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.''I suppose we all serve the King in our own way.' There was a little morehostility in Jezal's voice than he had intended.If Glokta was offended he didn't show it.'Quite so.I don't believe I knowyour friend.''No.This is ''Actually, we've met,' said Ardee, much to Jezal's surprise, giving her handto the Inquisitor.Ardee West.'Glokta's eyebrows rose.'No!' He bent down stiffly to kiss the back of herhand.Jezal saw his mouth twist as he straightened up, but the toothless grinsoon returned.'Collem West's sister! But you are so much changed.''For the better, I hope,' she laughed.Jezal felt horribly uncomfortable.'Why yes indeed,' said Glokta.'And you are changed also, Sand.' Ardee looked suddenly very sad.'We were allso worried in my family.We hoped and hoped for your safe return.' Jezal saw aspasm run over Glokta's face.'Then when we heard you were hurt& how are you?'The Inquisitor glanced at Jezal, his eyes cold as a slow death.Jezal stareddown at his boots, a lump of fear in his throat.He had no need to be scaredof this cripple, did he? But somehow he wished he was still at fencingpractice.Glokta stared at Ardee, his left eye twitching slightly, and shelooked back at him undaunted, her eyes full of quiet concern.'I am well.As well as can be expected.' His expression had turned verystrange.Jezal felt more uncomfortable than ever.'Thank you for asking.Truly.Nobody ever does.'There was an awkward silence.The Inquisitor stretched his neck sideways andthere was a loud click.'Ah!' he said, 'that's got it.It's been a pleasure toPage 37 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlsee you again, both of you, but duty calls.' He treated them to anotherrevolting smile then hobbled off, his left foot scraping in the gravel.Ardee frowned at his twisted back as he limped slowly away.'It's so sad,' shesaid under her breath.'What?' mumbled Jezal.He was thinking about that big white bastard in thestreet, those narrow pink eyes.The prisoner with the bag on his head.We allserve the King in our own way.Quite so.He gave an involuntary shiver.'He and my brother used to be quite close.He came to stay with us one summer.My family were so proud to have him it was embarrassing.He used to fence withmy brother every day, and he always won.The way he moved, it was something tosee.Sand dan Glokta.He was the brightest star in the sky' She flashed herknowing half-smile again.'And now I hear you are.''Er& ' said Jezal, not sure whether she was praising him or poking fun.Hecould not escape the feeling that he had been out-fenced twice that day, onceby each sibling.He rather fancied that the sister had given him the worse beating.The Morning Ritual« ^ »It was a bright summers day, and the park was filled to capacity withcolourful revellers.Colonel Glokta strode manfully toward some meeting ofgreat importance, people bowing and scraping respectfully away to give himroom.He ignored most, favoured the more important ones with his brilliantsmile.The lucky few beamed back at him, delighted to be noticed.'I suppose we all serve the King in our own way,' whined Captain Luthar,reaching for his steel, but Glokta was far too quick for him.His bladeflashed with lightning speed, catching the sneering idiot through the neck.Blood splattered across Ardee West's face.She clapped her hands in delight,looking at Glokta with shining eyes.Luthar seemed surprised to be killed.'Hah.Quite so,' said Glokta with asmile.The Captain pitched over onto his face, blood pouring from hispunctured throat.The crowd roared their appreciation and Glokta indulged themwith a deep, graceful bow.The cheering was redoubled.'Oh, Colonel, you shouldn't,' murmured Ardee as Glokta licked the blood fromher cheek.'Shouldn't what?' he growled, tipping her back in his arms and kissing herfiercely.The crowd were in a frenzy.She gasped as he broke away, looking upat him adoringly with those big dark eyes of hers, lips slightly parted.'The Arth Ector wanth you,' she said with a comely smile.'What?' The crowd had fallen silent, damn them, and his left side was turningnumb.Ardee touched him tenderly on the cheek.'The Arth Ector!' she shouted.There was a heavy knock at the door.Glokta's eyes flicked open.Where am I?Who am I?Oh no.Oh yes.He realised straight away he had been sleeping badly, his body wastwisted round under the blankets, his face pushed into the pillow.His wholeleft side was dead.The beating on the door came heavier than before.'The Arth Ector!' cameFrost's tongueless bellow from the other side.Pain shot through Glokta's neck as he tried to raise his head from the pillow.Ah, there's nothing like the first spasm of the day to get the mind working.'Alright!' he croaked, 'give me a minute, damn it!'The albino's heavy footsteps thudded away down the corridor.Glokta lay stillfor a moment, then cautiously moved his right arm, ever so slowly, breathrasping with the effort, and tried to twist himself onto his back.He clenchedhis fist as the needling started in his left leg.If only the damn thing wouldstay numb.But the pain was coming on fast now.He was also becoming aware ofan unpleasant smell.Damn it.I've shit myself again.Page 38 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html'Barnam!' howled Glokta, then waited, panting, left side throbbing with avengeance.Where is the old idiot? 'Barnam!' he screamed at the top of hislungs.'Are you alright, sir?' came the servant's voice from beyond the door
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