“Vincent?” Sithe asked
softly, looking imperial. “You say that you know where William’s sister is
staying right now? With another friend?”
Vincent nodded. “We call
‘im Freddy the Goat. Frederick, that’s his real name. His goodly name, if you like. He’s got a sister, her name’s Deb. She’s
helping. But I know Branny. She’d wanna be with her big brother.” Vincent
winked at William. “She’d move the earth and sky for him, if she could.”
“So, you think she’d want
to be here?” Sithe asked.
Vincent nodded vigorously.
“I’m sure of it. Should I go get her? She’s been ... antsy. Wants to see him.
Figured we should wait ‘til he was out of the woods, though. Y’know. Awake.”
Sithe nodded. “That’s
smart of you. Purging hexblood is a ... delicate operation. I’m sure she’d
have wanted to help.” She looked at Vincent with an odd look. “You already knew
that, didn’t you?”
Vincent shrugged. “I ... learned things. At the guild. Heard the name tossed around a few times.”
Sithe smiled. “You’re too
smart for your own good. It’ll get you into trouble someday. I hope you know
that. Go and get her. If your other friends want to see him, I won’t begrudge
them. But understand this: I hold everyone
who steps under this roof to the same conduct. So don’t think I won’t keep
order.”
Vincent laughed. “I’ll
remember that.”
“Thank you!” William
blurted out suddenly, causing everyone to look at him. “Um ... everyone. For
everything. I—I know I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for all of you. So ... thank
you.”
Sithe nodded gently.
“You’re quite welcome, William. But if you wish to thank anyone ... thank the
shield that guarded you.” She looked around, then blinked. She looked at
Vincent. Then at Cell. Then back at William.
* * *
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