The Perdition Score (Sandman Slim 8)

“I do like the sound of you having to explain us to a big heartless bastard.”

“He won’t be happy. And I have nothing to repay him with. Who knows what he’ll do to me?”

Arwan grins down at me.

“Look at you now. Selling your soul for true love. It’s like a sonnet.”

“Yeah. I’m goddamn Shakespeare. Do we have a deal?”

“As long as you understand, and not to belabor the point, that you’re dead if we’re disappointed in the least.”

“And I’ll dance a jig while you’re doing it.”

“Careful. Don’t tempt me.”

He stares at the ground, thinking. His boots are looking a little threadbare. He glances back at the house.

“Wait here,” he says, and walks into the mansion.

Hesediel says, “Are you mad? Trusting these brigands with Candy and our whole scheme?”

“We don’t have any other choice. Just be cool. This is all going to work out great.”

“He doesn’t seem to like you very much.”

“I grow on people. Sometimes it takes a while.”

“It truly does.”

Arwan comes back a few minutes later, trailed by a dozen small men dressed in the same gray cloaks and jerkins as him, all carrying bows and swords.

Hesediel starts to stand. I wave her back.

When he comes to the tree line, he nods.

“It’s a deal. Where’s this woman of yours?”

“Won’t your bosses notice that you’re all missing?”

“I told them that we’re buggering off into the woods for a look around. We were each delighted to be rid of the other.”

“Come on.”

I lead them to where Bill is sitting with Candy. She’s paler than before.

Arwan gets close and looks her over.

“She’s not so big for us to carry.”

“I told you.”

“And she knows the way to the treasure?”

“She’ll lead you straight to it.”

“All right, then.”

“Give me a minute.”