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.Magic, violence and romance, in equal measure.Utter shit.' Sheslapped the book off the table and it tumbled onto the carpet, pages flapping.'There must be something you can find to keep busy?''Really? What would you suggest?''My cousins do a lot of embroidery.''Fuck yourself.''Hmm,' said Jezal, smiling.The swearing no longer seemed half so offensive asit had done when they first met.'What did you do at home, in Angland?''Oh, home,' her head dropped against the back of the settle.'I thought I wasbored there.I could hardly wait to come here to the bright centre of things.Now I can hardly wait to go back.Marry some farmer.Have a dozen brats.Atleast I'd get some conversation that way.' She closed her eyes and sighed.'But Collem won't let me.He feels responsible, now that our father's dead.Thinks it's too dangerous.He'd rather I didn't get slaughtered by theNorthmen, but that's about where his sense of responsibility ends.Itcertainly doesn't extend to spending ten minutes together with me.So it lookslike I'm stuck here, with all you arrogant snobs.'Jezal shifted uncomfortably in his seat.'He seems to manage.''Oh yes,' snorted Ardee, 'Collem West, he's a damn fine fellow! Won a Contestdon't you know? First through the breach at Ulrioch, wasn't he? No breeding atall, never be one of us, but a damn fine fellow, for a commoner! Shame aboutthat upstart sister of his though, too clever by half.And they say shedrinks,' she whispered.'Doesn't know her place.Total disgrace.Best just toignore her.' She sighed again.'Yes, the sooner I go home, the happiereveryone will be.''I won't be happier.' Damn, did he say that out loud?Ardee laughed, none too pleasantly.'Well, it's enormously noble of you to sayso.Why aren't you fencing anyway?''Marshal Varuz was busy today.' He paused for a moment.'In fact, I had yourfriend Sand dan Glokta as fencing master this morning.''Really? What did he have to say for himself?''Various things.He called me a fool.'Page 95 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html'Imagine that.'Jezal frowned.'Yes, well.I'm as bored with fencing as you are with thatbook.That was what I wanted to talk to your brother about.I'm thinking ofgiving it up.'She burst out laughing.Snorting, gurgling peals of it.Her whole body wasshaking.Wine sloshed out of her glass and splattered across the floor.'What's so funny?' he demanded.'It's just,' she wiped a tear from her eye, 'I had a bet with Collem.He wassure you'd stick at it.And now I'm ten marks richer.''I'm not sure that I like being the subject of your bet,' said Jezal sharply.'I'm not sure I give a damn.''This is serious.''No it isn't!' she snapped.'For my brother it was serious, he had to do it!No one even notices you if you don't have a "dan" in your name, and who'd knowbetter than me? You're the only person who's given me the time of day since Igot here, and then only because Collem made you.I've precious little moneyand no blood at all, and that makes me less than nothing to the likes of you.The men ignore me and the women cut me dead.I've got nothing here, nothingand no one, and you think you've got the hard life? Please! I might take upfencing,' she said bitterly.'Ask the Lord Marshal if he has space for apupil, would you? At least then I'd have someone to talk to!'Jezal blinked.That wasn't interesting.That was rude.'Hold on, you've noidea what it's like to ''Oh stop whinging! How old are you? Five? Why don't you go back to sucking onyour mother's tit, infant?'He could hardly believe what he was hearing.How dare she? 'My mother's dead,'he said.Hah.That should make her feel guilty, squeeze an apology out of her.It didn't.'Dead? Lucky her, at least she doesn't have to listen to your damn whining!You spoiled little rich boys are all the same.You get everything you couldpossibly want, then throw a tantrum because you have to pick it up yourself!You're pathetic! You make me fucking sick!'Jezal goggled.His face was burning, stinging, as if he'd been slapped.He'drather have been slapped.He had never been spoken to like that in his life.Never! It was worse than Glokta.Much worse, and far more unexpected.Herealised his mouth was hanging half open.He snapped it shut, grinding histeeth together, slapped his glass down on the table, and got up to leave.Hewas turning to the door when it suddenly opened, leaving him and Major Weststaring at each other.'Jezal,' said West, looking at first simply surprised and then, as he glancedover at his sister, sprawling on the settle, slightly suspicious.'What areyou doing here?''Er& I came to see you actually.''Oh yes?''Yes.But it can wait.I've things to do.' And Jezal pushed past his friendand out into the corridor.'What was all that about?' He heard West saying as he strode away from theroom.'Are you drunk?'With every step Jezal's fury mounted until he was halfway to being strangledby it.He had been the victim of an assault! A savage and undeserved attack!He stopped in the corridor, trembling with rage, his breath snorting in hisnose like he'd run ten miles, his fists clenched painfully tight.And from awoman too! A woman! And a bloody commoner! How dare she? He had wasted time onher, and laughed at her jokes, and found her attractive! She should have beenhonoured to be noticed!'That fucking bitch!' he snarled to himself.He had half a mind to go back andsay it to her face, but it was too late.He stared around for something tohit.How to pay her back? How? Then it came to him.Prove her wrong.That would do it
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