Poison Study

Valek handed me the bloody knife. With an exhausted bow, he said, “My love, for you.”

Valek handed me the bloody knife. With an exhausted bow, he said, “My love, for you.”

Valek handed me the bloody knife. With an exhausted bow, he said, “My love, for you.”

Valek handed me the bloody knife. With an exhausted bow, he said, “My love, for you.”

Valek handed me the bloody knife. With an exhausted bow, he said, “My love, for you.”

Valek handed me the bloody knife. With an exhausted bow, he said, “My love, for you.”

Valek handed me the bloody knife. With an exhausted bow, he said, “My love, for you.”

“You have poisoned me.”

I yelped and punched him in the face. His grip relaxed, and I pulled my arm free. Snatching the knife from the floor, I took Janco’s often-repeated advice for self-defense: “Hit and git.” I ran. But this time fear didn’t follow me. I ran with imaginary scarlet wings flowing behind me.

as I heard the snap and clink of manacles.