovered where the woman will be? The stars?" |
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The Dark Man knew his protégé was dying to know how he'd learned of the Rand woman's whereabouts. He smiled enigmatically. "No." |
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"Will you take her alive?" |
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The Dark Man thought for a moment. "It would be nice, but it is not necessary." |
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"She has caused me much trouble." |
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"I do not understand," the goateed man said. "Your life force is low?" |
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The Dark Man's head turned slowly and, if possible, his countenance grew even more grim. "You dare question me?" |
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"Of course not, Master. I but worry about your health." |
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"Best you worry about your own!" |
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The Dark Man knew the temptations the goateed man endured. He remembered well the long nights sitting at Begalla's feet, watching with impatient eyes as the old man's palsied hands mixed the ingredients for his poison potions, feeling the ambition rising like bile in his throat. Nights when he learned that hate and envy were the catalytic fires that stirred the dark lords' black hearts, and that blood and pain were the currency that purchased their allegiance. That's why he had cut the old bastard's heart out and taken his powers for himself. |
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The Dark Man fingered the fake talisman and watched his assistant sweat. |
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A sleek blond woman in a light blue airline uniform came to the check-in desk and picked up the microphone. |
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"We are now boarding rows one through eight for Eastern's flight two-ten to Albuquerque." |
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